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THE 


ille^ical  3^^Jattce 


A  MONTHLY  MAiJAZINK  OK 


U03ia^0rATHlC  MEDICINE, 


I'llBLISlIEI)  AT  THE 


UiNlVERSITY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


i<:DiTorvS. 

T.  r.  WIIX>X.  PHIL  P(Ua"Kl!,  M.  1)., 

MANAOINCI  KPITOK.  <i YXWOLOdUJAL  KDITOK. 

II.  C.  ALLEN.  M.  I)., 

lU'SINESS  MAXA(il-:K. 


VOL.  XIV. 


ANN  AIJHOK,  MUni.: 

ADVANt'K   I'lIlLISinN<;   ((LMTANV 

188  4. 


CONTRIBUTORS  TO  VOL.  XIV. 


I 'AGE 

ALLEN,  H.  C IGU,  380.  436,  407 

ANDKKiK)?;.  J.  C 318 

Baer.  O.  P 219,  675 

BlATCHLEY,  O.  P 488 

Bradley.  Benjamin  A 653 

Bkimham.  G.  N 301 

Brodkrk'K,  H.  M 547 

Brown,  J.  F 322 

BURCHFIKLD,  S.  E 270 

BURNKTT,  J.  C 405 

Camp,  A.  A 571 

Carroll,  C.  W 410 

CHUftCH.  Chas.  a 679 

CLArsKN,  Danied  W 92 

Tlkveland,  (X  L 41 

Day,  F.  R 530 

Dever  1 335 

Dkkenson,  D.  M 547 

Dl»HRO,  J.  W 1»7 

DowLiNii,  J.  W JJ05 

Eaton,  C.  W :M2 

Eaton.  M.  M 1*22 

ElMiAR,  J.  F 2«»1 

IvGiiLI-STON,  E.  R 431.470 

EiiBMANN,  Benjamin 654 

Ellis.  E.  R ^  553 

Ely,  J.  W *2r»9 

Fackler,  J.  M  420 

Fahnestt^ck,  C.  S 198 

FosiKR,  W.  D 395 

*  J  la  I  Mr  m»  Kl  a  w  sX     •••»••  ■•••••  ••••••  -■•••■•••••«••••••    *rf*S  ^ 

MLREIIT,  C.  B 271.  316.  383 

GRBfJU.  R.  R 40,  228,  283,  4:W.  018,  664 

GieRNsEY,  W.  J 327,  570 

GiERNSEV,  H.  M 334.  659 

Hacwart,  D 6W) 

Hall.  Lucy.  M 235 

Hazard.  T.  L. :i81 

Helmi  Tir.  \Vm.  Tod 499, 429 

Hiu..  W  D '2fn 

HOLMANN,  E.  E. 157 

HoYT,C..... 44,  78,  178 

X*  (     A*  A^t     ^^*      ^'c*  •••••••«•••••■•    ••••••   ••••••  ••••••  ••••■•     I'LO 

XI  V  A^    I    I     ^Jm     Oaa  •••■••••••••■■•■••••••••••■■•••••••••  •  Lvl 

Hint,  M.  P 193 

JOIINHON,  R.  B 267 

Kent,  J.  T....248,  219,  252, 878  476,  569,  601 


Page 

KuNKHL.  Dr 247,  421,  635 

Lee.  E.  J 584 

LiLlKXTHAL,  S 321,  451.  460 

LiPPE.  Al» 867.  425,  639,  662 

Lowe,  J  N 74,  3*4.  449 

Mackarlan.  Malojlm 210 

Mahoney.  Edward 656 

Moss,0.  B 294 

McDermott.  G.  C 273 

M(:Neil.  a 86,  93.  243,  364,  421, 435,  598 

MlLl-s,  M.  M.. 131 

!V!ili-**paugii,  C.  F., 148 

MoRDEN,  Ralph 387 

Morrow,  I).  B 482 

Morton.  T 498 

Orme.  F.  H, 448 

I    Patihen,  G.  H 411 

Phillips.  W.  a 142, 183 

PoLHEML-s,  W.  P 215 

Porter.  Phil.,  38.  160,  213,  281,  353, 409 

496.  545,  620,  673 

Richards,  L.  B .561 

I    Ring,  H 156 

I    Roberts.  John  B 491 

:    Rockwell.  J.  W 012 

I    KoRAKAnrER  M 299 

I    Ryall,  T 70.  489 

k7^L  k^  A/FaXV^f  w  •   *  '■•«•••••••  •■••■•  •••••••••  •«•••«  ••••■«       Off 

Sherwood,  H.  A ? 1.52 

Sti'R(hs,  J.  J ir>4 

Sturevant.  L.  P 3"29 

Swan.  Samuei 401 

Talcott,  S.  H 6«J5 

Taylor.  Thos 395,  526 

Trkh.J    C 325 

TRiTf-s,  W.  B 371 

Waklkr.  W.  W 82 

Walton.  C.  E 176 

Webster,  J.  K 140 

Webster,  w , : 173 

Wheeler,  A.  R 101 

Wilson,  C.  G 206 

Wilson.  T.  P..  57.  113.   114,  169.  170,228 
229. 403. 427, 523, 525, 5S2, 579, 6«.9. 635,  636 

Wood,  J.  B 567 

YorNGin.sBAND,  1 532 


INDEX  TO  VOL.  XIV. 


PAOC. 


Acid  Salicylic  as  a  dreesing  for  lacer- 
ated wounds 133 

Aconite  in  chronic  conditions 316 

Acute  BuppuratiTe  inflammation  of 

middle  ear ^ 142.  183 

Advice,  some  good ^ 403 

Alcohol  and  lung  disease 498 

Alcohol  as'a  remedy 377 

Alcoholism,  chronic 148 

Allopathic  poverty 364 

Allopathic  similarity 41 

American  institute 4, 168,  886 

Amen ^ 49 

Amenorrhcea,  manganese 106 

Ambrosia  proving 157 

Anatomy,  Bureau  of  (Ohio  State  So- 
ciety;   188 

Antiseptic  medication^ 98 

Antiseptic  surgery,  the  present  sta- 
tus of. : 429 

Appeal,  a  ringing 405 

Appetite.  Natural. 370 

Are  we  humbugged 113 

Aniica  and  Veratrum  alb 394 

Arsenicum  and  Baptisia compared...  4)1 

Artificial  respiration 276 

Attenuation U2 

Anto-kleptomania 822 

Bacteria  and  Fibrin,  cultivation  of...  664 

Bacteria  and  tubercles 40 

Bacteria  vs.  Fibrine 530 

Belladonna  in  tobacco  poisoning 481 

Blair,  Dr.  O.  A.,  in  Memoriam..... 87 

Book  notices  50. 107. 165. 221. 277, 396. 

461.520.575.  687 ., 626 

Boracic  acid  in  chronic  otorrhoea.....  162 

Capsicum  notes 384 

Cardialgia  cured  by  Thuja 247 

Cheesy  pneumonia,  or  chronic  phth- 

isis  pulmonum 301 

Chicago  homwopathic  college 45 

Colchicum 156 

Correspondence,  a  senior 835 

Correspondence 678 

Cyanosis 325 

Croup,  membranous  and  diphther^ 

iuc,  successful  treatment  of. 567 

Deadly  well  water 445 

Dear  pellet 525 

Detroit  health  offices  report 50 

Decrease  of  the  blind,  English  ccnnu  436 
Diabetis  mellitus,  simple  diagnosis 

of. 514 

Diarrhcea  chronic,  Arsenicum ^....  598 

Dose,  the 570 

Double  ovariotomy ^ 150 

Dropby  cured  by  Kali  carb.  translated    86 
Drug  proving 589 


PAQC. 

Dynamics «.    57 

Eclampsia  puerperal 154 

Eczema  capitis.  Hcpar,  Graphites 270 

Eczema  cured  by  Ant.  crud 243 

Epiphe8:us  virginiana,a  proving 887 

.Surgical.  Errors „ 491 

Experts,  scientific »..  114 

Festina  lente 827 

Friblnc  and  Bacteria 96, 438.  526,  618 

Fibrine,  Science  of. ^ 228,  283 

Fistula,  anal 299 

Force,  the  vital « 389,  679 

Forms  of  disease,  persistence  of. 885 

Gonorrhcea,  Abortive,  treatment  of...  281 

Gas  (sewer)  and  bad  plumbing 592 

Germ  theory  of  disease,  whatls? 487 

Giffbrd's  home  gymnasium 48 

Ghonorhoea.  Thuja  iu 421,  585 

Gynecological  case 496 

Gynecological  instruments 545 

Gynecology,  bureau  of. 189 

Headache.  Kali  bich 381 

H  Imuth,  William  To<i,  biographic 
sketch  of. 515 

Homcjoopathic  department.  Univer- 
sity of  Iowa 542 

Homoeopathic  department,  Univei- 
sity  of  MichiRan 582-686 

Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  of 
Ohio,  proceedings  of. 119 

Ohio  State  Society. 

Clinical  medicine 181 

Gynecology 189 

Insanity 140 

Obstetrics 122 

Ophthalmolojry  and  otology 142 

Surgery 139 

Theory  and  practice 116 

Homoeopathic    Medical    Society  of 

Pennsylvania 251,  308 

Homoeopathy  and  allopathy HIO 

How  do  you  treat  hard  chancre 371 

How  I  became  a  surgeon,  a  poem 499 

How  to  Live  Long „ 688 

Hydrophobia 685 

Inebrietv  iu  women ;  its  causes  and 

rcHults 235 

Inflammation 318 

Inflammation  of  the  middle  ear..l42,  183 
Indiana  institute,  presidents  address  198 

Insane,  care  of ».244  595 

Insanity,  the  study  of  mental  diseases  140 

Is  it  not  a  tact 219 

Intestine  removed.  Ix>opof. 210 

Institute.  American 4.168.  386 

Int.  fever,  incipient  sclerosis 378 


6 


INDEX  TO  VOLUME  XIV. 


MGC. 

rntereuting  gynecological  cose »..  496 

IntusBUScepoon,  a  case  of 612 

J.  Marion  Sims,  obituary .^ 409 

Jurisprudence,  an  interesting  case..   448 

Kali  bich,  dropsy  cured  by 86 

Law,  is  the  law  dofe(*>tive 101 

Leftovary,  multilocular  cyst  of. 213 

Laparo-hysterotomy S8 

Lungs,  foreign  l>odie8  in „^ 82 

Man's  microscopic  enemies. 609 

Malposition  of  rectus. 383 

MasHacbusetts  Homoeopathic  H(»8pi- 

tal 6r)2 

Mastitis  and  mammary  bandages.....  353 

Materia  medica,  our 671 

Medical  matters  in  Michigan,  new 

laws. 98 

Medication,  antiseptic 93 

Medicine,  the  practice  of,  as  a  busi- 
ness  :. 312 

Menorrhagia.  Hamamelis,  Nux  v 561 ' 

Michigan  Homceopathic  Society.pro- 

ceedinwof. 59, 116,  640 

Motion,  active  and  passive 170 

Motion  and  rest 169 

Motion,  the  therapeutic  value  of 4il 

Multilocular  cyst  of  left  ovary 213 

Murex-Scpia 601 

Ncphralgia-lachesis 74 

No«e  bleed «67 

Nursing  babies 2!)1 

Orme,  F.  H..  M.  D 638 

Ovariotomy,  double 140,  213 

Ovariolomy,  recovery 673 

Ovary,  strangulated 485 

Paracentesis,  intra-vaginal 176 

Pathological  prescribing,  a  science 

falsely  so-called 581 

Peculiar  cases,  three 248 

Pelvic  celluliils 1/H 

Physicians  and  Burgeons  of  Michi- 
gan. College  of. 358,  667 

Pneumonia,  or  chronic  phthisis  pul- 

monum 301 

Popular  Science  Monthly  and  Dr. 

Bayard «i).  2^6 

Practical  notes,  iodium,  Croton,  tig 

S.  L 460 

Pregnancy,  nervous.. 420 

Principles  of  medicine. 523, 635 

Procidentia 423 

Progress  and  reflect »..  424 

Puerperal  eclampsia 154 

Rectum,  ulceration  of. 204 

Remedies,  dry  or  in  solution 419 

Respiration,  artificial 276 

Revikmt*— 

Gelsemium  sem.  vir 50 

Materia  Medica  and  therapeutics   51 
The  microscope  and  its  revela- 
tions  » 51 

Diseases  of  the  ovaries 52 

A  compend  of  visceral  anatomy  107 
A  compend  of  materia  medica...  107 
ludicazioni  si>cciali   iutermit- 

tente 107 

Homoeopathy  in  its  relation  to 

gynaecology... 108 

Practical  lessons  in  gynsecology  108 

Miner's  case  record 165 

Medical  essays... « 221 


PAGC. 

A  dictionarv  of  medicine 277 

American   llomoeopathic  Phtir- 

maco|>uiia 277 

Hand-book  of  eloctro-thorai>cu- 

tics 277 

Students'  manual  of  chemistry...  277 

Diseases  of  the  eye... 278 

Nature  of  malaria 396 

Therapeutic  hand-lxiok  of  U.S.P.  :{96 
Physician's  special  rate  checks..  396 

Physician's  erasable  tablet 3% 

Manual  of  general  technology..    :{96 

For  Mothers  and  Daughters 397 

Uterine  therapeutics 397 

King's  dictionary  of  Bosbm 4X2 

Harvard  and  its  surroundings....  MM 
Addrera  of  Medic<i»chirurgi(»il 

Society 462 

St.  Nicholas. 463 

A  digest  of  Materia  Me<lica 463 

Lectures  on  fevers 520 

Popular  Scimce  Monthly 521 

Transactions  of  American  insti- 
tute   521 

North  American  Review 522 

Leonard's  otHce  day-l>ook 575 

Aconite   from   a   physiological 

basis 575 

Transactions  of  Mcdlco-chirur- 

gicul  Society 626 

Annals  of  British  HomcL'opathic 

Society 626 

American  drugsi  and  medicines..  627 

Cough  and  ex|>cctoration 627 

liacteria  and  germ  theory 627 

A  treatise  X)n  .syphilis  in  (Chil- 
dren   628 

Uterine  displacements 628 

Materia  Medicu  of  difTercntial 

|M)toncy 62^) 

Rheumatism 380 

Rhus  ladlcans 271 

Ringing  Ap)>eal 405 

Sanitary  mea-sures  of  villages  and 

countr>'  homes 329 

Sanitary  needs 547 

Sanitar\'  science,  dynamics  of... ..431,  470 

Scientific  experts 114 

Sclerosis  incipient 378 

Severe  bum , 187 

Sewerage 427 

Sewer  gas  and  bad  plumbing 592 

Sims,  Dr.  J.  Marion 40J> 

Size  of  drain  and  soil  pipe !K) 

Sleep 267 

Spina  bifida 446 

Sinibismus 273 

Straws  (medical) 557 

Student's  plea 617 

Sul>-cellulitis 675 

Suppurative  infiammation  of  mid- 
dle ear 183 

Surgical  case,  fracture  of  skull 191 

Surgical  cases,  wounds 618 

Surgical  errors 491 

Telephone  interview  Dr  Jahr 620 

Therapeutic  use  of  hot  water 614 

The  village  doctor 891 

Tonsilitis.  acute  and  chronic 193 

Totality  and  individuality 476 

Trained  nurse  as  a  teacher 363 

Trichinosis,  abnormal  cells  in 532 

Tubercle  only  a  lesion  of  scrofula....  294 

THceration  and  perforation  intestines 
and  apendix  vermiformis 558 


llfDBX  TO  VOLtJMEXlV. 


1 


tJterine  organs,  abnormal  growths  in  172 

Vaccination,  failure  of. 616 

Why  Contagious  Diseases  attack  only 
once ". ^ 686 

Verifications. 

Abrotanum,  rhevmatism^ 681 

Aconite  in  chronic  conditions....  316 

Actea,  chorea. 215 

Alcohol  and  lung  diseases. 498 

Alumina,  incipient  sclerosis 879 

Ambrosia  art.,  whooping  cough..  157 

Am.,  deseased  eye 661 

Antimonlum  c,  eczema 423 

Antimonium  t,  foreign  bodies 

in  lungs. 82 

Apis,  pemphigus 484 

Arnica,  cardialgia 894 

Arnica,  contusion.. 490 

Arnica,  rheumatism 880 

Arsenicum,  asthma. 209 

Arsenicum  and   Baptisla  com- 
pared    451 

Arsenicum,  chronic  diarrhoea....  598 
Arsenicum,  intermittent  fever...    80 

Bell.,  headache % 661 

Belladonna,  tobacco  poisoning...  481 

Borax,  infants 44 

Bromine,  diphtheria »  660 

Cactus,  Epistaxis 368 

Calcarea  carb.,  chronic  phthisis  301 

Calc,  despondency 655 

Calcarea  carb.,  heart  disease 324 

Calcarea  carb.,pelvia  cellulitis..  248 

Calcarea  carb.,  phthisis 488 

Cantharides,  spasms 662 

Capsicum,  intermittent  ic^er 80 

Capsicum  notes, 834 

Cedron,  Puerperal  Eclampsia.....  154 

Cinchona,  heemoptysis 250 

Colchicum 166 

Croton  tig.,  bronchial  catarrh 460 

Cuprum,  paralysis 421 

Eryngium  a.,  incontinence 569 

Eupatorium   perf.,  intermittent 

lever 78,  459 

Graphites,  eczema 243,  270 

Hamamelis,  menorrhagia 561 

Hepar,  cough 489 

Hepar,  eczema 270 

Ignatia,  spcusms  chorea.. 215 


MOE. 

Todum,  insanity 460 

Ipecacuanha,  intermittent  fever   81 

Ipecac,  sick  headache 654 

Kali  bich., headache 881 

Kali  carb.,  drop-^y 86 

Lachesis.  diphtheria 266 

Lachesis,  nephralgia 74 

Lachesis.  rheumatism 74 

Lilium  tig.,  prolapsus 480 

Lobelia,  asthma 655 

Lycopodium,  diphtheria 266 

Lyoopodium,  typhoid. 487 

Merourius  cor.,  epistaxis 367 

Murex  pur 477 

Natrum  mur.,  Int  fever 76,  488 

Natrum  mur ,  procidentia 428 

Nat  mur.,  psoricmiasm 656 

Nux  v.,  Intermittent  fever 78 

Nux  v.,  cold  and  hemorrhoid 654 

Nux  y.,  mei.orrhagia 561 

Nux  v.,  typhus 660 

Oxalic  ac,  heart  disease 824 

Phosphorus,  chorea 476 

Plumbum,  cardialgia 422 

Psorinum,  constipation 654 

Pulsatilla,  intermittent  fever 79 

Pulsatilla,  malposition  of  fastus..  383 

Rhu.s  tox.»  intermittent  fever 878 

Rhus  t..  paralysia 271 

Rhus  t.,  rheumatism 488 

Sambucus.  Intermittent  fever 324 

Senia,  insanity 217 

Sepia  and  Placebo 658 

Sepia,  procidentia 423 

Silicea,  tumor 479 

Stramonium,  puerperal 216 

Sulphur,  chronic  phthisis 301 

Svphilinum,  pityriasis. 482 

Tarantula,  dropsy „  252 

Thuja,  cardialgia 247 

Thuja,    gonorrhcea    opthalmia,    » 

asthma 538 

Thuja,  intermittent  fever 79 

Thula,  neuralgia 484 

Thuja,  sycosis 476 

Variolinum.  small-pox 482 

Veratum  alb.,  dyspepsia 394 

Vital  force 579 

What  is  the  germ  theory  of  disease...  437 

Woman  shut  out 1 

World  moves 467 


■r.  p.  IVILSONi  I 


[.  C.  ALLEN,  HI.  O., 


Ann  Abbor,  July,  1883. 


All  sabsoiiptloiis  and  baslneas  comraanicatlona  abonld  be 
addresMa  to  MEDICAL  ADVANCE  PtTBLISHINO  Co.,  Ann 
AtboT,  Miob.      Snbacrlption,  S2.00  per  animm. 


Women  Shlt  Out. — By  special  request  we  publish  the 
atiitemeiit  of  the  Chicago  HomtKopatliic  Oollege  in  defense 
of  its  action  in  excluding  women  from  its  Iialla.  It  will 
doubtless  be  read  by  many  with  great  interest.  It  does 
not  bear  upon  its  lace  the  marks  of  an  oflicial  document, 
but  the  reader  may  be  assured  that  it  is  genuine,  ^^'e  are 
not  particularly  concerned  in  the  fate  of  the  Chicago  Ilom- 
(EOpatliic  College.  If  it  should  see  fit  to  commit  suicide, 
we  should  lament  the  act  as  might  thousands  of  others. 
We  are  <oncerned,  however,  in  the  result  of  its  influence 
while  it  lives,  and  it  seems  to  us  that  lhi.s  collef^ate 
bull  is  capable  of  an  infinite  amount  of  mischief.  That 
it  will  hurt  its  projectors  we  can  easily  believe;  and  that 
it  will  hurt  the  cau,se  of  the  metlical  education  of  w()men 
is  quite  probable.  The  attempt  at  disclaiming  all  feelings 
of  antagonism  toward  women  practitioners,  and  the  asser- 


2  EDITORIAL. 

tion  that  this  act  does  not  touch  either  the  question  of  co- 
education in  general,  or  of  medical  co-education  in  partic- 
ular, is  an  elegant  piece  of  satire.  It  is  much  like  kicking 
a  man  down  the  back  stairs  and  they  asserting  that  this 
act  has  no  bearing  on  his  character.  No  amount  of  taffy 
bestowed  upon  the  lady  alumni  of  that  college  will  relieve 
them,  or  their  successors,  of  the  damning  odium  which 
this  decree  fastens  upon  them.  And  if,  as  a  result  of  this 
act,  this  college  should  largely  increase  the  number  of  its 
matriculates,  that  result  would  seem  only  to  magnify  the 
monstrous  wrong  committed  by  it  against  an  unoffending 

I 

class.  When  this  college  obtained  an  important  franchise 
in  the  Cook  Co.  Hospital,  it  was  hei'alded  to  the  world  as 
a  great  gain  for  the  school.  It  now  appears  that  in  order 
to  hold  that  most  valuable  franchise,  it  is  necessary  for  the 
college  to  close  its  doors  against  a  certain  class  of  students. 
A  man  to  save  his  life  will  suffer  the  loss  of  a  part  of  his 
body ;  why  may  not  an  educational  institution  suffer  ampu- 
tation rather  than  die  ?  Yes,  but  the  man  and  the  corpora- 
tion are  both  forever  mutilated.  It  is  indeed  not  a  back 
ward  step,  for  a  man  likely  to  die,  to  give  up  an  arm  or  leg, 
but  it  would  be  questionable  progress  for  a  healthy  man  to 
submit  to  the  loss  of  any  of  his  members.  And  what  sort 
of  a  higher  education  is  that,  which  so  generously  lifts  up 
the  boys  and  leaves  the  girls  to  climb  up  as  best  they  may? 
Is  it  anything  to  boast  of,  that  in  this  country  an  educa- 
tional institution  is  tied  up  to  the  necessity  of  bestowing 
its  benefits  only  upon  a  favored  class?  Is  it  democratic? 
Is  it  honorable  or  just  to  deny  knowledge  to  a  human  te- 
ing  because  that  being  does  not  happen  to  be  a  man  ?  And 
let  us  ask,  is  the  Illinois  Medical  Association,  to  whom  this 
college  owes  a  "  loyalty  and  fraternal  feeling,"  and  whose 
reciprocity  it  is  so  anxious  to  maintain,  is  that  association 
composed  of  men  only  ?  And  if  not,  is  the  association 
concerned  in  the  welfare  of  only  its  male  members  ? 

Let  us  suppose  that,  under  its  new  and  valuable  advan- 
tages, in  being  connected  with  the  Cook  Co.  Hospital,  the 


EDITORIAL.  3 

tables  were  tipped  against  the  male  members  of  its  class ; 
would  the  college  hasten  to  shut  out  the  boys?  The  col- 
lege very  properly,  no  doubt,  lays  much  of  the  blame 
against  the  students  of  the  other  colleges  who  attend  the 
clinics  of  the  hospital.  These  students  do  not  want  the 
women  there.  Granted.  Is  the  college  quite  sure  that 
these  same  allopathic  students  want  the  homoeopathic 
boys  to  attend  those  clinics?  Are  these  allopathic  stu- 
dents to  be  allowed  the  control  of  that  great  public  hos- 
pital? Is  their  blind  and  bigoted  injustice  to  be  made  the 
law  for  the  citizens  of  Chicago,  who  have  erected  and  who 
maintain  this  magnificent  institution  ?  If  they  don't  want 
the  women  there,  the  women  are  to  be  shut  out.  By  the 
same  rule,  if  they  don't  want  the  other  members  of  the 
homoeopathic  college,  then  these  also  should  go.  If  the 
Chicago  Homoeopathic  College  is  worthy  its  name  and 
ends,  it  is  capable  of  protecting  all  its  students  anywhere 
in  the  enjoyments  of  these  rights.  The  people  of  Chicago 
are  not  all  barbarians,  neither  are  they  the  abject  tools  of 
allopathic  students  or  professors.  They  may  be  appealed 
to  with  absolute  safety,  and  they,  in  their  sovereign  capac- 
ity, will  defend  the  right.  The  proposition  to  succumb  to 
this  pressure  lacks  the  simple,  yet  god  like  element  of 
courage.  If  it  is  inevitable  and  not  resisted,  it  should  be 
deplored,  and  not  boasted  of  as  a  "  step  forward."  We 
shall  watch  with  interest  the  effect  this  declaration  shall 
have  upon  the  profession.  It  looks  like  a  perilous  under- 
taking to  abandon  a  principle  of  justice  in  order  to  court 
fiivor  with  the  enemy.  We  cannot  believe  the  faculty  of 
the  Chicago  Homoeopathic  College  are  a  unit  in  taking 
this  retrogressive  course.  There  are,  it  is  to  be  hoped, 
men  on  the  staff  of  that  school  who  would  be  willing  to 
stand  by  their  guns.  Let  us  hear  from  them.  The  St. 
Louis  Hom.  College  has  followed  suit  and  barred  its  doors 
to  women,  but  it  may  as  well  be  noticed  that  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan  hangs  out  the  latch  string  to  all  comers. 


THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 


THE  AMERICAN  INSITITUTE  OF  HOMCEOPATHY. 


THE  FORTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  AND  THIRTY-SIXTH  SESSION. 


Niagara  Falls,  June  19,  20,  21,  22,  1883. 

The  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  opened  its 
thirty-sixth  session  in  the  spacious  parlors  of  the  Interna- 
tional Hotel  yesterday  morning.  The  caqjet  had  been 
covered  with  ducking,  a  platform  raised  in  the  north  side, 
and  the  room  well  supplied  with  chairs,  making  a  very 
commodious  and  pleasant  assembly  room. 

On  one  side  of  the  platform  and  fronting  one  of  the 
large  mirrors  was  a  magnificent  floral  piece,  the  gift  of 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hoxie  of  Buffalo  to  the  society.  The  piece  rep- 
resented an  arch  standing  on  a  broad  base  surmounted  by 
a  lyre.  The  base  was  tliree  feet  by  two  feet  four  inches, 
on  which  were  the  words  "  Am.  Inst.  Hom.''  in  front  of 
the  arch,  while  in  the  opposite  was  the  date  ''1S83."  Over 
the  front  of  the  arch  in  blue  immortelles  was  the  word 
"  Greeting  "  and  in  the  rear  were  the  letters  "  S.  S.  C," 
being  the  motto  of  the  society.  The  institute  has  a  mem- 
l)ership  of  over  900. 

Promptly  at  10  o'clock  the  institute  was  called  to  order 
by  President  fiushrod  W.  James,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  opened  with  prayer  by  Rev.  Geo.  F.  Rosenniuller,rec- 
tor  of  St.  Peter's  church. 

The  President  then  delivered  his  annual  address  as 

follows : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen^  Members  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Homoeopathy  :  A  grateful  heart  swells  with  emotion  at  this 
hour,  and  reciprocates  in  its  feelings  the  highest  houor  that  the 
largest  and  oldest  national  organization  of  our  school  of  medicine 
can  confer,  as  this  feeble  tongue  utters  its  words  of  unmeasured 
thankfulness  to  you,  its  membership. 

It  is  now  my  duty  in  addressing  you  to  follow  the  standing 
resolutions  of  the  society  adopted  in  1878,  viz  :  *'  He  shall  deliver 
an  address  at  the  opening  of  each  session  on  the  progress  of 


THIRTY-SIXTH  SESSION.  5 

homoeopathy  during  the  year  past  and  make  such  suggestions  as 
he  may  deem  necessary  for  the  institute  to  take  action  during 
the  session/' 

I  must  tlierefore  forego  all  comment  upon  the  glorious  wjork 
that  our  system  has  accomplished  in  the  way  of  medical  reform 
— since  Hahnemann  issued  his  *'Organon  of  Rational  Medicine'' 
in  1810  up  to  the  time  of  the  last  session  of  this  body — and  not 
even  allude  to  the  wonderful  spread  of  our  literature,  the  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  our  colleges,  and  societies,  or  the  long 
list  of  Elemosynary  institutions  that  have  been  constantly  com- 
ing under  the  control  of  members  of  our  branch  of  the  medical 
profession,  nor  am  I  to  refer  to  the  vast  amount  of  good  and 
noble  work  that  this  society  has  done  in  the  distant  past — 
your  bureau  of  organization,  registration  and  statistics  will 
shortly  give  you. a  summary  of  these  matters  —  the  intervening 
year  alone  then  will  engage  our  attention  for  a  few  moments. 

In  offering  these  remarks  it  has  been  deemed  proper  to  con- 
sider these  three  questions : 

First.  What  have  we  to  unfold  in  the  annual  budget,  and 
what  to  suggest  ? 

Second.  What  is  our  present  status  before  the  world  and 
what  our  prospective  future  as  a  school  of  progress  ? 

Third.  What  is  our  duty  to-day  in  the  light  of  passing 
events  ? 

