thought and debate. He was recognized as one of our strong men, one of the pillars, one of the giants of the profession; and at the annual banquets no one contributed more than Hadra to the jollity, the merriment, the enjoyment of the occasion with his scintillating wit, his droll humor and his eloquence-forcible, not ornate-for he possessed a certain kind of eloquence that was most impressive. At our festive board for many long years there will be one vacant chair, around which will cluster the most sacred, the most pleasing, memories of dear Hadra. A long farewell, dear, gentle, delightful friend. Thy memory will be ever fresh and green. We beg of the bereaved family the privilege of sharing the grief that wrings their hearts, and of mingling with theirs our tears of sincere affection."

Dr. Hadra left a wife and five children: Dr. Fred Hadra, surgeon United States army; Ernest Hadra, druggist, at Dallas; Mrs. Eyssell, of Kansas City; James Hadra, and a young daughter, Ida.

BIOGRAPHY.

Dr. Berthold Ernest Hadra was President of the Texas State Medical Association in 1899-1900, and presided at the Waco meeting in April, 1900. He was born in Prussia, near Breslau, in 1842; received his medical education in the universities of Breslau and Berlin, from which latter he graduated and where he passed his state examination.

He served as volunteer surgeon in the war against Austria (1866), and afterwards entered the Prussian army service.

In 1872 he immigrated to Texas, where he has since resided. He practiced his profession in Austin, Galveston and San Antonio. He was a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas; held the Chair of Surgery in the old Texas Medical College, and was health officer of San Antonio. His contributions to medical literature are numerous. Aside from a monograph on "Injuries of the Pelvic Floor," he was the first one to devise conservative surgical treatment in place of oöphorectomy, the so-called liberation of the pelvic organs. He was also the first one to propose total eventration of the contents and thorough washing and draining of the abdominal cavity in diffuse peritonitis. Repair of cystocele, perineum, etc., were frequent subjects of papers. To the surgery of the spine he contributed by adding wiring of the vertebræ. He has written also on the surgical treatment of epilepsy. To these many other original contributions, frequently quoted in international literature, may be added, such, for instance, as his paper on the open treatment of torticollis, on non-malignant tumors of the omentum, on relapsing appendicitis, on intestinal and gastric operations, etc.

DR. MURPHY AND THE "CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL” SCHEMERS.

I was much chagrined to learn, when it was too late to correct or suppress it, that in the June number of this JOURNAL, under the heading, "A Sheep-shearing Trust," I unintentionally and unwitt

ingly did Dr. Murphy a great injustice. Murphy had nothing to do with the villainous scheme, but was victimized by a lot of sharpersone of whom, at least, it is stated in the Chicago Record Herald (June 5th), has served a term in the penitentiary for swindling. The Record Herald publishes a cut of the fellow with his prison number 6843. It is said that these fellows are the gang that promulgated a similar scheme at Niles, Michigan, for fleecing the afflicted and hoodwinking the vain and credulous doctors throughout the country, and that they were run out of there by the law. I never heard of any of them before, by name, and just assumed that they were a lot of Chicago unknown sharpers, who had tempted Murphy with a plausible and dazzling scheme to "get rich quick," and seduced him; that it was another case of "a good man gone astray." The very boldness and audacity of the manner in which they used Murphy's name-a copy of his autograph being affixed to the "certificates"-misled me, and I neglected to write to him, as I see now that I should have done, before proclaiming him "President." I thought it was unnecessary; it looked like too clear a case; it looked conclusive. Prima facie the evidence was against him. I learn from a letter from the President of the Chicago Medical Society that that society is doing what they can to convict those fellows, especially Probert and Wood—that is, they are helping the U. S. postoffice authorities to do so; that Probert and Wood are to be tried in October. The writer of the letter (Dr. W. A. Evans, President of the society and chairman of its Medico-Legal Committee) says: "They (P. and W.) are now out under bond. Will you help us to gather evidence in Texas, and will you come to the trial in October? * Will you help us to make the Texas doctors stick, for now they are buying off witnesses by paying back their money."

