out, they have not intruded, supposing that beyond lay the back gardens of the people who dwelt in the rows along the street. But had they pushed into these private-looking little thoroughfares they would have been dumbfounded with what they saw, for in the "courts" beyond lies the "crowding" proposition, forcing itself in a new way upon a new city.

Swarming, tumble-down habitations of every variety are these nests of humanity, the courts of Sonoratown. Once these places were the courtyards of the adobes in front, and the "Californians," as the original Spanish settlers have always called themselves, had

plenty of room for gardening and backyard work, and for the play of big families of children. Now the adobe in front has become a tenement for several families, and the courtyard has been honey-combed with shacks, and tents, and nondescript barn-tenements of one and two rooms (or perhaps two families may occupy one room), until one can think of nothing but the squalor of a Chinese city. You may walk in the middle of a "street" and touch two rows of houses facing each other, or follow a winding path between habitations, tripping over tubs and clothespoles and outdoor fire-places, over dogs and cats and children at play

and the tinier tots just creeping about. Everywhere in the air rings the Spanish language-not a syllable of English is heard. The "maestras" and visiting nurse from the College Settlement must have some knowledge of the foreign tongue, for it is the only "open sesame" to these human hives. A courteous demeanor and a few words of the mother tongue will carry the stranger straight to the hearts of the people. If you are a novice, you are at first appalled by the physical conditions, and you think that the people must be as degraded as their surroundings are squalid. Presently your faith returns as you become more and more impressed with a great social offset everywhere present, namely, the kindliness of the people. You notice that the children play happily together without quarreling, the elder ones looking out for the smaller; that the kitten, though mauled from affection, knows nothing of abuse; that father and mother treat each other and their children with consideration and respect. You discover that the hungry family is shared with, that the sick stranger is cared for and housed, and that one big

family occupying two tiny rooms not infrequently offers hospitality to another big family that cannot pay its rentmoney. You may call at a "tent" made of bags and rags and tin cans besides the original canvas, and at the door (an ex-window screen, patched) be met by a kind-faced señora. You stoop and crowd in and are seated with solicitude for your comfort upon the only chair, a backless one, while your hostess takes the side of the bed. The children come trooping in to meet the visitor and gravely shake hands, the mother introducing each by name. Your Saxon bluntness is overawed by the polite phrases that come so naturally from the lips and heart of your hostess, and you may easily feel awkward at your own lack of simple elegance. You scarcely can notice the meagreness of this poor little home, so impressed are you with the friendliness expressed in so courtly a manner. Nor by any means is dirt universal in these poor little domiciles and you may carry away with you wonderment at the order and cleanliness as well as at the etiquette of the place.

The inhabitants of the courts are not the "Californians" as might be sup

posed, but newcomers from Northern Mexico. The "Californians" for the most part are gradually drifting away from the old pueblo to other parts of the city. They do not fancy this inpouring horde of socalled “peons,” who are of lower caste. The remnant that is there occupies the better houses facing the streets and does not mingle socially with the life of the courts. And yet just a few years ago the Settlement knew Sonoratown as the poor but proud old California pueblo full of the life and gaiety of the people of the soil, a veritable community in itself.

But the disappearance of the original inhabitants is not alone due to the filling up of the patios by the landlords with these miserable nondescript tenements. A second and as valid reason is the incoming of the Italian element. The "Californians" had lost their property and become renters. The Italians came with their ability to save and to buy, and have inherited the greater part of the land. Everywhere, where the courts are not, are the homes of the new immigration-their shops and their hotels. The homes are cottages, and fairly comfortable, and almost always are to be seen the humanizing little vegetable patches. But already the owners are discovering the value of rear tenements and cheap lodgings are erected for the use of the many young Italian bachelors, and for the Slavonian young men just recently beginning to arrive in the community.

But to go back to the courts. The railroads have needed gangs of men in their construction of new lines and have gone down in Mexico and brought up whole trainloads of men with their families, despite contract labor laws. The men in coming expect high wages and a return trip. But they soon find that a dollar a day is all that is paid, and moreover that that will not support a large family even in these courts. Work is not steady, and for the man.

who cannot speak English there is no other job. Discouragement comes, and often the small earnings are drunk up in the ever-handy saloons. Stabbing affrays frequently follow, then the police station and the chain gang. The steadier element may seek work in the country. Meanwhile the railroads have sent to Mexico for more laborers! And so the courts shift and change like a kaleidoscope. and nobody to know the amount of hardship that is suffered in stoical silence.