As  a  sign  of  the  progress  of  the  year  in  the  literature  of  our 
school  there  has  been  issued  independent  of  the  quarterly, 
monthly  and  weekly  medical  journals  a  total  of  thirty  publi- 
cations, two  English  and  twenty-nine  American — seventeen  of 
the  latter  being  western  and  twelve  eastern. 

There  have  lately  been  introduced  three  new  homoeopathic 
periodicals,  one  in  India,  one  in  Uruguay,  one  in  this  country. 

Quite  a  number  of  new  remedies  have  been  considered  and 
under  constant  proving  during  tlie  year,  while  some  of  the  older 
ones  have  been  undergoing  reproving,  others  are  in  the  hands  of 
investigators  who  have  their  provers  at  work,  and,  as  you  know, 
it  is  an  arduous  task  to  sum  up,  collect  and  verify  the  symptoms 
that  have  been  experienced  during  the  proving  and  which  have 
to  be  accurately  noted  down  ;  some  of  these  provings  and  reme- 
dies, therefore,  will  not  be  received  for  one  or  more  years  to 
come,  and  likewise  with  the  researches  of  our  microscopists  and 
our  pharmaceutical  observers. 

I  look  to  the  west  and  the  east  and  the  south,  and  I  find  the 
capacities  of  our  hospitals  and  colleges  increasing.    The  stand- 


6  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

ard  of  education  is  being  annually  elevated,  the  list  of  matricu- 
lates and  graduates  lengthened  ;  there  is  a  greater  tendency  to 
clinical  teaching  in  all  of  our  institutions,  a  greater  number  of 
old  school  asylums  and  other  such  strongholds  yielding  to  ap- 
pointments of  homoeopathic  practitioners,  and  more  than  ever 
have  we  been  complimented  in  various  other  ways  by  legislative 
enactments,  appointments  upon  state  and  local  boards  of  health, 
and  even  by  preferments  in  political  elections  in  various  parts  of 
the  country. 

WOMEN^S  MEDICAL  SOCIETIES. 

A  most  noteworthy  ev^nt  is  the  initiative  taken  in  the  for- 
mation of  women *s  medical  societies.  The  Chicago  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  society,  of  which  Dr.  Caroline  E.  Manning  is 
president,  holds  monthly  meetings,  and  has  identified  itself 
with  the  movement  favoring  the  co-education  of  the  male  and 
female  students  in  our  medical  schools.  It  likewise  disproves  of 
methods  looking  towards  the  exclusive  education  of  women,  and 
recommends  to  all  its  members  the  necessity  of  influencing 
their  students  toward  such  colleges  as  are  permanently  and  dis- 
tinctly open  to  both  men  and  women. 

The  plan,  as  far  as  I  can  discover,  seems  to  have  worked  sat- 
isfactorily in  Boston  and  Chicago  [and  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan] although  in  some  cities  the  exclusive  plan  seems  to  be  fav- 
ored by  the  majority.  In  New  York  a  college  for  the*  medical 
education  of  women  exclusively  are  in  successful  operation.  In 
Philadelphia  an  effort  is  being  made  to  found  a  woman's  homoeo- 
pathic hospital, a  movement  which  should  certainlymeet  with  suc- 
cess, and  to  which  our  generous  laity  should  give  their  strong  sup- 
port. Ithas  been  thought  best  to  adopt  the  separate  system  in  this 
instance,the  flourishing  condition  of  an  old  {school  medical  college, 
which  follows  this  plan  in  the  same  city  being  a  guarantee  for 
its  success. 

I  remember  the  day  when  female  physicians  knocked 
ardently  and  persistently  at  the  doors  of  this  institute  without 
success  ;  and  although  the  knocking  of  scores  of  men  was  con- 
stantly being  heard  and  answered,  the  timid  signaling  of 
the  medical  sisterhood  was  smothered,  and  a  deaf  ear  was 
turned  thereto.  When  the  doors  were  annually  opened  they 
were  still  kept  far  in  the  background  and  pushed  away,  though 
within  hearing  of  the  clatter  and  jollity  of  their  successful  male 
rivals.    To-day  I  have  the  privilege  and  good  fortune  of  greet- 


THIB  TY'SIXTH  SESSION.  7 

ing  our  lady  members  by  tbe  score ;  and  the  good  work  of  equal 
rights  to  all  is  bearing  rich  and  ripe  fruits  for  the  present  and 
the  future. 

OUR  FUTURE. 

The  future  of  Homoeopathy  may  then  be  easily  pre- 
dicted. All  great  reforms  go  onwards,  not  backwards,  and  most 
of  them  require  long,  persevering  effort,  and  consume  years  and 
decades  and  centuries  before  they  become  inevitable  in  their  re- 
sults. The  religious  reformations  in  the  past  have  been  worked 
out  slowly  but  surely.  The  history  of  the  political  and  social  re- 
form sliows  that  they  generally  take  a-lifetime  before  their  suc- 
cessful culmination  is  gained.  And  so  it  is  with  genuine  medi- 
cal reformation,  which  began  with  Hahnemann's  issuance  of 
the  **  Organon,*'  and  is  now  progressing  favorably  even  with 
the  most  bitter  animosity  prevailing  against  it.  It  is  quietly 
battling  on  against  old  beliefs  that  along  the  advancing  eras  of 
time  have  for  three  thousand  or  more  years  been  attaching  them- 
selves to  the  laity  like  barnacles  to  a  mighty  ship.  Now  the  owners 
have  decided  upon  harboring  the  ship,  and  have  wisejy  begun  to 
cleanse  her  hull.  A  generation  or  two  more  may  yet  be  needed 
to  completely  finish  the  work  and  fit  it  for  better  speed  and  a 
better  voyage  upon  the  sea  of  time.  And  then  when  reform 
will  have  become  universal  the  banner  name  of  homoeopathy 
will  be  folded  with  the  ensign  ;  the  law  of  cure  will  be  written 
on  the  minds  of  all  througliont  the  medical  world.  The  icebergs  of 
jealousy,  hatred,  malice,  slander  and  misrepresentations  will 
also  slowly  have  melted  away.  Battle  grounds  will  be  oblitera- 
ted. The  battles  with  the  lancet  are  already  quite  unknown  to 
the  younger  portion  of  the  present  medical  offspring  ;  the  tor- 
rents of  the  crimson  streams  have  long  since  ceased  to  flow. 
The  instrument  maker  who  would  risk  the  manufacture  of  a 
case  full  of  lancets  would  be  regarded  by  these  young  practition- 
ers a  fit  subject  for  an  insane  asylum. 

Th^  Senna  and  Mannaeraze  is  over,  and  the  victims  and  vic- 
tors are  beneath  the  sod.  The  '*  bilious  "  mania  is  waning,  and 
the  innumerable  tons  of  mercury  of  more  recent  days  are  no 
longer  sweeping  down  so  many  human  millions.  Tlie  multi- 
ple prescriptions,  with  a  group  of  remedies  like  great  columns 
for  addition  or  multiplication,  are  gradually  fading  away  and 
simpler  modes  are  following  witli  single  remedies  ;  while  palat- 
able sugar-coated  granules,  parvules  and  pilules  are  now  the  rage 


8  THE  AMERICAN  INTSITUTE, 

in  old-school  medical  fashions.  And  remedies  scientifically 
proved  long  ago  upon  the  healthy  by  many  provers  of  the  hom- 
oeopathic school  are  fast  finding  their  way  into  the  **  regular '* 
drug  stores,  and  are  continuously  prescribed  by  the  "  regular*' 
physicians,  whom  they  most  gladly  delight  to  honor  and  obey. 

Crab-like  in  its  details,  the  old-school  is  moving  backward. 
It  will  reach,  ere  long,  common-sense  ethics— the  single  remedy, 
comminuted  doses  and  non-frequency  of  repetition — long  before 
it  will  reach  the  practical  law  of  cure,  which  it  is  destined  in  the 
end,  to  arrive  at  and  acknowledge. 

We  aim  at  reform,  beginning  at  the  opposite  standpoint,  in 
prescribing,  the  law  of  Qure — aimilia  similibus  curaniur — being 
first  and  always  accepted  ;  then  the  other  points  in  our  medical 
reform  may  be  supplemented  as  rules,  the  single  remedy,  the 
non-frequency  of  repetition  while  a  case  is  with  certainty  im- 
proving, the  minimum  dose  of  real  medicine,  and  the  like, 
which  Hahnemann  hinted  at,  such  as  this: 

**  The  characteristics  of  the  case  must  be  similar  to  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  drug,  taking  the  totality  of  the  symptoms.'* 

Or  this  :  **  In  chronic  cases  which  progress  from  the  periph- 
ery, external  or  less  essential  parts  of  the  body,  towards  the  in- 
ternal or  more  central  and  vital  parts  give  by  preference  reme- 
dies that  are  opposite  to  this  direction  in  producing  their 
proved  effects  upon  the  body."  Or  another  still :  "Symptoms 
recently  developed  are  the  first  to  yield ;  old  symptoms  disap- 
pear last.''  This  gives  the  last  appearing  symptoms  the  claim 
of  decision  in  selecting  the  remedy.  The  revered  Hering,  that 
most  scrupulous  and  accurate  observer,  added  still  another  rule, 
as  follows  :  **  Every  aflfection  going  from  one  side  of  the  body  to 
the  other  is  more  efiTectually  overcome  by  such  medicines  as  will 
cause  or  produce  a  similar  affection,  but  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion." Others  may  be  formulated  in  the  future  as  the  system  of 
homoeopathic  treatment  continues  to  develop.  They  should  be 
looked  upon  with  calmness ;  and  no  censorious  or  vindictive 
spirit  should  arise  in  discussing  any  one  or  all  of  them. 

THE  EXTREMISTS. 

Much  wandering  and  fanciful  thinking  and  wild  enthusi- 
astic writing  have  of  recent  years  been  freely  and  unwisely  in- 
dulged in  by  both  ends  of  the  line  of  dose.  Are  they  likely  to 
continue?  I  am  inclined  to  think  not.  We  are  hardly  likely  to 
have  such  extremists  in  the  school  in  the  next  generation ; 


THIR  TY'SIXTH  SESSION.  9 

time  sifts  from  all  new  and  old  things  the  unseemly  growths, 
the  rank  tares  and  weeds  that  are  bold  in  their  alluring  shape, 
and  wild  appearance  in  the  literary  grain  field  ;  and  these  they 
wither  in  the  sunbeams  of  truth.  So  will  it  be  with  these 
gaudy  thoughts,  these  weird  mental  wanderings,  these  tinsel 
words  of  theoretic  reasoning,  and  all  this  gay  cerebral  work,  col- 
ored with  many  hues  of  fancy's  thought,  with  its  crusty  and 
curt  verbal  pungency,  will  fade  away  and  be  forgotten.  Fear 
them  not.  Harmless  are  they  as  the  babbling  mountain  brook 
that  serves  to  charm  the  traveller,  while  the  crystal  glacier 
which  gives  support  and  existence  to  the  gurgling  stream, 
remains  solid,  beautiful  and  strong  in  the  sunlight,  immovable 
through  years  and  ages.  And  so  the  grand  system  of  medicine 
now  known  as  homseopathy  will  endure  and  will  ever  shine 
gloriously  illuminated  through  its  beams  of  truth.  It  will  be 
effulgent  with  future  beneficence  when  the  rushing  torrents  of 
over-enthusiastic  thought  have  evanesced,  the  angular  rocks, 
the  projections,  the  pebbles  and  the  sands  that  caused  the  mur- 
murs and  brooklet-like  babblings  may  remain  ;  but  the  dark 
currents  that  rushed  over  them  will  be  gone  and  forgotten. 

A  committee  composed  of  Drs.  J.  P.  Dake  of  Nash- 
ville, 1.  T.  Tallx)t  of  Boston,  and  J.  S.  Mitchell  of  Chicag:o, 
was  appointed  to  ('onsider  the  recommendations  contained 
in  the  address. 

Under  the  head  of  reports  that  of  the  Publishing  Com- 
mittee was  accepted.  Readin  j»:  of  the  treasurer's  report  was 
deferred  by  request.  The  chair  appointed  as  an  auditing  com- 
mittee D.  S.  Smith  of  Chica<;o,  F.  H.  Orme  of  Atlanta,  and 
P.  G.  Valentine  of  St.  Louis.  The  Necrologist,  Dr.  H.  D.  , 
Paine  of  New  York,  reported  the  death  since  the  last  re- 
port of  twelve  members,  the  ^'oldest  sixty-eight  and  the 
youngest  forty-two  years  of  age. 

The  report  of  the  Bureau  of  Organization,  Registra- 
tion and  Statistics  was  read  by  the  chairman,  Dr.  I.  T.  Tal- 
bot. It  gave  the  number  of  State  societies  at  27,  of  which 
21  held  charters,  and  with  a  membership  of  2,180;  107 
local  societies,  composed  of  2,600  members;  30  general 
hospitals  erected  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $2,000,000 ;  47  dispen- 
saries, 21  of  which  report 60,028  patients;  19  medical  jour- 


10  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

nals,  and  11  colleges,  with  6,000  alumni.  There  are  7,400 
homoeopaths  in  the  United  States,  no  less  than  3,000  of 
which  are  not  members  of  any  reporting  society.  A  letter 
from  Dr.  Charles  Mohr  of  Philadelphia,  accompanying  the 
report  on  dispensaries,  was  read.  The  statistics  on  this 
subject  are  very  incomplete,  fully  one-half  of  the  institu- 
tions not  having  reported. 

The  report  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Publica- 
tion, and  Dr.  Talbot  was  reappointed  chairman  of  the 
Bureau.  There  being  some  unoccupied  time  before  din- 
ner, the  01  der  of  verbal  reports  from  delegates,  which  had 
been  set  down  for  the  afternoon,  was  called  for.  Under 
the  head  of  State  societies  the  following  medical  gentle- 
men presented  reports  from  their  various  sections :  P.  G. 
Valentine,  of  St.  Louis,  editor  of  the  Clinical  Review ; 
Henry  E.  Spalding,  Mass. ;  D.  S.  Smith,  Chicago ;  Henry 
E.  Stone,  New  Haven ;  H.  E.  Beebe,  Sidney,  O. ;  H.  C. 
Allen,  of  the  Medical  Advance^  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.; 
J.  A.  Compton,  Indianapolis ;  Milton  S.  Briry,  Bath,  Me. ; 
Pemberton  Dudley,  of  the  Hahnemannian  Monthly.^  Phil- 
adelphia ;  I.  T.  Talbot,  Boston;  T.  P.  Wilson,  Dean  of  the 
Homoeopathic  College  of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
Ann  Arbor,  and  an  honorary  member  of  the  Kansas  soci- 
ety. Under  the  head  of  local  societies,  hospitals,  clubs, 
and  asylums,  reports  were  presented :  Egbert  Guernsey, 
New  York  Medical  Times^  spoke  of  Ward's  Island  Asy- 
lum ;  William  Todd  Helmuth,  of  the  New  York  Hahne- 
mann Hospital ;  J.  S.  Mitchell,  Chicago,  of  the  Cook  Co. 
Hospital ;  S.  P.  Hedges,  Chicago,  of  the  State  Penitenti- 
ary at  Joliet ;  T.  F.  Allen,  of  the  New  York  Ophthalmic 
Hospital ;  T.  P.  Wilson  and  E.  C.  Franklin,  of  Ann  Ar- 
bor; E.  B.  Holt,  of  the  Lowell  (Mass.)  Hahnemann  Soci- 
ety ;  D.  H.  Beckwith  and  N.  Schneider,  Cleveland,  of  the 
Huron  street  Hospital,  Cleveland  ;  W.L.  Jackson,  Hughes 
Medical  Club,  Boston  ;  D.  S.  Smith,  Hahnemann  Society, 
Chicago;  J.  H.  McCollum,  Pittsburgh  Hospital  and  Dis- 
pensarj^ ;  David  S.  Foss,  Newburyport,  Mass.,  of  the  Es- 


THIRTY-SIXTH  SESSION.  11 

sex  County  Medical  Society;  0.  G.  EUgbee,  St.  Paul, 
Minn. ;  L.  A.  Phillips,  of  the  Massachusetts  Society  of 
Surgery  and  Gynaecology,  Boston ;  and  P.  Dudley,  of  the 
Children's  Hospital  of  Philadelphia. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  reports.  Dr.  Wright,  of  Buf- 
falo, stated  what  arrangements  had  been  made  for  sight- 
seeing, and  an  ad^joumment  was  taken  until  3  o'clock. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

When  the  members  came  together  after  dinner,  the 
work  of  the  "  Bureau  of  Materia  Medica  and  Provings  " 
was  at  once  taken  up.  The  special  topic  for  discussion 
was  "  A  Model  for  a  Condensed  Materia  Medica."  This 
Bureau  is  composed  of  the  most  eminent  authorities  on 
the  subject  in  the  school.  The  majority  of  the  members 
have  published  works  or  dissertations  on  Materia  Medica. 
They  were  instructed  at  the  last  meeting  to  suggest  an 
ideal  Materia  Medica,  and  to  this  end  had  prepared  ex- 
haustive papers,  synopses  of  which  were  read  by  the 
Chairman. 

The  members — corresponding  and  regular — who  con- 
tributed to  make  up  the  report  were :  J.  P.  Drake,  chair- 
man, Nashville,  Tenn. ;  Conrad  Wesselhoeft, Boston,  Mass. ; 
John  W.  Ilayward,  M.  D.,  Liverpool,  England ;  Tomasso 
Cigliano,  Naples,  Italy ;  Lewis  Sherman,  Mihvaukee,Wis. ; 
E.  A.  Farrington,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  H.  11.  Arndt,  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich. ;  A.  C.  Cowperthwait-e,  Iowa  City,  Iowa ; 
Wm.  Owens,  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  A.  W.  Woodward,  M.  D., 
Chicago,  111. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Jousset,  of  Paris,  France,  was  unable  to  re- 
spond, as  he  is  writing  a  large  work.  T.  F.  Allen,  M.  D., 
of  New  York  City,  the  author  of  the  Standard  Encyclo- 
pedia of  Materia  Medica  (in  twelve  volumes)  which 
tears  his  name,  read  his  own  contribution,  and  presented 
printed  copies  of  a  pamphlet  of  some  twenty-five  pages 
{^s  a  sample  of  the  revision  which  he  is  making  of  his 
work.    Asa  S.  Couch,  of  Fredonia,  N.  Y. ;  A.  W.  Wood- 


12  THE  AMERICAN  ITSTITUTE. 

ward,  of  Chicago ;  H.  C.  Allen,  Ann  Arbor ;  Wm.  Owens, 
Cincinnati ;  S.  Lilienthal,  New  York,  and  N.  W.  Butler, 
of  Montclair,  N.  J.,  discussed  the  report.  It  was  referred 
to  the  Publication  Committee,  and  Dr.  Dake  was  re- 
appointed chairman  of  the  Bureau. 

The  Bureau  of  Pharmacology  had  assigned  no  subject 
for  discussion,  and  the  chairman.  Dr.  H.^W.  Taylor,  of 
Terre  Haute,  Ind  ,  was  not  present.  Dr.  C.  Wesselhoeft, 
of  Boston,  one  of  the  Bureau,  was  called  on,  and  spoke 
for  some  time  on  the  necessity  for  improved  methods  in 
the  compounding  of  drugs,  and  of  a  new  theory  as  to  the 
solubility  of  glass.  A  free  discussion  followed,  partici- 
pated in  by  Drs.  Dake  of  Nashville,  Peck  of  Providence, 
Smith  of  Cleveland,  Allen  of  Ann  Arbor,  Waters  of 
Terre  Haute,  Hall  of  Toronto,  Duncan  of  Chicago,  Cowl 
of  New  York,  and  Owens  of  Cincinnati. 

Dr.  Pemberton  Dudley,  of  the  Committee  on  Medical 
Literature,  read  a  paper  severely  scathing  certain  medical 
works  and  journals,  and  suggesting  as  a  remedy  for  un- 
grammatical,  loosely-constructed  and  superficial  literary 
efforts  the  boycotting  of  all  such  by  the  profession. 

EVENING  SESSION. 

A  series  of  interesting,  papers  were  offered  at  the 
evening  session  by  the  Bureau  of  Clinical  Medicine — J. 
Sidney  Mitchell,  M.  D.,  of  Chicago,  chairman — on  "  Mal- 
arial Fevers." 

Prof.  J.  W.  Dowling,  of  New  York  City,  discussed  the 
causes  relating  to  place,  and  instanced  many  new  facts 
and  theories. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Dake,  of  Nashville,  read  an  able  paper,  tak- 
ing the  ground  that  new  settlers  and  those  whose  systems 
were  unused  to  the  poison,  would  be  attacked  sooner  and 
more  violently. 

E.  A.  Farrington,  of  Philadelphia,  gave  a  compre- 
hensive resum6  of  the  remote  effect  of  malaria  on  the 
system. 


THIR  TY  SIXTH  SESSION.  13 

Chairman  J.  Sidney  Mitchell  discussed  the  relation  of 
malaria  to  consumption  and  pneumonia,  and  gave  his 
opinion  that  there  was  no  specific  effect  due  to  malaria  in 
causing  those  diseases. 

Dr.  H.  C.  Allen,  of  Ann  Arbor,  gave  an  exhaustive 
review  of  the  treatment  of  interraittents. 

L.  A.  Falligant,  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  took  the  ground 
that  quinine  in  crude  doses  was  often  necessary,  especially 
in  congestive  fevers. 

Anna  Warren,  M.  D.,  of  Emporia,  Kan.,  gave  some 
original  observations  upon  the  effect  of  malaria  upon 
women,  stating  that  it  sometimes  caused  uterine  and  blad- 
der troubles. 

Dr.  S.  Lilienthal,  of  New  York  City,  detailed  instances 
of  diseases  of  the  nervous  system  resulting  from  malaria. 

R.  B.  Johnson,  of  Ravenna,  O.,  gave  a  concise  account 
of  the  treatment  of  remittent  fever. 

An  animated  discussion  followed,  and  the  day's  work 
was  gracefully  wound  up  with  a  musicale. 

INTERNATIONAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  International  Hahnemannian  Association  is  the 
official  title  of  a  body  which  has  for  three  years  past  been 
holding  its  sessions  in  connection  with  those  of  the  Amer- 
ican Institute.  The  Association  grew  out  of  a  desire  on 
the  part  of  some  of  the  older  members  of  the  Institute  for 
greater  freedom  in  setting  forth  their  views  as  to  what 
Homoeopathy  is,  or  rather  what  it  should  be.  They  think 
that  there  has  been  a  departure  in  some  quarters  from  the 
principles  as  Hahnemann  held  and  taught  them.  The 
Association  comprises  some  sixty  gentlemen,  prominent 
among  whom  is  Dr.  Gregg,  of  this  city.  About  twenty  of 
the  members  held  a  meeting  in  parlor  11  of  the  Interna- 
tional. The  President,  Dr.  0.  Pearson,  made  an  address, 
and  the  Association  adjourned  until  Wednesday. 


The  second  day's  meeting  of  the  fortieth  anniversary 
and  thirty-sixth  session  of   the  American  Institute    of 


U  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

Homoeopathy  was  characterized  by  the  same  unflagging 
interest  and  unruffled  good-fellowship  which  gave  such  a 
signal  impetus  to  the  initial  meeting  on  Tuesday.  The 
convention  has  a  tremendous  appetite  for  hard  work,  and 
grinds  away  at  a  pace  really  astonishing  to  those  experi- 
enced in  the  ways  of  deliberative  bodies.  Two  of  the 
subjects  assigned  for  yesterday's  discussion  would  liardly 
be  regarded  as  wildly  fascinating  by  any  one  other  than 
an  enthusiastic  scientist.  The  special  report  by  the  emin- 
ent microscopist  and  chemist,  Prof.  J.  Edwards  Smith,  of 
Cleveland,  was  the  most  noteworthy  feature  of  the  day's 
work.  His  effort,  which  was  brought  in  under  the  head 
of  "  Remarks  and  Suggestions  concerning  certain  Homoe- 
opathic Preparations,"  was  in  fact  a  tremendous  exposure 
of  alleged  frauds  practiced  by  some  phannacists  upon  the 
medical  profession  and  the  general  public.  Prof.  Smith 
has  done  yeoman's  service  for  the  year  past,  and  was  au- 
thorized to  continue  the  good  work.  A  large  number  of 
delegates  arrived  on  yesterday's  trains. 

MORNING  SESSION. 

Promptly  at  9:30  President  James  brought  down  the 
gavel,  catching  most  of  the  doctors  napping,  and  causing 
a  hasty  scurrying  through  the  corridors.  Business  had 
begun.  Dr.  Henry  D.  Paine,  of  New  York,  was  announced 
as  Necrologist  for  the  coming  year,  and  Dr.  J.  H.  McClel- 
land, of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  as  chairman  of  the  Bureau  of 
Medical  Education.    The  former  is  a  reappointment. 

Treasurer  E.  M.  Kellogg,  of  New  York  City,  read  his 
annual  report.  The  receipts  were  given  at  $3,938.50 ;  dis- 
bursements, $3,927.19,  including  a  deficiency  of  $928.09 
from  last  year.  The  balance  in  the  treasury  is  $11.35,  so 
the  Institute  may  felicitate  itself  on  being  on  the  weather 
side  of  the  situation. 

Dr.  T.  M.  Strong,  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Cor- 
respondence, reported  that  during  the  year  a  large  num- 
ber of  letters  of  inquiry  had  been  addressed  to  prominent 


THIR  TY- SIXTH  SESSION.  16 

physicians  of  the  school  in  Europe,  South  America,  India, 
Mexico,  etc.  The  answers  received  showed  an  advancing 
prosperity  in  England,  South  America,  and  Portugal, 
official  opposition  in  Russia  and  Sweden,  and  the  cause  at 
a  standstill  in  Switzeriand  and  Belgium.  Italy  is  hopeful, 
and  from  Austria  and  Germany  but  little  has  been  heard. 
The  report  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Publication. 
Later  in  the  session  Dr.  Strong  was  reappointed  chairman 
of  the  committee. 

The  President  announced  that  he  had  received  letters 
from  Dr.  A.  Claude,  of  Paris,  France ;  Dr.  A.  Gerstel,  of 
Vienna,  Austria;  Dr.  T.  Cigliano,  of  Naples,  Italy;  Dr. 
Alfred  C.  Pope,  of  London,  England ;  Dr.  Richard  Hughes, 
of  Brighton,  England  ;  Dr.  J.  W.  Hay  ward,  of  Liverpool, 
England,  and  other  foreign  members,  besides  handfuls  of 
letters  and  telegrams  from  members  all  over  this  country, 
expressing  regrets  at  not  being  able  to  be  present,  and  ex- 
tending congratulations  and  expressing  good  wishes  for 
the  success  of  the  session. 

The  work  of  the  Bureau  of  Obstetrics  was  taken  up. 
The  chairman,  Dr.  M.  M.  Walker,  of  Germantown,  Pa., 
led  off  in  the  discussion,  the  special  subject  being  "  Com- 
plications of  Gestation."  Papers  on  various  comx)licated 
points  were  read  by  the  following  doctors :  Geo.  B.  Peck, 
Providence,  R.  I. ;  R.  M.  Foster,  Chicago,  111. ;  L.  C.  Gros- 
venor,  Chicago,  111. ;  Louis  N.  Danforth,  New  York ;  C. 
Van  Artsdalen,  Ashbourne,  Pa. ;  C.  G.  Higbee,  St.  Paul, 
Minn. ;  J.  C  Sanders,  Cleveland,  O. 

The  papers  were  all  intensely  technical,  but  excited 
keen  interest  among  the  medical  gentlemen.  In  the  vig- 
orous debate  and  fire  of  inquiries  and  answers  which  they 
provoked  the  following  gentlemen  took  part :  L.  C.  Gros- 
venor,  Chicago ;  B.  F.  Dake,  Pittsburg ;  John  E.  Gilman, 
Chicago ;  M.  S.  Briry,  Bath,  Me. ;  A.  A.  Whipple,  Quincy, 
111. ;  J.  C.  Morgan,  Philadelphia ;  R.  Ludlam,  Chicago ; 
and  M.  M.  Walker,  Germantown. 


16  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

The  Bureau  of  Microscopy  and  Histology  announced 
itself  as  ready  to  report.  The  treatise  on  the  "  Solubility 
of  Glass,"  by  Dr.  Conrad  Wesselhoeft,  of  Boston,  which 
had  been  prepared  under  the  direction  of  this  bureau,  was 
read  on  Tuesday  afternoon  to  fill  up  a  gap.  The  Doctor,  liow- 
ever,  had  prepared,  and,  on  request,  read,  a  notable  con- 
tribution on  '*  Bacteria,"  from  the  pen  of  the  distinguished 

»  

savant.  Dr.  Albert  Haupt,  of  Chemnitz,  Saxony.  The 
dissertation  dealt  rather  roughly  with  Dr.  Gregg's  theory 
of  fibrillie.  There  was  a  marked  diversity  of  sentiment 
on  the  intrinsic  originality  of  the  papers,  some  members 
characterizing  it  as  elementary,  and  thought  time  wasted 
in  listening  to  its  reading,  while  other  delegfites  declared 
it  to  be  of  great  pith  and  moment,  and  urged  the  reader 
to  give  it  in  full. 

Two  members  of  the  Bureau  had  been  assigned  for 
"  Remarks  and  Suggestions  Concerning  Certain  Houkko- 
pathic  Preparations."  Chairman  J.  Edwards  Smith,  of 
Cleaveland,  read  the  contribution  from  Dr.  W.  A.  Ed- 
monds, of  St.  Louis,  and  then  submitted  a  report  of  his 
own  year's  research  in  this  fascinating  field.  Dr.  Smith  is 
an  enthusiast  in  chemical  investigation,  and  apparently 
possesses  to  the  full  that  belief  in  his  work  which  conquers 
the  world.  The  Doctor  read  extracts  from  his  report  of 
seventy-three  pages,  the  reading  calling  forth  frequent  re- 
quests for  details  on  interesting  points.  The  interest 
aroused  was  so  great  that  on  the  expiration  of  Prof.  Smith's 
allotted  time  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  he  be 
allowed  to  go  on,  and  the  session  was  extended  to  that 
end.  His  humorous  exposure  of  the  adulterations  prac- 
ticed by  certain  pharmacists  in  compounding  sugar  of 
milk  brought  out  sliouts  of  laughter  and  prolonged  ap- 
plause. The  Doctor  gave  a  list  of  pharmacists  and  the 
results  of  many  analyses.  Despite  their  hearty  apprecia- 
tion of  the  ludicrous  side  of  the  subject,  the  doctors  pres- 
ent evidently  regarded  the  matter  as  a  very  serious  one 


THIB  TY'SIXTH  SESSION.  17 

indeed,  and  astonishment  was,  after  all,  the  predominant 
feeling. 

