the U. S. Treasury. The government would guarantee to run the company upon an economical basis and earn as fair dividends as possible, doing justice to both patron and stockholder. Mines, packing plants, etc., could be managed in a similar manner; so could telegraf, telefone, and express companies. I believe in this way, and in this way only, can we ever expect to get the upper hand of the trusts and monopolies. Railroad rates, both freight and passenger, can be made uniform, free riding and freight franking abolisht, and the poor man be able to receive the same service as the rich. The rich man's letter does not go any cheaper than that of the poor man's; why should his cows or hogs? As I see it, this is the only remedy we have of breaking away from the grasp of the great octopus that is gradually tightening its grip upon the country. We may make laws that are sufficiently stringent to regulate these trusts and monopolies, if enforced as they are passed by our legislatures; in fact we have enuf laws upon our statute books at present to regulate every form of monopoly, almost, but the shrewd and unprincipled lawyers of these monopolies find loopholes by which their clients are allowed to escape. By putting them under government control this loophole is closed and everything is run honestly and upon its merits. It may be said that even when it is found that there is no method by which the trust can escape punishment, there will be found many executiv officers that fail in their duty in enforcing the law. The government does not permit this among its employees, and it is rarely that we find a derelict in his duty. There are many other things that I could mention that need government control, but space forbids my going any deeper into the subject. The reader of the foregoing will not wonder at the question that was askt the writer, and if we did not give the subject much thought we might want to make the change; but considering the history of the democratic and other parties, and comparing their records with that of the republican party, the wayfaring man, tho a fool, cannot help but see the right path to follow, in order to reach the goal for which we are all seeking. There is not so much difference in the opinions of the great masses of all parties as we might think; and if we could close the mouths of the politicians there would not be so much bad feeling between people of opposit faiths, and more legislation that would be a benefit to the great masses. Now, do not for an instant think that I believe all of the legislation advocated in this paper will ever become effectiv during the lifetime of the writer; still, while the legislation advocated is radically different from some of that advocated by the republican party, I believe that much of it will become effectiv in the near future, thru the mediumship of the republican party. If we are to depend upon the democratic and other parties for the passage of such legislation, we will never get it. The republican is the only party that has ever and does now adjust itself to the wishes of the people; and while I may differ from many republicans, my faith in the party is so well grounded that I am confident that the great men in it will find some way to outwit the monopolist and give to the people legislation that is just and righteous, altho it may not make us rich in a day or year. T. H. LINE, M.D. Marquette, Neb. But Doctor, while you seem to be a wide-awake thinker, you are just the kind of a reliable voter that the machine politician wants; and it is just because of partisan voting that the republican party became so corrupt and so far from the interests of the masses of the people. How are you going to punish your party except by opposing it at the polls when it is wrong? You live in a part of the country in which the populists have made the democrats think, and the democracts have forced the republicans to think. what good will thinking do unless you vote your sentiments? Here in Pennsylvania we had to rout the republican "gang," and we had to do it by voting. If every republican had continued voting his party ticket, as you do, we could never have had any reform, and we would still have been steeped in the deepest corruption. President Roosevelt, in his Harrisburg speech, praised the legislature of Pennsylvania very highly, in the following terms: I most heartily congratulate the people of the state of Pennsylvania on what its legislature, upon what its gov. ernment, has accomplisht during this present year. It is a remarkable record of achievement. Thru your legislature you have abolisht passes; you have placed the offices of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Insurance Commissioner upon an honorable and honest basis of salary only by abolishing