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voice said, not very steadily. "That's a sweetheart. I'll come back."

As the door closed, Carothers glanced up. A little girl, a slender little girl with wide, candid brown eyes stood just inside the door. In her hand, clutched tight, was a tiny bunch of withered nasturtiums. Carothers looked and choked. "Marjorie! Little Marjorie!" he said, and caught her in his empty arms.

"Muvver's sick," she said, when his first emotion had spent itself. He had put her in a chair, and dropped on his knees in front of her, his head in the little white lap. "Muvver's sick. I brought her these flowers."

Carothers swallowed hard to find his voice. "Yes, muvver's sick-very sick, baby girl. Maybe maybe she's oh, baby, baby girl, what shall we do without muvver?"

"When the lady comes back, I'm going in, and I'll put the flowers in her hand and go out without talking. Uncle Stevie said if I wouldn't talk, I could go in. I was sick once, and Uncle Stevie gave me bad medicine. I was mad at him. I wouldn't say 'God bless Uncle Stevie' when I said my prayers."

"If you have a prayer to say, say it now," Dr. Hilliard had said.

"Listen, baby girl," Carothers went on. "Muvver is sick, there in that next room. And perhaps, if you would say your little prayer, it would help to make her better. Say it, will you, honey?"

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THE RADIUM TREATMENT OF CANCER. A number of brilliant papers on the therapeutic uses of radium were read at the last International Medical Congress, remarks the editor of the New York Medical Journal. Few of these attracted greater attention than that of Dr. Robert Abbe of New York, who reported his success with this remedy in treating malignant disease. Basing his remarks on some 750 patients including 250 epitheliomas, in various regions, and 180 carcinomas of peripheral tissues, breast, tongue, throat, esophagus, etc.; fifty sarcomas of the skin, parotid, etc.; and various other types of growth, he urged that provided the gamma rays (the alpha and beta rays being removed by filtration through lead, thus producing a form of radiation analogous to x rays and of very great penetrating power) be used and correct doses be the rule, the outlook of this method of treatment was decidedly promising. There is established a retrograde degeneration of the malignant cells, which in a relatively large proportion of cases leads to a cure.

While surgical methods should continue to be

Marjorie slipped out of the chair and dropped given preference wherever at all possible, with

on her little bare knees.

66

"Now I lay me,'" she chanted. "Hold my flowers, will you? I don't want to spoil them. 'Now I lay me down to sleep-'''

As the little prayer went on, the last of the old bitterness slipped away. With the Amen he was on his feet, catching the child up.

"We're going in, Marjorie," he panted. "We don't care for them, you and I. She belongs to us, and we're going to her. We're going to see muvver."

With the child in his arms he took two or three uncertain steps toward the closed door. Then it quietly opened, and Stevenson came out. He was very pale, and his steady eyes looked sunken. Marjorie wriggled gleefully.

"Uncle Stevie!" she cried.

But the two men faced each other in silence. Then Stevenson stood aside and motioned to the door.

"It is over, Billy," he said steadily, "and I think she will live. If you will be very quiet, you may go in there for one minute."

radiumization of the bed of the wound to obtain degeneration of what malignant cells the exposed tissues may contain, the fact remains that radium has earned for itself the position of "next best" with fair promise to outstrip the knife. It has besides many advantages over the latter. As emphasized a few months ago by Williams and Ellsworth (Journal of the American Medical Association, May 13, 1913) the application of pure radium bromide in sufficient amount, properly used, is a painless and efficient method of treating early superficial new growths. This in itself is a distinct advantage over the knife, for a patient will almost invariably postpone surgical methods until the malignant tumor is well advanced, while practically no one would hesitate to undergo the absolutely painless exposures to radium, thus insuring early treatment and increasing greatly the chances of success. Again, radium seems to be more successful when it is the first treatment employed than when it is used after operation, x rays, or other forms of treatment.

NOTES BY

EVENTS AND THINGS

THE WAY

AS SEEN BY THE EDITOR

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Now that Christmas is over we can safely endorse the Society for the Prevention of Useless Giving, or the "Spugs" as it is humorously called. Just now I am spending my spare time in doing Christmas shopping, and am in the spirit to give this organization my heartful and unqualified endorsement. While there should be no man "with soul so dead" as to begrudge the giving of presents to children, the old and the poor, and while we hope the spirit of the Christmastide is in the heart of every one of our readers, it certainly does seem time to call a halt on the millions spent for absolutely useless trash. Go through the great stores and you will see mountains of stuff that is entirely without value, and that has not even the saving grace of beauty. Three-quarters of the presents given away at Christmas probably go into the furnace or the garbage can before another year rolls around-or at least ought to, for many worthless things are saved to cumber our homes just because they are gifts.

