Dr. Gerrish discusses the three methods Persons knowing perfectly the damning by which society has sought to get rid of results of the habitual use of opium, chlorothis vice, or rather its effects. These methods form, tobacco or alcohol, deliberately begin he classifies as (1) ignoring it; (2) attempt- and continue their indulgence. So of other ing to suppress it; (3) licensing it. He de- vices against society, as stealing, lying, monstrates to his satisfaction that each of swearing,. etc. As a fact, foreknowing these methods has been on the whole a fail- does not so forewarn as to conquer, when ure. Thus the field is clear for him to ad- the temptation to indulge in these vices prevance a plan for dealing with this monster sents itself to the average person. For ourvice. This plan consists in educating the selves, we have a notion that it is a demonpeople in regard to the physiology of their strated law of matter, mind and morals, that sexual organs. Thus, when a baby is born where one force or thing is another canin a house, and a little brother five or six not be without displacing it. Applying years old asks whence it came, we are told this to the matter before us, we can readthat a perfectly physiological answer must ily see that if every man, woman and be given. So in after years, as questions re- child had its body, mind and soul wholly enspecting generation arise, boys and girls must gaged in the pursuit of some object benefigo to their parents and learn the exact truth. cial to himself or herself, and the world, then In schools also sexual physiology must be they would have no chance to spend their taught. In all this it must be held that force in prostitution. sexual intercourse is permissible only at such times by married people as they are ready and willing to have a child.

If only we could engage all the children of the land in honest, worthy pursuits, we would be certain that there would be little

demand for prostitutes by the next generation.

The world must also be taught that it shall not cheat nature's designs by using some of the methods for artificially preventing conception. Thus in one way or another, by parent and school and family doctor, the whole rising generation should be correctly educated in the matter of re-production. To be thus educated-so the argument runs-is to be protected against falling into prostitu- diseases. tion.

Let him who is in earnest to blot out this fearful vice from the earth set about the attainment of the above end. Let him be sure that with the extinction of the causes of prostitution the causes of all other vices will disappear, and the causes of almost all

Great efforts have been made to obviate Meantime, as the above will require some the effects of prostitution and syphilis, while time, the author suggests, as therapeutic the causes remain in active operation. These measures, the following: (1) The enforce- efforts have always struck us as illogical, and ment of the present laws against fornication, in so far as they withdrew attention from adultery and indecency; (2) the at least equal the causation, unwise. The contagion acts. punishment of men and women; (3) the quar- of England, and the licensing of houses of antining of every person who has primary prostitution in St. Louis, Mo., were each insyphilis; (4) the prohibition of marriage of tended to lessen the evils of illicit sexual syphilitics; (5) free hospital treatment of all intercourse, not to prevent such intercourse. venereal patients; and (8) systematic efforts Since the friends of these measures are at the reformation of prostitutes. Concern- clamorous for their general adoption, and the ing these last suggestions we have nothing enemies equally clamorous for their entire to say here and now. But we cannot feel that the educational scheme would remove the cause of prostitution. We cannot see how education will, to any great extent, lessen the demand for prostitutes. In so far as our observation goes, education in sexual matters seemed on the whole to make no great difference. In this, as in other vices, the evil lies deeper than education, such as is here contemplated.

abolition, we can scarcely accept either clamor as the indication of any proper course of action. It strikes us also that each party would do well to refrain from all abuse of its opponents. The cause of truth and wisdom is more efficiently served by respecting the rights of all to their opinions.

There is one law that would be efficient, viz., one that would place adultery on the same ground as murder, or even stealing.

Equally with these it tends to subvert the foundations of society and civilization. To punish all adulterers by imprisonment and hard labor, would wonderfully purify society. The enactment and enforcement of any such law is of course, in the present state of morals, simply chimerical. Nevertheless, we think that the advocates of law would do well to work towards the above end. The attainment of such an end means a far higher respect for humanity and human rights than has ever held sway upon the earth.

