ment of certain diseases by this vaccine therapy and as indicated by the opsonin index. For instance, in twenty cases of very obstinate staphylococcic infection, including sycosis, boils and acne reported by Wright,10 for which various medical and surgical measures had been used without relief, some were apparently cured and all showed a marked improvement under treatment as determined by the opsonic index. In two cases of cholecystitis with persistent sinuses, both were inoculated with sterilized cultures of the coli communis (found in these sinuses), with the result that the opsonic index rose above normal in one case to 4.0, and both of which cases showed marked improvement with closure of the sinuses. In a case of pneumococcus empyema, Lyon reports the use of pneumococcus vaccine, with the result that the condition began to improve immediately, and the patient entirely recovered within two weeks. Hektoen,11 in a case of abdominal tuberculosis and another with tuberculosis of sacro-iliac joint with fistulous tracts, both were apparently cured by Koch's new tuberculin, guided by the opsonin index. McArthur12 gives it as his experience that in tuberculosis the opsonic index is always below normal. In numerous cases of localized tuberculosis infection, Wright has employed Koch's new tuberculin, which consists of the communited bodies of the tubercle bacilli brought into suspension in glycerine, so that one cubic millimeter of the new tuberculin equals one milligram of tubercle bacilli powder. In these cases, consisting of tuberculous peritonitis, cystitis, glands and sinuses, lupus, etc., astonishingly good results were obtained in a very large percentage of the cases. In extensive tuberculous affections of the lungs, the results have been less promising. The dose of Koch's new tuberculin should be about 1-1000 milligram and used every ten to twelve days. During the month of February, 1907, Ohlmacher13 had printed a paper, in which he stated that opsonic therapy was performing therapeutic feats of the most surprising kind. Ohlmacher has employed opsonic therapy in two cases of acne vulgaris, in which at the outset the opsonic index to the pyogenic staphylococci was low, but in which the injection of staphylococcus vaccine caused a rise in the opsonic index, with improvement of the patients. In a case of chronic furunculosis (due to staphylococcus infection) occurring in a child 2 years of age, and lasting through a period of six weeks, Ohlmacher reports that, notwithstanding surgical measures had been employed without relief, a single injec tion of the vaccine obtained from culture of the staphylococcus resulted in complete recovery. This writer also reports good results according to opsonic therapy in a case of chronic cystitis, and pyelonephrosis, in which case he had found in the pus abundant colon bacilli, and in which the phagocytic index was one-third less than the normal person. In this case the colon bacilli were cultivated, and after five injections of the vaccine the opsonic index rose in a pronounced manner, and the case practically recovered. He also employed this treatment in a case of gonorrheal rheumatism which had lasted for four months, with the result that there was progressive betterment of the arthritis, and departure of the pain and swelling after four injections had been made. In the treatment of these conditions it is suggested that the vaccine employed should come from the same strain of micro-organism which produces the disease. Therefore, the particular bacteria in question must be obtained in pure culture. In presenting this paper before the Association at this time I do so only that your attention may be drawn to a new field of therapeutics which may or may not be ephemeral, which may or may not be built upon a fallacy of observation, but which field at the present time seems quite inviting, and hopeful of good results in certain diseases not now amenable to other methods of treatment. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 1. Sternberg: Immunity, Protective Inoculations in Infectious Diseases, and Serum Therapy. 1895. 2. R. C. Cabot: A Guide to Clinical Examination of the Blood. 3. Vaughan and Novy: Ptomaines, Leucomaines, Toxins and Antitoxins. 1896, p. 260. 4. Potter, Ditman, and Bradley: Opsonic Index in Medicine. Journal American Medical Association, November 24 and December 1, 1906. 5. Ibid, No. 3. 6. Ibid, No. 3. 7. Simon: The Percentage Index vs. The Bacillary Index in the Estimations of Opsonins. Journal American Medical Association, January 12, 1907. 8. Amberg: The Opsonic Content of the Blood of Infants. Journal American Medical Association, January 26, 1907. 9. Ibid, No. 3. 10. Ibid, No. 3. 11. Hektoen: Journal American Medical Association, February 16, 1907, p. 639. 12. McArthur: Journal American Medical Association, February 16, 1907, p. 640. 13. Ohlmacher: A Series of Medical and Surgical Affections Treated by Artificial Autoinoculations. Journal American Medical Association, February 16, 1907. THE TEXAS MEDICAL NEWS. A JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, SURGERY AND HYGIENE. MATTHEW M. SMITH, M. D., Managing Editor. S. C. RED, M. D., Houston, ASSOCIATE EDITORS. J. W. MCLAUGHLIN, M. D., Galveston, A. M. ELMORE, M. D., Dallas, R. W. KNOX, M. D., Houston, H. A. BARR, M. D., Beaumont, T. J. BENNETT, M. D., Austin, WM. E. LUTER, M. D., San Antonio, The Texas Medical News Publishing Co., Publishers, Austin, Texas. BRANCH OFFICES. 