A  paper  by  a  non-member  of  the  Institute — Prof.  M. 
B.  Wood,  of  Clevelaftd — on  the  same  subject,  was  allowed 
to  go  to  the  Publication  Committee  as  part  of  the  report. 

When  Prof.  Smith  left  the  platform.  Dr.  T.  P.  Wilson, 
of  Ann  Arbor,  stepped  forward  and  in  eloquent  words 
paid  a  glowing  tribute  to  Profs.  Smith  and  Wood,  and 
offered  to  head  a  subscription  list,  that  their  work  of  inves- 
tigating homoeopathic  preparations  might  be  continued 
this  year.  He  concluded  by  moving  that  the  Institute  lose 
no  time  in  electing  Prof.  Wood  as  an  honorary  associate 
member.  In  an  instant  a  dozen  members  were  on  their 
feet  struggling  for  the  honor  of  seconding  the  motion.  It 
was  carried  with  a  thunder  of  ayes.  Then  the  contribu- 
tions to  the  investigation  fund  began  to  pour  in.  Prof. 
Smith  was  directed  to  continue  his  labors. 

It  was  decided  that  the  discussion  on  Bacteria  be  re- 
opened. Dr.  Wesselhoeft  resumed  the  reading  of,  and  at 
the  same  time  enlarged  upon,  Prof.  Haupt's  treatise. 
When  he  closed.  Dr.  R.  R.  Gregg,  of  Buffalo,  was  given 
live  minutes  in  which  to  defend  some  of  his  theories  which 
had  been  assailed  by  the  paper.  The  Institute  did  not 
relax  its  grip  on  these  infinitesimal  parasites  until  the 
wild  clang  of  the  dinner  gong  echoed  through  the  hall. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. — SECOND  DAY. 

The  session  convened  very  promptly — all  too  promptly 
for  most  of  the  members.  At  3  sharp  came  the  report  of 
the  Bureau  of  Ophthalmology,  Otology,  and  Laryngology 
— or,  translated  into  workaday  English,  of  diseases  of  the 
eye,  ear,  and  throat.  Dr.  J.  A.  Campbell,  of  St.  Louis, 
was  at  the  head  of  this  Bureau. 

An  animated  and  practical  address  on  abscesses  of  the 
eye,  and  improved  methods  of  treatment  therefor,  was 
made  by  Dr.  George  S.  Norton,  of  New  York,  answering 
3 


18  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

the  inquiry,  "  Can  Glaucoma  be  Cured  without  Opera- 
tion ? " 

Dr.  D.  J.  McGuire  treated  "  The  Relation  of  the  Dis- 
eases of  the  Choroid  and  Optic  Nerves  to  Diseases  of  the 
Sexual  Organs." 

The  Chairman  read  a  two-minutes  synopsis  of  an  arti- 
cle on  "  Iritis,"  by  Dr.  G.  C.  McDermott,  of  Cincinnati. 

The  paper  of  Dr.  C.  B.  Currier,  of  San  Francisco,  on 
"  Nasal  Polypi,"  went  to  the  Committee  on  Publication 
without  being  read. 

A  paper  which  possessed  great  practical  worth  was 
that  of  Dr.  F.  Park  Lewis,  of  this  city,  on  ''  Direct  Causes 
of  Deaf-Mutism."  The  statistics  presented  are  of  interest 
to  all.  The  paper  of  Dr.  Lewis  gives  in  brief  the  results 
of  a  careful  examination  of  the  clinical  histories  of  144 
deaf-mutes,  noting  at  the  same  time  the  present  condition 
of  the  auditory  apparatus,  with  a  view  of  determining  as 
far  as  might  be  the  direct  cause  of  the  loss  of  hearing. 
The  wider  study  of  the  influence  of  certain  occult  causes, 
and  more  especially  dyscrasia  and  parental  consanguinity, 
were  reserved  for  future  consideration. 

"Attention  is  called  to  the  rather  peculiar  fact  that  the 
external  aural  canal  of  many  of  the  children  was  occluded 
by  inspisated  cerumen — a  fact  probably  accounted  for  by 
the  unusual  immobility  of  the  jaws.  In  speaking  the  ar- 
ticulation of  the  condyle  of  the  maxillary  in  glenoid  fossa 
gives  rise  to  a  slight  movement  in  the  external  canal,  loos- 
ening the  wax,  and  allowing  it  to  drop  out  and  be  brushed 
away.  In  the  mutes,  however,  this  motion  does  not  occur, 
and  the  wax  accumulates  in  masses.  As  they  are  already 
deaf  the  added  obstruction  causes  no  further  annoyance 
than  a  sense  of  weight,  which  they,cannot  understand,  and 
the  ear  canal  may  become  completely  occluded  and  they 
be  quite  unconscious  of  the  fact." 

Dr.  C.  H.  Vilas,  of  Chicago,  who  stands  in  the  front 
rank  of  American  oculists,  oflFered  his  contribution  under 


THIRTY-SIXTH  SESSION.  19 

the  head  of  "  Abuses  of  the  Politzer  Method  of  Infla- 
tion." 

The  Chairman  spoke  of  "  Spots  before  the  Eyes." 

The  Bureau's  report  was  amplified  and  discussed  by 
Drs.  Norton,  Lewis,  McGuire,  Couch  of  Fredonia,  Lilien- 
thal,  of  New  York,  Vilas  and  "Ludlam  of  Chicago,  Camp- 
bell of  St.  Louis,  and  Morgan  of  Philadelphia.  This  closed 
the  discussion. 

Dr.  D.  J.  McGuire  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the  Bu- 
reau for  the  coming  year,  with  power  to  select  his  associ- 
ates. 

Next  in  order  was  the  presentation  of  synopses  of  the 
papers  of  the  Bureau  of  Gynaecology — which  for  the  ad- 
mirers of  ^'  English  as  she  is  spoke,"  may  be  interpreted 
as  the  surgery  of  the  diseases  of  women.  The  Chairman 
of  the  Bureau  is  the  genial  Vice-President  of  the  Institute, 
Dr.  O.  S.  Runnells  of  Indianapolis.  The  following  papers 
were  read  by  title  and  referred :  "  Observations  on  Diagno- 
sis in  Uterine  Diseases,"  by  Dr.  H.  Minton  of  Brooklyn, 
editor  Homceopathic  Journal  of  Obstetrics*  "Subinvolu- 
tion of  the  Uterus,"  by  Dr.  R.  C.  Allen  of  Philadelphia. 
The  treatise  on  '^Coccyodynia  and  the  Operations  for  the 
Removal  of  the  Coccyx,"  by  Dr.  S.  S.  Lungren  of  Toledo, 
was  next  read — too  technical  to  make  a  synopsis  of  any  ac- 
tual use.  The  Contribution  on  "Dysmenorrhoea,"  offered 
by  a  Philadelphia  practitioner — Dr.  W.  H.  Bigler  was  quite 
clear  and  succinct  despite  its  title. 

The  essay  of  Dr.  S.  P.  Hedges  of  Chicago,  on  "  Re- 
sults in  Dilation  of  Cervix  Uteri  with  Metallic  Dilators" 
proved  briefer  and  more  interesting  than  the  name  would 
seem  to  promise. 

The  Chairman's  statement  of  the  general  subject, 
"Pelvic  Cellulitis,"  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  and 
timely  of  the  session — timely  in  the  manly  way  in  which 
it  laid  bare  and  denounced  some  of  the  most  crying  evils. 
It  was  far  more  than  a  mere  surgical  analysis  of  the  sub- 
ject matter. 


20  THE  AMERICAN  INTSITUTE. 

"  Dysmenorrhoea"  was  next  discussed  by  Drs.  R.  N. 
Foster,  of  Chicago,  L.  A.  Pliillips  of  Boston,  J.  C.  Morgan 
of  Philadelphia,  A.  S.  Couch  of  Fredonia,  S.  P.  Hedges  of 
Chicago,  J.  D.  Buck  of  Cincinnati,  O.  S.  Runnells  of  In- 
dianapolis. Dr.  S.  S.  Lungren  of  Toledo  will  have  charge 
of  the  Bureau  for  the  next  year. 

The  President  announced  the  receipt  of  a  very  inter- 
esting communication  from  Shoshee  Bhooseen  Mookerjee 
of  Calcutta,  India,  announcmg  the  establishment  of  a 
school  of  homoeopathy  in  that  city.  The  Institute  at  this 
point  took  a  recess  until  eight  o'clock. 

IN  THE   EVENING. 

The  programme  for  the  evening  meeting  included  the 
report  of  the  Bureau  of  Surgery,  the  reunion  of  the  ''  Sen- 
iors," and  the  musicale  and  promenade  concert  with  which 
the  toils  of  the  day  were  closed.  As  usual  the  business 
session  came  to  order  promptly  at  the  appointed  hour,  and 
the  programme  prepared  by  the  Chairman — as  below — 
was  gone  through  with : 

General  Subjects— Antiseptic  Surgery — Definition  and  His- 
toric Mention — J.  H.  McClelland,  M.  D.,  Cliairman. 

The  Principles  of  Antisepsis— L.  H.  Willard,  M.  D. 

The  Antiseptic  Method  Described— J.  E.  James,  M.  D. 

The  Antiseptic  Method  as  Modified  in  Germany —C.  M. 
Thomas,  M.  D. 

Distinctive  Qualities  of  Various  Antiseptic  Agents — W.  L. 
Jackson,  M.  D. 

The  Best  Ligatures  and  Best  Method  of  Application— M.  O. 
Terry,  M.  D. 

The  Value  and  Best  Means  of  Drainage— N.  Schneider,  M.D. 

Toxoemic  Besults  of  Following  Antiseptic  Treatment— I.  T. 
Talbot,  M.  D. 

Experience  with  Iodoform  vs.  Carbolic  Acid— H.  J.  Os- 
trom,  M.  D. 

The  Antiseptic  Method  in  Abscesses,  Ulcers,  and  Morbid 
Growths— G.  A.  Hall,  M.  D. 

The  Antiseptic  Method  in  Wounds  and  Compound  Frac- 
tures—D.  W.  Hartshorn,  M.  D. 


THIRTY-SIXTH  SESSION.  21 

The  Non-Antiseptic  Treatment  in  Wounds— E.  C.  Frank- 
lin, M.  D. 

The  Present  Status  of  Antiseptic  Surgery— W.  Tod  Hel- 
muth,  M.  D. 

Fracture  of  the  Cranium— W.  D.  Foster,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

The  question  of  "  septics  or  antiseptics"  is  a  live  one, 
and  one  that  will  not  down.  In  every  homoeopathic  gath- 
ering issue  is  joined  upon  it,  and  the  the  end  is  not  yet. 
Last  evening's  contributions  to  the  literature  of  the  con- 
troversy were  great  ones.  Notable  indeed  was  the  argu- 
ment of  William  Tod  Helmuth  of  New  York  on  the  side 
of  antiseptics.  Prof.  Helmuth  is  acknowledged  by  sur- 
geons of  his  school  to  be  the  greatest  of  them  all,  the  more 
enthusiastic  of  them  asserting  his  claim  to  be  considered 
America's  greatest  living  surgical  operator. 

The  papers  ended,  a  truce  was  called,  and  the  heat  of 
the  conflict  was  soon  forgotten  in  the  cordial  fraternizing 
which  followed  the  adjournment. 

Then  came  the  time  of  tlie  "  Seniors."  It  may  be  ex- 
plained that  this  order,  class,  whatever  it  is,  was  estab- 
lished some  ten  years  ago  among  members  of  the  Institute 
of  twenty-five  years  standing,  of  whom  there  are  about 
100  at  present.  Last  night  the  feast  was  kept  by  twenty- 
three  of  the  medical  veterans,  including  Dr.  Gregg  of 
Buffalo.  The  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  craft  have  never 
yet  seen  the  light,  so  nothing  need  be  said  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  gentlemen  initiated  last  evening  earned  their 
spurs.  The  memories  of  the  seven  "Seniors"  who  had 
during  the  bist  year  "  passed  from  labor  to  refreshment " 
were  commemorated  in  a  special  service. 

STILL   ANOTHER  HOKEOPATIIIC   SOCIETY. 

To-morrow  will  witness  the  inauguration  of  a  conven- 
tion of  homoeopathic  specialists.  The  seventh  annual  ses- 
sion of  the  American  HouKeopathic  Ophthalinological  and 
Otological  Society  will  be  held  in  the  parlors  of  the  Inter- 
national Hotel,  beginning  at  9  o'clock.    The  society  has 


22  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

about  fifty  active  members,  together  with  a  corps  of  for- 
eign correspondents.  A  large  attendance  is  expected. 
The  programme  as  arranged  is  as  follows : 

Opening  Address  by  the  President— C  H.  Vilas,  M.  D. 
Report  of  the  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Board  of  Censors. 
Presentation  and  discussion  of  the  following  papers — 

OPHTHALMOLOGY. 

Retinitis  Albuinenuria— Cases,  James  A.  Campbell,  M.  D. 
Detachment  of  Retina  Associated  with  Albummuria,  Alfred 
Wanstall,  M.  D.  Removal  of  Foreign  Bodies  from  the  Interior 
of  the  Eye-ball,  W.  A.  Phillips.  M.  D.  Choroidal  Tumors,  C.  H. 
Vilas,  M.  D.  Extracts  from  Ca^e  Books— (I)  Catarrhal  Disten- 
sion of  Frontal  Sinus;  (2)  Partial  Opacity  of  Lens,  E.  H.  Liu- 
nell,  M.  D.  A  Peculiar  Case,  Charles  Deady,  M.  D  Spongy 
Iritis,  J.  H.  Buffum,  M.  D.  The  Use  of  Ice  in  Ophthalmic  Dis- 
ease, George  8.  Norton,  M.  D.  Field  of  Vision,  John  L.  Moffat, 
M.D.  Remarks  on  the  Diagnosis  of  Cataract,  C.  H.  Vilas,  M.D. 
Essential  Phthisis  Bulbi  (Cared),  Charles  Deady,  M.  D.  The 
Value  of  Absorbent  Cotton  in  Ophthalmological  and  Otological 
Practice,  E.  W.  Beebe,  M.  D.  Clinical  Cases,  D.  J.  McGuire, 
M.  D.    Retinoscopy,  F.  Park  Lewis,  M.  D. 

Subject  for  Special  Disc*us8ion, 
The  Value  of  Remedies  in  Asthenopia. 

OTOLOGY. 

Boracic  Acid  in  Otitis  Med.  Sup.  Chr.,  J.  F.  Brown,  M.  D. 
Apoplexy  of  Tympanum,  W.  H.  Winslow,  M.  D.  Auditory 
Vertigo,  E.  H.  Linnell,  M.  D.  A  New  Instrument  for  the  Re- 
moval of  Foreign  Bodies  from  the  Auditory  Canal,  L.  D.  Couch, 
M.  D. 

Subject  for  Special  Discussion, 

Treatment  of  Chronic  Non-Suppurative  Inflammation  of 
Middle  Ear. 

Other  papers  of  interest  will  doubtless  be  read.  Physicians, 
whether  members  of  the  Society  or  not,  if  interested  in  the 
study  of  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear,  are  cordially  invited  to  be 
present  at  the  meeting. 

Dr.  F.  Park  Lewis,  of  Buffalo,  is  Secretary  of  the  So- 
ciety. 


THIRTY-SIXTH  SESSION.  23 


OTHER  SOCIETIES  IN  SESSION. 


The  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy,  now  in  ses- 
sion  at  the  International  Hotel,  Niagara  Falls,  is  nearing 
the  end  of  its  programme,  and  to  day  will  see  an  adjourn- 
ment. The  place  for  the  next  meeting  has  been  fixed  as 
Deer  Park,  Md. — a  new  summer  resort  situated  high  up  on 
the  Alleghenies  about  midway  between  Washington  and 
Baltimore. 

Nineteen  additional  names  of  members  of  the  Insti- 
tute had  been  recorded  at  the  registration  bureau  up  to 
last  evening. 

Before  the  regular  session  was  called  some  of  the  en- 
thusiasts on  Gynaecology  held  a  meeting  for  the  special 
discussion  of  papers  presented  Wednesday  morning.  The 
debate  was  participated  in  by  Drs.  R.  Ludlum  of  Chicago, 
J.  P.  Mills  of  Chicago,  T.  L.  Brown  of  Binghampton, 
Cornelius  Ormes  of  Jamestown,  M.  H.  Waters  of  Terre 
Haute,  Philip  J.  Porter  of  Detroit,  William  J.  Hawkes  of 
Chicago,  O.  G.  Ross  of  Ravere,  Mass.,  Maurice  J.  Chase  of 
Galesburg,  111.,  and  L.  A.  Phillips  of  Boston.  The  special 
topic  for  consideration  w^as  Dysmenorrhoea. 

When  the  gynaecologists  had  retired  a  small  number 
of  delegates  inaugurated  a  general  business  session,  Pres- 
ident James  in  the  chair.  Dr.  D.  S.  Smith  of  Chicago, 
Chairman  of  the  Auditing  Committee,  reported  that  the 
Treasurer's  account  had  been  examined  and  found  correct. 
An  abstract  of  the  Institute's  financial  standing  was  pub- 
lished in  yesterday's  Express.  Dr.  L.  H.  Willard  of  Alle- 
gheny City  was  then  called  to  the  chair.  The  report  of 
the  special  committee  on  President's  Address  was  pre- 
sented by  Dr.  J.  P.  Dake,  chairman. 

A  debate  resulted  on  some  of  the  resolutions  which 
the  committee  had  prepared  respecting  the  recommenda- 
tions contained  in  the  address.  The  resolution  which 
called  forth  the  principal  opposition  was  that  making  the 
Provisional  Secretary  a  salaried  officer,  placing  him  out  of 


24  THE  AMERICAN  ITSTITUTE. 

the  control  of  the  GeneralSecretary,and  making  him  respon- 
sible for  certain  portions  of  the  work  of  the  Secretary's  de- 
dartment.  It  was  carried.  The  recommendations  as  finally 
approved  by  the  meeting  were  :  (1)  That  the  Executive 
Committee  be  requested  to  report  a  suitable  plan  for  es- 
tablishing a  depositary  for  the  archives.  (2)  That  the 
same  committee  report  on  the  feasibility  of  publishing  the 
papers  and  transactions  in  four  bi-monthly  numbers.  (3) 
That  no  member  be  placed  on  more  than  one  bureau  in  the 
same  year. 

The  resolution  offered  by  Dr.  I.  T.  Talbot  of  Boston, 
to  re-establish  the  Intercollegiate  Committee,  to  be  com- 
posed of  delegates  from  each  American  homa^opathic  col- 
lege, was  carried. 

Dr.  Pemberton  Dudley  read  a  communication  from 
Dr.  Charles  Mohr  of  Philadelphia,  the  chairman  of  a  spec- 
ial committee  ai)pointed  to  supervise  the  preparation  of 
the  article  "  Homceopathy  "  in  Stoddart's  forthcoming  edi- 
tion of  the  Encyclopaedia  Brittannica.  The  article  will 
not  be  completed  for  some  months  to  come.  The  bureau 
of  surger}'-  was  granted  the  privilege  of  continuing  the  de- 
bate begun  last  evening  in  "  Antiseptics."  The  subject 
was  ably  handled  by  an  array  of  surgeons  from  all  parts 
of  the  country.  There  was  by  no  means  a  unanimous  sen- 
timent animating  the  earnest  debaters.  Dr.  James  H. 
McClelland  of  Pittsburg,  led  off  with  a  brief  enquiry  into 
the  history  of  the  method  and  a  criticism  upon  the  terms 
employed  by  many.  The  principles  were  presented  in  a 
brief  paper  by  Dr.  L.  H.  Willard,  taking  strong  ground  in 
favor  of  the  theory  that  putrefaction  is  due  to  germs  or 
particles  which  float  in  the  air,  and  the  whole  object  of 
the  specific  measures  is  to  destroy  and  exclude  these.  The 
details  of  the  method  were  set  forth  concisely  by  Dr.  J.  E. 
James  of  Philadelphia. 

A  paper  by  Dr.  C.  M.  Thomas  of  Philadelphia,  dis- 
cussed the  method  as  practiced  in  Germany.  The  use  of 
iodoform  was  particularly  dwelt  upon,  and  the  great  sue- 


THIRTY  SIXTH  SESSION.  25 

• 

cess  of  famous  Germans  was  made  known.  Gennany  is  a 
great  centre  for  extreme  antiseptic  methods.  The  special 
qualities  of  antiseptic  agents  was  discussed  by  Dr.  W.  L. 
Jackson  of  Boston,  who  presented  the  results  of  prolonged 
original  researches.  Dr.  M.  O.  Terry  of  Utica,  told  of  the 
ligatures  best  adapted  to  secure  the  ends  in  view,  and  Dr. 
N.  Schneider  of  Cleveland,  discussed  the  value  of  drain- 
age, and  suggested  the  probability  that  perfect  drainage 
was  the  most  important  element  in  the  whole  system. 

The  poisonous  effects  experienced  and  to  be  feared 
from  the  use  of  antiseptic  agents  were  thoroughly  dis- 
cussed by  Dr.  I.  T.  Talbot  of  Boston,  who  concluded  final- 
ly that  the  careful  use  of  well-known  antiseptics  was  not 
to  be  feared.  The  virtues  of  iodoform  were  written  of  by 
Dr.  H.  I.  Ostrom  of  New  York,  who  was  of  the  opinion 
that  the  special  field  for  this  drug  was  in  bone  diseases. 

Dr.  George  A.  Hall  of  Chicago,  gave  an  account  of 
this  method  in  the  treatment  of  abscesses,  ulcers,  and 
morbid  growths,  claiming  excellent  results.  Dr.  Harts- 
horn of  Cincinnati,  also  advocated  this  method  in  the 
treatment  of  compound  fractures.  On  the  other  hand, 
Dr.  E.  C.  Franklin  of  Ann  Arbor  University,  took  strong 
grounds  against  this  method,  arguing  that  the  claims  so 
extravagantly  set  forth  were  chimerical.  A  comparison  of 
the  results  obtained  by  Dr.  C.  E.  Walton  of  Ohio,  howev- 
er, showed  amazingly  in  favor  of  the  system,  especially  as 
practiced  in  Germany.    • 

The  closing  paper  by  Dr.  Wm.  Tod  Helmuth  of  New 
York,  was  a  guarded  endorsement  of  the  system.  This 
valuable  paper  was  warmly  received  and  represented  the 
present  status  of  the  method.  He  expressed  a  strong 
doubt  as  to  the  efficiency  of  living  germs  in  the  produc- 
tion of  putrefaction. 

In  the  discussion  that  followed  a  strong  feeling  was 
manifested  in  favor  of  thorough  antiseptic  measures  in  all 
important  surgical  operations,  especially  when  the  joints 
and  large  cavities  of  the  body  are  opened. 


26  THE.AMEBICAN  INSTITUTE. 

Dr.  F.  R.  McManus,  the  aged  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Censors,  and  who  by  the  way  has  held  the  position  for 
the  forty  years  of  the  Institute's  existence,  turned  in  the 
daily  lot  of  applications  for  membership. 

MORNING  SESSION. 

The  first  regular  bureau  of  the  morning  meeting — 
Pfedology  (diseases  of  children) — was  called  on.  Dr.  F. 
H.  Orme  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  is  the  head  of  the  Bureau  and 
opened  the  discussion.  Brief  synopses  were  presented  of 
the  papers  entitled :  "  Affections  of  the  stomach  and 
bowels  from  irritating  substances  swallowed  or  imi)roper 
food,  reflected  upon  the  nervous  system,"  by  Dr.  B.  F. 
Dake,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  "  Tubercular  meningitis  and 
alimentary  disturbances  connected  therewith,"  by  Dr.  S.  P. 
Hedges,  Chicago.  Other  papers  synopsized  by  the  chair- 
man were :  "  Atmospheric  influences  affecting  the  nervous 
and  alimentary  systems,"  by  Dr.  A.  H.  Carville  of  Somer- 
ville,  Mass.  The  chairman  closed  the  reading  with  a  gen- 
eral resume  of  the  special  subject.  "  Relationship  of  cere- 
bral disturbances  to  disorders  of  the  alimentary  canal." 
The  debate  was  led  by  Drs.  D.  H.  Beckwith,  Cleveland : 
T.  C.  Duncan,  Chicago  ;  and  Pemberton  Dudley,  Phila- 
delphia. 

SPECIAL  BUSINESS. 

The  hour  of  noon  having  arrived,  the  discussion  of 
papers  was  closed,  and  the  special  order  of  business  ap- 
pointed for  Thursday  at  12  3i.  was  taken  up.  This  was  the 
election  of  oflBcers  for  1884  and  the  selection  of  a  place 
and  time  for  the  next  meeting.  The  great  mass  of  doctors 
who  had  been  lobbying  and  wire-pulling  in  the  corriders 
now  poured  in,  filling  the  room  to  overflowing.  It  was 
quickly  decided  to  leave  the  question  of  time  of  the  next 
meeting  with  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  representatives  of  the  different  sections  then 
came  to  the  front.  These  special  pleaders  hastily  swal- 
lowed the  voice-clearing  troche,  and  with  a  get-it-or-die 


THIBTY'SIXTH  SESSION.  27 

look  let  loose  their  seductive  pleas.  As  one  after  another 
of  the  glowing  letters  were  read,  and  as  each  strain  of  im- 
passioned rhetoric  was  lost  in  the  echoes,  derisive  laughs 
and  incredulous  remarks  were  heard  from  the  opposition. 
The  number  of  places  named  and  the  determination  dis- 
played by  the  rival  claimants  made  the  struggle  an  excit- 
ing one.  The  fight  narrowed  down  to  Old  Point  Comfort, 
Va. ;  Savannah,  Ga. ;  Deer  Park,  Md. ;  Nantasket  Beach, 
Mass. ;  and  Lake  Minnetonka,  Minn.,  with  Deer  Park  ap- 
parently leading.  Each  place  was  voted  upon  separately 
in  the  order  named.  The  friends  of  Deer  Park  won  an 
easy  victory.  It  was  not  finally  settled  without  calling 
out  considerable  dissatisfaction — some  of  the  doctors 
frankly  speaking  out  in  meeting — but  these  were  in  a 
hopeless  minority. 

The  result  obtained  was  the  fruit  of  some  very  fine 
work  got  in  by  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad  company — 
who  control  Deer  Park.  The  company  had  thrown  their 
prospectuses  broadcast  throughout  the  convention  from  the 
opening  day. 

Then  came  the  tug  of  war — the  election  of  oflBcers. 
The  "  Express  "  reporter  did  not  learn  whether  Greek  met 
Greek,  but  certain  it  is  that  West  met  East.  The  greatest 
interest  of  course  centered  in  the  choice  of  President. 
The  nominations  were  notable  ones,  and  every  gentleman 
named  would  have  done  honor  to  the  position. 

The  following  were  presented  in  the  order  named 
(President  James  being  barred  out  of  the  contest  by  the 
Institute's  rule  against  re-election  to  the  presidency) :  O. 
S.  Runnells,  Indianapolis ;  J.  C.  Sanders,  Cleveland ; 
George  A.  Hall,  Chicago. 

The  first  ballot  stood — Runnells,  49  ;  Sanders,  50  ^ 
Hall,  37. 

As  a  plurality  of  sixty-nine  was  necessary  to  a  choice, 
a  second  ballot  was  ordered.  Dr.  Hall  withdrew  from  the 
field.    It  stood — Runnels,  59 ;  Sanders,  69. 

The  election  of  Prof.  J.  C.  Sanders  was  made  unanimous. 


28  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

The  President-elect  was  called  for,  and  stepping  to  the 
front,  he  briefly  expressed  his  gratitude. 

For  Vice-President  the  nominees  were — Drs.  A.  I.  Saw- 
yer, Monroe,  Mich. ;  A.  R.  Wright,  Bufl'alo,  N.  Y. ;  Tim- 
othy F.  Allen,  New  York. 

Drs.  Wright  and  Sawyer  withdrew  in  favor  of  Dr. 
Allen,  and  the  latter  was  declared  the  choice  of  the  con- 
vention. 

General-Secretary  J.  C.  Burgher  of  Pittsburgh  ;  Pro- 
visional-Secretary T.  M.  Strong  of  New  York;  and  Treas- 
urer E.  M,  Kellogg  of  New  York  were  unanimously  re- 
elected. Some  of  these  gentlemen  have  efficiently  filled 
their  respective  positions  from  time  to  which  the  memory 
of  homoeopath  runneth  not  to  the  contrary. 

The  Board  of  Censors  was  filled  as  follows  without 
dissent :  F.  R.  McManus,  Baltimore ;  A.  R.  Wright,  Buf- 
falo ;  F,  H.  Orme,  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  R.  B.  Rush,  Salem,  O. ; 
D.  S.  Smith,  Chicago. 

Chairmen  of  Bureau  were  appointed :  Surgery — Dr. 
George  A.  Hall,  Chicago ;  Ptedolop^y — Dr.  C.  H.  Lawton, 
Wilmington,  Del. 

