mœopathic Medical Society shows the feeling of the profession in that neighborhood: —

Propositions for membership from members of the Faculty of the new college, which were presented at a previous meeting, were voted upon, and rejected.

The committee, consisting of Drs. Osborne, Wage, and Stumpf, appointed at the last meeting to prepare and report a preamble and resolutions expressive of the feeling of the society towards the proposed new medical college, presented the following, which were read by the chairman, Dr. Osborne : —

WHEREAS, The Homœopathic Medical Society has learned through the daily papers and otherwise, that certain individuals have promulgated the scheme of an institution to be established in this city under the title of the Homœopathic College of Physicians and Surgeons - Modern School, and

WHEREAS, Such assumption of pseudo-homoeopathic principles is reprehensible in those who by their acts and theories show forth an inclination to subvert and degrade the therapeutic law of homœopathy, be it

Resolved, That we, ignoring and discountenancing this ill-starred project, fostered by men, the majority of whom are not recognized as homœopathic practitioners by this society, most earnestly protest against the usurpation and adoption of the name of homeopathy in this connection; and be it

Resolved, That we warn our professional brethren in homoeopathy and homœopathic patrons generally, against this attempt, as being uncalled for, deceptive, and non-homœopathic; and be it further

Resolved, That the project for a proposed college, assuming to represent homoopathy, does not receive the approval of the Homœopathic Medical Society of Erie County.

On motion, the report was received, and after some discussion the preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted as the sense of the society. After the transaction of some routine business, the meeting adjourned.

D. B. STUMPF, M. D.,

Sec. Erie Co. Hom. Med. Soc.

We have been informed that one of the professors is vice-president of Dr. Pierce's World's Dispensary, a quack enterprise which advertises in almost every paper in the country among other wonderful remedies, "P. P. P. P." (Pierce's Pleasant Purgative Pellets). We are also told on good authority that the character of the new enterprise is such that not one of the older homœopathic physicians, and not any of four years' residence in Buffalo, could be induced to take a chair in it.

The new Faculty announce that, besides homoeopathy, they will "teach the manner of using those therapeutical agents which the experience of ages has proven remedial and not unfrequently indispensable, such as purgatives, vermifuges, injections, astringents, protectives, alteratives, emollients, tonics, stimulants, sedatives, anodynes, soporifics, emetics, etc., etc. In short, we purpose making our curriculum of study as thorough and scientific as any school in the Union." Really, they must be uncommonly smart men to do all

this in sixteen weeks in each year, when the best schools now in existence find it necessary to spend eight or nine months. Their first lecture takes place Nov. 5, 1879, and Commencement comes Feb. 26, 1880.

In the midst of considerable high-sounding talk and large promises, occurs the following sentence. Did they build wiser than they knew, or is it a sly double entendre? "The Provident and Free Medical and Surgical Dispensaries are in the college building [Where? It is only a small, one-story edifice], and afford [What! already?] rare [italics ours] opportunities for the student to study the pathology of the great variety of diseases that are daily presented." "Rare opportunities" is pretty good. The very low fees ($50 per year, or $90 for perpetual ticket) may attract a few cheap students, but we should advise those who want a good, thorough education, and not merely a diploma, to go elsewhere.

DR. KAVALGIAN'S letter will interest, we think, not only his fellowstudents and classmates (1875) of the Boston University School of Medicine, with whom he was quite popular, but also the profession generally. It is not often that we hear directly from such a country as Asia Minor, and that, too, from one who has gone out from among us and knows how to contrast that life with ours. We hope we are betraying no confidence in publishing the following extract from one of his letters: "Dear brother, take into consideration the construction of an Oriental mind, and you will believe me when I tell you how I am attached to my Alma Mater. My respect and veneration for her you will perhaps laugh at, when I confess that I kissed the threshold of the college door, when I made my last visit there before leaving America." He is working in Turkey for the moral as well as the physical good of his people. We all wish him success.

THE seventh annual announcement and catalogue of the BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE shows this school to be in a vigorous and prosperous condition. The following extract from its circular presents in a condensed form its position and claims :—

"For several years prior to the founding of this school there had been a profound dissatisfaction with the state of medical education in this country. This dissatisfaction seemed to be shared by every branch of the profession, whatever its principles or practice. The laxity of the existing schools with respect to the qualifications of students for admission, the period of their attendance, the conditions of promotion, and of admission to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, were almost universally felt to

be disgraceful. During the decade immediately preceding 1873, several praiseworthy efforts were made in some of the stronger institutions to correct one or another of these perceived defects, but in no case was it attempted to correct them all. The Boston University School of Medicine was the first to present in combination the following essential elements of a thorough reform in this department of education: "First. The requirement that the candidate for admission must either present the diploma of a Bachelor of Arts or pass a suitable entrance examination.

"Second. The provision of a carefully graded course of instruction, covering at least three scholastic years.

"Third. The requirement that every student pass a successful examination upon the work of each year before promotion to the next.

"Fourth. The requirement, as a condition of graduation, not merely that the candidate shall have studied medicine at least three full years, but that he shall have attended a reputable medical school for three years.

Fifth. The abolition of all sex disabilities either in teaching or learning.

"The unexampled success which has attended the new institution is sufficient evidence that the attempted reform is fully sustained by the public sentiment of the country. Encouraged by this support, the authorities of the school announced in the spring of 1878 other advance measures, to wit: —

"I.

The extension of the annual lecture term, from five months to the full university year.

