of a hernia indicates as being already weak. Such active pressure is necessarily given by either a spring or an elastic truss.

The frame truss is a strip of rigid metal carefully fitted so as to conform to the entire contour of the body, on a line passing above the pubes, rising to just below the anterior iliac spine and then girdling the hips to the upper margin of the gluteal muscles. It provides a sort of artificial pelvis that will not slip out of place from any movement of the body. A pad interposed between the frame and the body at the point where resistance is needed, restrains the abdominal contents in a manner similar to the structures of the normal man.

The hernia is controlled by resistance, not forced in by pressure; and this control is absolute.

A water pad is used as the movement of the fluid allows it to conform to the surface against which it lies, and its resistance is positive, water being incompressible.

ALCOHOL FIGHT SUCCEEDS.

Oppenheimer Institute Commission Meets with Much Support in England.

[Special Cable to the Herald.]

London, Saturday.—I am asked to state that the Commission recently sent to England by the Oppenheimer Institute of New York, which numbers among its advisory directors Secretary Shaw, Dr. Lyman T. Gage, Senators Hanna and Depew and Bishop Potter and Dr. Parkhurst, has been very successful in its propaganda here.

Lady Henry Somerset, whose interest in temperance work is well known, has written a circular letter to the press indorsing the work done by the charity department of the Institute in the treatment of destitute cases of alcoholism and speaking highly of the results obtained by Dr. Isaac Oppenheimer at a London hospital, where for a couple of months past he has been treating test.

cases.

Dr. J. E. Price, of New York, recently appeared before the London County Council Inebriates Acts Committee, which supervises the Farmfield Reformatory, where £250,000 ($1,250,000) has been expended. He offered to treat free a hundred test cases gathered from prisons. His proposition is now under consideration.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

SANITARIAN, MARCH, 1904.

All Communications, business and otherwise, all exchanges and all publications for review should be addressed to the Editor, Dr. A. N. Bell, 337 Clinton Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.

MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY REPORTS AND REVIEWS.

BELL, JULIA ANN (HAMLIN), wife of Dr. A. N. Bell, died, at her home, 337 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y., March 7, 1904, in the 84th year of her age.

"Her children rise up, and call her blessed;

Her husband, also, and he praiseth her, saying:
Many daughters have done virtuously,

But thou excellest them all."

TO-DAY.

Life is a battle, and the strife
Ends only with our earthly life.
The bugle call is in the air;
The rush, the conflict, everywhere;
And none but cowards fail to share
In all that makes us what we are.
The forward march, the certain trend,
Of all things to some unseen end—
In vain we seek to turn aside
The onward sweep of that great tide
That bears us to our destiny.
There is no hope, there is no rest,
For those who fail to do their best;
Peace only comes to those who see
That they keep step in harmony
With all that is, or yet may be.

Winchester, Mass.

E. A. BRACKETT.

STATE OF NEW YORK.-Monthly Bulletin, Department of Health, for December, 1903, 7,614,281: Total number of deaths, 11,075; annual death rate, 17.1; deaths under 5 years, 2,009; percentage of deaths under 5 years to total deaths, 18.2; deaths at 70 years and over, 2,174; deaths from zymotic diseases per 1,000 deaths from all causes, 90; from cerebrospinal meningitis, 41; typhoid fever, 137; malarial diseases, 9; smallpox, 2; scarlet fever, 103; measles, 50; erysipelas, 44; whooping-cough, 40; croup and diphtheria, 314; diarrheal diseases, 279; acute respiratory diseases, 2,051; consumption, 1,152; puerperal diseases, 84; diseases of the digestive system (not acute diarrhea), 582; diseases of the urinary system, 914; diseases of the circulatory system, 1,250; diseases of the nervous system, 1,182; cancer, 478; accidents and violence, 595; old age, 400; not classified, 1,368.

The Principal Causes of Death for the Year.-There have been reported during the year, including 578 delayed returns received after the issue of the Monthly Bulletin, 127,100 deaths during the year, which makes a mortality per 1,000 population of 16.7. While the total mortality is about 3,000 greater than that of last year, the estimated increase in population reduces the death rate from that of 17.0 per 1,000. The increase occurred for the most part in the cold weather months, but the deaths of July were a little greater than last year, which was unusually low; it is, however, below the average of this midsummer month. The November mortality was, on the other hand, unusually high, for while this month has usually the lowest mortality of any in the year, it was, this year, 1,000 greater than in 1902, and exceeded the reported mortality of September and October. The increase was chiefly in acute respiratory and other local diseases.

