They had spent more labor in their preparation. There was another feature-until the last three meetings there has not been any attempt with us: to have parties informed of what particular papers are to be read in any of the sections, so that they might be prepared to lead off in the discussion of the papers. In 1883 in the Medical Section there had been pains taken to do this; certain pa pers were to be read, and several parties in different parts of the country were informed that a paper would be read on a certain subject, and they were assigned to lead in the discussion. The idea was to make the discussions of more value. This same course has been taken in a limited degree in our meetings since. It is a general practice in the British Association. The officers of the sections when they learn what papers are to be presented judge as far as practicable who can impart interest, and have them informed of the general import of the paper and ask them to lead the discussion. Hence, they elicit genuine benefit from the papers that are read and from the discussions that follow. Many papers were prepared that were not read; undoubtedly they will find their way into print as they do with us; the title was read and referred without anybody's knowing of what they were made. Sometimes they are made of an abstract, the author thinks he will write it out, but fails to do so. I think in their work they are more deliberate, more complete, they exhaust a subject more nearly, and they endeavor to have the discussion so conducted as to elicit the most information from it. In studying their work as a whole it seemed to me that there are some things we might copy with advantage.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

THE ST. LOUIS MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL

SOCIETY.

This society met in regular session at their hall, Jefferson and Lucas avenues, Tuesday evening, Oct. 12, '86.

DR. TUHOLSKE related two very interesting

cases of ovarian tumor under his observation recently.

An exploratory incision in case one demonstrated the unfeasibility of removal, and was followed by death. The second was quite unique, and, while in every manner an uninting case to a surgeon, was operated upon under the severest antiseptic precautions, and after the first twenty-four hours made a rapid progress toward recovery. The tumor weighed about sixty pounds and was exhibited to the

society. No discussion followed, the time be ing taken up with the consideration of the renewal of lease for the hall for the coming year. After a full exchange of sentiment, (the entire membership of the society having been notified of the action to be taken), it was unanimously resolved that the Society retain the present hall in the building of the Post-Graduate School of Medicine, Jefferson and Lucas avenues.

A full opportunity was given every member to manifest his objection to this place of meeting, and as no objection was made manifest it is evident that all consider this the most eligible, and in every way desirable place of meeting.

We bespeak for the Society a full attendance for the coming year.

PROPOSED STATUTE REGULATING DISSECTION.

AN ACT

For the promotion of medical science by the distribution and use of unclaimed human bodies for scientific purposes through a Board created for that purpose, and to prevent unauthorized uses and traffic in human bodies.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General As

sembly of the State of Missouri as follows: That the medical colleges and schools of the State of the professors and demonstrators of anatomy of Missouri which are now or may become hereafter incorporated, shall be and hereby are constituted a board for the distribution and delivery of dead human bodies hereinafter described, to and among such persons as under the provisions of this Act are entitled thereto.

The said board shall have full power to establish rules and regulations for its government, and to appoint and remove proper officers, and shall keep full and complete minutes of its transactions. Records shall also be kept, under its direction, of all bodies received and distributed by said board, and of the persons to whom the same may

be distributed, which minutes and records shall

be open at all times to the inspection of each member of said board, and of any circuit attorney of any county within the State of Missouri.

SEC. 2. Superintendents or wardens of penitentiaries, houses of corrections and bridewells, of hospitals, insane asylums and poor-houses, and coroners, sheriffs, jailors, city and county undertakers, and all other State, county, town and city officers, in whose custody the body of any deceased person required to be buried at public expense shall be, are hereby required immediately to notify said board of distribution, or such person or

persons as may be designated from time to time by said board, or by its duly authorized officer or agent, whenever any such body or bodies come to his or their possession, charge or control, and shall, after giving proper notice to relatives or guardians of the deceased, without fee or reward, deliver such body or bodies to said board and its agents, or the physicians and surgeons from time to time designated by it, who may comply with the provisions of this Act, to take and remove all such bodies to be used within this State for the advancement of medical science; but no such notice to said board need be given, nor shall any such body be delivered, if any person claiming to be and satisfying the proper authorities that he or she is of kindred, or is related by marriage to the deceased, shall ask to have the body for burial, but it shall be surrendered for interment.