The  morning  session  had  already  stretched  out  to  two 
o'clock,  but  no  adjournment  was  had — the  President  an- 
nouncing that,  the  state  of  the  work  marked  out  would 
not  permit  an  intermission  for  the  rest  of  the  day,  if  bu- 
reau discussion  was  continued  then.  The  remaining  bu- 
reau of  the  day — Anatomy,  Physiology,  and  Pathology — 
then  reported,  after  which  Chairman  William  Owens  of 
Cincinnati,  summarized  the  arguments  in  a  well  written 
paper.  Prof.  Owen's  subject  was  the  "  Nerves  of  Organic 
Life."  The  paper  commenced  by  explaining  that  he  used 
the  term  "  nerves  of  organic  life  "  instead  of  sympathetic, 
etc.,  because  it  was  more  appropriate,  being  common  to 
all  life.  He  proceeded  to  quote  Strieker,  Owen  and  Tuck- 
ett  to  show  that  a  differential  relation  between  the  primi- 
tive structure  from  which  the  vegetable  and  animal  or- 
ganizations were  developed  could  not  be  shown.    That  all 


THIBTY'SIXTH  SESSION.  29 

were  derived  from  the  primitive  cell  and  were  subject  to 
the  same  physiological  law.  That  no  organism  could  live 
a  day  without  innervation  and  the  performance  of  certain 
functions,  such  as  nutrition,  circulation,  respiration,  secre- 
tion, and  reproduction. 

He  quoted  a  number  of  authorities  to  show  that  in 
vegetable  and  the  lower  order  of  animals  where' no  nerv- 
ous apparatus  could  be  discovered  by  the  highest  powers 
of  the  microscope.  All  of  the  evidences  of  nerve  pres- 
ence were  clearly  demonstrated  by  the  application  of  nerve 
poisons  and  anesthetics^  which  effected  them  in  a  manner 
precisely  similar  to  that  of  higher  animals  and  man.    The 

r 

paper  then  discussed  the  comparative  anatomy  of  the 
nerves  of  organic  life,  and  showed  that  there  is  a  similar- 
ity of  structure  as  well  as  of  function  in  these  nerves,  and 
the  only  difference  between  the  lower  order  of  animals 
and  the  higher,  including  man,  consists  of  the  location  of 
the  main  nervous  cords.  They  were  found  within  the  body 
and  along  the  belly  of  the  animal,  while  in  the  higher 
orders,  including  man,  they  were  found  inside  lying  on 
either  side  of  the  spinal  column. 

The  convention  was  then  declared  adjourned  until  the 
morning. 

The  members  thus  secured  their  first  holiday  of  the 
session.  The  remainder  of  the  afternoon  was  spent  in 
visiting  the  attractions  in  the  vicinity  of  the  falls,  and  in 
renewing  old  acquaintanceships. 

THE   BANQUET. 

The  annual  banquet  of  the  Institute  was  held  in  the 
handsomely-decorated  dining-hall  of  the  International. 
A  large  number  sat  down.  The  music  was  furnished  by 
the  74th  Regiment  Band  of  Buffalo. 

Dr.  T.  P.  Wilson  of  Ann  Arbor  was  toast-master.  The 
following  were  the  formal  toasts  and  responses : 

To  the  memory  of  Samuel  HahQeiuann — all  ages  shall  bless 
it.    A  libation. 


30  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

To  the  memory  of  the  many  iioble  dead,  whose  lives  aud 
labors  are  onr  richest  legacies.  Response  by  I>t,  Qeo.  B.  Peck  of 
Bhode  Island. 

The  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy — past,  present,  and 
future.    Response  by  Bush  rod  W.  James,  M.  D.,  Philadelphia. 

The  Physician— wise,  conservative,  progressive.  Response 
by  J.  C.  Sanders,  M.  D.,  Cleveland,  O. 

The  Surgeon — cautious,  fearless,  and  successful.  Response 
by  William  Tod  Helmuth,  M.  D.,  New  York. 

The  College  Professor — The  only  man  in  the  world  who  is  in 
every  sense  a  *'  doctor."  Response  by  Ruben  Ludlam,  M.  D.,of 
Chicago. 

The  New  Code  vs.  The  Old— Will  ancient  bottles  hold  new 
wine?    Response  by  J.  W.  Dowling,  M.  D.,  New  York. 

The  Homoeopathic  School  of  Medicine— anchored,  drifting, 
sailing.    Response  by  J.  H.  McClelland,  M.  D.,  Pittsburg. 

The  Pulpit,  the  Press,  and  the  School— the  trinity  of  human 
civilization.  Response  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rosenmuller  in  behalf 
of  the  Pulpit ;  President  Monroe  of  DeVeaux  College  in  behalf 
of  the  School ;  Peter  Porter,  Esq.,  in  behalf  of  the  Press. 

The  Ladies. 

On  man. 
She  tried  her  'prentice  han', 
And  then  she  made  the  lassies,  O. 

Response  by  P.  G.  Valentine,  M.  D.,  of  St.  Louis. 
Niagara.    Response  by  the  Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  of 
Buffalo. 

IN  HOM(EOPATniC   DOSES. 

The  President-elect  of  the  institute,  Dr.  J.  C.  Sanders, 
is  a  resident  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  has  an  elegant 
home  at  No,  308  Prospect  Street.  He  is  about  fifty  years 
of  age,  of  distinguished  presence,  and  is  said  to  be  very 
highly  cultivated.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Western  Re- 
serve University  of  the  class  of  1847,  and  also  of  Yale 
College  of  the  class  of  '54.  Dr.  Sanders  has  been  in  active 
practice  for  thirty  years,  and  his  yearly  income  is  reported 
to  be  about  $40,000.  Of  course  he  must  necessarily  have 
to  deal  with  important  cases.  His  connection  with  the 
Cleveland  Homoeopathic  College  dates  back  twenty-three 


THIRTY-SIXTH  SESSION,  31 

years,  for  twenty  of  which  he  has  filled  the  Chair  of  Ob- 
stetrics. 

The  report  of' Dr.  J.  Edwards  Smith  of  Cleveland,  of 
the  special  committee  appointed  to  analyze  certain  hom- 
oeopathic preparations,  read  on  Wednesday,  has  been 
already  referred  to  in  these  pages.  To-day  we  print  some 
of  the  results  of  the  Doctor's  analyses  of  samples  of  sugar 
of  milk  obtained  from  pharmacists  in  various  sections  of 
the  United  States.  What  the  American  Institute  thought 
of  the  report  may  be  seen  in  the  fact  that  a  fund  of  over  $300 
was  almost  instantly  raised  to  enable  Dr.  Smith  to  con- 
tinue his  work. 

The  following  table  shows  the  amount  of  ash  in  mill- 
egrammes  obtained  from  ten  grammes  of  sugar  of  milk 
from  the  several  dealers  named : 

Halsey  Bros.,  Chicago 1.18 

Gray  <&  Co.,  Boston 4.30 

H.  C.  Gaylord,  Cleveland 6.00 

Boericke  ATafel,  Philadelphia 2.00 

Worthington,  Cincinnati 3.40 

L.  H.  Witte,  Cleveland 1.40 

Smith,  Cincinnati . 2.10 

Luyties,  St.  Louis 3.60 

Epps,  London,  Eng 2.07 

Smith,  New  York 1.50 

Duncan  Bros.,  Chicago 2.20 

Munson  &  Co 2.60 

Gross  &  Delridge 5.30 

Hurlburt,  New  York .17.00 

These  showings  given  above  are  the  most  favorable 
that  have  been  obtained  from  the  several  analvses.  A 
Philadelphia  pharmacy  published  a  patented  analysis 
recently,  which  purported  on  the  one  hand  to  represent 
their  milk  as  "  absolutely  pure,"  while  on  the  other  hand 
the  analysis  obtained  ash  enough  to  try  half  a  dozen  sub- 
siduary  analyses. 

Sugar  of  milk  plays  a  very  large  part  in  Homoeopathic 
pharmacy,  triturations  being  made  with  this  vehicle,  its 


32  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

chemical  formula  being  C12  H24  012.  Hence  it  follows 
that  a  pure  sample  of  sugar  of  milk  should  give  no  ash 
after  incineration  at  full  red  heat. 

OPTHALMOLOGISTS  AND  OTOLOGISTS. 

Three  other  conventions,  all  of  Homoeopaths,  were 
held  at  the  International  yesterday. 

The  seventh  annual  session  of  the  American  Homoeo- 
pathic Ophthalmological  and  Otological  Society  met  in 
parlor  10  of  the  International  at  10  o'clock  yesterday 
morning.  The  attendance  was  very  fair.  Dr.  C.  H.  Vilas 
of  Chicago  presided  and  Dr.  F.  Park  Lewis  of  this  city 
was  at  his  post  as  secretary.  After  a  brief  introductory 
address  by  the  President,  in  which  the  work  of  the  Asso- 
ciatioh  was  reviewed,  the  Secretary's  annual  report  was 
read  and  accepted.  The  Treasurer's  report,  which  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Auditing  Committee,  showed  a  very  gratify- 
ing condition  financially.  The  programme  as  printed  in 
yesterday's  Express  was  fully  carried  out,  the  papers  of 
absent  members  being  read  by  title  and  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Publication.  The  following  essays  in  ad- 
dition to  those  mentioned  in  the  programme  were  read. 

A  remarkable  case  of  tumor  orbitee.  C.  H.  Liebold,M. 
D.,  New  York. 

A  peculiar  case  of  congenital  cataract.  A.  B.  Norton, 
M.  D.,  New  York. 

On  the  value  of  Hydrastis  can.  as  an  antiseptic  and  cur- 
ative agent  in  catarrhal  and  purulent  comjunctivitis.  M.O. 
Terry,  M.  D.,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

Allium  cepa.    Dr.  C.  H.  Liebold,  New  York. 

Anomalous  cases :  1,  keratitis  bullosa ;  2,  anophihee- 
miis.  Dr.  F.  Park  Lewis  of  Buffalo.  1,  serous  accumula- 
tion in  middle  ear ;  2  otitis  traumatica  interna.  Henry  C. 
Houghton,  M.  D.,  New  York. 

An  interesting  paper  by  Dr.  James  A.  Campbell  of 
the  St  Louis  Homoeopathic  College  illustrated  the  inti- 


THIRTY-SIXTH  SESSION.  83 

mate    connection    between    certain    degenerate    retinal 
changes  and  diseases  of  the  kidney. 

Dr  E.  H.  Linnell  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  read  a  paper  on 
extracts  from  his  case  book. 

An  interesting  paper  by  Dr.  Charles  Deady  of  New 
York,  resident  surgeon  in  the  New  York  Opthalmic  Hos- 
pital, demonstrated  the  value  of  medicine  in  apparent 
nearsightedness.  The  case  cited  by  the  Doctor  was  a  pe- 
culiar one  in  several  respects. 

A  paper  by  Prof.  George  S.  Norton  of  New  York  on 
the  value  of  ice  in  certain  diseases  of  the  eye  was  of  ex- 
ceptional value  and  called  forth  a  general  interchange  of 
views. 

Dr.  D.  J.  McGuire  of  Detroit  read  a  valuable  essay  on 
some  clinical  cases. 

A  paper  by  Dr.  C.  H.  Liebold  on  Allium  cepa  was 
read  by  the  secretary. 

Dr.  F.  Park  Lewis  reported  two  curious  cases.  One 
that  of  a  child  bom  without  eyes,  and  the  other  that  of  a 
peculiar  inflammation  of  the  eyeball. 

Dr.  Linnell  presented  his  essay  on  "  Auditory  Ver- 
tigo." 

The  subject  for  special  discussion,  "  The  Value  of 
Remedies  in  Asthenopia,"  was  taken  up  and  debated  by 
Drs.  Wilson,  Campbell,  and  Norton. 

Dr.  Houghton  treated  the  special  subject  under  Otol- 
ogy— "  Treatment  of  Chronic  non-Suppurative  Inflamma- 
tion of  the  Middle  Ear." 

The  appointment  of  a  date  for  the  next  meeting  was 
referred  to  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  election  of  officers,  resulted  as  follows : 

President— F.  Park  Lewis,  M.  D.,  Buff'alo,  N.  Y. 

Vice-President — James  A.  Campbell,  M.  D.,  St.  Louis. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer — Charles  Deady,  M.  D.,  New 
York. 

Censors — D.  J.  McGuire,  M.  D.,  Detroit;    Wm.  P. 
Fowler,  M.  D.,  Rochester;  Henry  C.  Houghton,  M.  D., 
New  York. 
3 


34  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 

The  Society  then  adjourned  to  meet  in  connection  with 
the  American  Institute  at  Deer  Park,  Md. 

THE  HAHNEMANNIAN  3IEN. 

The  International  Hahnemannian  Association  have 
been  holding  some  very  interesting  meetings  in  one  of  the 
parlors  of  the  International  Hotel. 

The  reports  of  the  bureaus  of  Clinical  Medicine  and 
Surgery  have  been  most  valuable  additions  to  homoeo- 
pathic literature. 

The  Bureau  of  Surgery's  report  was  directed  especi- 
ally to  plans  for  dispensing  with  the  use  of  knives  in  many 
operations.  It  was  decided  to  hold  all  future  sessions  at 
the  same  place  as  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy, 
but  three  days  in  advance  of  the  meetings  of  that  -body. 

Officers  were  elected  as  follows : 

President — Dr.  George  F.  Foote,  Stamford,  Conn. 

Vice-President — Dr.  R.  R.  Gregg,  Buffalo. 

Treasurer — Dr.  Edward  Cranch,  Erie  Pa. 

Secretary — Dr.  J.  B.  G.  Custis,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Foreign  Corresponding  Secretary — Dr.  E.  W.  Berridge,^ 
London,  Eng. 

Board  of  Censors — Drs.  C.  Pearson,  Washington ; 
Benjamin  Ehrman,  Cincinnati ;  S.  Swan,  New  York ;  C. 
H.  Lawton,  Wilmington,  Del. ;  T.  F.  Smith,  New  York. 

The  President  appointed  the  following  heads  of 
bureaus  for  1884:  Materia  Medica  and  Provings:  Dr. 
Edward  G.  Rushmore,  Plainfield,  N.  J. ;  Obstetrics :  Dr. 
J.  R.  Haynes,  Indianapolis ;  Clinical  Medicine :  Dr.  J.  A. 
Biegler,  Rochester ;  Surgery  :  Dr.  C.  H.  Lawton,  Wilming- 
ton, Del. 

JOURNALISTS  MEET. 

A  meeting  of  gentlemen  connected  with  the  different 
homoeopathic  journals  represented  at  the  convention  was 
held  at  8  o'clock  last  evening  to  consider  the  "  club  " 
question.  .It  has  been  freely  charged  that  some  of  the 
medical  journals  were  cutting  rates  by  taking  club  sub- 


THIR  TY  SIXTH  SESSION.  35 

scriptions  at  greatly  reduced  rates.  It  was  resolved  to 
form  a  permanent  organization  to  regulate  this  and  other 
trade  questions.  Dr.  S.  Lilienthal  of  New  York  was 
elected  President,  and  Mr.  A.  L.  Chatterton  of  New  York, 
Secretary. 

The  following  journals  were  represented : 
The  various  homaeopathic  publicatio^is  were  generally 
represented  by  members  of  their  editorial  staff.  Among 
others,  The  Medical  Advance^  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  by  Dr. 
H.  C.  Allen ;  the  Clinical  Review  of  St.  Louis,  by  Dr.  P. 
G.  Valentine ;  the  Investigator  of  Chicago,  by  Dr.  T.  C. 
Duncan ;  the  Hahnemannian  Monthly  of  Philadelphia, 
by  Dr.  T.  C.  Duncan  ;  the  New  York  Medical  Times ^  by 
Dr.  Egbert  Guernsey ;  the  Homoeopathic  Leader  of  New 
York,  by  Dr.  Walter  Y.  Cowl ;  the  Homceopathic  Journal 
of  Obstetrics  of  New  York,  by  Dr.  H.  Minton ;  the  Med- 
ical Counselor  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  by  Dr.  H.  R. 
Arndt ;  the  American  Homeopath  of  New  York,  and  the 
HomxBopathic  Physician  of  Philadelphia  by  Mr.  A.  L. 
Chatterton  of  the  A.  L.  Chatterton  Publishing  Company. 

CLOSING   SESSION. 

The  Fortieth  Anniversary  and  Thirty-sixth  Session  of 
the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy,  begun  so  auspic- 
iously at  Niagara  Falls  on  Tuesday  last,  closed  yesterday. 
The  meeting  has  been  a  notable  one  in  several  respects. 
The  attendance  has  been  as  large  as  any  previous  session, 
and  somewhat  more  representative  in  character.  The  In- 
stitute leaves  a  good  name  behind  it  for  hard  work  and 
harmonious  action.  Of  the  convention's  work,  viewed  in 
the  light  of  scientific  usefulness  you  have  already  read. 

At  the  general  business  session,  called  at  half-past 
nine  o'clock  yesterday  morning  by  President  James,  the 
attendance  was  very  light,  many  members  being  home- 
ward-bound, and  others  in  the  throes  of  packing  up.  Dr. 
Dake,  of  Nashville,  offered  the  following  important  pre- 
amble and  resolutions : 


36  THE  AMERICAN  INTSITUTE. 

Whereas,  It  has  been  demonstrated  in  the  report  of  Dr.  J. 
Edwards  Smith  at  this  session  of  the  Institute  that  the  amount 
of  impurity  existing  in  Sugar  of  Milk  may  be  detected  by  the 
simple  process  of  incineration,  and  that  a  ten-gramme  sample 
of  ordinary  purity  ought  not  to  give  an  amount  of  ash  exceeding 
one  and  one-half  milli-grammes. 

Resolved,  That  samples  of  sac.  lac,  ten  grammes  of  which 
yield  residaum  exceeding  one  and  one-half  milli-grammes  in 
weight,  shall  be  considered  unfit  for  homooepathic  use. 

Resolved,  That  manufacturers  of  Sugar  of  Milk  be  re- 
quested to  state  on  each  package  offered  for  sale  the  amount  of 
ash  in  grammes  produced  from  incineration  of  ten  grammes  of 
said  sugar. 

Dr.  Smith's  work  has  borne  fruit,  for  the  resolutions 
were  adopted  unanimously. 

The  Board  of  Censors  presented  th^ir  final  report  for 
1883.  ' 

The  report  was  adopted,  and  the  names  were  placed 
on  the  membership  list.  Forty-seven  new  members  in  all 
have  been  admitted  at  this  session. 

Dr.  A.  C.  Cowperthwaite  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  was  re- 
appointed as  Chairman  of  the  Railroad  Committee. 

Mrs.  Dr.  E.  G.  Cook  of  Chicago  presented  her  resigna- 
tion as  a  member  of  the  Institute.    Accepted. 

The  Bureau  of  Psychological  Medicine  was  to  have 
presented  papers  at  this  session,  and  to  have  discussed 
''  Sleep,  and  the  Means  for  Most  Safely  and  Surel}*^  Induc- 
ing it  in  Cases  of  Mental  Disturbances."  The  Chairman 
was  absent,  however,  and  the  papers  in  hand  were  read  by 
title  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Publication.  These 
were :  "  Diseases  of  the  Omentum  as  a  Cause  of  Hppo- 
chondriasis,"  Seldon  H.  Talcott,  Chairman;  "Hallucina- 
tions in  Physical  Insanity,"  S.  Lilienthal,  New  York;  "  A 
Case  of  Acut«  Mania,"  J.  M.  Kershaw,  St.  Louis ;  "  Oxy- 
gen in  the  Prevention  and  Cure  of  Nervous  Diseases,"  T. 
L.  Brown,  Binghamton. 

The  Institute  referred  all  the  papers  prepared  under 
the  direction  of  the  Bureau  of  Sanitary  Science  to  the 


THIR  TY'SIXTH  SESSION.  37 

Committee  on  Publication.  The  articles  covered  a  very 
wide  field,  in  fact,  some  of  those  present  thought  rather 
too  wide  a  field  to  be  discussed  in  detail.  The  papers  re- 
ceived were :  "  Hygiene  in  Traveling,"  T.  P.  Wilson,  Ann 
Arbor ;  "  Hygiene  of  Food  in  Cooking,"  T.  S.  Verdi,Wash- 
ington ;  "  Hygiene  of  Manufacturing,"  George  M.  Ockford, 
Vincennes,  Ind.;  "Hygiene  of  Schools,"  Bushrod  W. 
James,  Philadelphia. 

The  chairman  of  the  Bureau,  Dr.  D.  H.  Beckwith, 
Cleveland,  stated  that  he  had  attended  the  meeting  of  the 
American  Public  Health  Association  for  1883,  and  also 
the  "  State  Medicine  "  of  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion at  Cleveland,  this  month,  and  that  the  reports  of  his 
Bureau  compared  favorably  with  any  on  similar  subjects 
offered  at  either  of  these  meetings. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Dake,  of  Nashville,  offered  a  resolution  in- 
structing the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  when  negoti- 
ating for  future  meetings  of  the  Institute,  to  arrange  with 
hotel  proprietors  that  no  other  meetings  be  allowed  to 
convene  while  the  Institute  is  in  session.  The  resolution 
was  laid  on  the  table. 

Dr.  T.  P.  Wilson,  of  Ann  Arbor,  offered  a  resolution 
calculated  to  restrain  hasty  legislation  by  providing  that 
a  certain  specified  notice  should  be  given  in  advance  ot 
the  offering  of  any  resolution  materially  affecting  the  pol- 
icy of  the  Institute.  It  was  debated,  and  referred  to  the 
Buieau  of  Organization,  Registration,  and  Statistics. 

The  memorial  service  in  honor  of  deceased  members 
was  announced. 

Dr.  George  W.  Peck,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  read  a  well 
written  eulogy  of  the  late  Dr.  Ira  Barrows,  of  Providence, 
who  had  died  during  the  year  past. 

Dr.  Pemberton  Dudley,  of  Philadelphia,  said  a  few 
words  regarding  his  long-time  friend,  the  late  Dr.  Robert 
J.  McClatchey,  of  that  city.  Dr.  McClatchey  was  a  veter- 
an member  of  the  Institute,  and  for  many  years  the  Gen- 


38  LAPARO-HYSTEBOTOMY. 

eral  Secretary.  Some  practical  life  lessons  were  drawn 
from  his  record. 

Resolutions  of  thanks  were  voted  to  the  hotel  propri- 
etor, local  committee  of  arrangements,  and  the  press. 

President  James  then  declared  the  convention  ad- 
journed, to  meet  at  Deer  Park,  Md.,  in  1884. 

Ed.  Note.—- We  are  indebted  to  the  Buffalo  Erpresa  for  the 
above  full  and  correqt  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Insti- 
tute. 


•^♦^ 


LAPARO-HYSTEROTOMY. 


SUCCESSFUL  REMOVAL  OF  A  LARGE  FIBROID. 


BY  DR.  PHIL  PORTER. 


The  triumphs  of  ovariotomy  in  the  hands  of  a  few 
homGe9pthic  surgeons  have  naturally  emboldened  others 
to  attempt  the  removal  not  only  of  uterine  fibroids  that 
have  baffled  the  skill  of  therapeutics,  but  also  the  uterus 
itself,  when  it  has  undergone  fibroid  or  cancerous  degen- 
eration, and  yet  there  are  no  operations,  the  indications  of 
which  ought  to  be  more  clear  than  laparotomy  and  laparo- 
hysterotomy  for  the  removal  of  fibroid  tumors.  If  we 
consult  the  percentage  ot  mortality  as  published  by  the 
old-school  operators  we  are  at  once  convinced  that  the  dan- 
gers to  be  encountered,  both  during  and  following  the  op- 
eration, are  the  greatest  within  the  range  of  pelvic  sur- 
gery. 

During  the  last  two  years  I  have  successfully  removed 
three  large  uterine  fibroids,  once  including  the  entire  ute- 
rus, which  was  duly  reported  to  the  profession  and  I  now 
have  the  honor  to  report  my  third  case. 

Miss  Jessie  S — ,  aet.  15,  had  been  menstruating  one 
year,  scrofulous  diathesis.  Sent  bv  Dr.  L.  Younghusband 
of  this  city.    First  noticed  a  hard  lump  in  the  left  iliac  re- 


PHIL.  PORTER.  89 

gion  about  one  year  ago  but  as  it  did  not  pain  or  distress 
her  she  did  not  call  her  mother's  attention  to  it. 

Three  months  ago  she  commenced  having  what  her  at- 
tending physician  called  hystero-epileptic  attacks  and  she 
then  comolained  of  the  growth  in  her  abdomen,  which 
was  examined  by  several  physicians.  The  patient  came 
under  my  care  in  April  and  after  a  thorough  trial  of  sev- 
eral remedies  and  as  the  tumor  increased  rapidly  in  size,  I 
determined  to  operate. 

Preparing  the  patient  in  the  usual  manner  for  lapar- 
otomy, I  opened  the  abdomen  and  found  a  large  fibroid 
tumor  att?ched  by  a  broad  pedicle  to  the  left  side  of  the 
fundus  of  the  uterus.  The  adhesions  were  abundant  and 
very  troublesome.  The  tranverse  and  descending  colon 
were  attached  three  to  four  inches  to  the  upper  portion  of 
the  tumor  which  necessitated  some  careful  dissecting  and 
time.  Before  dividing  any  extensive  adhesion  I  was  care- 
ful to  clamp,  thus  avoiding  any  great  amount  of  hemor- 
rhage. After  freeing  the  tumor  from  all  its  attachments 
except  the  pedicle,  where  it  was  connected  with  the  ute- 
rus and  left  broad  ligament,  including  the  Fallopian  tube 
and  ovary  and  so  closely  identified  with  the  tumor  that  it 
was  impossible  to  separate  them.  I  ligated  the  pedicle  in 
five  different  sections  and  then  crushed  the  entire  pedicle 
above  the  ligatures  with  one  of  Billroths  large  clamps  and 
severed  the  mass  with  scissors  and  removed  the  tumor  and 
all  the  uterine  attachments  on  the  left  side.  I  examined 
the  stump  carefully  and  bathed  it  with  warm  water  and 
Calendula.  While  cleaning  the  abdominal  cavity  I  found 
another  tumor  about  the  size  of  a  cocoanut  in  the  omen- 
tum, which,  after  ligating  all  vessels,!  removed.  It  proved 
under  the  microscope  to  be  encephaloid  in  character. 
When  all  bleeding  points  had  been  secured,  the  entire  cav- 
ity was  treated  to  a  bath  of  warm  water  and  Calendula. 
The  incision  was  then  washed  with  equal  parts  of  calen- 
dula and  Hyperium,  and  silk  worm  sutures  used  to  close 
the  abdomen. 


40  BACTERIA  AND  TUBERCLES. 

The  operation  lasted  one  hour  and  fifteen  minutes. 

All  the  antiseptic  precautions  were  employed  except 
the  spray. 

The  patient's  temperature  never  rose  above  99^  and 
after  the  first  day  the  pulse  was  not  over  100. 

Nothing  but  Hypericum  was  administered  in  the  6x 
but  on  the  third  day  the  patient  complained  of  nausea 
and  Ars  12  x  one  dose,  was  given  which  controlled  the 
trouble. 

The  patient  has  not  had  one  bad  symptom  since  the 
day  ol  the  operation  and  is  convalescing  nicely. 

The  sutures  were  removed  on  the  eighth  day  as  union 
was  perfect.    No  drainage  tube  was  used. 


<^«»" 


BACTERIA  AND  TUBERCLES. 


BY  R.  R.  t^REGG,  BUFFALO,  MAY   12. 


Will  you  allow  me  to  prick  one  of  the  bacteria  bub- 
bles that  is  now  sailing  so  gaily  over  the  world  ?  You 
know  that  Prof.  Koch  of  Berlin  asserts  that  tubercles  are 
caused  by  bacilli  and  by  them  only.  Very  well :  what 
are  bacilli?  They  are  one  of  the  sub-divisions  of  bacteria, 
and  Prof.  Koch  says  they  are  vegetable  parasites,  or  vege- 
table germs,  and  all  scientists  agree  with  him  as  to  their 
vegetable  nature. 

What  next  are  tubercles  ?  Tubercles  are  wholly  ani- 
mal structures,  and  tubercle  cells  are  purely  animal  cells. 
Well',  Prof.  Koch's  claim  then  involves  this  flat  contradic- 
tion of  all  nature,  namely :  That  a  purely  vegetable  germ, 
the  bacillus,  will  produce  a  purely  animal  structure,  the 
tubercle.  And  one  of  the  strangest  anomalies  in  all  sci- 
entific controversy  has  arisen  over  the  discussion  of  the 
subject,  to  wit :  That  Prof.  Tyndall,  after  fighting  Bastian 
for  years,  upon  the  latter's  "  de  novo  origin  of  life,"  and 
on  his  doctrine  of  tra^psmutation  in  the  lowest  forms  of 


JB.  B.  OBEOO.  41 

animal  and  vegetable  life,  now  turns  around  against  his 
own  teachings  of  a  life  time,  and  says  yes  to  Prof.  Koch's 
claim,  a  vegetable  germ  will  produce  a  purely  animal 
structure. 

How  Bastian  must  dance  for  joy  at  this  evidence  of 
Tyndall's  contradiction  of  himself,  and  endorsing  his  (Bas- 
tian's)  position.  They  might  just  as  well  tell  us  violets 
furnish  the  germs  of  aligators. 


-#♦#- 


ALLOPATHIC  SIMILAEITT. 


BY  CHARLES  L.  CliEVELAND,  A.  B.,  M.  D.,  CLEVELAND,  OHIO. 