* *

I tender Dr. Murphy my sincere apologies. I had neglected to read my exchanges that month (for reasons that readers will understand) and was not aware of the facts in the case. I was influenced to write as I did by the reasons stated above and by an editorial in the New York Medical Record (June 16th), in which the writer assumed, as I did, that there was no doubt of the connection with the concern, as president, of a "certain very distinguished surgeon." I will be glad to undo the wrong I have thus done Murphy, and will gladly co-operate with the profession in Chicago in getting up evidence. I wish, therefore, that all readers of this who have received the circulars and decoy "Christian Red Cross Hospital Certificates" and invitations to walk in and be skinned would send them to me. I will forward them to the Chicago Medical Society. The following letter from Dr. G. F. Lydston is self-explanatory, and is here published at his request:

"Dr. F. E. Daniel.

"CHICAGO, ILL., July 6, 1903.

"DEAR SIR: I note in your 'Red Back' an editorial flaying "The Christian Hospital' fake, and incidentally Dr. John B. Murphy. I am astounded that you should conviet Dr. Murphy of complicity in that nefarious scheme. He not only had no part in the infernal fake, but has been instrumental in bringing to justice the scoundrels

who surreptitiously used his name. Why, my dear Daniel, you surely don't think that Murphy is an idiot. No man of intelligence would countenance a scheme that would be simply professional suicide. Murphy has been the victim of a lot of ex-jail birds and others who should be in jail now. Believe me, my dear Daniel, you have fired your cannon prematurely and hit a man who was already hurt to the quick by the malodorous conduct of a lot of rascals. If I thought Murphy capable of such an idiotic, scoundrelly piece of quackery, I'd scratch him off my list. As it is, I am proud to consider him my friend and to be his friend.

"Will you not publish this and thus make reparation?

"Your friend,

"G. FRANK LYDSTON."

IN MEMORIAM.-Dr. I. N. Love-dear, delightful Love, is dead! A star of the first magnitude is blotted out of the firmament; the profession of medicine, the teachers' guild, the fraternity of medical editors, are prematurely robbed of one of their brightest, best, most valued, most loved members. Oh, the pity of it! That he should have been so suddenly, so unexpectedly, cut off in the prime of his mature manhood, in the zenith of his fame, at ebb-tide of his personal popularity! We mourn his loss, and will not be comforted. Dr. Love was the most magnetic, the most lovable of men. His personal influence was something remarkable. He drew men to him irresistibly, and his friends all over the world are "like the leaves of the forest when summer is green." "None knew him but to love him, none named him but to praise." A long farewell-dear, genial, beloved I. N. Love!

Dr. Love was 55 years of age. He was a graduate of the Medical Department of Washington University, St. Louis, of the class of 1872, a protege and student of the celebrated Professor Hodgson. He had been President of the American Medical Editors' Association; member for many years of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association; member of the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association; first vice-president of the American Medical Association; member of the Board of Trustees of the First Pan-American Medical Congress; Professor of Diseases of Children, Clinical Medicine and Hygiene in MarionSims Medical College; and at the time of his death was a successful practitioner in New York City and teacher in one of the post-graduate schools and hospitals. He founded Love's Medical Mirror in St. Louis fourteen years ago, made a beautiful and brilliant success of it, and to the date of his lamented death it delighted its thousands of readers by its wholesome, cheering optimism. Dr. Love was returning from Paris, where he had been as physician to a wealthy lady, and died suddenly on board of the steamer "Aurania" just before she entered the harbor at New York. Mrs. Love is a Texas woman, of Marshall, Texas. The last thing Dr. Love did before he was stricken down was to make a speech. He was famous for delightful extemporaneous speeches.

