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6. The object to accomplish by a vaginal tampon is: maximum hygroscopy, dissolving the elements in the discharge as mucus, pus, leucocytes, the mechanical removal of morbid secretions, accumulation and foreign bodies, diagnosis, mechanical support.

7. The diagnosis is aided by the use of a tampon by collecting and preserving the uterine discharge (as pus, blood, debris).

8. The requirements of a vaginal tampon are: (a) it should be non-irritating; (b) it should possess hygroscopic power; (c) it should be a solvent of discharges (mucus, pus, leucocytes, blood); (d) it should aid in the dissolving of the mechanical removal of morbid secretions, accumulations, and foreign bodies; (e) it should be aseptic (not necessarily antiseptic); (f) it should not indelibly stain the clothing (this is an objection to its use, e. g., ichthyol); (h) it should be reasonably economic.

9. The frequency of application of the boroglyceride vaginal tampon should be in general, twice weekly, more frequent employment may cause irritation.

10. The time to apply the tampon is at night during maximum anatomic and physiologic rest.

11. The duration the tampon may remain usefully in position is ten to twenty-four hours.

12. There are no special contraindications to the application of the vaginal tampon in pelvic disease.

13. The boroglyceride vaginal tampon may be beneficially applied in: (a) inflammatory pelvic disease (vaginitis, endometritis, myometritis, endosalpingitis, myo-salpingitis, pelvic peritontis, proctitis, cystitis); (b) sacropubic hernia (a support for the uterus, cystocele and rectocele); (c) in genital ptosis it depletes the lymphatics and veins.

14. A vaginal tampon applied according to the above directions will prove to be of therapeutic value, in the treatment of pelvic disease, a prophylactic agent and a comfort to the patient.

DR. SEWALL considers the disappearance of the second cardiac sound at the apex as distinct indication for phlebotomy.

FOR a cough with fetid sputa give creosote, eucalyptol, thymol, cubebin, myrtol, menthol, copaiba, or turpentine.

DR. BUFFUM says he invariably cures scabies by washing the entire body with warm water containing oil of peppermint.

DR. TYSON finds Dover's powder useful remedy in the dose of 2 grains every two hours in acute bronchitis.

THE RELATION OF MAN TO NATURE (A STUDY PROMPTED BY "TESTIMONIES OF THE SEPULCHRES").

ALBERT S. ASHMEAD, M. D.

NEW YORK.

THIRTEENTH PAPER. *

As to Great Britain's part in the JapanoRussian war, there are two views which may be taken of this subject: The first is that the alliance of Great Britain (the British lion) with Buddhist Japan, has peculiar religious significance to the Japanese people, in consequence of their firm belief in a god-emperor the Mikado as an avatar on earth, that is a descended or transmigrated diety into incarnate existence.

Gautama Sakya, the founder of the Buddhist faith, or Buddha, the "perfectly enlightened one, " even in this present "enlightened age" of Meiji, is represented in the Buddhist tritych of Japan, that "three-picture carving on temple or household altars (the churches trinity), by a graven image, representing the Buddha, seated on the church's lotus flower, which, in its turn, is upheld by the real Avatar, of Sakya, the lion.

The lion, therefore, represents to the Japanese Buddhist, the animal into whose body Gautama Sakya, the beggar-man of Buddha river entered after death. On the other hand, the Mikado, a descended god, their real Avatar lives in a human body. Mutsuhito, the man, is really a god transmigrated into earth existence. He is higher in church authority, according to the Japanese, than is Gautama the beggar-man of Buddhist tradition, whose soul lives in the lion.

England, therefore, represents in her character as lion to the religious mind of Japan. support of the Mikado as avatar, or holy personality in the war with Christian Eu

rope.

How peculiarly sinister, then, must be to the national spirit of Japan, call it Bushi-do ("Bushi" means warfare and "do" spirit), or what you will, that material and moral support which the alliance of the British lion affords to the Japanese in their present war with Russia.