Apropos  to  the  clever  criticism  of  Dr.  Cathell's  "  Phy- 
sician Himself,"  written  for  the  May  issue  of  the  Advance 
by  Dr.  Camp  of  Minneapolis,  I  present  a  few  points  fur- 
nished for  the  benefit  of  homoeopathy  by  Dr.  Robert  Bar- 
tholow.  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  in  Jefferson  College. 
It  is  an  illustration  of  knot  tieing  very  similar  to  that  into 
which  Dr.  Cathell  has  so  admirably  placed  himself  to  the 
amusement  of  all  of  us ;  and  thanks  are  undoubtedly  due 
to  Dr.  Camp  for  his  interesting  criticism.  As  another  ex- 
ample of  strange  incongruity,  let  us  take  up  Bartholow's 
"  Materia  Medica  and  Theapeutics,"  edition  of  1881 : 

Chapter  on  the  Mineral  acids,  p.  83,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing sentence,  "  It  is  true  of  all  the  mineral  acids  that 
their  long  continued  use  diminishes  the  production  of  acid 
gastric  juice,  and  in  this  way  after  a  time  they  cause  the 
very  trouble  for  the  relief  of  which  they  were  originally 
administered."  And  a  little  further  on,  p.  84,  "  To  pre- 
vent the  excessive  formation  of  acid,  whether  due  to  the 
action  of  the  gastric  glands,  or  to  adnormal  fermentation 
of  the  starchy,  saccharine,  and  fatty  elements  of  the  food, 
mineral  acids  are  used  with  decided  advantage,  but  they 
must  be  anministered  before  meals.     For  this  purpose, 


42  ALLOPA THIC  SIMILARITY. 

hydrochloric  or  phosphoric  acid  is  to  be  preferred.  The 
excessive  production  of  acid  is  manifested  by  acid  eructa- 
tions^pyroais^  heartburn^  and  ulcerative  atoniatitisP  What 
better  indications  for  a  remedy  prescribed  homoeopathi- 
cally  according  to  our  best  authorities  ?  Speaking  of  Bel- 
ladonna, p.  311,  Dr.  Bartholow  says,  "The  remarkable 
similarity  in  the  symptoms  of  atropinism  and  of  scarlatina 
has  led  to  the  use,  by  homoeopathic  practitioners,  of  Bella- 
donna and  prophylactic  against  this  disease.  The  points 
of  resemblance  are  so  superficial,  and  the  differences  so 
wide,  that  no  more  striking  instance  could  be  adduced  of 
the  uncertainty  in  the  application  of  the  homoeopathic 
dogma,  even  admitting  its  truth."  By  this  unique  method 
of  reasoning,  this  "  striking  instance,"  the  homoeopathic 
dogma  is  shown  to  be  false  1  Look  at  those  two  sentences. 
It  is  stated  that  there  is  a  "  remarkable  similarity  in  the 
symptoms  of  atropinism  and  of  scarlatina,"  and  in  the  next 
breath  this  "remarkable  similarity"  is  "so  superficial," 
and  "  the  differences"  are  "  so  wide,"  that  there  is  really 
no  similarity,  is  the  legitimate  conclusion.  Truly  the  text 
books  of  allopathy  are  complex  and  confusing.  It  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at  that  the  physicians  of  that  school  make 
compound  prescriptions. 

Note  again  on  p.  129 :  "  Arsenic  is  one  of  the  numer- 
ous remedies  proposed  for  the  treatment  of  epidemic  chol- 
era. It  is  a  curious  circumstance*  first  demonstrated  by 
Virchow,  that  some  cases  of  acute  arsenical  poisoning  are 
not  distinguishable  by  their  symptomatology  or  morbid 
anatomy  from  cases  of  epidemic  cholera.','  This  fact  may 
seem  a  "curious  circumstance"  to  some  allopaths,  and 
some  of  them  may,  perhaps,  believe  that  Virchow  "  first 
demonstrated"  said  fact ;  it  don't  seem  "  curious"  to  us, 
neither  are  we  so  ignorant  of  medical  history  as  to  believe 
that  Virchow  "  first  demonstrated"  it.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  multiply  instances  of  this  kind.  The  case  is  clear ;  the 
argument  conclusive.  Sit  down  in  the  evening,  after  a 
hard  day's  work,  and  amuse  yourself,  in  healthy,  mental 


CHARLES  L.  GLEVELAND.  43 

recreation,  by  picking  out  neat  and  concise  statements  of 
"  similia"  in  almost  any  allopathic  work  on  Materia  Med- 
ica.  I  will  venture  to  say  that  in  twenty  minutes  any  one 
can  discern  fifty  or  more  examfples  like  the  above ;  there 
is  certainly  that  number  in  Dr.  Bartholow's  work.  But 
let  us  look  once  more,  and  now  we  come  to  a  still  stranger 
portent :  p.  445,  the  subject  under  consideration  is  Aco- 
nite. We  find,  "The  monopoly  of  homoeopathic  practi- 
tioners of  the  use  of  Aconite  has  aroused  a  prejudice  against 
it,  which  has  discouraged  its  employment.  Aconite  is, 
however,  an  antagonist  to  to  the  fever  process ;  it  is  not 
applicable  in  accordance  with  the  so-called  laws  of  simil- 
ars. It  is  used  by  these  quacks  because  it  is  a  powerful 
agent  which  will  produce  manifest  effects  in  small  doses, 
that  may  easily  be  disguised."  This  is  certainly  remarka- 
ble. Dr.  B.  says  Aconite  is  '*  an  antagonist  to  the  fever 
process"  but  "  not  applicable  in  accordance  wi^i  the  so- 
called  law  of  similars."  These  are  mere  statements.  No 
proofs  are  furnished.  It  is  stated  that  (he  effects  of  Aco- 
nite "  may  easily  be  disguised ;"  and  there  it  is  left.  This 
is  too  vague  for  us ;  it  may  do  for  allopaths.  There  is  a 
fog  which  we  would  wish  dispelled.  Look  at  the  knot,  and 
at  the  same  time  note  the  "  remarkable  similarity"  be- 
tween Drs.  Cathell  and  Bartholow. 

Dr.  Cathell,  in  his  "  Physician  Himself,"  would  make 
a  first-class  ''  quack"  out  of  the  follower  of  his  advice,  and 
Dr.  Bartholow,  in  his  '^Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics," 
distinctly  states  the  homoeopathic  law,  gives  indications 
for  remedies  and  for  prescribing  under  that  law,  and  then 
calls  the  homoeopaths  "  quacks."  These  instances  of  '^sim- 
ilarity," remarkable  indeed,  rather  incline  one  to  the  be- 
lief that  some  gentlemen  of  the  "  old  school"  are  as  much 
governed  by  the  law  of  similars  in  their  logic  as  are  the 
homoeopaths  in  their  practice  of  medicine.  Think  of  the 
many  medical  colleges  in  which  Dr.  Bartholow's  "  Materia 
Medica"  is  used  as  a  text-book,  and  hence  the  number  of 
"  quacks"  turned  loose  upon  the  public  every  year  from 


44  BOBAX:   A   VERIFICATION. 

said  colleges !  "  Picture  it,  think  of  it !"  Verily,  there 
are  strange  men  and  strange  things  in  "  regular"  medi- 
cine I 


-•♦•- 


BORAX:  A  VERIFICATION. 


BY  G.  HOTT,  M.  D.,  CHILIOOTHE,  O. 


The  mother  came  to  me  for  medicine  for  her  baby, 
two  months  old,  and  gave  the  following  history  of  the 
case.  The  child  would  waken  up  very  much  frightened, 
and  she  thought  would  have  spasms  if  some  one  were  not 
at  hand  to  take  her  up  at  once,  and  so  they  were  afraid  to 
have  the  child  sleep  without  some  one  near  to  watch  her. 
The  rustling  of  a  paper  or  dress,  or  the  slamming  of  a 
door,  would  cause  the  child  to  start  and  scream  and  seem 
badly  frightened.  When  laying  her  down  the  child  would 
start  and  throw  up  her  hands  as  though  afraid  of  falling, 
and  some  nights  they  could  not  put  her  down  at  all — 
would  have  to  hold  the  child  all  night  in  their  arms.  The 
baby  seemed  pretty  well,  only  that  she  was  so  extremely 
nervous.  Appetite  pretty  good,  and  bowels  regular.  The 
mother  had,  each  time  after  nursing  the  child,  wet  the 
nipples  with  Borax  and  whisky,  and  neglected  to  wash  it 
off  before  the  child  would  again  nurse.  The  nurse  had 
told  her  to  do  so  to  keep  her  nipples  from  cracking,  and 
she  had  followed  instructions  implicitly  ever  since  the 
child  was  born ;  supposed  it  was  all  right ;  "  did  not  think 
the  Borax  would  do  any  harm."  In  order  to  keep  the 
baby  from  getting  sore  mouth,  she  had,  in  addition,  fre- 
quently  given  borax  and  sugar  in  solution. 

I  forbade  the  use  of  Borax  in  any  way,  assuring  her  it 
was  the  entire  cause  of  her  child's  illness.  She  followed 
my  directions,  and  in  a  few  days  all  nervousness  had  dis- 
appeared and  she  was  perfectly  well.  I  think  she  ob- 
tained a  very  good  proving  of  Borax,  without  intending 
to  add  anything  to  the  science  of  therapeutics. 


THE  CHICAOO  HOMCEOPATPIC  COLLEGE.        45 

THE  CHICAGO  HOMCEOPATHIC  COLLEGE. 


ITS  RELATION  TO  CO-EDUCATION. 


BEAD  BEFORE  THE  ILLIKOIS  STATE  MEDICAX  ASSOCIATION,  AND  PUBLISHED 
BY  BEQUEST  OF  THE  FACULTY,  MAY  18,  1883. 


The  Chicago  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  having  by 
the  unanimous  vote  of  its  faculty  decided  not  to  matricu- 
late women  as  students  in  the  future,  it  has  been  thought 
proper  that  the  reasons  for  such  action  should  be  clearly 
stated  before  the  State  Society,  not  only  to  forestall  criti- 
cism and  misrepresentation,  but  as  an  exhibition  of  loyalty 
and  fraternal  feeling,  which  the  college  has  ever  been 
proud  to  feel  have  been  reciprocal,  between  the  two  med- 
ical bodies. 

It  should  be  stated  clearly  and  emphatically  in  the 
first  place,  that  there  is  not,  and  has  not  been,  the  slight- 
est feeling  of  antagonism  in  the-  minds  of  the  faculty  of 
this  college  toward  women  practitioners  of  medicine  in 
general ;  nor  is  the  college  less  proud  of  the  women,  than 
it  is  of  the  men  among  its  alumni.  The  college  has  no 
feeling  of  regret,  nor  dissatisfaction,  as  it  looks  over  the 
entire  list  of  its  graduates. 

Nor  has  the  question  of  co-education  in  general  or  as 
related  specifically  to  medicine,  entered  as  a  factor  in  de- 
ciding its  future  policy  in  the  exclusion  of  women  from  its 
benefits. 

The  college  believes  fully  in  the  aptitude  of  women 
for  the  study  and  practice  of  the  medical  art ;  and  it  is 
fully  cognizant  of  the  fact,  that  already  many  noble  wom- 
en, some  of  them  its  own  graduates,  have  achieved  an 
enviable  reputation  for  the  prompt  and  skillful  relief  of 
human  suff-ering. 

In  taking  this  action  it  was  careful  to  protect  the 
women  it  has  graduated,  in  all  their  rights  and  privileges, 
and  it  will  always  be  glad  to  welcome  them  back  to  their 
old  home  regardless  of  sex. 


46         THE  CHICAGO  HOMCEOPATHIC  COLLEGE. 

The  reasons  which  impelled  the  college  to  take  this 
step  were  wholly  local  and  special  in  their  nature,  and 
scarcely  touch  the  general  question  of  co-education  at  all. 
Let  me  state  these  reasons  as  briefly  as  I  can. 

First,  then,  the  location  of  the  college  is  such  that  for 
the  proper  utilization  of  the  clinical  advantages  open  to 
it,  its  students  are  compelled  to  come  into  contact  with 
from  five  hundred  to  seven  hundred  students  of  other  col- 
leges whose  students  are  exclusively  males. 

It  should  be  understood  that  grouped  around  the  great 
Cook  County  Hospital  are  the  two  leading  allopathic  col- 
leges of  the  west,  and  the  amphitheatre  of  the  hospital, 
where  all  the  clinics  are  held,  are  open  to  their  students 
as  well  as  to  ours.  When  clinics  are  held  here  bv  the 
professors  of  these  colleges  no  discrimination  is  made  nor 
can  be  made  in  the  selection  of  clinical  material  out  of 
respect  to  the  women  who  come  alone  from  our  college ; 
and  the  five  hundred  to  seven  hundred  students  from  these 
colleges  cannot,  or  at  least  do  not,  understand  that  our 
women  students  are  not  there  more  out  of  curiosity  than 
otherwise. 

Hence  our  women  students  are  placed  in  an  embar- 
rassing position,  which  would  not  be  the  case  if  the  hos- 
pital were  under  our  exclusive  control ;  and  yet  the  clinics 
which  are  held  here  daily  are  so  attractive  and  advan- 
tageous that  the  students  are  drawn  to  them  until  nearly 
every  seat  in  the  vast  amphitheatre  is  filled. 

More  than  this,  it  has  been  found  that  a  by  no  means 
inconsiderable  number  of  the  women  who  make  up  the 
gynaecological  clinic  jn  our  own  college  building,  where 
our  private  clinics  are  held,  strenuously  object  to  a  local 
examination  before  a  mixed  class,  thus  curtailing  to  an 
important  extent  the  advantages  to  be  derived  by  the  male 
members  of  the  class,  who  have  always  been  in  the  ma- 
jority. 

When  the  Chicago  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  was 
founded,  its  projectors  (incorporators)  believed  that  it  had 


ITS  BEL  A  TION  TO  CO-ED  UCA  TION.  47 

a  mission  to  fulfill,  and  its  motto  was  "  A  higher  medical 
education." 

For  seven  years  past  it  has  labored  honestly  and  faith- 
fully to  fulfill  this  mission  and  secure  to  its  students  and 
graduates  the  best  practical  education  afforded  by  any 
medical  college  in  the  country.  For  this  reason  two  years 
ago  it  erected  the  present  magnificent  college  building 
directly  opposite  the  Cook  Co.unty  Hospital,  in  order  to 
supplement  its  large  dispensary  clinics  with  the  larger 
ones  of  this  immense  hospital ;  and  it  has  now  found  after 
two  years  of  trial  that  its  male  students  cannot  derive  all 
of  the  benefits  they  ought  to  do,  so  long  as  the  two  sexes 
are  commingled.  Finally,  at  the  time  this  action  was 
taken  there  was  not  a  single  homoeopathic  college  in  the 
west  in  which  the  two  sexes  were  not  admitted  on  an 
equality,  and  as  a  consequence  of  this,  many  western  stu- 
dents passed  by  our  western  colleges  and  went  east  where 
they  could  find  no  better  facilities  for  learning,  nor  better 
teaching,  but  where  they  could  pursue  their  studies  un- 
trammeled  and  unembarrassed  by  the  presence  of  the  op- 
posite sex. 

It  seemed  best,  therefore,  that  there  should  be  at  least 
one  western  homoeopathic  medical  college  confining  its 
course  of  instruction  to  the  male  sex  solely,  and  it  felt 
that  in  taking  the  action  it  did,  it  was  doing  no  wrong  nor 
injustice  to  the  women  who  would  naturally  knock  at  its 
doors,  by  refusing  them  admission,  since  there  are  numer- 
ous other  colleges  willing  and  glad  to  receive  them. 

These,  then,  are  briefly  the  reasons  actuating  the  fac- 
ulty of  this  college  in  refusing  in  the  future  to  matriculate 
other  than  male  students. 

We  believe  that  the  step  is  a  wise  one ;  that  it  is  not 
a  step  backward,  but  a  step  forward  ;  and  we  believe  that 
time  will  demonstrate  its  wisdom. 

The  college  is  still  determined  to  do  all  and  every- 
thing in  its  power  to  advance  the  status  of  medical  educa- 
tion'and  to  improve  the  character  and  acquirements  of  its 


48  QIFFO  ED'S  HOME  O  YMNASl  UM. 

graduates  from  year  to  year.  To  this  end  it  seeks  rather 
than  fears  just  criticism,  but  it  is  solicitous  to  retain  and 
add  to,  rather  than  alienate,  that  large  body  of  the  west- 
ern profession  which  it  is  proud  to  call  Its  friends. 


-4#^ 


GIFFORD'S  HOME  GYMNASIUM. 


Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.,  June  21,  1883. 

The  essential  of  systematic  and  healthful*  exercise 
consists  in  frequent  changes  in  the  position  of  the  body, 
bringing  into  action  at  each  change  a  different  set  of  mus- 
cles, thereby  strengthening  and  symmetrically  develop- 
ing every  part  of  the  body.  Thus  exercise  may  become 
an  exhilorating  pleasure,  instead  of  a  tiresome  and  ex- 
hausting labor.  By  using  light  weights  at  first  and  fre- 
quently changing  movements,  the  weights  and  amount  of 
exercise  can  be  gradually  increased  without  fatigue. 

We,  the  Committee  on  Sanitary  Science  and  Hygiene 
of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy,  have  made  a 
thorough  investigation  of  the  Home  Gymnasium,  or 
Health  Exercising  Apparatus,  invented  and  manufactured 
by  the  Gifford  Brothers,  of  New  York  city.  We  cheerful- 
ly give  it  our  hearty  endorsement.  It  supplies  a  want 
long  felt,  and  brings  within  the  reach  of  every  one  the 
means  of  acquiring  a  thorough  physical  education. 

It  will,  if  properly  and  intelligently  used  prove  a  val- 
uable adjunct  in  the  treatment  of  many  diseases,  and  of 
great  benefit  to  the  over-taxed  brain-workers  in  our  own 
profession. 

[Signed.] 

D.  H.  Beckwith,  M.  D.,  Chairman,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

T.  P.  Wilson,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Principles  and 
Practice,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 

A.  R.  Wright,  M.  D.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Bushrod  W.  James,  M.  D.,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 


FEVILLETON,  49 


FEUILLETON. 


New  Jersey  Ahead.— On  July  Ist  the  new  law  prohibiting 
the  sale  of  tobacco  in  any  form  to  persons  under  16  years  of  age, 
went  into  effect. 

The  Philadelphia  Abortionist  Hathaway  has  been 
found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  seven  years  imprisonment,  and 
to  pay  a  fine  of  $500  and  costs  of  prosecution. 

Ohio  Fungi.— In  a  continuation  of  his  paper  on  the  ra^'col- 
ogic  flora  of  the  Miami  valley,  Mr.  A.  P.  Morgan  gives  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  Hyporhodii,  Dermini,  Pratelli,  and  Corprinarii  of  the 
region  mentioned,  including  sixty-five  species.— (iyc/cnce.) 

Is  IT  A  Fact?  At  the  meeting  of  the  Western  Academy 
at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  Dr.  R.  Ludlam,  of  Chicago,  stated  as  a 
clinical  fact,  that  he  had  never  seen  a  patient  who  had  leucorrhcea 
during  pregnancy  troubled  with  morning  sickness.  Let  us  hear 
from  some  of  our  specialists. 

At  the  recent  meeting  of  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, a  member  reported  the  successful  removal  of  three  inches 
of  intestine,  **  as  the  first  case  of  the  kind  recorded  in  surgical 
literature."  The  Dr.  is  not  well  read  in  surgical  literature.  In 
July,  1869,  the  late  Dr.  G.  D.  Beebe,  of  Chicago,  successfully  r«. 
moved  o8  inches  of  intestine,  with  complete  recovery. 

Injurious  Alg^.— In  a  paper  on  some  Algse  of  Minnesota 
supposed  to  be  poisonous.  Prof.  J.  C.  Arthur  gives  an  account  of 
a  species  of  Rivularia  infesting  the  water  of  ponds  at  Waterville, 
Minnesota,  and  supposed  to  be  the  cause  of  death  or  injury  to 
cattle.  He  also  describes  the  condition  of  Lake  Phalen,  near  St. 
Paul,  in  which  he  found  several  species  of  Nostochacese.  (/Sci- 
ence.) 

Amen  !— We  take  it  that  there  is  too  universal  a  belief  in 
the  homoeopathic  law,  too  general  a  use  of  it  in  the  practice  of 
homoeopathic  physicians,  too  sure  a  knowledge  that  the  only  way 
to  propagate  a  truth  distasteful  to  its  oppcments  is  by  fighting  with 
a  banner,  too  honest  a  faith  that,  when  homoeopathy  has  been 
fully  developed  and  simplified,  an  ordinary  man  will  seldom 
need  to  go  to  any  other  resource,  for  us  just  now  to  forsake  the 
name  which  is  compelling  the  world  to  listen  to  the  truths  of 
scientific  therapeutics.  Not,  we  think,  till  this  war  is  over,  will 
the  homoeopath  ist  be  ready  to  give  up  that  by  which  he  is  known, 
and  for  which  the  world  respects  him.— [ITomceopa^Aic  Leader,^ 
5 


60  BOOK  NOTICES. 

» 
The  readers  of  Health  Officer  Wight's  annual  report  will  be 

astounded  to  learn  of  the  prevalence  of  entero  colitis  in  this  com- 
munity, twenty  lives  having  succumbed  to  that  disease.  Seven 
people  during  the  year  died  of  hempilegia  and  two  of  insolatio. 
Necrencephalus  carried  off  twelve,  senectus  claimed  fifty-one, 
and  ambusta  eight.  One  died  of  contusio,  one  of  explosio,  four- 
teen from  submersio,  ten  from  vulnera,  five  from  suspendium, 
and  one,  unfortunately,  from  icterus  fulminis.  The  learned  doc- 
tor puts  down  ihe  cause  of  death  of  twenty-four  as  unknown, 
which  is  probably  an  oversight  on  his  part  He  undoubtedly 
meant  to  say  incognita. — {'Detroit  Daily.) 

What's  in  a  Name  ?— It  is  only  a  short  time  since  one  of 
our  medical  Journals  dropped  its  distinctive  name  and  became 
known  as  the  New  York  Medical  Times,  At  the  recent  session 
of  the  American  Institute  one  of  its  editors  gave  notice  that  at 
the  next  meeting  he  would  move,  to  have  the  word  Honuzopathy 
erased  from  the  name  of  the  Institute,  making  the  name  simply 
the  American  Institute  of  Medical  Science.  While  the  Institute 
is  being  re-named,  we  commend  the  following  name  given  by  the 
Medical  Record  to  the  American  Medical  Association  :  **  A  shift- 
ing,purposele88,  illy-organized  monster,  with  a  floating  member- 
ship of  undifiTereutiated  medical  protoplasm."  None  but  the  most 
fastidious  ought  to  find  fault  with  such  a  name. 


-4»^ 


BOOK  NOTICES. 


GEI^EMIUM  8EMPERVIRENS.   A  Monofifraph  by  the  Hughes  Medical 
Club,  of  Massachusetts.    1883.    Otis  Clapp  &.  Bon,  Boston. 

This  little  work  is  the  product  of  a  very  enterprising  club  of 
Massachusetts  doctors,  who  have  in  this  way  set  about  the  com- 
mencement of  a  revision  of  the  Materia  Medica.  With  perhaps 
no  ambition  to  cover  a  very  wide  field,  they  have  set  a  worthy 
example  in  this  their  maiden  effort,  and  with  special  pleasure 
we  look  over  its  well  filled  pages,  finding  in  them  much  that  is 
worthy  of  remembrance.  The  plan  of  the  work,  adopted  after 
Dr.  Hughes,  of  London,  may  be  open  to  criticism,  and  doubtless 
is,  but  the  lesult  of  placing  before  the  student  a  clear  compre- 
hension of  the  action  of  the  drug  is  obtained  perhaps  quite  as 
well  in  this  manner  as  in  any  other.    Gelsemium  is  a  drug  of 


BOOK  NOTICES.  61 

rare  power  and  well  worthy  the  labors  of  the  Hughes  Club,  and 
the  monograph  is  thrice  worthy  a  place  in  every  physician's 
library. 

MATERIA  MEDICA  AND  THERAPEUTICS:  INORGANIC  SUBSTAN- 
CE8,  Vols.  I.  and  II.  By  Chas  D.  F.  Phillips,  M.  D.  Wm.  Wood  & 
Co.,  New  York. 

These  volumes  have  been  edited  and  adapted  to  the  U.  8. 
Pharmacopceia  by  Lawrence  Johnson,  M.  D.  They  are  there- 
fore well  adapted  to  the  uses  of  allopathic  students,  and  in  many 
respects  they  are  the  best  work  extant  of  the  Old  School  which 
treats  of  this  subject.  One  can  see  at  a  glance  what  remarkable 
improvements  are  being  made  in  understanding  the  nature  of 
drugs  by  the  later  writers  of  the  Allopathic  School.  It  is  also 
interesting  to  trace  in  all  parts  of  Dr.  Phillips's  writings  the  fact 
that  is  always  freely  exhibited  but  never  acknowledged,  of  a 
large  amount  of  knowledge  obtained  from  the  Homoeppathic 
School.  And  a  careful  comparison  of  the  toxicological  effects 
with  the  therapeutic  uses  will  show  with  what  extraordinary 
frequency  the  remedies  are  given  according  to  the  Law  of  Simi- 
lars. These  volumes  are  parts  of  Wood's  Library  of  Standard 
Medical  Authors  for  1882. 


THE  MICROSCOPE  AND  ITS  REVELATIONS.  By  Wm.  B.  Carpenter, 
M.  D.,  etc.,  etc.  Sixth  Editlou.  Illustrated  by  Twenty-Rlx  Plates  aud 
Five  Hundred  Wood  Engravings.  Vols.  I.  and  II.  William  Wood  aud 
Co.,  New  York. 

We  have  here  the  April  and  May  volumes  of  Wood*8  Li- 
brary of  Standard  Medical  Authors  for  1883.  For  a  physician  to 
be  without  a  microscope  is  for  him  to  be  largely  out  of  the 
world.  What  a  man  may  chance  to  see  with  his  unaided  eyes  is 
after  all  but  a  small  part  of  the  universe.  To  say  nothing  of 
the  knowledge  gained,  curiosity  alone  might  irapell  us  all  to 
employ  the  aid  of  the  microscope,  but  to  the  physician  it  is  an 
instrument  almost  indispensable  to  his  daily  work.  Thanks  to 
this  work  of  Dr.  Carpenter  the  study  is  largely  reduced  to  verifi- 
cations. While  there  is  no  end  of  original  study  remaining,  as 
there  always  will  be,  yet  the  amateur  will  find  the  work  in  almost 
every  department  well  laid  out,  and  he  can,  by  carefully  consult- 
ing his  drawings,  verify  his  work  aud  make  sure  of  its  reliabil- 
ity. The  author's  observations  are  brought  down  with  scrupu- 
lous care  to  1881,  and  the  student  and  practitioner  will  find  the 
whole  subject  thoroughly  up  to  date. 


52  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

The  closing  words  of  the  preface  we  apprehend  are  to  the 
point :  '*  To  such  as  feel  inclined  to  take  up  the  use  of  the  micro- 
scope as  a  means  of  healthful  and  improving  occupation  for 
their  unemplcyed  hours,  the  author  would  offer  this  word  of  en- 
couragement :  that  notwithstanding  the  number  of  recruits  con- 
tinually being  added  to  the  vast  army  of  microscopists,  and  the 
rapid  extension  of  its  conquests,  the  inexhaustibility  of  Nature 
is  constantly  becoming  more  and  more  apparent;  so  that  no 
apprehensions  need  arise  that  the  microscopist's  researches  can 
ever  be  brought  to  a  standpoint  for  want  of  an  ohjecV 


DISEASES  OF  THE  OVARIES.     By  Lawson  Tait,  F.  R.  C.  S.    Fourth 
Edition,  Re-wrltten  and  Enlarged.    Wra.  Wood  &  Co.,  New  York. 

This  volume  was  brought  out  by  the  author  as  the  Hastings 
Essay  in  1873.  It  at  once  took  rank  as  the  leading  text-book 
upon  this  most  interesting  subject.  Less  than  a  year  ago  the 
writer  added  to  it  the  fruits  of  his  subsequent  experience  so  as  to 
include  the  latest  observations  and  conclusions—his  contempo- 
raries' as  well  as  his  own.  With  unusual  simplicity  he  says  in 
his  preface :  **  I  have  found  reason  to  change  my  opinion  upon 
some  points.*'  And  yet  Dr.  Tait  shows  an  English  tenacity  in 
holding  to  his  own  views.  This  book  is  thoroughly  readable, 
and  though  not  large,  is  comprehensive  enough  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  study  into  the  intricacies  of  ovarian  diseases. 
Besides,  the  writer  has  added  a  full  bibliography  to  each  chap- 
ter, which  gives  the  reader  a  most  excellent  opportunity  to  con- 
sult if  he  desire  contemporaneous  literature.  Our  readers  may 
safely  add  this  volume  to  their  growing  libraries. 


•<•► 


EDITOR^S  TABLE. 


Married.— Dr.  A.  L.  Shepherd  of  Glendale,  Ohio,  and  Miss 
Florence  Richardson.    Greetings  to  the  happy  pair. 

Dr.  J.  Heber  Smith  lias  removed  his  residence  from  Melrose, 
to  279  Dartmouth  St.,  Boston,  opposite  the  Hotel  Yen  dome,  and 
Dr.  Samuel  A.  Kimball  of  Bath,  Me.,  succeeds  him  at  Melrose. 

We  regret  to  learn  that  Dr.  M.  M.  Eaton  of  Cincinnati,  O., 
is  still  confined  to  his  room.  Is  sufiering  from  rheumatic  sciatica 
and  has  been  unable  to  attend  to  his  practice  for  the  past  two 
months. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  63 

For  Sale.— a  good  paying  practice  in  a  town  of  3,500  in- 
habitants with  new  office,  practice  worth  in  good  pay  $3,500  per 
year.  Good  reasons  for  selling.  Address  W.  P.  Bennett,  M.  D., 
Crestline,  O. 

Selma,  DalIjAS  County,  Alabama,  population  about  ten 
thousand,  wants  a  Honioeopathic  physician.  First  class  opening 
for  an  enterprising  man.  For  particulars  write  Dr.  John  H.  Henry, 
Montgomery. 

The  Homceopathic  Pellet  is  a  new  journalistic  cadidate 
to  be  issued  at  Austin,  Texas,  by  C.  E.  Fisher,  M  D.  It  prom- 
ised to  be  **  chatty,  spicy,  readable  and  controversial, V^  all  for  $2 
a  year.  We  hope  it  may  succeed  in  flshm^  and  not  have  '*  to 
cut  bait  or  go  ashore. '' 

Medical  Students  are  now  considering  what  medical  col- 
lege they  shall  attend  the  coming  year.  Let  them  not  forget  the 
splendid  opportunities  ofiered  by  the  Homoeopathic  Department 
of  the  University  of  Michigan.      The  motto  of  this  school  is  a 

HIGHER  EDUCATION  FOR  MEN  AND  WOMEN. 

