following points: (1) Acute general peritonitis can be cured by operative means, provided it is recognized early. (2) Early recognition is aided by a knowledge of the etiology of the disease, and accurate observation of the patient's symptoms, local and general. (3) On examination of the patient the most important early signs of peritonitis are localized pain, becoming general, muscular regidity, rapid and increasing pulse-rate, and raising temperature. (4) Early diagnosis should be followed by prompt operative treatment, as this offers in most cases the only chance for recovery. (F. F.) The title "Doctor" was, according to a contemporary, created by Emperor Loharie II, being suggested by Irnerius, a professor of law at Bologna University, who was the first person upon whom the title was conferred. This was in the Twelfth century. The term extended to the faculty of Theology also, and by the University of Paris was first given to Peter Lombard, a famous theologian. In 1321 the College of Asti conferred the first title of Doctor of Medicine upon William Gordinio. CARCINOMA OF THE PROSTATE.-H. H. Young, Baltimore (Journal A. M. A., March 10), gives the results of the study of fifty cases of cancer of the prostate and describes the radical operation performed by him, including the excision of the entire prostate with its capsule and urethra and the adjacent portion of the bladder, the seminal vesicles and the ampulla of the vasa deferentia. He considers this a common disease, existing in about one-seventh of the entire number of cases of prostatic enlargement in men over fifty. Induration and pain are common, and aid the early diagnosis. The growth is often slow, confining it within the limits of the firm prostatic capsule for a long period. He claims that this operation, which is necessary for its cure, is not difficult and gives very satisfactory functional results, and that with early diagnosis the mortality should be nil, and the percentage of cures large. Every indurated enlarged prostate should be suspected, and a perineal operation advised, when, if malignancy be discovered, the radical operation can be resorted to. The article is illustrated. A MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY. EDITORS. JAMES U. BARNHILL, A. M., Ph. D., M. D., 248 E. State Street. D. N. KINSMAN, M. D. ASSOCIATES. V. A. DODD, M. D. H. H, SNIVELY, M. D. Communications relating to the editorial department should be addressed to Dr. J. U. Barnhill, 248 East State Street; those relating to business management should be addressed to Dr. W. J. Means, 715 North High Street. Per annum, in advance, subscription price, including postage. Single copies..... Bound volumes. .15 cents. $1.00 2.00 Original articles, scientific and clinical, memoranda, correspondence and news items are cordially solicited from the profession. SEPTEMBER, 1906 ADVANCED STANDING ON LITERARY DEGREES. It is very generally conceded by the medical profession that advanced standing, regardless of the character of the work done, should not be given to the holders of literary degrees, and in several states, including New York, New Jersey, Minnesota and Iowa, four years of actual attendance in a medical college are required for graduation, no time credit being given in these states for work done outside of a medical college; and two colleges, at least, in Ohio have for two or more years refused to grant advanced standing to any one for work done outside of a medical college. Some of these are contemplating the granting of advanced standing to graduates whose literary course has covered a major part of the studies of the first medical year. In Ohio, according to a rule of the Board of Medical Registration and Examination, advanced standing is to be given only to those who have completed the science work of the first medical year. The language of the rule is as follows: "Resolved, That after 1905, advanced standing which has been given for A. B. and B. S. degrees be not recognized by this Board unless the candidate to whom it has been given has, during the academic course, done the science work comprised in the first year of the medical course." This rule, literally interpreted, would seem to require that all the science work comprised in the first medical year should be included in the literary course, but it has been explained by some of the members of the Board, but not by the Board itself, that advanced standing is permissible under the rule to graduates who have completed in course ninety per cent. of the Freshman medical year. This, we have contended, is a fair and wise regulation, and we believe that other states will, in time, adopt a similar standard. It is certainly not fair toward the holders of literary degrees who have taken advanced work in biology and the other medical studies to enter classes and be compelled to keep pace with high school graduates throughout the same four years. On the other hand it has been found that literary graduates who have taken such science work are nevertheless handicapped throughout their medical course and can not do justice to themselves when given advanced standing. The solution of this problem must be found along the lines of work already done by New York and our own state; that is, of recognizing first year medical work done in accredit literary colleges, granting time credit only when practically all of such work has been thus completed. We