282  Editorial  {^j/nei', 
^bitonal  iDcpartmeut* 
Purchase  of  Honorary  (?)  Degrees, — The  Boston  Medical  and  Surgical 
Journal,  of  May  18th,  publishes,  under  the  above  caption,  a  correspondence, 
between  two  gentlemen  in  Boston  and  a  person  by  the  name  of  A.  J.  Hale, 
M.  1'.,  who,  during  the  latter  half  of  last  year,  has  been  perambulating  the 
streets  of  Philadelphia,  and  our  neighboring  city  of  Camden,  and  in  January  last 
had  made  the  city  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  his  home.  The  correspondence  is  deci- 
dedly rich,  and  proves  that  this  Dr.  A.  J.  Hale  is  a  very  enterprising  genius, 
so  that  we  consider  it  our  editorial  duty  to  give  publicity  to  his  benelicent 
labors,  without  charging  him  for  the  advertisement  or  the  editorial  "  puff."  Our 
readers  will  perhaps  remember  that  in  1867  (see  Am.  Journ.  Ph.  1867,  p.  473) 
we  ventilated  a  little  the  Collegiate  Agency  of  one  G.  W.  Marriott,  D.D., 
M.A  ,  M.D.  This  Doctor  Hale  has  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  illustrious 
predecessor;  in  fact,  he  appears  to  rather  outshine  this  lesser  light.  He  is 
obliging  enough  to  promise  satiating  the  hungry  ones  with  "  the  honors  of  all 
the  universities  in  the  United  States,  such  as  the  degree  of  A.M.,  A.B.,  M.D., 
S.D.D,,  D.D..  LL.D.,  &c."  It  is  true  that,  as  it  appears  from  the  correspond- 
ence, the  degree  of  M.D.  is  procurable  only  from  the  American  University 
here ;  but  "  this  is  a  regular  made  out  Latin  degree  the  same  as  issued  to  reg- 
ular graduates  ;  name  in  full  and  date  wished  will  be  required."  This  Latin 
degree  is  all  right;  for,  "yes,  sir,  the  university  with  which  I  am  connected  is 
a  reality ;  a  regularly  chartered  medical  institution,  now  in  successful  opera- 
tion, all  right  and  legal." 
All  this  is  very  fine  and  exceedingly  satisfactory,  and  it  must  be  confessed 
that  the  terms  are  not  unjustly  exacting  ;  the  applicant  maybe  "accommo- 
dated for  the  lowest  price  ($50),  sent  by  express,  C.  0.  D."  JVIoreover,  a  com- 
mission of  twenty  per  cent..  (SIO)  will  be  allowed  on  each  order  from  your  friends* 
so  that  little  exertion  will  be  required  to  obtain  such  a  legal  all-right  Latin 
degree  for  nothing,  and  make  something  handsome  besides. 
This  same  Doctor  A.  J.  Hale  likewise  "  removes  cancers  and  other  tumors 
without  the  use  of  knife  or  caustic,"  and  "  imparts  information  for  a  reasonable 
sura." 
In  view  of  the  benefit  conferred  upon  mankind  by  such  a  Collegiate  Agency 
for  such  a  University,  it  cannot  be  otherwise  but  reflecting  infinite  credit  upon 
the  city  and  State  blessed  with  such  institutions,  and  upon  the  Legislature 
which  has  chartered  it  and  permits  it  to  extend  its  blessings  over  other  portions 
of  our  great  country.  Poor  ignorant  Europe  should,  without  further  delay,  be 
supplied  with  agencies.  Agencies  would  prosper  in  the  icy  fields  of  Alaska, 
and  in  the  sunny  clime  of  the  Hottentots.  It  is  with  the  desire  of  extending 
this  "business"  that  we  give  the  above  information,  and  disclaim  all  expecta- 
tions of  gratitude  from  any  of  the  parties  interested. 
Acknowledgement. — We  omitted  to  state  in  our  last  issue  that  the  Commit- 
tee appointed  by  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  to  prepare  an  ad- 
dress to  the  North  German  Apothecaries'  Society,  have  received  an  answer 
