and in sum. "Time is plenty" says the wise old Scotch philosopher, "for God's aye makin' it!" In that new portion of time on which we are privileged by grace of the New Year to enter, may we find and do better things than the old year has recorded!

SOCIETY REPORTS

BOSTON HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY

THE regular meeting of the Boston Homœopathic Medical Society was held in the Natural History Rooms on Thursday evening, December 6, 1906. The meeting was called to order at 7:55 by the President, Dr. David W. Wells. The records of the last meeting were read and approved.

The following were proposed for membership:

Drs. Edgar F. Haines, Richard E. Winslow, Alonzo J. Shadman.

Dr. Hollis G. Batchelder was elected to membership.

The Executive Committee reported that they had made what they considered to be a satisfactory arrangement with the New England Medical Gazette, making it the official organ of the Society.

Resignations were received and accepted from the following:

Drs. Ella G. Smith, C. W. Morse, Clarence P. Holden, C. C. Burpee. Voted: That Dr. A. K. P. Harvey and Dr. C. C. Morrison be retired from the Society for non-payment of dues.

The President appointed Dr. F. B. Percy member of the Legislative Committee to serve for four years.

The following amendment to the Constitution was proposed by Dr. Spalding: To amend Section IV, third line, so that it shall read "shall nominate two or more candidates for each office."

SCIENTIFIC SESSION

Differential Diagnosis of Diseases of the Stomach. Dr. George E. Percy Pathology and Laboratory Tests in Diseases of the Stomach. Dr. Solomon C. Fuller.

Indications for Surgical Treatment of Diseases of the Stomach. Dr. James B. Bell.

Medicinal and Dietetic Treatment of Diseases of the Stomach. Dr. William H. Van den Burg, of New York City.

Discussion by Dr. Horace Packard.

A resolution of thanks to Dr. Van den Burg was unanimously passed, At the close of the scientific session it was voted to return to the subject of new business, and the following recommendation of the Executive Committee was adopted by the Society:

That two thousand copies of Dr. Cabot's address be printed and furnished him.

That one thousand copies containing both Dr. Cabot's and Dr. Wesselhoeft's addresses be printed, five hundred of these to be sent to physicians of New England, and the other five hundred to Dr. Wesselhoeft. Adjourned at 9:35 for a social half-hour.

B. T. LORING, General Secretary.

MASSACHUSETTS SURGICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL SOCIETY THE Sixty-Seventh Session and Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Surgical and Gynecological Society was held Wednesday afternoon, December 12, 1906, at the Copley Square Hotel, Boston.

The meeting was called to order at 3:45, with Dr. T. Morris Strong presiding. After the reading of the minutes of the last meeting, the following physicians were elected to membership:

Drs. John A. Balcom, Lynn, Alfred M. Bigelow, Mansfield, Le Verne Holmes, Arlington, Mary Augusta Leavitt, Somerville, Howard Moore, Newton, Arthur H. Ring, Arlington Heights, Frank R. Sedgley, Dorchester, Alice S. Woodman, Dorchester.

THE Treasurer reported a satisfactory balance on hand and this was accepted. THE Auditor's report was accepted.

THE resignations of four members were accepted.

THE Necrologist, Dr. J. P. Rand, reported on the death of Dr. Martha G. Champlin, who died on November 22, 1906 (a notice of whose death will be found elsewhere in this number of the Gazette).

ELECTION Committee reported as follows: Officers elected for ensuing year, President, Dr. Frank A. Gardner, Salem; Vice Presidents, Dr. Amanda C. Bray, Worcester, Dr. A. Howard Powers, Boston; General Secretary, Dr. Frederick W. Colburn, Boston; Associate Secretary, Dr. Herbert D. Boyd, Boston; Treasurer, Dr. Isabel G. Weston, Wellesley; Auditor, Dr. Joseph Chase, Jr., East Weymouth; Censors, Dr. Frederick P. Batchelder, Boston, Dr. George B. Rice, Boston, Dr. John K. Warren, Worcester.

In the Scientific Session which followed, Dr. George L. Van Deursen of Lowell presented the following program:

2.

Dr. Frank C. Richardson.

"The Treatment of Retroversion of the Uterus." Dr. George R. Southwick, M.R.C.S.

3. "Anesthesia." Report of two deaths, one following the administration of ether and one during the administration of chloroform. Dr. Winfield Smith.

66

4. Semicircular Skin-Graft Incision in Laparotomy." Dr. George W. Roberts, New York City.

Dinner was served at seven o'clock to one hundred and twenty members and guests.

Dr. T. Morris Strong then delivered the President's address, which was followed by recitations from Drummond's poems by Mr. La Rue Vredenburg. The President Elect was then introduced and addressed the Society. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 P. M.

MASSACHUSETTS HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY

The officers of the Massachusetts Homoeopathic Medical Society are planning to begin the new year with an aggressive campaign among the homoeopathic practitioners throughout the state with the object of increasing the membership of the society.

