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usually appropriated for quarantine can be used to great advantage in other ways, as pointed out elsewhere in this issue.

The Twenty-ninth Legislature passed an act giving to the Quarantine Department of Texas the revenues from inspection of vessels at Galveston for two years. There is $38,000 of this money now in the State Treasury to the credit of that fund; and easily $12,000 will be turned in before the change takes place. The Legislature will doubtless ratify the transfer of the gulf and border quarantine to the Federal government. The government will buy the stations and equipments. It is suggested and urged that the proceeds of such sale be added to the fund above mentioned, and invested in a State sanatorium for the indigent consumptives: that the State set aside a large tract of its vacant land in the well-known salubrious section of West Texas, say 100,000 acres, and that necessary buildings and equipment be provided; the fund mentioned should be sufficient. Let it be an out-of-doors sanitarium-tents in winter; the canopy of heaven, only, to sleep under in good weather. It is well known that employment (occupation for mind and hands) contributes to the cure of this disease. Let the inmates farm,-manufacture such things as are usually made in our other institutions, an industrial school could be inaugurated, and thus a revenue could be provided which would make the institution partly self-sustaining. There should be diversion, also amusements: the invalids could hunt, fish, ride "hike o'er the hills," etc. But that is merc detail.

The suggestion is urged, and I hope some influential member of the Legislature will promptly act upon it. The passage of such measure will immortalize the man who introduces and secures it.

Four hundred and eleven people die of consumption in the United States every day: a thousand every two days and a half: one every three minutes, night and day; and yet consumption is a preventable disease! Let Texas do something to stop this fearful waste of life, and protect the homes of her people.

TEXAS' NEW HEALTH OFFICER AND SURGEON

GENERAL.

We present herewith the picture of Dr. Wm. M. Brumby of Houston, who has been appointed by Governor Campbell to succeed Dr. Geo. R. Tabor as State Health Officer and ex-officio Surgeon General of Texas; and append a brief biographical sketch.

Dr. Brumby was born in Delhi, La., in 1866. At an early age he

was sent to the public schools, and continued to the completion of the course, and finished his education at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Later he went to the medical department of Tulane, in 1889. From there he returned to Delhi, his home, and took

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up the practice of medicine. Thence he went to Houston, and in 1898 he was chosen a member of the Houston Board of Health. About that time he, at the request of Dr. Blunt, State Health Officer, went to New Orleans to investigate the feasibility of bringing certain freights through the quarantine under proper safe

guard. He decided that it could be done, and his action in the matter was indorsed and business went forward. He was Assistant Health Officer under Dr. Massie in 1899, in which position he was very active. In 1900 he was elected City Health Officer, and met the responsibilities with much credit to himself. That was a critical time, and the eye of all Texas was upon him. Later he went to Lafayette, La., to see if it were possible to admit people with safety through from Louisiana. He decided it to be safe, and his decision panned out good. These several matters having turned out all right, he, for the better posting of himself, went down to Panama and Central America to find out still more about yellow fever and its treatment under all conditions, and he left nothing undone to accomplish his purpose. His professional life has been an active one, especially in connection with yellow fever. He early accepted the mosquito theory and went after the stegomyia without gloves. His study of yellow fever and its environments has placed him among the first authorities of the land on that subject. He settled in Houston eleven years ago. He was married at Cameron in 1891, and has a wife and two children.

A few years ago Houston was considered one of the most unhealthy cities in all Texas. Today the mortuary reports compare favorably with any city in the State, and Houston has more miles of sanitary sewers. Much credit is due Dr. Brumby for these reforms and all matters pertaining to public health and sanitation. His work in securing food inspection and measures for the prevention of tuberculosis and other matters of more concern at all times than yellow fever, is set forth and is evidenced by his annual report to the city council in 1902. Dr. Brumby will make an excellent State Health Officer, and should have the support of all true and loyal physicians.

At this writing (January 18) the Governor-elect has not given out his appointments to the several medical offices. It is only known that Dr. Brumby will succeed Dr. Tabor, and that Dr. J. Hicks Florence will be retained at Brownsville as quarantine inspector, and that Dr. V. P. Armstrong of Dallas will go to Eagle Pass, relieving Dr. Brewton as inspector at that point.