The rent exacted for the wretched homes of the courts is of course exorbitant, as in all congested quarters. The people, not knowing English nor the necessity for sanitation (they are mostly from the rural districts), flock together wherever they may find shelter. The lowest rent is four dollars a month for a one-room shack that would not bring that price as kindling wood. With this goes the privilege of water from an outside common faucet, and the use of a toilet in common with from three to a dozen other families. When the heavy rains come in winter, imagine those shacks and tents that have no floors. Sick women lie on damp mattresses which are embedded in mud. Through the crazy roof and side walls water pours in at many points, and the household stays wet till the sun shines again.

Fortunately the sun is usually shining in Los Angeles, or perhaps unfortunately, for if it were not the very unsanitary conditions of the courts could not possibly be tolerated by the community at large. If it were not for the friendly Southern sun destroying disease germs the day long, frequent epidemics would draw attention to these places of incubation, and better sanitation and housing laws would be enacted. The city health officer can inspect and order landlords to clean the courts, but beyond that he has little authority.

A potent agency for the prevention of disease and its spread has been that of the office of district nurse. For nearly eight years the city has supported a nurse under the supervision of the College Settlement, and her work of inspection, advice and teaching, together with her co-operation with the health office, medical college and hospitals has been of inestimable value to the community.

Los Angeles already has a population of 200,000 and with reason anticipates being one of the largest cities of the land. It has its full share of the poor, the ignorant, and the vicious, for it is a Mecca for the unfortunate as well as the privileged classes. If no laws are

The

enacted to prevent the one-story crowding, and the many-storied crowding which will undoubtedly follow in its wake, we shall indeed be confronted by such conditions as have done incalculable harm in the older cities, and which with just a little foresight and common sense might be prevented here. reckless zeal of a few individual landlords should not blind the community at large to the fact that congestion of any kind means but one thing, physical ill-health and moral depravity. Now is the time to pass and enforce laws which will insure enough air to the members of a household (the nurse found twenty-three sleepers in two tiny rooms); will provide for proper plumbing; and will limit the amount of a lot that may be covered with dwellings. -Charities and The Commons, December, 1905.

THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING, DECEMBER 15, 1905.

The retiring President, Dr. Jos. M. King, had requested Dr. Woods Hutchinson of Redlands, Cal., to deliver an address before the Association at the annual meeting. Dr. Hutchinson chose as his subject, "The Guild of Physic" and after tracing the historical development of our profession, took under consideration some present day tendencies and conditions, portraying in excellent manner, not only the strong but the weak points of the profession's mode of being and ethics. The address was full of pungent thought and suggestion and, like Dr. J. N. McCormack's talk along somewhat similar lines, was listened to with rapt attention. At the conclusion of the address, a vote of thanks was tendered the lecturer by the Association.

Under new business, Dr. J. A. McMcGarry discussed the advisability of a credit association among the physicians of the community, but no action was taken by the Society.

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The Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws by which, one, the annual dues were made five instead of four dollars; two, whereby but fifty cents was annually transferred to the medico-legal defense fund, thus allowing two dollars for the State Society, fifty cents for the Medico-Legal Defense fund, and two dollars and fifty cents for local needs; three, allowing the Council to elect honorary members, this honorary membership, however, not carrying with it membership in the State Society, at the expense of the County Association, and four, making the Secretary an ex-officio member of

the Council as well as the Board of Trustees, were all duly passed.

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The polls for the annual election were open from 12 m., to 6 p.m., at 324 Douglas Bldg., and from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at the meeting place of the Association, in the Art Gallery of the Blanchard Bldg., 4th floor, 233 South Broadway.

The tellers appointed were Doctors Hill Hastings, C. A. Jenks, Caroline McQuiston and H. G. McNeil.

The Board of Tellers reported 172 ballots cast, eleven of which were defective. The Association instructed the Board of Tellers to count such votes as did not conflict, and the Tellers then reported the following members elected to office for the year 1906: President, Dr. F. C. E. Mattison of Pasadena, Cal.; Secretary, Dr. Raymond G. Taylor of Los Angeles; Councilors. (for three year terms), Dr. Stanley P. Black of Pasadena, Dr. George L. Cole of Los Angeles and Dr. Claire W. Murphy of Los Angeles.

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The referendum ordered by the Council, one, as regards contract work of physicians for lodges, at prices lower than the regular rates in the fee tables; and two, in regard to contract work at stated salaries by physicians, for mining and other corporations, both failed to be effective, since a total vote of one-half the membership, that is, 160 votes, was necessary and only about 150 votes were cast on these questions.

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The Council at its meeting of December 21st, re-elected Dr. John C. Ferbert as Treasurer of the Association, elected Dr. E. R. Smith to the Membership and Dr. A. Fenyes to the MedicoLegal committee.

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Physicians who were recently elected as members of the Los Angeles County