the fee system; you have passed a law compelling the officers and employees of great cities to attend to the duties for which they are paid by all the taxpayers, and to refrain from using the power conferred by their offices to influence political campaigns; you have prohibited the solicitation or receiving of political assessments by city employees; you have by law protected the State Treasury from depredation and conserved the public moneys for use only in the public interest; you have by a law for the protection of the electiv franchise made tampering with the ballot boxes and the casting of illegal votes so difficult as in all probability to be unprofitable; you have provided a primary election law which guarantees to the voters free expression in the selection of candidates for office; you have by law regulated and improved the civil service systems of your greatest cities; and, finally, you have passed a law containing a provision which I most earnestly hope will in substance be embodied likewise in a law by the Congress at the coming session-a provision prohibiting the officers of any corporation from making a contribution of the money of that corporation to any candidate or any political committee for the payment of any election expenses whatever. It is surely not too much to say that this body of substantiv legislation marks an epoch in the history of the practical betterment of political conditions, not merely for your state, but for all our states. I do not recall any other state legislature which, in a similar length of time, has to its credit such a body of admirable legislation. There are some inaccuracies in the above, but it is substantially correct; but the point is that reformers of every party have been working for these very things for years, but the Quay machine gave no heed until the republican machine was badly beaten last year by the election of a democratic State Treasurer. Then the gang," as they are called here, began to "take notice." The republican governor called an extra session of the legislature, and in order to try to regain the confidence of the people, the above-mentioned legislation was enacted. If the republicans had not been defeated last year, no extra session of the legislature would even have been thought of; and the above-mentioned legislation would not have been enacted. The best disciplin for any party is an occasional defeat. The opposition candidate for governor now is an independent republican, supported by democrats and anti-machine republicans, the object being to eradicate the remnants of the Quay machine, and secure further progressiv legislation which the republican machine has been for years either opposing or neglecting. EQUITY SERIES Edited and Publisht by C. F. Taylor. RATIONAL MONEY." By Prof. Frank Parsons, of Boston University Law School. The only book on the , money question which is fair and just to gold, silver and every other product. Paper Covers. Price 25c. "THE LAND QUESTION FROM VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEW." By Various Writers. No other single book gives the various phases of the land question. No student of the land question, and really no voter, can afford to be without this book. Paper Covers. Price 25c. THE CITY FOR THE PEOPLE." By Prof. Frank Parsons, of Boston University Law School. Special Issue. This is considered one of the great books of this age. The principles elucidated apply far beyond the problems of "THE TELEGRAPH MONOPOLY." By Prof. Frank cities Over 700 pages. Paper, 50c.; Cloth, $1.00. Parsons, of Boston University Law School. Here this question is presented in a fullness and completeness never before attempted. Paper Covers. Price 25c. "DIRECT LEGISLATION." Consists of Chapter II from "The City for the People," with important additions, and complete index. Nearly 200 pages. This is considered the best book as well as the latest and one of the cheapest on that subject of growing importance, Direct Legislation. Paper Covers. Price 25c. "THE BONDAGE OF CITIES." Consists of Chapter III from "The City for the People," with important new matter, ⚫ and a Model Charter, for the preparation of which a fee of $100 was paid. Paper Covers. Price 25c. "THE ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL CORPORATIONS." By F. E. Horack, A.M., Ph.D. Shows need of a National Incorporation law. Paper covers, 207 pages. Price, 25c. "THE STORY OF NEW ZEALAND." By Prof. Frank Parsons, Edited by C. F. Taylor. A magnificent, illus. trated, cloth bound volume of 860 pages. Price, $3 00. "POLITICS IN NEW ZEALAND." Paper, 108 pages, plus 16 full pages of illustrations. Price, 25c. "ELEMENTS OF TAXATION." By N. M. Taylor. The only popular book on the general subject of Taxation ever publisht. 