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called good men, by the world, whom disease has tested and shown to be good men and true, in fact, and others posing as lambs, from whom pain and fear, for such men are always cowards, have stript off the sheep's clothing and shown to be ravening wolves; some-but the door bell rings, and I listen for the expected knock at my office door; there it is; little Dennis shambles awkwardly into the room, and as he fumbles his cap in his hands tells me that the old woman was washing and had a pail of hot soap suds in front of the stove and the old man didn't see it and has put his foot in it and will I please come and see him. I don't think the old man is seriously injured and the hot bath may be good for his foot, but I must hasten to see him. LEON NOEL.

Massachusetts.

The

P. S. It was just as I expected. old man was more scared than hurt, and it's a pity he didn't put both both feet into the pail and make a clean job of it. In fact if he had fallen into a hogshead of warm water it would have been a good thing, for the old man belongs to the class of "the great unwasht." But the old man has thrown cold water on my reminiscent ardor for the time, and as he is my last patient he is a good one to finish with.

[Next subject by the above writer, "My First Office." In next issue.-ED].

Castration of Criminals.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-On page 419 of the October WORLD appears an article advocating the castration of habitual criminals on the grounds: (1) of the great deterrent effects it would exercise upon them; (2) that as "like begets like," it would to a large extent prevent the production of criminals.

This is an old plan and upon first sight would appear effective, but closer study shows its uselessness (we will lay aside the fact that it would probably be found unconstitutional).

The habitual criminal is a moral degenerate, and is generally defective physically as may be seen in defects of the ears, cranium, lower jaw, cheek bones, shifting eyes, etc. He has a low type of physique which his children inherit. The latter are more often puny, scrofulous, sluggish, irritable, violent, stupid and repulsive in appearance than are normal children. They are more prone to die of diseases peculiar to low physical development, such as tuberculosis, nervous disorders, etc. Habitual crimi

nals are defective morally and mentally. They show moral anesthesia and lack power to resist criminal tendencies. Like children and savages, they lack foresight and are subject to ill-balanced impulses.

Nerve exhaustion lies at the bottom of degeneracy. Among the various types of degenerates are the insane, paranoiac, imbecile, idiot, epileptic, neurasthenic, hysteric, as well as cranks, inebriates, tramps, paupers, prostitutes, criminals, etc. These types revert into one another. For instance, insane parents do not transmit insanity, but a depraved constitution which may take another form of degeneracy along the line of least resistance. The offspring of the insane and criminal need not be insane and criminal, but may be idiotic, scrofulous, or hysterical. A man may have moral anesthesia and still keep within the law and be a shrewd business man. The progeny of this man and a neurasthenical woman will be defective, and are as liable to be insane, criminals and prostitutes as are the offspring of these latter. In drunkards, paupers and prostitutes crime takes the path of least resistance. The real distance between the criminal and the hysterical offspring of good parents is not great."

When the habitual criminal gets out of confinement he goes back to his old associates and surroundings. He lacks power to resist criminal impulses, and the fear of castration would have as little deterrent effect upon him as upon an insane person. Familiarity breeds contempt of punishment as well as other things. Castration would probably make him more revengeful. The death penalty had little deterrent effect upon piracy, but the latter yielded, in the course of evolution, to steam and rapid communication.

Castration as a punishment will prove as ineffectual as harsh measures generally do among those of defective moral sense. If you castrate to prevent the production of criminals, you must include so many varieties of degeneracy that the punishment could not be enforced.

We have a natural remedy in the fact that degenerates, owing to defective development tend to run out.

The law cannot make a man good. It is impossible to convert an old fox into a watch dog; an insane man into a sane one; a tomato-can tramp into an industrious artisan; a prostitute (during her sexual activity) into an honest woman; or a confirmed criminal into an honest man.

A great factor in lessening the number of criminals and other degenerates is by improving their sanitary conditions. Replacing crowded unsanitary tenements by sanitary buildings is always followed by a decrease in crime. Proper regulations by the State along this line will be of benefit, altho too much governmental control, by lessening their self-reliance and self-control, two qualities in which they are already greatly deficient, would be injurious. (I have quoted considerably from Talbot.) Galesburg, Ill. G. S. BOWER.

Castration as a Remedy. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-The subject of castration appears not to be fairly advocated, or else kept on the background for political reasons. I will venture to say, if the subject was brought up for legislation, theoretically every intelligent Solon would approve it, but hardly one would be its advocate. This want of moral courage is to be deprecated, and is in the way to deprive us of many good laws.

