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bat the disease in Indianapolis addressed to Dr. Reynolds and myself is before me. Dr. Reynolds acknowledged the receipt of the letter and this fact and much work has delayed my thanks for this valuable letter. The account shows that Indianapolis like all other cities has some people who do not know and never can know the truth when it is told them. Everywhere we find experienced, conscientious physicians trying to impart to the indifferent, inexperienced and ignorant correct information upon the subjet of vaccination without thought of thanks or reward from those whose lives and property they protect. Nowhere is this more true than in your city. You have met with more than the average success in your efforts in behalf of the public health and Indianapolis is to be congratulated that she has able, experienced and forceful men to safeguard her against the calamitous effects of smallpox upon life and business interests. Inclosed find a dollar for the INDIANA MEDICAL JOURNAL. I like a journal with a live editor. Yours truly, HEMAN SPALDING.

100 State street, Chicago.

Dr. Young, of Newark, Ind. NEWARK, Ind., March 18, 1903. A. W. Brayton, Editor Indiana Medical Journal:

MY DEAR DOCTOR-I was pleased in reading your article in the MEDICAL JOURNAL in regard to smallpox. It is a perplexing task to overcome the braying of consummate asses about "Cuban itch," "Prairie scratches," "Pemphigus," etc. It is a notorious fact that a multiplied number of cases are the result of such bosh. Your mention of purpura called to my own mind a case in which I was somewhat puzzled, but to make sure I shut him up till I could be sure. Fortunately I had only seven cases last year, all of which stopped in the families I found them. I had some war to make them obey but by isolating them was able to report no loss nor any spreading. I had my worst trouble with nine cases of scarlet fever in three families. I am at a loss to know why people are so careless and so disposed to disobey quarantine.

Am not sure that you will remember the writer. You will when I tell you that Dr.

Wishard and Dr. Dunning removed my wife's kidney 11 years ago just now. My wife is still living.

I am wanting to go to New Orleans in May. Do you know if the Indiana physicians are intending to run a special? If so, would be glad to know. With best wishes, I am yours truly, J. B. YOUNG.

NECROLOGY.

Mr. Joseph R. Perry.

Joseph R. Perry, who was prominent in the drug business in this city for thirtytwo years, died March 19th at noon, at his home, 311 East St. Clair street. He was 66 years old. He had been afflicted with diabetes for several years, but his death was due to an attack of the grip, which produced heart trouble. His wife and his children-Dr. Ralph St. John Perry, of Minneapolis, and Mrs. O. C. Richie, of Anderson-were with him when death occurred.

Mr. Perry was one of the founders of the Indiana Pharmaceutical Association and for sixteen years published the Indiana Pharmacist. He was postmaster of the Senate during the last session of the Legislature. He was a Mason and a past commander of Robert Anderson Post, G. A. R.

Dr. David Wall, of Indianapolis.

He

Dr. David Wall, 66 years old, died at his home, 410 North California street, March 19th of paralysis. He had been confined to his home for several weeks. was born in Pennsylvania, but removed with his parents to Ohio when still a child, and there lived until the breaking out of the civil war, during which he served as a surgeon in the Twenty-fifth and One-hundred-and-tenth Illinois Infantry. After the war he removed to Clermont, Ind.. where he practiced medicine until about twelve years ago. He moved then to this city, and had since had his office at 345 Indiana avenue.

Dr. Wall was a member of Center Lodge of Masons, which had charge of the funeral, a member of Anderson Post, G. A. R., and of the Presbyterian church of Clermont. He leaves a widow, Mrs. Margaret

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Wall, and four children-John M., Jesse
D. and Walter E. Wall, of this city, and
Mrs. Laura Crawley, of Danville, Ill.

Death of Senator Gibson from Black Smallpox.

Senator Thomas J. Gibson, of Spencer county, evidently died of variola at the Circle Park Hotel, Indianapolis, March 8th, at 10:20 A. M., after an illness of four days. He was ill with the prodromal symptoms, which were regarded as grip, about March 1st, although still sitting in the Senate, but did not keep his room until March 4th, where he was attended by his friend, Dr. H. Harter, representative from the same region. Not recognizing the nature of this swift and fatal form of smallpox, of which four cases occurred in Indianapolis while the legislature was in session, Dr. Harter, who had no counsel in the case, made a death return of "thoracic hemorrhage." The body waz sent to the mortuary of a local undertaker, where it was visited by Senator Newhouse, of Greensburg, in company with the two adult children of Senator Gibson, all three of whom now have smallpox, that of the children being severe and that of Senator Newhouse being mild, as it is modified by previous vaccination. Senator Newhouse stated to Dr. Hurty, the Secretary of the State Board of Health, who visited him March 31st, that Senator Gibson's body was red, almost plum colored; that his eyes were bloodshot and the conjunctiva congested, also that there were spots on his person.