168 pages, Price, 25c. "THE RAILWAYS, THE TRUSTS, AND THE PEOPLE." By Prof. Frank Parsons; Edited by C. F. Taylor. In two volumes. Vol. I, Relations of the Railways to the Public. Vital facts from the railway history of the United States. Vol. II, The Railroad Problem in the Light of Comparative Railroad History Covering the Leading Systems of Three Continents. Price, 25c. per vol. in paper covers. Both volumes bound together in cloth, over 500 pages, $1.50. "EQUITY SERIES" 1520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Strong Simple What do you do for cases of alcholism whom you The Doctor's Friend The "WAGNER” cannot send away to a sanitarium? Have you a good remedy at hand, or do you just let them slide? It would be well to look into the merits of Peter-Neat-Richardson Co.'s" Antidipsole." They say it is the result of nearly a lifetime experience of a physician who devoted most of his time to these cases. It is put up with the formula on the bottle. See adv. on page 26. The sample sent me has been used on a case of dropsy following inflammatory rheumatism (valvular disease of the heart). Patient, a boy about 16 years of age; case dates back about eighteen months. General dropsy. Was called one month ago; boy had been in hospital under treatment about six months without benefit. About two weeks ago commenced with sample of Anasarcin; gave three tablets a day, six hours apart. Continued other treatment as indicated. Called today to see patient and found him much better. The case was the worst I have seen in a long practice. I don't think there is any doubt of an ultimate recovery under the Anasarcin treatment. G. W. N. ELDERS, M.D. Hematite, Mo. See adv. of Anasarcin on page 27. In this issue Mr. Ruckstuhl advertises his "Save Your Eyes" Lens Finder Thermometer, which he guarantees against everything but breakage. Do not strain your eyes any longer but see adv. on page 17. "A physician who once uses your Storm Proof Buggy will never be without one." Dana, Ind. DRS. KEYES & KEYES. Concerning Fouts & Hunter's special buggy for physicians. See adv. on page 24. Every physician knows the danger of circulating dust. Rooms that are clear of dust are far more healthful than those in which no means is taken to keep the dust from circulating. This is an important point for hospitals, schools, and all public buildings. And now that we have "Standard Floor Dressing," this non-dust-circulating condition is easily attained. Also it is said to preserve the flooring and to save labor in caring for it. (Continued on page 22.) Wagner Motorcycle Co., 330 St. Peter Street, St. Paul, Minn. "Hand-l-Hold" Babe Mits In the treatment of Eczema, Chicken Pox, Measles, Sore Eyes, etc., these mits furnish a Humane Method for the prevention of scratching. In Surgical Cases their use makes it impossible for the child to tear at the bandages. Sucking the Thumb and other bad habits of the hand can be broken up quickly by their use. Prescribe them now and earn the gratitude of tired mother and suffering baby. If your dealer does not keep them send us his name. Three sizes up to four years of age. Special sizes to order. In ordering state age of child and nature of case. "Hand-I-Hold" Babe Mits will be sent postage paid upon receipt of price ($2.00) if not at your dealer's. In ordering give age of patient. Illustrated booklet upon application. R. M. CLARK & CO. Dept. 10, 246 Summer St., Boston, Mass. Circulation: November, 1906, 35,523. THE MEDICAL WORLD The knowledge that a man can use is the only real knowledge; the only knowledge that has The Medical World C. F. TAYLOR, M.D., Editor and Publisher Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as Second-Class Matter. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: To any part of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, ONE DOLLAR per year, or FOUR YEARS for THREE DOLLARS; to England and the British Colonies, FIVE SHILLINGS SIX PENCE per year; to other foreign countries in the Postal Union, the equivalent of 5s. 6d. Postage free. Single copies, TEN CENTS. These rates are due in advance. HOW TO REMIT: For their own protection we advise that our patrons remit in a safe way, such as by postal money order, express order, check, draft, or registered mail. Currency sent by ordinary mail usually reaches its destination safely, but money so sent must be at the risk of the sender. We cannot always supply back numbers. Should a number fail to reach a subscriber, we will supply another, if notified before the end of the month. Notify us promptly of any change of address, mentioning both old and new addresses. If you want your subscription stopt at expiration of the time paid for, kindly notify us, as in the absence of such notice we will understand that it is the subscriber's pleasure that the subscription be continued, and we will act accordingly. Pay no money to agents unless publisher's receipt is given. ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO "THE MEDICAL WORLD" Language is a growth rather than a creation. The growth of our vocabulary is seen in the vast increase in the size of our dictionaries during the past century. This growth is not only in amount, but among other elements of growth the written forms of words are becoming simpler and more uniform. For example, compare English spelling of a century or two centuries ago with that of to-day! It is our duty to encourage and advance the movement toward simple, uniform and rational spelling. See the recommendations of the Philological Society of London, and of the American Philological Association, and list of amended spellings publisht in the Century Dictionary (following the letter z) and also in the Standard Dictionary, Webster's Dictionary, and other authoritativ works on language. The tendency is to drop silent letters in some of the most flagrant instances, as ugh from though, etc., change ed to t in most places where so pronounced (where it does not affect the preceding sound), etc. The National Educational Association, consisting of ten thousand teachers, recommends the following: "At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Educational Association held in Washington, D. C., July 7, 1898, the action of the Department of Superintendence was approved, and the list of words with simplified spelling adopted for use in all publications of the National Educational Association as follows: "You are invited to extend notice of this action and to join in securing the general adoption of the suggested amendments.— IRVING SHEPARD, Secretary." We feel it a duty to recognize the above tendency, and to adopt it in a reasonable degree. We are also disposed to add enuf (enough) to the above list, and to conservativly adopt the following rule recommended by the American Philological Association: Drop final "e" in such words as "definite," "infinite," "favorite," etc., when the preceding vowel is short. Thus, spell opposit," "preterit," "hypocrit," "requisit," etc. When the preceding vowel is long, as in "polite," finite," "unite," etc., retain present forms unchanged. We simply wish to do our duty in aiding to simplify and ration. alize our universal instrument-language. DECEMBER, 1906. The Care of the Mouth in Typhoid Fever. The toilet of the mouth in typhoid fever is of more importance than is ordinarily accorded it. The physician should personally ascertain if it is being properly attended to, as careless nurses are prone to neglect it in the early days, unless its importance is emphasized. Where there is no trained nurse in attendance, the physician must instruct the family regarding its importance, and at least once demonstrate the method of properly cleansing the mouth. It will not do to assume that the lay nurse should know by intuition either that the mouth must be cleansed, or how to go about doing it properly. No single minor matter yields such satisfaction to the patient as the early and regular No. 12 Beside making of the toilet of the mouth. It is not sufficient to merely rinse the mouth. Nearly always it is necessary to scrape the teeth and tongue in order to thoroly remove the viscid mucus that collects thereon. The scraping must, of course, be gently done, and perhaps the best implement to use is a piece of ordinary whalebone, as this may be bent to conform to the contour of cheek and tongue, while the ends may be used between the teeth and on their surfaces. After the scraping, some mild antiseptic wash is to be thoroly used. The diluted liquor antisepticus of the U. S. P. makes an admirable agent. Chlorate of potash added to it improves its efficiency for this purpose. Diluted peroxid of hydrogen is another powerful cleansing agent and acts as well as à deodorant. A solution of common baking soda is good, and glycerin may be added to it with advantage. The addition of a little lemon juice to any of the above, with the exception of the soda solution, often makes the fluid more agreeable to the patient. State Aid in Protection of Health. The Health Department of Pennsylvania is doing very practical work. It aids the profession in protecting the health of the people. Here is a circular letter just received: The Department will mail upon request any or all of the following circulars: No. I. Rules and Regulations Governing the Report of Communicable Diseases. No. 2. Typhoid Fever. Rules to be Observed by Nurses and Attendants. No. 3. Diphtheria. Rules to be Observed by Nurses and Attendants. No. 4. Scarlet Fever. Rules to be Observed by Nurses and Attendants. No. 5. Epidemic Cerebro-spinal Meningitis (Spotted Fever). No. 6. Directions for Room Disinfection. No. 8. Quarantine, Isolation, and Disinfection. No. 9. Smallpox. Precautions to be Observed by Physicians, Health Officers, etc. No. 10. Instructions for Disinfection of Schools. No. 11. Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Consumption). Rules to be Observed by Patients, Nurses, and Attendants. No. 13. Smallpox. Rules to be Observed in the Care and Management. Vaccination. Statistics and Instructions No. 14. for Operation. No. 15. To all School Directors, Principals, and Teachers in Pennsylvania. No. 17. Measles and German Measles. be Observed by Nurses and Attendants. Rules to No. 18. Whooping Cough. Rules to be Observed by Nurses and Attendants. No. 19. Mumps. Rules to be Observed by Nurses and Attendants. No. 20. Chicken pox. Rules to be Observed by Nurses and Attendants. Vaccination Blank Form No. 10. Successful Vaccination. Vaccination Blank Form No. 11. mer Successful Vaccination. Vaccination Blank Form No. 12. vious Case of Smallpox. Certifying to New Certifying to For Certifying to Pre Besides, much other helpful literature is sent to doctors, and the Department offers to send, free, outfits for taking blood specimens for malaria, for sending blood for Widal test, and urin for tests or examinations, and the state laboratories make these tests and examinations free of charge. Eggs. The egg constitutes a complete food in itself, in that within it are contained a proportion of all the food elements essential to the maintenance of life. Nearly everywhere obtainable, and relisht by almost every person, they form an important element in considering the food for the well or the ailing. Physicians should know more of their properties, and of the effects of the various methods of cooking upon the time required to digest them. Yet, to the majority of physicians, we believe the sum total of their knowledge about eggs is that they are nourishing, and that they are taken raw or mixt with milk or water; that they are cookt by soft boiling, hard boiling, poaching, and frying. The The average sized egg of the chicken weighs about two ounces, of which 11 percent is shell; yelk, 32 percent; and white, 57 percent. The food content of the egg is mainly protein and fats, in addition to water and a small amount of mineral matter. white contains more protein and water than the yelk, and scarcely any fat and ash, while the yelk has a considerable proportion of fat and ash. The white is nearly all protein, being made up of four albumins and a trace of carbohydrate. The yelk contains 15 percent of protein; 20 percent of palmitin, stearin, and olein; 0.5 percent of coloring matter; somewhat over 1 percent of phosforus; with small portions of leicthin, nuclein, iron salts, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. White of the egg contains but 0.03 percent of phosforus. The albumin of the egg contains sulfur, and when the egg becomes stale, this decomposes into sulfuretted hydrogen, giving out the characteristic odor. The egg is easily contaminated, the shell being porous; and hence should be protected from filth. The flavor of the egg depends upon the care which has been taken with the food of the hens, tho, of course, the fresher the egg the better the flavor. Stale eggs are unfit for an invalid's food. The freshness of the egg may be accurately tested by placing it in a brine made of two ounces of salt to a pint of water. An absolutely fresh egg will sink, but not touch the bottom of the vessel containing the brine; when three days old, it will swim about just immersed; over three days old, it floats on the suface, the older it is the more of the shell remaining above water; if as much as two weeks old, only a little of the shell will go beneath the surface of the water. Another fairly good method of testing the freshness is to make a tube by rolling thick paper about the egg; place one end to a good light, such as a candle flame, and hold the other end to the eye, excluding light; if the egg is fresh, it will be perfectly translucent; if rotten, it is dark colored; if incubation has begun, a flake or spot will be noted, which increases in size owing to the time elapsing since incubation begun. If one takes a little time to practise, eggs can be "candled" by forming a light shield with the palms and fingers of the hand, without the aid of paper. The old ideas regarding the digestibility of eggs cookt in various ways seem to be pretty well upset by recent investigations, and it now appears that different ways of cooking do not influence the total digestibility of the egg, but has some influence over the time required for digestion. In the healthy stomach, it is said that raw eggs are digested in two hours; soft boiled in three; and hard boiled in three