If we have read the physical history of the several races aright, the lesson is plain that those races have had the longest and most vigorous career that, to the greatest degree, have avoided illicit sexual intercourse. Such intercourse, far more even than the ravages of syphilis, is the element of physical deterioration. It is the greater, including both the ravages of syphilis and other far worse because more insidious physical evils. We heartily sympathize with all efforts to check the effects of syphilis, whether by mental education or by law; but all the time we see that such measures at best only strip off a few leaves from the deadly upas tree, while the vitality of the root remains untouched. The root of the evil is moral, and must be eradicated by measures directed to the moral nature. By its example and words, private or public, the profession can do much to inaugurate and perfect such

measures.

Memoranda.

For April, 1879, the annual death rate in 1,000, at Lansing, Mich., was 10.97; for May,

8.25.

The Register General reports a marriage in the north of England of a woman, aged nineteen, who is the thirty-seventh child of her father by his fifth wife.

Two hundred dollars salary was sufficient to induce a keen competition, between two Austrian doctors, for the post of parish doctor. The work was such as to require all the time of the incumbent. So says a Vienna medical journal. Surely doctors are cheaper there than here.

M. Broca says that the tallest man ever measured was a Finlander, nine feet three and seven-tenth inches, and the shortest man seventeen inches.

No person can practice in Alabama on the strength of his diploma. An examination by a State board furnishes the basis upon which a license to practice is granted. This is exactly what we believe in as the best possible State law.

Late geological study of the Hoosic Mountain renders it probable that if such study had preceded the excavation of the Hoosic tunnel, millions of dollars might have been saved to the State of Massachusetts. Here professional advice would have been worth. millions.

Dr. E. J. Birmingham announces the issue, in June, of a new sanitary journal, entitled, Public Health. It will be a weekly, and devote itself to everything that directly or indirectly relates to the health of the individual or the public generally. Its form will be a ten-page quarto, and its price $2 a year.

Henry C. Lea announces the early issue of a work on a work on "Human Anatomy," by Harrison Allen, M. D., and E. O. Shakespeare. Several hundreds of illustrations, lithographs and wood cuts will be blended with the text. Cornil and Rauvier's Manual of Pathological Histology will appear in a six-hundred page volume, with three hundred illustrations.

One of the students "plucked" at the Detroit Medical College last spring, because of what the faculty regarded as shameful ignorance, has, we learn from reliable authority, "passed a good examination before the Illinois State Board of Health," and is now practising medicine in Illinois under State authority.

The Russian plague has been investigated by Prof. Hirsch. He says that the epidemic at Wetlyanka was really one of true plague. The mortality in Wetlyanka was about 80 per cent. It is suspected that the disease originated with the war in Asia.

Cases are detailed of late in which human beings have become infected with glanders by riding behind diseased horses. Pleasant thought.

Dr. E. W. Jenks has received from Albion

College, Mich., the degree of LL. D. Thus honors continue to gather around our former associate. Hillsdale College, Mich., has conferred the degree of LL. D. upon the Hon. Zach. Chandler. Two distinguished Michigan men honored by two Michigan colleges.

On May 22d, the Woman's Medical College larged to a twenty-page semi-monthly. Of of New York graduated a class of ten.

We notice with pleasure that the Buffalo Medical College has lengthened its regular course from sixteen to twenty weeks. It is in order now for it to join the American vate practice. Short notice will be added Medical College Association. We trust it may see fit to do so at once, and throw its influence more positively on the side of more rapid and simultaneous college development.

number of well-dressed people applying for sophobia," and clinical records on various

At its regular and homeopathic depart- The Books Noticed in these Pages are for sale by E. B. Smith ments, Michigan University graduated seventy-six medical students, June 24-men, women and homœopaths.

