If the adults alone suffered, we should feel less inclined to enter protest, but why should we in the 20th century return to the slaughter of the innocents of Moses' day?

B. C. 332 Alexander the Great invaded Egypt. While this powerful general respected the religion and customs of the people, the more progressive and enlightened Greeks established their habits and methods among the conquered, and soon very largely superseded those of the Egyptians. From this time on, the history of the practice of medicine was that of the Greeks rather than of the natives.

Were we to introduce the Alexandrian school in this connection, we should be obliged to present the name of Alexander

Doctoring Goats-Wilkinson.

the Great, who founded the remarkable library and schools in the city bearing his name.

Also of Ptolemy II, who added six to seven hundred thousand volumes to the library, and took an active part in the study of anatomy, and the dissection of human bodies, which under his reign "was allowed and recommended;" "Although the prejudice of Egyptians," says Parks, "was very strong against those who touched a dead body, the Ptolemies themselves are said to have participated in this kind of anatomical study, thus destroying by their example the odium previously attached to dissection."

Neither could we omit the name of Aesculapius, who is represented with serpent and staff, and "was the leading character in medicine of all the ancients, with the possible exception of Hermes among the Egyptians." The picture I here present is from a marble statue in the Louvre.

The father of medicine, Hippocrates, whose learning greatly influenced the adopted school of Egypt, would also figure extensively in this connection.

As a student of Alexandria, Claudius Galen, the great anatomist, occupied a high position. The list of those connected with this seat of learning, and who directly and indirectly influenced the medical world at this time, is too long for us to review this evening; and not especially does it concern us; for only indirectly were they associated with the work of the Egyptians.

The world will never know how much richer would have been our knowledge in Egyptian and Grecian medical literature, had Caliph Omar been of a medical turn of mind and found other fuel for his 4,000 baths which he heated for six months with the unique collections of the Alexandrian Library.

We shall now pass to present Egypt. In a word, let it be said that through the energies of the English, French and German, who are well established in that portion of the Sultan's empire. medicine and surgery is not behind any country in Europe or America. The land is small, the people not numerous, and the schools few, but the institutions in Cairo, the seat of learning in Egypt, are well equipped and do most excellent work.

The Medical College in Cairo, under Dr. Keating, is worthy of a position among good schools, and is especially proud, and has good reason to be, of its Pathological Laboratory. Egypt is an exceptionally rich field for the pathologist, and not a few have been the additions made to the scientific world from this

source.

Hospital advantages in Cairo are excellent, considering the size of the city and Turkish progressiveness. Egypt seems to be well supplied with physicians, and their intelligence compares favorably with those of our own country.

There are many foreign doctors, and undoubtedly a large number have located there on account of their health. Colorado can appreciate this condition of affairs.

Outside of Cairo and Alexandria, the cities are small, and I imagine the opportunities for a physician getting rich are not great; one having, however, the true spirit of our profession would have no excuse for failing in his mission, for his practice could easily be made extensive among the poor, who are always there.

The climate of Egypt has long attracted attention. The Romans appreciated it, and people from all over the world are still flocking there during the winter months. Last year Cairo claimed over 7,000 visitors, and it is stated more than half were

from America. I must admit, statements found in guide books and medical works regarding climate, have little meaning for me. I perhaps have lived too long in Colorado, but when I read in Baedeker "The blue, cloudless sky, the powerful sunlight, and the dry, warm air are among the first facts that strike the traveler on his arrival in Egypt, and his surprise increases when he observes that the conditions remain uniform day after day, and are in short, so entirely the rule that the weather ceases to be a topic of conversation," I had a feeling of pleasure and hope. Anything to get away from the rains of the Mediterranean and the humidity of Southern Italy. Imagine my disappointment to find Alexandria drenched, and Cairo hub deep in mud. The climate of Cairo has its drawbacks. The overflowing of the banks of

A

Society Woman Needing Treatment-Wilkinson-Thebes.

the Nile and general irrigation have all the disagreeable features that necessarily accompany such conditions. The days are hot, and the nights uncomfortably cool; and when I further read in Baedeker, "Cairo cannot properly be considered a health resort," my confidence was in a degree restored.

