ried with the blood and colonize where favorable. High oscillation is also applicable in the treatment of pneumonia, as well as tuberculosis of the lungs, because it arrests congestion and destroys colonies of bacilli. The practical application is made by applying one electrode at the point of congestion and another at a point remote therefrom. The congestion is dissipated by the stimulated circulation." Dr. G. B. Massey, of Philadelphia, reports nine patients out of fifteen cases of carcinoma and sarcoma as cured by electric sterilization. This new treatment opens a good perspective for those cases not of a desperate nature.

Nerve Vibrations. Of the mechanical therapeutic measures my own method of "nerve vibrations" has achieved for itself an unquestionable position. By nerve vibrations" is meant a direct treatment of the nerves by the hand of a skilled practitioner, and no machine can be made to supply the place of the hand with intelligence back of it. As a system complete in itself, without accompaniment of drugs, electricity or massage, its great value has now been recognized and demonstrated. Its direct influence upon the nerve tissue, thus sparing entirely the digestive organs as medium for the action of drugs, is one decided advantage of this treatment.

Dr. H. V. Barclay says in his paper, "The Treatment of Chronic Heart Diseases by Baths and Exercises": "Vibration over the region of the heart, and pressure on the vagus nerve are administered to exert a special influence on the heart itself. Part of this action is, of course, produced by contact with the skin, but the effect is so pronounced that it would be unreasonable to deny that the action is produced by direct influence on the centres of the heart itself, and through them by reflex action on the cardiac and vasomotor centres of the brain." It is reported that especially favorable results are obtained through application of nerve vibrations in diseases of heart and stomach; in neuralgia, sciatica, nervous prostration and locomotor ataxia, the treatment giving new and lasting vitality, combating even approaching death, for as the blood is sent circulating with renewed vigor through the veins, exhausted tissues are replaced by vitalized ones, and the infirmities due to the loss of nerve force are banished. The method has, for instance, proved of the utmost value in tendency to apoplexia, by strengthening the walls of the small blood vessels, regulating the circulation, and preventing thereby any first or repeated stroke of this fearful disease. How powerful this treatment is may be further seen by the fact reported in the New York Tribune, that in three operative cases in Bonn University, Germany, when the patients could not be resuscitated from the influence

of ether and chloroform, one of the assistants tried nerve vibrations over the heart for thirty-five minutes. This was done after all efforts had failed, but the patient in each case was actually brought back to life, the heart having resumed its normal action. Dr. F. Pirkner also reports a recent case of chloroform-death in a woman of forty-six years, where nerve vibrations over the heart resuscitated her after she had stopped breathing, and the heart beats could not be heard for ten minutes, and there cannot be the least doubt that we possess in the nerve vibrations a most powerful weapon against the progress of almost all diseases of the nervous system, and a sure cure for most of them, without exhausting or otherwise harmful effects on the patient.

Bacteriology. In scientific Bacteriology it is the elaboration of details which has brought us more definite knowledge during the past year of the Morphology and Biology of disease-germs, and in connection herewith, Physiology must be credited with an important step forward in having given us more precise information of certain biologic reactions, the result of which must have a great bearing upon the practice of medicine. "Unusual difficulties attend the search for specific agents of infection in the varied bacterial flora of the intestine. It is gratifying to learn," says the editor of American Medicine, in the issue of September 13, 1902, "that these difficulties appear at last to have been overcome in the case of infantile Summer diarrhea, and that, through the work of American investigators, aided by funds from the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research, the specific infectious agent of this disease has been discovered in the laboratory of the Wilson Sanitarium, in Baltimore, as appears from the brief communication of Messrs. Duval and Bassett in this issue, who have arrived at the conclusion that the Summer diarrheas of infants are caused by intestinal infection with bacillus dysenteriae Shiga and, therefore, are etiologically identical with the acute bacillary dysentery of adults. It is hardly necessary to emphasize the far-reaching importance of this discovery. Knowledge of the causation of disease is the first step toward the adoption of intelligent measures for prevention and treatment, and it may reasonably be expected that this latest important discovery will bear fruit in these directions."

