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in his own ranks, and he abhored quackery in all its forms. His sense of honor was of the highest, and he never allowed his name to be used in any questionable manner. The writer had the good fortune to be intimately associated with Dr. Littig, in many activities.

Many years ago when serving as chairman of the Section of Medicine of the State Medical Society we invited Dr. Middleton of Davenport, to prepare a paper for the section, but was referred to a young physician who had but recently located in Davenport, filled with the most recent medical knowledge from the universities of Europe-Dr. Littig was the man—and strange as it may seem, the paper was on "Infections," from which the gifted man at last himself fell a victim.

Dr. Littig was a man of wide general information. A master of English and possessed of a reading and speaking knowledge of French, German and Italian languages.

Ten years ago he suffered from a serious infection while treating an accident case which led to an attack of myositis which threatened a permanent crippling of his limbs. At this time he spent a winter in Rome, and while there formed a close friendship with Professor Bastianelli, the famous Italian surgeon-who is now serving as Chief Surgeon of the Italian Army. It was during the winter in Rome that Dr. Littig took up seriously, the study of Italian literature and since then he always carried in his pocket a small volume of Italian romance, to which he devoted hours on trains and at stations. He saw much beauty in the old Italian romances of love and intrigue. There were many phases of Dr. Littig's character which were but little understood, even by his closest friends. Many were only able to see his rugged exterior, little dreaming of the warm heart dwelling within. He almost feared that expressions of sympathy were evidences of weakness and when torn with anxiety over the welfare of his desperately sick patient, and devoting every ounce of energy to the cure, he was often thought indifferent. Dr. Littig was in no sense of the word a "good mixer." He recognized this fact, painfully, and realized the handicap, but he knew that nature had denied him this important faculty to success, and that artificial attempts at sweetness would quickly betray him, therefore he trusted to honesty and loyalty of purpose for whatever he could accomplish.

Dr. L. W. Littig was a native son of Iowa, having been born in Davenport July 20, 1858, his father John Littig was a native of France and a farmer by occupation.

He acquired his early education in the public schools of Davenport where his parents lived for the greater part of their lives. He was graduated from St. Vincent's college of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1880 with the degree of

bachelor of arts, and two years later received the degree of master of arts.

He entered the medical college of the Iowa University in 1880 graduating therefrom in 1883. In the fall of the same year he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania graduating from that institution in May, 1884.

After a competitive examination he next became resident physician of the Philadelphia Blockley hopital, an institution of 1000 beds. At the expiration of his term as resident physician Dr. Littig returned to Davenport where he was at once elected county physician. Resigning this position at the end of nine months he went to Europe, where he spent some two and one-half years in the hospitals of Vienna and Berlin. During this time he made several trips to London, passed the necessary examinations, and in October, 1887, received the qualification, “Member of Royal College of Surgeons" (M. R. C. S.), which entitles him to practice in Great Britain.

Subsequently Dr. Littig made three visits to Europe, spending the entire time in the Royal hospital of Vienna, an institution of 4000 beds.

Dr. Littig was made professor of anatomy in the University of Iowa in 1889 and was subsequently promoted to the chair of theory and prac tice of medicine and clinical medicine. He was secretary of the county medical associations at this time and an honored member of the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley, and many other organizations.

"The Stay-
at-Homes"

Dr. I. N. Pickett, of Nebraska, has a most excellent scheme for taking care of those who have sacrificed their practice, and gone to serve their country.

In the Nebraska State Medical Journal Dr Pickett says:

"The proposition which I believe worthy of consideration, is that each Stay-at-Home in active practice contribute to this War Gift Fund the sum of $20 per month during the war, and for 60 days after peace treaties are signed by the belligerents. This fund so accumulated to be prorated regardless of rank and paid over to all physicians of the state holding commissions, or to their legal representatives. The fund to be placed in the hands of someone to be designate by the Board of Councilors, of the Nebraska State Medical Association, who should be required to keep a just and accurate account of

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"Keep the Home Fires Burning"

Organized at Council Bluffs, Iowa. September 27, 1888. Objects: "The objects of this society shall be to foster, advance and disseminate medical knowledge; to uphold and maintain the dignity of the profession; and to encourage social and harmonious relations within its ranks."-Constitution.

