It is one of the principles and traditions most rigidly held by those who style themselves "regular" practitioners of medicine that the medical service of the United States, with its emoluments and honors, must be preserved from every taint of heresy, and that all who enter the government service must be protected from those who cure the sick by any method different from their own. Even in the stress of our national conflict, when brave, self-sacrificing men, crowded in the hospitals and lying on the field, were suffering and dying for lack of attendance, this duty of protection was not forgotten. Through all that time of distress the efforts of those in control were unremitting to shield the sick and wounded from the care of all who differed from themselves in medical theory. We know the cases, which then went upon record, where the urgent call for help was answered by surgeons whose skill and experience were well attested; whose education embraced too much rather than too little; whose examinations, when they were permitted to take them, were passed with honor; and who yet were repeatedly denied the privilege of serving, for the sole reason that their medical theories varied from the selfaffixed standard of those in power, though their abilities marked them for distinguished service.

In the years which have passed since then, many changes have taken place. The army and the navy have almost disappeared, and the number of positions to be filled by medical men in the government service is comparatively small. The principles of justice, however, remain the same, and unjust discriminations before the law, even in individual cases, are as worthy of redress

as ever.

To test the principles which now govern appointments to the medical corps in the various branches of the naval, military, and civil service, the chairman of the Bureau of Medical Legislation

of the American Institute of Homœopathy, J. C. Morgan, M. D., of Philadelphia, addressed a letter to the Hon. Chas. O'Neill, M. C., as follows: "Dear Sir,- Will you kindly inform me, first, if the Honorable Secretary of the Navy authorizes a discrimination between the diplomas of homoeopathic medical colleges in good legal standing and those of the allopathic or so-called "regular" school, in the admission of candidates to examination for the medical corps of the navy; and, second, if a graduate of a regular" medical college, who shall avow himself an adherent of homoeopathy, will be admitted to examination, and to appointment on proving himself possessed of the required amount of knowledge?"

This letter was referred to Secretary Chandler, of the navy, and the following extract from his reply explains itself: "I beg leave to say the matter was referred to the chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, who reports that no discrimination is made in favor of or against any school. The only requirements of the department are, that a candidate, in addition to his moral and physical qualifications, shall possess the necessary professional and literary knowledge to enable him to pass the established examination." This is all that can be desired, and indicates the liberality and regard for justice which governed Surgeon-General Wales in his decision. Homoeopathy in the

navy rests, then, upon the basis of knowledge.

When we turn our attention to the military service, however, we find quite a different aspect. Two letters were sent by the Hon. Chas. O'Neill to the Secretary of War, presenting, in separate form, the same two questions which were propounded to the Secretary of the Navy. These were in turn referred to Surgeon-General Barnes, and two letters were received from him in reply. From their spirit we might imagine ourselves back again in war times. In reply to the first question, after explaining that "the term 'regular' as applied to a medical school, has no relation to its legal standing," he says: "The knowledge which a medical officer of the army should possess to enable him to properly discharge the important and responsible duties which devolve upon him, and to make use of the means of treatment which are provided by the department, can only be obtained at a regular medical school; and it is not considered worth while to waste the time of the Army Medical Examining Boards, or to induce young men to incur useless expense, by extending invitations to appear before such boards, to those who cannot furnish evidence that they have at least had an opportunity to obtain the knowledge required." And in reply to the second question, he writes to the Secretary of War: " Sir,-I have the honor to state that it is not considered desirable to introduce in the army the practice of

homoeopathy, hydropathy, botanicism, physico-medicalism, or any other sectarian and exclusive system of medicine. The fact that a candidate has a knowledge of the dogmas of any or all of these systems would be no bar to his admission to the medical corps of the army; but the fact that he avowed his adhesion to some one of these would indicate that he is not suited to the position of a medical officer, nor, in my opinion, would he be acceptable to a large majority of those for whom medical attendance is provided by the government." An appeal from this decision of the Surgeon-General, made to the Secretary of War, had received no response at the time when Dr. Morgan made his report to the American Institute. This, then, is the relation of homoeopathy to the military service, so far, at least, as the Surgeon-General is concerned. Knowledge, in this case, in no way enters into the problem, as not even an examination will be permitted.

In regard to the other departments, a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, asking the same questions in regard to appointments in the marine-hospital service, received no answer; while for the medical staff of the Pension Office, the believer in homœopathy was found to be perfectly eligible.

Upon the report of these facts concerning the relation of homoopathy to the government service, the American Institute took action unanimously as follows:

"Resolved, That the subject of the rejection of homoeopathic physicians from service as surgeons in the United States army, as distinctly stated by Surgeon General Barnes in his correspondence with Dr. J. C. Morgan, be referred to the Committee on Medical Legislation, with power to act in the name of this national body.”

