go great responsibilities; the great National Society of the Homœopathic School will require wise and tactful leadership and the famous college in Philadelphia will demand a skillfull and brilliant administration. The NORTH AMERICAN Congratulates again both Dr. Dudley and the associations and institutions over which he will be called upon to preside and promises to all its cordial support and cooperation.

The Medical Century. We are glad to learn that our enterprising Chicago contemporary, following the example of the NORTH AMERICAN, is hereafter to have head-quarters in both New York and Chicago. The NORTH AMERICAN was the first homoeopathic medical magazine to establish editorial and business offices in both cities; the Century is the second, and we can wish our contemporary no better fortune than that it should receive in the East the same generous recognition and support the NORTH AMERICAN enjoys from the West and the Chicago profession.

The International Congress.-The British Committee, of the International Congress to be held in London next July, announce through the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hughes, the following outline programme. The first day, Tuesday, will be occupied with the President's Address and the general discussion based on the reports from the different countries. Wednesday will be given up to the consideration of “Institutes and Materia Medica," and the following topics are announced.

1. Drug Selection by Sequence of Symptoms.
2. The Therapeutics of Arum.

3. The Action of Colchicum in Gout.

4. Mercury and Iodine in Cutaneous affections.

Thursday will be occupied by "Practical Medicine, Ophthalmology and Otology" and papers on the following subjects will be presented:

1. Treatment of Cardiac Dropsy.

2. The Treatment of Strumous Ophthalmia.

3. The Treatment of Deafness.

Friday will be devoted to "Surgery and Gynecology," and these topics will be considered :

1. The Treatment of Purulent Collections within the body

The

The second and third topics under this head are left to be selected by the American Committee, which will also provide for the essays and discussions. These two topics are the only ones alloted to America and but one essayist is expected on each subject. committee has already taken steps to arrange for essayists and topics and finds its labors unexpectedly lightened by this decision of the British Committee. A circular of information will be issued in a few days by the American Committee giving full particulars as to steamship routes, hotel accommodations in London, special routes in England and on the Continent and much other information. In o'r next number may be found a more detailed account of the Congress programme.

The World's Congress of Medico-Climatology-On February 20th, 21st and 22d, 1896, the World's Congress of Medico-Climatology will hold a National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. A large attendance is expected and low railroad rates will be secured. Many papers are promised and an interesting and instructive session will reward those who may attend.!

The Teaching of Temperance in Schools.-The State Superintendent of Public Instruction has prepared a bill, repealing the law of 1894, which provides for the study, in the public schools of the State of the nature and effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics. He provides, however, for such a course of study in the public schools without the objectionable features contained in the original law. When the law was enacted we took occasion to point out that the law was expensive, burdensome and detrimental to the best interests of the children. In Brooklyn alone it is estimated that $20,000 will be required to carry out the provisions of this law. But the chief trouble with the law is that it attempts to enforce a certain kind of instruction for the purpose of sustaining a certain view on the subject of temperance. The opponents of the law believe very thoroughly in inculcating temperance and all good habits by proper teaching in the public schools, but they cannot admit the wisdom of a legal requirement that compels the teaching of temperance as understood by a class and that, further, devotes so many fixed hours to teaching this virtue from a text-book. The fact is, it is impossible to teach scientifically the action of alcohol and narcotics upon the human organism, to young pupils. They cannot comprehend it, and that such teaching is not scientific and becomes misleading. It is stated that this law requires more time to be given to its peculiar method of teaching a peculiar temperance than is devoted to the study of the English language. We trust the present intemperate law will be repealed and Superintendent Skinner's more reasonable bill will take its place.

Chicago and Antitoxin. The recent meeting of the Chicago Homœopathic Medical Society when a paper by Prof. R. N. Tooker, M. D., on the value of Antitoxin was presented and thoroughly discussed and, incidentally, the methods of the Health Board severely criticised, has attracted much attention. The Chicago Tribune of January 13th contains a number of letters sent in response to requests by the paper. All of the writers but one fully endorse the attitude of the Society and agree that the new serum remedy has not yet fully demonstrated its right to a place in established therapeutics. Among those contributing to the Tribune were R. N. Foster, M. D., R. N. Tooker, M. D., A. C. Cowperthwaite, M. D., C. E. Fisher, M. D., and S. F. Washburne, M. D., who dissented from the opinions of his colleagues. Dr. Foster said in the Tribune, in part, as follows:

"There was but one question before the meeting: What say the statistics of the profession respecting the value of antitoxin? The best authorities of the medical world were studied by Dr. Tooker for the best answer now to be obtained. Such men as Lennox Brown of London and Dr. Welch of Johns

Hopkins University were taken as standard authorities, and their reports weresupplemented by those of others almost equally eminent and competent. An effort was made to draw fair conclusions from these reports.

