We make the broad statement that more harm than good is done by the attempt of any secular paper to educate the masses on medical or surgical subjects.

Akin to this species of advertising is the public lecture or more recently designated "Talks to the People." This is another philanthropic move much in vogue and the enterprising but strictly ethical and non-advertising members of the profession take to it quite readily. We note a scheme now on foot among a few youngsters in this city for bringing the glorious tidings to the dear people in a series of forthcoming "Talks."

We are already promised several for the near future. It seems that one gentleman especially favored with surgical knowledge is to appear soon before the masses and let the people know the advances that have been made in surgery; its recent achievements, and its improved technique.

To illustrate more forcibly these truths the case of President McKinley will be used for an example. Of course none of the illustrious men connected with the unfortunate case will be the orators on the occasion -but certainly an abler man than any of these will instruct the people, as he should. Now we make no strictures as to the right of the papers or of the individual to advise or harangue the populace, but we do question the value of such performances, believing that they are harmful to all parties concerned.

The ambitious and penurious doctor may feel called upon to gather his crowd and tell them what he knows about tapeworm, tubercle bacilli, and appendicitis; but, if he will cast his eyes around him he will observe that he is a poor competitor with the fellow on the other corner who draws a bigger crowd with his Sambo banjoist and has medicine on hand for sale then and there. A physician should be decent and ethical and scientific, and not vie with the Salvation Army man or street fakir for their honors and emoluments!

MUSICAL DENTISTRY.

THE Paris correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph is quoted by the New York Tribune as follows: "Musical dentistry is the latest discovery here. Although your readers might believe the contrary, the idea is quite a serious one. It has been taken up by a well-known physician, who expounded it before the Paris Academy of Medicine, and it has thus received the sanction of high scientific authority. The method consists of drawing teeth to the sound of sweet music. A usually trying operation becomes, it is stated, not only painless, but quite pleasant, when conducted in this way. The physician addressed the Academy meeting on behalf of a Paris dentist, who has already applied the musical method with success. The idea of the new process was first suggested by observation of patients under the influence of anæsthetics, the drug used being nitrogen monoxid in vapor. As is known, the incipient effect of the latter is to produce in nearly every case disagreeable, sometimes almost unbearable, sensations, resembling those experienced in nightmare. The dentist in question came to the conclusion that this preliminary ordeal of bad dreams at the beginning of the anaesthetic influence was caused by the perception of noises around by the mind when in a state of still partial consciousness. Why not soothe the patients into the required condition. of temporary oblivion by sweeter sounds? The dentist tried the experiment, and he and his patients were alike charmed with the result. The latter were as good as gold; the tooth-pulling operations, not being interfered with by the groans or contortions of the sufferers, were performed with the greatest ease, and on recovering consciousness, all that the patients remembered were bars of the "Lohengrin" overture, for example, still softly singing in their ears. The new method having been invented, nothing remained but to bring it to its greatest possible pitch of perfection. The obvious difficulties in the way of dentists keeping bands, solo singers, and

choirs on the premises were avoided simply by means of powerful phonographs. Now the operator, whose new method has been revealed to the Academy of Medicine, regularly uses a machine of this kind. The patient puts the tube to his ears, the music is started, the gas administered, and shortly afterward the occupant of the once dreaded dental chair awakes from pleasant dreams to see the smiling surgeon showing him his tooth. Of course a varied choice of musical selections can and, indeed, should be made to suit different temperaments and teeth. Without going into these particular questions, the physician spoke quite enthusiastically about the new process to the assembled academicians. He is eager to apply the musical method to surgical operations in general. He intends making experiments of his own in this direction, and he hoped that some of his hearers would do likewise.-Med. Record.

ARABIAN DATES.

A CORRESPONDENT, W. D., of the St. James Gazette (London) writes interestingly of the marriage of the date palms, and says:

"Beautiful in the extreme is the date forest. The date palm is a garden poem. There is nothing of the somber green of the olive, and nothing of the monotonous depth of the verdure of the orange foliage in this unique tree, the darling of the Arab cultivator. The mutation of tint effects is infinite, and enraptures the artistic eye. The gorgeous colors of the Oriental sunrise seem to dance tremulously on the vividly green pendulous fronds. Those long lanceolate leaves at the meridian cast a network of dark shadows, in which the Arab loves to plant his dusky tent, or to rig up a rough little booth. The hot desert glare renders the refuge welcome in those long groves where, like cathedral pillars, the symmetrical columns soar up. The stems reach varying heights between 50 and 80 feet before a branch curves forth.

Then the huge feathery crown shoots out, drooping with matchless grace on all sides. The leaves are commonly 10 feet in length.

"The Mesopotamian and Jezirah Arabs have during the last two decades discovered what a mine of wealth they possess in the plantations, and they have taken eagerly to to process of careful cultivation. New extensions are each year opened up, and irrigation is rapidly increasing. The vitality of the tree is extraordinary. Many specimens live a hundred years. The most singular process in the culture is the 'marriage of the palms,' which, in the blossoming period of springtide, gives the date gardener plenty to do if he would have a fine crop. The male trees, or pistillate palms, are much more numerous than the staminate. To accelerate the fertilization the husbandman must climb tree after tree and sprinkle the pollen while the bloom is at the fullest.