The obvious method of procedure was, of course, to introduce into Congress the proper measure, resembling somewhat the British Medical Act of 1858 (Section XXIII.),* and to secure its passage. The following was accordingly framed :

"JOINT RESOLUTION RELATIVE TO SCHOOLS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE GRADUATES THEREOF.

"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars and dismissal from office, for any officer of the United States government, civil, military, or naval, to make discrimination in favor of or against any school of medical practice, or its legal dipolmas, or its duly and legally graduated members, in the examination and appointment of candidates to medical service in any of the departments of the government.

* See British Journal of Homœopathy, April 1, 1882.

"SECT. 2. That all such examinations shall be open to the attendance and witness of all physicians, citizens of the United States, and that duly certified copies of the complete records of all the details of said examinations shall be placed on file in the office of the librarian of Congress, subject to the inspection and use of members of Congress."

This resolution was introduced, in July last, by the Hon. Chas. O'Neill, M. C., of Philadelphia, in the House of Representatives (by unanimous consent), and in the Senate (also by unanimous consent), by the Hon. J. Donald Cameron. It received two readings in each House, and was referred to the proper committees, in whose hands it is resting.

The winter session of Congress is now approaching, and this measure, which is of such immense importance to homœopathy, will be brought up for the third reading and passage. The committee of the Institute have thus far accomplished everything, but in this final work the assistance of the profession at large is needed, and should be promptly and heartily given. In the various districts throughout the country personal appeals should be made, enlisting the interest and securing the support of all members of Congress, and especially of the gentlemen forming the committees which have this matter in immediate charge. Petitions to both Houses will soon be in circulation; and these should be presented to influential people everywhere, for signatures. Societies, in all sections of the country, should show their interest collectively by the passage of appropriate resolutions, as was done by our Boston society a few evenings since. Above all, this work should be done at once. Opposition is already exhibited by the journals of the old school, and is to be expected in increasing measure; but a firm front and an earnest effort at this time will secure for homœopathy its rightful place in the government service.

ANOTHER REMEDY TO PROVE.

THE attention of our readers was called last month, in an article translated from the August number of L'Art Médical, to a new remedy, which bids fair to occupy an important place in the pharmacopoeia; at least it is so estimated in the old school, and is considered worthy of pretty thorough tests in their laboratories and of clinical application in many serious cases.

This remedy is the Convallaria majalis, and is receiving prominent mention, just now, in allopathic journals, both here and abroad. Among the earlier notices of the drug which appeared in this country were four articles in the Therapeutic Gazette of October, 1881. One of these, by Ralph D'Ary, M. D., is reprinted elsewhere in this number, the other three being translations of articles by Drs. Bogoyavlenski and Troitsky of St. Petersburg.

Besides the work done in Russia by these men and by Prof. Botkin, a rather extended study of the drug has been made by M. Germain Sée in Paris. The first notice of this in English appeared in the correspondence of the Lancet for July 15 last, but the full report was published in the Bulletin Général de Thérapeutique of July 30. In this country, an article in the Medical Record of Sept. 9 presented the results of these researches. Our readers were given an idea of them in the translation mentioned above, and other journals have furnished extracts, more or less complete.

Thus the preparatory work has been done and a valuable remedy brought to notice. It remains for us, as homoeopathists, to prove this drug upon the healthy human organism and establish the finer indications for its employment. We are happy to say that already this work has been begun by one of our colleagues.

TWO CASES OF TRACHEOTOMY.

BY I. T. TALBOT, M. D., OF BOSTON.

[Read before the Boston Homœopathic Medical Society.]

CASE I. Leila D, aged four and a half years, of an active and highly sensitive nervous organization, was taken on Monday, July 3, with vomiting, followed the next day by fever, a high pulse and temperature, soreness of the limbs and general pain. On the 5th a grayish patch appeared on the left tonsil, with slight characteristic odor of diphtheria. This gradually extended to the right side of the throat. The patient was under the care of Dr. W. L. Jackson. After the use of Acon., Bell., and Merc. cyan., the membrane disappeared, together with the odor, and the case was nearly ready to be dismissed as one of mild diphtheria. On Saturday, 8th, Dr. Jackson detected a slight croupy sound, whether from unconscious exposure or from the progress of the disease it was impossible to decide. This increased, and on the morning of the 9th some dyspnoea was apparent, with increase of pulse and temperature. The child grew worse during the day and at 7 P. M I was summoned in counsel. The child looked bright, was rather excited, pulse 130, temperature 103°. The respiration was rapid, with sibilant inspiration, and frequent sharp croupy cough, from which the child would sink back exhausted. Acon. and Hepar had been given through the day, but she was evidently growing worse, and tracheotomy seemed necessary for relief. However, as she was not yet badly asphyxiated, we determined to try the effects of Tart. emet. Ist dec., at intervals of a halfhour. This produced relaxation of the muscles of the larynx and