from methyl alcohol which when present is liable to unite with the formaldehyd forming the comparatively inert methylal. This form of Autoclave is designed to be placed outside of the room to be disinfected, and where it can be properly watched and attended to, the gas being forced in through the keyhole.

Another of the large exhibits was made by H. K. Mulford & Co., including the formaldehyd regenerators manufactured by the Sanitary Construction Company, of New York, in which the formaldehyd solution is vaporized by passing through a tube heated to a temperature approaching 1,000° F., the heat being relied upon to prevent polymerization and the form of methylal.

Schering & Glatz, of New York, exhibited a small lamp and a large disinfector, which developed the formaldehyd gas directly by heat from the solid paraform, which is furnished in pastils of one gram each.

The Kny-Scheer Co., who make a form of Autoclave, were also represented in the exhibit. Another feature of the exhibit, which feature should in the future be developed into a very important one, was the display made by the Boards of Health. Those of Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New York and Pittsburgh were represented by apparatus for the bacteriological tests for diphtheria and for the practical analysis of water by photographs and blank statistics showing methods and results of their work.

Parke, Davis & Co., of Detroit, exhibited an interesting colection of tubes illustrating the appearances of pure cultures of pathogenic organisms and the preparation of anti-toxins. H. K. Mulford & Co. at their exhibit space arranged for excursions of all who cared to see the actual work of producing the diphtheria anti-toxin at their laboratories in the outskirts of the city. Seabury & Johnson, of New York, made a fine display of sanitary soaps. Schering & Glatz and Freis Brothers had similar displays. Chas. Lentz & Sons had a large exhibit of bacteriological apparatus, including microscopes, and showed centrifuges and other apparatus of interest. Hance Bros. & White, of Philadelphia, had a display of the veteran disinfectant phenol-sodique.

One of the most prominent, and from the educational point of view valuable exhibits, was made by the New York Publishers Association, under the inspiration of the chairman of the Committee on Literature of the Household Economics Association, Mrs. L. E. Hogan. This included a collection of books and other publications on hygiene, which, although evidently imperfect from lack

of time, was perhaps more complete than one could find anywhere else in the country outside of the few large libraries where the special works in question would be lost among thousands of others not related to the subject. This collection, we are informed, is the first attempt to bring together such works on hygiene as will be of the greatest interest to women whose attention is turned in this direction, a movement that must claim the hearty support of all sanitarians.

An exhibit of great interest to the health authorities of our large cities was made by the Pennsylvania Sanitation Co., showing their appliances for the purification of large water supplies, and the results achieved by their processes, which have recently been put in operation on a large scale at the city of Reading, Pa.

Perhaps the exhibit which received the most general and respectful attention was made by the veteran physician and sanitarian, Dr. J. Cheston Morris, who has for many years been engaged in supplying pure milk in the city of Philadelphia. Dr, Morris was in attendance much of the time to explain methods and results, without pushing any private interests; and his explanations and quiet enthusiasm must be counted as one of the best influences going out from the meeting to advance the cause of hygiene before the people. Supplementing that of Dr. Morris was the exhibit of Charles Hansen's Laboratory on Junket Tablets, and the manner of using them in the preparation of one of the oldest and most healthful foods. Some of the modern health foods were also represented by Horlick's malted milk and Eskay's aluminized food. The Hot Appliance Co. showed their apparatus for the application of continuous heat, and the Ammonol Co. exhibited "Ammonol," and C. Bischoff & Co. showed samples of "kryofin."

While there was a notable absence of scientific hygienic appliances in many directions, as for the disposal of garbage, new building materials, etc., the exhibit gave a promise of what good work the American Public Health Association might readily do by persistent effort in the way of educating the general public in regard to the application of new ideas to promote hygiene and public health.

Altogether, excepting Dr. Gihon's resolution, the meeting was an eminently successful one in the character of the subjects presented and discussed-evidently worthy of a larger attendance considering the enrolled membership, 1,844, of whom, with the addition of about sixty added at this meeting, there were only 177 in attendance.

Philadelphia was at her best-at least it is difficult to imagine a more whole-souled welcome and delightful entertainment. No effort seems to have been spared to make this silver anniversary of the association memorable. The committee of arrangements had so arranged the entertainments offered by the municipality and the citizens as to time and place as to have them interfere as little as possible with the scientific work of the association. On Tuesday, immediately after adjournment of the evening session, the delegates were invited to a "smoker" at the elegant club rooms of the Manufacturers' Club, on Walnut street.