Our experience with animals proves its benign effects. We castrate animals for several reasons: it takes the devilment out of the sex, their nature becomes docile and can be turned to great general use. It will have the same effect on the human subject; not only that, but it will favor greatly a sedate normal mentality. According to what we know of eunuchs of ancient days, it rather sharpens the intellect. We may account for this from the effects it has on animal life. The intellectual history of some of the eunuchs is about the brightest on record. I am almost tempted to say that it should be a part of a collegiate requirement in particular on those of lean, consumptive diathesis, and those whose thoughts are more on the affairs of venery than on Latin and Greek. I speak here of the lean consumptives. Nothing stores up the tissues more readily than castration. In some diseases, where only assimilation is at fault, it would do much good, and it may be accepted as a cure for phthisis, at least for the prevention of its propagation. The preliminary cause of pulmonary consumption is in a defective assimilation. Cough and other distressing symptoms are secondary effects, and if fixt by a serious lesion, would not be benefited by our heroic treatment.

There are nervous diseases that might be greatly relieved by castration, if not promptly cured. Functional epilepsy for

one, and some forms of insanity. If epilepsy were closely observed with its sexual complications, the physiological effects of our remedy would dove-tail so nicely as to awaken our most sanguine expectations that we might thus control a disease usually considered incurable. On these important subjects I expect to appear in a separate article.

The rape crime of the negroes now so extensively carried on, strikes terror to almost every white woman in the land. I am not in favor of burning or hanging these human brutes; but simply arrest them, let a cow-boy castrate them (as cowboys are expert in that line), and then turn the miserable wretch loose. They would of course not repeat the crime, and would think of no other harm to society, but each would have much to say of his better feelings.

I once rebukt a rapist, saying, if the negroes would not stop this crime on our women we would have to "cut 'em." He exclaimed with horror: "I sooner die than lose my stones!" He said a great deal. What can we do with a brute that cannot control his sexual desires? All the laws in the land, mob law and all, will not meet the remedy-except to do what I have said. G. P. HACHENBERG, M.D. Austin, Tex.

[The above seems to be theory only. We want facts, whenever they can be obtained. In these days of exact requirement, one fact goes farther than many theories, however finely spun.-ED.]

A Sure Sign of Death.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-In the October WORLD, page 423, Dr. J. Atkinson asks for a sure sign of death. I would say, after exhausting all other tests, try the following: Take a needle and make a few punctures in any part of the body. preferably in the arm or leg; if after making the punctures the hole stays open, it is the surest sign that life is extinct. DR. JULIUS WESSELOWSKI.

Jewell City, Kan.

Sign of Death.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-I see some one wants a test for death. The best one I know of is to make a funnel of a sheet of bristol board about 12 inches in diameter at the large end, the small end the size of the palm of the patient's hand. Darken the room and place a bright light at the large end and the palm of the pa

tient's hand against the small end. If the
hand shows black, death is indicated; if
the slightest pink tinge or shade shows,
life still lingers.
DR. ANDERSON.
Carthage, Mo.

Sure Signs of Death. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-" Prof. Contenat (of Besancon) was recently lecturing to his students on asphyxia, and as a young girl had just died in the hospital of tubercular meningitis, the idea struck him to go to the corpse and give a practical lesson on the new method of treating by traction on the tongue. What was his astonishment, as well as that of his students, when after a few movements he saw the respiration returning, the heart beating and the face become colored. This phenomenon lasted three-quarters of an hour, gradually giving way. Death really existed; but the reflex action of the bulb (a respiratory centre) had not totally disappeared, and the traction had stimulated the phrenic nerve to bring the diaphragm into temporary action. Failure of this resuscitating would appear to afford an undoubted test for death.”

(The above is from the Medical and Surgical Reporter for June 16, '94, page 870.)

body was warm and joints supple. In this
last the tongue traction method was faith-
fully tried.
BEN. H. BRODNAX.

Brodnax, La.

Seventeen Years' Experience with the Injection Treatment for Hernia.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Noticing the recent communications in THE WORLD on the injection method of treating hernia, I cannot but think that an experience of seventeen years will be of some value to your numerous readers.

In 1882, after an internship of one year and a half, I entered the practice much prejudiced against the injection treatment of hernia. A few months after I lost a case to Dr. Milton because I advised the radical operation, and he, Dr. M., told the client that he could cure him without going thru, as he exprest; it, a terrible operation. At the time I believed Dr. M. a knave; but to-day that very patient is alive, well and strong and one of my best friends. Dr. M. went to his reward some ten years ago.

That case set me to investigating, and I now have a record of 317 injection cases and 22 cutting.

