de

tician, of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, made the opening address. The chairman of the committee on organization of the American Society for the Control of Cancer scribed the purpose and plans of that association, which has recently been formed as a national agency to disseminate knowledge concerning the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer; to investigate the conditions under which cancer is found and to compile statistics in regard thereto.

Many Prominent Speakers.

Other speakers were Edward A. Woods, of the Equitable Life Insurance Company; Rabbi J. Leonard Levy, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Regis Canevin, of the diocese of Pittsburg; Dr. John A. Brashear, the astronomer, and the Rev. Dr. Maitland Alexander, pastor of the First Presbyterian church.

The American Society for the Control of Cancer will gladly co-operate in the organization of similar public meetings on cancer in other localities. For use in connection with such meetings the society has issued the following circular:

Cancer is of greater frequency in adult life than tuberculosis, pneumonia, typhoid fever, or digestive diseases.

In 1913 there were about seventy-five thousand deaths from this disease in the United States.

One person in eleven at the age of forty and more dies of cancer.

Public Not Informed.

Largely because of public ignorance and negligence this terrible scourge now proves fatal in more than 90 per cent. of the attacks.

Of the 75,000 deaths from this disease in the United States in 1913, about thirty thousand were deaths from cancer of the stomach and liver, twelve thousand from cancer of the uterus and other organs of generation, 7,500 from cancer of the breast and about twenty-five thousand five hundred from cancer of other organs and parts.

Cancer respects neither race, creed nor social position.

ANTITYPHOID INOCULATION.*

By Major F. F. Russell, Medical Corps, U. S. A.

The writer, largely by statistical tables and graphic charts summarized the effects of antityphoid vaccination up to the close of the year 1912 in the United States army.2 both at home and abroad, among the officers and enlisted men. During the last four years approximately 200,000 persons had been immunized, entirely without fatalities. or any untoward results. In the army none but the healthy were immunized, any illness, of whatever nature, automatically postponing vaccination until after recovery. The immunity, no doubt, diminished gradually, as after vaccination against small-pox. The custom at present was to revaccinate at the beginning of each four-year period of enlistment. not because all immunity had disappeared, but because it seemed unwise to

*Abstract of paper read at the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of The American Therapeutic Society, held in Washington, D. C.

trust to anything less than the maximum immunity obtainable. The practice of vaccinating against typhoid had been a pronounced success in the naval and military services, in hospitals, schools, institutions, among pleasure seekers, and in contractors' camps, especially those located on watersheds-in fact, wherever in civil and military life it had been used. Its more general use, especially among the young, was advisable. The fact that it occasionally failed to afford complete protection was not a valid objection to its use, but rather an indication for its repetition, at intervals to be determine l upon in the future. It would certainly prove as efficacious in civil life as in the army, and its extended use would hasten the time when typhoid fever will become a negligible factor in our publichealth problems.-Monthly Cyclopedia of Medicine.

THE LEPER HOSPITAL, JERUSALEM.

It was the writer's privilege on a recent visit to Jerusalem to be allowed the privilege of a visit to this interesting institution. The asylum is termed "Jesus hilfe" and is conducted by the Moravian sisters. At the close of the year 1912 there were 45 lepers in the hospital of which 32 were men and 13 women. Thirty-eight were Mohamme dan and 7 Christians. The sisters were very much pleased over two donations during the past year. One was for 1,200 francs and was brought by a Fran ciscan Monk from Jerusalem given by a donor who wished to remain unknown. This is the first donation from a Roman Catholic source, though the hospital gives many Roman Catholic lepers a home. The other donation which caused special pleasure was one of 201 marks sent by Esquimaux in Alaska. The asylum is nicely situated in the German colony within walking distance of Jerusalem. It consists of a spacious, comfortable and airy building and is on a farm which contains garden, fruit trees and live stock. This farm is run by the inmates of the asylum and affords them employment and amusement. The cases of

leprosy which I saw there were not as bad as I had pictured them in my mind's eye. The most of them were able to be out and about, in fact the most of them at the time of my visit were out employed at work about the farm. Many had suffered the loss of toes and fingers and some of larger limbs. The disease does not seem dangerously contagious with proper care. The sisters told me that not one case of contagion had occured in the hospital and some of the sisters had been there many years. They are certainly doing a good, great and noble work among these poor outcasts.-E. S. M.