In reality, it intensifies religious fanaticism of the nation to prosecute a "war of Asia" against all Europe.

A second view of this unseemly alliance is as follows:

All beggary in Japan is religious in character. The vagabonds in droves may be seen usually at the approaches of the Buddhist and Shinto shrines, on chief festival days.

The first paper of this series appeared in the MEDICAL FORTNIGHTLY issue of April 25, 1905.

Here we meet the lame, the halt, the blind, many lepers and other deformed wretches of hideous men. These beggars accompany their prayers for charity, with a horribly doleful noise, which they make by striking little metal discs very similar to the cymbals represented in the hands of the paper Japan ese soldiers pasted on the "monkey on a stick" toy, now being sold by the street fakirs in New York. Some Japanese mendicants have instead battle dores made of raw-hide, upon which they drum incessantly. One is inspired by all the din and racket they make to grant their request, and get away out of ear-shot of it as quickly as possible.

The beggars frequently take up their obstinate position on the canal bridges, or near running streams, where they can the more persistently importune the passerby to purchase their profered live, slippery eels or other fish, which can readily slide from the purchaser's fingers, back to the water; and thus you are made to believe that you have performed some devcut deed, by releasing them, as prescribed by Buddhist doctrine.

Among strolling beggars, we find the Shoshi, or lion's skin. This is the representation of a lion's head, shaggy and terrible looking, with a movable under-jaw, and a flowing mane, fitted on a capacious skirt, beneath which a real Japanese is concealed, who works it. This lion is always accompanied by two men, one performing on a small cylindrical drum and a triangle, the other one playing the flute, usually like a Malay, with his snuffling nose, instead of his mouth, and from which they extract excruciating "music."

The capacious mouth of the simulated lion is supposed to swallow evil spirits, who may be attracted by his gambolings and the accompanying noise.

This performance of the lion is often supplemented or varied by a performance of living Japanese monkeys.

Some strollers called Saru-mawashi, take about with them not only the lion's skin, but real monkeys, funny looking, little red-faced fellows. Saru-ya-machi, "monkey-shop street," in Tokio, is their headquarters.

It is related that many years ago, when the favorite horse of a famous "warrior" fell sick (even a plain fighting man, in Japan is called "warrior"), and was about to die, it was restored to health by a monkey, who possessed a curative charm.

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keys were enough to make even the sick horses laugh. This theatrical combination of performing court-monkeys and Japanese beggars, behind a lion's skin, is indeed very ancient practice in Japan. But a real lion's performance, shielded from European view only by a monkey's skin, is an innovation. Perhaps there is more or less measure of methodical substantiality in such alliance. For it may be founded in the Japanese mind, at least, on the monkey showman's tricks with the lion's skin. As for the lion, he may think he will be the gainer in the long run thereby, but he is being made a fool of by the wily monkey. His own skin would be far better protection for him against a bear, for instance, without all this deceit. For this is not a game of play, but one of war.

There are other special significations ap. plying to this slippery matter, than that of the eel sold for a penny, and the beggarman's hand held out for pelf, which is Japan's itching palm, and not England's. This whole delectable performance goes on, in Asia, while drums are beat, triangles play, and the nose-flutes noisily blow a horrid tune, the better to drive away the "evil spirits" of a too curious European concert, which might intrude itself to scrutinize what really is going on behind it all, or to still further confuse and befuddle into too confiding friendship for the British lion, the real more natural, feeling of the American eagle and French frog for the Russian bear.

Viewed from any and every standpoint this grotesque partnership of the monkey and the lion, is uncanny-and intended only to deceive the onlookers and get their money.

The strange alliance of the British lion with Japanese "wujin" (monkeys), as Li Hung Chang called them, however, does not astonish those who have more profoundly studied the Bushido of Japanese vagabondage, in the native language of "the country of brave warriors.

Draw from in front of the present political situation of East Asia the veil of opposition to Russia's advance towards attainment of a warm latitudinal open port and behold behind the monkey's skin of the play-man now exhibiting his deceitful tricks in China and Corea, while his two side partners (England and America) collect the coin for him, a religious dream of conquest over Christian Europe.