Epilepsy.--Bra found in seventy out of one hundred cases the microbe which he describes and calls Neurococcus. Rabbits inoculated with it died in clonic convulsions; the number of neurococci increased with an impending seizure and diminished again afterward, until none could be found during the intermissions. (Revue Neurologique, May-June, 1902. "Du parasite trouve dans C Aug., des epileptiques."-Bra.)

Rheumatism. In acute rheumatism the recent researches of Drs. Poynton and Paine seem to have established the existence of a specific diplococcus in the blood, in the valves of the heart, in the pericardial exudation, in the joints, and in the subcutaneous nodules of acute rheumatism. From pure cultures of this organism intravenous inoculations in rabbits have been followed by clinical symptoms and by non-suppurative lesions similar to those with which we are familiar in acute rheumatism. The salicylates are still the remedy which gives the most satisfaction in its treatment.

Tetanus. In dealing with the dread disease known as tetanus, the tetanus anti-toxin has not responded to our expectations in the severe and acute cases; yet, some benefit has been gained in the chronic forms.

Tuberculosis. The only real advance in our investigations of tuberculosis diseases, within the past year, has been in the definite establishment of the fact that tuberculosis is not a hereditary disease in the sense of the word as formerly accepted, cases of direct hereditary transmission from the parent being exceedingly rare. The question of the relation of bovine tuberculosis to the public health is still being contested and far from being settled. It has been most gratifying to notice the growing interest of philanthropists and public health authorities in the establishment of sanatoria for the consumptive poor, a benefaction for which the public owes gratitude to Dr. S. A. Knopf, of New York, as its strongest advocate.

Typhoid Fever. Dr. A. E. Wright (Lancet, September 14, 1901), has tried preventive inoculation in typhoid fever and advises in every case the injection of a small dose of typhoid anti-toxin, and, provided that this first injection does not cause any constitutional symptoms, to continue immunisation by repeated injections of increased amounts of typhoid vaccine. In Experimentelle Untersuchungen ucber das Antityphus extract Jez's" (Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 1902, No. 3), G. Markl revises the statement of Jez's and arrives at the conclusion that the extracts exhibited from the organs of rabbits, which had before been treated with typhoid bacilli, according to the method demonstrated by Jez and with his original antityphus extract, contain protective agents against the typhoid bacilli which are not antitoxic, but anti-infectious.

Scarlet Fever.-Dr. Moser, of Vienna, announced at the conference of German doctors, recently held in Carlsbad, the discovery of a new serum which has repeatedly proved successful in the treatment of scarlet fever. He makes the statement that in 400 patients, upon whom he used it, the mortality was but 8 per cent, the rate in other hospitals doubling this. (American Medicine, October 4, 1902.)

Lung Surgery.-Putnam, in an article in the Medical News, September 13, 1902, reports a case operated upon successfully of bronchiectatic abcess of the lung and mentions as principal conditions to be differentiated from bronchiectatic abcess: (1) Tubercular cavities. (2) Lung abcess. (3) Gangrene of the lung. (4) Actinomycosis, and (5) Hydatid cysts. In all of these conditions surgical interference has been successful in a number of cases, which would otherwise have been incurable. It is, therefore, of especial interest to

take notice of the most advanced opinions on lung surgery as brought out by the chairman's address delivered before the section on surgery and anatomy, at the fifty-third annual meeting of the American Medical Association, from which the following sentences are quoted: "The various operations practised for the relief of tubercular cavities of the lungs are: (1) Compression of the lung by the injection of nitrogen or other sterile gas into the pleural cavity. (2) Removal of ribs to permit collapse of chest wall and consequent compression of lung. (3) Counter-irritation by cautery. (4) Aspiration and the injection of medicated solutions. (5) Incision and drainage of the cavity (pneumonotomy), and (6) excision of the diseased area (pneumonectomy).