SEC. 3. The said board, or its duly authorized agent, may receive and take such bodies so delivered as aforesaid, and shall, upon receiving them, distribute and deliver them in the following man

ner:

To incorporated medical colleges and schools in proportion to the number of students, which number shall be set forth in a sworn statement submitted to the board at such times as it may direct, by the dean, secretary or registrar of the college or school, and to any physician or surgeon entitled under the laws of the State to practise. Instead of receiving and delivering the bodies itself, or through its agents, the board of distribution may, from time to time, either directly or by its autnorized officer or agent, designate physicians and surgeons who shall receive them, and the number each shall receive. In the distribution preference always shall be given to the medical schools and colleges and to the physicians and surgeons of the county where the death of the person described took place.

SEC. 4. Before any medical college or school, or any physician or surgeon, shall be entitled to receive any bodies under this Act, they shall furnish to the county, or, in the city of St. Louis, to the city, a bond in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, conditioned that all such bodies shall be used only for the promotion of medical science within this State, which bond shall remain on file in the office of the Clerk of the County Court, in the city of St. Louis in the office of the City Register and whoever shall sell or buy any such body or bodies, or shall traffic in the same, or in any manner aid and assist in any traffic in the same, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be fined in a sum of not less than one hundred dollars and be imprisoned for a term not less than thirty days nor more than one year, the fine accruing from such conviction to be paid into the school fund of the county where the offence shall have been committed.

SEC. 5. Neither the State nor any county or municipality, nor any officer or servant thereof, shall be at any expense by reason of the delivery or distribution of any such body, but all the expenses thereof, and of said board of distribution, shall be paid by those receiving the bodies, in such manner as may be specified by said board of distribution or otherwise agreed upon.

SEC. 6. Any person or officer having duties enjoined upon him by the provisions of this Act, who shall neglect, refuse or omit to perform the same as hereby required, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall pay a penalty of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for the first offense, and for the second offense a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, and for a third offense, or any offense thereafter, the penalty of not less than five hundred dollars or to be imprisoned in the county jail not less than six nor more than twelve months, or both, at the discretion of the Court, such penalties to be sued for by the Health Department, as the case may be.

SEC. 7. That all Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed.

CORRESPONDENCE.

NEW YORK LETTER.

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 1886. Editors Review: Nothing of remarkable interest has happened during the past fortnight. On the evening of the 7th, Dr. Julius Althaus, of London, read a paper before the academy, on Some Phases of Cerebral Syphilis. He spoke at length of syphilitic coma and syphilitic hemiplegia. Of the former condition he had seen eight

cases.

His address was very interesting and listened to with close attention by a large audience. Investigations are now the order of the day, and the latest institution to be overhauled is the Emigrant Hospital on Ward's Island. The charge was made that the bodies of patients dying there were mutilated in a horrible manner. The proceedings thus far have revealed only the fact that the usual post-mortem examinations have been made, and an occasional removal of organs for scientific examination as is done in any hospital. The last meeting of the Pathological Society was one of unusual interest. On behalf of a candidate Dr. Sims presented a specimen of ovarian tumor from a woman who had had also a stricture of the rectum with frequent dysenteric discharges. The patient was aged, 54, and two years ago began to have pains on left side of pelvis, shoot

ing over to right side. A tumor was appreciated, evidently connected with left ovary. The patient rapidly emaciated, and at the time of operation was in a condition of inanition. The tumor con

tained a large amount of gelatinous and cheesy fluid which escaped, owing to rupture of the sac wall, into the abdominal cavity. The patient died on the eleventh day.

