Pathology has well nigh revolutionized the medical and surgical world. The unseen foe has been discovered and driven from his ambush, and though yet far away and out of our natural sight, we are able to study his movements by the aid of the glass, and, in some cases at least, to bring our long distant guns to bear directly upon him, and with telling effect.

The department of State Medicine seems not to have received the amount of attention at the hands of the medical profession which its importance deserves. The reason for this is apparent. In all the other departments practical application of scientific principles can be carried on by the individual, while in State Medicine the whole community must be aroused to action and to the importance of the work. This is not an easy task. In the rush and whirl of business, men will not stop to consider matters of sanitation. They are searching for wealth and they can see no money for them in the radical changes in the habits and customs of the people involving the expenditure of large sums of public money, which the sanitarian proposes. Again, men do not like to have others call their attention to their own misdeeds. Every health officer knows too well that to notify a man that he has filth on his premises is like stepping on his toes. He feels deeply injured and very many times will resent the injury. It is but human, therefore, that professional men. shrink from this most unpleasant and always unprofitable task. And yet it is the imperative duty of some one not only to call attention to, but to wage unflinching warfare against the present systematic, wholesale pollution of our water-supply. The present system of the disposal of sewage and garbage is infamous. It is a crime against humanity and against the innocence of childhood. Why is it tolerated? Why do we go on year after year inoculating our sparkling streams and beautiful lakes with plague serum from the sewer, the cesspool and that monument of national imbecility, the omnipresent privy vault? Don't let us try to extenuate the crime

by saying, as did one of our sanitarians, with a national reputation, in a recent conversation upon the subject of sewage: "It is the best and handiest method now known, and with the present improved methods of plumbing, there is little danger of sewer gas." It shames our manhood.

The mortality directly attributable to our failure to destroy human excrement is greater by far than from all our wars. If only a part of the inventive genius and money which is being directed to production of engines of death, were turned toward a method for displacing sewage, it would be speedily accomplished. That there is apathy on the part of our profession upon this great subject of State Medicine is evident. from the fact that at the recent meeting of the American Medical Association at Atlanta, the room provided for the sessions of this section was a small parlor not exceeding twelve by eighteen feet, and this small room was ample, for the average attendance would not exceed ten or twelve souls, while the surgical section was given a large hall, which was well filled at nearly every session. Time will not permit more than a mere glance at a few of the great questions to be discussed in this department.

The propagation and dissemination of specific virus is a question of burning importance to us as an American people. The primitive methods resorted to for disinfecting by the great majority of people show an utter ignorance of the character of the work to be accomplished, and call loudly for some simple method which shall be effectual to teach the masses how to use and not abuse disinfection. All our works on Hygiene and Public Health are too verbose. of high pressure and extreme tension, instruction must be concise. Authors must be brief, pointed, practical, giving only the essence of pure thought, for they will not be heard. for their much speaking. In other words, information nowa-days, to be of use, must be dished up in digestible form with all bones extracted. Extensiveness should be sacrificed

to simplicity.

In this age

The people need to be taught practical ideas regarding the proper isolation of the sick from the well, and given plain rules to tell them when to begin and when to discontinue isolation in each specific disease where it is called for, and the proper preparation of the convalescent for his return into society. These rules, when determined upon, should be based upon experimental fact, no information on the part of the people should be assumed, but everything briefly and definitely told.

If we glance backward over the history of this Society, we shall find some things to regret. We have not accomplished all we have undertaken, and we have lost some valuable members by the hand of death. Of the many who have been taken I will mention but a single one as a type. In my early boyhood I learned to love his name. His presence in our meetings gave us confidence and courage, and though he was a victim of an incurable malady, and from it a constant sufferer for many years, he almost never mentioned it, and his kindly spirit and generous impulses did much to mould the character of this Society. We all loved Doctor Manly.

But we have much to encourage, much to be proud of. We know that the professional influence pervading our Society has been wholesome, for we have the proud distinction of having given professional birth to one of the greatest, if not the greatest, surgeon of the age, one who is acknowledged as authority, and quoted all over the civilized world. Our inspiration is Wisconsin's Nicholas Senn.

The unity of purpose and harmony of action which have characterized the members of this Society during the work of the year just passed, are evidence that Wisconsin is ready to do her part in the great field of public health, and bespeaks a loyalty to the Society and its administration of which every member may be justly and forever proud.

REMINISCENCES.

BY B. O. REYNOLDS, .M. D., OF LAKE GENEVA.

The records of the Medical Society of the Territory of Wisconsin prior to 1847 have unfortunately been lost, but it is recorded that in 1841 the Territorial Legislature enacted a "bill providing for the organization of County and District Medical Societies, and incorporating the Medical Society of the Territory of Wisconsin." The bill was approved February 19, 1841, embodying substantially the same provisions as the statute now in force in regard to Medical Societies.

Dr. E. B. Wolcott, together with thirteen other prominent physicians of the Territory, were named in the act as incorporators, and "authorized to meet at Madison on the second Monday in January, 1842, and form themselves into a Society under the name and style of the Medical Society of the Territory of Wisconsin."

A majority of these incorporators met at the appointed time and place and organized in due form:-Dr. M. C. Darling was elected President, etc., etc.

No doubt they continued to hold annual meetings, but little is known of their doings until 1847.

"On Tuesday, the twelfth of January, 1847, the Society met at Madison; but few members were present and but little business was transacted. Dr. M. C. Darling, the President, presided. Dr. J. B. Dousman was elected President, Dr. H. Clarke acted as Secretary pro tem., and Dr. C. P. Chapman was elected Recording Secretary, etc., etc. Dr. E. B. Wolcott was present at this meeting. Dr. C. B. Chapman, of Madison, and E. A. Mulford, of Walworth, were duly elected members of the Society. Delegates to the American Medical Association were duly elected, etc., etc.

"The Society met for the last time at Madison, on February 27, 1848, having failed to hold its annual meeting at the regular time for want of a quorum. But little business was

done at this meeting, two members (Drs. F. G. Newell and E. M. Joslyn) joined the Society. In anticipation of soon becoming a State, a resolution was passed changing the name of the Society by substituting the word 'State' for that of 'Territory.""

Dr. Dousman was re-elected President and Dr. Chapman Secretary.

"Five delegates were appointed to attend the next meeting of the American Medical Association to be held at Baltimore."

It will be seen from the condensed compilation of what we have been able to find recorded concerning the early organization and doings of the Territorial Society, that our predecessors, the brave old veteran guard, did not surrender nor disband under the most discouraging circumstances, but dedicated themselves anew to the cause which they had so long struggled to advance. They unanimously re-enlisted for a

life of service in the further advancement of the best means and methods for the prevention, cure and alleviation of the ills that afflict the human race: the cause of untold suffering and woe.

We may congratulate ourselves that at the early dawn of statehood we had a well organized Medical Society, composed of strong, able and earnest men, who had labored arduously and faithfully for six years (amid obstacles and discouragements unknown to us at this time) to establish and upbuild.

The Society under its new name met with but little better success during the next thirteen years, gathering small accretions from time to time until 1861, when the advent of the war interrupted, for a time, its further progress. After its close the Society was again organized, and since that time has