evidences of coming carnage and sanguinary destruction. The "hub" revolves in a mire of foul distrust and a slough of muddy disputation. The firmament over the doomed city is veiled with gloomy and lurid clouds, and the whole atmosphere is portentous of devastatfng storms. The medical armies are both ready for the field, and Boston ears are strained to catch, in alarm, the first dire sound of the cannons' opening roar! These remarkable warriors have the promise of an active eampaign before them. As they have been so quick and relentless in condemning strife in the medical field elsewhere, they present rather a curious spectacle. It is to be hoped that there will be at least one result of the battle, a disappearance of Boston homilies on the subject of medical contention. From the everpeaceful field of Kentucky we watch the Boston strife with hands up-lifted in surprise; but as the contending armies are bent on destruction, we say, with Macbeth, "hang out the banners on the outward walls"; "lay on Macduff," etc. May Boston have soon another name; the Cemetery of Homœopathy.

The Sayre-Ruppaner Case.-Several months since, Dr. Sayre preferred charges against Dr. Ruppaner for many acts of omission and commission, each one of which, if sustained, would have justly brought disgrace upon the unfortunate culprit. Dr. Ruppaner has, it seems, refused to appear before the appointed medical tribunal, alleging for such a course reasons which are not only untenable, but disreputable; they very justly subject him to the grave suspicion of being irremediably and indefensibly guilty. What his punishment would have been, cannot of course be determined, had he been found guilty by the medical tribunal selected; the verdict would unquestionably, from the character of those having charge of the matter, have been just and even generous. During the present month Dr. Ruppaner has unwisely, foolishly, appealed to a court of law, and has, through a most untenable, unwarrantable, and impudent ruling of Judge Barnard, obtained an injunction, staying the proceedings of the Medical Society which had the proper jurisdiction

of this case. Any medical man who thus flees from a medical tribunal to seek the quibbling protection of a court of law, furnishes reasons not only for the gravest suspicion of his guilt, but reasons conclusive for placing him in medical coventry. The Profession should place its stigma upon such a man, and the medical Press everywhere would be inexcusably derelict if it failed to bulletin such an offense and such an offender for general and unsparing reprehension. This Journal has condemned both Drs. Sayre and Ruppaner in their past controversial relations before the public, but it is a pleasure to testify at present that Dr. Sayre's recent course is such, as to justly secure for him the respect and commendation of his brethren.

Jute Culture.-Dr. F. P. Porcher, of Charleston, S. C., is doing good service in inducing the Government to take active measures for the introduction of jute culture in this country. This plant could, it seems, be easily cultivated as a staple not much inferior in importance to cotton, and far more easily and safely managed. For coarse heavy fabrics, it is excellent. It is pleasing to see medical men giving the benefit of their knowledge, as botanists, to develop the material resources of their people, and to demonstrate to these, that physicians are not, as is alleged by political economists, consumers in the social fabric.

EDITORIAL.

"Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri."-HOR

Distributing Medical Pamphlets.-No one who notices, with an observant and really interested eye, all which makes up the honor and dishonor of the medical profession, can fail to have appreciated the growing and disreputable practice of gratuitously distributing medical pamphlets; pamphlets which are published for the exclusive and evident reason of demonstrating the medical acumen and special skill of their authors. Physicians

are quick to condemn, as charlatanism, the distribution of circulars, hand-bills, medical cards, (with or without titulary appellations attached), and all such papers as approximate in appearance or effect the advertising devices of quacks and mountebanks; yet it is becoming each year more common for physicians to publish, and gratuitously distribute pamphlets, whose prime and manifest effect is to advertise the skill, erudition and general efficiency of their authors. In what respect does such a custom in reputable medical men differ from the same custom in medical men condemned as disreputable?