READS LIKE A NOVEL.-Dr. Jno. Punton, the talented editor of the Kansas City Medical Index Lancet, and an expert alienist and neurologist, in the July number of his journal writes up the now famous case of Oran Hoskins, who claimed to have been "knocked silly" by a grain door and whose mother sued the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company for $75,000, getting a judgment for $35,000. Hoskins played it upon the doctors successfully for nine months. Dr. Punton was sent to Fort Worth to examine the case. He said Hoskins was malingering, and was laughed at; but he finally induced Dr. Walker, who had the case in hand, to take his view of the case. Walker put Hoskins through a series of tests and caught him out. Judgment reversed, and Hoskins and mother indicted for conspiracy to defraud railroad company.

PROFESSOR ALLEN J. SMITH, M. D., Dean of the Medical Department of the University of Texas, has resigned the Chair of Pathology in that school (effective August 1st, proximo) and has accepted the corresponding chair in the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater. This is a great and serious loss to Texas. Professor Smith is almost idolized by his classes and he certainly brings to the position unusual proficiency and untiring zeal, and imparts to his lectures and laboratory experiments an interest that is as fascinating as it is instructive. We sincerely regret to lose him; but he is to be congratulated that his tender mother appreciates him so much that she must take him away from Texas to help her maintain her prestige and fame as one of the foremost educational institutions in the world. Vale, genial Smith. May every success, prosperity and happiness be yours always!

Correspondence.

Editor Texas Medical Journal.

GALVESTON, TEXAS, July 17, 1902.

I beg through your columns to advise the members of the State Medical Association of Texas that, owing to the sickness in the family of the stenographer employed at San Antonio meeting and other unfortunate circumstances, I have not been able until the present time to obtain a transcript of the minutes of the San Antonio meeting. I mention this now in order to prepare our members for the delay in the appearance of the proceedings. The minutes, however, are now complete. Another cause of delay was the difficulty in arranging for the section officers. Several declined the appointments and their places had to be filled by nominations of the President. I will say in this connection that owing to the absence of Dr. W. R. Blalock in Europe, who was appointed councilor for the Twelfth, or Brazos Valley District, the President appointed Dr. J. J. Robert, of Hillsboro, councilor for that district.

The councilors are nearly all actively at work. A number of counties have been eager and waiting for organization. Some delay

was occasioned in this work by the detention of the constitution and by-laws, which were not received until a few weeks ago. Ample supplies have since been furnished each councilor, and there is no reason now why the work of organization should not proceed rapidly and effectively. There is one point which should be made clear. I mention it here as there has been some misunderstanding in regard to it. That is, that the fee of $2.00 per member to the State Association should accompany the application in the county societies. This is not only made obligatory by Section 1, Chapter 5, in the By-Laws for County Societies, which states that the admission fee must accompany the application, but by a resolution which was adopted at the San Antonio meeting. It is not essential that the dues should be sent from the treasurer of the county societies to the Treasurer of the State Association at once, but it is just as well that this should be done; at any rate it is necessary that the secretary of the county society shall notify the Treasurer of the State Association, or the chairman of the Councilors, that the fee has been collected. I shall be glad to furnish the names of such new societies as receive charters from time to time for the information of your readers.

Fraternally yours,

H. A. WEST,
Secretary.

Society Notes.

The Austin District Medical Society.

The Austin District Medical Society held its regular summer meeting in Austin June 26th, ult. There was a very slim attendance, especially of the Austin members, which is a shame. Dr. Joe Wooten read an interesting paper on "Tenotomy for Club-foot," and incidentally gave Lorenz (and the "lesser lights" [?]) a rap. It provoked a lively discussion. The paper will appear in our next issue. Dr. O'Barr, of Ledbetter, read a paper on an obscure pathological condition of a patient of his, and asked for a diagnosis. A committee was appointed to get up a program for the September meeting and to stir up the doctors to attend.

Smith County First to Organize.

Organization of counties in line with the plan of the State and national associations is progressing well in Texas. Smith county was the first to organize. Several counties have fallen in, and Travis will be organized on the 17th, pursuant to call of Councilor Bennett. By the time the State Association meets in Austin next April it is hoped that every county will be organized and that we shall have such a meeting as never before. Whoop 'em up, boys.