the treatment of consumption; a committee was appointed at once, the aid of other medical societies and influential medical men was solicited; in due time a proper bill was framed, and presented to the proper committees at our State Capital. It is needless to add that hesitation was manifest; this bill it seemed did not appeal to the august assembly at Jefferson City, and seemingly found its way to the usual pigeon hole; perseverance won the day, however, an intelligent committee took the matter in charge, and in due time the hopelessness of a few years before turned to the hopeful. Fifty thousand dollars has been appropriated for such a sanatorium by the State, the location purchased, and work begun, so that Missouri is now in the line of progression that other states have shown, in the subject of educating and treating the poor and unfortunate consumptive. Time will show its gratitude and appreciation indirectly to this society for the thought, ways, means and work in this accomplishment.

Benevolence in act and feeling, has been our slogan; how could it be otherwise with us, beginning our medical career as we have among those who represent the poorest of the poor in most instances, and we are at all times interested in seeing that those so unfortunate. are shown proper consideration as charges of our city.

At our last regular meeting, the Committee on Municipal Affairs and Public Health made some recommendations for future work of our society, to which opinions expressed we must heartily concur. An abstract of such recommendations bears repetition tonight, and is as follows:

1. That the crusade of Collier's Weekly and Ladies' Home Journal against patent medicines be endorsed and resolutions of commendation adopted.

2. That the policy of down-town druggists heralding patent medicine departments, and allowing quasi-medical practitioners to use stores for headquarters, while at the same time soliciting business from the profession, be severely censured.

3.

That the use of all utensils in common be abolished, particularly, the cigar cutting machine, in cigar and drug-stores, etc.

4. That we insist in the enforcement of the antispitting law.

5. That a city tuberculosis sanatorium be established.

6. That the smoke inspector's office be awakened by a resolution.

7. That the over-crowded condition of the insane asylum be relieved.

8. That the present coroner's system be abolished in Missouri and the medical exam

iner's system of Massachusetts be substituted.

9. That the reform of the medical expert question should be agitated and freely discussed, with a view of regulating same legally and professionally.

The above appeals to all of us no doubt, and I am pleased to state that the report has borne fruit indirectly, for within the week antispit agitation has begun and arrests are being made, and our smoke inspector's office does not seem to be yet in a hopeless state of hibernation, as some activity there has become manifest, so reported, if not seen, as yet.

Fellow members, we have much work before us, not confined alone to the simple discussion of matters medical, but it occurs to all that a greater activity must be shown by us in properly educationg the people to the baneful effects to health resulting from promiscuous expectoration, and the deleterious effects on the respiratory apparatus of these chunks of soot that are ever present in the atmosphere surrounding our city. The Civic Improvement League is doing its duty; unfortunately it is regarded as a society solely for beautifying and making our city pleasantly habitable; no matter what else is undertaken by it, it is not apparently regarded in a serious vein by our people. Be neat about your person, morals, and surroundings, just so you and our city will look and be looked upon as being inodel, seems to be the way their mission is wrongly regarded; their work in sanitation and health law enforcement is not accepted seriously, though it is good, and their work is perfect in getting at it, if not getting the results; honestly, and unfortunately for it being so, the term Civic Improvement League seems in the minds of people as being solely identified with school gardens, potato and vegetable patches, boxes. on the streets for depositing refuse, ash pits, garbage cans and matters generally esthetic. Granted that this work is thoroughly commendable and a necessity and has in all of our minds approval and hearty approbation, but people in many instances, don't want to be nice, so to speak, just for niceness sake. They listen with attentive ear, to the various lectures, forget in due time the teachings, and the mission is lost in such work pertaining. to health when such a body is depended upon entirely to talk upon and instruct on health subjects.

It then falls in great part to such societies as this to bring about law enforcement of heath laws and affairs, and it can not be again said that should we lend our aid as an organization, to see that the antispit and antismoke ordinance is enforced, from a

standpoint of health injury, that much more might be accomplished than what has been, for people fear that something that will injure their precious selves.