66 2. The provision of two optional Four Years' Courses for those who wish to pursue their professional studies with exceptional thoroughness, and with suitable leisure for collateral reading; and

"3. The restoration of the long-lost degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, to be attained by those who take a four years' course at the end of the third year."

These last changes were made deliberately, and with the prospect of two results: first, much more thorough and satisfactory teaching; second, a diminished number of students. Both results have been reached ; but while the diminution of students was less than was expected, the opportunities for good teaching have been so much better that the permanence of the new features will undoubtedly be secured. Of course, such a departure from the old system of teaching, especially the thorough application of the three (and even four) years' graded course, with separate instruction for each class (as is the custom in public schools and academic colleges), instead of the old-fashioned repetition, year after year, of a single set of lectures for all students, whether just beginning or about to graduate, involves an enormous amount of extra work, which can be done properly only by a large Faculty. The best allopathic schools, recognizing this fact, have of late years doubled, trebled, and even quadrupled their teaching forces. The full Faculty of the school under consideration now numbers thirty-two men and women, who feel a deep interest in its welfare. They have all diligently sought to fit themselves for teaching practically, as well as theoretically, what

ever comes within their province. Sixteen of them (fully one half) have, in addition to a thorough course of study and graduation in this country, further pursued their investigations in European schools and hospitals. There has never been a time since the organization of the school when such harmony and unison have existed as at the present. Each year brings some necessary changes in the Faculty, and among these this year we note the addition of Dr. Martha J. Flanders of Lynn, whose long experience and practical success eminently fit her for instruction in "Diseases of Children"; Dr. E. U. Jones of Taunton, who will undoubtedly give a valuable course on "Sanitary Science"; Dr. Samuel Worcester of Salem, who will lecture on a subject that generally receives too little attention, "Insanity and its Jurisprudence"; and Dr. F. L. Radcliffe of Lynn, who will assist the Chair of Obstetrics. In surgery, Dr. James B. Bell of Augusta, Me., will give lectures on "Special Operations"; while a course on "Surgical Anatomy" will be given by Dr. A. Boothby of Boston. These, with the other lectures on surgery, will make this department more complete than it has ever been before. Anatomy will be taught (with the assistance of Drs. Payne and Church) by Dr. Hastings, who for six years has filled the positions of assistant demonstrator, demonstrator, and lecturer on anatomy. Chemistry will be taught by Chas. R. Fletcher, S. B., a graduate of the Institute of Technology, who has continued his studies under some of the most noted chemists of Europe. The laboratory has been thoroughly refitted with apparatus just imported, and no pains will be spared to give instruction of the greatest practical importance to the physician.

Altogether, the outlook of the school was never so bright as it is now, and every homœopathic physician should do what he can to sustain these efforts to make it the best medical school in the country.

On Friday, Sept. 12, Capt. J. W. Phillips, of the well-known and popular steamer "Empire State," which for the last two summers has been making daily pleasure excursions from Boston to Provincetown, Isles of Shoals, Gloucester, Pigeon Cove, etc., etc., tended a complimentary excursion to the members of the Massachusetts Homœopathic Medical Society, with their ladies. Owing to the lateness of the season, the party numbered only about one hundred, although those who went enjoyed it to the full, the day being lovely, and the water, although pleasantly rippled with waves, being so smooth that nobody was sick. Off Baker's Island the steamer came to a stop, and the party was entertained by the interesting performances of Capt. Paul Boyton in his

rubber suit in the water, building a raft, fishing, cooking and eating his dinner, smoking, firing off a gun, rockets, blue-lights, etc., saving a small boy's life (the same boy is miraculously saved every day), blowing up a ship with a torpedo, etc., etc. Music was furnished by the American Band, which always accompanies the steamer. A special entertainment was provided by the indefatigable secretary, Dr. N. R. Morse, consisting of a great variety of very good music by the Ryerson family and others, elocutionary readings by Edward Everett Parker, an address by Col. Fisher, secretary of the Homœopathic Yellow Fever Relief Association of New Orleans, a poetical effusion by Dr. Norton, and remarks by Drs. Sherman, Scales, Scott, and others.

Besides the homoeopathic fraternity, there were also many allopathic physicians on board. Indeed, this day had been especially selected by the medical profession, irrespective of school, to testify to Capt. Phillips their appreciation of his generosity in giving them free tickets on his fine steamer. The "slight token" was a handsome French clock, with vases to match, of bronze and marble. The presentation speech was made by Dr. W. H. Page of Boston. Dr. Samuel Worcester of Salem acted as secretary. Capt. Phillips replied in a very pleasant manner. On the whole, the day was a most enjoyable one for all concerned.

THE September number of the "Cincinnati Medical Advance" contains the entire proceedings of the Ohio Homœopathic Medical Society, being swelled out to one hundred and forty pages. It will be sent to any address on receipt of twenty-five cents.

CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR LETTER FROM TURKEY.

Dear Gazette: -We have had a very hard time in every respect for the last two or three years. Of course you know all about the war, and the troubles of our country. We Christians especially have suffered very much, because the Turks have always regarded us as allies of Russia. You must have heard about the terrible massacre the poor Christians suffered in Bulgaria and Armenia proper. Thank God, we did not have any loss of life in this our part of the kingdom, on account of our being very near the capital, where the influence of the Christian powers of Europe is very strong. But we also have had our share of the general misfortune. Hordes of Circassians and Zeibeks