1895.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 249 



periineiits in the preparation of the anti toxines of diphtheria 

 have been carried on. 



But Chicago is a very badly governed city. It has the rej)U- 

 tation of doing things on a large scale, which is l)orne out quite 

 well in the extent of the rascality and corruption which ])er- 

 meates the city government. An overwhelming republican vic- 

 tory at the last city electi -n ousted the spoilsmen of the oppos- 

 ite party, and substituted a mayor who is above all things, a 

 politician. His latest official act is one which should be 

 recorded in all scientific journals in the country. That the 

 scientific world may know how highly scientific knowledge is 

 recognised in this grt^at metropolis, Dr. C. T. Reynolds, who has 

 been an efficient Commiss-oner of Health, has been replaced by 

 a certain Mr. Kerr whose qualifications for the position are that 

 he has been an alderman and it was necessary to provide him 

 with a position. In my opinion, Chicago should be made to 

 feel the disgrace of this appointment. It should be resented by 

 every medical man, by ever person who believes that sanitary 

 science deserves recognition by municipalities, and that an al- 

 derman is not the proper person to represent a city health de- 

 partment officially, or to be entrusted with the responsibilities 

 of the position. 



It is not to be supposed that the people of this cit}" are obliv- 

 ious to the disregard of their interests manifested by this ap- 

 pointment, or that the ludicrous side of it is not clearly seen. 

 But there is also a serious side, which is of far greater import- 

 ance. There seems to be nothing to be gained by protests, the 

 Mayor having the ])ower to do as he pleases, and the citizens must 

 submit. The excuse is offered that a "business man" is wanted 

 to direct the department. If, unlike the manner of Chicago 

 politicians, the new Commissioner will only keep his hands off 

 the scientific work of the laboratory, we ma^ be thankful for 

 that. The fear is, that the strictly business administrations) 

 greatly desired by the Mayor, may interfere with the scientific 

 work so ably planned and conducted by Dr. Gehrmann. — R. 

 Hitchcock. 