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The "Carry On" Meeting of this society at Omaha gives promise of being the best medical gathering of the year in the Middle West. Every mail brings the secretary inquiries and requests for programs. The list of papers, while not so large as usual, contains a variety of topics that should interest every man in practice, whether he be specialist, internist or surgeon.

While it is conceded that military surgery, shock and war wound treatment are just now being accorded the center of the stage, we must bear in mind that there is abundant work for the "Home Guard" while our brothers are caring for the valliant fighters on the other side. We shall, therefore, have with us representatives of the U. S. army, navy, Medical Reserve Corps, Department of Public Health, Red Cross and the Department of Reconstruction. A series of moving pictures will be shown on Thursday evening. illustrating the treatment of war wounds, transplantation of tendons, correction of paralytic club foot, femoral hernia, Dr. Carrel at work in a French hospital, the Carrel-Dakin war wound.

treatment.

On Thursday evening, Sept. 19, a "patriotic dinner" will be given at Hotel Fontenelle at 6 o'clock. Speakers of national reputation will be present. Ladies are especially invited to attend.

The Omaha Chamber of Commerce will entertain at luncheon on Thursday noon, in their club rooms. Ladies are invited to this luncheon. Additional entertainment will be provided by the ladies' committee.

In response to a letter from the secretary to the Surgeon General of the army, Gen. Gorgas replied that "It is the policy of this office to encourage the attendance of medical officers at the meetings of medical societies, and Col. J. M.

Banister, of Omaha, has been designated as the representative of this department at your meeting. Your interest in the medical department, as shown by recent editorials in the Medical Herald, is deeply appreciated."

*Preliminary Program

"What Medical Science Owes to the Military Surgeon," Col. J. M. Banister (U. S. A., retired), Omaha. "Present Status of the Tuberculosis Problem," Dr. Francis M. Pottenger, Monrovia, Cal. (president Mississippi Valley Medical Association.)

"Radium and X-Ray in the Treatment of Cancer," Dr. Frank H. Blackmarr, Chicago.

"Unusual and Interesting Fractures and Dislocations," illustrated by lantern slides, Dr. C. W. Hop kins, Chicago (chief surgeon C. & N. W. R. R.)

"Influence of War Upon the Medical Profession and Upon the People," Maj. Jno. P. Lord, U. S. A. Hos

pital, Fort Des Moines, Iowa.

"Conjugated Family Syphilis of the Nervous System," Dr. S. Grover Burnett, Kansas City.

"Medical Treatment of Goitre," Dr. Granville Ryan, Des Moines.

"Multiple Infections and Their Interrelationship," Dr. W. W. Duke, Kansas City.

"Varieties of Dementia Illustrated," Dr. Greshom H. Hill, Des Moines.

"Chorea," Dr. Arthur L. Smith, Lincoln. "Consideration of Special Therapy in Asthma, Hydrocephalus, Aortic Sclerosis," A. Sophian, Kansas

City.

"Side Lights on Carcinoma," O. C. Morrison, Carroll, Iowa.

"Paranoia, With Special Reference to the Paranoid Tendencies of the kaiser," Tom Bentley Throckmorton, Des Moines.

"Fat Embolism," Dr. A. R. Mitchell, Lincoln. "Some Diagnostic Advantages in Spinal Fluid Analyses," Dr. H. J. Lenhoff, Lincoln.

"McKinnon's Jejunostomy," Dr. C. E. Emerson,

Lincoln.

*Note-Complete program is now in press, and will be mailed to all members. Additional copies will be furnished upon application to the secretary. All papers listed above will be published in the Medical Herald.