"Every man of the 250 physicians present at that meeting was prepared to. accept the reports of such authorities as reasonable evidence on which to base a conclusion, and to be fairly influenced thereby in his practice. Had those reports been even moderately favorable to antitoxin its use, or at least a further study of it and cautious experiment with it, would have been unanimously indorsed. That society is not composed of physicians who will oppose or refuse to use any well-proved remedy for any disease whatsoever.

"It is not vaccination or anything like it that this society of physicians opposes at any time. It is rather such failures as the once vaunted cure of Koch by injection of certain cultures for tuberculosis that we oppose. Also such injections of various animal juices as were practiced by Brown-Séquard, and made more pretentious noise in the world for a brief day than any really useful thing has ever made. Also the gas inflations of the intestines practiced by Berjeau. And, again, the injections of phenic acid so paraded ou two continents by Declat. And yet, again, the flushing' system of our distinguished countryman, Dr. Hall. Need I add more?

"They would not absolutely deny it might not yet prove itself to possess. some merits in some rare and special form of diphtheria. But the evidence is to them irresistible that even so much is not yet certain. Nor is it possible for any reasonable person to come to any other conclusion after hearing Tooker's paper. Either Dr. Tooker's conclusions are right beyond cavil, or his authorities are unworthy of credence. And if such authorities are not trustworthy, can we rely, in such a tangled and obtruse subject, upon the reports of a local board of health?

"The board must pardon us if, in our anxiety to be right, to know the very truth, and to be equipped for the best service, we find ourselves in a dilemma -we must either doubt the authorities of the civilized world, or we must doubt the accuracy of our own Board of Health, for the two are hopelessly antagonistic.'

The Distribution of Physicians.-From the last census of the City of Paris it is found that there are 2,922 members of the profession residing in the capital, and of this number 521 or over, onesixth are foreigners. The number of practitioners in the London list is 5,835; in the New York York list about 3,000. It is shown. by examination of the census tables that the practice of medicine attracts more foreigners to the capital of France than any other profession.

Vagaries of Legislation.-A person by the name of Hanna, who seems to be a member of the New York Legislature, has introduced two bills affecting medical affairs: One proposes that physicians of other States, of three years' standing and regularly licensed, may be admitted to practice in this State without examination, on payment of the regular fee. The second product of Mr. Hanna's. wonderful brain provides that persons who do not hold a Regents certificate may not be members of the boards of education under control of the Regents.

The first bill would destroy the present medical law, and the second is simply formulated idiocy.

Some Advances in Medical Education.-On the 4th of January, 1896, the Faculty of the Harvard medical school decided with practical unanimity that "In and after June, 1901, candidates for admission to the medical school must present a degree in arts, literature, philosophy, science or medicine, from a recognized college

or scientific school, with the exception of such persons of suitable age and attainments as may be admitted by a special vote of the Faculty in each case." The position taken by the Harvard medical school will be watched with great interest by educators generally, and particularly by those interested in the advance of medical education. The standard set is the ideal one, and it is possible for a school so fortunately situated as is the Harvard school to be the first one (excepting Johns Hopkins) to advance it. It is not possible, nor would it be wise, for other medical schools to follow this example at once. But the cause of medical training will be materially aided by this decision, and in time the Harvard school will have many companions.

Not the First.—In a recent issue the Medical Record rejoices that one of the great hospitals of this city (St. Luke's) is about to establish a laboratory and carry on original research. The Record probably has never heard of Rochester, N. Y., and therefore does not know that the Rochester Homoeopathic Hospital opened laboratories for original work some time ago and is now contemplating the establishment of a pharmacological laboratory. Will the Record kindly note its error of omission and inform its readers that "there are others?"

