Dr. Gilchrist said that, according to the leading pathologists, moles are incomplete sarcomata- growths from the wall of either the lymphatics or the blood-vessels. Unna stands alone in saying that the structure of a mole is derived from the epidermis, and, therefore, is of epithelial origin. The speaker said that he had excised a pigmented mole from the abdomen of a child, and several also from adults. The mole from the child showed nests of cells in the epidermis. His own observations, therefore, confirmed the view held by Unna. From this it follows that since the cells of the tissue forming the mole are of epidermal origin, the malignant growth of such a tissue must be carcinoma. In this view Dr. Welch concurs. It must be borne in mind, then, that the malignant growth of a mole is not a melanotic sarcoma, but a carcinoma. Dr. Abel has recently shown that the pigment in the negro is a very complex body, and that a granule remains after isolating the pigment. This granule contains iron. The pigment when separated is found to be free from iron. The conclusion is, that the pigment in melanotic growths and in the negro's skin is not derived from the blood but alterations in the protoplasm itself. Certain Italian observers claim that the bodies found in cancer are blastomyces and are allied to the yeast fungus, but these bodies are not constantly present, and they are found in benign growth and in many other lesions of the skin. Moreover, no pure culture has been obtained from cancer, and attempts to reproduce undoubted cancer from the supposed parasite have so far proved unsuccessful.

Dr. Duhring said that there seemed to be good reasons for believing that moles are of epidermal origin, and hence he was surprised that so many pathologists took a different view.

Dr. Hartzell accepted Dr. Gilchrist's view, and spoke of the extreme malignancy of these melanotic growths.

Dr. Stelwagon said that he had faithfully tried the effect of treating these cases by the hypodermic injection of arsenic, but with an entirely negative result.

Dr. White expressed the opinion that it would take more than a few cases to successfully oppose the view that it is not possible for a mole to subsequently give rise to pigmented sarcoma.

Dr. Fordyce said that he had given some attention to the study of excised moles, and while he believed that the majority of pigmented tumors originate from the lowermost cells of the epidermis, in certain cases there appeared to be a mixed tumor. If this observation were correct, it would reconcile the conflicting opinions of the pathologists.

Dr. Johnston agreed with Dr. Fordyce that a sarcomatous mole might develop from the mesoderm, just as a carcinomatous mole might arise from the ectoderm.

Dr. A. R. Robinson, of New York, was inclined to agree with Unna's view of the origin of the pigmented form, but he said he was under the impression that white moles are derived from the lymphatic system, and present no evidence of epithelial structure.

Dr. Hyde said that the word sarcoma had been used quite indefinitely in the past, so that it was probable that the pathologists were in error, not in their recognition of the nature of pigmented moles, but in their interpretation of the phenomena which they describe as sarcomatous.

Dr. Gilchrist, in closing the discussion, touched on the question of prognosis. He stated that early and complete excision before the occurrence of metastasis should effect a cure. He could not understand how there could be a mixed tumor, as all the cells in a mole are of epidermal origin.-Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.

THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONDITION OF OUR SOLDIERS.-It is with the greatest pleasure that we quote in extenso in another column a leading article from the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal for September Ist. It embraces so fully, and expresses so aptly, the views on this subject that we hold and have expressed all through, particularly in regard to the fatuity of thinking that soldering consists simply of pugnacity on the military side, and an acquaintance with mere technical work on the departmental side, differing in no wise from the same technical work as applied to masses in civil life, that we give it in full. We further desire heartily to indorse the statement that it is the regulars who win the battles, in this as in every country, while the volunteers often unfairly come in for the lion's share of glory and public sympathy. The soldier is more than a mere fighter; to be of any good he must be a technically scientific fighter; and this applies especially to the superior officers. The recent splendid achievement of Sir Herbert Kitchener in the Soudan shows what can be done by a military scientist. Here was a large force operating in a desert country as evil in one way as was Cuba in another, landed with practically no casualties or sickness at the fighting point; and fierce as the fighting undoubtedly was, the British loss was insignificant, while that of the Arabs was enormous. Moreover, in the midst of the desert the medical arrangements worked to perfection. Why? Because Sir Herbert Kitchener and his staff knew that questions of camp sanitation, personal hygiene, and care of his men, even such details as investigating the condition of their shoes, the proper time to rest, the safe amount of marching, the need of carriers and attendants, etc., are as much a part of the soldier's training and duty as personal courage, discipline, and tactical skill on the field of battle.-New York Medical Journal.