"Fractures of the Arm; Value of Dakin and Dichloramin-T Solution in the Treatment of Infected Cases," Dr. Wm. H. Pruner, Jr., Omaha.

"Congenital Hypertrophic Stenosis, Symptoms Based on Fourteen Cases," Dr. H. M. McClanahan, Omaha.

"Brain Abscess," report of cases, Dr. G. A. Young, Omaha.

The Fontenelle Hotel will be headquarters and meeting place. Reservation of rooms should be made in advance of arrival.

Every member is urged to attend this meeting and to bring in a new member. The profession of nearby states and counties cordially invited to attend.

The commercial exhibit will be placed on the mezzanine floor adjoining the assembly room, and will be found most attractive to those inter

ested in the latest additions to the doctor's equipment. A list of those who have reserved space (up to the time of going to press) follows:

Truax, Inc., Chicago...

Space No.

.11, 12, 13, 14

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The new "zone" system of second class postage, which went into effect July 1st, increases the cost of mailing magazines and newspapers from 50 to 800 per cent. This new law is unjust and un-American, because it places a handicap on the press, and imposes an unreasonable hardship on many scientific publications. It is unfair for the reason that we are compelled to pay more to mail our journal to a subscriber in Wisconsin than we pay to send the Herald to a doctor in Iowa. Eventually subscription rates must be advanced in order to save publishers from actual loss. Then we shall see unique announcements something like this:

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

First and second zones......

Third zone

Fourth zone

Fifth zone.

Sixth zone

Seventh zone

Eighth zone

.$1.00 per year 1.10 per year 1.15 per year 1.20 per year 1.30 per year 1.35 per year

1.50 per year

Note-To ascertain in which zone you are located, consult the map or postal guide in your local postal office, or pay 50 cents for a copy.

And thus congress endeavors to "conserve” paper by forcing many small publications to suspend business. It is hoped that this unjust law

may soon be repealed. In the meantime the Medical Herald will continue to be mailed at $1.00 per year.

Our readers will confer a great favor by remitting their dollars for the coming year, and thus help us to tide over the heavy war ex

penses.

Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick died at South Casco, Maine, on August 13, aged 52 years. He the New York University Medical School. Dr. was born in Honolulu, and was graduated from Gulick developed physical training in the New York public schools, and was instrumental in the organization of the "Camp Fire Girls." Breadth and fertility of mind were among his traits. He did a great deal to further the playground moveof importance. He was prominent in the conferment which has swept over every American city ences of the now flourishing profession of physical directorship, and in the encouragement of outdoor camps. A trained psychologist as well as physician, he understood the psychological and educational value of physical culture, as well as its civic bearings. America, fond of inventors, will not forget his part in originating the only great game ever struck off at one time to answer certain definite demands-basket ball. Impressed by the need of a sport to fill the gap between baseball and football, he suggested all the basic requirements to Dr. James Naismith, who in one evening devised the chief features of the game. to meet them. We are prone to forget how fast, under the influence of such men, conditions surrounding the physical education of the young in our great cities have changed in recent years. It was not till about 1906, when the Playground Association of America was founded with Doctor Gulick as its first president, that the work of creating adequate outdoor fields for the great masses of children bulked large. Then comparatively few cities had playgrounds; in 1909, more than 330; today it is the exceptional city that does not give attention to play.

"CARRY ON!"

Can you imagine a more patriotic service than a doctor ministering to the wounded at the battle front? Have you made an effort to get into the Medical Reserve Corps, and serve your beloved country? It is your sacred duty to do so, a duty that should be performed cheerfully, promptly, conscientiously. Of course we are not all fit for overseas duty, but we can do valliant service "keeping the home fires burning." The "carry-on" meeting of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley will be a patriotic gathering of the "Home Guard," and we want all the doctors in this territory, who can be spared from home, to be with us. Come and hear the inspiring talks and see the moving pictures of the great war

Fraternally.