Pull aside that monkey's skin from the lion's alliance with Japan, and see plainly England's shameful anti-Russian Asiatic policy, grimly and nakedly exposed. The monkey's skin no more hides that lion's real purpose or play, than does the lion's skin hide

that of the monkey. None but a cowardly lion would thus array itself in a monkey's hide to thwart Russia obtaining what her manifest imperial destiny demands.

Together, for the historical moment, these two nations are drawn anti-Russian, and both strive, as pals, to limit Russia's Asiatic aims, by erecting across her natural pathway walls of political obstruction in India and in China. The lion in India prevents Russia's outlet that way to the Southern seas; the monkey in Corea, Manchuria, and even in Siberia, if she could do so with impunity, by England's and America's help, would forever cut off Russia's necessary juncture with the Pacific Ocean.

The whole startling spectacle of the lion hiding in cowardice behind a monkey's skin, is as inbarmonious to our western ideas of civilized bravery, or the natural propriety of things, as is that of a Christian people, inciting a savage, pagan one, to garrote and rob a Christian nieghbor. What she herself is afraid to be caught doing openly, she asks this pagan ally to do for her. Thus the conscience of each presumably is satisfied. Here we see the African in this Asiatic woodpile. His half-hidden personality and purpose, are well recognized by the Russians. So well known to those gentlemen of diplomacy is the true situation of these Asiatic world affairs, that I do not doubt, that not a beggar's paltry kopeck of Russian coin. will

ever

be permitted to fall upon the outstretched Japanese beggar-palm as indemnity-not even if extended for it from behind both the eagle's and the lion's skin.

No monkey should ever be permitted to make a cat's paw of America to draw from the Manchurian fire Russian chestnuts for Great Britain.

THE aromatic tincture of rhus in 5 to 10 drop doses three times a day is at times a very efficacious remedy for enuresis in children.

THE QUICK CURE TREATMENT FOR GON. ORRHEA.-Frederick A. Lyons reports that of the 400 cases treated for acute gonorrhea, 95 per cent were cured in six days, and of which about 80 per cent in twentyfour hours. He injects one dram and a half of a four per cent solution cf silver nitrate. In most cases one injection was sufficient. It is painful at first, and after it the gonococci have disappeared. However, if they are still found the injection is repeated by a two per cent strength. The method depends for its effect on the fact that the gonococci at first lie on the superficial layer of the epithelial cells, where they multiply, destroying them and causing the cells to exfoliate.-Denver Medical Times.

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THE question of marriage of defectives promises to have some regulation if the New York

The Marriage of Defectives.

bill, introduced in the legislature becomes a law. It is a long step in the right direction, and will serve to be the

Opening edge for a more universal adoption of legislative restoration of marriage. The bill as introduced in the Senate is as follows:

"Marriages prchibited. -No insane, epileptic, imbecile or feeble-minded person shall be capable of contracting marriage and every marriage between persons either or both of whom are or have been insane, epileptic, imbecile or feeble-minded, is absolutely void. A marriage between persons either or both of whom have been insane, epileptic, imbecile or feeble-minded, shall not be deemed a violation of this section if at least thirty days prior to such marriage such person shall file in the office of the county clerk of the county where such person resides and of the county where such marriage takes place, a verified

certificate of two regularly licensed reputable physicians of this state that such person has been completely cured of such insanity, epilepsy, imbecility, or feeble-mindedness, and that there is not probability that any such persons will transmit any such defects or disabilities to the issue of such marriage. This act shall take effect immediately."