After reviewing the experimental pathology of this subject the orator draws the following conclusions as to human surgery on the lungs: "(1) With improvement of technic, pneumonotomy will become a practicable operation, even in cavities at the apex. The operation would be especially helpful in the early period of cavity formation, but it is exceedingly difficult at this stage to obtain the consent of the patient, since hygienic and dietetic methods of treatment often result in cure.

(2) In advanced cases, both tubercular and streptococcic infection are often present; the cavities are usually multiple and the operation cannot cure. It may be employed, however, as a palliative to cough, hemoptysis and sepsis.

(3) In abcess of the lower lobes, following pneumonia or pleurisy, whether tubercular or not, incision and drainage is to be recommended in any stage.

"(4) Pneumonectomy in our present stage of surgical and diagnostic skill is not advisable in tubercu losis.

"(5) With improved technic, tubercular foci will in the future be eradicated, as we now eradicate tuberculosis in joints and other tissues. An efficient and certain method of producing strong adhesions between the two layers of the pleura at the site of the disease is the most important step in this technic.

"(6) The careful and methodical application of auscultation, percussion and the X-ray for the accurate locating of the diseased focus, is also an important factor in securing a safe operation.

"(7) Pneumothorax is so serious a menace to life that in all operations on the lung. an artificial respiration apparatus, like the Fell O'Dwyer or Matas instrument, should be at hand, together with a full jar of oxygen." (Journal of American Medical Association, September 20, 1902.)

Kidney Surgery. Regarding the curative possibilities of kidney diseases we must record the conspicuous progress which the surgical treatment of such diseases has made. J. A. Schmitt, in the Medical Record of September 13, 1902, advocates as surgical treatment of chronic Bright's disease renipuncture or division of the renal capsule proper, capsular nephrotomy. The process is to split the membrane of the kidney and sew it to the muscles of the back. The irritation thus created causes the growth of a new set of

blood vessels, and the effect is to imbue the organ with new life. In a few days the swelling disappears, and from that time on the improvement is so rapid that the patient is usually able to leave the hospital in from two to three weeks. The new method is still in the experimental stage, but excellent results have been obtained by its use. Professor Fehleisen, of San Francisco, and Dr. Robert T. Morris, of New York, express the opinion that in certain cases, by dividing the outside covering and relieving the tension, in Bright's disease and stone in the kidney, it is possible to arrest the disease entirely or to relieve all symptoms. The operation is only a trifle more dangerous than that for appendicitis, and the rate of mortality has been very low.

Trepanation. Rasumowsky in the Archiv fuer Klinische Chirurgie (Vol. LXVII., No. 1, 1902), reports nine cases of trepanation for cortical epilepsy, with four recoveries.

Vertebrae Surgery.-That great patience and stubborn intention may be a more valuable means to achieve the most wonderful result than the knife of the boldest surgeon is warranted by the fact that patients who have, through accident, sustained fractures of the neck not only survive, but recover to such an extent as to find life quite bearable for many years. In cases of fracture of the vertebrae in their anterior part, operative interference for removal of the fragments pressing on the cord is entirely impossible, and no anticipated advance in surgery will make it possible to give the knife access to those deep parts of the neck. In such cases the very old method of extension treatment applied judiciously and perseveringly has proven to give the best prospects for recovery. There are a few cases recorded during the last year, however, where patients who were apparently in a hopeless condition grew better under this treatment and are at present in a fair condition of health.

As

From practical clinical and pathological observations Eugen Hahn arrives at the following conclusions regarding spinal surgery (in Deutsche Zeitschrift fuer Chirurgie, May, 1902), that, when an arched fracture of the vertebral column occurs, with compression, operation cannot be performed too early. When dislocation and crushing of the spinal cord accompany fracture and compression, all operations are useless. long as there is any suspicion of contusion, with hemorrhage, an operation is contra-indicated. When there is paralysis with compression and fracture, with narrowing of the lumen of the spinal canal, laminectomy should be attempted to remove the pressure by extirpating the fractured bone. If this fails, then part of the compressing vertebra should be removed. If improvement follows fracture of the body of the vertebra, an operation is not indicated, otherwise operation should be done.