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Please keep in mind, however, that our objection is not to giving, it is to useless giving. What a fine thing it would be, what a new and more blessed meaning it would give to this celebration of the nativity of Him who gave his very life for men, if we would take of our over-estimated precious "time" to give something worth while— not inconsequential trinkets-to those who need. How it would help in solving the burning sociologic problems of this wonderful changing era, if we would take advantage of this most appropriate time of the year really to meet, and know, and try to help-not as those doling out charity, but as brethren-those who are a little less fortunate than ourselves. Don't you ever long to do this? Wouldn't you like to help some one solve the great riddle of life? Wouldn't this do as much for you as to send Cousin Nell a box of candy that she won't like, and get from her a volume of Ella Wheeler Wilcox's poems, which you won't read? It is too late to try this method of giving this year that is why we have had the temerity to suggest it! But think it over. You might try

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It ain't the kiddies' Santa Claus nor just an empty purse;

But it's everlastin' 'untin' for some useless bit o' trash

To give pain to friend or neighbor 'o'd much rather 'ave the cash.

But the Spug, wise old Spug, 'ow we thank the thoughtful Spug

Wot's a-teachin' us that givin' ain't so blessed as it looks, W'en most of gifts is gambles-gives a mug an' get a jug

An' w'en we say, "Thank Gord! we've got the fam❜ly off our books."

Wot makes us wish we wasn't born, wot makes us An', long before nex' Christmas, 'ang our bloomin'

'ope to die, socks on 'igh?

It ain't the chanst of poor-'ouse or of 'avin' 'ungry crops;

It's the worryin' an' scurryin' through cheap an' nawsty shops.

But the Spug, good old Spug, 'eaven bless the brave old Spug!

'E 'as got the right idea, with a 'alf 'itch on its tail

That gifts is for the kiddies, with a lovin' kiss an' 'ug,

But grown-ups ain't no business swappin' gin an' beer for ale.

We gives to all an' sundry wot we fears may give

to us,

An' December's one 'alf 'orror an' the other 'alf just fuss.

We don't give a 'oop in 'ades wot we give or wot we get,

But we 'opes to 'elp our conscience or to square a comin' debt.

Be a Spug, don't be a smug, 'ave the courage of a bug. Give to them as loves you truly an' to them as you loves well.

Cold shoulder Mrs. Grundy; she's a chokin' croakin' thug. Fill up the kiddies' stockin's-tell the world to go to 'ell!

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In

own. I mean the renaissance that remarkable period of intellectual enlightenment that followed the discovery of America and the invention of printing with movable types. The sixteenth century produced more intellectual giants than any century that had preceded it, at least since the flowery days of Greece. We need but mention the names of Shakespeare in England, and Dante in Italy, to say nothing of such brilliant lesser lights as Marlowe, Jonson, Ariosto and Petrarch. art the period of the renaissance is still unsurpassed. We have had in our time no man to rival Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Velasquez, Raphael, Titian, Rubens or Rembrandt. And the greatest religious movement since the coming of Christ was the Protestant reformation, which marked an intellectual as well as a moral awakening. Yet great as this age was, we are certainly living in a greater one. The nineteenth century was the golden age of invention-the storehouses of nature were looted in half a century for the benefit of the many and the enrichment of the few. The twentieth century promises a moral awakening which will rival and perhaps surpass that of the sixteenth. What is coming no man knoweth; but that some portentous change is at hand must be apparent to all but those who refuse to recognize the spirit of the times. For this observation I have no "moral." But medicine is simply bubbling with evidences of transition, and it is an encouraging fact that it is now concerned with the problems of right and wrong as much as with the settlement of difficulties of technique or mooted questions of treatment. All of which seems to me a hopeful sign.

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He is an alumnus of Swarthmore college, only recently ripened, and he went there to coach the football team. Swarthmore is in Pennsylvania, a night's ride from Chicago, and a weary night he made of it, looking at the shadowed scenery as it slid by. It was like an over-exposed film that would not leave off running. It was broad day when he got there.

About the only dissipation of Swarthmore students is to go down to the railway and look at the cars. Here were the cars all right, but no students. It huffed him that in the rather impor

tant circumstances there was no reception committee.

Instead, there came around the corner of the station building four large and remarkably developed total strangers, in uniform. One wore whiskers. Another carried a big instrument case. The whiskered one asked him who he was and where he thought he was going. He told them. They told him he was in error. He was not going up to the college. That is, he was not going until they had administered vaccination. The college was under quarantine, for smallpox.

"Old stuff," said he. "We worked that frameup when I was a freshman." And he picked up his suitcase, and started.

Whiskers grabbed him.

"Aw, take 'em off!" said Bob and reached out and grabbed them, and brought away a handful. They were real!

This feazed him a moment, and then he saw through it all. The fellows had hired a strongarm squad to welcome him with bloody hands to a hospital scrap. He would accommodate them; and with that cheerful intent, bing! He jolted Whiskers under the mat, and laid him low.

The next one made a pass at him. He was too "soople" for that, and banged that misguided man's nose flat, with red ink effect. The third man stumbled and hurt himself. The fourth wouldn't come on. He was the guy with the instrument case.

Whiskers got up, dazed, but inspired with respect for the man who owned that mighty fist. "See here," said he. "It's no use. You gotta get vaccinated. It's gaws truth two of the students up there has got smallpox, but I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll go with you to the president, if you'll do what he tells you.