trust the Ohio Board will not only refuse to recognize the individual candidate to whom time credit has been given contrary to their resolution, but that it will deny recognition to all colleges granting such advanced standing, and that it will go farther and require that advanced standing under this rule be given only on the certificate of their certified entrance examiner, thus taking the matter entirely out of the hands of the medical colleges and placing it where it properly belongs, in charge of the Board. This rule is of course for the present practically prohibitory in Ohio, as we have very few literary colleges giving courses covering the science work of the first medical year, but in time a few colleges will, no doubt provide such courses. We believe that it would be decidedly in the interest of medical education to have such regulations enforced. THE ARMY CANTEEN. At the Boston meeting of the section on Hygiene and Sanitary Science of the American Medical Association a resolution to endorse the sale of liquor in the army canteens failed of adoption. The matter came before the Association upon a strong plea by a prominent army officer who favored it. He said, "The sale of liquors on the reservations or in camps under government supervision would tend to make the men moderate drinkers rather than occasional excessive users of intoxicants." He admitted that the sale of liquor on the government reservations is an evil, and that it is repugnant to contemplate the government as engaged in the liquor business, but he thought the dispensing of intoxicants to the soldiers under army regulations would be a less evil than permitting them to frequent the low saloons which usually exist outside of army posts. The army canteen is a scutler's shop, where provisions are furnished, or a recreation room or building set aside at military posts. By act of Congress intoxicants can not now be sold within the army reservations. To the credit of the members present at this meeting of the Sanitary section the resolution favoring such sale was laid on the table. Some of the members recommended strict laws forbidding soldiers to drink, as is done by a number of the large corporations. The fact that some soldiers will use intoxicants whenever opportunity presents is certainly no valid reason for countenancing the liquor habit and placing intoxicants within the reach of all soldiers. Drinking should be, at all times, discouraged. Many young men who enter the army have not contracted the drinking habit, and obstacles in the way of securing intoxicants will act, to some extent, in checking drunkenness among those who have already formed the habit. Army officers themselves are not unanimous in their opinion that liquors should be dispensed at the army canteen. After an experience of about three years with prohibition on the reservations Lieutenant General Miles said that the army posts are much better off without the liquor feature of the canteen and that it would be an injury and a step backward to reintroduce it. "Now that liquor has been removed from the military reservations," said he, "those not addicted to its use are free from its demoralizing influence, and the canteen is made inviting to decent, self-respecting men." From his own observation General Miles says very positively, "I know that the conditions are better now than ever before. There is less drunkenness among soldiers than existed when the canteen had the liquor feature." He cites instances showing that the liquorless canteen can be successfully maintained at army posts. In a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association Dr. John Inglis, who has known something of army life in the Orient, gives it as his opinion that every boy in the army is infinitely better off without the beer halls than with them. In this communication he says, "It is true, some men will go to outside saloons for their drinks, but they will not go so often, and they will not drink as much when they have to go from one to three miles as if they could get it in the camp. Then, too, it helps to save the enlisted man who has not begun to drink. It gives him a much better chance to let it alone when there is none to be found in the army canteen." He points out that Lord Kitchener, in the campaign of the Soudan, abolished liquor of all kinds, even from the officers' mess, liquid refreshments being confined to tea and oatmeal water. "This was on no temperance grounds, but because he knew the powers of endurance could be maintained without liquor better than with it. His forced marches over burning sand and his victory of Omdurman proved his conclusions correct." "Boys who enlist in the army because they can get liquor are poor defenders of their country, and, if they leave the army because they can not get it, it is small loss. Beer and cigarettes are not the rations of any great football team, and every physician knows that they are equally poor for fighting men." "Japan," he says, "has recently shown the world the advantage of a sober army." The following is quoted from a report by A. S. Barker, Rear Admiral, United States Navy: "The navy is to be congratulated that the department has remained firm in excluding wine and beer from the canteen of the ships. Railroad companies do not employ men who drink intoxicating liquor because of the increased danger of accidents and consequent claims for damages. Manufacturing |