The City of Cairo is very attractive; there are plenty of strange sights and curious noises; its people are always dressed for a masquerade, and the street scenes are as varied as those of a kaleidoscope. If the health-seeker needs but recreation, no city can compare with Cairo for a cure. Its hotels are of the best and most expensive. The shops are bits of World's Fairs constantly on exhibition; the filth and squalor in some portions of the place are beyond description, and the odors can rival those of Cologne or the City of Mexico.

Diseases common to other countries are found in Egypt, and some are commonly common. Venereal diseases are very prevalent among the natives.

One physician, who has lived in Egypt forty years, told me nearly every family was tainted with this plague, and so generally known was it that patients coming to the physician's office, unhesitatingly and unblushingly admitted it when asked.

The death rate among children is frightful. "It is not unusual to find parents childless, but rare to find children without parents," said a missionary of fifty years' experience in this land. Why? The cause is above stated.

All know of the fly plague of Egypt, and the prevalence of conjunctivitis.

At first I was astonished to find so many people affected with diseases of the eye, but when I saw the care parents gave their children, I was surprised to discover any natives who could see.

Flies Infecting Eyes of Child-Luxor, Nile.

This photograph but partially illustrates the condition and neglect. I have seen the face of a living babe so covered with flies that it was impossible to tell the color of the skin, and the attendant, mother or older sister, perfectly indifferent, and the babe apparently oblivious.

I said to Dr. Lansing, an oculist of Cairo, who had lived among the natives nearly a half century: "What is the cause of so much eye trouble?" "Flies, largely," was the answer. "Why do not the people brush the insect from their faces? Is it true they consider them superstitiously?" "Not at all; they do not feel them," replied the doctor. Continuing, he said: "Let

me prove to you how much less sensitive these people are than many you know. See, I apply pure nitrate of silver to these lids, and they open their eyes at once, and there is no pain or distress. You would suffer for hours if thus treated."

The Pathological Laboratory of the Cairo Medical School is an interesting place. Here, many strange and new parasites are found and exhibited. On my way through the Chemical Laboratory, a long row of large glass retainers was observed. "They contain stomachs, etc., just brought in for examination," said Dr. Keating, the superintendent of the schools. "We are obliged to make many examinations for legal purposes. It is the old story, one wife jealous of another or another's child, sudden death, examination of stomach."

Tuberculosis is said not to be prevalent. Most of the cases observed come from the mountain regions of the Upper Nile seeking the lower altitudes and milder climate of Egypt.

Other pulmonary affections are not uncommon, however. Two of our party contracted pneumonia while on the Nile, one dying at Jerusalem; the other recovering after a severe illness at Assuan.

Egypt, like Colorado, has many climates. The atmosphere near the sea is very different from that of rainless Assuan.

Egypt has its drawbacks, and one may not expect benefit if suffering from “advanced organic heart diseases, or locomotor ataxia, which is affected by the electrical conditions incident to the atmosphere of the desert," or some forms of skin disease and insomnia and neurosis irritated by the brilliant sunshine; but for most pulmonary diseases, Egypt is almost ideal. The combination of climate and subjects of interest cannot be surpassed. One may sleep in the open air, and seek recreation among historic ruins; sail on the Nile or visit pyramids by horseback. A view of an Egyptian sunset would almost vivify a mummy, and true is the Arab proverb, "He who has once tasted the water of the Nile, longs for it inexpressibly forevermore."

THE PHYSICIAN IN RELATION TO THE DISPENSING OF MEDICINE.*

By J. TRACY MELVIN, M.D.,
Saguache, Colorado.

From many and varied sources comes unmistakable evidence that a radical change is taking place in the feeling of the profession throughout the country regarding the dispensing of

* Read before the Colorado State Medical Society, Denver, Colo., June, 1901.