COLONEL GORGAS.

President Wilson has nominated Colonel William C. Gorgas, chief sanitary officer at the Panama canal, to be surgeon-general of the army. There is little likelihood that objection will be expressed in the senate, for if one man in the United States deserves promotion Colonel Gorgas is that one. As told in another column on this page, the story of Colonel Gorgas's work at Panama is necessarily the story of the "cleaning up" of the isthmus. And this is a story of which he and his associates can well be proud. The one criticism directed at Colonel Gorgas is that of extravagance. He and Colonel Goethals, the builder of the canal, and the actual head of the work, often could not agree as to expenditure. Colonel Goethals places economy first; Colonel Gorgas places his profession. As chief sanitary officer of the canal, Colonel Gorgas viewed it as his duty to make the canal sanitary. And so he did. In his enthusiasm even his friends say he was willing to stop at no expense. Colonel Goethal's economies acted as a brake, and the result has been peculiarly beneficial. For the canal zone has been made habitable, thanks to the enthusiasm of Colonel Gorgas; and it has been made so at reasonably small expense, thanks to the rigid supervision of Colonel Goethals.

As surgeon-general of the army, Col

onel Gorgas will have the rank of brigadier-general. Perhaps no other member of the medical corps is better qualified for this important post. The world is recognizing more and more the need for sanitation. Sanitation is what Colonel Gorgas believes in, and history probably will place his name in an honorable position among those who have done conscientious and lasting work. Sanitation made the Panama canal possible. It was because they paid no attention to sanitation that Ferdinand de Lesseps and his French engineers failed. It is possible, too, that we might have failed had it not been for the transformation of the Panama canal Zone from a tropical pest hole into a winter resort. Thousands of workmen employed in the construction of the canal owe their lives to this sanitation. It is said that when Aspinwall built the Panama railroad a life was lost for each tie of the forty-eight miles of track. Certainly we have cause to be grateful. Finally, the appreciation which Lord Murray of Ellbank uttered on visiting the Panama canal, should not be forgot. ten. Lord Murray was impressed with the engineering achievements. But he was also with the sanitary work. "You people," he said, "have shown the world how to live in the tropics. The day is coming when the tropics, and not the temperate zones, will be the chief support of the earth's population." Surely it was a great work to "clean up" Panama, let alone to show the world how to live in the tropics.-Indianapolis News.

TREATMENT OF NEURALGIC HEAD

ACHE.

In a patient suffering from an intractable trigeminal neuralgia, and with teeth apparently perfect, it was at length noticed that one of the molars was slightly tender on being sharply tapped with a tongue depressor. Upon removal of this tooth the neuralgia disappeared.

The most successful medicinal combination for trigeminal neuralgia is, according to the author's experience, one

of butyl chloral hydrate (croton chloral), gelsemium and sodium bromide. General tonics are useful, especially iron; alcohol, which should be recommended only with much circumspection, has a certain degree of utility. Local applications are not very successful though an ointment of aconitine is worth trying. Warmth to the affected parts is useful. In all forms of headache, rest, physical and psychic, is of the first importance.-J. A. Lindsay, in Clinical Journal.

POSTOPERATIVE MORPHINE

POISONING.