This was puzzling, but seemed fair. He said he would go. They all went. The president said he was sorry, but law was law, and he'd have to take his medicine.

Thereat the man with the box opened it, and sorted out various and gleaming tools. The others stood around eagerly interested. Up went his shirtsleeve, and to it went the doc. He dug a few moments and then looked at the tool, doubtfully. "I don't think I dug deep enough," said he.

Whiskers was sure he hadn't, and said so, holding his hand to his defoliated cheek. The man with the bloody nose concurred. The third man, with a barked knee, was inclined to go farther. "Take a bigger one, doc," said he, "and dig down into his arm half an inch."

It was done even so, and they were satisfied, though sore. He was sore, and by no means satisfied. It is just beginning to take.

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WHO ARE THE BRAVEST?

G. HENRI BOGART, M. D., Paris, Ill.

To joy in the forefront of battle,

Where keen blades, hot heart blood are drinking—
To stand on the deck while the rattle

Of davits, sends women from sinking-
To climb where the fire fiend is sweeping
And reaches the helpless, unshrinking-

To nurse when the plague brings wild weeping
And gaze on its horrors, unblinking-

With plaudits of fellows full ringing,
Bright badges of bravery bringing;
All these win the glory of men.

To toil for the good of the masses
Who answer by cursing the working-
To drag from the gutter grimed lasses
While slander stands smilingly smirking-
To wrest from the plague germ its story
With it, in his life currents lurking
To strive for the altruist's glory
And meet dire disdain without shirking-
Full faithed that futurity's favor
Shall feast from his efforts with savor;
All these call for earnest, brave men.

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PAPERS WORTH WHILE.

SOME GOOD THINGS FROM THE MONTH'S TREASURY:

RATTLESNAKE POISON IN THE

TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY. Thanks to the activity of Spangler, of Philadelphia, the poison of the rattlesnake, generally known as crotalin, is being quite widely used in the treatment of epilepsy. The important points concerning this remedy and its use in this disease are summed up by Dr. Thomas G. Mays, of Philadelphia, in the Medical World. Dr. Mays introduced the remedy to therapeutics, but originally for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Crotalin, says Dr. Mays, is the dried residue of rattlesnake venom. All snake venoms possess analogous physiologic properties, and some of them have been used medicinally, given by the mouth, by our homeopathic colleagues for seventy years, but it is the writer's belief that he had the temerity of first using it hypodermically in the treatment of epilepsy and various other diseases. Pharmacologically, crotalin, or snake venom, is closely allied to the cyanids, and it was in a great measure due to a study of the action of the latter that the writer was led to investigate the clinical behavior of snake venom. The following physiologic effects of dilute hydrocyanic acid have their exact counterpart in snake poisoning: In animals, difficult breathing, giddiness, spasms, convulsions, and death through respiratory paralysis. In man, a feeling of intoxication, drooping of eyelids, loss of power in legs and arms, staggering gait, inability to walk or stand without support, profuse salivation, paralysis of tongue and larynx, embarrassed breathing, impaired swallowing, general paralysis, twitching of limbs, lessening of respiration rate, and finally arrest of breathing, after which there is cessation of the heartbeat.

That crotalin has the power of favorably modifying the course and severity of the paroxysms of epilepsy has been too often verified to admit of any doubt. This is proved by a number of cases which are on record, and which have been free from seizures for periods varying from a few months to two years. This indicates that the good effect of the drug will become permanent, although the allotted time of four years' of free

dom from seizures, which is allotted by some, as a guarantee of permanency has not yet elapsed. It is probable, however, that the agent which is able to force an armistice for two years is capable of lengthening the truce to the required time.

The most important feature in the administration of crotalin in epilepsy is undoubtedly a proper dosage, and it is the writer's opinion that most of the failures which have occurred are due to a disregard of this point.

On the whole, it may be said that epileptics who suffer from petit mal seizures, or if these are combined with grand mal attacks, especially if the former predominate, are more sensitive to the action of crotalin than those who suffer from the grand mal variety alone. This condition, therefore, demands that the dose of the drug be varied in order to meet the difference in susceptibility which pervades these two types of this disease. The following is an illustration of this: Crotalin was given in minimum doses to a patient suffering from both forms of seizures. So long as these were continued, the seizures began to diminish in a month, but as the treatment progressed, and the smaller doses no longer produced the local reaction which was believed to be necessary to bring out the full action of the drug, larger doses were resorted to, and in a short time the attacks instead of improving, became more aggravated than they were before the treatment was started, and crotalin was abandoned. A year later the drug was again given, but in smaller doses, and from last accounts the patient is doing well, not only physically but mentally.

The average hypodermic dose of crotalin for epilepsy is 5 minims of the solution, or gr. 1/100, although this dose is excessive for beginning doses in most cases. In patients with petit mal seizures it is always advisable to begin with 1 or 2 minims, gr. 1/500, or gr. 1/250; but when the petit mal seizures are very numerous, or the patient is a child, administer 12 minim, or gr. 1/1000, every fourth or fifth day. The initial dose, whatever it may be, should be slowly increased to 4 or 5 minims, in the course of six weeks or two months. This dose is to be continued

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