GENITO-URINARY SYMPTOMS ARISING FROM ANAL, RECTAL AND COLONIC DISEASES, AND VICE VERSA

It is just ten years ago since a separate department devoted exclusively to the treatment of anal, rectal and colonic diseases was instituted in the San Francisco Polyclinic. As this was the first clinic of its kind established west of the Mississippi River, its growth was at the beginning quite slow, since it took some time before the internists, surgeons and allied specialists recognized its value as an aid in diagnosis and treatment. In recent years, however, through the cooperation of my colleagues in the different clinics, the rectal department has gradually grown until now, in point of attendance, at least, it compares most favorably with like clinics in older established institutions in Eastern cities. To the genito-urinary surgeons in particular does it seem to have been satisfactorily demonstrated that the proctoscope may be at times of valuable assistance in diagnosing some of their more puzzling cases. Through their courtesy