Vol. XXXIV

RHEUMATISM.

Gradually, but surely, the fog which goes by the name of "rheumatism" is clearing, and we see in the vast mist of joint affections certain definite forms of disease and certain specific causes for them. Tuberculous joints, gonorrheal joints and acute rhematism have been differentiated for some time, and their origins definitely traced. Acute gout has long been recognized, when typical, though its source, its real or incipient cause, is not by any means ciear, and, with recent studies of uric acid, seems hazier than formerly. However, we do know that gout belongs to the realm of the metabolic diseases, rather than to that of the germ diseases.

Considerable haze still surrounds chronic arthritis. In a great many cases this disease is the sequela of acute inflammation and is differentiated by the history.

The

rest of them seem to fall into the three general groups of toxic states, of metabolic changes brought about by a derangement of the chemical activities of the body, either from over-feeding or from an illbalanced diet, or from some change in the activity of the ductless glands. Doubtless a better understanding of the internal se

No. 10

cretions will clarify our knowledge of all these cases to a great extent.

Toxic arthritis is at present the best defined of these groups of chronic rheumatism," and the poisons producing the inflammation have been traced to the bacteria of the large intestine and to foci of infection in the nose, throat and mouth.

A sprain of any joint renders it more sensitive to toxic materials from bacteria or from food products, and a great many cases of chronic arthritis-of inflammations of the joints of the spine, of the feet, and especially of the hands, have their first beginning in small occupational traumata.

It has long been recognized that cold and wet help to bring on, and to aggravate, joint inflammations, and such an effect has been proven in animal experimentation. Just why this occurs is not clear. Cold diminishes the circulation in the extremities as a whole, but this does not explain what takes place in the joints, nor does it account for the premonitory disturbances which come about in joints prior to marked meteorological changes. Verily there are some things which we as yet do not understand. Nevertheless our progress in knowledge of rheumatism," even of the chronic

kind, has in recent years been most satisfactory.

As for the treatment of such affections, the newer drugs used in acute arthritis and for gout have not proven specific, and the use of the extracts of ductless glands and of serums for resolving fibrous hyperplasia have proven very uncertain. The use of vaccines has been, perhaps, of more benefit, but even here there has been more disappointment than of exultation over the results. Perhaps the most .constant benefit has been effected, in suitable cases, by modification of diet, especially by adoption of a vegetable diet. Joint affections, like all other diseases, are more easily prevented than cured, and the prevention of traumata, the correction of diet, the cleansing of bacterial foci, the prevention of unnecessary strain upon the nervous system, and, finally, protection from exposure to cold and wet, will prevent more disease than we can ever hope to cure.

THE SANGER CASE.

A recent issue of "The Masses" has a cartoon which describes "Saint" Anthony Comstock dragging a woman before a sour looking judge. Comstock says to the judge "your honor, I charge this woman with giving birth to a naked baby." This is a protest against dragging to prison of Margaret Sanger and her husband for telling the naked truth" about the marriage system that would convert every married woman into indiscriminate and irresponsible maternity.

It is all right to control, and better animal breeding, but we are told, "It will never do in human breeding."

Saint Anthony should go over to Europe and regulate the crop of war babies, only he might indorse this wrong. G.H.B.

NO USE FOR SUGAR PILLS.

In an interesting book, entitled "Alaska, an Empire in the Making," Underwood describes the native craving for medicine. The author says:

"These natives are afflicted with a yearning for medicine that is almost an obsession. They will trade anything they possess for drugs, and, sick or well, there is no limit to the quantity of medicine they will swallow eagerly, provided the taste is sufficiently nauseating. If one gives them. medicine that is pleasant to the taste, they have the deepest contempt for its medicinal value and for the donor's skill as a physi

cian; but if the potion has all the evil tastes it is possible to concoct, they regard it as a sovereign remedy for every form of disease!"

From which we deduct the impression that a Homeopath would starve in Alaska!

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE MISSOURI VALLEY.

The Des Moines meeting of this association is just closing as the Herald goes to press. From the reports received this was a "banner" meeting. A full report will appear in our next issue. Officers elected as follows: President, Dr. Jno. P. Lord, Omaha; Omaha; first vice-president, Dr. Chas. Geiger, St. Joseph; second vice-president, Dr. R. A. Weston, Des Moines; secretary, Dr. Chas. Wood Fassett, Kansas City; treas urer, Dr. O. C. Gebhart, St. Joseph. Fortythree new members were elected as follows: Earl L. McClean, Oskaloosa, Ia. E. L. DeLanney, Omaha. Max W. Flothow, Woodbine, Ia. Frederick Gaertner, Pittsburg. Calvin L. Cooker, Kansas City. Thaddeus Minassian, Des Moines. Frank G. Murphy, Mason City, Ia. Henry G. Langworthy, Dubuque, Ia. Jas. Č. Hill, Newton, Ia. Franklin Lightfoot, Colfax, Ia. Clarence I. Thomas, Guthrie Center, Ia. F. E. V. Shore, Des Moines. Edw. L. Baker, Indianola, Ia.

