Editorial Space Research Articles

Letters to the Editor

Between publication dates of THE QUARTERLY, many hundreds of communications reach the desk of the editor. Some of these seek information readily answered, briefly and routinely. Others require more extensive and specific thought, as well as outside help. This editorial space will be devoted to sharing such letters in the hope that our readers will appreciate the insights afforded. Your comments are invited.

A Plea for Common Sense

NO apology is needed if we again devote the bulk of our editorial space to consideration of Herr Weyl's provocative article on commercial aeroplane design, which is concluded in this issue.

MEDICAL COLLEGES AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.

According to the report of the United States Commissioner of Education, in 1899, there were in that year 23,778 medical students and 4911 medical graduates. Between 1875 and 1899 the increase in the number of medical students was 177 per cent. But not alone upon statistics do we depend for confirmation of the crowded state of the profession. The fact is so patent and alive that much of the editorial space of leading medical journals is devoted to a discussion of the condition, its cause and its cure. That a majority of the profession is incompetent and unworthy, is not subject to statistical proof. To the unprejudiced medical observer of the profession of almost any locality, the truth is patent that very many of its members are persons of inferior ability, questionable character and coarse and common fiber. The little esteem in which the profession is held by laity and

The Determination of Sex.

Canton, Ohio, March, 9, 1901. <h3>To the Editor:</h3> —Since you have considered it of sufficient importance to give editorial space to an article on the above subject, it may be of interest to know of a case where, for extra-uterine pregnancy, it was necessary, in the laparotomy done for relief, to remove the left Fallopian tube and ovary. This woman, with a right ovary intact and a left ovary removed, has since given birth to two children, with an interval of several years between births. The first child was a female, the second a male. One would think that in this day there would be a sufficient number of mono-ovarian women giving birth to children, for one wishing to lay down a scientific theory, based on the hypothesis of ovarian determination of sex, to have led to an investigation of that phase of the subject for facts. Very truly,