tendency of the State to devote time, thought and money to the consideration of the public health.

The daily press has recently made numerous comments on the attitude of the medical profession toward preventive medicine, claiming that in the near future the work of the profession will do more in line of preventing than of curing disease. The value and prominence of preventive medicine finds convincing illustration in the program of this session of the New York State Department of Health. Not only was that vitally important subject, tuberculosis, discussed in many of its phases, but much of the time of the conference was devoted to the discussion of the medical inspection of schools. Such subjects as "The Detection of Communicable Diseases," "The Detection of Defects of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat," and "The Prevalence of Physical Defects in School Children" deal almost absolutely with preventive medicine. Quite as much so as the discussion of the "Sanitary Inspection of Wells." and "The Laws Relating to the Pollution of Streams." People are apt to think of Health Departments as concerned chiefly with the Disposal of Sewage, Prevention of Nuisances, Plumbing, and Sanitary Engineering in general. But the New York State Department of Health has under its charge four large laboratories in which a very great amount of research work is being done, notably in the Hygienic Laboratory, the Experiment Station and the Cancer Laboratory, the objects of study being the cause and prevention of diseases. This department also has a division devoted to the study of communicable diseases, and has on its staff a consulting ophthalmologist, consulting dermatologist, and consulting orthopedist. The objects of the conference, as stated in its announcement and program, are "to establish closer relations between the State Department and the local Health Authorities, to secure co-operation in the interests of sanitary science, and a clearer understanding as to the duties, powers and purposes of our work.

"Special attention is called to the fact that a Tuberculosis Exhibition will again be held in connection with the Conference. This year the Department exhibition will be shown for the first time. It will be not only instructive, but will represent the efforts which are being made in the various municipalities and institutions to prevent the spread and effect a cure of this disease.

"There will be on exhibition the Department's Hygienic Exhibition, which will consist of models of water filtration systems and of some forms of sewage disposal systems. There will also be included charts and tables showing the distribution of typhoid fever and other diseases. The travelling bacteriological outfit of the State Laboratory and various microscopic preparations will be on exhibition.

"Kindly notice that section 21 of the Public Health Law. amended by chapter 189 of the Laws of 1907, provides that the local boards of health must allow the actual and reasonable expense of the health officers in attending this Conference."

STATE SOCIETY AT WORCESTER.

The sixty-seventh semi-annual meeting of the State Society was held in Worcester on the 9th of October, and was so unusually successful that special attention is called to the fact. The attendance was under the circumstances particularly good from the initial to the closing hours of the session. It was true that the deplorable deficiency of the Boston & Albany delayed by over an hour the arrival of the first contingent from the eastern quarter of the State; but on the whole the attendance was uniform and, as we have said, satisfactory.

President Rand is to be congratulated that during the first half of his administration so many new names were added to the membership roll. For the names of twenty-two candidates were presented and favorably voted upon. The papers read were of a high order of merit and were received with unmixed approval. The program included no fewer than fourteen papers, beside reports of several special committees and the transaction of routine business. In addition to this there was the important item of the dinner to be discussed and the customary post-prandial oration, which this year was delivered by Professor George R. Southwick of Boston. Among the papers was one on the "Prevention of Unnecessary Blindness" by Herbert D. Schenck, M.D., president of the New York Homoeopathic Society, and Consulting Ophthalmologist of the New York State Department of Health. The meeting offered an embarrass de richesse in the way of papers, for the program included so many that full discussion of them was not possible. The spirit of good fellowship and the general success of the meeting were such that the Society certainly has no cause to regret its vote to hold its semi-annual meeting in Worcester instead of following its usual custom of meeting at the Hub.

WORCESTER HAHNEMANN HOSPITAL.

The Hahnemann Hospital, Worcester, Mass., is to be congratulated on being the recipient of a generous gift of land. The donor, Mr. B. H. Fanning, a large manufacturer, is the vice-president of the hospital, and is deeply interested in the welfare of homoeopathy and in philanthropic work. The gift comprises about two and one-half acres of suitable land, conveniently and pleasantly located in a very desirable portion of the city, and plans are now being made for the erection of a hospital building thereon. The present quarters are insufficient for the demands made upon them and enlarged quarters are necessary. Plans are being formulated for the raising of a sufficient sum of money to enable the trustees to begin building, and with such a nucleus as the land itself will form, the necessary sum should be speedily raised. The attention of philanthropic citizens of the State should be directed to the spirited and energetic work being done by our Worcester colleagues.