Practice  for  Sale. — Desirable,  medium,  growing  practice 
on  sea  shore  near  New  York.  Sell  furniture,  horse,  phaeton, 
medicines,  etc ,  or  practice  alone,  introduce  successor,  established 

ten  years,  price  nominal,  possession  Sept.  1st.    Doctor  B , 

lock  box  B— ,  Woodsburgh,  Long  Island.  N.  B.  No  postaln  an- 
swered. 

College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  op  Buffalo.— 
An  injunction  has  recently  been  issued  forbidding  this  college  to 
issue  certificates  or  diplomas  to  its  graduating  class.  Like  the 
U.  S.  Medical  and  Surgical  College  of  New  York,  the  legality  of 
its  incorporation  is  disputed  and  is  now  before  the  courts  for  a 
legal  discussion. 

Pluck. — The  Associated  Press  dispatch  recently  said  that, 
an  American  physician  had  been  forbidden  to  practice  in  Trip- 
oli, because  he  did  not  possess  a  Turkish  degree.  The  American 
Minister,  General  Wallace,  had  him  visit  Constantinople,  pass 
the  examination,  take  the  diploma,  and  return  to  Tripoli.  He 
then  demanded  an  apology  from  the  Porte  for  the  treatment  to 
which  the  physician  had  been  subjected,  as  hundreds  of  native 
doctors  are  permitted  to  practice  witiiout  diplomas. 

HOMCEOPATHY  Still  Dyino.— Several  months  ago  the  Re- 
gents of  the  State  University  of  Nebraska  established  a  Medical 
Department,  O.  S.  i.  e.,  Old  School.  As  soon  as  announced  to 
the  public  our  men  took  it  up,  and  below  we  give  the  result 


54  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

which  gives  us  three  Professors:  0.  L.  Hart,  (Hahnemann, 
Philadelphia),  Omaha,  Chair  Materia  Medica;  B.  F.  Bighter, 
(Hahnemann,  Chicago),  Lincoln,  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of 
Children  ;  B.  8.  Paine,  (Hahnemann,  Philadelphia),  Lincoln, 
Theory  and  Practice. 

American  PuBLrc  Health  Association.— It  has  been 
decided  to  hold  the  next  session  of  this  body  in  Detroit,  com- 
mencing November  13th.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  our  readers 
will  bear  the  date  in  mind,  and  by  no  means  fail  to  be  present. 
Whatever  a  few  narrow  minded  persons  may  seek  to  do,  the  As- 
sociation is  open  to  all  comers,  and  will  be  kept  open  if  we  do 
our  duty.  Questions  of  public  health  should  call  forth  our  best 
endeavors.  Let  there  be  a  big  meeting  and  especially  let  Mich- 
igan show  her  appreciation  of  the  honor  and  benefits  bestowed 
upon  her  by  this  national  gathering. 

The  Calcutta  School  of  Homceopathy.— Established 
on  the  15th  of  February,  1883.  This  school  has  been  established 
to  meet  a  great  want  felt  among  the  medical  as  well  as  the  gen- 
eral public.  Its  object  is  to  disseminate  the  Principles  and  Prac- 
tice of  Homoeopathic  Therapeutics.  The  Homoeopathic  treat- 
ment is  now  recognized  as  that  of  the  mont  advanced  and  ration- 
al mode  of  Therapeutics.  For  the  present,  the  following  courses 
of  lectures  will  be  delivered  :  **  Principles  and  Practice  of  Med- 
icine,»»  by  M.  M.  Bose,  Esq.,  M.  D.,  L.  R.  C.  P.,  (Edin),  Ac.  on 
every  Thursday  at  4:30  p.  M.  *'  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeu- 
tics," by  P.  C.  Mojumdar,  Esq.,  L.  M.  8.,  on  evejy  Monday,  ajt 
4:30  p.  M.  **  Principles  of  General  Anatomy  and  Physiology,*' 
by  B.  L.  Bose,  Esq.,  L.  M.  8.,  on  every  Wednesday,  at  4:30  p.m. 
L.  Salzer,  Esq.,  M.  D.,  will  also  lecture  once  a  week.  For  further 
particulars,  apply  to  8hoshee  Bhoosun  Mookerjee. 

Messrs.  Palliser  <&  Co.,  of  Bridgeport,  Conneticut,  the 
well-known  Architects  and  Publinhers  of  Standard  works  on 
architecture,  have  lately  issued  a  sheet  containing  plans  and 
specifications  of  a  very  tasteful  modern  eight-room  cottage  with 
tower,  and  also  with  the  necessary  moditications  for  building  it 
without  the  tower,  and  with  but  six  rooms  if  desired  In  its 
moi^t  costly  form,  the  outlay  is  estimated  at  $3,000  ;  without  the 
tower  it  has  been  built  for  $2,500  ;  and  if  only  six  rooms  are  in- 
cluded, the  cost  may  be  reduced  to  $1,700  or  $2,000.  Details  are 
given  of  mantels,  stairs,  doors  and  casings,  cornices,  etc.  The 
same  firm  issues  specifications  in  blank  adapted  for  frame  or  brick 
buildings  of  any  cost ;  also  forms  of  building  contract,  and  sev- 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  66 

eral  books  on  modern  inexpensive,  artistic  cottage  plans  which 
are  of  great  practical  value  and  convenience  to  everyone  inter- 
ested. Many  of  our  practitioners  who  contemplate  building.and 
who  have  not  access  to  local  architects,  would  find  it  advantag- 
eous to  consult  the  above. 

University  of  Michigan  Commencement  Exercises. 
— Commencement  week  of  the  University  always  notably  full  of 
events,  was  never  more  so  than  the  present  year.  The  annual 
crowd  of  visitors  did  not  fail  of  their  presence  or  enjoyment. 
We  lack  space  for  notice  of  each  day's  full  and  interesting  pro- 
gram. Rev.  Dr.  Murray  of  Andover  gave  a  remarkably  fine 
address  on  Commencement  Day.  The  Class  of  the  Homoeopathic 
Department  gave  an  entertainment  to  their  friends  on  Wednes- 
day afternoon.  Profs.  Allen  and  Wilson  made  brief  addresses 
and  Dr.  Phil  Porter  of  Detroit,  followed  with  a  brief  speech  and 
the  exercises  closed  with  an  appropriate  poem  by  Dr.  Will  P. 
Polbemus.  The  following  were  graduated  in  the  Homoeopathic 
Department :  Elmer  J.  Bissell,  New  York ;  Charles  H.  Black- 
burn, Louisiana ;  Emma  E.  Bower,  Michigan  ;  Wm.  D.  Cooper, 
Michigan  ;  Theodore  L.  Hazzard,  New  York  ;  Susan  M.  Hicks, 
Indiana;  Jacob  O.  HofiTman,  Pennsylvania;  Julian  B. Hubbell, 
New  York  ;  Myron  L.  Huntington,  Wisconsin  ;  Harry  C.  Kas- 
selmann,  Michigan;  Anna  L.  Laub,  Iowa;  Harry  Mc  Luf kin, 
M.  D.,  Illinois;  Jas.  T.  Martin,  B.  8.,  Washington  Territory; 
Jay  8.  Meade,  Michigan  ;  Wm.  B.  Page,  Missouri ;  Morton  C. 
Reeves,  Indiana;  Carrie  G.  Watres,  Pennsylvania. 

**  The  Popular  Science  Monthly  ^*  for  July  is  a  strong 
number  in  its  variety  of  instructive  reading,  and  contains  sev- 
eral striking  articles.  The  first  one,  "  The  Railroad  Problem  in 
the  United  States,^'  is  an  admirable  statement  of  the  various 
urgent  and  difficult  questions  that  have  been  created  by  this 
new  and  colossal  interest  of  our  civilization.  But  the  most 
brilliant  paper  in  the  number,  and  as  practical  as  entertaining, 
is  that  of  Dr.  Oswald  on  **  Dyspepsia  "  in  his  series  on  **  The 
Remedies  of  Nature.**  It  presents  the  hygienic  treatment  of 
this  protean  and  life  embittering  disease  with  great  vividness 
and  force.  In  fact,  he  shows  that  Nature  is  the  only  doctor  that 
can  deal  efiTectually  with  derangements  of  digestion  and  the  dis- 
orders of  its  organs.  Many  a  dyspeptic  wretch  would  get  new 
experience  of  life  by  adopting  the  treatment  here  laid  down. 
Dr.  Emily  Blackwell  has  a  very  radical  and  able  article  on 
"The  Industrial  Position  of  Women,**  in  which  she  advocates 


66  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

the  freest  competition  in  all  outside  vocations,  and  maintains 
that  the  liheration  and  independence  of  woman  are  to  come  by 
removing  all  domestic  labor  from  the  home  to  the  sphere  of  out- 
side business  organization.  The  editor  of  the  **  Monthly  " 
makes  a  lively  reply  to  Dr.  Black welFs  main  positions.  Hux- 
leys  article  on  **  Unwritten  History  "  is  one  of  the  finest  of  this 
incomparable  scientific  essayist.  Various  other  contributions 
make  the  number  a  peculiarly  attractive  one.  New  York  :  D. 
Appleton  &  Company.  Fifty  cents  per  number,  $5  per  year. 
TiiK  following  from  a  Cleveland  daily  is  rather  hard  on  the 
American  Medical  (Allopathic)  Association  :  **  A  great  deal  of 
time  is  being  wasted  just  now  by  the  scores  of  physicians  as- 
sembled in  the  city.  One  seldom  hears  them  read  a  paper  half 
of  wliich  is  not  devoted  to  glittering  and  senseless  generalities. 
If  tlie  average  doctor,  like  the  aveVage  live  journalist  of  to-day, 
would  immediately  get  at  the  heart  of  his  subject,  this  medical 
convention  might  adjourn  a  day  sooner  than  it  will  do.  While 
the  doctors  are  taking  such  elaborate  pains  with  their  papers  it 
would  i)e  well  if  they  would  us»e  their  endeavors  to  have  the 
same  rule  of  leisurely  painstaking  apply  to  the  medical  colleges. 
The  hate  which  characterizes  the  medical  schools  is  some- 
thing appauling  to  the  public.  Hundreds  of  young  doc- 
tors are  turned  loose  on  the  public,  who,  granting  that  they 
complied  with  the  rules  of  their  college,  have  probably  devoted 
but  three  yeaili  to  study,  including  two  terms  of  lectures  of 
twenty  weeks  each.  Even  this  rule  is  made  flexible  in  many 
instances.  The  superabundance  of  rival  medical  colleges  makes 
it  noccHsary  that  one  shall  offer  special  inducements  over  an- 
other, and  experience  has  taught  the  conductors  of  schools  that 
the  school  that  turn  out  doctors  with  the  least  outlay  of  time 
an<i  money  will  be  the  best  patronized.  The  professors,  so- 
called,  in  these  institutions  are  not  salaried  men,  paid  for  de- 
voting their  best  energies  to  their  colleges,  but  ambitious  doc- 
tors, who  seek  places  on  the  faculties  on  account  of  the  prestige 
it  gives  them  to  be  called  **  Sawbones,  A.  M.,  B.  8.,  M.  D.,  pro- 
fessor of  therapeutics,  the  practice  of  medicine  and  diseases  of 
the  intellect  in  the  college  of  doctors — made-to-order-on-short- 
notice.''  The  time  has  come  when  national  legislation  is  de- 
manded in  the  premises.  The  country  demands  doctors,  but  it 
canH  atrord  to  submit  itself  to  the  manipulations  of  a  lot  of 
ready  made  doctors.  The  learned  medical  gentlemen  who  com- 
pose the  regular  profession  so-called,  talk  a  great  deal  about 
quacks  and  empirics,  but  they  ought  to  turn  their  attention  to 
the  licensed  quacks  which  the  doctor  manufactories  are  turning 
out»» 


Ann  Arbok,  Auqust, 


All  ■QbBorlptiona  and  biuiaess  commanlcations  should  be 
addiessed  to  MBDICAL  ADVANCU  PUBLISBINO  Co.,  Ann 
AlbOT,   Miota.      SabBcdptlon,  03.00  per  annnm. 

DvsAMIcs. — A  gentleman  well  known  to  the  profes- 
sion, who  has  long  been  a  regular  subscriber,  a  careful 
reader  and  an  uncompromising  enemy  of  the  Medical  Ad- 
vance, who  also  has  entertained  opinions  not  at  all  com- 
plimentary to  the  editor  of  this  journal,  made  to  us  a 
proposition  at  the  American  Institute  meeting,  worthy  of 
some  thought.  The  gentleman  referred  to  is  a  vigorous 
fighter  of  high  dilutions.  He  hates  "dynamics"  as  the 
devil  hates  holy  water ;  and  he  has  spent  years  in  studying 
how  the  homoeopathic  school  might  be  rid  of  these  pestife- 
rous attenuationists.  His  recent  failure  to  place  his  State 
society  upon  the  record  against  what  he  is  pleased  to  call 
high  dilutioniam,  and  his  utter  inability  to  rid  the  Ameri- 
can Institute  of  these  dreadful  "Hahneraannians,"  have 
brought  him  to  a  more  agreeable  state  of  mind.  He  now 
proposes  to  treat   with,   rather    than    make   further  at- 


58  EDITORIAL. 

tempt  to  annihilate,  his  ancient  enemy.  This  is  creditable 
to  his  heart  as  well  as  his  brain.  His  proposition,  as  wq 
understand  it,  is,  to  draw  a  line  so  as  to  separate  the  atten- 
uations into  two  classes.  The  line  of  separation,  he  claims, 
should  be  definitely  placed  at  the  twelfth  centesimal* 
That  attenuation  and  all  below  it,  should  be,  or  may  be, 
called  "  Homoeopathy ;''  and  all  attenuations  above  the 
twelfth,  should  be  labeled  "dynamic."  This  point,  we 
suppose,  is  chosen  because  the  microscope  or  the  spectro- 
scope or  chemistry,  or  all  three  together,  stop  at  about  this 
point,  in  giving  evidence  of  the  drug  presence.  When 
asked  if  one  might  with  his  consent  use  preparations  above 
the  twelfth  he  readily  consented,  but  demanded,  that  all 
cures  reported  by  such  attenuations,  should  be  marked 
"  dynamic."  Also,  we  understood  him  to  say,  they  might 
be  called  "  psychological."  We  are  certain  that  he  gave 
the  largest  liberty  in  the  choice  and  use  of  attenuations, 
and  declared,  that  he  had  no  war  to  make  upon  high  dilu- 
tionists,  if  they  would  draw  the  line  of  distinction  at  the 
twelfth  centesimal.  This  was  so  foreign  to  our  former  un- 
derstanding of  the  gentleman's  position,  that  it  took  us 
quite  by  surprise.  And  as  he  is  a  representative  man 
among  the  so-called  low  dilutionists,  it  might  be  well  to 
treat  with  him,  and,  if  possible,  put  an  end  to  this  inter- 
necine warfare.  For  our  part,  we  are  willing  to  grant  Dr. 
Paine  even  more  than  he  asks.  All  drugs  seem  to  act  dy- 
namically. The  kinetic  power  of  a  drug  is  all  there  is 
about  it,  that  gives  it  any  value ;  and  so  we  have  no  objec- 
tion to  labeling  every  cure  as  dynamic.  The  heart  of  Ho- 
moeopathy lies  in  its  law  of  cure.  But  similia  is  no  expla- 
nation of  the  mode  of  cure.  It  is  a  law,  by  which,  under 
any  given  case,  we  select  the  proper  drug.  When  the 
proper  drug  is  chosen,  the  question  of  attenuations,  fre- 
quency of  giving  and  the  philosophy  of  the  cure,  are  left 
to  the  judgment  and  skill  and  taste  of  the  prescriber. 
When  by  the  symptoms  of  the  patient,  arsenic  is  indicated, 
we  are  morally  and  scientifically  bound  to  give  arsenic. 


MICHIGAN  STA  TE  SOCIETY,  59 

There  is  no  law,  however,  compelling  us  to  give  any  par- 
ticular quantity  or  attenuation  of  arsenic.  Similia  says, 
Give  the  drug  indicated.  Each  individual  determines  the 
dose  for  himself.  Now,  for  our  part,  we  are  willing  to  ac- 
cept all  that  the  microscope,  chemistry,  or  the  spectroscope 
can  possibly  reveal.  If  th3y  have  nothing  to  tell  us  be- 
yond the  twelfth  centesimal,  then  let  us  draw  a  line  there. 
Up  to  that  point  we  are  giving  ponderable  doses  of  drugs, 
and  beyond  that  point,  we  have  no  evidence  such  as  the 
microscope  or  spectroscope  reveal,  of  the  drug  presence. 
But  as  we  understand  Homoeopathy,  as  expressed  in  the 
law  similia,  it  can  hive  no  reference  to  the  line  drawn.  It 
does  not  dictate  or  suggest  the  particular  preparation  to  be 
used.  On  both  sides  of  the  line,  however,  we  find  dynam- 
ics, and  only  dynamics.  Every  purely  psychological  effect 
is  as  dynamic  as  any  phenomenon  can  possibly  be.  Can 
we  not  then  have  a  lasting  truce  declared,  between  the 
contestants  who  war  so  vigorously  and  injudiciously  over 
attenuations.  There  can  be  no  possible  objection  to  grant- 
ing Dr.  Paine  what  he  desires,  so  far  as  labeling  the  higher 
attenuations  are  concerned,  and  we  do  but  extend  his  de- 
mand by  giving  the  same  designation  to  all  attenuations. 
On  this  basis,  then,  let  us  have  peace,  and  go  forward  with 
our  work  and  learn  what  more  we  can  from  experiment, 
observation  and  clinical  experience. 


■^♦^ 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  FOURTEENTH  ANNUAL 
SESSION  OF  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  MEDI- 
CAL SOCIETY  OF  THE  STATE  OF 

MICHIGAN. 


HELD  AT  LANSING,  MAY  15tH  AND  16tH,  1883. 


First  Day. — ^The  Society  was  called  to  order  at  9:30 
A.  M.  by  the  President,  Prof.  E.  C.  Franklin,  M.  D.,  of  Ann 
Arbor. 


60  MICHIGAN  ST  A  TE  SOCIETY. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  order  of  business,  Dr.  Frank- 
lin stated  that  his  name  had  been  used  extensively 
throughout  the  State,  and  entirely  without  his  authority, 
by  a  Detroit  firm  of  medical  men.  The  use  of  his  name 
and  position  in  the  circulars  widely  circulated  by  them 
having  seriously  annoyed  the  profession  and  having  cast 
upon  it  suspicion  of  countenancing  a  species  of  advertis- 
ing not  in  accord  with  generally  accepted  views  of  profes- 
sional propriety,  he  desired  to  state  that  he  personally  was 
not  responsible  for  the  use  of  his  name  in  said  circular ; 
that  he  had,  for  some  time  past,  refused  to  give  his  ser- 
vices to  said  firm,  and  wished  to  express  sincere  regret 
that  he  had  inadvertently  been  the  means  of  annoying 
his  colleagues  in  this  state.  Upon  motion  of  Dr.  Sawyer, 
this  explanation  was  accepted,  and  referred  to  the  Secre- 
tary. 

The  chair  then  appointed  the  following  standing  com- 
mittee,— Auditing  Committee :  Drs.  H.  M.  Warren,  of 
Jonesville ;  H.  Whitworth,  of  Grand  Rapids ;  A.  R. 
Wheeler,  of  St,  Louis. 

Dr.  I.  N.  Eldridge,  of  Flint,  in  behalf  of  the  Board  of 
Censors,  reported  favorably  upon  applications  for  member- 
ship of  Drs.  James  C.  Wood,  Byron  C.  Elm,  S.  A.  John- 
son, J.  M.  Griffin,  D.  M.  McLachlan,  J.  H.  Brucker,  M.  N. 
Avery,  M.  J.  Slocum.  On  motion,  the  applicants  were 
elected  to  membership. 

Dr.  Long  moved  the  adoption  of  the  order  of  business 
presented  by  the  Secretary.    Carried. 

The  Treasurer,  Dr.  G.  A.  Robertson,  made  his  report, 
which,  on  motion  of  Dr.  Allen,  was  received  and  referred 
to  the  Auditing  Committee. 

Dr.  J.  G.  Gilchrist  as  a  delegate  from  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  Detroit,  stated  that  the  society 
he  represented  had  met  regularly  every  week  during  the 
year,  had  done  an  excellent  work  for  its  members  in  stim- 
ulating research  and  study,  and  in  cultivating  pleasant 
personal  relations  among  its  members. 


FO  UR  TEENTH  SESSION.  6\ 

Dr.  H.  R.  Arndt,  of  Grand  Rapids,  reported  that,  in 
1882,  he  had  represented  this  society  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Western  Academy,  held  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.  After 
speaking  of  the  excellent  work  done  .by  the  Academy,  he 
stated  that  he  had  reasons  for  knowing  that  the  Academy 
would  probably  accept  an  invitation  to  hold  its  next  an- 
nual meeting,  (1881),  in  this  State. 

Report  of  the  Bureau  of  Pathology, — In  the  absence 
of  Dr.  Jones,  Dr.  Arndt,  as  acting  chairman,  called  upon 
Dr.  Gilchrist,  who  read  a  paper  on  "  Spinal  Traumatism." 
Dr.  Gilchrist  said : 

The  most  important  condition  in  spinal  traumatism  is  con- 
cusBion^  whicl\  is  defined  as  a  loss  of  conduction  in  the  spinal 
nerves,  terminating  in  various  forms  of  paralysis,  an  essential 
feature  being  that  there  must  be  no  organic  lesion  ;  an  actual 
structural  lesion  places  the  case  in  another  category.  Thus  when 
a  watch  falls  to  the  ground,  and  the  glass  is  broken^  no  injury 
may  result ;  if  the  glass  is  not  broken  the  movement  stops.  The 
causes  of  concut<8ion  being  jarring  or  shaking  injuries,  the  pro- 
gress of  symptoms  is  insidiou:^  and  deceptive.  The  necessity  for 
accurate  differential  diagnosis  was  shown,  and  the  chief  points 
were  stated  to  be  as  follows :  In  cases  with  organic  lesion  there 
is  immediate  disability.  Concussions  of  the  spine  occasion  hyper- 
sesthesia  with  nervous  irritation.  Pressure  on  the  nerves  by 
effusion,  or  contusion  of  ligaments,  gives  minor  hyperaesthesia, 
viz.,  the  band  like  constriction  around  the  trunk.  Complete 
painless  paralysis  shows  lesion  of  posterior  columns.  Motor 
paralysis  shows  deep  injury.  Extreme  painfulness  shows  men- 
ingeal lesion  ;  subsidence  of  pain,  with  no  improvement  in  the 
motor  paralysis,  shows  extension  to  the  gray  matter.  Hemip- 
legia may  proceed  from  uni-lateral  injuries  to  the  cord,  from  the 
decussation  of  the  fibres  of  the  pillars. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  paper.  Dr.  Sawyer  moved  a 

vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  G.  for  his  able  paper. 

DISCUSSION. 

Dr.  H.  C.  Allen  :  I  am  opposed  to  giving  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  a  member  of  this  society  who  has  simply  done  his  duty.  If 
to  one,  why  not  to  another,  or  to  all  ? 

Dr.  Sawyer:     I  am  sorry  that  Dr.  Allen  has  raised  tills 
question.    If  we  have  failed  in  anything  it  is  in  manifesting  ap- 


62  MICHIGAN  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

preciation  of  work  well  done.  And,  therefore,  I  think  an  ex- 
pression of  appreciation  is  due  to  Dr.  Gilchrist  for  the  able  paper 
he  has  read.  I  have  considerable  trouble  with  these  spinal  diffi- 
culties, and  have  been  puzzled  on  account  of  some  of  the  symp- 
toms I  have  found  present.  But  I  have  received  light  from  the 
paper  just  read. 

Dr.  Gilchrist:  I  think  myself,  a  member  should  not  be 
thanked  for  doing  his  duty. 

Dr.  Allen  :  I  move  that  the  paper  be  received  and  referred 
to  the  committee.  I  wish  Dr.  Sawyer  to  know  that  I  appreci- 
ate that  paper.  Still,  while  I  feel  myself  unable  to  criticise  it,  I 
would  have  liked  it  a  little  more  full  in  some  respect?.  For  in- 
stance, we  have  one  remedy  (Hypericum)  peculiarly  adapted  to 
the  ransre  of  diseases  spoken  of  in  the  paper ;  and  this  remedy 
was  not  given  in  the  paper. 

Dr.  Sawyer  :  About  five  years  ago  I  had  under  my  charge 
the  ease  of  a  young  lady  who  had  fallen  and  hurt  her  spine.  In 
a  short  time  she  was  taken  to  her  bed,  and  soon  became  unable 
to  move.  She  was,  I  think,  confined  to  the  bed  for  five  months, 
and  during  that  time  never  set  her  foot  on  the  floor.  During  all 
this  time  she  could  not  tolerate  heat  in  the  room,  nor  the  covers 
to  touch  her.  She  was  covered  by  hoops  being  stretched  over 
the  bed,  and  the  covers  were  placed  upon  these.  She  could  not 
endure  talking  or  moving  in  the  room.  I  tried  various  remedies 
without  success.  Finally  I  fell  upon  Agaricus.  The  result  was 
very  gratifying  to  me.  She  recovered  and  is  now  a  missionary 
in  China. 

Dr.  Long:  I  had  a  case  that  I  think  is  in  point.  A  boy, 
while  coasting  had  run  against  a  tree,  and  when  I  saw  him  he 
was  unconscious  and  unable  to  swallow.  I  gave  him  Arnica.  I 
told  them  I  considered  it  a  serious  case,  and  could  not  tell  how 
it  would  terminate.  An  allopathic  physician  had  been  called  in. 
He  considered  the  case  very  serious,  almost  hopeless,  and  thought 
inflammation  would  surely  set  in.  In  a  month's  time  they  took 
him  to  Washington.  He  was  somewhat  lame,  but  there  had  de- 
veloped no  inflammation. 

Dr.  Arndt:  While  I  have  had  no  very  extensive  special 
experience  in  the  treatment  of  spinal  difficulties,  it  has  been  my 
good  fortune  after  all  to  have  had  a  good  deal  to  do  with  cases  of 
spinal  diseases.  It  has  seemed  to  me  that  a  large  majority  of 
cases  that  have  been  brought  to  me  have  been  occasioned  by 
slipping  and  falling  backward,  inflicting  a  blow  upon  the  spine, 


FO  VR  TEE  NTH  SESSION.  63 

the  results  not  showing  themselves  for  a  long  time.  A  lady  was 
stepping  into  a  carriage,  fell  and  struck  her  back  against  the 
curb  stone.  It  wss  not  until  months  after  this  that  she  experi- 
enced any  difficulty.  The  late  Dr.  Hempel  was  totally  blind  for 
four  years  before  his  death  ;  no  satisfactory  reason  could  be  given 
for  his  blindness.  For  three  years  before  his  death  he  was  help- 
less from  general  paralysis.  The  facts  in  the  case  were,  that, 
some  years  before  these  grave  symptoms  showed  themselves,  he 
had  fallen,  and  struck  upon  his  spine ;  about  the  fourth  day 
after  this,  he  had  suffered  a  very  slight  stroke  of  paralysis,  but 
this  had  passed  away  hardly  noticed.  He  did  not  think  any- 
thing about  it  until  about  a  month  before  his  death  ;  then  he  re- 
called the  accident.  The  slight  injury  received  resulted  in  ex- 
tensive necrosis  of  the  sacrum,  as  shown  after  death. 

Dr.  McGuire :  There  is  a  good  deal  to  be  said  upon  such  a 
subject  as  this.  Cases  frequently  occur  where  there  seems  to 
have  been  no  accident  to  cause  them.  Injuries  are  often  pro- 
duced from  remote  causes.  They  occur  in  our  young  people. 
Very  often,  I  have  no  doubt,  they  result  from  indiscretions, run- 
ning up  and  down  stairs,  etc.  First  they  complain  of  cerebral 
pains ;  we  are  apt  to  neglect  these.  It  is  only  a  headache,  and 
we  let  it  go  on  from  year  to  year,  and  bye  and  bye  there  is  trou- 
ble with  the  eyes,  and  on  examination  we  find  some  form  of 
optic  nerve  trouble,  as  opli6  nerve  atrophy ^  perhaps  already  so 
far  advanced  that  relief  is  impossible. 


Afternoon  Session. — The  society  met  at  2  p.  m.,  Presi- 
dent Franklin  in  the  chair.  The  following  were  appointed 
the  committee  to  nominate  chairmen  of  bureaus :  Drs.  O. 
R.  Long,  Phil.  Porter,  H.  C.  Allen. 

The  Board  of  Censors  reported  favorably  upon  the 
applications  of  Drs.  D.  A.  McLachlan  and  Geo.  E.  Ehle, 
both  of  whom  were  duly  elected. 

The  Auditing  Committee  then  reported  that  they  had 
duly  examined  the  accounts  of  the  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer, and  found  them  correct.  On  motion,  the  report  was 
accepted. 

Board  of  Censors  for  188^. — Drs.  I.  N.  Eldridge,  A.  R. 
Wheeler,  C.  J.  Covey,  G.  A.  Bagley,  R.  C.  Olin,  J.  H.  Rey- 
nolds. 


64  MICHIGAN  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

Judiciary  Committee  for  188^, — Drs.  I.  N.  Eldridge, 
O.  R.  Long,  D.  J.  McGuire,  A.  I.  Sawyer,  W.  J.  Mills. 

Dr.  B.  F.  Bailey,  of  Lansing,  being  present,  then  de- 
livered a  brief  address  of  welcome  to  the  society.  Dr. 
Bailey  said :  "  In  making  this  address  of  welcome,  you  all 
know  that  you  are  welcome.  When  a  man  pays  his  own 
money  for  entertainment,  he  certainly  is,  and  should  be, 
welcome." 

After  a  brief  response  from  the  President,  in  behalf  of 
the  Society,  the  society  proceeded  to  the  regular  business. 