Who are the spitters that we must fear? The poor, ignorant fellow, that spits openly, at home, in street and public places and conveyances alike? The one that is usually arrested, not altogether for expectorating, perhaps half drunken, and knows no better, and upon whom the law inflicts its $1.00 fine, or stays it, perhaps, without his understanding the import of his arrest; he thinks no doubt that the infliction was due to a lack of the finer senses on his part; in other words, he was caught, and arrested for not being nice, he will spit again, more often, just out of spite; look at the recent arrests and judge. No, the man to be taught the lesson, is the one clothed as a gentleman, and to all appearances such, or should be, who, in his own domicile knows his sense of duty, but when in public places or on cars, seeks in the fascinating manner some dark corner, or perhaps, with hand to side of mouth coughs and uses the space between the car window and

casing as a cuspidor. There is the dangerous one, and the proper subject for the law's vengeance; such would be an example worthy of the law. That is the type of cattle we must reach, else the antispit ordinance becomes a farce.

This ordinance had practically its birth in this society and I can say that it becanie a law through the joint efforts of this society and the Civic Improvement League. We are then in part responsible for its birth, and it is our duty to see that education, and mild means, at first, be tried to enforce it, and if that is not adequate, the law's force must be

inflicted.

We also have an anti-smoke ordinance and a person, so-styled inspector, with many assistants, who are clothed with proper authority to enforce the law to the letter; such reads like a dream-it is nevertheless true. The lay press has fought and fumed and talked itself to proverbial blueness, in a seeming meaningless manner, of the smoke nuisance; its work has borne no fruit, for today St. Louis sees more dark and dirty days, than ever before, due to that ever with us miserable blanket of soot, soiling everything and everybody, driving business men almost to distraction by the damage done, and the rest of us have long since ceased our attempts at personal cleanliness, in many instances it has created more scientific cussers, and why? just because of lack of law enforcement. But why should factories he expected to comply with a law that our city does not regard? Take as example, the Court House

on Broadway and Market; the old funnel works over time in impregnating the atmos. phere with its filth. phere with its filth. I will say that the new City Hospital has smoke consumers.

The smoke abatement will never be solved on the talk of neatness, and I think we have the proper argument that will more quickly lead to its solution, the health cudgel must be intelligently and persistently used.

Many thousand tons of soft coal are burned in St. Louis daily; to every 100 tons of such coal one ton of soot is thrown into the atmosphere, so I have been informed. Is there any wonder that plant life does not thrive in our down town section? That has been demonstrated time and again at our

city hall and court house gardens; trees and grass refuse to grow. Is then such an atmosphere a proper one for human life, for those beings that are forced to live in it? It is not necessary to say more on this subject, but the smoke ordinance must be enforced on health lines if it is to meet with its intent.

A problem more serious and of greater import menaces this, as well as other large communities, and sooner or later cognizance must be more generally taken of this vital subject, by the laity, and its appalling results

be better understood.

I refer to the immorality existing especially among the young men and boys and the effect of such that is becoming so commonplace. A frightful prevalence of syphilis and gonor. rhea among these youngsters, every one of us has seen too often in recent years.

It seems that in order to become the true

sport, it is necessary to become so infected; they regard gonorrhea as proper and simple. Syphilis causes but little more thought. Neither disease has ever been properly explained until the person becomes the patient, and then the damage is done.

Too often the physician is not sufficiently plain in his talk to these youngsters, and they, to avoid further trouble, as they think, marry-with the awful results that are appreciated later by all, in too many instances.

What then are we to do as medical men, to call a halt to this syphilizing our young men and boys in which it means suffering to the other sex also. The good minister's talks to young men are wasted on barren soil, young men and boys won't be good, just for good's sake; also the social evil law is a farce even where it is enforced. Take Vienna for instance, such a law exists and so near as I could learn, is enforced to the letter, but that city seems a hot bed of venereal diseases; perhaps it is not the so-called prostitute, but the coy, "soft snap," as we know them here.

