character. In combined alcoholic and tubercular disease sharp pains were generally present. Hyperalgesia of the skin was very rare. The tendon reflexes were generally weak or absent altogether. In reconvalescence the patellar reflex returned slowly. Exaggeration of it was observed by Strümpell and Möbius. The cerebral nerves might be diseased. A relatively large number of neuritics suffered from disturbances of vision. As vasomotor disturbances, the author observed a tendency to sweating and oedema. Temporary cyanosis came on in two cases. Bowel or bladder troubles were generally absent or fugitive. As regarded the anatomical condition, the author confirms the opinion of Strümpell as to the simultaneous commencement of both central and peripheral changes. As regards this, Dr. Westphal gives a report of an autopsy of a case in the "Charité Annalen."

The patient, a man, æt. 28, who drank to excess, showed atrophic paralysis of the extremities, disturbances of sensation, oedema, marked deposits of fat, occasional fever and dementia. These symptoms gradually improved. Five years after the commencement of the disease the patient died of phlegmon of the perinæum. The autopsy showed slight poliomyelitis anterior chronica, with participation of Clark's columns, advanced parenchymatous degenerative neuritis resembling that described by Erb of progressive muscular dystrophia.

The anterior roots of the spinal cord were intact.— Med. Press.

EDITORIAL.

[All Unsigned Editorials are written by the Editor.]

First Pan-American Medical Congress, Washington, D. C., September 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th, 1893.-The Section on Nervous and Mental Diseases was well attended, the papers were numerous, from distinguished sources, and the discussions were interesting. The hours were all filled.

The distinguished Doctor Manuel Carmona y Valle, City of Mexico, presented a valuable clinical contribution to the study of the cerebral spastic paralysis of adults, and his younger and talented colleague, the amiable and handsome Rogue Macouzet, M. D., Physician of the Divino Salvador Hospital for the Insane of Mexico, gave an interesting and instructive study of the causes, symptoms and treatment of partial epilepsy worthy of any savant in neurology.

The study of the "Etiological Influence of Hereditary Syphilis on Sclerose en Plaques in Children," by Dr. Louis Moncorvo, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, corresponding member of the Academy of Medicine of Paris, was read by title, the distinguished author not being able to be present. It represents new phases of this interesting subject, and will appear in full, as will likewise the preceding papers, in the "Transactions" and in the ALIENIST AND NEUROLOGIST, of St. Louis.

Dr. Ferd. C. Valentine, of New York, late Surgeon of the Peruvian Army, read a paper on Hypnotism.Does it Menace the Public Weal?" taking the ground. that hypnotism should not be considered an excuse for crime.

An interesting study of "Criminal Anthropology and Social Reform" and the proposals of Lombroso, in Italy; Mr. Havelock, in England; Kern and Lutz, in Germany, was presented by Dr. Abundeo Aceves, of Guadalajara, State of Jalisco, Mexico.

Dr. Salvador Garimdiego, of Guadalajara, Mexico, read a valuable contribution on "Inebriety, Its Causes, Its Effects and the Means Necessary to Curtailing It."

The Section was opened with a Formal Address by the Executive President, Dr. C. H. Hughes, of St. Louis,

which dealt largely with American neurological and psychiatrical advance, reviewing the progress made during the century and epitomizing the work of the past decade. The Address of Welcome (in Spanish) was delivered by Dr. Wm. A. Hammond, of Washington. Other papers were:

"Mental and Organic Coördination," by Dr. Wm. Fuller, of Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Modern and Humane Treatment of the Morphine Disease," by Dr. J. B. Mattison, of Brooklyn.

Dr. Chas. K. Mills contributed a paper on "The Gangliated Nervous System and Some of Its Diseases," which elicited extended discussion and met with general approbation.

"Animal Extract," by Dr. Wm. A. Hammond, of Washington, was an elucidation, in epitome, of this interesting subject.

"The Disease of Inebriety and Its Treatment," by Dr. T. D. Crothers, Hartford, Conn.

46

Erotopathia, Morbid Erotism," by Dr. C. H. Hughes,

St. Louis.

"The Treatment of Nervous Diseases in Sanitariums," by Dr. Jas. K. King, Watkins, N. Y.

"The treatment of Cerebral Hemorrhage," by Dr. D. R. Brower, of Chicago.

"Typical Paretic and Syphilitic Dementia and Tabes Diagnostically Distinguishable," by Dr. E. C. Spitzka, New York City.

"La Renguera," by Dr. Daniel Guiterrez y Arango, Call, Cauca, Columbia, read by title only, author being absent.