Bureau  of  Surgery. — Dr.  O.  R.  Long,  chairman,  offered 
an  apology  for  an  unsatisfactory  report,  explaining  the  in- 
completeness of  his  bureau  work  by  his  unfitness  for  liter- 
ary work  by  reason  of  fatal  sickness  in  his  own  family. 
Prof.  Franklin,  having  called  the  Vice-President,  Dr.  A. 
B.  Avery,  of  Farmington,  to  the  chair,  read  a  paper  on 
''Spinal  Curvatures,"  and  Dr.  J.  G.  Gilchrist  presented  a 
paper  on  "  Operations  for  Tumors."  The  papers  were  dis- 
cussed by  Drs.  Long,  Gilchrist,  Arndt,  Porter,  House,  and 
M.  N.  Avery. 

DISCUSSION. 

Dr.  Arndt. :  I  desire  to  ask  a  question  of  Dr.  Gilchrist : 
Suppose  a  patient  suffering  from  a  tumor,  say,  of  tlie  breast, 
comes  to  a  medical  man  ;  the  physician  discovers,  no  urgent 
symptoms  calling  for  an  operation,  the  patient  possessing  the 
best  of  general  health ;  would  the  doctor  carry  out  the  advice 
given  in  his  paper,  and  operate  immediately?  A  lady  came  to 
me  under  such  circumstances;  the  tumor  is  one  of  the  breast, 
and  has  caused  no  pain  ;  the  only  {>ain  of  which  the  patient 
complains  is  in  the  slioulder;  it  seems  neuralgic;  certainly,  the 
patient  has  always  suffered  keenly  from  neuralgia.  Under  the 
the  action  of  Conium  the  tumor  has  grown  smaller,  and  it  is 
now,  in  size,  quite  insignificant.  Other  physicians  have  care- 
fully examined  the  tumor  and  acknowledged  that  it  has  de- 
creased in  size.  There  is  no  enlargement  of  axillary  glands. 
What  would  Dr.  Gilchrist  do  in  the  case? 

Dr.  Long :  I  would  like  to  ask  Dr.  Gilchrist  if  the  pain  in 
the  tumor  is  not  an  evidence  that  it  is  malignant  ? 


FO  UR  TEE  NTH  SESSION.  65 

Dr.  Gilchrist:  In  ease  it  is  a  fact  that  the  patient  is  doing 
well,  that  is  enough.  I  do  not  deny  the  propriety  also  of  using 
internal  remedies.  If  you  can  determine  that  you  have  a  be- 
nign tumor  to  treat,  it  is  well  not  to  hurry,  but  if  you  have  found 
that  the  tumor  is  malignant,  I  think  the  longer  you  delay  the 
worse.  Now,  up  to  the  time  the  skin  is  non-adherent,  the  tu- 
mor may  be  considered  benign.  That  is  the  stage  when  tumors 
should  be  removed.  I  think  we  all  agree  upon  that.  Is  it  be' 
uign  or  is  it  malignant?    All  hinges  upon  this. 

Dr.  Arndt :  The  patient  called  my  attention  to  a  feeling  of 
pain  on  the  shoulder  joint.  She  has  become  convinced  that  not 
not  only  is  the  tumor  better,  but  the  **  feel,"  as  she  calls  it,  is 
better. 

Dr.  Porter :  One  important  fact,  in  relation  to  carcinoma  of 
the  mammary  that  has  been  overlooked,  or,  at  least,  not  men- 
tioned by  Dr.  Qllchrist  in  his  paper,  when  arriving  at  a  conclu- 
sion, as  to  the  malignancy  of  a.  tumor  of  the  breast  is,  the  en- 
largement of  one  or  more  of  the  axillary  glands.  When  you  do 
have  this  condition  accompanying  a  tumor  of  the  breast,  it  is 
usually  safe  to  look  with  suspicion  upon  the  growth  and  treat  it 
accordingly.  Again,  tumors  of  the  breast  are  oftentimes  benign 
in  character  and  due,  sympathetically,  to  uterine  diseases,  but 
can  be  distinguished  from  the  true  cancer,  ordinarily,  by  the 
changes  that  take  place  in  the  breast  during  menstruation  to  en- 
title the  flow  to  that  name,  and  sufficient  in  quantity  to  soil  two 
napkins  a  day.  for  two  days.  The  peculiarity  of  this  case  gives 
both  Lawson  Tait  and  those  who  disagree  with  him  something 
to  think  of.  Lawson  Tait  believes  that  ovulation  and  menstru- 
ation are  independent  of  each  other.  That  the  menstrual  flow 
is  controlled  or  associated  with  a  periodical  congestion  of  the  Fal- 
lopian tubes,  and  a  host  of  writers,  on  the  other  hand,  are  as  as- 
siduously trying. to  demonstrate  that  menstruation  is  absolutely 
under  the  control  of  the  ovaries.  Lawson  Tajt  claims  to  have 
seen  an  ovisac  on  the  point  of  rupturing  some  days  after  men- 
struation bad  ceased.  Now,  with  my  case,  with  both  the  ovaries 
removed,  as  well  as  the  Fallopian  tubes  and  uterus,  who  will  ex- 
plain where  the  menstrual  fluid  comes  from  ?  or  what  causes 
it?  The  fluid  is  similar  in  character  to  her  past  menstrual  flow, 
she  says  she  sees  no  difference.  The  tumor  proved  to  be,  on  ex- 
amination, what  Holmes  called  a  withering  scirrhus. 

Dr.  House :    I  would  like  to  ask  if  recurrence  of  the  pain  is 
not  an  indication  of  malignant  growth  ?   I  had  the  case  of  a  girl 


66  MICHIGAN  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

nineteen  years  of  age.  A  year  ago  I  was  in  New  York,  and  the 
little  girl  came  home  with  me  after  having  had  an  operation  for 
tumor  performed  upon  her.  In  a  short  time  a  tumov  began  to 
form  on  the  opposite  side.  The  mother  consulted  me  as  to 
whether  she  should  have  a  second  operation.  I  gave  the  child 
Conium.  The  tumor  has  gone,  tliere  has  been  no  appearance  as 
if  it  would  return.  I  have  no  experience  in  the  treatment  of  tu- 
mors and  do  not  profess  to  be  able  to  diagnosticate  closely  in  such 
cases.  I  did  not  consider  this  tumor  to  be  a  malignant  growth. 

Dr.  Porter :  Last  fall,  in  September,  I  diagnosed  a  fibroid 
tumor  in  a  lady  thirty-four  year  years  of  age.  She  had  a  great 
many  of  those  characteristic  pains,  yet  I  was  in  doubt  until  I 
had  opened  the  patient.  In  regard  to  the  removal  of  the  tumor, 
in  this  case  I  had  to  remove  the  entire  uterus  and  ovaries.  The 
patient  presented  herself  to  me  a  month  ago,  and  I  found  a  tu- 
mor of  the  stomach.  I  do  not  know  whether  she  will  submit  to 
an  operation  or  not.  She  has  now  enjoyed  good  health  for  nine 
months.  She  has  menstruated.  The  question  now  comes  up 
where  the  menstruation  comes  from. 

Dr.  Long :  I  would  like  to  hear  something  more  about  this 
menstruation.  Does  the  nervous  system  take  no  cognizance  of 
the  fact  that  the  doctor  has  removed  ovaries  and  uterus? 

Upon  motion,  Dr.  Porter  was  requested  to  prepare  for 
publication,  a  report  in  full  of  the  case  referred  to. 

DR.   porter's  report. 

It  is  often  very  difficult  to  arrive  at  a  proper  diagnosis  re- 
garding fibroid  tumors  as  to  their  malignancy  before  an  opera- 
tion. It  is  almost  impossible  to  state  whetheh  a  tumor  is  benign 
or  not  Last  fall,  in  September,  I  examined  a  case  and  pro- 
nounced the  tumor  a  fibroid  growth  of  the  uterus,  as  it  had  be- 
haved like  a  benign  tumor  and  presented  non^of  the  character- 
istic symptoms. of  a  sarconea.  As  the  patient  demanded  an 
operation,  I  felt  Justified  in  doing  all  I  could  to  relieve  her  of 
her  suffering.  I  assured  her  I  would,  in  all  probability,  be  com- 
pelled to  remove  the  uterus  with  the  tumor,  not  suspecting  I  had 
a  carcinoma  to  deal  with.  On  opening  the  patient  I  found,  to 
my  surprise,  I  had  a  soft  encephaloma  of  the  uterus,  I  removed 
the  entire  uterus  including  all  its  attachments,  except  the  neck, 
which  I  reserved  for  a  stump,  and  covered  it  with  peritoneum, 
I  had  taken  from  the  interior  wall  of  the  uterus.  The  tumor 
was  very  soft  and  would  give  way  at  the  slightest  force.    This 


FO  UR  TEENTH  SESSION.  67 

lady  is  now  at  this  date,  doing  house  work.  One  interesting 
feature  of  the  sequel  of  the  operation  is  the  fact,  that  the  patient 
after  the  fourth  month  commenced  menstruating.  Not  exactly 
as  before  the  operation,  yet  with  sufficient  regularity. 

Discussion  on  Dr.  Franklin's  paper. 

Dr.  Avery,  of  Niles :  I  would  like  to  ask  how  long  it  will 
do  for  patients  to  wear  casts  ? 

Dr.  Franklin  :  Two  or  three  weeks,  if  the  Jacket  is  put  on 
well.  I  take  off  the  cast  during  the  night,  and  the  patients  take 
a  bath  if  they  desire.  Put  the  jacket  on  patients  standing  up, 
just  as  I  am  now  (raising  himself  up)*;  it  holds  the  patient  up 
as  crutches  would.  There  is  a  great  deal  to  be  learned  on  this 
subject  of  spinal  curvatures.  Surgery,  I  believe,  is  yet  in  its  in- 
fancy. By  the  use  of  homoeopathy  we  shall  get  rid  of  a  large 
measure  of  the  difficulties  connected  with  surgery.  It  will  not 
be  twenty  years  before  surgery  will  be  robbed  of  many  of  its  ter- 
rors of  a  few  years  ago.  There  are  not  more  than  one-half  the 
operations  now,  that  there  were  twenty  years  ago.  I  believe  it  is 
ascribable  to  the  benefits  of  homoeopathy. 

Dr.  Gilchrist :  In  treatment  for  spinal  curvatures  we  are 
under  necessity  to  carefully  consider  causes.  We  are  apt  to  get 
into  a  rut,  and  I  would  emphasize  caution. 

Dr.  Franklin  :  If  a  patient  comes  to  you  with  spinal  cur- 
vature, and  you  can  relieve  by  lifting  up,  you  are  going  to  cure 
that  patient. 

Dr.  Avery  :  I  have  a  case  of  spinal  curvature  of  nine  years 
standing.  I  applied  the  spinal  cast,  and  she  wore  the  vest  one 
or  two  months.  Before  that,  she  was  unable  to  stand  upon  her 
feet,  but  in  a  short  time  could  stand.  I  applied  the  cast,  and 
after  removing  it  in  due  time,  kept  her  quiet.  After  leaving  it 
off  for  two  months,  I  again  applied  it,  and  let  it  remain  three 
months.    Now,  dare  I  continue  this  treatment  ? 

Dr.  Franklin  :  Yes  sir,  you  can  continue  it.  You  must  un- 
derstand that  disease  can  only  be  cured  by  going  back  to  the 
causes.  After  you  kept  her  under  the  cast  three  months  it 
ceases  to  do  any  good.  It  has  retained  the  body  in  that  position; 
now  take  it  off  and  replace  it.  I  would  go  on  and  treat  that 
case  in  this  manner  and  I  am  sure  you  will  greatly  help,  if  not 
cure  it.  You  can't  take  away  all  the  deformity,  that  is  impos- 
sible. You  can't  build  up  that  lost  vetebral  disk ;  but  you  can 
greatly  relieve. 


68  MICHIGAN  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

On  motion,  these  papers  were  referred  to  the  Publish- 
ing Committee. 

Upon  motion,  the  Bureau  of  Surgery  was  then  de- 
clared closed,  and  its  papers  referred  to  the  Publishing 
Committee.  Dr.  O.  R.  Long  moved  that  the  consideration 
of  the  Northern  Asylum  be  made  a  special  order  for  four 
o'clock.    Carried. 

Bureau  of  Mental  and  Nervous  Diseases. — Papers 
were  read  by  Dr.  Warren,  of  Jonesville,  on  "  Chorea  " 
and  by  Dr.  M.  Rorabacher,  of  Battle  Creek,  on  "  Epil- 
eps5\"  After  discussion  they  were  referred  to  the  Pub- 
lishing Committee,  and  the  bureau  declared  closed. 

Dr.  Bailey,  of  Lansing,  then  introduced  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Robertson,  who  addressed  the  society  in  reference  to  the 
Northern  Insane  Asylum  bill,  then  pending  action  in  the 
House,  expressing  the  hope  that,  for  the  sake  of  justice, 
the  bill  would  become  a  law. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Arndt,  the  President  expressed  the 
thanks  of  the  society  to  Representative  Robertson  and  to 
those  gentlemen  in  the  legislature  who  have  labored  to 
secure  the  passage  of  the  bill. 

At  5  o'clock  p.  M.,  Dr.  A.  B.  Avery  took  the  chair,  and 
Dr.  E.  C.  Franklin  delivered  his  annual  address. 

Dr.  Arndt  moved  that  the  address  be  referred  to  a 
committee  of  three.    Carried. 

The  chair  appointed  Drs.  Arndt,  Eldridge,  and  Long. 

The  society  adjourned  until  8  o'clock  p.  m. 


Evening  Session. — Bureau  of  Pmdology. — Dr.  Rey- 
nolds, of  Grand  Haven,  chairman,  read  a  paper  on  "  In- 
fantile Colic,"  also  a  paper  on  "  Infantile  Convulsions." 
Discussed  by  Drs.  Long,  H.  C.  Allen,  Reynolds,  and 
Porter.  Dr.  Clark,  of  Three  Rivers,  read  a  paper  on 
"  Diseases  of  the  Foetus,"  which  was  discussed  by  Drs.  A. 
A.  Allen,  H.  C.  Allen,  and  Dr.  Warren.  On  motion,  bur- 
eau was  declared  closed. 


FOURTEENTH  SESSION.  69 

On  motion  Dr.  Gilchrist  was  unanimouly  chosen  to 
address  the  legislature  on  the  Northern  Insane  Asylum. 

Dr.  Rorabacher,  Chairman  Bureau  of  Mental  and 
Nervous  Diseases,  presented  a  paper- on  "Epilepsy,"  by 
Dr.  L.  D.  Vanhorn,  which,  on  motion,  was  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Publication. 

Bureau  of  Obstetrics  and  Oynmcology, — Dr.  Phil. 
Porter,  of  Detroit,  Chairman,  announced  several  papers  by 
title. 

Dr.  Whitworth,  of  Grand  Rapids,  then  read  a  paper  on 
"  Meddlesome  Midwifery." 

Dr.  Reynolds:  Dr.  Whitworth  says  nothing  about  sup 
porting  the  perineum.    Does  he  not  think  it  necessary  ? 

Dr.  Whitworth :  That  I  think,  is  not  an  open  question. 
There  are  cases,  no  doubt,  in  which  it  is  necessary  and  in  which 
the  physician  would  be  culpable  who  neglected  it. 

Dr.  A.  B.  Avery  :  The  reader  referred  to  bandaging,  and 
said  he  would  not  bandage  unless  the  patient  desired  it.  Is  not 
the  physician  best  able  to  judge  of  that?  In  ninety-nine  cases 
out  of  a  hundred,  the  patient  will  take  his  advice.  I  have  had 
good  success  in  obstetrics.  I  have  advised  my  patients  to  get 
along  without  bandages  ;  and  generally  I  have  found  that  they 
did  do  better  without  them.  And  there  is  another  point.  I  have 
fouud  by  experience  that,  when  the  head  has  entered  the  super- 
ior straits,  introducing  the  finger  will  induce  more  frequent 
pains.  Is  that  meddlesome?  And  does  it  increase  the  amount 
of  pain  ? 

Dr.  Qrant :  I  would  like  to  ask  Dr.  Avery  if  he  ever  knew 
of  any  bad  results  from  the  use  of  the  bandage  ? 

Dr.  Avery  :    How  could  I  ?    I  have  never  used  one. 

Dr.  Grant :    Did  you  ever  hear  of  any  ? 

Dr.  Avery  :  I  think  not.  But  the  bandage  might  get  out 
of  order.    It  may  also  generate  heat. 

Dr.  Mosely  \  Manipulations  of  that  kind  would  tend  to  reg- 
ulate the  pain. 

Dr.  A.  A.  Allen :  In  cases  of  that  kind  I  think  that  any- 
thing which  tends  to  open  the  uterus  is  allowable.  The  first 
case  that  I  attended  I  put  on  the  bandage. 

Dr.  Whitworth  :  I  do  not  wish  to  go  on  record  as  allowing 
the  patient  to  dictate  whether  the  bandage  should  be  put  on  or 
not.    I  usually  advise  not  to  use  it. 


70  MICHIGAN  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

Dr.  Qilchrist :  I  do  not  profess  any  special  knowledge  of 
obstetrics,  and  that  is  one  reason  I  wish  to  speak.  When  a  wo- 
man has  been  in  the  habit  of  using  a  bandage,  we  may  do  dam- 
age if  we  don't  use  it.  But  there  are  no  iron-clad  rules.  From 
preference  I  would  never  use  it. 

Dr.  Avery :  I  have  been  expecting  to  hear  from  Dr.  Porter 
in  regard  to  this  one  point.  L  would  like  to  ask  him  or  Dr. 
Morley,  whether  or  not  the  use  of  the  abdominal  bandage  would 
not  have  a  tendency  to  induce  general  congestion  of  the  pelvic 
organs  ? 

Dr.  Porter:  In  reply  to  Dr.  Avery  I  would  say,  that  it 
would  consume  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  time  of  the  society  to 
give  a  definite  or  explanatory  answer  to  his  question.  I  will  say, 
however,  that  when  the  abdominal  parieties  are  very  much  re- 
laxed and  flabby,  after  confinement,  I  do  not  see  how  a  bandage 
put  on  with  moderate  force  can  do  any  harm,  but  I  do  know  it 
affords  the  greatest  comfort  to  the  patient.  Do  not  understand 
me  as  advocating  bandaging  women  after  delivery,  for  there  is 
no  greater  source  of  disease  producing  cause  than  the  bandage  as 
ordinarily  put  on.  The  bandage  has  not  the  slightest  influence 
in  giving  a  woman  **  good  form''  as  is  claimed. 

Dr.  Porter  reported  a  paper  from  Dr.  Wood,  of  Mon- 
roe, on  "  Acute  Endometritis,"  and  read  the  last  pages. 
Commenting,  he  said:  1  would  simply  say  that  I  think  it 
a  mere  farce  to  mix  Glycerine  and  Calendula.  I  think  it 
simply  a  waste  of  time. 

Dr.  Porter  then  read  a  paper  on  "  Ovarian  Dysmenor- 
rhea." 

Dr.  Reynolds :  I  thought  I  followed  the  reading  of  the  pa- 
per pretty  closely,  yet  I  have  one  question  to  ask  Dr.  Porter.  Do 
I  understand  rightly  that  his  paper  related  exclusively  to  Ova- 
rian Dysmenorrhea? 

Dr.  Porter :  I  went  outside  of  that,  yet  the  whole  paper  re- 
lated to  that  subject. 

Dr.  Gilchrist :  There  ought  to  be  some  remarks  on  this  pa- 
per ;  if  not  in  criticism,  certainly  in  commendation.  Certainly 
it  is  an  able  paper,  and  does  credit  to  Dr.  Porter. 

Dr.  Allen :  I  was  very  much  pleased,  indeed,  with  the  pa- 
per.   It  was  not  only  well  written,  but  well  read. 


FO  UR  TEENTH  SESSION.  71 

The  convention  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  8  o'clock 
Wednesday  morning. 

Wednesday  Morning  Session, — ^The  society  was  called 
to  order  by  the  President  at  8:30  a.  m. 

President  Franklin  spoke  in  reference  to  the  misun- 
derstanding in  regard  to  those  members  whose  dues  they 
considered  paid,  some  of  whom  held  receipts ;  and  advised 
that  something  be  done  by  which  this  could  be  settled. 

Dr.  Gilchrist,  supported  by  Dr.  Olin,  then  offered  the 
following  resolution,  which  was  adopted : 

Whereas,  There  is  continual  dispute  between  the  Treas- 
urer and  members  of  the  society  with  reference  to  the  individual 
accounts  of  the  members ;  and, 

Whereas,  Inaccuracies  in  the  accounts  extending  over  a 
period  of  time  antedating  the  administration  of  the  present 
Treasurer;  therefore 

Resolved^  Ist,  That  the  Auditing  Committee  be  instructed 
to  correct  the  financiai  accounts  of  the  society,  and  to  settle  all 
matters  of  dispute  between  members  and  the  former  Treasuref. 

Resolved^  2d,  That  all  members,  regardless  of  their  stand- 
ing as  to  dues,  be  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  membership  for 
the  remainder  of  this  session. 

The  resolution  was  passed. 

A  member  desired  that  the  society  should  examine  a 
clinical  case,  and  the  matter  was  referred  to  a  committee 
consisting  of  Drs.  Olin,  Gilchrist  and  Warren. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Gilchrist,  the  Bureau  of  Hygiene 
and  Climatology  was  stricken  out  of  the  list  of  Bureaus. 

Dr.  Eldridge  presented  the  name  of  Dr.  Palmer  Co- 
vill,  a  graduate  of  the  Western  Homoeopathic  College,  1857, 
for  membership. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Allen,  Prof.  J.  C.  Sanders,  M.  D.,  of 
Cleveland  College,  was  made  an  honorary  member  of  the 
society. 

Dr.  Covey  moved  that  Dr.  C.  A.  Jeffries  be  made  an 
honorary  member  of  the  society,  and  the  motion  prevailed. 


72  MICHIGAN  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

Bureau  of  Materia  Medica. — Dr.  Arndt,  chairman, 
reported  papers  by  Dr.  Whitworth,  Dr.  H.  C.  Allen,  and 
himself. 

Dr.  Allen  said:  I  am  very  much  pleased  with  Dr.  Whit- 
worth's  *' apology."  He  has  given  us  a  very  good  paper.  He 
says  that  our  chemistry  is  the  chemistry  of  the  other  school,  and 
that  is  true.  We  must  always  remember  that  we  have  been 
^  compelled  to  take  our  pathology  from  their  text-books.  The 
teachings  of  the  two  schools  in  Materia  Medica  differ  diametri- 
cally. It  is  impossible  to  build  up  an  ideal  Materia  Medica.  We 
shall  never  get  this  in  our  school.     We  differ  in  our  modes  of 

■ 

thought,  and  we  do  not  all  treat  our  patients  alike.  But  as  we 
do  not  commit  Worcester's  or  Webster's  lexicon  to  memory,  so 
we  do  not  get  our  Encyclopeedia  by  heart.  And  we  very  often 
treat  diseases  instead  of  patients. 

The  convention  then  listened  to  a  paper  by  Dr.  H.  C. 
Allen,  "  The  Study  of  Materia  Medica." 

{         Dr.  Gilchrist :    We  live  in  an  age  of  compensation,  where  it 

impossible  for  one  man  to  master  ail  departments.    So  I  think 

the  doctor's  point  was  not  very  well  taken,  that  every  practi- 

tidher  should  master  all  the  great  mass  of  matter  in  the  Materia 

Medica. 

Dr.  W.  M.  Bailey  :  I  came  here  to  learn  ;  and  I  must  say 
that  in  the  last  paper  I  have  gotten  pay  for  coming  down  here. 
We  cannot  master  all  things,  of  every  department ;  but  I  got 
hints  from  that  paper  that  are  very  valuable  to  me.  I  do  not 
wish  to  criticise  the' paper  at  all. 

Dr.  Phil  Porters  The  subject  has  now  reached  a  very  inter- 
esting point,  and,  although  not  so  well  versed  in  the  matter  of 
drug  proving  as  those  who  live  with,  exist  on,  and  will  in  all 
probability  die,  believing  in  the  honesty  of  these  provers.  I 
still  take  a  deep  interest  in  this  much  abused  subject.  Were 
these  provings  carried  to  the  extent,  that  we  had,  as  a  result, 
some  pathological  changes  or  tissue  changes,  we  could,  with 
some  degree  of  confidence,  trust  our  patients  with  remedies  that 
were  supposed  to  have  some  affinity  for  the  diseased  condition 
we  are  called  upon  to  treat.  But  you  give  a  prover  the  30th  of 
any  drug  and  tell  him  or  her  to  give  you  symptoms  as  they  are 
presented,  and  I  will  venture  the  remark,  that  you  will  be  sup- 
plied with  enough  to  fill  a  book  iti  a  week's  time,  especially  if 
the  prover  is  at  all  susceptible.    According  to  our  well-known 


FO  UR  TEENTH  SESSION.  73 

belief,  that  diseased  organs  or  tissues  are  muoii  more  susceptible 
to  the  action  of  remedies,  than  the  well  or  healthy,  on  what 
ground  can  we  expect  to  obtain  any  reliable  symptoms  from  the 
30th,  when  taken  by  a  prover  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  the  gentle- 
men who  are  so  willing  to  accept  the  symptoms  of  these  enthu- 
siasts as  provers,  should  not  overlook  this  fact.  Again,  it  is  a 
recognized  fact  that  the  symptoms  of  a  prover  are  influenced  by 
the  quantity  and  repetition  of  the  remedy  being  proved.  Thus, 
two  drops  of  the  strong  tinctures  will  produce  a  certain  train-  of 
symptoms,  if  repeated  in  two  hours,  more  symptoms  variously 
manifested,  will  be  added  to  those  already  obtained,  now,  if 
thirty  drops  are  taken,  you  will  have  still  another  group  of 
symptoms  and  so  on  until  you  have  tissue  change,  in  this  way 
something  tangible  would  be  presented  to  the  profession,  I 
firmly  believe,  all  drugs  when  being  proved,  should  be  carried 
to  that  point,  when  definite  toxicological  effects  are  produced. 
*  *  *  Now,  Mr.  Presidentand  gentlemen,  don't  understand  me 
as  trying  to  throw  ridicule  or  distrust  upon  homoeopathy,  for  it 
is,  when  stripped  of  this  absurd  sophistical  connection,  one  of 
the  grandest  gifts  of  God  to  man— a  boon— I  wish  all  mankind 
could  have,  but  it  is  this  everlasting  load  of  chaff  we  are  con- 
stantly obliged  to  carry  with  us  that  is  such  a  curse  to  the  school. 
You  look  about  and  see  who  are  the  progressive  men  of  our 
school,  who  have  made  places  for  the  name  of  homoeopathy  in 
every  State  in  the  Union,  made  places  for  it  in  many  of  the 
public  institutions  of  this  country,  has  all  this  been  accomplished 
by  these  theorists  ?  No,  sir ;  but  by  men  who  are  willing  first 
to  cure  their  patients,  then  work  out  the  similium  of  the  prov- 
ing of  the  30th  afterwards.  I  believe  as  sincerely  in  the  law  of 
similars  as  any  one,  but  in  the  proviugs  of  our  Materia  Medica  I 
do  no  not.  *  *  *  I  only  desire  to  say  that  I  have  learned  one 
important  fact  while  I  wa^  in  Europe,  that  the  homoeopathic 
practitioners  of  this  country  have  done  more  to  make  Hahne- 
mann's name  celebrated,  than  his  German  associates  ever  did. 
I  have  very  little  confidence  in  the  provings  of  the  German  fol- 
lowers of  Hahnemann.  That  reminds  me,  Mr.  Chairman,  that 
I  have  in  my  possession  a  vial  of  Borax  30,  that  was  given  me 
by  Mr.  Schwabe  of  Leipsic,  who  assured  me  on  his  honor  (and 
you  know  a  dutchman  never  lies'^  that  it  was  from  one  of  Hah- 
nemann's own  private  pocket  case,  I  saw  it  taken  from  a  case 
anyway,  and  yet,  with  this  in  my  care,  I  do  not  feel  any  nearer 
Hahnemann  than  do  my  less  unfortunate  brothers  who  are 
3 


74  LA  CHESTS  IN  NEPHRALGIA, 

without  it.  Schwabe  said  the  label  is  Iq  Hahnemann's  own 
handwriting.  *  *  *  I  knew  I  would  kick  a  hornets  nest  when 
I  refused  to  accept  all  that  has  been  written  under  the  banner  of 
homoeopathy,  especially  the  proviugs.  You  must  accept  all  or 
nothing,  is  the  verdict  Well,  as  I  said  before,  this  is  a  field  or 
branch  of  medicine  I  do  not  like  and  I  know  little  about— tliis 
ought  to  excuse  my  remarks,  but  I  do  say  that  if  twelve  men 
are  taken  who  do  not  know  each  other  or  any  thing  about  medi- 
cine, to  prove  remedies  and  the  work  is  carried  out  until  toxico- 
logical  effects  are  produced,  and  then  the  symptoms  compared,! 
should  have  some  confidence  that  we  were  approaching  some- 
thing that  could  be  utilized.  But  you  let  any  one  of  these  doc- 
tors about  me  take  a  remedy  and  go  to  work  noting  symptoms 
and  it  would  keep  type  setters  busy  to  keep  up. 

The  President  announced  the  following  gentlemen  to 
constitute  the  Bureau  of  Ophthalmology  and  Otology,  viz.: 
Drs.  D.  J.  McGuire,  T.  P.  Wilson,  and  H.  Gilbert. 


•^♦^ 


LACHESIS  IN  NEPHRALGIA. 


BY  J.  N.  LOWE,  MILFOBD,  N.  J. 


Case  1. — Miss  A.  H.,  eet.  20.  Disease,  Renal  Calculi 
of  the  triple  phosphates. 

On  the  night  of  June  9th  she  was  suddenly  seized 
with  very  agonizing  pain  in  the  right  renal  region,  result- 
ing in  very  severe  Colica  Renalis.  The  pains  were  parox- 
ysmal and  spasmodic,  attended  with  emesis  and  cysto- 
spasmos ;  and  seemed  to  extend  from  the  right  kidney,  and 
ureter  to  the  bladder. 