Wm. H. Rendleman, Davenport, Ia.
S. K. Davis, Libertyville, Ia.
S. A. Spillman, Ottumwa, Ia.
J. F. Herrick, Ottumwa, Ia.
F. J. Graber, Shockport, Ia.

B. C. Hamilton, Jr., Jefferson, Ia.

M. L. Hooper, Indianola, Ia.

F. M. Hahn, Omaha.

Channing E. Wolfe, Coon Rapids, Ia.
Geo. T. Armstrong, Osceola, Ia.
Edgar Cline, Auburn.

Lindsay S. Milne, Kansas City.
Hugh S. Charles, Atchison, Kas.
T. E. Gutch, Albia, Ia.

L. A. Lynch, Kansas City, Kas.
Thos. J. Lynch, St. Joseph.
Jno. M. Griffin, Albia, Ia.

J. B. Vaughn, Castlewood, S. D.

A. L. Brooks, Audubon, Ia.
J. W. Cokenower, Des Moines.
A. B. Adams, Florence, Neb.
A. M. Pond, Dubuque, Ia.
J. W. Greenman, Des Moines.
Roy W. Smith, Roland, Ia.
C. F. Starr, Mason City, Ia.
C. H. Cretzmeyer, Algona, Ia.
V. J. Meyer, Defiance, Ia.
Evarts A. Graham, Mason City, Ia.
Howard D. Gray, Des Moines.

The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, St. Louis, will appear, under the editorial direction of Dr. Victor C. Vaughan, from the Mosby press.

ST. JOSEPH SURGICAL SOCIETY.

The Surgical Society began its thirteenth year with a dinner at the Robidoux Hotel on September 7th. Following the dinner an excellent paper illustrated with lantern slides was presented by Dr. McGlothlan. The society has held monthly meetings regularly for twelve years. Originally beginning with six members, the number was increased at times to twelve, but within the past five years three members have died. At present the membership consists of Drs. J. W. Heddens, Jacob Geiger, C. H. Wallace, T. E. Potter, L. A. Todd, W. T. Elam, J. I. Byrne, Caryl Potter and A. B. McGlothlan. During the coming year it is proposed to add much to the clinical features of the program, in addition to the presentation of a scientific paper by one of the members at each meeting.

Correspondence

ANTHONY COMSTOCK DID NOT ATTACK REAL ENEMY.

The sudden death of Anthony Comstock leaves our morals startlingly unprotected. Before his successor is appointed we may be guilty of discovering the naked truth about ourselves, and such nudity could never be covered up even in Comstockian phrases.

His sincerity was unquestioned, but he mistook his object, and missed his aim. He only succeeded in pricking the bubbles of the salacious slime which covers our human cesspools, with never a suspicion that they are merely the surface rottenness which cover underlying perversions, deeply inbred in our social fibre. He chased ugly, groHe chased ugly, grotesque shadows cast by our own distorted visions of ourselves, but he left the real menace still flaunting us in all its brazen and stupid vulgarity.

He lived and worked under the shadows of the great conspiracy, the supreme infidelity handed down to us by the Puritanic revolt against the licentiousness of the Georges of England. This conspiracy of silence, which is the miasmatic swamp where we breed everything save virtue and knowledge, is responsible for more of the pruriency of this age than any other factor in human society.

We do need to purify, exalt and ennoble our current conception of sex. We do need a more wholesome public opinion about the origin of life, a restatement of sexual relationships, a loftier moral tone in the interpretation of romance as it greets us in music, literature and art. We do need to

breathe a more invigorating social atmosphere, that we may fill our spiritual lungs with the ozone of life-giving currents; but we cannot do it by under-valuing the supreme experiences of life, by debasing the source of our existence, by befouling the elemental facts in our biologic development. The real saviour of social morality is on the way.

He will cure us of our maladies by holding aloft the radiant vision of the human body justified, accepted as the instrument of the soul's incarnation, which with all its organs, all its functions, through every nerve and cell, through every muscle and pounding artery fulfills the purpose of our being, and co-operates with us in fulfilling destiny.