"On the Prognosis of Railway Spine," by Dr. F. X. Dercum, Philadelphia.

Paper, by Dr. Jennie McCowen, Davenport, Iowa. Read by title only, as author was unexpectedly summoned away from the meeting.

"A New Type of Neurasthenia," Dr. Chas. L. Dana, New York City. Read by title, author being absent.

The papers of Spitzka, Brown, Hughes, King, Dercum, Hammond, Mattison and Crothers, all presented features that provoked discussion. The time of the session was all taken up with the many excellent papers and the discussions thereon. The attendance was full, and general satisfaction was expressed at the success of this important section of the First Pan-American Medical Congress.

The American Medical Editors.-The American Medical Editors' Association met in Washington, in the large banquet hall of the Arlington hotel on Monday, September 4. The President, Dr. C. H. Hughes, of the ALIENIST AND NEUROLOGIST, read a short and pithy address of welcome to the invited guests, and the versatile Vice-president of the American Medical Association, Dr. I. N. Love, of the Medical Mirror, was toastmaster of the evening. To the toast of "The President of the United States," the Hon. J. Sterling Morton, Secretary of Agriculture, responded in a most happy manner. "The Secular Press," was responded to by Hon, Frank Hatton, editor of the Washington Post; "The American Medical Association," by President J. F. Hibberd; "The Pan-American Medical Congress," by President Pepper; "The Medical Press," by Dr. Hobart A. Hare, of Philadelphia; "The Surgeon-General of the Army," by Ex-Surgeon-General Hammond, General Sternberg being absent; "The Surgeon-General of the Navy," by Ex-Senator John B. Henderson, of Missouri, who gave an interesting account of the purposes and objects of the Pan-American Congress over which he presided last year; "The Public Health," and The Journal of the American Medical Association, by Dr. John B. Hamilton.

The volunteer speeches brought out by the skillful touch of the toastmaster, were many and excellent. Among the most notable of the after-dinner volunteer speeches were those of Dr. Ernest Hart, of the British Medical Journal; Dr. Phillipot, of Jamaica; Dr. Abram Owens, of Evansville, and Dr. Garcelon.

In the intervals between the speeches, Major Stofer, the well-known Washington correspondent, rendered some pleasant musical selections, and Mr. Seabrooke, the actor, gave one of his characteristic recitations.

As the evening waned, it dawned upon some of the invited guests that American medical editors knew how to enjoy themselves, and take a few hours of recreation, as well as any other class of Pan-American citizens.

Altgeld, Governor.-This name means old money, but it should have meant old times, back number, old fogy. The age is ahead of this Illinois governor. He is behind the times, the people do not approve his partisan course toward the worthy medical superintendents of Kankakee. An insane hospital, with its mentally-maimed

victims of misfortune, is no legitimate part of the spoils of political victory. Political friend and foe alike demand political non-intervention with these institutions. The welfare of their inmates demand skilled medical supervision and care and no political questions asked.

Governor Altgeld, you have made the mistake of your life. It will not be forgotten that you fired your political hot shot into a hospital for the insane of your own State. The doctors of Illinois are against you. Humanity cries out against the inhuman deed. The medical and moral sentiment of the cultured and humane world is against you.

Sein Name ist Altgeld, aber noch lange kein neues Geld fuer medizinische Zeitschrifte. Mit dem Publikum ist so alt' Geld ausgespielt.

Charcot.-"I will now go to rest. I will finish to-morrow," were the last words of the Clinician of Salpêtrière and Master in Neurology, whose recent demise the medical world laments. When will France see his like again? He enriched her neurology and some phases of her psychiatry beyond all precedent and made the French capital famous the world over as the home of the world's greatest neurologist. He enriched the literature of neurology in many of its most interesting phases beyond the contributions of any other physician. The psychic and spastic features of hysteria, the scleroses and paralyses were especially enriched by him in their varied symptomatology and in their pathology. Apoplexy, asthma, tabes, aphasia and the wonderful features of hypnotic trance were particularly illumined by him. His name is allied for all time with French neurology.

If French surgeons and teachers of general medicine had done for their departments what Charcot has done for neurology, Paris would have continued supreme as a medical center, as she was in the palmiest days of Louis Napoleon.

Charcot, if not confessedly the greatest, was at least the most famous of the world's neurologists, and as such, he takes his place among the immortals. He has gone to rest, and will finish his work to-morrow, in the abiding example of his industry and his genius upon the coming generations.

Jean Charcot's parentage was humble, but the talents. and industry of his early life readily surmounted every