ject may smile at the idea of devoting an en-sound a strong curve, and, in inserting, press tire volume to it. But after they have read it not only in the vertical direction, but make it they will wonder that so much has been the free extremity sweep toward the upper compressed within so small a space. In the edge of the orbit, and, finally, direct the diseases of this organ diagnosis is of prime lower extremity toward the front Observaimportance. Acurate diagnosis is impossible tion of the distance between the two eyes is except as based on an exhaustive ex- important, because an excess of distance reamination. Directions for making such ex-sults in that insufficiency of the internal aminations are here given with great explicit- recti, which so frequently results in myopic

ness.

of the meter for the inch as a bases of measurement of the focal distances of the lenses. (4) Having the intervals increase gradually from the feebler to the stronger numbers.

The unit of the new system, No. 1 of the new series of lenses, is a lense of one meter focal distance.

asthenopia. These are samples of the pracIn order, the several chapters treat of tical points constantly occurring in the chap"examination of the exterior of the eye," of ter on external examination of the eye. Inmovements of the eyes, muscular asthenopia, cidentally we may remark that the metric refraction, hypermetropia, myopia, presbio- system is adopted not only as the basis for pia, astigmatism, accommodation, acuteness numbering lenses, but in making all matheof vision, perception of colors, direct and in-matical calculations. The principles of the direct visual field. Ophthalmoscopy-ex- new system of numbering lenses, as adopted amination by direct and indirect image, de- by the International Medical Congress in termination of refraction and astigmatism by Brussels, 1875, are given thus: (1) Numberneans of ophthalmoscope, examination of ing lenses according to their refracting power. the fundus in detail, and examination by ob- (2) The choice of a unit sufficiently feeble, lique light. To illustrate the importance of so that the numbers of the lenses generally a general inspection of every patient, he calls in use should be expressed in whole numbers attention to the form of the cranium as often and not in fractions. (3) The substitution being in direct relation to the conformation of the eye. Thus, a flat or "dish" face, especially if the flatness affects the region of the zygomatic arches, is nearly always an infallible indication of hypermetropia. In myopia there are two types of conformation of the cranium. First, the cranium is elongated in its antero-posterior diameter; the In proof of the statement that nearly all face is narrow from side to side, while the human eyes are astigmatic, he adduces the nose and the middle portion run prominently fact that at present but two men are known forward, the eyes protrude almost entirely to have seen the stars as round bodies. One out of their sockets and their anterior por of these was a tailor, reported by Alex. Von tions stand almost even with the bridge of Humboldt, and the other a pupil of the the nose. In the second form the forehead author. The lenses of these persons must is retreating, straight and broad. The tuber- have been constructed with extraordinary exosities are strongly developed, the nose flat. actness. Great emphasis is placed upon the The eyes are sunken in a deep orbital cavity, importance of exact observation respecting protected by prominent brows. A lack of the visual field. There is scarcely a lesion of symmetry in the face, one-half being flatter the interior of the eye, or of the brain or than the other, would lead us to suspect that spinal cord, which affects the eye, which does one eye was myopic and the other hyperme- not modify the field of vision. Thus, in glautropic. All forms of asymmetry of the cra- coma the visual field is restricted at one side, nium can cause astigmatism. If the osseous and particularly the upper and inner portion parts corresponding to the lachrymal sac The progress of retinal hemorrhages is more take part in the depression at the root of the accurately followed by accurate observations nose, or if, aside from any pathological con- of the visual field than by the ophthalmodition, the superior portion of the orbit is scope. At the very commencement of chovery prominent, the nasal duct is usually very roiditis disseminated where its extreme perinarrow and irregular in its course. Hence, pheral location prevents any aid from the when treating such persons for catarrh of the ophthalmoscope, the disease can be recognizlachrymal sac by probes, we should give the ed by an irregularity in the visual field.