Hermann Hinterstoisser, who has used regularly, prior to general anesthesia, an injection containing morphine, reports the case of a woman aged forty years. who was given the usual dose of scopolamine and narcophin an hour before operation for appendicitis, and anesthetized with ether and chloroform. She slept quietly till the middle of the afternoon, and was given a hypodermic of morphine five hours later. Two hours later symptoms of severe intoxication appeared, calling for an immediate injection of atropine, digalen and camphor oil. Venesection also was performed. She lay in a stupor for three days with incontinence of urine and feces, and gradually returned to consciousness on the fourth day. He is inclined to ascribe this nearly fatal result not to morphine alone, but to the combined use of the several narcotics. He strongly recommends in morphine poisoning venesection with subsequent intravenous infusion of Ringer's fluid, or of isotonic salt solution. New York Medical Journal.

THE CONTRARY SEX. Mark Twain, so the story goes, was walking on Hannibal street when he met a woman with her youthful family.

"So this is the little girl, eh?" Mark said to her as she displayed her children. "And this sturdy little urchin in the bib belongs, I suppose, to the contrary sex."

"Yassah," the woman replied; "yassah, dat's a girl, too." -Christian Register.

MID-YEAR MEETING

of

OF THE MEDICAL SECTION OF THE AMERICAN LIFE CONVENTION AT FRENCH LICK SPRINGS. The largest medical association medical directors of national scope met in French Lick Springs, March 4, 5, 6, at the French Lick Springs Hotel. This medical section meets twice a year and at the sessions just concluded more notable addresses were made than ever before. The convention was fortunate in having two speeches by Dr. Will J. Mayo of Rochester, Minn. His first talk on the mortality in operations, on overweights was extemporaneous and showed that not only are the overweights a hazardous risk from an insurance point, but also hazardous from the standpoint of the operative surgeon. His real address was on the prognosis following operation for surgical diseases of the abdomen. His optimism about operative cases of carcinoma of the abdominal organs was not shared by all those present, as he stated that he believed that all patients operated on for cancer of the abdominal organs, and who survived five years, should be passed as normal insurance risks. In closing the discussion on this subject, he gave a very interesting talk on the causes of cancer in various races, showing that it was due to irritation of some character rather than microbic action.

Among other interesting discussions was a symposium on the preservation of health, which was lead by Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary of the Indiana State Board of Health, and Col. W. C. Rucker, Assistant Surgeon General, U. S. Public Health Service. One entire evening of the program was devoted to X-Ray demonstrations by use of a lantern showing the aid that the X-Ray has given to the diagnosis of various diseases, which have an intimate connection with life insurance.

The attendance at this convention was much larger than ever before and it is to the credit of the officers: Dr. James H. Stowell, Chicago; Dr. F. L. B. Jenney,

Chicago; and Dr. Frank W. Foxworthy, that the meeting was such a success. This is the first meeting of this Medical Directors Association that has been held in Indiana. The program follows:

Wednesday, March 4-10:00 A. M. Roll call.

"Inflammatory Rheumatism and Allied Diseases as Affecting Life Insurance Risks," by Dr. C. Naumann McCloud, medical director, Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co., St. Paul, Minn.

"Preservation of Health," by Col. W. C. Rucker, Assistant Surgeon General United States Public Health Service, Washington, D. C.

"Indigestion a Forerunner of Diseases of the Cardiac, Vascular and Renal Systems," by Dr. Fred M. Hodges, Assistant Medical Director Atlantic Life Insurance Co., Richmond, Va.

Discussion by Dr. Victor C. Vaughan, Jr., Medical Director Michigan State Life Insurance Co., Detroit, Mich.

"Overweights," by Dr. H. A. Baker, Medical Director Pittsburg Life and Trust Co, Pittsburgh, Pa.

"Prognosis Following Operation for Surgical Diseases of the Abdomen," by Dr. William J. Mayo, Rochester, Minn.

Discussion by Dr. William M. Harsha, Professor of Surgery, University of Illinois, Medical Director Order of Columbian Knights, Chicago, Ill.; Dr. J. Allen Patton, Associate Medical Director Prudential Insurance Co., Newark, N. J.