The president, Dr. Wyeth, presented on behalf of a candidate, a specimen of non-malignant cysto-sarcoma of the breast. The cells were spindleshaped, and the mass was traversed by empty tubes filled with cylindrical epithelium. The cysts were numerous, and many contained the remains of clotted blood. The axillary glands were not enlarged.

Dr. Carpenter presented for Dr. Boldt a specimen of cirrhosis of the liver, from a case of eighteen months' duration. Two weeks before death the patient began to drink heavily, and suddenly passed into a condition of collapse. No uremic symptoms were present, but the autopsy revealed in addition to the ordinary hepatic changes, well marked chronic diffuse nephritis, with cardiac hypertrophy. All the other organs were normal. Dr. Amidon exhibited a patient, showing an unusual skin lesion, resulting from long continued use of the bromides. The girl, æt. 22, was subject to epilepsy, and first came under his observation over four years ago. She had been taking moderate doses of the salt until the past year and ja half, during which time the quantity had been about ninety grains daily of mixed bromides of sodium and ammonium. The lesion Dr. Amidon regarded as of unusual inetrest, as it was one he had never seen accurately described in the textbooks. The nearest description he had found was in Bumstead and Taylor's book under the heading of "Serpiginous Syphilide." There was no specific history, however, in the case of his own patient. The lesion was in the latter on the left leg. It began as a single large spot of acne, around which a zone of inflammation appeared and an induration of the base. Later, it broke down into an ulcer like state, and about the latter was a rim of vesicles, which latter changed to pustules. At the same time healing action was set up in the center. A careful examination of the supposed "ulcer" showed that while the cuticle was denuded, the papilla were left intact, and later suffered hypertrophic changes, so that the true skin was not entirely invaded. The condition was an obstinate one to treat. He had only seen four cases of this nature. Local treatment by the actual cautery had seemed to yield the best results. On the patient's other leg were large circular patches of erythema.

Dr. Prudden presented a series of specimens of ulcerative endocarditis. In the first three, micro

scopical examination and culture experiments failed to reveal any bacteria. They were abundantly demonstrated in the fourth case. From this latter cultures were made and rabbits inoculated therewith. If the injection was made without wounding the endocardium, only pyemia followed. If the heart lining was injured, a specific endocarditis was set up. During an autopsy of one of the rabbits, one of Dr. Prudden's assistants, accidentally inoculated his finger. An abscess resulted, and the pus therefrom was found to contain bacteria like those found in the original fourth case alluded to above. Dr. Prudden thought we should call the cases without bacteria "simple," and those with bacteria "malignant”, or "mycotic" endocarditis.

Specimens of endocarditis were presented by Dr. Van Sanvoord, and of aneurism of post. branch of middle cerebral artery by Dr. Ferguson. The latter also showed a specimen illustrative of the lesions of ulcerative colitis with abscess of the liver.

Dr. Geo. B. Phelps has recently been appointed Demonstrator of Anatomy at the Woman's Medical College.

J. E. N.

DR. BARTHOLOW vs. EGYP1.

PULLMAN, ILL.. Oct. 14, 1886.

"An uncouth and ignorant people, would not appreciate, would not, indeed, understand, a polished physician, full of the culture of the schools. Prof. Charcot and Sir William Jenner. equipped with all resources of scientific medicine, would fail to please the people of Egypt in Southern Illinois, when a botanical physician, with lobelia and No. 6, would excite enthusiastic admiration."

The records show that in the territory referred to, there are to-day 883 physicians; 729 are of the regular school; 126 are eclectics, and 26 are homeopaths; 626 are graduates of some reputable school of medicine; 257 are non-graduates, 54 of whom hold certificates issued by the Illinois State Board of Health, after a very thorough, written examination in all the branches pertaining to a medical education. In fact the examinations are more thorough than one made by most medical colleges.

One fact is remarked, i. c., in the counties, on the eastern boundary, nearest the State of Ohio, where the distinguished doctor once resided and taught medicine, eclectic doctors do most abound.