Of the cutting cases 15 were strangulated and demanded immediate operation, and The method referred to is as follows: 7 were selected, believing that the openOpen the mouth and take hold of the ings were too large or tissues too much front part of the tongue with your fingers atrophied for the injection treatment. Of (covered with a rag), draw the tongue for the cutting operations the ages were from wards, and gradually let it go back, re- 32 to 73; deaths, 4; and a peculiar thing, peating the action 16 times a minute. Be those that died were the younger, the sure the root of the tongue is acted upon respective ages being 32, 32, 33 and 33, and drawn forwards. If the teeth are and one, 37, went insane two days after clencht, pry them open gently and insert operation, tore out stitches, then stabbing a piece of wood or a cork. Resist the himself with scissors, really died from efforts of bystanders to pour stimulants perforation of bowel by scissors as autopsy down his throat. proved. Seventeen were successful as far as I know.

This in reply to Brother Atkinson's query, p. 423, October World.

In my own practice I have, in such cases, never given up as "dead for sure," until I can see the commencing discoloration of the back from settling of the blood to the skin.

Recently I read that resuscitation of drowned men had been effected by the "tongue traction method," after they had been under the water for eighty minutes, or about one and a half hours. As to "rigor mortis," a case was reported to me recently where the body was stiff within ten minutes after breathing ceast, and had commenced before that. In another, fifteen hours after apparent death the

Of the injection cases the ages ranged from 3 months to 50 years, with the following results: complete failures, 82, complete successes, 71, under observation from 5 to 14 years, and one that Dr. Milton operated on in 1882.

Eighty per cent. of my failures were my earlier cases and before I knew just what to use, how often, etc.

Of the following 164 my records show: Lost sight of in less than 18 months 103, but so far as I know they were cured; 19 died from other causes; 42 have to wear a support. Seven of the 42 wear regular trusses, and from letters received from the 42 during the past month, 22 state that

they believe they are cured and could dispense with the support, but are afraid to do so.

During the past 5 years I have made no failures, but would not inject when patient was over 50 years old simply because so many of the failures were over that age; but I firmly believe to-day that, with very few exceptions, I can do the work regardless of age, providing the tissues are not too thin from long use of truss. During the past six months I have had no opportunity to inject on subjects older than 38. I have now 9 cases coming in, some every third day to every two weeks. I have used almost every known method and at least 100 different ingredients and combinations, and have now three that I call my standards and have had no reason to change for the past three years. In hydrocele I have the past two years used 98 per cent. carbolic acid, and in fourteen cases the one injection cured. Cases ranged from 6 months to 45 years of age. One little point in operating on hydrocele may save much perplexity. First introduce your hypodermic needle into the tumor, then plunge in the trocar about an inch from needle, and after evacuating and withdrawing trocar, you are positive that your injection is going into the sac.

Have read THE WORLD for the greater part of 10 years, and to the busy man I know of no journal that can take its place. Chadron, Neb. RUFUS K. LANGSON. [Upon receipt of above we wrote the Doctor as follows: "Practically all THE MEDICAL WORLD readers will be interested in your formulas that you use for the injection treatment of hernia. So please send them and we will incorporate them in your article." We here present the reply. -Ed.]

-one

DEAR DOCTOR :-Pleased to give you the prescriptions in injections for hernia, and since writing to you have another case to record. One, Judy Shelton, at this place, age 67. As his was a remarkable caseinjection-I give it to you. Last April I was called to his house (he is the great leader here of the Christian Scientists), and found him suffering intense pain from a right scrotal hernia that had become strangulated seven hours before. The Christian Scientist people had "pow-wowed," and were still at it upon my arrival. I tried to reduce but could not, so got assistance and instruments ready to operate. At last moment, while everything was relaxt, did reduce it. One week after that time I

gave him one injection, and last Saturday, five months after injection, he informed me that two months ago he discarded truss. He had been afflicted for seventeen years, and rupture came down almost every day, but had never been strangulated before.

Now for the injections. Useless to recite the failures, for I've tried everything almost. If a child, or up to nine years of age, no matter how long the hernia has been there, I use: B Quercus alba. fl. ext., boiled down in test-tube to one-half, of which I inject from two minims to ten. Always commence with the former, as I have found that no two cases react the same in children, and if you start with the ten minims you are very liable to set up a startling local peritonitis-also cause an abscess. Inject once per week for five or six weeks, and keep a button mold covered with tea lead over opening for three months. Any mother can fix the band by a few words from you explaining what is to be accomplisht. Formally I had them wear the button mold six months but found three sufficient.

For cases from nine to twenty-five the same thing, only boiled down a little more. If tube is graduated to tenths I boil down to four-tenths and add, after the first or second injection, to every three M. of Q. A., one-tenth gr. zinc sulf.