"Thus the region which is traditionally the cradle of the human race, reputed to carry hidden in its bosom the site of the lost Paradise, nurtures with prodigal generosity a real tree of physical life for the people who still haunt its romantic plains, and encamp beside its splendid rivers. No Arab has a meal if he can help it, of which dates do not form a part. But this date is a food tree even apart from the actual ripe fruit. A delicious viand is prepared from the terminal buds of the trunk, which are of great size, and possess an almond flavor. Fine vinegar is made from old dates, and so also is a delicate kind of syrup, much prized by a race who are positive epicures with regard to sweets and dietetic commodities. The hard elongated stones of the fruit are ground up for cattle food. Nothing is wasted. When the grand old tree comes to its death, every particle is utilized. From beginning to end the Arab knows how to make the utmost of his resources derived from his date garden."

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TOMATOES.

TOMATOES according to The Pacific The Pacific Health Journal, are valuable as food, not on account of their nutritive power, which is quite small, but is a relish. While ordinarily classed as a vegetable, the tomato is botanically a fruit.

Persons having a tendency to acidity of the stomach, may suffer from sour stomach and burning as a result of using tomatoes, not from fermentation, but because the tomato stimulates the glands of the stomach to an increased production of hydrochloric acid. This seems to be especially the case with very early or very late tomatoes, and with canned tomatoes. As with many other foods, the tomato is not so good out of season.

Many people experience distress as a result of combining potato and tomato, the explanation usually given being that the acid of the tomato interferes with starch digestion.

The belief that tomato causes cancer is without any foundation whatever. Aside from its effect on acid stomachs and the irritating effect its seeds sometimes have on inflamed conditions of the intestinal tract, the tomato is harmless.

THE SEEDLESS APPLE.

THERE may be nothing new under the sun, but people are constantly finding out things they did not know before. In other words nature is revealing from time to time from her great store-house of secrets many things which to us seem new and hence to talk of the seedless apple is something new. Says The Farmer's Tribune:

"A branch of an apple tree heavily laden. with fruit buds has recently been exhibited at Sedalia, Mo. This is apt to create quite a sensation among fruit growers, as it is a scedless apple and is possessed of many excellent qualities over the other numerous varieties of apples. One of its many ad

vantages is the fact that it does not bloom, so that it is incapable of suffering from early spring rains which affect other varieties by washing the pollen out. Its keeping qualities are said to be marvelous, easily retaining its advantages for a year. It is also a young and heavy bearer and hardy. The exhibit was made by W. F. Jackson, who possesses the only stock of this apple in existence and it originated from a chance seedling."

THE TZIGANE IN ROUMANIA.

THEY are always gay, and bring merriment wherever they go, and therefore, in spite of their somewhat evil reputation, are generally welcome. Hostelries and fairs are often thronged by these gaudy visitors, whose nudity is barely covered by their bright-colored rags, whose jokes are loud and spirited, and whose recklessness is unequaled. The Tzigane women are versed in the secrets of witchcraft and magnetism. Oral tradition has had much to do with their success, and they appear to practise in an uncouth way many of the rites attributed to the Thessalian magicians, which, coming primarily from Egypt and India, played a conspicuous part in Greek mythology. When they desire to call down a curse on any one they fear or dislike, they hang a long red rag at the door of their huts, a survival probably of the famous red mantle hung by the priests of Samothricia at the door of the temple when the god was angry with the city and its inhabitants. They bewitch the waters. of wells and rivers, and, like the dark sorceresses of the Middle Ages, whom Michelet so eloquently describes, they mix their love philters of the blood of animals and birds, and persuade some rude Tristan to pursue, or forget, his Isolde. They pretend to influence the elements and to sow death among the cattle. While they are casting their spells and bewitching the neighbors, the men and the children penetrate into

the yard of the rich farmer and steal his poultry. Thus the Tzigane are a double curse to the existence of the Roumanian peasant; while the man robs him, the woman gains a strong influence over him through his imagination and superstitious fancies, which no reasonings of religion can combat.—The Contemporary Review.

into Italy, and they were introduced into this country about the year 53. Filberts were so named from Phillebert, King of France. The quince, called cydonia, from Cydon, was cultivated in this country in Gerard's time. The red queen apple was so called in compliment to Queen Elizabeth. The cultivation of the pear is of great antiquity, for Pliny mentions twenty different kinds. Most of our apples came originally from France.

FRUITS.