1

Again, retinitis pigmentosa affects first peri- laws of paralysis of the ocular muscles. On pheral vision, while syphilitic and Bright's the whole, the book is an excellent one for retinitis first affects central vision. Again, a specialist, practitioner and medical student. concentric restriction of indirect vision, ac- Written in good style, thoroughly abreast companied by a diminution of visual acute- with modern investigation, broad in its state ness, indicates frequently a neuritis of the ments and reasonings, it cannot fail to mee extra-bulbar portion of the optic nerve, of with a hearty welcome from all interested in which the ophthalmoscope shows no trace. its subject matter. An atrophy of the nerve can follow this inflammation without our being able to observe at the fundus of the eye any signs of neuritis.

Frerichs on Diseases of the Liver.* This volume treats of the pigment liver hyperemia of the liver and its consequences; inflammation of the liver, its various forms

and consequences; the waxy, lardaceous degeneration of the liver, and hypertrophy of

the liver. As a classical contribution to the clinical study of these affections, these chapters are unrivaled. It is one of the most ele

Atrophy of the optic nerve from peripheral causes-an alteration of a part external to the chiasma—affects different parts and different functions of the retina in very various ways. The visual field can preserve a relatively large extent in spite of the nearly complete obliteration of central vision. The gant volumes of Wood's library of standard limits are generally very irregular and the profession. medical authors, deservedly so popular with

pre

· sent sinuosities. Sometimes a sector of the visual field is wanting. Now, in all these cases the prognosis depends solely on the perception of colors. If the visual field of all colors is little altered, especially if its limits do not run parallel with the irregularities of the external limits of the general visual field, the prognosis is favorable. If, on the other hand, the perception of colors occupies but a small portion of the visual field, if it follows all the sinuosities of the external

limits, or if certain colors are totally lacking at the periphery, the prognosis is very bad, as we have to do with a progressive atrophy.

Shaffer on Potts' Disease.†

The plaster of Paris bandage for the treatment of Potts' disease has occupied a very prominent place in medical literature. The pathology of the disease, however, has rarely been alluded to, other than the discussion over its constitutional versus its local origin. Personally we had become sick of seeing the term, because it had come to be so nearly meaningless. Nor had the aggregate of results borne out the expectations raised by the first publications on the subject. Gradually it has come to be admitted that the

In such cases the visual field of colors is plaster of Paris bandage served an excellent gradually narrowed; first, violet and green in a considerable class of these cases, are recognized only at the point of fixation, and that in modified forms it was of great purpose and then disappear entirely; violet still ap- service in other cases. The work before us pears for a little as bluish, but it soon beendeavors to set forth the pathology of the comes a deep grey; bright green makes disease and to indicate a rational plan for the same impression as white or clear meeting the mechanical indications. At the grey; deep green appears as deep grey same time the author plainly intimates that By and by red follows the two other this latter is in no sense curative in all cases. colors, passing through a brown it final- He shows that the initial lesion may be (1) ly becomes black; yellow and blue per- an osteitis interna fungosa seu granulosa; (2) sist for the longest time. But in time yellow an osteitis interna caseosa; (3) a caries subecomes white, and blue is the only remain-perficialis following a periostitis, or a caries

ing color, it in turn disappearing. As to the visual field in other diseases we have not space to speak. Many other points of general interest we had marked, but the foregoing must suffice to indicate the character of the work. Two charts are added to the text, exhibiting the various movements of the eyes and their derangements, and the general

LIVER: By Dr. Fried. Theod. Frerichs, Prof. Clin. Med. Univ., Berlin, etc. In three volumes; vol. II. 1879. New York: Wm. Wood & Co. Cloth; pages, Translated by Chas. Murchison, M. D., F. R. C. P. 228.

*A CLINICAL TREATISE ON DISEASES OF THE

+POTTS' DISEASE; Its Pathology and Mechanical Treatment, with Remarks on Rotary Lateral Curvature. By Newton M. Shaffer, M. D. Cloth; pages 82. 1879. G. P. Putnam's Sons.