ESIS AND FORCES OF LIFE.

R. C. BANKSTON, M. D.

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

to come.

Then again, there is a matter that should receive more than passing attention by the members of this society. I refer to the bill relating to the bond issue, that is at present in the city council for committee action, and which is soon to be acted upon, and in the spring elections voted upon.

This bill has the bridge issue, Kings Highway improvement, hospitals of the city, etc., incorporated in it; it seems the question has arisen, shall each measure be presented separately to the people to be voted upon, or shall all be taken collectively, good, bad and indifferent, and be voted on as a unit? $11,000,000 is the amount to be the bond. issue, of which the institutions, in which this society is interested, shall receive $1,600,000.

As a society we are interested in the last item and we should, it seems to me, bend every effort to have the hospital sum separate from the rest. We are certainly united un this question, and I believe that the people heartily appreciate the necessity for better hospital facilities, and just why we should say nothing on this score, would seem mysterious. As regards the other matters, our individual opinions govern that.

So, gentlemen, with a short presentation of these vital subjects for your consideration, for action and leaving the remainder of the recommendations of our last Committee on Public Health and Municipal Affairs for further consideration in due time, I again thank you.

IN operating for empyema of the pleural cavity, while the place of incision should correspond to the situation of the pus accumulation, it is well to remember that the point of election is immediately in front of the posterior axillary line and on a level with the nipple.

THE threading of catgut or kangaroo tendon through a needle-eye not very roomy may be made easy by cutting the suture end. obliquely and flattening it between the handles of the scissors. Silk must not be cut obliquely, however, for this makes it apt to unravel while it s being threaded.

IN considering the problem of life we must acknowledge perplexity and propound to self the question, what is the psychological future of life-what is the relation of radio-activity or other chemic energy to the genesis of life? What part do psychological forces assume in biogenesis and physiological continuity? Are the underlying primal stimuli of a physiologic and chemic order; or do these and other undiscovered energies, constitute biogenetic vitality? We certainly know more now on this subject than ever before, yet the inquiry, which was too deep for even preliminary investigation by previous ages, is, through science, slowly advancing. Assuming that we may not reach the fountain source, yet the future will disclose con. dition and relations, which will enable us definitely to improve and strengthen the forces of longevity, that the individual, who is free from taints, blemishes and degenerative tendencies, may, with some degree of accuracy live out an expectancy, of several times the present average-its accomplishment is only a matter of time, education and proper consideration.

The ultimate problem of biology, is to analytically trace life back to its units and initiative, and then synthetically convey it through a period of transition here and with spiritual insight, offer a satisfactory solution of ultimate disposition as soul; when this task of science has been performed we may expect to find it sustaining our high ideas of correct morals, and true religious belief, though many varieties of creed and dogma have been advanced, yet no suggestion, nor theory proposed during the ages has changed thought, nor offered solution contradictory to the truth of divine inspiration, and the revealed evidence of a Supreme God. In classification, biogensis may be proposed as psychic, materialistic, and spiritualistic all which, and other theories have at different periods, predominated; at present scientific and religious theories seem to have the field of discussion, as the proper idea and are preRecent resented, more or less plausibly.

searches in this field, and in the kindred field of botany, by Professors Jaques, Loeb and Wm. A. Setchel, of the University of Califorina, relating to lower animal and plant life have disclosed important facts in propagation, development and continuance, which

Read before the Tri-State Medical Society, Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 26, 1905.

seems hopeful of wonderful application to modes of life, and its individual perpetuation for a very extended period, compared with present expectation, their work will be of vast scientific value, when made practical, and applicable to vital requirement.