If a physician has any information of value to communicate to the Profession, he should do so either through the Medical Journals which are always ready to publish such material, or he should publish his paper through some bookseller or publisher, and have his pamphlets sold. What is not worth purchasing in a bookstore, or receiving into the columns of a Journal, may very justly, as a rule, be regarded as worthless; and the motives of such authors may justly be suspected. It would over-tax utterly the powers of the medical philosopher to establish a differential diagnosis between the morbid condition of such authors and that of the empirics and charlatans so justly repudiated. These pamphlets furnish evidences of questionable motives on the part of their anthors; they are certainly queer productions. The cases are all obscure; the diagnosis difficult, but alway correct; the symptoms wonderful, the treatment novel, yet always successful, the details being of course concealed; the recoveries causing universal surprise; the attention of hundreds has been directed to the skillful disciple of Esculapius; many more similar and wonderful cases are sent to him; their history and condition equally wonderful, and their recoveries equally marvellous. The treatment is sufficiently given to screen the author from being pilloried as a charlatan, and sufficiently concealed to secure to him what he seeks; notoriety, mystery, a reputation for wonderful acumen, tact, judgment, skill, and success; to secure for him the result which underlies all that renders the object of empiricism so despicable, notoriety and its chief offsprings, patromage and monet.

It is time to direct attention to this evil. If physicians have any valuable information to contribute, all who respect themselves or their profession should present this through reputable Medical Journals, or have it published and sold by some reputable bookseller. It is time to condemn the growing evil of gratuitously distributing medical pamphlets, when these pamphlets are intended to show the professional skill of their authors. Of course where pamphlets are published not for this object, not for the pecuniary advantage of their authors, but to subserve some useful purpose, to uphold what is good in the Profession and to expose all that is bad; to screen the chaff from the wheat, and to plant good seed whose fruit shall nourish and improve, all such objections are not applicable; but it is time to condemn those mercenary souls, with whom thrift supersedes character, and who regard Ego as the synonyme for the medical Profession. Such men are charlatans in spirit; charlatans in act; yet they claim to be reputable members of the medical Profession. It is time to get the brand ready; to apply it publicly and well.

EDITORIAL BREVITIES.

The case of Lithiasis, published in the last Journal, was furnished by Dr. L. Lynes, of Mississippi; being received through Dr. J. W. Thompson, of Paducah, Ky., his name was erroneously published, representing him as the author.- -What has become of the "New York Medical Gazette;" it has not made its appearance for several months? -Dr. W. E. Daily, of Kentucky, has removed to Texas. As a physician earnest, enthusiastic, and having the welfare of his profession prominently before him, he is warmly commended to the brethren in Texas.

-Tho Board of Governors of the City Hospital at Albany, New York, is still outraging the decency and efficiency of that Institution by repudiating the best medical talent of their city, so long as this refuses to be used for partisan purposes and to pander to the desires of their unworthy protegé, Dr. Armsby.- -In noticing the catalogue of the Mobile Medical College, it was stated that the graduation fee had been

changed from $5 to $25; it is the matriculation fee that has been so changed. This is the price ($25) charged for entering that College.-Attention is directed to the action recently taken by the Abingdon (Va.) Medical Society in securing the passage of such laws by the Legislature as will secure the Profession in the collection of their claims, and give them adequate protection from the vampire horde of charlatans and mountebanks which (like the locusts of Egypt) devour the land, and which, instead of being exposed and outlawed by the secular Press, is by this venal and corrupt organization eulogized and sustained. To secure such laws; to secure proper registration laws, and to secure the erection of State Inebriate Asylums, should be, in part, the object of every active Medical Society. -Attention is called to the circulars from Chicago, published in the Miscellaneous Department. Medical men will, it is hoped, take pleasure in aiding their brethren in that scourged and unfortunate city.In the Chemical and Pharmacutical Department there is an excellent and novel article on the subject of "portable medicines." The manufacture of such medieines has been introduced into this country; the medicines aro offered for sale under the name and title of "divided medicines." The manufacturers ask the attention of the Profession. So far as is known they are fully entitled to confidence. They expect no praise of their articles, and will not indeed receive this until they have won it; they do ask a trial, and the exceedingly convenient and portable character of their preparations is certainly worthy of fair and practical notice. The character of the House is excellent. Read their statement in the page opposite the third cover page of this Journal.- -The index for volumes eleven and twelve will be issued in the Journal for January, 1872. As the annual municipal and State mortuary reports of our country will soon be published, it is hoped that they will be made of practical value; as they have so far been issued, they are preposterously absurd and indescribably worthless. How educated physicians can perpetrate the silly act of issuing such reports, as are usually presented, is inconceivable.

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