NEWSPAPERS TAKE NOTICE.

In an editorial in our last issue we expressed the opinion that only by legislative enactments, such as have been put into effect in Michigan and Iowa, can the lay papers be cleansed of their foul advertisements. That at least two prominent papers of large circulation have volunteered to do that which was thought to be the impossible-namely, refuse to accept medical advertisements-is an ideal solution whose consummation we hardly dreamed would come to pass. The managers of the New York Times and the Ladies' Home Journal have conquered the temptation to accept the gold of lying charlatans and manufacturing firms, and their moral sense has won out over cupidity.

All honor to them. Wisconsin "papers will please copy," butthe millenium has not yet arrived.

ART IN JOURNALISM.

When in the field of medical journalism some periodical of genuine intrinsic merit comes to us, we cannot refrain from calling attention to what appears to us as of the greatest importance to the physician and specialist. Rarely has it been our pleasure to scan the pages of a medical journal that has given us the genuine satisfaction we have derived from The Journal of Cutaneous Diseases (The Grafton Press, New York) in its new dress.

The articles are well chosen and cover the special field of diseases of the skin and syphilis. We would call particular attention, however, to the illustrations, which are masterpieces of excellence. Dermatology can be taught only by models and drawings, and the journal in question is certainly to be congratulated upon the artistic pictures that elucidate the text.

The general practitioner frequently comes in contact with skin affections, and this most excellent periodical that represents the field of the dermatologist, deserves a very general popularity.

A CONCESSION FROM THE PROPHETESS.

The Christian Science church has given to the world the following information as being a section of the by-laws of Mary G. Baker Eddy's creed: "If a member of this church has a patient that he does not heal, and whose case he cannot fully diagnose, he can consult with an M. D. on the anatomy involved."

We were not aware that a knowledge of anatomy entered so strongly into this cult's methods. It has been our impression hitherto

that the possession of some organs-notably the brain-was at least a matter of indifference, and not essential. To what possible use the cranial cavity may be put in Christian Science work we cannot conceive, unless it be to give space for the enlargement of the bump of cupidity and stupidity.

Christian Science, we are told, is gaining adherents abroad, but the rumor lacks confirmation that a consignment of healers has offered its services to the Russians and Japanese in their present struggle for supremacy in the Orient. War would not be the hell it is if a chapter out of the oft-wedded prophetess' bible could make non-existent the torpedo's awful carnage.

NEWS ITEMS.

Dr. Almon Clarke, for many years surgeon in chief at the National Soldiers' home in Milwaukee, died May 1st at Pensacola, Fla.

Dr. Clarke was born in Granville, Windsor county, Vt., Oct. 31, 1840, and at the breaking out of the war of the rebellion was appointed surgeon of the First Vermont cavalry, and served through the war, being with his regiment at Mine Run, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Cedar Creek and through the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.

At the close of the war he came to Wisconsin and located at Sheboygan, where he practiced for a number of years. Dr. Clarke was appointed chief surgeon at the Milwaukee Soldiers' home, filling that post with honor and credit until about two years ago, when advancing years led him to resign. After resigning he went to Pensacola, where he made his home until his death.

Dr. Clarke was an ex-president of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin.

Frederick Stearns & Co.'s Jubilee. On April 7th Stearns & Co. celebrated the wooden anniversary of the establishment of their biologic laboratories. Several hundred Detroit physicians were guests at the celebration.

The regular work of the department was carried on as usual, affording the physicians an opportunity to see in operation the processes used in the production of diphtheria antitoxin, streptolytic serum and glycerinated vaccine.

The stables provide for the care of 120 serum yielding horses, the start having been made five years ago with but three horses.

A buffet luncheon was served in the travelers' annex and wooden souvenirs were distributed.

The management of the Milwaukee County Hospital is to be investigated by a committee of the County Board, as the result of charges preferred by the secretary of the Associated Charities. So far as published the charges are of the usual character-poor food, abuse of clinics, etc., and are denied

by Dr. Grosskopf, the Superintendent, and the Medical Staff of the Institution and an investigation is welcomed. Those of the medical profession who are acquainted with the management of the Hospital regard the charges as unwarranted and hope to see the matter speedily disposd of with justice to all concerned.

The Tri-State Medical Society of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri will meet in St. Louis, June 15th, 16th and 17th. An interesting program is being prepared, and some of the most distinguished physicians and surgeons of the country will attend the meeting. The president is Dr. W. B. La Force, Ottumwa, Iowa; and Dr. Louis E. Schmidt, 1003 Schiller building, Chicago, is the secretary. Dr. James Moores Ball, 3509 Franklin avenue, St. Louis, is chairman of the Committee of Arrangements.

The Medical Society of Milwaukee County has created a committee whose duties are to collect statistics and facts concerning tuberculosis, to disseminate knowledge of the sanitary aspects of the disease among the laity by means of an exhibition and lectures, and to work in the direction of the establishment of a County Sanitorium for the tuberculous poor. The Committee consists of Dr. U. O. B. Wingate, Chairman, Drs. J. W. Coon, Hoyt E. Dearholt, D. W. Harrington, J. W. Beffel and L. F. Jermain.

The Milwaukee Medical College graduated a class of 22 in the medical course, May 2nd. The graduation exercises were held at the Alhambra theater. The Dean, Dr. W. H. Neilson, presented the class, the President, Dr. W. H. Earles, conferred the degrees, and Dr. L. A. Dahl delivered the valedictory address. A banquet was held at the Plankinton House in the evening, participated in by the class, the alumni and the faculty.