The embalmer for the local undertakers said at the time that he thought the case might be smallpox, because of the "blood spots (petechia) on the abdomen and thighs" the very locality for such spots in hemorrhagic smallpox. Dr. Bennett, who had the care of the dead Senator's children, wrote to the State Board asking if it was not likely the case was smallpox. Senator Gibson was in usual health preceding this attack of "grip” and this "thoracic hemorrhage." It is to be regretted that the facts were not ascertained before the legislature adjourned, and also that no counsel was called, although the cause of death is absolutely certain as established by the clinical history-prodromes of smallpox, death in the invasive stage; the hemorrhage of the conjunctivæ,

the petechiæ, and the reddened and plum colored skin, and finally the infection of his friend, and of his children.

This is the fourth case of variola purpurica in the Indianapolis epidemic, with death within four days. There have been some ten or twelve deaths from hemorrhagic smallpox in the city, or about 10 per cent. of the total number. The high rate of mortality, 120 deaths in four months or 16 2-3 per cent., and the large number of hemorrhagic cases, is an indication of the great severity of the Indianapolis epidemic. There have been two types of the disease in the city through the winter-the mild Southern type present continuously the last three years, and the virulent Eastern or European form which has proved so fatal and has resulted in the thorough vaccination of our citizens.

Senator Gibson's children and evidently his physician also were not inpressed with the serious nature of the attack. The children arrived on the evening of the 7th, but as their parent was resting, did not awaken him, but visited him about 10 o'clock the next morning, less than half an hour preceding his death, as detailed by Senator Newhouse to Dr. Hurty.

It is noticeable that in the cases of variola purpusica which have occurred in Indianapolis this winter smallpox has followed in the families of the dead. In the Bious case the wife took the disease, died at the hospital and left an orphan girl of two years, who escaped through vaccination. In the Cromer case diagnosed by Dr. N. D. Brayton, the husband had mild smallpox in less than two weeks after the Ideath of his wife. In Dr. N. E. Jobe's case, not yet reported, a man of 60 died within an hour after Dr. Jobe's visit, every inch of his body plum colored, his conjunctivæ protruding and meeting, petechivæ on the arms, abdomen and thighs. And in ten days his aged wife had smallpox. And so with Senator Gibson's family; in two weeks his children developed smallpox. The throats and respiratory tracts of these cases must be highly infective. There is good reason to believe that one of the Knightstown cases died of variola purpurica. Morphia poisoning produces a darkened skin toward the last from asphyxia, but it cannot possibly be confounded clinically with black smallpox.

The editor described several years ago three cases of chlorate of potash poisoning with rapid death, (Dr. Scherer's case in a few hours, Dr. J. T. McShane's case in four days). In all these cases the skin was black; the blood was decomposed; the urine was smokv. There is no other condition, not even purpura fulminans, that simulates black smallpox.

Dr. Herman Mynter.

Dr. Herman Mynter, of Buffalo, died at his home, 466 Delaware avenue, February 9, 1903, of arterio-sclerosis, aged 57 years. His last illness was about two weeks in duration, though he had suffered more or less for nearly eighteen months. He made a tour in Europe during the summer of 1902, which seemed to benefit him, and on his return he resumed and continued at his professional work until within a fortnight. of his death.

Herman Mynter was born in Karebaek, Denmark, took the university degrees at Copenhagen in 1871, served in the medical corps of the Danish navy about two years, and in the army one year, in compliance with the laws of his native land. He came to America in 1875, and immediately located in Buffalo, where he continued to practice his profession until his last ill

ness.

In 1879 he became one of the owners of the Buffalo Medical Journal, and was one of the editors for a few years. He assisted at the operation upon President McKinley at the emergency hospital on the PanAmerican Exposition grounds, and continued as one of the attending staff during the remaining days of the President's life.

Dr. Mynter was twice married, his first wife having died a few years after marriage, leaving two daughters. His funeral was largely attended from his home on Wednesday, February 11th, and the interment was at Forest Lawn.

Dr. Mynter was the author of a monograph on appendicitis, and occasionally contributed articles to this and other journals. He was a man of strong individuality, was well esteemed by his professional colleagues, and had a large circle of friends throughout the city and Western New York.-Buffalo Medical Journal.

(The editor of this JOURNAL was entertained by Dr. Mynter, January 24, '02, at

Buffalo and saw him operate on a case of actino-mycosis. He was a great friend of Dr. Senn. He was genial and kindly, loved by his patients and the profession.)

Dr. Reed's Service to Humanity.

