Editorial Department. ST. LOUIS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL JOURNAL, Terms, $1.00 per annum, in advance. A. H. OHMANN-DUMESNIL, A. M., M.D., All communications, books for review, contributions, etc., should be addressed to 5 South Broadway, St. Louis. one. Editorial. THE REGULATION OF PROSTITUTION. In looking over our foreign exchanges we find that one of the subjects which is always engaging the attention of syphilographers, hygienists, and, we might add, of moralists, is the prevention of the spread of venereal diseases by regulating prostitution. Its entire eradication is, of course, not dreamed of, as it is an institution which seems, like some other evils, to be a necessary The solution of the problem in regard to the spread of venereal diseases is looked upon as dependent upon the regular inspection of prostitutes, and their segregation when diseased. The question which naturally arises in our mind is whether this is not a non sequitur. Whilst it may be true that women are the most prolific source of venereal infection, is it not equally true that men infect the women who become such dangerous factors? May not one man become the primary source of infection of a hundred others through the medium of one or more women? In view of this fact, would it not be as reasonable to insist upon the examination and segregation of males as well as females? The plan has been adopted in armies and navies; but it is very justly argued, it is impossible to carry out under ordinary circumstances, not only on account of the practical difficulties which offer, but from the legal standpoint that it is interfering with the personal liberty of the individual. The proper regulation of prostitution would effect much good were it not for the fact that it is inefficient and rather more theo retical than practical. Whilst a certain number of puellæ publicæ, or open prostitutes, may be placed en carte, as the French term it, the method only leads to a greater increase in clandestine prostitutes, who have putative occupations, and can thus claim exemption from the operation of a law designed to be of advantage to the community. If a working girl, earning three dollars a week, wears diamonds and seal-skin cloaks, she cannot be placed in the class of prostitutes without impunging the moral character and reputation of every honest and virtuous working girl. It is certainly against public policy to do this, and in this manner the more dangerous class escapes the clutches of the law and, at the same time, spreads broadcast the seeds of venereal diseases which but too often are far-reaching and destructive of the moral as well as of the physical welfare of many innocent members of society. We have not space to discuss the question in all its phases. Volumes have been written upon it, elaborate statistics drawn up, and yet we are as far from a true solution as ever. The poor harlot is kept under surveillance, punished to the full extent of the law, and the wealthy and influential courtesan flaunts her vices in the face of the police, distributes her favors and her diseases with a lavish hand, the constituted authorities winking at her exploits and smiling approbation on her misdeeds. How can we hope for a diminution in the spread of venereal diseases to be accomplished when hovels and palaces conspire to accomplish their spread? The solution, if it is ever reached, will entail much labor and thought, and if it be ever reached may be counted as one of the greatest exploits of civilization. We have no suggestions to offer, and still hope that one will be forthcoming that will purge our large cities of what has been very aptly termed the social evil." AN ORIGINAL SAMPLE COPY FIEND. There is not a medical journal which does not receive requests for sample copies. In the majority of instances they are made upon a postal card and, in some instances, they are bona fide. In many others, however, it is a device which is adopted for the purpose of obtaining medical periodical literature for nothing. This is certainly a custom which should be frowned down and abolished, if this be possible. The gratuitous distribution of journals in this manner is neither profitable to the publisher nor to the advertiser, as the sample copy fiend is the one who writes for samples of remedies and sells them to patients, never buying an original package. This is certainly a reprehensible practice, and no one deplores its prevalence more than we do. What we were going to call attention to is something original in the way of making requests for sample copies. A certain physician, whom we will not name, sends out postal card requests, and does not even take the trouble of writing them. He simply has a sheet written with an electric pen, and thus saves himself a great deal of chirographic labor. By sending these periodically he keeps himself well supplied with literature. It would not surprise us in the least to see printed cards sent out after awhile containing the same request. If medical journals kept a list of these persons and exchanged them, as we suggested a number of years ago, this gentry would be very soon compelled to subscribe for medical journals, or do without. In any event, medical journalism would be rid of one of the worst parasites which infests it. A MERITED REBUKE. As is pretty generally well known, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Missouri has done all that he possibly could do to arouse the indignation of the regular medical profession of the State. His first act was to sign the bill placing osteopathy upon the same plane as the recognized schools of medicine. Not satisfied with this affront, he appointed homeopaths to the board of management of the Fulton Insane Asylum, and he has made sundry threats of what could be further expected. As a result, the Linton District and various other medical societies of the State of Missouri have passed resolutions condemnatory of such action; and to culminate the whole affair the State Medical Association used no measured terms in regard to the conduct of the chief executive of the State. The president of the association, Dr. John H. Duncan, spoke in no measured terms of this matter in his presidential address; and, as the members of the Illinois State Medical Association were present and shared in the sentiments of their Missouri brethren, the moral effect, if not the political consequences of his acts, should cause the governor to reflect a little before he completely antagonizes the whole body of the regular medical profession. Verbum sap. Illinois State Medical Society.-The meeting at East St. Louis was a most excellent one, and the members profited by their close proximity to St. Louis to come over and pay the local profession calls. The following officers were elected: President: J. M. G. Carter. First Vice-President: T. J. Pitner. Second Vice-President: J. T. McAnnally. Permanent Secretary: E. M. Weis. Assistant Secretary: J. E. Cowan. Treasurer: G. M. Kreider. Committee on Necrology: J. H. Hollister, O. B. Will, E. J. Brown. Committee on Medical Legislation: J. W. Petit, D. W. Graham, J. B. Maxwell, W. R. Brown, T. B. Hamilton. Committee on Medical History (only members of forty years standing eligible): N. S. Davis, J. H. Hollister, Robert Boal, J. S. Whitmire, Edmund Andrews, T. D. Fitch, E. Ingalls, D. Saskie. Section 1: A. R. Edwards, F. P. Norbury. Section 2: J. L. Wiggins, A. E. Halstead. Section 3: D. R. Brower, C. B. Johnson. Committee on Arrangements for the Meeting at Galesburg: J. T. Percy, D. W. Aldrich, Delia Rice, L. S. Lambert. Committee on Medical Societies: C. W. Hall, J. A. Baughman, W. R. McKenzie. The next meeting will be held in Galesburg, Ill. Medical Progress. MEDICINE. Chyluria and its Treatment.-This very obscure subject is treated of in one of our exchanges, and as so little is known on the subject we reproduce the following: Dr. Ernest E. Quinn, of Alto, Texas, reports the case (Louisville Med. Monthly, May, 1897) of a man, white, 38, fair complexion, whose mother, sister and two brothers were enjoying good health when he begun treatment April, 1895. For two years previous he had been treated for gonorrhea, rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, balanitis, etc., but without relief. But the patient says he never had gonorrhea-that he had not even had an opportunity to contract it. He, however, had sugar in his urine, and probably this caused the balanitis; while cystitis was, no doubt, due to the highly acid urine, and his "leg ache" and spermatic pain were due to varicose veins. He also had pains in his back. During the absence of cystitis his urine was milky in character-this condition intermitting with acid urine and cystitis and leg-ache—but all along the patient followed his farming duties. During the chyluria he had no pain; but pains recurred, with acid urine and cystitis, when chyluria ceased. Acetate and citrate of potash were given a few days without benefit. Then he took: Also applied tight bandage from foot to above knee, which was worn thirty or forty days, but removed at night. His condition was relieved for a few weeks, when milky urine reappeared. He then went under treatment by another doctor; but after a few weeks he returned just as he left. He was then put on a general treatment for five or six months, when he was pronounced well. But on December 10, 1896, the patient stated that his chyluria was coming back upon him. |