and a half to four hours. In comparison with other nitrogenous foods, eggs are easy of digestion. However cookt, the yelk only requires about half of the time required by the white. It is said that raw eggs remain in the stomach longer than cookt eggs because of their blandness and non-irritating quality, neither the motor nor secretory functions of the stomach being excited by their presence. The hard boiled egg is declared fully as digestible as the soft boiled, providing mastication is thoro enuf. When eggs are soft boiled in the old manner of dropping into boiling water for two minutes, the white is firmly coagulated, while the yelk is fluid. An improvement on this manner of soft boiling is to drop two eggs into a quart of boiling water in a bowl (not over fire), cover with a cloth, and allow to stand for ten minutes. If so cookt, the white will be jelly-like, and the yelk will be firmer than by the former method. If an egg is boiled for five minutes, the white is hardened, and the yelk is gluey in consistency. But if the boiling is kept up for an hour, the yelk becomes mealy, and can be broken up into a powder after the egg is opened. An egg, kept in water at about 185° F., for one-half to three-quarters of an hour, will open with a firm, yet tender white, and a dry and mealy yelk. This should be the method employed in "hard boiling" eggs. Shirred eggs are appetizing and easily digestible in ordinary time. To shirr an egg, drop a cup in boiling water until it is thoroly heated thru and thru; remove cup from water, break the egg into it, and allow to stand for a few minutes. If the cup be too hot, the same fault in cooking will occur as in the old style hard boiling. When eggs are poacht, the addition of a little salt or vinegar to the water hastens coagulation of the albumin, and prevents a certain degree of waste thru preventing the albumin from dissolving in the water before it has had time to be coagulated by the heat. The Divided Surgical Operation Fee and the Prerogativ of the General Practician In Operativ Cases. If the general practician were a little more alive to his own interests, and kept a little closer tab on the actual modern position and teachings of asepsis and antisepsis, we would hear little of the question of the divided fee. Moreover, the specialist surgeon would soon come to realize that the general practician was fully his equal in every particular, not even excepting the ability to obtain liberal remuneration for his services. It is not our purpose to again thresh over the divided fee question. Most doctors have grown tired of it, and all doctors know in the deep recesses of their own hearts what is the correct position to take. Too many general practicians, in awe of the knife, are glad to abandon the patient requiring a surgical operation to the surgeon in whom they have the greatest confidence, allowing him to "get all he can out of it," serene in the confidence that whatever the outcome, they cannot be blamed. For this feeling of security he is willing to not only abandon his just fee, but is more than glad to be able to ship the patient off to the hospital. If such a man would but think a little for himself, instead of allowing the surgeon to think for him, he could retain the patient under his own charge, while allowing the surgeon to bear all the responsibility of the outcome of the operation; and he could, moreover, dominate matters so that he would get his share of the fee, honorably, in return for actual services rendered. Fifteen, or even ten years ago, we were taught that it was almost impossible to prepare a room in an ordinary dwelling house for the safe performance of any serious surgical operation. Most of us know better now, but there is still a great number of practicians who have never learned better. They are so thoroly imbued with the hospital idea that they feel that it would be murderous to allow a patient to be operated upon in his own home. The frequently reported successful cases of Caesarian section, major amputation, laparotomies, etc., told in all of our medical journals, performed in private homes or even cabins, seems to have no impression upon them. They allow the hospital surgeon whom they consult to so dominate them that they really believe him when he suggests that the hospital is the place for operation, by all means. The surgeon knows he can operate just as well in a private home, and the surgeon knows that any competent physician can care for a case after operation (especially as the surgeon generally leaves his own trained nurse with the patient for a time subsequent to operation), but, if such surgeon can prevail upon doctor and patient to go to the hospital, how much better it is for his own precious pocket and private statistics. At the hos |