Entirely out of the class to which belong so many private pension bills is one soon to be submitted to Congress in behalf of the widow of Walter Reed, major and surgeon, United States Army. His services to humanity and to his country were very great, for it was due to his energy, intelligence, and courage that the relation between mosquitos and yellow fever was established in Cuba, and not only that island freed-forever, if the measures the efficacy of which he demonstrated are not neglected from a disease that had devastated it for 200 years, but our Gulf and South Atlantic States relieved of a danger that constantly threatened them, and had often inflicted enormous losses of life and property upon their citizens. Dr. Reed did not, like one of his associates, die of the disease from which he saved others, but

he took the chance of doing so without hesitation, despite the fact that, because of a heart affection, he had not for some years past been able to secure insurance upon his life. Certainly the country owes him a debt of gratitude, and a pension that would put his wife and daughter beyond want would be a fitting expression of that feeling. As has been well said, so important was the result of Dr. Reed's work that if this alone were the outcome of our war with Spain, its cost in blood and treasure would have been measurably repaid. Enough popular interest in the pension bill should be shown to insure its passage, and not much effort should be needed when it is found so easy to put on the rolls so many names that cannot pass the far from too searching scrutiny of the Pension Bureau.-New York Times.

Three Eminent Gynecologists: Drs. Davis, of Alabama, Thomas, of New York, and Max Saenger, of Austria. Death has stricken thus early in the opening year three very eminent gynecologists. The obituary notice of Dr. Davis has been kindly written by Dr. L. H. Dunning, of Indianapolis, the president of the

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been Vice-President (1893), a member of the Judicial Council, and Chairman of the Obstetrical Section. He organized the Southern Surgical and Gynecological Society, was its Secretary for 12 years and its President one year. He was also prominent in the affairs of the American Obstetrical and Gynecological Association, having been its president in 1901-02.

In these various capacities he exhibited marked ability. As a teacher he also won distinction, having served a number of years as professor of gynecology and abdominal surgery in the Birmingham Medical College. His practice which was confined to his specialty was large and lucrative. He drew his clientele from his own and many surrounding Southern States.

Personally, Dr. Davis was a most charming man. No one could come in contact with him even for a short time without carrying away the impression that he had met a forceful, loveable character. He was a cultivated gentleman. He was gifted with a judicial mind so that he was able to quickly sift the true from the false. Those who listened to him frequently in debate were impressed with the ease with which he struck at the heart of the subject. He was an investigator, too, being continually occupied with some line of original research. His findings relating to surgery of the liver and biliary passages are well known. Just before his death he had perfected a bloodless method of operating upon the liver by the employment of which Dr. Davis felt confident that operations upon the liver involving extirpation of tumors from that organ or even excising a portion of the organ could be accomplished with safety. At the time of his death he was collecting material for a work upon Surgical Diseases of the Liver and Biliary Passages.

Dr. Davis was married in 1897. He brought his charming wife with him to the meeting of the American Obstetrical and Gynecological Association at Niagara Falls and this was their wedding trip and the Fellows at that meeting in a measure shared in his joy. Later many of us again met him with his wife at Atlantic City.

It is sad indeed to see one so gifted, honored and full of promise die so young, yet his work was well rounded up and was that of a man who had used well the powers be

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DR. THOMAS, OF NEW YORK. The new year has also to record the death of Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, of New York, on February 28th, at his home in Thomasville, Ga.

Dr. Thomas is especially known to Indiana physicians, as he was the warm friend of the late Dr. Thomas B. Harvey, who, throughout his many years of teaching the surgical diseases of women in the Medical College of Indiana, used the work of Dr. Thomas as a text-book, following it closely in his lectures and recommending it to his students.

March 5th the Board of the Woman's Hospital passed the following resolutions to be published in the Record, the Association Journal, and an engrossed copy to be sent to the family:

Resolved, That we record with feelings of the deepest sorrow the death of our associate, Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, President of the Medical Board and a Consulting Surgeon to the Woman's Hospital, which took place at Thomasville, Ga., on February 28, 1903.

Dr. Thomas devoted the best years of his professional life, from 1872 to 1887, to the service of this hospital as an attending surgeon. During all these years his ability as a diagnostician and his brillancy as an operator were the admiration of his colleagues. The results of his scientific work added largely to the reputation of the hospital and greatly broadened the sphere of its usefulness. He merited, and easily won, the confidence of his patients; they trusted him as friend as well as surgeon. His assistants and members of the house staff found him always most kind and considerate; he would oftentimes spare them, but never himself, when unusually laborious work was to be done. He was honorable, unslefish, a noble man, whose precept and whose example alike inspired many a young colleague to strive after the highest ideals that can be set before a physician.

Full of years and of the honors that had

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