has found present in nearly all cases of chronic appendicitis. In nearly every instance one can find a tender appendix if one causes a relaxation of the abdominal wall by gently pressing with one hand while palpating with the other. In many of these cases the history of an attack during childhood or early life can be elicited, and is of great value in making the diagnosis. Continued septic absorption from an ulcerated appendix often gives rise merely to a bad bile-stained complexion, with acne.

The Association of American Medical Editors.

The annual meeting of the editors' association was held at St. Paul, June 3-5, 1901, the sessions being convened in the library hall of the Ramsey County Medical Society. This was the most successful meeting held for fifteen years, both from point of attendance and the high standard of excellence of the papers presented. Of special moment was the paper presented by Dr. Burnside Foster, of St. Paul, entitled "Some Thoughts on the Ethics of Medical Journalism," which was discussed by Doctors Lancaster, Gould, Love and others. At the instance of Dr. Foster, a committee consisting of Doctors Simmons, editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Gould of American Medicine, and Foster of the St. Paul Medical Journal, was appointed to amend the constitution and by-laws of the association by adding certain rules concerning the nature of the advertising which is to be admitted to the pages of the journals in affiliation with the association. These rules are to be binding on all members, the committee also being advised to suggest such revision of the constitution and by-laws as may be deemed advisable.

Among other papers read were those of Dr. John Punton, entitled "The Relative Value of Medical Advertising;" that of Dudley S. Reynolds, entitled "Improvements in Medical Education;" Dr. Harold N. Moyer, "Relation of the Medical Editor to Original Articles."

The association adopted resolutions favoring the establishment of a psycho-physiological laboratory in the Department of the Interior at Washington, D. C. It also appointed a committee to draft a resolution requesting the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Co., in charge of the St. Louis World's Fair, to recognize and commemorate in a suitable manner the great work done in medicine and surgery. The American Medical Journalist was selected as the official journal for publication of papers and proceedings.

The annual dinner of the association was held at the Metropolitan Hotel on the evening of June 3d, President Stone acting as toastmaster. The speakers of the evening were Doctors Love, Stone, Moyer, Matthews, Marcy, Fassett, Hall. They confined their remarks to subjects of interest to medical editors, and contributed not a little towards the scientific features of the meeting.

At the session of June 5th, the officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:

President, Dr. Alex. J. Stone, of St. Paul.

Vice-President, Dr. Burnside Foster, of St. Paul. Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. O. F. Ball, of St. Louis. The executive committee appointed for the ensuing year consisted of Doctors Gould, Matthews, Lillie, Fassett, Marcy.

The next meeting will be held at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., in June, 1902.

Facts and The New York Pharmaceutical AssociaFigures. tion, the enterprising makers of lactopeptine, peptonoids, hemaboloids and borolyptol have just issued an artistic 60 page booklet on "Facts and Figures, Medical and Otherwise, from the Census of 1900 and Other Reliable Sources."

In addition to many useful tables, it contains a large number of varicolored maps and diagrams, which show at a glance innumerable points of interest to the

citizen-physician. One map, for instance, informs us as to the number of inhabitants to each physician and dentist in each state and territory. Colorado has the smallest ratio (1:461) of any state except California (1:392). Several maps are devoted to climatic conditions, and comparative sanitary statistics are illustrated with circle-diagrams. The new possessions of the republic are given special attention.

To Differentiate
Gonococci from
Pseudo-Gonococci.

Dr. Jeffreys, the director of the laboratory in the New York Polyclinic, uses, according to Wyeth, Gram's method, followed by a contrast stain, such as Bismarck brown. Anilin water is prepared by emulsifying 8 drops of the oil in about 10 c.c. of water, and fiiltering through a wet filter. To this anilin water is added about one-tenth its bulk of a saturated alcoholic solution of gentian violet. The smear is stained with this "anilin water gentian violet" for one or two minutes, washed in warm water, then immersed in Gram's solution (1 gm. iodin, 2 gm. potassium iodide, 300 c.c. water) for one minute. It is then thoroughly washed in 95% alcohol until the wash-water shows no tinge of blue, and is again washed out in water. The next step is to counterstain for one minute with a saturated solution of Bismarck brown in 3% aqueous solution of carbolic acid, wash, dry, and mount in balsam. Gonococci are stained brown, pseudo-gonococci violet.