On Wednesday luncheon was served in the foyer of Horticultural Hall by invitation of the Woman's Health Protective Association, at 1 P. M., while at 7 P. M. a most elaborate and enjoyable banquet by the municipality of Philadelphia was given at Hotel Walton. On Thursday, at 1 P. M., luncheon at the MedicoChirurgical College, by invitation of the trustees, at which time opportunity was given the delegates to inspect the new surgical amphitheatre that has been recently completed on strictly sanitary principles, at a cost of $150,000. At 8 P. M. a reception by his honor, Charles F. Warwick, was given at the new City Hall. By invitation of the trustees of the University of Pennsylvania the meetings on Friday were held at Houston Hall, where luncheon was served at 1 P. M. After luncheon an opportunity was afforded for inspection of the Laboratory of Hygiene, the School and Hospital, the Hospital of Veterinary Medicine, the Biological Laboratory and other points of interest. On Friday evening a reception with music was given at the Academy of Fine Arts, corner of Broad and Cherry streets, on the part of the citizens of Philadelphia. On Saturday a trip down the Delaware on the United States revenue cutter Hamilton, the United States lighthouse tender Lizania, and the Sanitarium Association's boat, the John F. Smith, was tendered by the State Quarantine Board of Pennsylvania. The State Quarantie Station at Marcus Hook was visited and a luncheon was served at that place, the vessels then proceeded down the river and bay to Reedy Island, where the disinfecting plant of the United States Marine Hospital Service was inspected by invitation of Supervising Surgeon-General Walter Wyman. The vessels then returned to Newcastle, where a train furnished by the courtesy of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company conveyed the party back to Philadelphia. Through the courtesy of the H. K. Mulford Company tally-ho coaches conveyed the guests at their convenience through Fairmount Park, stopping to inspect the H. K. Mulford Co.'s Bacteriological Laboratory.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

SANITARIAN, DECEMBER NUMBER, 1897.

ALL correspondence and exchanges and all publications for review should be addressed of the Editor, DR. A. N. BELL, Brooklyn, N. Y.

YELLOW FEVER.

According to the summary of the Mobile Register of Nov. 14, including the data of all the localities since the outbreak at Ocean Springs in June, up to and inclusive of Nov. 13, there had been 4,548 cases, with 407 deaths.

Writing under this head in October with special reference to this epidemic we stated the conditions common to yellow fever everywhere. To that statement the Southwestern Medical Record (Houston, Tex.), takes exception, because "if it were true malaria and yellow fever would go hand in hand on the Gulf Coast every year-a condition that by no means exists."

More knowledge of the natural history of yellow fever would show our esteemed contemporary that there is as yet some inexplicable condition with regard to the recurrence of yellow fever epidemics, in common with plague and cholera. These diseases severally are identified with the three great deltas, the Nile, Ganges and Mississippi, which annually inundate and contribute to the upbuilding of extensive regions and outlying islands, replete with vegetable matter in process of putrefaction, which under favorable climatic conditions renders them more or less liable to the diseases to which they are subject every year. Nevertheless, though apparently under the same conditions from year to year, and continuously maintaining the right of disease germs to live--a constant menace, but a no less constant admonition to mankind as an antagonizing forcethe diseases thus perpetuated, even in their native regions, occur epidemically only at irregular periods, and sometimes with long intervals between, when not a single case occurs.

That the germs of yellow fever are in common with those of all infectious diseases, portable and liable to be introduced into places outside of, but which places are for the time being under conditions similar to, their usual habitat, is common knowledge perfectly consistent with the history of the disease wherever it is known to have prevailed.

The disease was recognized in Ocean Springs, this year, early in June. How it got there then became the absorbing question, while the people were purblind to the local conditions. "It must have come from somewhere else they proclaimed," or "it was not yellow fever at all-only dengue." But it so soon thereafter cropped out in, or spread to Biloxi, Mississippi City, Bay St. Louis and other places under similar conditions as to prove its genuineness; and ere long in New Orleans, Mobile and in other places superliable by reason of chronic local conditions and favorable weather.

There have been no developments with regard to this epidemic to weaken our contention at the meeting of the American Public Health Association at Richmond, in 1878, with regard to the epidemic of that year. At that meeting the commission appointed to investigate the source of the epidemic of 1878 reported (for adoption) "that yellow fever is a specific disease, not indigenous to, or originating spontaneously in the United States." Accord

ing to the minutes (Public Health, Vol. IV., 1878): "Dr. A. N. Bell, of New York, opposed the adoption of this proposition on the ground that it was not sustained by the evidence." He went on to remark, in substance as follows: "During my naval service in the Mexican War, and subsequently on the Gulf Coast, the Spanish Main, in the West Indies, on the coast of Africa and neighboring islands; and since, on Bay Ridge and at Fort Hamilton, in 1856; in charge of the Floating Hospital for the Care of Yellow Fever in the first year of the war, and my connection with the New York Quarantine-at home and abroad, ashore and afloat-I have, like my friend, Dr. Dowell, seen a good deal of yellow fever, and have had excellent opportunities for studying its topography in various places. And during the while I have read everything concerning it that I could get hold of, but with convictions the very opposite of his. I am thoroughly of the opinion that the conditions of yellow fever are, in general, putreiying organic matter, moisture, and high temperature; and wherever these conditions combine in the greatest abundance there yellow fever is most wont to prevail, and with the greatest degree of malignancy. And so far from having my convictions shaken in this regard by the reports we have heard here they have been greatly strengthened. Filthy soil, foul matter, foul traffic, foul vessels and high temperature have been the prevailing conditions throughout. And under these conditions, on evidence which I feel bound to accept, I believe the disease frequently has occurred de novo in