Spinal Cord Surgery.-A most noteworthy example of advance in surgery has been presented to the world in the case of Clara Nichols, who received a bullet wound at the spine. Dr. Francis H. Stewart, of Philadelphia, performed the operation of actually sewing together the severed ends of her spinal cord. He took the chance and he won.

Enterostomy.-In perforation in typhoid fever the outlook for recovery is growing better in propor

tion to the number of operations ventured. Dr. George L. Hays, in American Medicine, September 6, 1902, reports his last seven operative cases of perforation occurring in typhoid fever, of which three were successful, the percentage of recoveries in such cases, in which patients always have a very poor chance of recovery, being thirty-one at present. The operation should be done as soon as the symptoms of perforation become apparent. An editorial comment of the Philadelphia Medical Journal. Vol. X., No. 9, 1902, says: "The report in our issue for August 16 of a case of enterostomy, performed in the treatment of typhoid fever Dr. with intestinal hemorrhage, has called attention to other recent radical operations in typhoid fever. Edwin Ricketts, as early as January, 1900, expressed the belief that a surgeon should be associated with the attending physician in every complicated case of typhoid fever."

Dr. Doyle, of Paris, in February, 1902, performed the very remarkable separation of the Hindoo twins successfully. These twins were attached from breast to breast by a flexible bone connection, with visceral attachment below, the connecting membrane containing three large arteries.

Heart Surgery.-The annual address upon surgery of the American Medical Association dealt with suture of the heart. The interest in heart injuries had been revived by the suggestion of Lauder Brunton, Dr. Nietert in St. Louis of London, that there was a possibility of surgical interference in mitral stenosis. applied three sutures to the right ventricle in the case of a knife wound, and the following death of the patient does not dim the brilliancy of the operation. A similar operation was performed by Dr. Forker, of Binghamton, with success in every sense of the word.

Railroad Ambulances.-The Prussian State Railway are introducing an excellent novelty in their ambulance carriages, seventy-seven of which have been ordered and are now in course of preparation. They are to be distributed over the Kingdom. and each will be under the superintendence of a railway medical officer with a special railway servant to have charge of cleaning and repairing the carriage and utensils, and to keep it in readiness to start at any moment should an accident occur on the line. The carriage model chosen is the wide type known as "Corridor carriage." It will be divided into one large and several smaller compartments, the former furnished for lying room for eight wounded and sitting room for four slightly inJured persons; the latter to serve as bandaging and operating room. The ward compartment is furnished with eight stretchers on the Prussian Army model, with the requisite girths and with four easy chairs: plenty of blankets being also provided. The bandaging compartment contains an operating table of 1.70 metres by 0.70 metre. two small and two larger wooden seats for the physicians, a washstand, icebox, small gas cooking apparatus and a cupboard containing instruments and bandaging apparatus comprising everything needed for first aid, for the staunching of hemorrhage, etc. There will be no instruments for amputations or other large operations, however, a careful survey having proved that there is no point on the Prussian railways from which a hospital cannot be reached in an hour and a half at the most.-(British Medical Journal, August 9, 1902.)

Mexico.

Capital:

CITY OF MEXICO.

Mexico is a republic, occupying the American Continent from the southern boundary of the United States to the northern boundary of Central America. The form of government is broadly similar to that of the United States. the executive resting in a President, elected for four years, and assisted by a Cabinet, while the legislative power is conferred upon a Congress of two houses, a Senate and a House of Representatives.

The President may serve any number of terms. The present executive, General Porpirio Diaz. is in his sixth term. having served five four-year terms previous to his inauguration, December 11, 1900. Under the direction of the President and a council, the administration is carried on by the seven Secretaries of State, in charge of the following portfolios: Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Senor Don Ignacio Mariscal; Secretary of the Inteior, Senor General Don Manuel G. Cosio; Secretary of Justice and Public Instruction, Senor Don Leandro Fernandez; Secretary of Finance, Senor Don Jose Ives Limantour; Secretary of War and Navy, Senor General Don Bernardo Reyes; Secretary of Communications and Commerce, Senor General Don Francisco Z. Mena.