OBITUARY.

DR. JOHN M. PRILAY.

Dr. John M. Prilay died at his home in Essex Street, Bangor, Maine, Thursday morning, October 3rd, 1907, after a patient and heroic struggle of two years' duration against pernicious anaemia. From the "Bangor Daily News" of Friday, October 4th, the Gazette quotes the following:—

"Although the end was known to be inevitable, his death comes none the less a grievous blow to his innumerable friends, and his untimely demise is a distinct loss to the city.

"He was stricken in the prime of life and at the zenith of his usefulness, his age being 46 years.

"Dr. Prilay was born in North Newport, Feb. 10, 1861, the son of John M. and Sabra (Calderwood) Prilay. He attended the schools of his native place, then went to Augusta, where he entered a commercial college.

"Not caring for a commercial life, he went to Philadelphia, where he enrolled as a student in the Hahnemann Medical School. He graduated from that institution in 1885 and came immediately to this city, where he commenced the practice of medicine in November of the same year. Since that time he had always practiced here until he retired two years ago. In June, 1886, he married Kate E. Burrill of Newport, who survives him.

"Other surviving relatives are his aged mother, Mrs. Sabra Coburn; a half-sister, Mrs. Mary H. Richardson of Old Town, and a half-brother, Frank Coburn of Newport.

"Dr. Prilay was one of the most eminent and successful practitioners in Bangor. Both in and out of his profession he was held in the highest esteem. His disposition was kindly, cheerful and charitable, and his character and principles of the highest standard.

"He was particularly adapted to his profession and gave to it the best of an energetic and conscientious temperament.

"He was a member of, and an earnest worker in, the American Institute of Homoeopathy and the Maine Homoeopathic Medical Society, serving with distinction at one time as president of the latter organization.

"He was devoted to the principles of Free Masonry and had taken all the degrees, including the 32d. He was on the rolls of St. Andrews Lodge, of which he was a past master, Bangor Council, Mt. Morah R. A. C., past eminent commander of St. John's Commandery Knights Templar and through the Scottish Rite bodies and Maine Consistory.

"He was a member of Bangor Council, Royal Arcanum, in which he was much interested and in which was medical examiner."

SOCIETIES.

MASSACHUSETTS HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

One of the most pleasant meetings of this society within the experience of the writer was held at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Worcester, upon Wednesday, October 9th.

The president, Dr. J. P. Rand, occupied the chair most acceptably. On account of the notoriously late Boston & Albany trains, the meeting was somewhat delayed in its beginning. From 11 o'clock until 5 in the afternoon there did not occur a minute that was wasted, so full was the program and so enthusiastic were the auditors. It was unfortunate that many of the best papers could not be discussed on account of lack of time, as by this means not infrequently valuable points are brought forth.

The society greeted most heartily Dr. H. D. Schenck, president of the New York Homoeopathic Medical Society, who delivered an excellent address.

As will be seen, an unusually large number of new members were unanimously elected.

One innovation was the report of Dr. Downing, describing the work performed by the Loyalty Committee of Boston University in advancing the cause of its medical school.

A vote of thanks was given to the Worcester County Homoeopathic Medical Society and certainly this was most deserved.

One of the most memorable parts of the meeting seemed to be the prevalence to a greater extent than heretofore of a living belief in, and enthusiasm for, homoeopathy. There seemed to be the feeling that we are approaching more and more closely the time when the law of similars can be demonstrated to the greatest doubter, and when the truths for which we have so long striven will prevail.

Attendance was excellent when the place of meeting is considered, fully 150 sitting down to the midday banquet.

The following program was presented, only two of the speakers being absent:

Bureau of Materia Medica.

I. The Use and Abuse of Keynotes in Prescribing, Dudley A. Williams, M.D. II.

Natrum Muriaticum: A Neglected Remedy, F. Mason Padel

ford, M.D.