American Association This association will hold its of Orificial Surgeons. next annual meeting in Chicago, September 18 and 19, 1901. Although quite separate, Prof. Pratt's "Clinic" will be held the same week, beginning September 16. To those familiar with orificial methods and their practical application to the cure of chronic diseases, no special appeal need be made, other than to urge their presence or attendance at this meeting, as it promises

to be one of the best held since the organization of the association. Lectures and papers have been promised by some of the most prominent medical men of the country. The discussions will be lively and interesting and one's knowledge of the work will be brightened and widened. To those who are not familiar with orificial ideas, theories and practices, we can say that there can be no more auspicious time to gain a practical knowledge of orificial surgery than at this meeting of the association. The whole field will be brought within reach.

Due attention will be given to preparatory work, and fundamental principles thoroughly expounded and illustrated by some of the brightest surgeons of this country. Due attention will be given to after-treatment, therapeutical and otherwise. Papers and discussions will embrace the whole idea and give the sum and substance of more than fifteen years work along lines that have yielded prodigious success to the surgeon and general practitioner. No live man can now afford to ignore orficial surgery or be absent from this meeting.

W. E. BLOYER M.D., Pres.,
Cincinnati, Ohio.

HENRY C. ALDRICH M.D., Sec'y.,
Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Fecal
Tumors.

are.

These collections, says Boas, may give rise to errors in two ways: First, in simulating new growths; and secondly, in causing existing new growths to appear larger than they really In such cases, usually, the diagnosis cannot be made at once, but only after observing the effect of internal and external laxative measures. The consistence of the growth, as a rule, gives a useful diagnostic hint, since, apart from the so-called enteroliths, fecal tumors are generally somewhat doughy and retain the impression of the finger, especially after rectal enemata of oil or soap. Even after such enemata the peripheral portion of the feces may remain hard and simulate a

tumor, notwithstanding that frequent voluminousevacuations have taken place. This experience, says Boas, which has been that of absolutely reliable clinicians, calls for the greatest caution in the determination of the nature of doubtful tumors. The diagnosis can usually be determined, especially upon repeated examinations, though Nothnagel reported a case in which everything indicated cancer of the cecum, while autopsy showed an ulcerative tubercular stricture in the beginning of the ascending colon. Gerouny claims that the difficulties in diagnosis of fecal tumors have been overcome by the discovery of what he terms the "adhesive sign." If the finger be very firmly pressed upon the fecal mass, the intestinal mucous membrane will become adherent to the viscous feces, becoming free again when the pressure is discontinued, and one can feel the mucous membrane loosening itself.

Some Therapeutic In a practical address before the Uses of the Hunterian Society (Medical Actual Cautery. Record, June 29) Sir Wm. Banks reviewed some of the conditions in which this agency is capable of giving relief. Thus the boring, agonizing pain of the periostitis and ostitis of late syphilis is often remarkably ameliorated by thorough application of the actual cautery at a white heat, the patient being anesthetized; constitutional treatment is of course not to be neglected. Again, the actual cautery, conjoined with rest and a properly applied splint, can be employed with great advantage in the treatment of traumatic synovitis of the kneejoint. It is also indicated for acute inflammatory conditions of the spinal column and the spinal meninges following traumatism. Banks further recommends the use of the cautery in pruritus ani of undetermined pathology, attended with exaggerated wrinkling of the skin around the anal orifice, "presenting an appearance suggestive of slightly damp rugose wash-leather."