To one familiar with the excellence of the meetings of the Society and the pleasures of associating with fellow practitioners, it seems strange that such an effort is found to be necessary. We feel that if those who are not members fully appreciated the value of this membership, they would not long thus deliberately separate themselves from the greater part of the homoeopathic profession. When scientific investigations and laboratory experiments are now more than ever before demonstrating in so many unmistakable ways the truth of the basis of our faith, it behooves us all to do our share in that work so that it may not be said that outsiders were necessary to the proper proving of Similia Similibus Curantur.

In no way can we make a better beginning than by allying ourselves with our respective societies and by doing our part to make them a power felt in every section of the land. The State Society has our most cordial best wishes, and we trust that their effort will be most successful.

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

The quarterly meeting of the Homœopathic Medical Society of Western Massachusetts was held at Cooley's Hotel, Springfield, on Wednesday, December 19th.

After the Business Session the Bureau of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, represented by Dr. Grace Stevens as chairman, presented the following program: Dr. Frank A. Woods, Holyoke. Discussion

1. Instrumental Delivery.

opened by Dr. Clarice Parsons.

2. The Management of Occiput-posterior Positions. Springfield. Discussion opened by Dr. O. W. Roberts.

Dr. Erdix T. Smith,

3. Polio-myelitis Anterior. Dr. John Hutchinson, New York. Discussion opened by Dr. Plumb Brown.

4. Rational Childhood Diet. Dr. E. W. Capen, Monson. Discussion opened by Dr. E. H. Copeland.

The meeting was characterized by a large attendance and by much enthusiasm in the discussion of the various subjects under consideration. Dr. Hutchinson made a strong plea for careful and accurate prescribing in which he was warmly seconded by Dr. Brown. The Doctor said that the worst foes of homoopathy are those so-called homœopathists who pay little heed to the fundamental principles laid down by Hahnemann and hold up to ridicule those who insist on the careful choice of the single remedy. On the paper by Dr. Woods very free discussion was evoked. Drs. Parsons and Carmichael warmly advocated the frequent use of forceps, while Drs. Roberts, Hovey, Bixby, and others urged the wisdom of allowing nature to accomplish as much as possible without instrumental interference. Dr. Smith gave a very useful paper on the most approved methods of managing delivery when the position of the fetus is that of occiput-posterior. A very wise and rational childhood diet was that advised by Dr. Capen, of Monson. Dr. Copeland suggested a somewhat greater latitude, but spoke especially against dependence upon sterilized and pre-digested food. On account of an early call, Dr. Spencer, of Ware, was unable to present the paper that he had prepared.

OBITUARY

DR. MARTHA G. CHAMPLIN.

The news of the death of Dr. Martha G. Champlin in San Francisco, came as a surprise to many of her friends who had known but little of her failing health. In March, 1906, feeling that she was not strong enough for regular duty at the Framingham Nervine where she had been resident physician after giving up her general practice in Brookline, she decided to take a long vacation and visit a sister in San Francisco. She was delayed in starting west, and meanwhile the earthquake and fire destroyed her sister's home, and her trip was postponed until the fall. On October 10th, she left Boston with a friend to care for her, but evidently neither she nor her friends had fully realized her condition. The trip was a very hard one for both and, when they reached San Francisco, Dr. Champlin was greatly exhausted. She failed rapidly and died on November 22d.

Those who knew her well will feel that a good woman as well as a kind, gentle and faithful physician has gone out from among us.

E. L. K.

BOOK REVIEWS

Pathology. General and Special. By John Stenhouse, M. A., B. Sc.. Edinburgh, M. B., Tor.; and John Ferguson, M. A., M. D., Tor. Both formerly of University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Series edited by Victor Cox Pedersen, A. M., M. D. Illustrated with sixteen engravings and a colored Plate. Lea Brothers & Co., Philadelphia and New York.

This is a small manual of less than three hundred pages, being one of a series of twenty-three that is to cover the entire field of medical education. It contains much that will be of value to the student and to one wishing to prepare for examination upon the subject of pathology. Certain things, however, must be mentioned as detracting somewhat from its value. Chief among these is the classification of tumors. The classification introduced by Adams is probably the most scientific of any yet evolved, but it scarcely seems wise to place such a classification, excellent though it be, into a compend of pathology before it has been accepted by the more inclusive volumes, and before its permanence has been fully decided. In the part devoted to special pathology it is stated that on account of the brief space it is impossible to even mention the various conditions found, and then the writer proceeds to do just what he has claimed to be impossible. There are, however, many good features found in the book, although possibly one may not be willing to agree with some of the statements therein made. The publishers' part has been well done, and his attempt to produce an attractive volume for a small price has been eminently satisfactory. The Practitioners' Visiting List for 1907. In one wallet-shaped book, bound in flexible leather, with flap and pocket, pencil and rubber, and calendar for two years. Price by mail, postpaid, to any address. $1.25. Thumb-letter index, 25 cents extra. Lea Brothers & Co., Publishers, Philadelphia and New York, 1906.