THE SPREAD OF DISEASE BY FLIES.-The Medical Record of September 17th publishes an interesting letter from Dr. M. A. Veeder concerning the spread of disease through flies. This danger he considers greater than from impure water-supply:

"To illustrate, the writer has seen fecal matter in shallow trenches open to the air, with the merest apology for disinfection and only lightly covered with earth at intervals of a day or two. In sultry weather this

material, fresh from the bowel and in its most dangerous condition, was covered with myriads of flies, and at a short distance there was a tent, equally open to the air, for dining and cooking. To say that the flies were busy travelling back and forth between these two places is putting it mildly.

"To clinch the argument, and apparently leave no loop-hole for escape, I have made cultures of bacteria from fly-tracks and from the excrement of flies, and there seems to be not the slightest difficulty in so doing. Indeed the evidence of every sort is so clear that I have about reached the conclusion that the conveyance of infection in the manner indicated is the chief factor in decimating the army. Certainly, so far as it is known to the writer, nothing adequate has been said about it in current discussions. On the contrary, there have been intimations of the existence of ideas that are positively dangerous, if what has been here said is true. There is no doubt that air and sunlight kill infection if given time, but their very access gives opportunity for the flies to do serious mischief as conveyers of fresh infection wherever they put their feet. In a very few minutes they may load themselves with the dejections from a typhoid or dysenteric patient, not as yet sick enough to be in the hospital or under observation, and carry the poison into the very midst of the food and water ready for use at the next meal. There is no long, roundabout process involved. It is very plain and direct, and yet when thousands of lives are at stake in this way the danger passes unnoticed, and the consequences seem mysterious until attention is directed to the point; then it becomes simple enough in all conscience."Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE THIRD PAN-AMERICAN MEDICAL Congress.Cincinnati, November 5, 1898. My Dear Sir: I have the honor to announce that in April, 1898, I received from Dr. José Manuel de los Rios, Chairman of the Committee on Organization of the Third Pan-American Medical Congress, a request that, in consequence of the then existing rebellion in Venezuela, no definite arrangements be made at that time relative to the meeting of the Congress previously appointed to be held in Caracas in December, 1899.

The following communication relative to the same subject is just at hand: Caracas, September 25, 1898. Dr. Charles A. L. Reed, Secretary of the International Executive Commission, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Sir: After having sent my communication dated April last, I find it to be my duty to notify you that, although the considerations pointed out in it have already ended, our country has been scourged by smallpox, which has taken up all our physicians' activities and time, depriving them of going into scientific works. And, as that state of mind of our people and government, after such calamities as war and epidemic, would greatly interfere with the good success of our next meeting, I beg leave to tell you, in order you will convey it to the International Executive Committee, that our

Government and this Commission would be grateful to have the meeting which was to take place in Caracas in December, 1899, adjourned for one year later. I am, dear Doctor, Yours respectfully, THE PRESIDENT.

In accordance with the request of the Government of Venezuela, and of the Committee on Organization, the Third Pan-American Medical Congress is hereby postponed to meet in Caracas in December, 1900.

For the International Executive Commission.

CHARLES A. L. REED, Secretary.