The infant mortality exceeded that of 1902 by 1,500, but it was exceptionally low last year, and it is still 4,000 less than the average. In some years there have been 10,000 more deaths under 5 years of age than were reported this year. The 22,000 at age of 70 and over constitute the same percentage of the entire mortality as in 1902, 17 per cent. of all deaths.

Zymotic diseases caused one-eighth of the mortality of the year, against 14.0 per cent. last year, and is as low as has ever appeared in past years, the range having been from 12.0 to 22.0 per cent. of all deaths.

Smallpox caused 41 deaths, all but 16 occurring in and about Rochester. Most of the deaths occurred in the first half of the year. After general quiescence during the summer it recurred in

the fall pretty widely, the chief centers being, at the end of the year, in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, where it has been. very general for a long time; in Orleans, Niagara and Wayne counties and in the region about northern Saratoga County. Limited outbreaks have occurred in numerous other localities. The Southern tier, east and west central districts have alone been free from fatalities from smallpox.

There were 10,250 deaths from pneumonia and 7,960 from Bright's disease. The acute respiratory mortality was about the average. Grippe is estimated to have caused 8,000 deaths, and its annual recurrence is apparent during the closing weeks of the

year.

New York City, 3,732,903. Total number of deaths, December, 5.914-annual death rate, 18.6: Borough of Manhattan, 1,917,676; deaths, 3,145-death rate, 19.4. Borough of the Bronx, 268,341; deaths, 476—21.0. Borough of Brooklyn, 1,219,597; deaths, 1,988-18.1. Borough of Queens, 182,681; deaths, 202-13. Borough of Richmond, 72,608; deaths, 103—16.7.

THE LATE DR. CYRUS EDSON.-At a meeting held January 12, 1904, the Medical Board of the Willard Parker and Riverside Hospitals adopted a resolution to the effect that "In the death of Dr. Cyrus Edson the profession has lost a broad-minded physician and a progressive and scientific sanitarian, who labored with tireless energy, intelligent effort and marked executive ability in the office of Commissioner of Health and the subordinate offices in the Health Department which he held before he attained the commissionership." And also that "The Medical Board holds in affectionate remembrance the uniform courtesy and kindness of which each of the visiting staff of these hospitals was the recipient during Dr. Edson's administration of the Health Department. Ever ready to discuss projects for the welfare of the hospitals, he gave them full consideration and approval, if possible, and the aid of his executive power in their accomplishment."

DRINK PILES WORK ON COURTS.

Magistrates Report that of 22,152 Additional Arrests Last Year, 18,770 Were for Intoxication.

The Board of City Magistrates of the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx has prepared its annual report for 1903. Acting President Baker signs the report, with Philip Bloch as Secretary.

In 1902 the total fines collected were $84,065.05, and in 1903, $83.133.50, a decrease of $931.55.

The board recommends the following in reference to corporation ordinances: "We renew the recommendations made last year giving the Magistrates specifically the power to impose a fine for violation of corporation ordinances, and in default to commit the offender in default of payments thereof not exceeding ten days. The summary powers of conviction vested in the Magistrates in minor violations of the Sanitary Code has been found to be a public benefit."

The Board recommends a new building for the Essex Market Court.

The increase over last year in arrests is 22,152, of which increase the offences of disorderly conduct and intoxication furnish 18,770; violation of corporation ordinances, 1,241; disorderly house keeping, 304; gambling and gambling house keeping, 86; and violation of the liquor tax law, 3,168. There is a decrease in burglaries of 185; grand larceny, 159; homicide, 42; insanity, 66; vagrancy, 850; petit larceny, 94, and violation of the lottery law, 77.

The Board, in reference to probation cases, says:

"The probation law continues to work out satisfactory results, and the officers that find it their duty are doing faithful and conscientious work. The beneficence of the law was enjoyed by 2,708 individuals, of whom 2,054 were males and 654 were females. At the end of the year 848 cases were still open and pending."

CALIFORNIA. San Francisco. Plague is still present, 3 cases having occurred since January 1st, to date, February 12, 1904.

Los Angeles, 135,000. Health report for January: Deaths, 291-41 under 5 years; death rate, 21.72. From specific infectious diseases, 74; tuberculosis, 64-"14 had lived here less than three months, 3 between three and six months, 5 between six and twelve months, 15 between one and five years, 5 between five and ten years, 17 over ten years, unknown 1, life 3.”

COLORADO.-Denver, 175,000. Report for November: Deaths, 245; premature and still births, 9. Death rate, per annum, 16.80. Deaths from phthisis, 60-57 contracted elsewhere; typhoid fever, 75 cases, 16 deaths; smallpox, 3 cases; chickenpox, I case; diphtheria, 49 cases, 2 deaths; scarlet fever, 57 cases, I death; measles,