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PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND THE TUBERCULOSIS CONGRESS.-He sends assurances of his interest in the meeting, and best wishes for its success.

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON TUBERCULOSIS, NEW YORK CITY, NOVEMBER 14, 15, AND 16, 1906.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, October 22, 1906.

Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, Washington, D. C.

MR. PRESIDENT: On behalf of the management we have the honor to inform you that the fourth biennial session of the American International Congress on Tuberculosis will be held in New York City November 14th, 15th, and 16th (prox.), and to invite you to be present.

You are doubtless informed as to the magnitude of the evil which this Congress is earnestly seeking to devise and recommend means to combat. We recall with satisfaction your active and efficient work in the cause when Governor of New York, and more recently in ordering the enforcement of sanitary precautions in all the departments at Washington; but it may not be known to you that while yellow fever, according to the United States statistics, during a century, has caused an average of one thousand deaths in America in a year, consumption destroys one thousand lives every two and a half days. It would seem that in view of this appalling fact no argument should be necessary to convince those who have the making of the laws that prompt and effectual action should be at once instituted for the arrest of this destructive disease. It is largely preventable; but to even limit the spread requires authority of law, co-operation, efficient action, and ample means. Practically nothing is being done by the general government to reduce the mortality of consumption in this country.

We are encouraged to hope that Your Excellency will lend to the movement the great weight and influence of your presence and cordial support, at least at the opening of the Congress. It would give an impetus to the work, and redound to the further glory of this great Republic, a Republic whose greatness has been so notably enhanced by your own wise administration. America, foremost in so many reforms and advances, should not be second in sanitary reform for the benefit of the public health. So devastating a disease is doubtless a factor in crime, prostitution and pauperism, and

legislation in the interest of the public health is legislation in the interest of public morals. The world is aroused to the necessity of action looking to the control of tuberculosis, and we note in Germany, France, and England there has already been a marked decrease in the mortality rate. His Majesty the King of England, in June personally opened the great Charity Sanitarium for Consumptives at Sussex, an institution endowed by Sir Ernest Cassell with $1,000,000.

The management have the assurance of a large and enthusiastic attendance, not only from the North American and South American States, but from Europe, in response to the invitation sent out by the Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of State, to all foreign countries with which we have relations through our diplomatic service. May we not hope that Your Excellency will take an active interest in the great humanitarian work the Congress is seeking to do, and honor us with your presence, if only for a few minutes at the opening of the Congress?

We have the honor to be, Mr. President,

Yours very respectfully,

F. E. DANIEL, President,

M. M. SMITH, Secretary,

American International Congress on Tuberculosis, 1906.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

WASHINGTON.

October 27, 1906.

Dr. F. E. Daniel, President, American International Congress on Tuberculosis, Austin, Texas.

MY DEAR SIR: The President thanks you cordially for your kind letter of the 23d instant inviting him to attend the fourth biennial session of the American International Congress on Tuberculosis. He regrets, however, that it will be impossible to accept, as he will be on his Panama trip on the dates mentioned.

Assuring you of the President's interest in the work of your Congress, and conveying his good wishes for the success of the coming session, I am, Very truly yours,

WM. LOEB,

Secretary to the President.

LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

STATE OF TEXAS, AUSTIN.

November 1, 1906.

Dr. F. E. Daniel, President American International Congress on Tuberculosis, Austin, Texas.

MY DEAR SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your special invitation to attend the American International Congress on Tuberculosis in New York on the 14th, 15th, and 16th inst. I regret exceedingly that my official duties and engagements will prevent me from complying with your courteous request. I regard this meeting of the medical profession as being one of the most important that has ever been held. I feel a deep interest in its success and have no doubt that much good will be accomplished thereby in the alleviation of this trouble which affects so many people.

With best wishes for the success of your Congress, I remain,
Very respectfully,

S. W. T. LANHAM,

Governor.

Notes and Miscellany.

SHE DRAWS THE LINE.-The Doctor-"You are to take ten drops in a wine-glassful of water after each meal."

The Patient-"Doctor, as a member of the W. C. T. U., I object to the word wineglass."-Brooklyn Life.

