supposed cures, by the use of X-rays, or by Violet rays, or by Violets themselves, are reported, but that seems to be the end of it. Lately, a rather novel cure has been announced which is backed up by the corroborative statement of Dr. Van Leyden, of Berlin, which is as follows:

"It is a possible way of curing cancer which springs, strangely enough, from one of the most recent discoveries, with regard to the propagation of malaria on the one hand and one of the earliest recorded observations by physicians as regards malaria on the other. Hippocrates handed down to posterity the inexplicable bit of observation that persons with the falling sickness' who contracted the quartan fever which we have every reason to believe was malaria, became cured of the more violent disease.' Similar observations were made in the middle ages and duly recorded without the reasons for this singular fact being understood. Thus one disease drives out the other."

With regard to cancer, modern observers have noticed that it does not attack people who live in malarious regions. It is said to be almost unknown in China. Putting this fact together with the observations of the old Greek physicians and those of observers in the later middle ages, Dr. Loeffler asked the question whether the malarious germ would not conquer the germ of cancer. The reasoning seems all the more plausible because the dwindling of malarious cases seems to be proceeding hand in hand with the increase of cancer. If the reasoning is correct, cancer ought to be cured by malaria, in one way or another; for instance, by injecting the blood of a person suffering from malaria into the veins of a cancerous patient. Here the recent study of the propagation of malaria by the sting of mosquitos which have been sucking the blood of malarious persons, comes opportunely to hand. According to Dr. Van Leyden's statements in the German papers, the experiments in this direction promise good results. He thinks that we

have in the malaria germ a means to counteract that of cancer, while Dr. Koch's experiments have shown that by examining the blood of a patient in whom malaria has been developed, we can tell when to cure the malaria by the judicious use of quinine. We are, therefore, no longer in the position of trying to cure one disease by inoculating the sufferer with another, over which we have no control. Whatever successes have been attained, in curing cancer of the surface by the use of X-rays, it cannot be asserted that by that means, cures have been made of deep-lying cancers. In the treatment by malaria germs, however, we have a weapon that goes to the seat of the trouble. Whatever it may be, Dr. Van Leyden thinks that cancer is rarely, if ever, hereditary, but he does think that it can be communicated from person to person. It will be a great triumph for science if this hopeful view of the treatment of cancer proves true.

In closing, I do not wish to overlook the vast progress made in the past year in the treatment and handling of tuberculous patients; this being perhaps one of the most important of the past year's history of the progress in medicine, but trust this great work may continue from which benefit must necessarily accrue.

A CASE OF TRAUMATIC TETANUS SUCCESS

FULLY TREATED BY ANTI-TETANIC

SERUM.

GOULD A. SHELTON, M.D.,

SHELTON.

When, in the helpless track of a cyclonic force, some safe opposing shelter, unmovably strong, offers itself, one can but mark that spot, and by some unmistakable sign record for others the value of another avenue of escape.

I will briefly speak to-day of this opposing refuge, which is offered to us, struggling as we sometimes are with the unyielding terror that confronts us in cases of traumatic tetanus,-a refuge securely taken under the kindly protective force of the tetanic antitoxin serum.

In this we have nothing freshly new, and yet as a specific remedy for traumatic tetanus there seems to be some doubt as to its trustful efficacy, hence all cases with curative results can but be of some refreshing interest to us all.

It is not my purpose to attempt any discussion of this peculiar bacillus or to follow the wanderings of the toxine among the nerve cells as they marshal their forces for their villainous attack, but to simply tell of the happy outcome of a typical case of traumatic tetanus, under the treatment of the anti-tetanic serum.

On September 19th, William J., aged fourteen years, when at play in a neighboring house, fell down a cellar stairway to the earth flooring, receiving by contact with a glass beer bottle, an incised wound on the palmar end of the third finger of the right hand. The kind neighbor washed the finger, and having wrapped it with

materal at hand, the boy continued his play for the remainder of the day, and at evening received the usual remedies of home treatment again.

On the ninth day following the injury, when returning from a drive to New Haven, the boy complained of stiffness in his back, with an increasing rigidity of the jaws. The wound so slight had passed from the thought of the family, in fact, had completely healed, and his accident with them, did not enter in a causative way into this new trouble. Through carelessness in the delivery of the message calling me to the case, I did not see the patient until the third day following the early sysmptoms of the disease.

The tetanic convulsions with increasing severity had for three days held the boy in their rigid embrace, before any agency had come to his rescue. The serum was not at hand, and could not be obtained at home nor in any of the near surrounding cities, so two days more passed by before it was available. At last it came, and this only hope, and that too in weakened confidence, was given the leadership.

Each day of the disease brought increased convulsions, both in the frequency and severity, until they averaged one every five minutes, and even oftener, upon the slightest cause.

During the period preceding the serum treatment, no time was lost in the prompt and persistent use of the sodium and potassium bromides, together with chloral hydrat, to obtain sleep. While the chloral induced short periods of rest, there was such a disturbance of the heart, that it became unsafe to continue it in order to obtain even temporary relief.

Up to the commencement of the serum treatment, no progress toward recovery had been made, while on the contrary, every symptom with increasing severity threatened an unfavorable ending.

Through the fortunate loss of one tooth liquid food in

sufficient quantity to support the patient was adminis tered, thus maintaining a very satisfactory amount of strength.

At nine P.M., October 5th, I administered hypodermati cally 10 c. c. of Park Davis & Co.'s preparation of the anti-tetanic serum. The shock disturbed him to such a degree that chloroform to a partial anesthesia was resorted to, at each injection thereafter, with more pleas ing results.

On the following day, October 6th, three treatments were given, at 10:30 A.M., 5 and 11 P.M. A favorable change on the second day of the serum treatment was clearly marked, through the longer intervals between the convulsions, with lessened severity, and more quiet sleep.

On October 7th, two treatments were given, at 10:30 A.M. and 11 P.M., respectively. At this stage, the evidence of positive relief was most marked, and on October 8th, the fourth day of serum treatment, the improvement having continued uninterruptedly, the concluding hypodermic dose was given at 11 P.M.

The muscular rigidity gradually diminished, noticeably so, in localities. First the masseter muscles were found to yield, then the right arm, followed by a relief of contractions in the right leg, the back, the abdomen, and the left leg, respectively.

From this time on, each day presented encouraging symptoms. Restful sleep lent its aid, the appetite returned, tonics and mild nervines gave their restorative assistance, and my note of October 17th, records the patient, as eating and sleeping well, with no symptoms of tetanus remaining, beyond a little stiffness of the mus cles of the left hip. The patient was under the care of an intelligent and well-trained nurse, whose observations were reliable, and every symptom was carefully noted. Immediately previous to the anti-toxin treat