One thing I desire to say of the physicians of Egypt. They are, as a class, more liberal toward each other, more inclined to adhere to that code, written and unwritten, which distinguishes the

gentlemanly physician from the other fellow, than are many of the doctors further North and | East.

My only excuse for this communication is found in the fact that I was born in Egypt, practised medicine there for eighteen years, have served as a member of the State Board of Health, and know the physicians, both North and South, and retain a most kindly feeling for Egyptians. Very truly,

JOHN MCLEAN, M. D.,
Surgeon P. P. C. Co.

MEMPHIS, TENN., Oct. 18, 1886. Editors Review: In October 16 issue of WEEKLY MEDICAL REVIEW, I notice an article from a French journal as to the treatment of hysteria by pressure on the supra-orbital nerves during the hysterical paroxysm.

I would say that I have witnessed a similar result by pressure on the inferior maxilary branch of the fifth nerve where it issues from the mental foramen.

The therapeutic idea leads to an examination into the close sympathy existing between the uterosexual plexus,the pneumogastric,and the branches of the fifth pair.

The globus hystericus and suppressed breathing as expressions of disordered function of the pneumogastric are almost constant in hysteria, and should we be surprised when in kissing and squeezing girls, the love sighs or gasps are but expressions of the erotic function of the pneumogastric sympathizing with the utero-sexual plexus.

The sympathy of the fifth pair of nerves is no less marked as witnessed in the flushing of the face due to vaso-motor excitation of the same, glazing of the eye by influence of nervous impression from the ophthalmic ganglion in immediate relation to the fifth nerve and general facial expression, especially near the mouth where the erotic branches of the fifth nerve are abundantly distributed, manifesting their function in a desire to kiss as well as in motor expression.

FRANK W. VANCE, M. D.

NOTES AND ITEMS.

"A chiel's amang you takin' notes, And, faith, he'll prent 'em."

-The Queen and the International Medical Congress. We are credibly informed that Dr. Pancoast, of Philadelphia, has invited Queen Victoria to attend the next meeting of the International Medical Congress.-"Medical Record," Oct. 16, 1886.

[All the old ladies in this country having resigned from the Congress, Dr. Pancoast is simply trying to fill the list by importation. It was a happy thought of the gallant surgeon, the Queen being probably as scientific as the late resigned, more patriotic and quite as "eminent."]

-An editorial writer in an exchange says of the "Spirit of the Age": "As we write midst the whirling throng of this busy age, and while the ever ceaseless æons of time pour their epochs upon us, we note the changes succeeding evanescence and view the outbursts of epoch all along the march of progress and behold all is not in vain, but good."

[This, coming all at once, was a little startling; the author, however, survives and his readers are convalescing.]

-According to recent mortuary reports from the South the solution of the negro problem will be reached ere many decades have passed. With a death rate of 12.19 per 1000 of the population for the whites, and 122.94 for the colored people, and worse yet, 601.93 per 1000 as a mortality for the children; the application of Darwin's law, the survival of the fittest, is clearly established. To the charitably disposed who spend thousands of dollars annually in missionary work in Timbuc too and other other foreign lands, we commend these figures and the fact that as dense, dangerous and superstitious an ignorance obtains among the negro population in some portions of the sunny South as anywhere upon the globe.

We have somewhere heard that charity begins at home.

--The chartered medical colleges of Missouri are the following, according to the list of the State Board of Health:

St. Louis: St. Louis Medical College, Missouri Medical College, Beaumont Hospital Medical College, St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louis Post-Graduate School of Medicine, Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri, American Medical College.

Kansas City: Kansas City Medical College, University of Kansas City Medical Department, Kansas City Hospital College of Medicine.

St. Joseph: St. Joseph Medical College, North Western Medical College.

Columbia: Medical Department of the University of the State of Missouri.

-The American Academy of Medicine convened at Pittsburgh, Pa., in tenth annual session, on Oct. 12 and 13.

-The Medical Society of Virginia will meet at Fredricksburg, Oct. 29, 1886.