A GREAT PRIVILEGE.-A most estimable lady of foreign extraction remarked, apropos of the visit to Denver of the representative of an English college of heraldry: "Isn't it nice that you can have some one to look up your gynecological tree for you and tell you about what you come from?"-The Colorado Medical Journal.

NATURAL THERMOMETER.-Doctor-"How can you tell, then, madam, whether the water is too cold or too warm unless you have a thermometer ?"

Mother of A-New-Born-"When the baby's blue, I know the water is too cold; when red, it's too warm."-Adam S. Gregorius, in Lippincott's Magazine.

A HUNDRED-TO-ONE SHOT.-At the race track in Oakland, Cal., during the early part of last season, R―n, a well-known jockey, was thrown and badly injured. The doctors in consultation decided that an immediate operation was necessary to save the boy's life. On being informed of this, the injured one asked what his chances were, and was told: "About one in ten, if we operate."

"And if you don't operate, Doc?" "Well, about one in a hundred."

"Sort of in God's hands, ain't it?"

"Why, certainly," admitted the surprised M. D.

A contented grin touched the jockey's pale lips and twinkled in his shrewd eyes.

"Well, say, Doc, I guess I'd rather play a hundred-to-one shot with Him in the saddle than a ten-to-one with you fellows up. Just let her go, Doc."

She went. The long shot won, and Rn is again riding winners at the old place.-H. C. Robinson, in Lippincott's Magazine.

FALSE TEETH will not be needed by the German children when they reach maturity, if the free care of children's teeth continues to grow in popularity. Strasburg reports 12,691 visits to its clinic. last year and other cities have had proportionate attendances. It is reported that the children are improving in the care they give their teeth. It is a part of the work of the Medical School Inspectors in New York City to examine the teeth of the children, and to enter dental caries upon cards referred to family physicians.-Medical Times.

APPENDICITIS: TO OPERATE OR NOT TO OPERATE.-J. J. Brownson gives the principles on which he bases the proper time for operation in cases of appendicitis: (1) The operation for appendicitis ought to be done in the primary stage or before the high fever period. The appendix should be removed, to guard against fulminating cases and those in which rupture occurs into the abdominal cavity. (2) In the secondary period after suppuration, drainage should be instituted, and nature left to take care of the appendix. (3) In the interval, after all symptoms of inflammation have subsided, the appendix should be removed. The writer declares that the operation ought not to be done in the intermediary period when there is fever and distention of the abdomen, because the danger from operation at this period is greater than the risk of the case

becoming fulminating, or the abscess bursting into the abdominal cavity. The writer has always found his method successful.-Medcal Record.

A SIDE-LIGHT ON HISTORY.-The following is quoted verbatim from a Long Island City examination paper in English history: "William of Orange was a good and wise man. The people were tired of James I's rule and they hoped that Mary would become queen. Just then James gave birth to a prince, and this done Mary out of her chance. The people would not stand for this, and they appointed William of Oragane as their king."-Harper's Weekly.

"THREE ways to spread news: Telegraph, telephone, and tell-awoman."

ALMOST A SPECIFIC FOR ASTHMA.-The following is almost a specific both in relief and as a final cure in asthma:

R Tinct. of gelsemium

Tinc. of lobelia

Potassium bromide

...

oz. i.

oz. i.

Oz. SS.

M. Sig.:-Dose, twenty drops in water every three hours.-The Medical Summary.

HE BROKE THE NEWS TO MOTHER.-Mrs. Baumkeester walked into the school room aggressively, paid no heed either to the surprised look or the polite greeting of the teacher, but squared herself before the desk of that person and remarked:

"Vy iss it dot you teach mein Hans such insulding dings about his own beebles ?"

"Why, Mrs. Baumkeester, I have not taught Hans anything like that."

"Yes, you haf. He comes home und dells me dot id iss der Chermans dot iss making all der beebles sickness."

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"Dere iss no use denying id. Mein Hans doesn't lie. Und, pesides, he ret id vrom der pook oud-vrom der pook vot you gif him to study py. Und he set dot you set id vas so."

"What in the world do you mean?"

"Diss!" bringing one hand into the other to emphasize her charge; "diss! You tolt mein Hans, und you gif him der pook vere. id set dot all der diseases iss caused by der Chermans."

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