"Public Health Administration," by Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary Indiana State Board of Health, Indianapolis, Ind. Discussion.

Evening Session.

Entertainment by French Lick Springs Hotel Co., complimentary to the Medical Section.

Thursday, March 5.

Called to order at 9:00 a. m.

"Syphilis in Relation to Life Insurance," by Dr. Henry H. Schroeder, Medical Director Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York, N. Y.

Discussion by Dr. Ambrose Talbot, Medical Director Kansas City Life Insurance Co., Kansas City, Mo.

"The Effects of Alcohol and Tobacco on Life Expectancy," by Dr. T. D. Crothers, Editor Journal of American Society for the Study of Alcohol and other Narcotics, Hartford, Conn.

Discussion by Dr. J. Allen Patton, Associate Medical Director Prudential Insurance Co., Newark, N. J.

"Prognosis of Chronic Cardiac Lesions," by Dr. Robert H. Babcock, Chicago, Ill.

Discussion: Dr. W. S. Harpole, Professor Clinical Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.

"Symptoms and Physical Signs Suggesting the Onset of Organic Disease," by Dr. Charles L. Mix, Professor Physical Diagnosis Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.

Discussion.

"The Importance of the Observation of the Mouth and Teeth, from a Life Insurance Standpoint," by Geo. V. I. Brown, M. D., Milwaukee, Wis.

Discussion.

"Extra Risks," by Franklin B. Mead, Secretary and Actuary Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., Fort Wayne, Ind.

Discussion by Oswald J. Arnold, Secretary and Actuary Illinois Life Insurance Co., Chicago, Ill.; Mr. T. W. Appleby, Secretary and Actuary Federal Life Insurance Co., Chicago, Ill.; Mr. Virgil M. Kime, Actuary American Central Life Insurance Co., Indianapolis, Ind.

Evening Session.

Illustrative Lecture-"Roentgen Diagnostics of Internal Medicine as Related to Life Insurance Examinations," by Dr. Jas. T. Case, Roentgenologist, Battle Creek, Michigan.

Discussion by Dr. Fred M. Hodges, Assistant Medical Director Atlantic Life Insurance Company.

Friday, March 6.

Called to order at 9:00 a. m.

"The Medical Department in ourt," by Hon. T. W. Blackburn, Secretary and

Omaha, Neb.

Discussion.

"Medical Investigations," by Dr. W. Edward Magruder, Adjuster for Accident Insurance Companies, Baltimore, Md. Discussion.

"Causes Influencing Mortality," by Wyeth E. Ray, Medical Director, Germania Life Insurance Co., New York, N. Y.

Discussion.

"Goiter and Its Relation to Life Insurance," by Dr. Alexander M. Campbell, Medical Director Preferred Life Insurance Co. of America, Grand Rapids,

Mich.

Discussion.

Informal session, Dr. H. A. Baker, presiding.

The officers are: Chairman, Dr. Jas. H. Stowell; vice chairman, Dr. Whitfield Harral; secretary, Dr. F. L. B. Jenney.

Board of Managers-Dr. Jas. H. Stowell, Dr. Whitfield Harral, Dr. Ambrose Talbot, Dr. F. L. B. Jenny, Dr. F. W. Foxworthy.

Program Committee-Dr. Fred M. Hodges, Dr. F. W. Foxworthy, Dr. F. L. B. Jenney, Dr. Jas. H. Stowell.

MEETING OF THE FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RACE

BETTERMENT.

Four hundred men and women of prominence, comprising the first representative group of scientific experts ever gathered in America for that purpose, met in Battle Creek, Mich., January 8-12, to assemble evidence of race deterioration and to consider methods of checking the downward trend of mankind. The meeting was known as the First National Conference of Race Betterment. Through the co-operation of the press, the objects and aims of the conference have been very widely disseminated and a resultant influence for better race ideals is anticipated.

Already the effect of the conference is apparent in Battle Creek, where popular interest in mental and physical efficiency was awakened by a series of public