THE idea of founding an institution for the better treatment of consumptives, we are told, originated in the mind of Miss E. A. Bogle, of White Plains. Her mother having died with consumption, she was led to reflect much upon the nature of the disease, and having spent fifteen months in a camp hospital at David's Island during the war, and taken charge of the Home for Incurables at West Farms after her return, she conceived the idea of establishing an institution where pulmonary complaints should be made subject of special study and treatment. She communicated the idea to the Rev. T. S. Rumney, D.D., of White Plains, who entered with spirit into the movement and became the founder of the Institution. The society was organized in September, 1869, and on December 1st a House of Rest. for Consumptives was opened at Tremont, with one female patient. The author visited the Institution on the last day of January, 1870, and found five patients, three male and two female. The building leased at Tremont is a very eligible one, with fine surroundings, on the line of the Harlem Railroad, though it is the purpose of the trustees to purchase land and erect suitable buildings at White Plains at no distant day. It is designed to be a charitable institution, receiving patients afflicted with pulmonary complaints from any and every denomination, supplying all with medical treatment and nursing; also "with the ministrations of the Gospel according to the forms and doctrines of the Protestant Episcopal Church." Any person or society may establish a free bed, to be constantly occupied by any invalid he shall designate, on the annual payment of three hundred dollars.

It is the desire of the managers to have as many of the beds free as possible. Persons become members of the society on the annual payment of ten dollars, or a life member on the payment of one hundred at one time.

It may be doubted whether the best location has been selected, a dry atmosphere being thus far considered the most important desideratum for consumptives.

While it is too early in the history of the Institution to make any safe prediction concerning it, may we not, however, rejoice in the undertaking, and hope that new light may be shed on this hitherto dark subject, and that thousands who would otherwise sink pale and lifeless into premature graves may be spared for years of toil and usefulness.

Other diseases that successfully baffled the skill of the medical fraternity for ages have been conquered by the investigations of modern times. The small-pox was the raging scourge of the world until Dr. Jenner, by long study and careful experiments, disrobed it of its power. Certainly, in a climate like ours, where three-fourths of the people are afflicted with pulmonary diseases in some of their forms, and all are liable to be, no more important subject can challenge the researches of the physician, or the charities of the benevolent.