"The Dispensary Question."-There has been so much dissent from the views set forth in the recent address on the above subject, by the retiring President, Dr. Wilcox, of the New York County Society, that the NORTH AMERICAN has postponed any presentation of the matter until next month when both or all sides will, in accordance with our custom, be given a hearing. Some editorial comment on the address will appear, as well as the address itself and various communications since received, and we invite those inclined to discuss the subject to communicate promptly with the NORTH AMERICAN.

BOOK REVIEWS.

THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF MEDICINE DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF PRACTITIONERS AND STUDENTS OF MEDICINE. By William Osler, M.D., Professor of Medicine in the Johns Hopkins University, etc., etc. Second edition New York, D. Appleton & Co., 1895, Pp. 1143.

The second edition of this important work is offered to the profession after careful revision and generous additions. That its value has been increased is evident and it remains one of the best of modern text-books upon medicine; so characterized by the simplicity, directness and vigor of its style as to deserve the name of classic. Some of the changes made are as follows: "In Section I. the article on typhoid fever has been thoroughly revised to date and that on malarial fever in large part rewritten. The subject of diphtheria has been completely recast and extended from eleven to twenty pages. The article on septicæmia and pyæmia has been rearranged and largely rewritten. Short descriptions. of the bubonic plague and of the foot-and-mouth disease have been added.

New matter will also be found in connection with cholera, syphilis tuberculosis, and others of the infectious diseases.

"In Section III. there has been added an account of eczema of the tongue and of leukoplakia, and under chronic tonsilicis will be found additional details regarding the injurious effects of mouth breathing. The subject of appendicitis has been completely rewritten and much extended. A new section has been added on affections of the mesentery, and under diseases of the liver a description of thedislocations and deformities of the organ. Under localized peritonitis a new section will be found on the subphrenic variety.

"In Section VI. the subjects of anæmia and leukæmia have been revised and rearranged. In the articles on Addison's disease and on exophthalmic goître and myxedema will be found references to the new investigations.

"In diseases of the nervous system a new introductory section has been written, with new diagrams, which will prove helpful to the student. Most of the important points which have arisen during the past three years have been incorporated."

THE PATHOLOGY AND TREATMENT OF VENEREAL DISEASES. By Robert W. Taylor, M. D., Clinical Professor of Venereal Diseases at the College of Physicians and Surgeons New York, etc. etc., with two hundred and thirty Illustrations and seven colored Plates. Philadelphia. Lea Brothers & Co., 1895, Pp. 10c2.

Gonorrhoea is

In the preparation of this great work, the eminent anthor has endeavored by his own studies and observations, and by the aid given by the experience of others, to present the important subjects considered in a thoroughly modern and advanced manner. exhaustively considered, the pathology given being very carefully studied, and the treatment of the disease in all its stages and forms is exhaustive. Much stress has been laid on the fads, the hobbies, and the visionary views held by many as to the therapeutics of gonorrhoea, and their fallacies, shortcomings and dangers have been prominently brought forward. The sequelae of gonorrhoea and their allied conditions have been duly considered. The subject of gonorrhoea in women, concerning which there is so much doubt and obscurity, has been very carefully dealt with. Syphilis receives, as might be expected, very extended consideration.

Dr. Taylor has long occupied a leading position in connection with this specialty as a writer, teacher and practitioner. His association with Dr. Bumstead in the later of the five editions of their work on Venereal Diseases is as well-known as his own great Clinical Atlas of Venereal and Skin Diseases. The work is practically new both in text and illustrations, and is destined to maintain the foremost position universally conceded to its predecessors.

THE AMERICAN YEAR BOOK OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY: being a yearly digest of Scientific Progress and Authoritative Opinion in all Branches of Medicine and Surgery. Under the General Editorial Charge of George M. Gould, M.D., Assisted by a Staff of Ninety-eight Eminent Physicians and Surgeons. Philadelphia. W. B. Saunders, 925 Walnut St., 1896. Pp. 1183.

This handsome volume adds one more to the "Annuals" and "Year Books" with which the profession are familiar.

But with "Annuals,'' as with other things, there is always room for one more if the new comer possesses merit, and merit the American Year Book certainly has. It aims to give physicians in a compact form an annual epitome of the new and progressive medical truths or suggestions published during each year.