A. I. MCKINNON, President Medical Society of the Missouri Valley. Subscribe to the Fourth Liberty Loan and speed the victory.

Parresined Lace-Mesh Surgical DressingAnother interesting development of the surgeons doing war work is an improved surgical dressing, which has been worked out and studied carefully by Dr. W. Estell Lee and his associates in Philadelphia. This dressing consists of a wide-mesh gauze, or lace net, which is treated with a specially prepared paraffin mixture, which makes it very pliable and readily adaptable to all surfaces. This net has about ten meshes to the inch, which is wide enough to assure free drainage from the wound and provide for the application of antiseptics without removal. A dressing of this kind is easily applied, will not stick to any wound surface, can be applied deeply into lacerated wounds or wherever it is desirable to maintain drainage, and is ideal for the treatment of burns, bruises, cuts, lacerations and all other secreting surfaces. It is particularly fine for use in connection with Dakin's DichloramineT-Chlorcosane solution. The dressing is laid loosely over the part to be treated, then the germicide is sprayed or painted over the surface, and a light gauze dressing applied, this being held in place with one or two turns of a roller bandage. This dressing has been used by Doctor Lee and others in several thousand cases in the Pennsylvania and Germantown hospitals, and has also received careful trial in a number of the larger industrial plants. Everyone who has used it is exceedingly enthusiastic in its praise. Every doctor knows that the pain of dressing a bad wound is often more dreaded by the patient than the original operation itself. The use of this dresing eliminates the pain, and if it is employed in association with Dakin's antiseptics, it gives wonderfully quick recovery in most instances. This dressing has been placed upon the market by The Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Ill. Under the name "Parresined Lace-Mesh Surgical Dressing." It is supplied in boxes containing six envelopes, each envelope containing a strip of the dressing 6x18 inches. It is believed that in many respects the introduction of this dressing in combination with the Dichloramine-T treatment is really epoch-making in wound surgery.

Medical Association of the Southwest-This society will hold its annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, on October 15-17, under the presidency of Dr. E. H. Martin, of Hot Springs, Ark. An entertaining program is being prepared, and a number of distinguished guests will be present, including representatives of the army, navy, and the Medical Reserve Corps. A large attendance is expected. Dr. M. M. Smith is chairman of arrangements.

Make yourself necessary to the world, and the world will give you bread.

Meeting Postponed-The annual meeting of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association dated for October 15, at Louisville, Ky., has been postponed until next year, on account of the war. The president, Dr. F. M. Pottenger, of California, will give an address upon tuberculosis at the Omaha meeting of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley, September 19.

Poison Chart-The Waterbury Chemical Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, has issued one of the most complete poison charts that has yet come to our desk-a list of 102 poisons are presented in alphabetical order, and the antidotes are classified for quick reference. A copy of this chart will be mailed to any doctor who will send his name to the home office of the company at Des Moines.

husband trained before she married him. Every woman likes to boast that she had her

To Physicians of America

Surgeon General Gorgas has called for 1,000 graduate nurses a week-8,000 by October 1.

25,000 graduate nurses must be in war service by January 1-in the Army Nurse Corps, in the Navy Nurse Corps, in the U. S. Public Health Service in Red Cross war nursing.

This involves withdrawal of many nurses from civilian practice and necessitates strict economy in the use of all who remain in the communities.

You can help get these nurses for our sick and wounded men by

Bringing this need to the attention of nurses.

Relieving nurses

where possible wholly or in part from office duty. Seeing to it that nurses are employed only in cases requiring skilled attendance.

Insisting that nurses be released as soon as need for their profesional service is ended.

Seeing that your patients use hospitals instead of monopolizing the entire time of a single nurse.

Encouraging people to employ public health nurses.

Instructing women in the care of the sick.

Inducing high school and college graduates to enter the Army School of Nursing or some other recognized training school for nurses.

Encouraging nurses to go to the front involves real personal sacrifice and added work on the part of the physicians whose duty it is to maintain the health of our civilian second line defense

But the men who are fighting for their country in France need the nurses.

