decayed teeth. One child had a running ear, seven had defective sight, every child had dirty ears, dirty neck and dirty scalp, and, of course, we found diseased tonsils, enlarged neck glands, pigeon breasts, and eruptions. One girl One girl fifteen years old, still in the third grade, suffered with dementia preCOX. The word hospital should have been over the door instead of District School No. 3. The evidence in this instance was conclusive of the opinion that life is a disease."

PHYSICIANS SUMMONED

TO JOIN ARMY RESERVE Thousands more American physicians are needed for the army Medical Reserve Corps, according to an appeal from the Surgeon General's office under date of April 8.

For the army of 1,500,000 which estimates indicate will be in France by the end of the present year, 15,000 medical officers will be required, says Surgeon General Gorgas, who adds that at date of writing there were on active duty 15,174 officers of the Medical Reserve Corps.

For the troops who will be in training in this country by the end of the year, brought in by the second and possibly by subsequent drafts, a supply of physicians must be enlisted at once, as the available list of the Reserve Corps is insufficient to meet these demands.

The requirements for a commission in the Medical Reserve Corps are that the applicant be a male citizen of the United States, a graduate of a reputable school of medicine, authorized to confer the degree of M. D., and that he be between the ages of 22 and 55

years and professionally, morally and physically qualified for service.

Boards of officers, to examine applicants for medical commissions, have been convened in large cities and at army camps throughout the country.

"As the war progresses the need for additional medical officers becomes each day more and more apparent," says the Surgeon General. "Although the medical profession of the country has responded as has no other profession, future response must be greater and greater.'

U. S. HEALTH SERVICE

IS STUDYING SERUMS An investigation by the United States Public Health service, now under way, has as its object the improvement of methods for the prevention and control of communicable diseases, especially near the army cantonments. The study involves both laboratory and field work, and the special facilities of the United States Hygienic Laboratory in Washington will be utilized.

The work will relate largely to the standardization and preparation of serums. The first serum to be studied will be that used in cerebro-spinal meningitis.

Methods for securing a more reliable serum for meningitis will be sought, and when found, their use will be enforced through the control of the Public Health Service over the interstate transportation of serums.

The average American workman, it is estimated, loses through illness about nine days' work each year. This total could no doubt be reduced by wider installation of medical supervision in industries.

C

ARRYING OUT the policy announced at the beginning of the year, of waging a vigorous fight against venereal diseases, the State Department of Health is setting machinery for this work in motion as rapidly as possible and as completely as funds. at its disposal will permit. With the importance of efforts along this line accentuated by war conditions and the need for conserving the soldiers' health, the task is assumed as a wartime duty.

With

Dr. H. N. Cole, of Cleveland,

who volunteered to perform the service without pay, has been placed in charge of the Department's bureau of social hygiene, which will handle the venereal disease activities. Dr. Cole will direct the work from Cleveland, where he is doing instructional work in dermatology and syphilis in the medical department of Western Reserve University.

Educating the Public

Educational measures play an important part in the Department's

program. These are undertaken with the object of disseminating accurate information regarding sex hygiene and venereal diseases, especially among young men, and building up in the public an attitude which will make frank dealing with the subject possible. Placards, pamphlets, leaflets and newspaper publicity are employed.

Closely allied with the educational side of the program is a bureau of sex advice which has been installed in the Department. In the printed matter sent out, the public is invited to address personal inquiries on any phase of sex hygiene to the Department. These questions will receive the confidential personal attention of a competent adviser. It is hoped in this way to be able to meet individual problems which general propaganda will only partly solve.

Free Wasserman Tests

The laboratories of the Department are co-operating in the work by giving free Wasserman examinations for the diagnosis of syphilis. This service is offered on the same basis as other diagnostic facilities of the laboratories. Outfits and instructions for obtaining and mailing blood specimens are distributed free upon request to physicians, state institutions and other applicants. That these official outfits be used is the only condition attached to the Department's offer of free Wasserman examinations.

The Department is giving active co-operation to local movements for handling the venereal disease situation in the various cities. Organization of clinics and provision of hospital beds for venereal patients are given special attention. Programs for the control of the diseases are being worked out

The work of handling the venereal disease situation is, under the plan outlined, organized on a more or less incomplete basis. Sufficient money to finance a more thorough organization, however, is not at present available. The committee on health, hospitals and nursing of the State Council of National Defense is preparing a budget to finance the work during the year 1918-19. It is felt also that legislation will have to be devised to place more power in the hands of the health authorities in this regard, before the problem. can be adequately met. What is being done, however, is far more. than a feeble beginning, and will serve as a valuable basis for more extended work which, it is hoped, can be taken up later.

The patriotic service of Dr. Cole is worthy of the State's highest commendation. He is a man of very large experience in the treatment of venereal diseases, and the people of Ohio are fortunate in having him step into the breach so willingly at a time when the need was so pressing and so little provided for.