The Senate consists of thirty-six members, two from each State, who must be at least thirty years of age. They are elected by the ballot of all respectable males and serve for a term of two years. Representatives must be twenty-five years of age, and are elected for an equal term with the Senators, and in a similar manner. The President is elected by electors popularly chosen in a general election.

There is no state religion in Mexico, and all religious sects are equal before the law. The prevailing religion, however, is the Roman Catholic. No ecclesiastical body can own realty. Since 1863, when all churches were closed and the lands confiscated, many of these buildings have been assigned to serve as hospitals, schools, etc. Primary education, which is free and compulsory, is carried on mostly at the expense of the States, although the Government makes frequent grants. In 1899 the number of schools supported by the State and Federal Governments was The cost of these schools was an The total number of schools was 550 pupils. There are one naval

The largest item in the annual lic debt. This consumed about 46 per expenses of administration. Of the it is spent on railroad subventions. penditure will amount to $64,738, the Mexican revenue are the inter cent, and the revenue from cus enue for 1903 is estimated at $64,standing gold debt amounted to silver debt (for 6 per cent currency

Agriculture in Mexico is in a are continuously sold to the public The principal crop is wheat. Great shipped to the United States. The country make mining a very impor all the prominent metals are found have his bullion coined by present or eight Federal assay offices. The ver and 4.62 per cent for gold. was $65,083,451 (Mex. gold dollars), $148,656,338 (Mex. silver dollars).

The Lower House of the Hun fied the Austro-Hungarian commer Mexico, which had lapsed in 1867, shot, and had not been renewed. Mexico had been appointed in June,

President Diaz.

6,376: by the municipalities 2,989. nually over $6,805,000 (Mex.). 11,925, with an enrollment of 819,and one military college. xpenditure has been for the pubcent, 44 per cent representing the remaining 10 per cent nearly all of In 1903, it is estimated, this ex816 (Mex.). The chief sources of nal taxation, yielding about 45 per toms, about 40 per cent. The rev$23,600 (Mex.). In 1901 the outabout $112,398,300 (U, S.), and the bonds) to $135.509,271 (Mex.). primitive condition. Public lands under the laws of 1863 and 1894. numbers of cattle are raised and minerals found throughout the tant industry in Mexico. Nearly and worked. Every producer may ing it at one of the three mints mints receive 4.41 per cent for silThe total value of imports in 1901 while the exports amounted to garian Diet on April 29, 1902, raticial and consular treaty with when Emperor Maximilian was The Austro-Hungarian Minister to 1901.

Definite announcement was made November 11, 1902, that President Diaz had determined to retire from the Presidency of the Republic on the first of January, 1903, and had named as his successor Jose Yves Limantour, his Prime Minister. Diaz has been President since 1877, and is nearly eighty years old, beloved of his people, and his retirement, according to press reports, is due to a desire on his part that the future of the Republic may be assured. His death without provision being made for a strong successor might result in a revolution, and the ascendency of some military man able to gain power through force of arms. The step on the part of the President had been contemplated for some time, and seems to have caused no particular surprise.

Deals have been reported made by American investors and promoters, locking to the establishing of several important syndicates in Mexico. It was said that the American Tobacco Company had been quietly purchasing tobacco and cigarette factories during 1902, with the idea of extending operations into Central America Another American syndicate is said to have been negotiating for the purchase of a number of electric lighting plants in the northern part of Mexico.

During the period when the volcanoes in Central America and Martinique were most active, Mount Colima, the largest volcano in Mexico, became eruptive and for a time threatened to destroy the town of Colima, situated near its base.