ACTINOMYCOSIS IN MAN.-Fantino (Rif. Med., April 20, 21, and 22, 1898) records nine cases of actinomycosis in man, of which one was fatal. The upper jaw was the seat of disease in one of the cases, the lower jaw in five, the neck in one, and the abdomen in two. In all the facial cases dental caries was present, which probably favored the localization of the disease. No foreign bodies were found in any of the diseased masses. Contracture of the masseters occurred in three of the cases. Pain was not by any means a constant or marked symptom. Fever was slight or even absent. The difficulty of finding the actinomycetes, especially in the latter stages of the disease, was well exemplified; in one of the cases they could not be found until after three months, although repeatedly looked for. Generally they are more easily found in the early stages of the disease, when fortunately the most can be done for the patient. The author points out some of the cardinal features of the disease and the way it differs from chronic inflammation, tubercle, carcinoma, syphilis, and other conditions. To show that actinomycosis in man is not so rare as is commonly supposed, the author has tabulated thirty-nine cases published in Italy since 1882, not counting the nine now reported by him.-British Medical Journal.

SMALLPOX AT Johannesburg.-According to the Medical Press the spread of smallpox at Johannesburg, South Africa, is reported to be causing much anxiety, and the presence of a large proportion of unvaccinated and therefore unprotected foreigners renders it exceedingly difficult to circumscribe its ravages. The last news to hand is that the Town Council is at loggerheads with the Smallpox Committee in its endeavor to secure the sanitary management of the town.-Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.

THE INTERNAL SECRETION OF THE TONSILS.-Dr. G. Masini (Chinica medica italiana, May, 1898; Gazette hebdomadaire de médecine et de chirurgie, August 14th) has been experimenting with an extract of the tonsil of the dog and that of the calf. After administering subcutaneously to a guineapig seven or eight grains of the extract for each kilogramme of the animal's weight, he has found a notable increase of arterial pressure, with characteristic oscillations like those following the use of suprarenal extract.

is not maintained very long, and it is followed by a drop to less than the normal pressure. At the same time the action of the left ventricle is accelerated and then retarded. Extracts of tonsils that had long been inflamed or hyperplastic proved of no effect. The author concludes that one of the functions of the tonsil is to furnish an internal secretion capable of causing augmentation of the arterial pressure.-New York Medical Journal.

THE BACTERIOLOGY OF THE BLOOD IN DISEASE.--In a contribution to the study of the bacteriology of the blood in disease (Report of the Presbyterian Hospital, New York) Drs. James and Tuttle adduce, after elaborate investigation, the following conclusions: (1) The attempt to cultivate bacteria from the blood of living persons is useless unless carried out in a painstaking way, and with thorough antiseptic precautions, and with blood drawn directly from a vein. (2) The number of diseases in which this procedure is useful is small. (3) In malignant endocarditis it is of great value; in other septic diseases of moderate value, and in typhoid fever it may, on rare occasions, prove of some use. In other morbid conditions its usefulness has not yet been proved.-British Medical Journal.

DEATH AT THE AGE OF ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR YEARS.-Mrs. Zoe Josephine Treville died at Riverhead, Long Island, on September 10th, at the age of one hundred and four years, five months and three days. She was a native of France, but was brought to this country by her parents when a child of five years. She enjoyed excellent health until within a few months of her death.-Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.

A TALL SOLDIER.-One of the first patients admitted to the new army hospital on Liberty or Bedloe's Island was a Californian, a member of the Sixteenth Regiment of Regular Infantry, who is a veritable giant, his height being given at six feet eight and one-quarter inches. He was brought with a number of others from Montauk, and it required two cots to make him comfortable.-Ibid.

THE HUMAN BRAIN.-A German biologist has calculated that the human brain contains 300,000,000 nerve-cells, 5,000,000 of which die and are succeeded by new ones every day. At this rate, assuming the correctness of the German's guess, we get an entirely new brain every sixty days. Ibid.

A DOCTOR'S DEGREE FOR A WOMAN.-The University of Genoa has given its M. D. to Miss E. Bonomi, which is said to be the first time the degree has been given to a woman by an Italian university.—Ibid.

NEW DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEE DUPUYTREN.-M. Pilliet has been appointed Director of the Musée Dupuytren, which contains the anatomical collections of the medical faculty at Paris.-Ibid.