Man, who typifies the acme of biogenetic effort, is the most perfect of all animate organized structure. We need not reason back to the time when force and matter were primordial units of predevelopment, but, lets take man, from his earliest conceivable state and analyze him biologically. When we delve beyond protoplast we are dealing with the infinite, and infer that elements entering the genetic principles of life, are governed by the same laws, which enables us to trace matter in chemical retrogression, to a point, where no science can apply to further divide its minuteness? Therefore the phenomena of different stages undergone by vital material before it becomes recognizable, is a question of inference, and we can conjecture a common origin and identity for the animal and vegetable organisms until some precomprehensible force, applied by some subtle governing law, diverged their development and made types of animal and vegetable species from one common prototype. We know that germs of vegetation analyzed, show a combination of hydrogen, ammonium and carbon.

Chemi

cal research permits that disclosure, but, beyond that point, science has no apparent possibilities.

The same means discloses the animal protoplast in the pabulum-albuminose, yet the initiative, is beyond the present range of science. In viewing briefly the metamorphoses, we discern that the same soil which yields sweet flowers and pleasant perfume, grows also the malodorous principles of others, and the same soil which grows most needful cereals, other food products and delicious fruits, also grows in near proximity the deadliest poisons. The remarkable feature of this contrast is that the biogenesis of each is governed by laws of such exactness, that no contamination results from proximity. When we wonder at the invariability of such laws we are constrained to marvel at the delicate intricacy of forces entering the genesis of man, yet, both laws are apparently amenable to the same initiative, but differ in mode, and principle, in a manner not understood.

The collaborative existence of the sea anemone illustrates both plant and animal vitality, in one formation, though it is the lowest form of either kind. Lets consider now, the earliest conceivable state of the genetic principles of life, an indefinable microscopic substance called protoplast, progresses, and develops a cell of such minute proportion

that millions of them can occupy a square inch of surface, yet that cell contains every element necessary to develop life, under conditions of pabulum, moisture and heat, when properly connected with its complementary cell of the other gender, and stimulated by a subtle protoplasmic force; the cells multiply and increase progressively, and layers of them are formed, which segmentate and subdivide in multiple ratio, with an exactness which is incomparable, forming masses, which continue to develop by fission, until passive biogenetic life is apparent. These simple forces, through contact of the sexual elements, completes the genesis of life; to watch development into composite vital tissue is a study of much interest to the biologist, who is attempting to define the embryonic vital elements inherent to cells, and which constitute the relation of force and matter for function, in life. The cells of one generation contain the genetic principles of succeeding generations evidenced by descended hereditary traits prevailing through the stream of continuity. Science, has not yet succeeded in reaching the initiative of vital force, nor of the great forces of nature, electricity, sound, gravity, etc., yet such disclosures seems possible in the near future. I shall not attempt to deal with the subject from any except a sociologic and material standpoint, nor do I wish to involve the phenomena attending nor impinge upon different modes, which attain the same end, in cessation of animation and function, with formation of principles which aid in the chemical retrogressive changes required to resolve the body in original biologic forces, and elementary material, with severance of all relation which by combination, under proper conditions make vitality, with faculties, for reason and motion. By union of various forces, concerted action is had, and continues, because biologic energy and chemical ions enter a definite relationship in an exact manner under the ruling of laws, which we assume are not susceptible to modification nor change, but as fixed principles they exist unalterably, our vague idea of these conditions, make plausible the theory of super-mundane forces, or intelligence of occult nature, which are realizable to hypersensitized imaginations, but not thoroughly explainable. Such is the prevalent idea of this unfathomable condition, but of its initiative, we have no definite conception; of creative energy, nothing is knownnot that it is beyond the ken of knowledge, but human intelligence has not attained the exalted state of being able to grasp comprehensively, such propositions as cause and principle of origin. We have many assumptive theories, but no definite knowledge, how

