51 ; Patrick Henry, statesman, 57; William Thomas Green Morton, discoverer of ether, 72; Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the , Registration and sculptor, 67, and Roger Williams, the minister, a leader in Hospital Service liberal religion and founder of Providence, R. I., 66. The only woman who received enough votes to place her name on the COMING EXAMINATIONS roll was Alice Freeman Palmer, the educator, who received Delaware: Dover, Dec. 14-16. Sec., Reg. Bd., Dr. P. S. Downs, 53 votes. Dover. That Morton, together with our most beloved Mark Twain, Florida: Gainsville, Dec. 6-7. Sec. Reg. Board, Dr. W. M. Rowlett, 812 Citizens Bank Bldg., Tampa. should have received more votes than any other candidate Illinois: Chicago,. Dec. 6-7. Director, Mr. Francis W. bhepardson, Capitol is a omen for the medical and Bldg., Springfield. particularly good profession, Louisiana: New Orleans, Dec. 2-4. Sec, Dr. E. W. Mahler, 1551 it is to be hoped that in future elections the names of our Canal St., New Orleans. Maryland: Baltimore, Dec. 14. Sec, J. McP. Scott, 137 W. Wash¬ other great pathfinders in and may not be ington St., Hagerstown. forgotten. Such names as McDowell, Marion Ohio: Columbus, Dec. 1-3. Sec, H. M. Platter, State House, Ephraim J. Columbus. Sims, Benjamin Rush and Walter Reed all deserve a place Virginia: Richmond, Dec. 14-17. Sec, J. W. Preston, 511 McBam among the immortals in America's Hall of Fame. Bldg., Roanoke. S. Adolphus Knopf, M.D., New York. GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION Special Conference of the Council on Medical Education Queries and Minor Notes and Hospitals A conference called by the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals was held at the University Club, Chicago, Anonymous Communications and queries on postal cards will not Thursday, Nov. 11, 1920, to discuss ways and means of pro¬ letter be noticed. Every must contain the writer's name and address, minimum courses of but be viding graduate instruction in the these will omitted on request. various medical specialties. Thirty-three prominent medical educators and university representatives were present. In THE TREATMENT OF SYCOSIS determining what the minimum course of graduate training in each specialty should be, it was decided that the work of To the Editor:—I have a case of sycosis vulgaris, nonparasitiç, which on seems to resist all forms of treatment. Can you or any of our readers each committee should be carried largely by correspon¬ suggest anything that might help my patient? dence and that, after the ideas of all members have been C. H. J. Barnett, M.D., Philadelphia. obtained, a final report could be drafted either through corre¬ Answer.—Simple sycosis, as ringworm sycosis, is always spondence or at a meeting of the committee. In the discussion it was very difficult of cure. The ordinary methods of treatment are stated that of the 3,000 graduates each epilation, antiseptic washes, such as mercuric chlorid solu¬ year about 10 per cent., or 300, would be required to in tion, and antiseptic salves, such as ammoniated mercury oint¬ meet the demand all the specialties. It was believed that ment. The cure of a well established case of sycosis by such abundant facilities were available to train these men, a method is difficult,. and if successful requires unending although at present all these facilities were not well persistence and patience. Sycosis can usually be cured organized. quickly by using roentgen rays or radium to the point of Two quite distinct needs were pointed out for each com¬ causing epilation of the hairs in the affected bearded area. mittee to consider; namely, the proper training for those This is the only method that gives prompt results ; but it preparing to practice the specialty, and the providing of short must be used with caution so as not to overdo it. If so used, review courses for those already established in such practice. good results are obtained without damage to the skin. It was urged that the work be on the basis of genuine grad¬ uate instruction and that the student should be encouraged to do his work independently, so far as possible. "LEPSO"— EPILEPSY CURE Rather than the establishing of definite courses . of a pre¬ scribed 'minimum To the Editor:—Kindly tell me whether or not the preparation Lepso, of hours, it was deemed important that the the of has prepared by Lepso Company Milwaukee, Wis., been sub¬ student should carry on continuous work for a of to and what it contains. period jected analysis if so months or years. The student should be the Ernest Cole, M.D., Winchester, Ky. encouraged by instructor to work out clinical problems for himself; he should be Answer.—The Lepso humbug was dealt with in The Jour¬ given adequate assistance in acquiring skill in and the matter has been in the examinations and in the use of instruments; he should be nal, June 12, 1915, reprinted drilled pamphlet "Epilepsy Cures" (10 cents). Like most "epilepsy in the technic of operations, but, in particular, empha¬ sis should be on was found the Association's chemists to be placed recognizing the indications for cures," Lepso by tions. opera¬ essentially a bromid mixture. It was found to contain the' of 51 of bromid to the dose. Each committee was reminded that the standard of prepara¬ equivalent grains potassium tion desired was a minimum standard and not an imprac¬ ticable ideal. Doubtless, many of the students would not be in has been satisfied The Duct Sign Mumps.—Attention recently with the minimum but would voluntarily devote more drawn to the fact that in cases of mumps the orifice o£ time to special preparation. It -was stated that the final Steno's duct becomes red and inflamed. This appearance reports of the committees would be presented at the annual was noticed in 96 per cent, of fifty-seven hospital cases. But conference of the Council, to be held in Chicago, March 7 to what extent this sign can be regarded as pathognomonic and 8, 1921. of the disease is still doubtful, for it may also be apparent in The attention of the conference was called by the Council a certain number of normal individuals. Its value as a symp¬ to the minimum standard of training-for be otolaryngologists, tom would seem to limited to confirming the diagnosis reported recently by a special committee made up of repre¬ when specific parotitis is present. Observation, nevertheless, sentatives of the several American associations of specialists has shown that it develops and disappears under the influence in otolaryngology. of the disease, and that it appears early, sometimes before Discussion was given also to the character of a certificate manifest. The or the enlargement of the gland has become fact, degree to be granted to such as should complete however, that the symptoms of mumps are extremely typical, satisfactorily the course of training in any particular presenting but little difficulty in diagnosis, probably accounts specialty. The conference was opposed to the multiplication for the failure hitherto to notice the changes in Steno's duct of degrees, but voiced the opinion that the Master of Science which are now held to be associated with the disease.— (M.S.) degree might be granted with or without 1920. the designating Med. Press, Oct. 20, for which it was granted. It was

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