An insurrection on the part of the Yaqui Indians occupied the attention of the army during the early Summer and Spring of 1902, and resulted almost in the extermination of the Indians. The latter claimed that they were peacefully inclined, but were driven to desperation by the Mexicans, who, they said, interfered with their rights to work in peace. Area and Population.-The area and population, based upon the census of 1900, is as follows:

The Governors of the various States and Territories are:

Aguas Caluntes, C. Sagredo; Lower California, northern territory, A. Sangines: southern territory, C. Sagredo; Campeche, C. G. MacGregor; Chiapas, R. Pimentel; Chihuahua, M. Ahumada; Coahuila. M. Gomez Cardenas: Colima, F. Santa Cruz; Federal District, R. Corral; Durango, J. Santa-Marina: Guanajuato, J. O. Gonzalez; Guerrero, A. Mora: Hidalgo, P. L. Rodriguez: Jalisco, L. C. Curiel; Mexico, J. V. Villada; Michoacan, A. Mercado; Morelos, M. Alarcon; Nuevo Leon, P. Benitez; Oaxaca, M. Gonzalez; Puebla, M. P. Martinez; Queretaro, F. Gonzalez Cosio; San Luis Potossi, B. Escontria; Sinabra, F. Canedo; Sonora, L. Torres; Tabasco, A. Bandala; Tamaulipas, P. Arguelles; Tepic, P. Rocha y Portu; Tlaxcala, P. Cahuantzi; Vera Cruz, T. A. Dehasa; Yucatan, F. Canton; Zacatecas, G. Garcia.

Michigan.

Capital:
LANSING.

The discovery and early settlement of Michigan are due to the French missionaries and fur traders. The first European settlements within the borders of the State were at Sault Ste. Marie, which was founded by Father Marquet in 1668. Fort Michilimackinac, or Mackinaw, was established three years later, and in 1701 an expedition under Cadillac founded Detroit. From this time until its erection into a Territory of the l'uited States, Michigan made slow progress. In 1763 it came under the dominion of Great Britain. and, with the expulsion of the French, the conspiracy headed by the Indian chief Pontiac, and designed for the extermination of the whites, broke out and involved the settlements in bloodshed. Michigan was first included in the government of the Ter

ritory of Ohio, and subsequently formed part of the Territory of Indiana, and was constituted an independent Territory in 1805. In January, 1837, it was admitted to Statehood."

Michigan has an area of 258,915 square miles, and in 1901 its estimated population was 2,457,000. Owing to water and rail facilities the State is well equipped for the development of manufacturing, but is handicapped by the lack of coal supply, the deposits found in the State being of poor quality. important industry in the State, though industry during recent years, owing ploitation of the forests. A comto look after the protection of the veloping in favor of a protective

The manufacture of lumber and timber products is the most

there has been a decline in this to the extravagant and wasteful ex mission has been recently created woods, and public opinion is de system of forestry.

The manufacture of flour and These have shown a tendency to ping facilities are best, and which vantages. The State is also con Grand Rapids is one of the great Other manufactures of a similar carriages and railway cars. Foun increased during the past five cultural implements forms an im

The Legislature of 1901 passed borers. The then existing laws pro under twenty-one years of age for manufacturing establishments was ing in stores where more than ten ployment of minors between the forbidden in any manufacturing es in every city a board should be es plumbers, and to formulate rules and drainage work. An act in the lawful to manufacture or sell an oleomargarine might be sold when

For the moral protection of de that no person under sixteen years be confined in a cell with an adult prison in the company of adult pris an adult.

grist mill products ranks second. centralize at points where shippossess superior water power adspicuous as a producer of furniture. furniture markets of the world. character are those of wagons and dry and machine shop products have years and the manufacture of agriportant industry.

several laws of importance to lahibiting the employment of women more than sixty hours a week in extended to apply to women workpersons were employed. The emhours of 6 p. m. and 7 a. m. was tablishment. An act provided that tablished for the licensing of for the performance of plumbing interests of farmers made it unimitation butter. provided that not colored to imitate butter. linquent minors. an act provided of age, when under arrest should prisoner, or conveyed to or from a oners, or be present at the trial of

Tb act of 1891, directing all candidates for office and chairmen of political organizations to make affidavit of the amount of money expended in campaigns, and to take oath that the money had been used for legal purposes only, was repealed, much to the gratification of politicians. The use of the United States

Area in

Sq. Miles.

Population.

Population