It is a wise law, but has one feature which doubtless will be abused, and that is the question of leaving to the decision of two physicians the recovery of persons once declared insane. This is a very grave responsibility, and one that gives opportunity for much discussion on both sides of the question. It opens up that interminable question of prognosis in mental disease, with all of its very varied phases and chances for misapplied superficial consideration of what constitutes unsoundness of mind. Even to physicians in daily contact with the problems of prognosis in mental disease, the granting of a certificate of a clear bill of mental health will be as perplexing question, while to the novice, who sees little of insanity and knows less, if he is honest, he will be confronted with one of its most difficult problems. The possibilities of calling remissions, recovery in maniac depressive forms of mental disease are very marked, and will be sure to create confusion, cause sad errors in judgment and add some sorrow to the marriage state, which under the authority of physician's certificate, promised to offer a happy future and freedom from the disasters which follow where insanity occurs in a family.

This feature, naturally, can not be overcome, as long as mind in its unfathomable currents, follows no law, understood and established by authenticated observation. We can only be guided by comparative observations, which in the hands of experienced alienists comes as near authority as we can expect, dealing as we do, with psycho-pathology, which is far from being an science. Again, mistakes will occur because of superficial observation and inquiry into the many questions of heredity, and it will take years to establish principles which may find application in the hands of the average practitioner.

exact

We believe in the universal benefit to mankind which will accrue from this law, and we hope to see it created in other states of the Union. It should go further and make alcoholism a bar to marriage, for from it springs many of the ills and woes of insanity, epilepsy and feeble-mindedness found in the offspring. Alcoholism, as proven by the observations of Magnus Huss, is the real fountain head of the defectives, where mind

is especially affected and where nervous diseases of the degenerative types find their inception in hereditary condiitons.

New York is taking the right stand on this question of marriage of defectives, and sooner or later, the law thus created will demonstrate its fitness and show the future possibilities of more stringent regulation. F. P. N.

THE meeting of the Missouri Association, to be held at Jefferson City, on the 15, 16, 17, bids

The Meeting of the State Medical Association.

fair to be one of the most notable in the history of the association. The Committee on Scientific Communications has devoted a high degree of energy and discrimination to insure a program which shall be scientifically entertaining and instructive-it is this which is the objcet of the meeting. Many matters of vital concern to the profession and its organization will come up for consideration and action, and will make a feature second only to the scientific program. Jefferson City being the capital city, is admirably prepared to care for the association; unlike most cities of its size, it has abundant hotel ac

commodations. The Missouri Pacific is planning a special train for the accommodation of the local delegation should its number demand it, as now seems probable. Regular trains will also make the trip one of comfort and celerity.

Present indications are that the St. Louis delegation will be exceptionally large. This, we understand, is also true of all sections, and we expect the meeting to be largely attended and rich in its benefits.

THE annual meeting of the American Association is fast approaching, and consulting

The Boston Meeting of the A.M.A.

route cards is the order of the day. The most favored route in this section includes the St. Lawrence, and is being offered by the Illinois Central and the Grand Trunk. This route gives us Chicago, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal, by boat or rail down the St. Lawrence, thence to Boston and return by the same route, or on to New York and return from thence by the Lehigh Valley to Buffalo and home by the going route. Other routes are mentioned, but none offer so varied sightseeing, and so much comfort at so reasonable a figure. Ticket extension can be made at Boston to allow for considerable in the way of side trips.

The Boston meeting will be a great one from all view points. Boston should draw the largest attendance in the history of the association: she is the educational center of the country, and the days spent there must needs count for inuch in the way of unusual scientific opportunity. Aside from this these meetings give the chance to rub shoulders with one's fellows and the men who are doing things, and a man always returns aiming at being an abler doctor for the experience. It is to be hoped that the Missouri delegation will be of such size as is in keeping with the present spirit of medical progress in our State. One hundred men should go from St. Louis-there are more than that who cannot afford to miss this meeting. The editors of the FORTNIGHTLY will be pleased to make reservations for those of our readers who may wish to join the Illinois Central-Grand Trunk party, or this may be done through Mr. R. R. Churchill, C. P. A., 707 Olive street, St. Louis.

PROPOSED ITINERARY TO THE BOSTON MEETING OF THE A. M. A.

