treatment for tuberculosis that was being made by the Public Health Service in response to a resolution of the United States Senate. The report of these investigations has just been made public as Senate Document 641. This follows close on the report from the same service on the Friedmann treatment, and, as in the latter, the verdict has been that von Ruck's claims have not been substantiated.

On account of the evident practical difficulties in carrying out the studies on human beings, the investigation was largely confined to the attempt to confirm or

disprove by animal experimentation the reliability and success of von Ruck's methods and practices in the production of immunity to tuberculosis. The studies were begun in Asheville at Dr. von Ruck's laboratory, but were later transferred to the Hygienic Laboratory in Washington, the reason given being that Dr. von Ruck would not concede the right of the government's representatives to conduct an indepen

dent

and uncontrolled investigation. and summarily interrupted the investigation in Asheville. It would seem from the report that the von Rucks did not have sufficient confidence in their methods to be willing to be investigated unless they had supervision and control over the investigation, truly a remarkable stand for a scientist to take.

tainty." From this it would appear, therefore, that it cannot be standardized for practical purposes, since by the time the results of the protracted tests are known, deterioration may have occurred. It will be recalled in this connection that von Ruck had severely criticized the work of Dr. R. S. Cummings as reported in The Journal, in which that author showed that immunity in guinea-pigs was not produced by treatment with the vaccine but that the susceptibility of the animals to tuberculosis was apparently increased as a result of the treatment with the vaccine. From the report to the Senate it would appear that this criticism was unjustified, and that the real reason for the failure of the guinea-pigs to be protected was not the failure to do certain serum tests" but the deterioration (now admitted by von Ruck) of the vaccine, aside from the fact that it is questionable if indeed it had ever possessed the immunizing properties which Dr. von Ruck thought to have demonstrated.''

The pursuance and completion of the investigation seems to have been much facilitated by the fact that in their publications the

claimed

system

animal

von Rucks have

an experimental basis for their of tuberculosis therapeutics. They claim that their vaccine" has been evolved from data derived from experimentation and certain serum tests, and the results of its administration are claimed to be shown also by the same methods. It has been claimed that the vaccine is stable, but as is clearly shown in the report, it is "unstable, subject to deterioration, and is impossible of duplication with cer

Guinea-pigs were not immunized against injections of tubercle bacilli by the use of the vaccine in doses recommended by von Ruck and continued for the length of time, and longer, which he claimed as adequate for the purpose. On the contrary, it was found that most of the animals so treated exhib ited increased susceptibility. Von Ruck insists as one of the important links in his work that the immunity of the animals shall be demonstrated by serologic methods before the final tests by inoculation, but the incorrectness of this attitude is shown in the report where the statement appears, "This decisive test [the result of virulent inoculation], having shown that the animals were not immunized, it is a matter of indifference [to me] what degree of supposed immunity they might have shown by serological methods." The experiments made to demonstrate that the serum of persons or animals treated with the vac

cine, and said by von Ruck to possess the necessary immune antibodies to destroy the virulence of tubercle bacilli, failed to confirm that claim.

It was not found possible to obtain direct evidence as to whether or not the vaccine would render persons in health immune to tuberculosis, but the report states that the indirect evidence on this point offered by Drs. von Ruck in proof of the success of the vaccine in producing immunity was faulty and inadequate. One of the most striking portions of the report is that which discusses the attempts made in von Ruck's laboratory by some one interested in the outcome of the experiments to alter the entries in the laboratory record book in regard to the use of controls in certain serum tests. Such an occurrence, as the report states, "had the effect of removing the entire test from [my] consideration as a scientific proceeding,' and causes speculation as to whether the investigation was not desired for reasons other than purely scientific ones.2

1. Cummings, R. S.: Animal Experiments with von Ruck's New Tuberculoproteins, The Journal A. M. A., June 21, 1913, p. 1936.

2. Copies of the report may be obtained by applying to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Quarantine, Washington, D. C.

WHITTIER STATE SCHOOL BOYS.

The Whittier problem, i. e., the problem of the delinquent boy, is always a serious one, but the Psychological Survey that two members of the faculty of Stanford University recently made of one hundred fifty of the boys in the State School at Whittier does much toward giving the reason.

The work was begun on July 13, 1914, and during the seven weeks following 150 boys were examined by the use of the Stanford Revision of the Binet-Simon Measuring Scale of Intelligence. Supplementary data concern

ing the history of each of these boys, his educational and environmental opportunities, his progress in the School, etc., were also obtained.

Since September 1, the material has been studied in the Research Laboratory of the Buckel Foundation, Stanford University; and after tabulating the data, and comparing with standards which have been obtained by the examination of over 2000 children, each of the boys has been classed in one of the four groups which represent varying degrees of intelligence. A summing up of the data gives the following results:

I. Definitely feeble-minded, 28 per cent.
II. Borderline Group, 25 per cent.
III. The "Dull Normal" Group, 22 per

THE PERCY METHOD OF TREAT

ING CANCER.

We of Southern California feel that we were especially privileged in having with us a short time ago Dr. J. F. Percy of Galesburg, Illinois. He operated successfully at the California Hospital, while in Los Angeles, a large number of practitioners being present. They

watched every step of the procedure with intense interest. As is well known Dr. Percy's method consists in the use of the actual cautery brought to a high temperature by the electric current on the "inoperable" carcinomatous uterus. Any physician interested should write to Dr. Percy at Galesburg for illuminating reprints.

Dr. Robert L. Tebbitt of Los Angeles has just taken offices in the Haas Building, corner of Seventh and Broadway.

At the annual election of officers of the San Diego County Medical Society, the following were elected for the year 1915: Dr. B. J. O'Neill, President; Dr. John E. Jennison, Vice-President; Dr. Andrew J. Thornton, SecretaryTreasurer.

