EDITORIALS. ALTRUISM IN MEDICINE. Many times during his course the medical student is told, by men with snug incomes, that, if he has entered the medical profession with the hope of becoming wealthy, he is doomed to of China, Korea, India, Africa and South America. The outlet is ample and the supply does not begin to approach the demand! And if those in the profession who have received a liberal portion of this disappointment. This is undoubtedly world's goods saw fit they could teach true. The humanitarian spirit in the profession is lauded and urged upon the embryonic doctor. How does this contrast with the words so often heard and read-to the effect that the dignity of the medical profession is largely gone, due to the development of the commercial spirit in medicine, which has resulted from the close competition due to overcrowding? It is proposed on all sides to limit the output of physicians by closing many of the smaller and less well equipped medical colleges and by encouraging young men to take up other lines of work. This last smacks of selfishness and could not come from men inspired with their great responsibility toward their fellow man and with the consciousness that their knowledge and skill can do much for their less fortunate brother man. It must come from men with a very limited field of vision. Shall we divert young men from the medical profession and urge the closing of many medical colleges, when over one-half of the human race does not yet know what it is to receive intelligent, sympathetic ministry to its physical necessities? Ask the millions the spirit of brotherly love in a far more effective way than by advocating it. The founding of dispensaries and hospitals for the needy half of the human race would show that the teaching from the professor's desk is believed in as was the preaching of the Persoun in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, who "-Christ's love, and his apostles twelve He taught, and first he followed it himselve." H. P. PACKARD, M. D. Meeting of The Colorado State Medical Society The membership of the Colorado State Medical Society is looking forward to the coming meeting at Colorado Springs with a great deal of interest. A very strong list of papers will be presented, as is evidenced by the titles and their authors in the ac companying program. The sessions will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 3, 4 and 5, in the ball room of the Antlers Hotel; the meeting of the House of Delegates, or business session, preceding the regular scientific sessions, on the evening of the 2nd, at 8 p. m. There are no invitations issued, for, as the Secretary says, "every member of a constituent society is a part of the main show, and your co-operation will help to make the coming meeting the most interesting one in the history of the society. Dr. Solly, the old warhorse, can be depended on to furnish typical Colorado Springs weather, while Dr. Neeper, chairman of the committee on entertainment, is a gentleman of immense proportions, with at heart big enough to fill his body and gray matter enough to keep everyone busy during the interval between scientific sessions. If you miss this meeting you'll regret it. Come and bring a good paper with you, and don't go home until the sessions are closed." "Some Observations on Four Cases of Spotted Fever Occurring in Colorado,” J. M. Braden, Carbondale. "Report of a Case of Round Worms in an Adult," M. D. Gibbs, Van Houton, New Mexico. "Report of Delegates to A. M. A.," W. A. Jayne, Denver. 8 p. m., Banquet. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4. 10 a. m. "Report of Cases of Heart Disease," G. H. Cattermole, Boulder. "A Note On a Method of Measuring Venous Blood Pressure in Man," Henry Sewall, Denver. "A Case of Purulent Endocarditis," F. P. Gengenbach, Denver. "Nervous Dyspepsia," H. T. Pershing, Denver. "A Case of Nervous Vomiting Simulating Pyloric Obstruction; Operation; Results," W. T. Little, Canon City. "Diseases of the Stomach Requiring Surgical Treatment," I. B. Perkins, Denver. "Some Anomalous Cases of Cholelithiasis," R. C. Robe, Pueblo. "How the Medical Profession Can Aid in the Perfecting of Hospital Management," Moses Collins, Denver. 2 p. m. "The Use of the X-Ray in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Diseases," S. E. Solly, Colorado Springs. "The Albuminuria of Phthisis," J. F. McConnell, Colorado Springs. "Tubercular Meningitis in Colorado, with Report of Cases," J. N. Hall and S. D. Hopkins, Denver. "Tuberculosis of Joints," Geo. B. Packard. Denver. "The Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis," G. R. Pogue, Greeley. "Roentgen Therapy of Tubercular Glands," Geo. H. Stover, Denver. "Electro-Therapeutics and X-Ray: To What Extent Practicable to the General Practitioner," E. Gard Edwards, La Junta. "Dermatoses and Dry Climate." J. M. Blaine. Denver. "Typhoid Fever and Its Treatment, with Report of Cases," Sherman Williams, Den ver. 8 p. m. Stereopticon Exhibition of Interesting Skiagraphs by S. E. Solly, G. H. Stover and S. B. Childs, followed by a vaudeville smoker. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5. IO a. m. "On the Recurrence of Thrombosis of the Left Iliac Vein After Appendectomy and Other Abdominal Operations," Chas. A. Powers, Denver. "Compound Fracture of the Vault with Loss of Brain Tissue," Maurice Kahn, Leadville. "The Avoidable Mortality in Surgery,” J. G. Sheldon, Telluride. "The Pelvic Girdle vs. the Abdominal Supporter in Certain Abdominal Diseases," C. D. Spivak, Denver. "A Case of Rupture of the Uterus," W. H. Swan, Colorado Springs. "Floating Bodies in the Knee Joint, with Report of Three Cases," F. Gregory Connell, Salida. "Bronchiectasis: Report of a Case," O. M. Gilbert, Boulder. "Asthma: A Report on the Etiology and Treatment of Some Unusual Cases," Jas. R. Arneill, Denver. 2 p. m. "Deforming Injuries of Ligaments at the Wrist Connecting with Fractures," Geo. W. Miel, Denver. "Chiloplasty and Cancer of the Mouth," W. W. Grant, Denver. "Report of the House of Delegates," J. M. Blaine, Secretary, Denver. "President's Address," Frank Finney, La Junta. All papers limited to 15 minutes. Discussions limited to 5 minutes. Members must register and secure badges before reading or discussing papers. NOTE. Physicians who expect to attend the banquet on Tuesday evening will please notify Dr. E. R. Neeper. Tickets must be secured before the close of the afternoon session. Price $2.00. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE COLORADO STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY. The next meeting will be held at Colorado Springs, October 3, 4, 5, 1905. President-Frank Finney, La Junta. Vice-Presidents-First, F. H. McNaught, Denver; second, L. M. Giffin, Boulder; third, B. F. Cunningham, Cripple Creek. Secretary-J. M. Blaine, Steele Block, Den ver. Treasurer-W. J. Rothwell, Cooper Building. Denver. Board of Councillors-H. R. Bull, Grand Junction: S. Kahn, Leadville; terms expire 1905. P. J. McHugh, Fort Collins; E. J. A. Rogers, Denver; terms expire 1906. J. N. Hall, Denver; Hubert Work, Pueblo; terms expire 1907. C. F. Gardiner, Colorado Springs; S. D. Hopkins, Denver; terms expire 1908. J. T. Melvin, Saguache; W. W. Reed, Boulder; terms expire 1909. Delegates to American Medical Association -W. A. Jayne, Denver; term expires 1905. P. F. Gildea, Colorado Springs; term expires 1906. Alternates-C. K. Fleming, Denver, 1905; H. A. Black, Pueblo, 1906. COMMITTEES. Publication Committee-Edward Jackson, Denver, editor, term expires 1905; S. E. Solly, Colorado Springs, term expires 1906; C. E. Edson, Denver, term expires 1907. Committee on Scientific Work-G. W. Miel, Denver; S. E. Solly, Colorado Springs; J. M. Blaine, Denver. Committee on Credentials-J. M. Blaine, Denver; W. T. Little, Canon City; C. K. Fleming, Denver. Committee on Public Policy and Legislation -C. H. Catherwood, Denver; S. D. Van Meter, Denver; W. H. Swan, Colorado Springs. Ex-officio-Frank Finney, La Junta; J. M. Blaine, Denver. Committee on Auditing-S. G. Kahn, Leadville; C. A. Powers, Denver; Hubert Work, Pueblo. Committee on Necrology-W. W. Reed, Boulder; C. D. Spivak, Denver; H. R. Bull, Grand Junction. Committee on Arrangements-Edward R. Neeper, chairman; C. R. Arnold, D. P. Mayhew, S. E. Solly and W. H. Swan, all of Colorado Springs. CONSTITUENT SOCIETIES OF THE Boulder County Medical Society. San Juan and La Plata County Medical Society. San Luis Valley Medical Society. PROGRESS OF MEDICINE. Neurology and Alienism. Conducted by B. Oettinger, M. D., Denver, Colorado. DIPSOMANIA. Howard (Quarterly Journal of Inebriety, Vol. xxvii, No. 1) says the term dipsomania is a misnomer and is misleading. There is no feverish desire for fluids, but an uncontrollable desire for alcohol that will give relief from intense periodical mental restlessness and physical weakness. Narcomania, characterizing a morbid, uncontrollable demand for a narcotic that will give relief from periodic mental suffering, would be a more correct term. True it is that those victims of unstable nervous equilibrium drink enormous quantities of liquor, but only because this narcotic can be constantly obtained, supplies the morbid craving with that which produces mental hebetude and physical comfort, and can be consumed with apparent safety by the habitue