LET US BE UP AND DOING. Already a bill for a State Board of Examiners for Osteopathic physicians has been introduced in the Texas Senate by Willacy, and a bill for a State Board of Examination for Physio-medical physicians has been introduced in the

House by Lane, the first week of the session. A bill for an Osteopath Board is now before Congress for the District of Columbia.

Neither the State Medical Association bill for a Board of Medical Examiners nor the Anatomical Bill has yet been introduced at the present writing (January 15). Our legislative committee should lose no time in getting them in, for there will be the usual hard fight, and "our friends" have gotten the start. They will oppose anything that interrupts the present blissful state of repose they enjoy under the monstrosity called the "Medical Practice. Act." It exempts altogether from examination those who give no drugs, as if that were the highest qualification and entitled them to special privileges. It gives them special privileges contrary to the Constitution.

The bill drafted by the State Medical Association and perfected by the House of Delegates at Fort Worth last April, is a fairly good one. I see no objection to it. All reference to "schools" was cut out at Fort Worth, and it simply provides for a Board of Medical Examiners composed of eleven physicians of character and standing, to be appointed by the Governor. The composition of the board is entirely at his discretion, without dictation or suggestion from any "school," and he may or may not build it entirely of "regular,” "irregular," or "defective" (like our verbs) material; all regular, all osteopaths, all homo's, or half and half, or a sprinkle of each, as he sees fit. It provides for examination only on branches common to all "schools," and from our standpoint it should be satisfactory to all honest practitioners of whatever "school" who want to do right, and do not fear examination. Should the Governor give what we call the "irregulars" a predominating influence on the board, our graduates would have to be examined, and there would be no objection. I'm sure they would not kick.

The bill is perhaps the best that can be gotten up, with any likelihood whatever of passing; as the former efforts to compel examination of the drugless element have failed.

Let our legislative committee get a move on, and let every regular physician work for its passage, co-operating with the State Association in its laudable and persistent efforts to protect the public from flagrant quackery, whatever may be one's individual opinion (like mine, for instance) as to what ought to be done. Let us do the best that can be done.

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But, as to fraternizing with the pathies, that is a different proposition. If some of our members desire to serve on a mixed board,

it does not follow, by any means, that we should invite all the other so-called "schools" to unite with us in our State Association. The State Association's journal (January) makes a strong plea for homologation-or miscegenation,-if I may use that word, with all kinds of pathies, and argues that they study the same text-books that we use in regular schools. That does not make them any less quacks from the standpoint of professional ethics; for the Principles of Medical Ethics-our Magna Charta-distinctly states (Chapter 11. Duties of Physicians): "It is inconsistent with the principles of medical science and it is incompatible with honorable standing in the profession for physicians to designate their practice as based on an exclusive dogma, or a sectarian system of medicine."

Hence, so long as one claiming to be a physician holds on to the title "osteopath," "homeopath," or what-not, as a kind of trade. mark to catch practice, he is not eligible to membership in the State Association of physicians, and I am sure the State Journal of Medicine does not voice the sentiment of the profession in making this plea for their recognition. If they will drop the title: call themselves simply "physicians," no one cares, and no one will ask what methods of practice they pursue, and I would be willing to receive all honorable men of whatever "school" into fellowship. But so long as they will not do this they can not be considered as eligible; in fact, their sectarian title makes them quacks, and we can not absorb the quacks.

Editorialets.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, DOCTOR! I wish I could come around and shake every one of your fellows' hands, and wish you good luck.

DR. W. A. HARPER, eye, ear, nose and throat, Austin, Texas, has removed to his new offices, No. 900 Congress avenue.

F. E. DANIEL, M. D., "Red Back," Austin, Texas. Dear Doctor: Kindly send me statement of my account. Although out of active practice, and a kind of M. D. non est, still I can't do business without the "Red Back." Fraternally yours,

GEO. F. PERRY, Hamilton, Texas.

DR. GEO. R. TABOR. In retiring from the office of State Health Office Dr. Tabor carries with him the confidence and esteem of

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