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING,
AMERICAN RED CROSS,

Washington, D. C.

The World War News

P. I. LEONARD, M. D.

"Our country; its need is our need, its honor our honor, its responsibility our responsibility. To support it is a duty, to defend it a privilege, to serve it a joy. In its hour of trial we must be steadfast, in its hour of danger we must be strong, in its hour of triumph we must be generous. Though all else depart, and all we own be taken away, there will still remain the foundation of our fortunes, the bulwark of our hopes, a rock on which to build anew-our country, our homeland, America."-From American Medicine, May, 1917 (National Number.)

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In regard to how the new draft law will affect the physicians, this cannot be answered until the regulations are issued by the provost marshal general.

The new selective service law will involve the registration and physical examination of some 14,000,000 men. This will have to be accomplished in a much shorter time than in the first selective service draft.

A Spartanburg, S. C., paper contains the following: "Capt. William T. Elam, heretofore on duty at the base hospital, will have charge of the organization of Unit No. 25, and the following medical officers have been assigned to him: Capts. James W. Rowe and Addison M. Rothrock, and First Lieuts. Samuel D. Earhart and Charles W. Stroup, all of whom have been on duty at the base hospital. The commanding officer at the base hospital has been directed to transfer fifty enlisted men to each unit, the men to be well qualified in the duties of the medical department and able to read and write English. These new units, like nearly all other organizations in camp, are destined to have overseas service eventually."

Sir James, in speaking of the examination of recruits, said, "The tests of a man's fitness as a

Lieut. L. G. Colley, of St. Joseph, is at Port- soldier should depend upon what he has been land, Oregon.

Lieut. L. Paul Forgrave is at Fort Logan, Houston, Texas.

doing and what he is able to do. A young fellow was sent to me because his heart was supposed to be bad. I asked him what he had been before he entered the service. He said he had been a

Lieut. C. H. Atchison, of Waldron, Mo., is butcher. I asked him if he had been able to now "over there."

Capt. Floyd H. Spencer, of St. Joseph, is at San Antonio, Texas.

carry the carcass of a sheep upstairs and whether such work had been a regular part of his duties. He said that he had been accustomed to doing exactly that, and frequently, and without physi

Capt. Joseph H. Lichtenberg, of Kansas City, cal discomfort; I said, 'I do not need to examine Mo., will go to Fort Oglethorpe, Oct. 1.

Captain Emmett F. Cook is now at Fort Preble, Maine, in the suburbs of Portland.

Dr. Jno. H. Outland, of Kansas City, has been commissioned a major, with orders to report at Camp Oglethorpe, Ga.

On July 4 the Academie Francaise bestowed a large gold medal on the American Red Cross for its admirable work.

A wonderful achievement has been made by our boys in France to stimulate the thorough cooperation of every patrotic American.

Dr. A. J. Lind, of Welborn, Kas., has received a commission as lieutenant in the medical reserve corps and has gone on duty at Camp Custer.

The members of local and district appeal boards are prevented from resigning and entering the M. C. They are as effectively "drafted for this duty as are registrants who are selected for military service." This does not apply to medical advisory boards.

your heart. If you can do work like that you are certainly fit.' Too many men are rejected because of alleged defects which are more apparent than real. The way we detected maligners. who claim that they could not hear was by ask ing questions at a distance of twenty feet with their backs turned and one ear covered. "Do you not feel that the oceans should be free to travel and that the United States have been outraged? Do you want to back up our president? How much did you give the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A. and K. C. drive?" Then suddenly ask at a lower tone of voice, "On what grounds do you claim exemption?" "Are you not the only sup port of your family?" In this way, you will get an answer to a lower tone of voice. We always referred to the clinic or doctors who have been treating a man's eyes or ears, for information, but as this work was gratuitous we sent eye and ear cases, which we could not determine, to the office of a specialist instead of asking them to lose from four to six weeks time from their prac tice.

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