ever, the intellectual world is moving that way more rapidly than ever before, explaining phenomena which are now recognized as simple and natural, yet a few generations back they were considered metaphysical or supernatural. Its mystifying character arouses within us a desire for clearer understanding of omniscience, and all facts upon which the universe and its governance rests. Nothing makes us more inquisitive than desire to know the ultimate disposition of life in man, therefore, the proposition we wish to advance is, the continuance of vital forces in perpetuity, in a manner required for the maintenance of function and furtherance of life's essentials, until force is possibly overthrown by loss of balance in relation, and chaos shall reign supreme. The spirit having dissolved connection with the body, is evolved into space, a potent quantity of nature, whether it maintains entity, or is added to the total of force surrounding us as energy, upon which all life depends for continuance, is a problem. We propose that the subjective principles of mind, continue as entity, and the objective principles of the body are returned to a nascent state as vital principles and may be used and reused, yet as elementary force, it maintains, for continuing succeeding life, and is not conveyed to any other environment. The theory of removal, holding to one form would apply generally, and would soon withdraw from the world, forces required to perpetuate life here. In accord with that idea we advance the proposition of perpetual continuity, through laws of change and transposition. Undoubtedly Pythagorus had in view the elemental theory of vibration, for impelling force, into matter, and resolving matter into organic substance, giving it life and motion, then by further change causing disintegration, for the purpose of using the released elements, for other advances in continuity. The theory that it is susceptible to changes, for uses in fulfilling its destiny, I believe correct, otherwise the atomic and vibratory theories of life are wrong. With such opinion prevailing, we are constrained to believe that with proper conception of the subject of prevention of disease and degeneration, and with elimination of accidental causes of death, we will then invariably maintain, life's functions until its forces are worn out, and natural changes supervene, for resolving the organization into elements for other continuity. The knowledge of coming dissolution will make one seek a proper place for the ordeal, which will transpire as a sequence, to be acquiesced in, as a high duty to posterity, yielding forces, used in trust, for the perpetuation of function, in succeeding life.

How abhorrent is the thought, that we might lose entity, if forces which have maintained animation in the body, were to be dissipated, and should lose all semblance of power, but as we believe to the contrary, we can safely assert that life, through impulse will continue forever, what happy consolation it is to know, that as living power, we shall infuse vigor into animate being, which has not felt the changing force of dissolution, when these propositions are thoroughly studied, there will be more harmony on this subject.

Before we advance too far lets take a retrospective view of the force of immortal life, and speculate as to condition in the unseen, unknown, mysterious realm, which seems unfathomable to human eye and mind; forces, impelling phenomena, which we comprehend, are appreciated correspondingly, yet there are other forces giving momentum to other phenomena, which admit of no solution from any course of reasoning, that intellect can logically bring to bear thereon, our natural intelligence, by intuitive processes, which, baffle analysis, attributes unexplained phenomena to deity, and surmises, that it is an apprehension of revealed evidence of God, which is a constant, indellible truth, and is universally decreed, an integral part of being, its realization even among idolaters, is seen, in some form of fetich, or ceremony, which is either, sublime, ridiculous or brutal in character, and is based on the proposition of continuity in another sphere in other shape and form. I believe it, common theory among some of the savage people, that the spirit of their dead, enters other life, as entity, when really it enters as force. Though scarcely intending to deal with the soul, I find it incumbent to explain my position, or, I am liable to misconstruction. There is a God, supreme and omnipotent, as is evidenced in every act and relation of life; with that premise understood, I wish now to draw the line, between the immortal part of man and the mortal, for which we need deal briefly with the duality of mind, as objective and subjective states. Objective mind, evidently ceases to function at death, and is returned to its primal condition out of the body, while subjective mind, as a potency of ideation, a knowledge, a spiritual soul, exists separate from forces, which were united with it in life, and as soul, continues eternally, never again entering bodily activities, but as spirit, or the unchangeable essence of life, exists forever, and I believe the moral condition of the life tenanted by such soul, will have influence over its happy or sorrowful future in eternity. Any proposition of fact or theory, to be acceptable to