The trip by boat down the St. Lawrence through the "Thousand Islands" necessitates a planning of the railroad trip to meet the boat schedule. Parties will leave St. Louis and neighborhood over the Illinois Central to reach Chicago in the forenoon of June 1st. The itinerary from Chicago is best planned as follows:

Leave Polk St. Station, Chicago, June 1st, 3:00 p.m., special; arrive Niagara Falls Saturday, June 2d, 7:30 a. ni; leave Niagara Falls, Saturday, June 2d, 1:30 p. m.; arrive Toronto Saturday, June 2d. 4:30 p.m.; leave Toronto Saturday, June 2d, 9:00 p.m.; arrive Kingston June 2d, 3:00 a. m. Passengers to remain aboard sleeper until 5:30 a. m. Leave Kingston by boat June 3d, 6:00 a.m.; arrive Montreal, June 3d, 6:00 p.m.; leave Montreal 8:45 p.m.; arrive in Boston, June 4th, 7:00 a m.

Meals to be served as follows: Supper, June 1st, Grand Trunk Ry. dining car a la carte. Breakfast and dinner, June 2d, Niagara Falls. Supper, June 2d, Toronto, Union Station. Breakfast and lunch aboard boat June 3d, table de hote. Supper, June 3d, Montreal. Breakfast, June 4th, Boston.

SNODGRAS LABORATORY.-The new patho. logical building to the City Hospital will be named Snodgras Laboratory in honor of the late Dr. Charles A. Snodgras, Health Commissioner, and will contain a memorial tablet. A resolution passed by the Board of Health lately ordered this action, and extended sympathy to the family of Dr. Snodgras.

The Local Medical Relief Fund.

this great calamity.

M. H. Mathews, J. F. Mayes, M. H. McLean, E. E. R. Meng, G. M. D. Merwin, K. W. Millican, C. E. Moeller, H. L. Nietart, F. Neuhoff, O. E. Ogle, Carl Orth, J M. Price, F. Reder, Frank Ring, P. H. Rothman, H. Rothstein, J. A. Sauls,

SHORTLY after the scourge of earthquake and fire on the Pacific coast an appeal was made to the profession of our city for a fund to be distinctly devoted to the needs of our fellows on the coast who are in need in consequence of At the time of writing the returns are far from complete, but a fund of better than $500 has now been reported, with the following doctors as contributors: A. C. Ambruster, E. J. Martens, C. M. Ament, C. E. Anderson, G. W. Bader, O. F. Ball, J. M. Ball, H. W. Bartscher, E. F. Becker, A. C. Bedal, H. S. Brookes, J. C. Buckwalter, C. E. Burford, L. Caplan, J. H. Cawood, H. W. Clausen, W. T. Coughlin, G. C. Crandall, A. N. Curtis, H. C. Dalton, H. Ehrenfest, J. E. Faber, C. Fisch, W. A. Fries, A. Fulton, D. C. Gamble, G. Gellhorn, E. J. Goodwin, R. E. Graul, John Green, Jr., E. C. Greer, J. A. Hardy, G. W. Haverstick, Max Hempel, F. L. Henderson, Phil Hoffman, M. W. Hoge, George Homan, T. A. Hopkins, J. E. Jennings, H. M. Julian, J. H. Kern, F. Kolbenhoyer, Otto Kollme, E. Magoon,

A. G. Schlossstein, C. W. Scott, Aug. Schmidt, E. T. Senseny, C. Shattinger, A. C. Shelman, W. B. Shields, P. Skrainka, W. T. Stege, G. Sluder, Elsworth Smith, F. Spinzig, I. G. W. Steedman, A. J. Steele, B. E. Stockwell, C. E. F. Streutker, F. O. Strurhahn, R. J. Terry, P. Y. Tupper, H. A. Upshaw, C. A. Ware, H. L. Wichmann, H. L. Wichmann, Jno. Zaborsky, C. R. Lightner, T. B. Mansfield.

IN NEW YORK CITY, you should make your headquarters at Hotel Belleclaire, Broadway and 77th. Write your friends to meet you there after the meeting in Boston.

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