NEARLY all fruits, if perfect and thoroughly ripe, says Health, are, in their raw state, sweet enough to satisfy any unperverted taste; they are also more palatable and more healthful than when cooked and sweetened. The pear, the peach, the cherry, the strawberry-each is richest in flavor when unchanged by heat, and made ripe and perfect by the rays of the sun. As regards the introduction into this country of many well-known vegetable productions, Thomas Lord Cromwell, in the reign of Henry VIII., enriched our gardens with three different plums. In the reign of Elizabeth, Edmund Grendall, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, transplanted hither the tamarisk. Oranges were brought into England by one of the Carew family. To Sir Walter Raleigh we are indebted for that useful root the potato. Sir Anthony Ashley first planted cabbages in this country. The mulberry is a native of Persia, and is said to have been introduced in 1576; the almond was introduced in 1570, and came from the East. The chestnut is a native of the South of France. The walnut is a native of Persia, but the time of its introduction is unknown. The apricot came from America about 1652. The plum is a native of Asia, and was imported into Europe by the Crusaders, and the damascene takes its name from the city of Damascus. The alpine strawberry was first cultivated in 1760; the peach is a native of Persia. The nectarine was first introduced about 1562. Cherries are said to have come originally from Cerasus, a city of Pontus, from which Lucullus brought them

THE USE OF STERILIZED OLIVE OIL IN ABDOMINAL SURGERY.

THE employment of olive oil in abdominal operations is beginning to attract considerable attention, especially among French surgeons. Dr. M. T. Brennan, professor of gynecology at Laval University, and gynecologist to the Hospital, Notre Dame, has used it with much success for many years, dating even back to the preantiseptic period. The practice first originated with an American surgeon, who thought by employing sterilized olive oil in abdominal operations adhesions between pelvic and abdominal organs might be prevented. Dr. Brennan says he has derived much benefit from its use, especially in laparotomies. He also makes general use of it in operations where surfaces operated upon are in an irritable state; where there is much exudation of lymph, and where the intestines are irritated or inflamed, or there is peritonitis. His purpose in using it is to subdue existing inflammation and prevent new inflammatory outbreaks. He believes it prevents the development of germs, and also serves as a nutritive support to the patient by being absorbed. It also facilitates the removal of drainage gauze. He uses it in variable quantities in these cases -even as much as a pint has been poured into the abdominal cavity. He applies it also with a small compress, or with the hand or fingers in such a way as to bring it in contact with all the pelvic organs, and espe

cially denuded surfaces covered with exudates. In the purulent adhesions of adnexa, peritonitis, and in suppurative or adhesive conditions of the appendix, he claims the oil produces encouraging results. Sterilization is accomplished under fifteenpound pressure, at a temperature of 250° Fahrenheit.

THE EFFECTS OF TOBACCO ON GROWING BOYS.

QUITE recently a committee appointed by the Lancet has been investigating the subject, led thereto by the many sensational stories in the public press of England and America. They report that a very careful search has failed to elicit the slightest evidence that cigarettes are injurious because of any foreign poisonous ingredients contained in them. Tests for opium, arsenic, and other alleged ingredients were made, but they were negative in every instance. The only injurious substance found was tobacco.

We may then regard it as settled that whatever harm is done by the cigarette is done by the tobacco of which it is composed, and not by the rice paper in which it is wrapped or any foreign poison which it contains.

Having thus disposed of this preliminary question, we are now ready to consider the real subject-namely, the effects of the use of tobacco upon immature and growing boys. And here we are not at a loss for evidence, and that of a most unimpeachable character.

From the measurements of 187 men in the class of 1891, Yale College, Dr. J. W. Seaver found that the non-users of tobacco gained in weight during the college course 10.4 per cent. more than the regular users, 6.6 per cent. more than the occasional users. In height the non-users increased 24 per cent. more than the regular users, and 12 per cent. more than the occasional users. In increase of chest girth the non-users had an advantage of 26.7 per cent. and 22 per

cent. and an increase of lung capacity of 77.5 and 49 per cent. respectively. These facts in regard to the dwarfing effects of tobacco are corroborated by the observations on the class of 1891, Amherst, made by Dr. Edward Hitchcock. He found that in weight non-smokers increased during their course 24 per cent. more than the smokers; in increase in height they surpassed them 37 per cent.; in gain of chest, 42 per cent.; and in gain of lung capacity, 75 per cent. In Yale only 22 per cent. of those reaching the highest grade in scholarship were users of tobacco, while 85 per cent. of the lowest grade used it.

At the Polytechnic School in France it was found that the non-smokers took the highest rank in every grade, that the smokers continually lost grade. Hence the use of tobacco was prohibited in the public schools. It was also prohibited in our government schools at Annapolis and West Point. It is stated that one-fifth of all the boys who apply for admission to the Naval Academy are rejected on account of irregularity in the heart's action, and this, the surgeons claim, is caused almost universally by smoking cigarettes.

OZONE, which proves of value in many respiratory diseases, can be obtained extemporaneously, Stockwell says, by taking a bunch of ordinary friction matches, tying them together, dipping them in water, and suspending from the ceiling in the centre of the sick-room.-Med. Times.

THE fourteenth annual meeting of the Tri-State Medical Society of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, will be held in Birmingham, Ala.. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 8, 9 and 10, 1902. The indications point to a program of unusual interest.