The Problem of Ozena.

At a recent meeting of the Vienna Gesellschaft der Aerzte, Dr. Hofer read a paper on the experiments conducted by him in the Serotherapeutic Institute of Vienna at a request of Dr. Perez, the ambassador of Argentina in Austria. Dr. Perez isolated a special bacillus some years ago from noses affected with ozena. Since this disease is fairly common here, the investigation has much interest for Austria. Dr. Hofer actually found that the assertions made regarding the existence of an ozena bacillus were justified. The micro-organism could be isolated from the secretions of ozena and could be grown on agar. When injected into guinea-pigs or rabbits, it caused a purulent discharge from the nose, with subsequent atrophy of the lower bone. The smell of the cultures, as well as that of the discharge from the nose of the infected animals, was the same as is observed in persons suffering from ozena. Dr. Perez says that the disease is transmitted by close contact and by the use of infected towels and handkerchiefs or by personal uncleanliness. The illness occurs often in several members of the same family, and starts often in early youth. In discussion, it was pointed out that atrophy of the bone is primary, and the atrophy of the mucous membrane a secondary manifestation. All speakers agreed on the necessity of a general investigation, all over the world, of ozena cases. If the bacillus of Perez should be the actual etiologic factor, the hitherto so unsatisfactory treatment of this disease would undoubtedly become more hopeful, as a vaccine should do good service in this respect.

Wounds

Treatment. Treat all wounds on which great force has been exerted, and especially those contaminated by soil and dirt-covered objects, as if infected with gas bacilli. Leave open where possible and irrigate thoroughly with peroxide. Bandage lightly, if at all. Inspect frequently and irrigate often. On first sign or symptom of infection, take smear and examine for B. aërogenes capsulatus. Open wound freely, if sutured, and if on limb place latter in bath or irrigate continuously. If condition extensive, expose field widely to air by free incisions. (Do not employ peroxide in full strength or inject in confied spaces or directly under tissues.)

Teaching of Psychiatry

H. Douglas Singer, of the Illinois State Psychopathic Institute, Kankakee (Journal A. M. A., June 14), takes issue, sharply, with the stand of Drs. Burr and Dercum on the teaching of psychiatry. Averring that they express extreme views in making wholesale condemnation of psychology the chief feature of their argument, he criticizes their attitude and says the need for training of the medical student in this important branch of medicine is constantly receiving more attention and recognition. Before this topic is introduced into the curriculum he considers it all important that due consideration be given to outlining the course of instruction. While denying that he or any one else has suggested that the doctrines of Freud be taught to medical students, he acknowledges that in the conceptions of the latter there are "certain broad principles which are well founded in fact and that are not in any way invalidated by the application he makes of them." He further concedes that the Freudian school has done much to crystalize and clarify present-day views on a biologic basis, albeit only study and discussion may have resulted. He maintains that it is as impossible to teach psychiatry (abnormal cerebral functioning) without a basis of psychology (normal cerebral functioning) as it is to teach pathology without knowledge of physiology. Replying to the charge that there is too great a tendency at present toward speculative psychology, it seems to him equally unfortunate that there should be also such a tendency to speculative pathology. He would avoid speculative relations to internal medicine as much as to speculative psychology. That a majority of dementia praecox patients die of tuberculosis is flatly disputed and the assertion made that if such were the case, there would be no need for huge hospitals for the insane, the vast majority of whose inmates are in the terminal stages of dementia praecox. It is absolutely essential, from the author's viewpoint, that the insanities be studied as disorders of adjustment as well as in their relation to internal medicine, if any grasp is to be obtained of what the individual cases mean. In other words, they must be studied as psychologic, as well as pathologic problems. Concluding he insists that the broad principles of the newer biologic psychology are essential to and part of the study of even elementary psychiatry, and without them the teaching of mental disorders must remain hopelessly chaotic, unintelligible and of little account.

A JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY

Published Monthly by Western Medical Review Company, 701 So. 13th Street, Omaha, Neb. Per Annum, $2.00, 20c per copy. The Western Medical Review is the journal of the Nebraska State Medical Association and is sent by order of the Association to each of its members. Entered as second-class matter at the Postoffice of Omaha, Nebraska, under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879. Telephone Douglas 1290.

The dancing epidemic which the country is witnessing recalls in some respects the dancing mania of the Middle Ages, which has been frequently discussed in the literature of neurological medicine. The ragtime and turkey trot manias appear to be contagious in much the same way that the medieval manias were. They are alike also in respect to widespread prevalence, the populations of whole continents being affected. These neurotic phenomena have been ascribed to widespread neurasthenia, due to unrest and other pathological social conditions. These and the naive determination to be "amused" that characterizes

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the masses, together with the peculiar influence of a type of "music" which seems to set up characteristic motor reactions, account for the specially sensitized class which may be observed in action day and night almost anywhere in the country. This class illustrates well the principles laid down by M. Le Bon, that authority on the psychology of the crowd. Then it has been pointed out that many ragtime tunes are versions of negro revival hymns, which perhaps introduces an element of quasireligious emotionalism and also recalls the interesting fact that dancing has always been connected with religion, especially pagan religion. The instinct to dance is a very primitive one, and through the dance certain emotions find an outlet and expression. There is a normal and an abnormal phase to the subject, however, and we are inclined to think that it is the latter that finds exemplification in ragtime and trotting.—Med. Times.

The Carnegie Investigation-The Council on Medical Education A. M. A.

A Moral Anachronism

Under the first part of the above caption a neighboring contemporary in its August isue permitted the following editorial utterances to appear.

"The A. M. A. joined in this effort to determine the qualities of different colleges, but was singularly unfortunate in being represented by an investigator who was a detective more than anything else. He started out to find weaknesses in the various colleges of the country and succeeded; then showed a marvelous aptitude for exaggerating these faults and minimizing the real work they were doing.

Finally the Carnegie Foundation Fund joined with the Council of the A. M. A. to reform medical colleges, ostensibly to raise the standards of medical education, but the methods used were not of a high character.

Now we are confronted with a newspaper statement, evidently inspired by the president of this foundation, which has

been repeated and sent far and near in the press that is still more startling and deplorable. This message boasts of the methods to standardize medical colleges and their success in forcing twenty-four colleges out of existence. They call it a campaign and describe in very clear language their distinct efforts to force schools to stop their work. One of the methods was to send broad cast reports of the inefficiency of these medical colleges, appealing to the students, to the public press and to public opinion generally to suppress these schools showing how they lacked in this and that. Another method was to secure the names of students who attended them and circularize them with reports of the poor instruction, poor teachers and unfavorable conditions of the college they attended. Another method, which they have no hesitation about describing, was that of securing the assistance of rival colleges who had better facilities for teaching and who could be ranked among the better ones, and following up their suggestions, how the downfall of the weaker school could be brought about. Teachers of these weak colleges were appealed to, to resign and join in the effort to concentrate for better college facilities. These and other measures are reported with a brutal frankness that casts discredit on the movement and ranks with the most disreputable methods of the great trusts who force out rivals by just such means."

Now if this tirade had appeared in a penny sheet, tucked away in some corner of it, and printed fifty years ago, this Review certainly would not have taken the slightest notice of it; but to be made part of the leading editorial of a fairly wide awake herald of medicine, in a country boasting of progressiveness and in this our 20th Century, we must remind those who are responsible for such utterly unwarrantable utterances that these statements would shame even the Mephistophelian screams of the henchmen of the, so called, leagues for medical (and other) freedoms. In fact the twisted assertions of this editorial have the ear marks of just such an origin. We regret sincerely to see them in such a place.

In the August 23d issue of the Journal of the American