He will call on science to clarify our purpose, rationalize our attitude, enlarge our understanding. He will invoke religion, beauty and art to create a new ideal of morality in accordance with all the enlightenment and wisdom the human heart and mind have conceived. He will inspire a more delicate reticence than the evasion of ignorance and shame, the reticence and modesty of a serene confidence, based on understanding and a will to exalt all of life.

He will challenge us to a loftier standard by transvaluing every atom of sentient existence, for only as the human soul appropriates all of life and transmutes it into terms of a nobler and more radiant-compelling significance will we emerge from this prurient consciousness of distorted realities which fill us with loathing and fear.

Only the truth will set us free; only the truth-bearer will light us on our way and consecrate our daily efforts to build up a strong, sound, wholesome humanity, freed from superstition, fear and ignorance, with our faces turned toward the light.

Virigina Barlow LeRoy.

NEW PAID SUBSCRIBERS. Following is a list of new paid up subscribers received since our last issue:

Frank Barglum, Harrison, Neb.
H. P. Prowitt, Washington, Pa.
A. R. Hughes, Ringwood, Okla.
C. L. Katz, Wichita, Kans.

T. G. Wilson, Moorefield, Ont., Can.
W. A. Oliver, Camden, Mich.

J. N. Minetree, Las Cruces, N. Mex.
W. F. Bleifuss, Elgin, Minn.
R. K. Dodge, Fall River, Kans..
S. C. Peterson, Winnipeg, Man.
W. S. Greenleaf, Massena, Iowa.
C. Nysewander, Des Moines, Ia.
F. Grosshauser, Kansas City, Kans.
Henry M. Baker, Columbia, Mo.

The annual meeting of this society will be held in Oklahoma City, October 11, 12 and 13, under the presidency of Dr. J. D.

J. D. GRIFFITH, M. D.

Griffith of Kansas City, and preparations are being made to entertain a large gathering.

The Santa Fe R.R. will provide special cars for the Kansas City delegates, and reservations may be made by telephoning either Dr. E. H. Thrailkill, Dr. Chas. Wood Fassett or the Santa Fe ticket office.

The Oklahoma City profession has arranged a series of clinics for Monday, be ginning at 8 o'clock a. m., and including special clinics by Drs. Jno. B. Murphy and Jno. Ridlon of Chicago. Following is the

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

Section of Internal Medicine.

M. L. Graves, Galveston, Tex., chair

man; Theo. Y. Hull, San Antonio, Tex., vice chairman; M. M. Smith, Dallas, Tex., secretary.

Early Pathological Changes in Tuberculosis; Their Relationship to Physical Signs and Clinical Symptoms. F. M. Pottenger, Monrovia, California.

Psychic and Somatic Palsies of Pregnancy, S. Grover Burnett, Kansas City, Mo. Some Etiologic Factors in Hemorrhagic Diathesis, W. W. Duke, Kansas City, Mo.

X-Ray Diagnosis in Chest Diseases (Illus.), W. S. Hamilton, San Antonio, Tex. What Our Patients Swallow, S. H. Lamdrum, Altus, Okla.

Can An Early Diagnosis of Tuberculosis be Made? S. J. Wolferman, Ft. Smith, Ark. Etiological Factors in Vomiting During Pregnancy and Measures to Relieve Them, John D. Seba, Bland, Mo.

Report of a Case of Streptococcic Infection in a Child and the Treatment, Thad Shaw, San Antonio, Tex.

Eugenics, M. A. Warhurst, Sylvian, Ok. Registration of Thoroughbreds, C. W. Garrison, Health Officer of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark.

The Modern Treatment of Syphilis with Special Reference to Serological Control, R. B. H. Gradwohl, St. Louis.

The Allied Invaders in Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Theo. Y. Hull, San Antonio.

Treatment of Tuberculosis with Tuberculin, Frank J. Ridge, Kansas City, Mo. Thymus Function (Illustrated), G. H. Hoxie, Kansas City, Mo.

Syphilis of the Nervous System, John W. Duke, Health Officer of Oklahoma, Guthrie, Okla.

Our Duties in Educating the Public Along the Line of Scientific Union; Its Value to Mortality, C. S. Pettus, Little Rock, Ark.

The Result of the First Year's AntiPlague Survey, by the State Board Health of Texas, A. L. Lincecum, Assistant Health Officer of Texas, Austin, Tex.

The Treatment of Pellagra and Its Management, W. T. Wilson, Navasota, Tex.