In the older cases, say from twenty-five to sixty, I go back to the prescription for children and add to every three M. of Q. A. one-half M. of beechwood creasote. With adults I have them wear a support for six months, but find that most of them throw away the support in from three to five months.

I have no doubt but that others have had just as good results and very likely better with other formulas, but surely in late years my record is almost perfect, so that to-day I feel confident in curing just about every case.

I have a special needle made extra long, somewhat similar to Heaton's, but as delicate as a hypodermic one, with no opening in end, but two, one on each side, about four lines from point. I also have a small aluminum tube that fits by ring over my index finger, so that I can invaginate the scrotum and then pass needle thru tube and into ring or canal. This is a great aid, as I have found that to follow the finger with needle after pushing up thru scrotum is very difficult, and you don't know just where your needle point is. To

go down from outside I never had any

success.

I inclose check for $3.00, to renew my subscription for four years.

RUFUS K. LANGSON.

Dominion Medical License.-Canadian

M.D.'s, Etc.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD :—

I. An effort will be made by several medical men who are M.P.'s, and other M.D.'s, at the next session of the Dominion Parliament, to establish a licensing system for the Dominion of Canada. Such is desired and long prayed for.

As

II. More than one-fourth of our annual output from the medical colleges ignore the examinations of the various provincial medical colleges (examining corporations), and seek homes in the United States. no colleges grant M.D., they possess said degrees from our universities, McGill, of Montreal, and Trinity, of Toronto, being the favorite institutions. McGill has the B. A. course united with course leading to M.D., requiring six years.

III. Matriculation at Canadian medical colleges does not consist in yearly money payments. It is an entrance examination in English and classics, mathematics, etc., and is equivalent to the first year's course in arts.

IV. Of McGill M.D.'s (1850 to 1900), one-sixth are dead, one-sixth live in the United States, the balance live in Canada.

V. The requirements in New York State for admission to study of medicin, dentistry and veterinary subjects are identical; and to qualify for M.D., the degrees in dentistry and veterinary medicin, it is noticeable that the greater number of schools require four years in medicin, and three or two in dentistry, and two for V. S. Query. Should not the requirements for matriculation for M.D.'s be greater than for dentists and vets? Does not the pubDoes not the public believe M.D.'s to be educated men? If so, why require such poor qualifications for admission to our profession? Is this the origin of "Doc"?

VI. An agent of a New York medical journal, who said he was a doctor, called on me recently. He said: "Down South they swear by the a medical

journal whose editor, in answer to many queries, recommends remedies in which he has moneyed interests." This journal is not an Eastern one-it could not live East. Almanacs take its place here and great drug house publications. "ROCHESTER.

An Arsenicophagus from Minneapolis. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-A doctor in Minneapolis has recently favored me with a copy of his memorial to Congress, wherein he relates that, "having amply elucidated and duly promulgated" a scheme for the arsenization of all mankind in order to prevent cholera, he is now ready to prove his theory just as soon as Uncle Sam will put up the money to do so. The author of this old but newly trumpt-up discovery is at least an ingenuous paranoiac, and it is delightfully refreshing to read his hitherto unheard of name placed by himself beside that of such eminent pathologists as Virchow.

His plan is based specifically, he declares, clares, on the well-known science of homeopathy. "I submit," says he, "belladonna is the similimum to the smooth shining scarlet fever of Sydenham, and that arsenization vs. cholera, like belladonna vs. scarlatina, is the similimum to the condition mentioned.

A little way farther on he "submits," incidentally perhaps, that the application of his method is the obvious similimum to the smooth shining dollars of our Uncle Samuel, and that these tests will most likely consume five years time and an annual appropriation of $10,000."

Thinking that the readers of THE WORLD might be interested, I "submit" the above review. HULBERT FULLER, M.D. Chicago, Ill.

American Doctors Abroad.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-An American doctor or diploma (in a therapeutic sense) in the following countries are no good: Russia, Turkey, Persia, India, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and Africa. In China or Japan any old thing will be sufficiently good, as you will never get a patient. Nothing goes but English, Irish and Scotch diplomas.

There is a conservatism (I may say a prejudice) existing against the American in any capacity, which is akin to hatred. The presence of the "Yank," as the Americans are called, would not be for a moment tolerated by the rough element in any of the Australasias. But his tried and trusted ally, the Irishman, espouses the cause of the Yank; a fight ensues, which is fierce and warlike a la John L. Sullivan, and the Englishman invariably comes off second best. Such battles are often serious and of frequent occurrence but the Irishman is interminable in his

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