Benjamin F. Dodson, M. D. died at his home in Berlin, April 12, aged 72. Dr. Dodson was a pioneer physician and one of the most esteemed citizens of Berlin. He was a brother of Dr. N. M. Dodson of Berlin, and an uncle of Dr. John M. Dodson of Rush Medical College. Dr. Dodson was a member of the Green Lake County Medical Society and of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin.

Ohio to Treat Tuberculosis.-On April 20 the Ohio House passed Senator Heinbrins' bill providing for a state hospital for tuberculosis patients, and it will become a law as soon as signed. The bill appropriates $35,000 for the purpose of a site and preliminary work, and an additional $10,000 will be available next year.

Ohio Medical Law Held Void.- In the common pleas court at Sandusky, Ohio, Judge Reed ruled that the Ohio state medical law is unconstitutional because it limits the right of practice without the use of drugs or medicines to osteopaths, and by the rule of exclusion Christian Scientists are prohibited.

Chas. R. Bardeen was elected Professor of Anatomy at the University of Wisconsin. He comes from the Johns Hopkins medical school and has done a large amount of original work.

L. W. Sayles, M. D., of Shell Lake, has disposed of his interest to E. R. Hering, M. D., and is about to take up postgraduate work in Chicago.

W. F. Brownell has been appointed city physician of New London.

CORRESPONDENCE.

BERLIN LETTER.

(Special Correspondence.)

In an address before the Anglo-American Medical Association of Berlin, Prof. Israel mentioned some of the recent advances in our knowledge of diseases of the kidney, and closed with the surgical treatment of nephritis. Many men, said he, use the terms nephritis and Bright's disease rather loosely. Strictly speaking Bright's disease is one due to the action of poisonous substances circulating in the blood, and these may be of bacterial or non-bacterial origin. Hence, it is always a bilateral disease. Nephritis, on the other hand, may have a local cause and thus may affect only one kidney, just as unilateral surgical diseases of the kidney occur.

A bilateral nephritis may run along for years and give symptoms pointing to a one-sided kidney affection. A unilateral nephritis does occur, though rarely, and may give symptoms simulating closely, surgical affections of the kidney. Indeed, the majority of the cases that were called angio-neurotic hematuria were really cases of nephritis. Prof. Israel had operated on many cases which had given symptoms of typical attacks of renal colic, associated with unilateral. hematuria, and was sure he would find a calculus or neoplasm, but, to his surprise, found nothing macroscopically. Still, having removed a small piece, microscopically-in all such cases-he found evidence of a parenchymatous or hemorrhagic nephritis.

In a long series of cases, with unilateral hematuria and colic, 62% showed nothing at operation and only the microscope revealed the existing nephritis. In the early operations on such cases, the results were bad. This was partly due to the fact, that in his zeal to find the calculus or neoplasm diagnosed, the operator enlarged his incision unnecessarily and maltreated the kidney in his hunt to find what was not there. A healthy kidney could hardly stand such treatment, much less one suffering from nephritis. In the second place, having found nothing, the kidney was usually sewn up, and no provision made for drainage.

Later, when the kidney was incised and explored gently, and then not sewn at all, but simply drained, it was noticed that such cases went on to uneventful recovery, and had no recurrence of the symptoms, although the nephritis itself was not cured. It was noted in all these cases, that shortly after incision and drainage, there was a rapid

increase in the amount of urine. This led several men to try such treatment in cases of intractable anuria and the results were gratifying.

In regard to the surgical treatment of Bright's disease, a critical summary of the work of Edebohl's and others was given, and Prof. Israel denied that any lasting benefit was shown. Besides, the mortality was quite high. He had tried Edebohl's operation in six cases without benefit in a single case, and thought he had hastened the death of several of them.

In conclusion he said that modern kidney surgery had taught us that much may be done in intractable cases of hematuria and colic and anuria due to nephritis, but that nothing could be done to cure the disease itself, and, further, that the bad results thus far did not warrant further use of the Edebohl's operation. (M. M. P.)

BALTIMORE LETTER.

On February 24, 1904, the meetings of the Laennec Society for the Study of Tuberculosis were resumed. Dr. H. Barton Jacobs was elected President to succeed Dr. Wm. T. Osler, and Dr. H. Warren Buckler was re-elected Secretary. The first meeting was taken up with a discussion of Miliary Tuberculosis, after the opening of the program by a paper entitled "The Fight Against Tuberculosis in New Zealand" by Dr. Wm. Stephen of Riverton, New Zealand. This little island community has apparently done more by the enforcement of good sanitary regulations toward the stamping out of the disease than any other country in the world. The symposium on Miliary Tuberculosis was made up as follows:

Historical Note-Dr. Wm. H. Welch.

Recent Studies on Pathology of-Dr. E. L. Opie.

Clinical Features-Dr. Wm. Osler and Dr. Rufus Cole.

The second meeting of the Laennec Society was held on March 24th. The subject for the meeting was "Hodgkins Disease in Its Relation to Tuberculosis." Four papers were read. Dr. Dorothy M. Reed of New York read a paper on the pathology, Dr. W. T. Longcope of Philadelphia discussed the differential diagnosis, Dr. W. S. Halsted spoke on the surgical side of the subject, and Dr. McCrae gave the clinical features from the medical standpoint.

Several interesting meetings of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Medical Society have been held during the past month. At the meeting held on March 28th Dr. Futcher discussed the question of gout in the negro, with the report of two cases. The first case, Louis Bostin was admitted first in Dec. 1902 complaining of rheumatism in the left big toe. He gave a marked alcoholic history but had never had any of the acute infectious diseases. Besides the acute gout from which the patient was suffering at this time the heart was found enlarged, and the diagnosis of mitral stenosis and insufficiency and aortic insufficiency was made. His heart lesions, however, were giving him no inconvenience. In December 1903 he was admitted a second time for broken