in unlimited amounts. Berkley says delirium tremens frequently follows dipsomaniacal attacks. This has not been the author's experience. True, victims of this nervous explosion seem to be physiologically unaffected by the enormous quantities of alcohol consumed. The individual subject to this disorder, who succumbs to uncontrollable demand for alcohol, is of a type distinguished from the chronic inebriate. Socially and mentally he belongs to the intel lectual and educated class. He is an individual of pronounced mental gifts, intense nervous activity, often a genius. When contented in his periodic attacks by reason of liquor he does not stagger, is not noisy and quarrelsome, but is genial, wasteful of money, and exhibits the exaggerated ego of incipient paresis. Companions he must and will have, seeking those who will listen to his uncontrollable volubility and will drink with him. He frequently uses up a dozen bar-room "bums," who try to consume all the liquor he will pay for, because the true narcomaniac for liquor can absorb enormous quantities of drink without showing any symptoms of acute poisoning, and does not appear in the public hospital, except for treatment of some secondary effect. In the dipsomaniac we have a temporarily heightened mental activity, with loss of inhibitory judgment and will; also companionship is an absolute necessity to complete the cycle of content. In inebriety we have a deadened, sluggish mentality, with physical inertness due to alcoholic poisoning. In the inebriate we often have a chronic or subacute myelitis; in the dipsomaniac, seldom. In the latter, also, alcoholic neuritis and epilepsy are rare. A large percentage of dipsomaniacs are of a gouty diathesis and the pains after attacks are gouty and are not of direct alcoholic effect. BACTERIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS. Hanan (Jour. Med. Soc. of N. J.) says of epidemic cerebro-spinal meniu gitis that this disease is usually associated with one of three organisms, the pneumococcus, the streptococcus, or the diplococcus intracellularis meningitidis of Weichselbaum. In rarer cases the staphylococcus, typhoid bacillus, and other bacteria may be the cause. In the primary sporadic form of meningitis, the meningococcus seems to be the special organism. It is found in fifty per cent. of the cases of epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis, in the nose incoryza, in the conjunctiva, and in the purulent discharge of rhinitis and otitis. The germ is a biscuit-shaped diplococcus resembling the gonococcus, and, like the latter, may be found in protoplasm of the leucocytes. Weichselbaum detected it constantly in sections from the brain and its membranes in cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis. In the exudate, many free cocci may be found. Carl Fraenkel insists that the morphologic pecularities have so much in common with the pneumococcus that the most refined differential methods should precede a positive diagnosis. It stains rapidly by the ordinary aniline dyes, but, according to Weichselbaum and Mallory and Wright, does not stain by Gram's method. This is a real differential point. The culture characteristics of growth are not unlike those of the pneumococcus, streptococcus, or gonococcus, although Osler and Wyman say that the blood-serum culture does not resemble the pneumo coccus. It is not positively known by what channels infection by the meningococcus takes place. Weichselbaum supposes that it is through the nasal, auditory, or other passages, but especially through the nose, where he constantly found it. It Malignant cases may exhibit no characteristic changes anatomically, the brain and cord showing only extreme congestion. As a rule, however, the extent and intensity of the objective lesions correspond to the severity of the symptoms. There is intense injection of the pia-arachnoid. The exudate is usually fibrino-purulent. is exceptional for the disease to be limited to the meninges; it is prone to extend to the underlying parenchyma. The cord is always involved with the brain, the exudate being more abundant on the posterior surface and involving the dorsal and lumbar regions more than the portions above. In acute cases the brain ventricles are usually dilated. In most chronic cases there is generally thickening of the meninges, and there are scattered, yellowish patches marking the location of previous exudate. The ventricles may be distended. The brain substance is perhaps softer than normal, of a pinkish tinge. Hemmorhagic foci and some showing an encephalitis may be found; exceptionally there are cerebral abscesses. The cranial nerves are usually |