215 Main Street, Corner Sixth and Houston Streets, FORT WORTH, TEXAS. Subscription, $1.00 per annum in advance. Single copies, 10 cents. Advertising rates on application. THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT. The Medical Practice Act, as amended in accordance with the wishes of the Governor, was signed by the Governor on April 17th, which gives us in the State of Texas a one-board medical bill, but which does not become a law until July 12, 1907. We expect to give publication to this act in full in our May issue; likewise will publish the Anatomical Bill, which was passed and signed by the Governor. THE MAY MEETING OF THE STATE MEDICAL We again desire to remind members of the profession of the next meeting of the State Medical Association, which will be held in Mineral Wells, Texas, early in May. From what we can learn this is a delightful city for the State Association to meet, particularly so when we remember the great value of the mineral waters of that place. The members of the profession would do well to attend this meeting for a few days, if for no other purpose than to receive instruction as to the value of those waters. With such men as Drs. McCracken and Raines in charge, we may expect a most hospitable reception. Not only will there be a large number of splendid papers read by members of the medical profession of Texas, but we understand guests on the program on this occasion will be such noted men as the following: Dr. Fenton B. Turck, Chicago; Dr. A. H. Wallace, Fort Worth; Dr. David Booth, St. Louis; Dr. John Punton, Kansas City; Dr. Oscar Dowling, Shreveport; Dr. William Porter, St. Louis; Dr. S. A. Knopf, New York City; Dr. Denslow Lewis, Chicago. Trusting to meet you all in Mineral Wells at the next meeting of the State Medical Association, and that our meeting will be a profitable and harmonious one, we remain, Yours fraternally, THE EDITOR. CASE READING. The physician and surgeon should not lose sight of the value of case reading in his daily work. The man who feels he knows it all and learns nothing from his text-books and best medical journals will very soon get behind in his work, but it is the man. who not only puts forth his best efforts in every individual case, but who in addition calls to his assistance the best medical talent through his standard text-books and reputable medical journals, is the man who sooner or later will make much greater progress in his professional career and have the satisfaction of knowing that he left nothing undone in the management of any case which was entrusted to him. When we remember the fact that a patient is placed in our charge, that we are given full authority as to the plan of treatment to be used, we should not be unmindful of our great responsibility in each and every case, and should not hesitate to take the time, however busy we may be, and avail ourselves of the opportunity of learning all that is possible concerning the successful management of that case. Such conscientious work will necessarily redound in great good to our patients as well as to ourselves. MEASLES. As the season of the year is approaching when we will probably have more or less an epidemic of measles in this country, it might not be amiss to invite the attention of our readers to a few of the salient points in the management of this disease. As every one knows, it is one of the most contagious of the infectious diseases, probably with the exception of smallpox; the predisposition to its being contracted by the average child who has not already had the disease is about as universal as any except that of influenza. This season of the year, of course, is not a bad time for children to have the measles. We shall not refer to the sources of infection, the period of incubation, that of infection nor go into the bacteriology and the clinical types of the disease, but refer more particularly to the management of the average case, confining our brief remarks to that of treatment. As we all know, the disease must run, more or less, its course, and, therefore, treatment should be ordiarily symptomatic, having patient placed in a large, comfortable well-ventilated room darkened, on account of the light affecting the eyes, which of are, of course, congested at this time. Oftentimes the eyes need in addition some light form of treatment as some cold cream or local antiseptic water in addition to screening from the light. Troublesome cough is a very annoying symptom in some cases, which calls for some kind of treatment as codein or the Brown mixture; oftentimes bromide of sodium acts well in such cases. Fever rarely ever needs any special treatment, and if too high, ice sponging or mild doses of a safe antipyretic could be resorted to. The old practice of sweating the patient and administering hot drinks to bring out the rash should be discarded, except in rare instances, when possibly wrapping patient in hot sheets might be helpful in assisting the appearance of the eruption. The child should be kept isolated until it has fully recovered, it should not be permitted to make use of the eyes nor to go to school until it has returned to its normal condition. There are numerous complications coming up with measles, such as pneumonia, laryngitis, inflammation of the ear, diarrhea, and sometimes an involvement of kidneys, all of which require special treatment according to the complication; but the average case of measles should not be looked upon as a serious condition, and yet is one that should require careful nursing and an observance of strict rules in order to prevent, as far as possible, the possibility of any complication. Notes and Miscellany. THE COATED TONGUE.-L. Kast (Interstate Medical Journal) says that the examination of the coated tongue as an index to gastric disorders, upon which formerly so much stress was laid, has now generally fallen into disrepute. This is probably chiefly due to the lack of evidence that the condition of the stomach can affect that of the tongue, either by the direct ascent into the mouth of stomach contents (in the absence of regurgitation, |