III. Copper Sulphate in Typhoid Fever, O. W. Roberts, M.D.

IV. Business Session: New members-Ivon C. R. Amesbury, M.D., Dorchester; George C. Anthony, M.D., Wellesley; Leonard W. Atkinson, M.D., Fryeburg, Me.; G. Percival Bard, M.D., Stafford Springs, Conn.; Ernest P. Bixby, M.D., Barre; Lester E. Butler, M.D., Dighton; Bernard H. Byam, M.D., Lowell; Daniel E. Chase, M.D., Somerville; William W. Coles, M.D., Westborough; Deborah Fawcett, M.D., Newton; Albert Forbush, M.D., Somerville; Harriet Horner, M.D., Boston; Elbert A. Jones, M.D., Worcester; Laurence F. Keith, M.D., Boston; Edward N. Kingsbury, M.D., Woonsocket, R. I.; Daniel R. McNally, M.D., Pawtucket, R. I.; John E. Monroe, M.D., Orange; John E. Runnels, M.D., Rutland; Elizabeth E. Shaw, M.D., Brookline; Amber A. Starbuck, M.D., Springfield; Edwin D. Stevens, M.D., Francestown, N. H.; Frank A. Woods, M.D., Holyoke.

Reception of delegates from other societies.
Dinner.

V.

VI.

VII.

Annual Oration, George R. Southwick, M.D.

Report of Committee on Boston University School of Medicine, Nathaniel R. Perkins, M.D., chairman; The Work and Aims of the Loy

alty Committee of Boston University School of Medicine, Dana F. Downing, M.D.

Bureau of Surgery.

F. Forrest Martin, M.D., Chairman.

VIII. Cancer of the Stomach from the Surgeon's Point of View, J. Emmons Briggs, M.D.

IX. The Permanent and the Transitory in Abdominal Surgery, Henry A. Whitmarsh, M.D.

Bureau of Ophthalmology, Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology.

X.

Edwin A. Clarke, M.D., Chairman.

Prevention of Unnecessary Blindness, Herbert D. Schenck, M.D. XI. Otitis Media Serosa, Howard P. Bellows, M.D.

XII. The Eye in Relation to Diabetes and Bright's Disease, Archie E. Perkins, M.D.

Bureau on Gynecology.

Herbert D. Boyd, M.D., Chairman.

XIII. Extra Uterine Pregnancy, Charles T. Howard, M.D.
Puncture of the Uterus, Frank L. Newton, M.D.

XIV.

Bureau of Dermatology, Syphilology and Genito-Urinary Diseases. Benjamin T. Loring, M.D., Chairman.

XV.

Lupus Erythematosus, John L. Coffin, M.D.

Adjournment.

BOSTON HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The regular meeting of the Boston Homoeopathic Medical Society was held in the Natural History rooms, October 3, 1907, the meeting being called to order by the president. Dr. S. H. Calderwood.

Business Session.

Records. The reading of the records was waived.

Proposals for Membership.-Henry Watters, M.D.

Elections to Membership.-Ivon C. R. Amesbury, M.D.; Mabel D. Ordway, M.D.

New Business.-A circular printed and distributed by Dr. C. E. P. Thompson was read by the president. in which Dr. Thompson represented himself as especially competent to give advice to people troubled with poor sight. The president then read that portion of the by-laws which deals with the punishment of any member of this society guilty of this offence, and asked the meeting to act upon the matter. Dr. Strong presented a letter which Dr. Thompson had sent to the Massachusetts Homoeopathic Hospital in which he stated that he had decided to discontine the practice of medical ethics because he had not derived any benefit from so doing.

Voted, That Dr. C. E. P. Thompson, 93 Warren street, Roxbury, be expelled from this society.

Dr. Wells presented an artificial eye made by Muller of Weisbaden, for inspection by the members.

Scientific Session.

Medical Expert Testimony, Hon. Louis C. Southard. Discussed by Frank C. Richardson, M.D., Frank E. Allard, M.D., F. L. Newton, M.D., Edwin D. Harvey, M.D., Sumner Crowell, M.D.