Condensed into a very small space at the beginning of this book is a table of doses, poisons and antidotes, notes on urinalysis and on therapeutic measures. The substance of the book is arranged in such a manner as to be well adapted to the general practitioner in recording his visits, charges, etc. There is space devoted to memoranda, obstetric engagements, vaccinations, deaths, addresses of nurses and cash accounts. The volume is neatly bound with flexible covers, and should be of decided value.

The Practice of Gynecology. In original contributions by American Authors. Edited by J. Wesley Bovee, M. D., Professor of Gynecology, George Washington University, Washington, D. C. Illustrated with 382 engravings and sixty full-page plates. Lea Brothers & Co., Philadelphia and New York, 1906.

This book, which is on a par with those usually produced by Lea Brothers, presents the latest information that is known upon the subject treated. The various departments are clearly defined, descriptions are well given, and concisely stated. A large number of engravings and full-page plates add much to the value of one of the most attractive and valuable volumes that has recently appeared. From the bookmaker's standpoint the arrangement is most successful, the type being clear, no errors being noted, and the paper and binding entirely satisfactory.

"Everybody's" for January contains the second installment of Thomas W. Lawson's first novel, "Friday, the 13th." a vivid picture of the mad excitement of the New York stock market, with a bit of downright love making, and a perspective of old Southern aristocracy. It also contains chapters XIIIXVI of Jack London's "Before Adam," the four final chapters of Charles Edward Russell's "Soldiers of the Common Good," Robert E. Park's "The Blood Money of the Congo," and much other timely and interesting reading.

"McClure's" for January contains chapter I of Christine Milmine's life of Mary Baker G. Eddy and history of Christian Science, a continuation of Carl Schurz's "Reminiscences of a Long Life," Burton J. Hendrick's "The

Great Jewish Invasion," another of Myra Kelly's East Side child stories entitled "A Perjured Santa Claus," and Eugene Wood's "The Drama in Our Town." The illustrations are good and the number an interesting one.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, REPRINTS, ETC., RECEIVED. Therapeutics of Light as Illustrated with the Leucodescent Therapeutic Lamp. By Lamson Allen, M. D.

Phototherapy in General Practice. By Herbert Pitcher, M. D.

The Therapeutic Uses of Electricity. By F. A. Churchill, M. D. Histogenesis of the Retina. By Professor A. W. Weysse and W. S. Burgess. The Value of Accurate Diagnosis in Homœopathic Prescribing. By John Henry Clarke, M. D., Edinburgh.

The Practitioners' Visiting List. Issued by Lea Bros. & Co., Philadelphia. The Diseases of the Nose, Throat, and Ear. By Charles Provost Grayson, A.M., M.D.

GLEANINGS.

IN the October issue of the Medical Advance will be found some very interesting early reminiscences of Dr. W. P. Wesselhoft, of Boston. Dr. Wesselhoft, being one of the nestors of homeopathy, has passed through experiences both interesting and instructive. The descriptions of these are valuable.

A second outbreak of typhoid fever occurred in the Wesleyan University last October, caused by contaminated oysters eaten at fraternity banquets. It will be remembered that at the first outbreak, some years ago, it was for the first time demonstrated that oysters were able to transmit the disease.

DIET IN ECZEMA-The restriction of the use of coffee is important; a little quantity will be allowed in the morning with a large quantity of milk and cream, but it will not be allowed in the evening. Coffee predisposes to dyspepsia, prevents sleep, and the patient is rendered nervous, the itching sensation is increased, and he scratches the eczematous patches. We advise our patients to have plenty of fresh milk, cream and butter; the fat is useful for their nutrition and relieves their dyspeptic condition.- Ravogli, The Dietetic and Hygienic Gazette.

RENAL TUBERCULOSIS-The treatment of tuberculosis of the kidney depends to-day entirely on the facts as to whether one or both kidneys are involved. As already pointed out. in 90 per cent or more, the process is an infection through the circulation and is limited to one kidney

In these cases, there is but one operation to consider and that is nephrectomy, the removal of the diseased kidney. If, because of the existence of a mixed infection, the patient's condition is such as to make an immediate nephrectomy out of the question, a nephrotomy with drainage should be made simply as a palliative operation and with the understanding that, as soon as the condition of the patient permits, a radical operation of nephrectomy should be made.

A resection of the kidney is to be practically discarded from consideration. The multiple foci, which are disclosed by a careful examination of all the tuberculous kidneys removed at operation, shows how useless such a procedure is.

When both kidneys are involved, the treatment must be nephrotomy and drainage in cases in which there are large abscesses, and the fresh-air and outdoor treatment of widespread inoperable tuberculosis.

A. D. Bevan, M.D., Journal A. M. A., Oct. 6, 1906.

DR. J. F. ROGERS has prepared a very complete series of statistics concerning the effect of playing upon wind instruments, with special reference to tuberculosis. This appears in the Medical Record, and should prove to interest both to physicians and to musicians. He refutes the prevalent idea that emphysema is of frequent occurrence in musicians using these instruments. No connection can be found between the occupation and tuberculosis.

The following statistics concerning the attendance at rehearsals and concerts of the Boston Symphony Orchestra are given. The total number of such per