Dr. W. B. Dakin of Los Angeles and Miss Harriet Russkert were married on December 30, 1914. After February 10 they will be at home to their

friends at 1238 West Fourth Street. The profession of Los Angeles unanimously wishes the brilliant young doctor and his bride a happy and prosperous life.

The AMERICAN PRACTITIONER, New York, has been purchased by The Urologic Publishing Association and consolidated with The AMERICAN JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, VENEREAL AND SEXUAL DISEASES. The consolidated journal will be under the editorship of Dr. William J. Robinson. The publication offices will be at 12 Mt. Morris Park West, New York City.

A PRACTICAL TEXT-BOOK OF INFECTION, IMMUNITY AND SPECIFIC THERAPY, with special reference to immunologic technic. By John A. Kolmer, M.D.. Dr. P. H., Instructor of Experimental Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, with an introduction by Allen J. Smith, M.D., Professor of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania. Octavo of 899 pages with 143 original illustrations, 43 in colors. Philadelphia and London: W. B. Saunders Company, 1915. Cloth, $6.00 net; Half Morocco, $7.50 net.

It would be difficult to conceive a more timely work than is here presented. The text is comprehensive and the illustrations excellent. There is much worthy of mention in this volume, but we will confine ourselves to a presentation of the discussion on the contraindications to tuberculin therapy.

Owing to the increased focal hyperemia that follows the injection of tuberculin, hemoptysis has been considered a contraindication to its use. In such cases it is well to wait for some time at least and begin the injections with very small doses. as the ultimate effect, namely, the production of fibrous tissue, may be of great aid in prolonging life. Various authorities have expressed different views regarding other contraindications, such as marked general weakness, fever, cardiac disease, nephritis, epilepsy, syphilis, hysteria, etc. As was stated by Hamman and Wolman, these are not contraindications, but unfortunate complications

that would embarrass any form of treatment. Tuberculin may be given to any patient whose resisting powers have not been too much depressed as the result of complications. For the beginner in this form of therapy, however, it is advisable that he acquire experience by undertaking the treatment of uncomplicated cases before assuming the responsibility of treating the more difficult ones.

THE PRACTICAL MEDICINE SERIES, Comprising Ten Volumes on the Year's Progress in Medicine and Surgery. Under the General Editorial Charge of Charles L. Mix, A.M., M.D., Professor of Physical Diagnosis in the Northwestern University Medical School; Roger T. Vaughn, Ph.B., M.D. VOLUME VII, OBSTETRICS. Edited by Joseph B. DeLee, A.M., M.D., Professor of Obstetrics, Northwestern University Medical School, with the Collaboration of Herbert M. Stowe, M.D. VOLUME VIII, MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS, PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, CLIMATOLOGY. Edited by George F. Butler, M.D.; Henry B. Favill, A.B., M.D.; Norman Bridge, A.M., M.D. VOLUME X. NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASES. Edited by Hugh T. Patrick, M.D., Professor of Neurology in the Chicago Polyclinic. Clinical Professor of Nervous Diseases in the Northwestern University Medical School: Ex-President Chicago Neurological Society; Peter Bassoe, M.D., Assistant Professor of Nervous and Mental Diseases, Rush Medical College.

Ph.G..

The series is published primarily for the general practitioner, at the same time the arrangement in several volumes enables those interested in special subjects to buy only the parts they desire. Price: Volume VII, $1.35; Volume VIII, $1.50; Volume X. $1.35. Price of the series of ten volumes, $10.00. Chicago. The Year Book Publishers, 327 S. LaSalle Street.

This series appeals to the up-to-date general practitioner, and the individual volumes on special subjects provide the specialists with a resume of the recent bibliography on the subjects they may be interested in. The DeLee volume is characterized by a dearth of references to "twilight sleep," that would seem to indicate a paucity of literature upon the subject. Volume VIII, under Therapeutics, gives a number of references to the use of emetin hydrochlorid in pulmonary hemorrhage, the dosage being from one-third to one grain hypodermatically. The entire series is improv

ing from year to year, containing better extracts and covering a wider range of medical literature.

DIFFERENTIAL

DIAGNOSIS.

Pre

sented through an Analysis of 317 cases. By Richard C. Cabot, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine. Harvard Medical School. Octavo of 709 pages, 254 illustrations. Philadelphia and London: W. B. Saunders Company, 1914. Cloth, $5.50; Half Morocco, $7.00.

This volume, promised the profession at the time of the appearance of volume one, has been looked forward to with a great deal of anticipation, that is here fully realized in a work that is, if possible, better than its predecessor. In this volume the author has presented nineteen selected symptoms, analyzed and illustrated. The work throughout is such as we would expect the distinguished author to create, and is a credit to American medical literature. There is a peculiar even tone in the illustrations and charts seldom seen in medical works. Discussing enlarged glands, the author declares that we "must never think of the neek, axillae, and groins as the normal sites of possible glandular enlargement, but only as the more obvious and visible sites.'' But we must resist the temptation to quote extensively from this admirable work. We are glad that such a man has written such a book.

URINARY ANALYSIS AND DIAGNOSIS. By Microscopical and Chemical Examination. By Louis Heitzmann, M.D., New York. Third Revised and Enlarged Edition. With 131 illustrations, mostly original. New York, William Wood & Company, 1915. Price $3.00 net.

No attention is ordinarily paid in text-books to the possibility of diagnosing the acuteness or chronicity of a lesion, a suppurative or ulcerative condition, degenerations, and a number of other pathological changes, in all of which the features in the urine are characteristic enough. It is evident that a mere description of the features found in different cases cannot be sufficiently clear, but that illustrations