We  first  saw  her  in  the  following  morning.  She  then 
stated  that  she  had  had  sensations  as  if  a  worm  was  crawl- 
ing within  the  bladder.  Guided  by  this  marked  charac- 
teristic, and  the  known  action  of  Belladonna  in  relation 
to  spasm  of  the  ureters  caused  by  the  passage  of  Renal 
Calculi,  we  prescribed  it  in  the  30th.  Anticipating  a  prob- 
able renewal  of  an  aggravation  of  her  symptoms,  we  or- 


J,  N.  LOWE.  75 

dered  that  she  should  be  placed  in  a  warm  sitz  bath — if 
again  visited  with  severe  pain — and  that,  when  in  bed,  hot 
water  fomentations  should  be  kept  continuously  applied 
to  the  seat  of  pain.  Very  early  in  the  morning  of  the  10th 
a  call  came  again,  stating  that  she  was  no  better,  but 
rather  worse ;  and  that  we  must  see  her  as  soon  as  possible. 
Her  sufferings  since  one  o'clock  of  the  previous  night  had 
been  intense,  at  times  driving  her  to  cries  and  screams. 
We  found  her  with  diminished  pain,  but  affected  with  al- 
most constant  nausea  and  vomiting  (reflex  as  to  cause) 
with  scanty  ejectment  of  watery  mucus  with  slight  traces 
of  bile.  We  gave  Ipecac,  3c.,  without  relief.  Next,  Canna- 
bis., 20c.,  partial  relief  of  stranguary,  vomiting,  no  change. 
Canthasis,  20c.  Nil.  Opium,  3x.  These  were  not  alternated, 
but  tested  single,  until  we  were  satisfied  of  their  ineffic- 
iency. We  were  pretty  well  "out  at  sea,"  now — into 
something  of  a  fog — and  had  given  our  personal  observa- 
tion to  the  case  for  about  ten  hours ;  and  had  settled  down 
to  the  conclusion  that  we  should  "  fight  it  out"  on  the  line 
of  the  true  Similimum,  if  it  took  all  summer.  The  voyage 
thus  far  had  been  conducted  without  chart  and  compass. 
Still  we  abode  in  the  ship.  "  Unless  you  abide  in  the  ship 
(the  truth)  y^e  cannot  be  saved." 

At  this  extremity — the  fog  began  to  disperse — and  the 
vis  conservatrix  asserted  its  prerogative,  by  signals,  which 
led  us  at  once  to  a  true  selection.  The  signals  given  were 
a  sick  feeling  from  stomach  to  throat  with  a  sense  of  naVi- 
sea  and  choking  in  the  throat.  She  could  bear  nothing  to 
touch  her  throat  externally ;  and,  strange  as  it  may  Jip- 
pear,  whenever  she  changed  her  position  she  felt  sorafe- 
thing  rolling  in  the  bladder.  Lachesis  1000  c.  (Boericke) 
given  dry,  immediately  after  every  renewal  of  the  vomit- 
ing. After  three  or  four  doses  of  this  remedy  in  the  Im. 
had  been  used,  all  of  her  troublesome  symptoms  abated, 
and  several  small  calculi  were  passed  from  the  bladder. 

Never  before  in  the  conduct  of  a  case  have  we  met 
with  these  salient  characteristics  of  Bell,  and  Lach.,  viz.. 


76       NA  TR  UM  MUE.  IN  INTERMITTENT  FE  VER.      - 

of  a  worm  as  to  the  former,  and  a  ball  as  to  the  latter,  (i. 
e,)  in  the  history  of  one  sickness,  in  one  patient. 

A  word  more :  The  indication  of  Lachesis  was  at  the 
last  undeniably  simple,  plain.  It  afforded  an  opportunity 
not  only  to  test  the  truth  of  the  provings  (verified)  of  the 
ophidia,  but  to  satisfy  my  desire  in  the  demonstration  of 
the  truth,  or  falsity,  of  the  assertion  (at  least  in  one  well- 
defined  instance)  viz.:  that  there  can  be  no  remedial  in- 
fluence imparted  by  a  dynamized  remedy  above  the  10c.  or 
lie.  potency ;  and  not  the  shadow  of  an  effect  from  the 
decillionth.  We  had  the  6c.  of  Lach.  in  one  case — and  in- 
tended to  use  it  should  the  1000th  fail.  But  it  didn't — and 
now,  '*'  what  can  we  do  about  it  ?"  Comment  is  unneces- 
sary. 


■^••- 


NATRUM  MUR.  IN  INTERMITTENT  FEVER. 


BY  T.  KYALL.,  M.  D.,   SALEM,  NEB. 


Miss ,  aet.  23  years.  Has  been  a  sufferer  with  inter- 
mittent fever  since  she  was  a  little  girl,  or  as  long  ago  as  she 
can  remember.  Twelve  years  ago  abscesses  were  found  in 
the  right  hip,  which  would  last  about  two  weeks,  sometimes 
discharging  through  the  uterus,  when  she  would  get  better 
and  continue  to  be  better  for  three  or  four  months,  when 
another  paroxysm  of  chill-fever  and  sweat  would  intervene, 
ending  in  abscesses.  The  right  lower  limb  was  two  inches 
shorter  than  the  left.  The  limb  was  bent  upon  itself  an- 
teriorly at  the  knee,  so  that  when  the  patient  walked  she 
she  apparently  hopped  on  and  off*  the  shorter  limb  to  keep 
the  knee-joint  from  extending  too  far  backward  as  it  in, 
clined  to,  several  inches.  Sore  eyes;  one  cheek  red  ;  very 
sad;  yellow  spots  on  forehead;  urine  dark,  like  cofffee, 
and  uncontrolable,;  great  longing  for  salt.  Gave  Natrum 
muriatioum  30th  and  1000th,  three  doses  of  the  30th  every 


T,  RYALL.  77 

two  hours,  followed  by  two  doses  of  the  1000th  every  two 
hours,  then  Placebo.  I  thought  that  the  medicine  aggra- 
vated the  case.  In  two  days'  time  patient  was  feeling  so 
well  that  she  went  out  into  the  yard,  and  in  about  two 
weeks  went  to  assist  in  taking  care  of  a  sick  woman.  Sub- 
sequently complained  of  toothache,  which  indicated  ul- 
ceration about  the  root.  For  which  I  gave  Hep.  100,000th, 
with  relief  in  a  few  hours.  The  patient  stated  that  ab- 
scesses and  always  formed  after  the  paroxysm  of  chill, 
fever  and  sweat,  previous  to  this  time.  Patient  stated  that 
an  enlargement  had  formed,  the  size  of  a  hickory- nut,  in 
the  hip  when  I  gave  the  Natrum.  I  did  not  look  at  the 
hip,  but  I  believed  the  statement  of  the  patient.  No  ab- 
scess formed  this  time. 

Case   3. — Mr.  ,  eet.  about  30  years;    married. 

About  two  years  ago,  while  living  on  the  shore  of  the 
ocean,  was  attacked  with  intermittent  fever,  which  was 
suppressed  by  taking  large  doses  of  quinine.  I  am  soriy 
to  say  that  a  professed  homoeopathist  had  also  given  him 
large  doses  of  quinine.  An  allopathist  we  would  expect 
would  give  his  panacea,  but  not  a  professed  follower  of 
Hahnemann.  The  patient  had  a  very  severe  irontal  head- 
ache during  the  paroxysm  ;  blisters  on  the  lips;  very  sad 
and  impatient.  One  powder  of  Natrum  muriaticum  1,000th 
greatly  ameliorated  the  paroxysm  the  next  day,  and  a  few 
doses  taken  three  or  four  days  apart,  of  the  same  potency, 
prevented  a  return  of  the  trouble  for  a  year,  probably 
longer,  as  I  lost  sight  of  the  patient. 

Case  4. — Little  girl,  aet.  six  years.  Father  came  for 
the  medicine ;  stated  that  last  fall  his  daughter  had  the 
"chills,"  which  were  apparently  cured  by  giving  quinine  ; 
had  the  paroxysms  for  two  or  three  weeks  every  two  days. 
Sometimes  they  would  commence  at  7  a.  m.  and  sometimes 
10  A.  M.  Very  severe  frontal  headache  attended  the  par- 
oxysm. Sore  lips.  Natrum,  I^Oth.  Three  dose?  to  be  given 
every  three  hours.  Father  reported  that  the  next  day  she 
had  a  slight  chill,  but  not  any  fever.    Placebo  was  then 


78  CLINICAL  CASES. 

given,  resulting  in  a  cure.  I  do  not  justify  myself  in  giv- 
ing four  or  five  doses  of  the  indicated  remedy,  each  dose 
every  three  or  four  hours,  as  a  routine  practice,  but  when 
patients  have  taken  a  good  deal  of  medicine  the  results 
are  more  satisfactory. 


-•♦► 


CLINICAL  CASES. 


INTERMITTEKT  FEVER. 


BY  C.  HOYT,  M.  D.,  CUILICOTHE,  OHIO. 


Case  1. — J.  H.  A.,  set.  42  years.  Had  been  suffering 
with  chills  for  more  than  a  month,  and  had  not  been  in 
good  health  for  some  time  previous  to  being  attacked  by 
the  chills.  He  has  a  chill  every  other  day,  at  about  2  p.  m. 
Feels  badly  for  a  couple  of  hours  before  the  chill  comes 
on.  Is  sleepy  and  feels  very  tired,  with  a  great  deal  of 
aching  in  back  and  legs  for  some  time  before  the  chill 
comes  on.  The  chills  run  up  and  down  his  back,  and  his 
hands  and  feet  are  very  cold.  He  has  no  thirst  during  any 
stage  of  the  paroxysm.  Has  some  dryness  of  the  mouth, 
but  no  desire  to  drink.  Complains  very  much  of  dizzi- 
ness, especially  when  lying  in  bed.  Bowels  are  usually 
regular,  although  inclined  to  looseness-  during  the  parox- 
ysm. During  the  fever  has  severe  pain  in  the  top  of  the 
head  and  down  the  back  of  his  neck.  The  sweating  stage 
is  almost  entirely  wanting.  Gave  Pulsatilla  3x  every 
three  hours  dup'ng  apyrexia,  and  it  cured  him  entirely. 

Case  2. — Walter  E.,  aet.  10  years.  Had  been  having 
chills  for  about  one  year,  only  excepting  when  under  the 
influence  of  quinine.  It  would  check  them  only  to  return 
again  in  a  few  days.  Finally  his  father  came  to  me  and 
desired  to  have  me  cure  him  of  the  chills,  as  he  was  tired 
of  trying  to  do  so  with  quinine.  I  succeeded  in  getting  a 
very  brief  history  of  his  case,  as  follows :  The  boy  had  a 


a  HOYT.  79 

chill  every  other  day,  from  nine  to  eleven  o'clock  a.  m. 
He  was  very  thirsty  before  and  during  the  chill,  and 
always  vomited  after  drinking.  Complained  of  his  knees 
being  so  cold.  Wanted  to  sleep  during  the  fever.  Sweat- 
ing stage  well  marked.  I  gave  him  Eup.  perf,  30x,  to  be 
repeated  once  in  two  hours.  In  two  or  three  days  after  I 
gave  the  medicine,  as  I  was  going  down  the  street,  the 
boy's  father  hailed  me  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  street, 
and  I  waitted  until  he  came,  as  I  thought,  to  tell  me  the 
boy  was  no  better ;  but,  instead  of  that,  he  looked  very 
happy,  and  said  the  boy  had  missed  his  chill. 

Case  3. — John  F.,  set.  35 ;  railroad  engineer.  Is  hav- 
ing a  chill  every  other  morning,  at  three  a.  m.  Has  a  se- 
vere shaking  chill,  and  says  he  is  cold  all  over.  The  chill 
last  an  hour  or  more,  followed  by  high  fever  and  then  per- 
spiration, which  is  very  profuse.  Is  not  thirsty  during  any 
stage  of  the  paroxysm,  and  complains  very  little  of  pain 
anywhere.  The  sweating  troubles  him  more  than  any- 
thing else,  as  it  is  so  profuse  and  makes  him  feel  so  weak. 
I  gave  him  Piflsatilla  and  various  other  remedies,  the 
names  of  which  I  have  now  forgotten,  but  without  their 
having  the  least  effect  upon  the  chills,  and  we  were  both 
beginning  to  get  discouraged.  I  had  treated  this  patient 
for  gonorrhoea  a  few  weeks  previous  to  this  attack  of 
chills,  and  thinking,  possibly,  that  it  might  account  for  my 
failure  to  cure,  I  again  studied  his  case  with  that  fact  in 
view.  Finding  that  Thuja  ogg.  met  the  symptoms  of  his 
case  better  than  anything  else,  I  gave  it  to  him  in  the  cc. 
potency,  and  he  has  not  had  another  chill  from  that  time, 
now  several  weeks  ago.  I  think  this  case  was  undoubt- 
edly in  some  way  complicated  by  the  gonorrhoeal  virus,  al- 
though he  showed  no  signs  of  the  original  trouble. 

Case  4. — J.  H.  M.,  aet.  37  years.  Has  been  suffering 
from  ague  for  nearly  a  year,  and  now  looks  very  sallow 
and  bad,  as  old  ague  patients  usually  do.  Has  repeatedly 
had  the  chills  broken  by  quinine,  only  to  return  again  as 
soon  as  the  effects  of  it  passed  off.    He  says  he  has  taken 


80  CLINICAL  CASES. 

eight  or  ten  dollars'  worth  of  quinine  during  the  time  he 
has  been  suflfering  from  the  chills.  This  patient  was  also 
addicted  to  the  use  of  morphine.  He  has  now  had  two 
chills,  the  first  one  coming  on  at  eight  p.  m.  and  the  last 
one  at  11:30  a.  m.  The  chills  are  every  second  day.  The 
last  chill  was  very  severe  and  lasted  about  three  hours,  and 
was  followed  by  a  moderate  degree  of  fever,  while  the 
sweating  stage  was  almost  entirely  absent.  He  suffered 
from  nausea  nearly  all  the  time  during  the  chill  and  fever, 
and  vomited  once  during  the  fever.  Was  sleepy  during 
the  chill,  and  wanted  very  heavy  covers  over  him.  Com- 
plained of  pain  in  the  forehead  and  eye-balls.  During  the 
chill  his  hands  and  arms  were  very  cold  and  looked  blue 
clear  to  his  elbows.  Is  very  low-spirited  and  despondent 
all  the  time,  and  has  no  ambition  to  do  any  work  or  busi- 
ness of  any  kind.  Bowels  are  very  much  constipated  al- 
ways. Does  not  sleep  well,  especially  towards  morning. 
I  gave  him  Nux,  Vom,  3x  trit.,  a  powder  every  three  hours 
during  apyrexia,  which  cured  him  entirely. 

Case  5. — S.  B.  S.,  aet.  50  years.  Has*  a  chill  every 
other  day  at  2  p.  m.  Is  very  thirsty  before  and  during  the 
chill,  and  usually  vomits  several  times.  Complains  prin- 
cipally of  coldness  in  the  back,  between  the  shoulder 
blades,  and  says  it  feels  so  good  to  have  something  real 
hot  next  to  his  back.  The  chill  is  followed  by  high  fever, 
whi(;h  is  accompanied  by  very  severe  pain  in  the  head. 
Sweating  stages  well  marked  and  last  quite  a  long  time. 
His  bowels  are  loose  and  he  has  four  or  five  stools  each  day, 
of  scalding,  burning  character.  Gave  him  Capsicum  30x, 
and  he  had  no  more  chills. 

Case  6. — Miss  F.,  aet.  32  years;  school  teacher.  Has 
chill  every  other  day  at  1  a.  m.  Hot  and  cold,  all  at  the 
same  time.  Is  very  thirsty  and  wants  a  swallow  of  water 
almost  constantly,  with  vomiting  after  drinking  soveral 
times.  Is  very  restless  and  full  of  anguish  during  the  par- 
oxysm. The  bowels  are  inclined  to  looseness.  Sweats 
very  freely  as  the  fever  leaves.  She  wanted  to  try  homoeo- 


C.  HOYT.  81 

pathic  treatment,  but  was  almost  afraid  to  do  so,  for  fear 
it  would  not  cure  her  quickly  enough.  I  gave  her  Arstn- 
icum  30x  every  two  hours,  and  she  did  not  have  another 
chill. 


I  find  Ipecac  a  grand  remedy  in  chills,  especially  where 
nausea  and  vomiting  are  prominent  symptoms.  Many 
times  parties  from  the  country  send  for  the  same  medicine  to 
"  break"  the  chills,  and  it  is  impossible  to  get  a  clear  his- 
tory of  the  case.  In  such  cases  I  nearly  always  send  Ipe- 
cac, and  tell  them  to  report  again  if  that  does  not  cure.  In 
a  large  number  of  cases  it  will  prove  to  be  the  right  rejnedy 
and  will  cure  the  case  promptly.  It  is  certainly  much 
wiser  to  pursue  this  course  than  it  would  be  to  send  qui- 
nine, as  some  do  for  lack  of  positive  indications,  as  the 
Ipecac  can  do  no  harm  and  will  cure  many  more  cases  than 
quinine.  I  think  Ipecac  is  one  of  our  most  frequently  in- 
dicated remedies  in  chills.  I  have  failed  to  keep  a  record 
of  many  of  my  cases,  or  I  would  report  some  cases  cured 
by  this  remedy. 

I  rarely  find  a  case  of  chills  that  can  be  cured  by  Cin- 
chona in  Homoeopathic  doses,  and  I  very  seldom  give  it 
for  ague.  I  do  And  it  the  remedy  for  many  cases  that  are 
undoubtedly  of  malarial  origin.  Such  patients  complain 
of  headache  of  an  undefined  character,  but  especially 
marked  about  the  occiput  and  back  of  the  neck.  The 
pains  change  localities  often,  and  the  patient  can  hardly 
tell  what  part  of  their  head  hurts  the  worst.  They  look 
sallow  and  complain  of  feeling  tired  all  the  time,  and  any 
little  exertion  causes  them  to  perspire.  They  complain  of 
pain  in  both  sides,  in  the  region  of  the  liver  and  spleen. 
Also  of  inability  to  eat  on  account  of  feeling  so  full  all  the 
time,  or  after  eating  a  very  little  ;  and  they  belch  a  great 
deal  after  eating.  They  are  chilly  much  of  the  time,  and 
they  desire  to  keep  near  the  fire.  The  bowels  are  not  very 
costive,  but  still  do  not  move  with  their  accustomed  ease 


82  FOREIGN  BOD  Y  IN  L  UNOS. 

and  promptness.  Such  cases  as  these  are  promptly  cured 
by  Cinchona,  and  which  if  allowed  to  go  on  would  doubt- 
less soon  result  in  genuine  shakes. 


«4««" 


FOREIGN  BODY  IN  LUNGS. 


BY  DR.  W.  W.  WALKER,  MXTIR,  MICH. 


I  was  called  last  winter  to  see  John  R.  set.  40.  Suffer- 
ing with  pneumonia.  Right  side,  second  stage :  dullness 
over  circumscribed  spot  at  about  bifurcation  of  right  bron- 
chus, cough  bloody,  expectoration  great  dyspnoea.  This 
man  called  me  in  place  of  an  old  school  doctor  who  he 
said  gave  him  nothing  but  Quinine  and  stimulants.  He 
had  suffered  more  or  less  at  different  periods  for  the  last 
nineteen  or  twenty  years  with  a  heavy  burning,  feeling 
and  after  every  attack  of  cold  a  considerable  pain  in  this 
region.  Alter  prescribing  several  remedies  as  the  case 
advanced,  I  placed  him  on  Ant.  Tart,  and  while  taking 
this,  and  during  a  severe  fit  of  coughing,  he  expectorated 
what  to  all  appearances  appeared  to  be  a  solid  tubercle. 
Quite  a  quantity  of  iresh  blood  followed  but  finally  ceased. 
He  preserved  the  cyst  until  my  next  visit,  and  on  cutting 
down  through  it  I  found  embeded  in  its  center  a  complete 
coffee-bean,  slightly  softened  but  in  a  complete  state  of 
preservation. 

The  man  remembered  well  that  while  cooking  coffee 
on  the  field  during  the  war,  a  battery  opened  fire  upon 
them  a  shell  bursting  among  the  camp  kettles  scattering 
things  generally  on  the  instant  he  felt  something  pass 
down  the  wind  pipe  as  he  expresses  it.  1  suppose  the 
shock  of  the  exploding  shell  produced  a  sharp  sudden  in- 
spiration at  the  instant  the  coftee  bean  passed  through  the 
glottis,  it  produced  a  great  deal  of  pain  and  severe  cough 
at  the  time,  but  subsided  to  some  extent  with  an  occasional 
trouble  after  great  exertion  or  taking  cold  as  I  have  stated. 


CORBESPONDENCE  FROM  LINCOLN,  NEB.        83 

This  foreign  substance  had  passed  as  far  into  the  tube  as 
its  caliber  would  admit,  and  had  become  encysted  and 
was  only  removed  by  a  sloughing  process  induced  by  a 
severe  pneumonia  nineteen  or  twenty  years  after  its  lodg- 
ment. 

The  case  recovered  speedily  after  this,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  some  dullness  over  this  region.  He  is  fleshy  and 
well,  and  of  course  better  than  he  has  been  for  twenty 
years. 


•<•»>' 


CORRESPONDENCE  FROM  LINCOLN,  NEBRASKA. 


STATE  H0M(E0PATHIC   MEDICAL  SOCIETY  MEETINa. 


Our  goodly  city  of  Lincoln  has  been  the  focus  of  all 
eyes  during  the  present  week ;  for  by  chance,  or  intention, 
there  were  three  conventions  in  session  at  the  same  time, 
the  Nebraska  State  Medical  Society,  the  State  Homoeo- 
pathic Society,  and  the  State  Dental  Society.  Lincoln 
may  not  be  very  much  subject  to  epidemics,  but  for  a  short 
time  at  least  has  suflfered  from  an  endemic  attack  of  doc- 
tors. The  courtesies  of  the  city  were  extended  to  all  visi- 
tors alike  ;  the  Commercial  and  Arlington  were  the  prin- 
cipal points  of  attraction.  The  Homceopathists  held  a 
public  meeting  Wednesday  evening.  A  large  and  appre- 
ciative audience  was  present  to  listen  to  the  address  of 
President  Dinsmoor,  of  Omaha,  and  Prof.  Duncan,  of  Chi- 
cago, the  author  of  two  widely  known  and  valued  medical 
books,  and  editor  of  the  United  States  Medical  Investiga- 
tor^ one  of  the  leading  medical  journals  of  the  day.  Prof. 
Duncan  is  a  genial,  wide-awake,  appreciative  gentleman, 
and  our  society  considered  itself  fortunate  in  securing  his 
presence  with  them. 

Prof  Duncan  delivered  the  address.  Topic :  "  Ho- 
moBopathj'."  Its  scope  was  both  retrospective  and  pro- 
phetic.   He  entered  quite  fully  into  the  results  of  "  the 


84        CORRESPONDENCE  FROM  LINCOLN,  NEB. 

reform,"  as  he  termed  it,  upon  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  all  the  other  schools,  and  to  the  modifying  influence  of 
homoeopathy  he  attributed,  in  large  measure,  the  deca- 
dence of  the  old  time  "  heroic"  treatment. 

The  business  sessions  of  the  society  were  held  in  the 
parlors  of  the  Arlington.  Forty-one  physicians  were  in 
attendance,  thirty-eight  being  present  at  the  opening  of 
the  first  session.. 

Papers  of  more  than  ordinary  merit  were  read ;  the 
discussions  were  spirited,  but  not  in  the  least  acrimonious. 
The  topics  for  discussion  covered  a  wild  field  of  scientific 
knowledge  and  experience,  and  were  full  of  practical  sug- 
gestions. The  papers  and  discussions  alike,  were  charac- 
terized by  broadness  and  catholicity  of  sentiment ;  in  fact, 
narrow  guage  found  no  representatives  among  that  intelli- 
gent body  of  men. 

Three  ladies  were  present,  wearing  the  title  of  M.D.*8, 
ready  with  experience,  suggestion,  and  repartee,  viz.:  Drs. 
Starr,  of  Beatrice ;  Sabine,  of  Lincoln  ;  and  Burroughs,  of 
Omaha. 

Thursday  evening  came  the  banquet,  given  by  our 
resident  physician  to  their  guests  ;  and  it  was  a  right  royal 
feast  to  which  they  were  invited.  Palate,  ear,  eye  and 
mind  alike  were  the  recipients ;  flowers  of  rhetoric  vied 
with  the  natural  flowers,  and  wit  mingled  with  the  per- 
fume of  the  roses. 

The  meeting  was  in  every  respect  a  complete  success, 
the  utmost  harmony  prevailed  throughout.  Perhaps  the 
most  important  action  of  the  society  related  to  a  homoeo- 
pathic medical  department  in  the  State  University.  The 
following  physicians  were  nominated  to  the  regents  as 
members  of  that  faculty :  Dr.  B.  L.  Paine,  Lincoln,  Pro- 
fessor of  Theory  and  Practice ;  Dr.  0.  L.  Hart,  Omaha, 
Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics ;  Dr.  F.  B. 
Righter,  Professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of  Women 
and  Children.    The  following  gentlemen  were  also  recom- 


STA  TE  SOCIETY  MEETING.  85 

mended  as  a  Board  of  Censors:  Dr.  0.  M.  Dinsmoor,  Oma- 
ha, chairman  ;  Dr.  G.  H.  Parsell,  Omaha ;  Dr.  R.  Carscad- 
den,  York ;  Dr.  H.  B.  Lashlee,  Grand  Island ;  Dr.  A.  R. 
VanSickle,  Hastings ;  Dr.  A.  L.  Macomber,  Norfolk.  The 
election  of  officers  for  the  coming  year  was  the  next  busi- 
ness. Dr.  Carscadden  being  elected  president,  (and 
right  here  let  me  speak  of  one,  of  whom  not  only 
Omaha,  but  our  entire  State,  has  reason  to  be  justly 
proud,  I  refer  to  Dr.  C.  M.  Dinsmoor,  the  retiring  presi- 
dent of  our  society).  Dr.  Dinsmoor  is  a  man  of  broad  and 
liberal  views,  a  thorough  scholar,  both  in  literature  and 
medicine,  of  sound  judgment  and  alive  to  the  interests  of 
his  profession.  Every  citizen,  and  especially  physician, 
would  profit  by  reading  his  address,  made  at  a  public  meet- 
ing of  the  society.  It  is  due  almost  entirely  to  his  efforts 
that  our  society  is  in  its  present  prosperous  condition,  and 
and  it  is  very  much  to  be  regretted  that  he  had  to  decline, 
on  account  of  professional  duties,  the  nomination  to  the 
Board  of  Regents  for  a  professorship  in  our  University 
Medical  School,  for  no  one  in  our  society  would  fill  the  po- 
sitien  better  than  he.  We  are  glad,  however,  that  he  was 
nominated  to  the  Regent  to  be  made  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Censors,  as  this  will  place  him  where  he  can  do 
the  college  great  service. 

Dr.  G.  H.  Simmons,  the  retiring  Secretary,  is  a  young 
man  of  excellent  qualifications  for  his  profession,  and  made 
a  most  energetic  Secretary.  He  leaves  for  Europe  soon, 
to  pursue  his  medical  studies  in  one  of  the  great  universi- 
ties there.  We  wish  him  a  safe  voyage,  success  in  his  pur- 
suits, and  will  express  the  hope  that  he  will  return  to  Ne- 
braska. 

Drs.  Carscadden,  our  new  President,  and  G.  E.  Brown, 
our  new  Secretary,  are  both  excellent  men,  and  we  hope 
and  expect  much  from  their  capability  and  energy  in 
building  up  the  interests  of  the  society.  It  was  decided 
to  hold  the  annual  meeting  in  Omaha  next  May. 

Medicus. 


86         DROPSY  CURED  BY  KALI  CARBONICUM. 


DROPSY  CURED  BY  KALI  CARBONICUM. 


FROM  THE  ALLGEMEINER  ZEITUNG. 


TRANSI^TBD  BY  A.  MC  NEIL,  M.  D. 


Another  enemy  against  which  we  are  tolerably  pow- 
erless, and  against  which  we  are  sometimes  necessitated 
to  employ  the  infusion  of  digitatalis,  is  dropsical  swellings 
as  a  result  of  heart  disease.  A  recent  case  has,  however, 
taught  me  that  our  medicinal  treasure  has  a  remedy  which 
can  accomplish  something.  It  relates  to  a  six  year  old 
rachitic  boy  in  whom  occurred  in  consequence  of  a  light 
and  transient  rheumatism  of  the  joints,  a  failure  of  the 
valves  and  hypertrophy  of  the  heart.  After  I  had  used  a 
number  of  what  appeared  to  be  suitable  medicine  in  both 
high  and  low  dilutions  and  triturations,  I  was  under  the 
necessity  on  account  of  the  increasing  oedema  which  be- 
gan in  the  forehead  and  the  ascites  to  try  digitali.  I 
prescribed  Digitalin  3d  trit,  as  much  as  rested  on  the  point 
of  a  small  knife,  three  times  a  day.  The  heart  became 
quieter  and  the  oedema  disappeared  except  in  the  fore- 
head. But  as  usual  the  improvement  was  only  temporary. 
As  soon  as  the  medicine  was  discontinued  eight  or  ten 
days  the  swelling  again  increased.  Finally  it  entirely 
ceased  to  benefit  and  the  oedema  spread  over  the  entire 
surface  of  the  body,  but  particularly  in  the  scrotum  and* 
the  collection  of  water  in  the  abdominal  cavity  increased 
rapidly  and  consequently  the  dyspnoea  also.  Under  these 
desperate  circumstances  I  resolved  as  no  other  palliatives 
promised  benefit,  to  try  a  homoeopathic  remedy,  (better 
late  than  never)  but  it  is  strange  a  homoeopathic  physician 
had  not  thought  of  that  before.  On  comparing  the  case 
and  the  drugs  I  chose  Kali  carb.  It  had  the  heart  symp- 
toms, the  oppression  and  the  dropsy,  of  the  skin  and  ab- 
dominal cavity.  I  prescribed  at  first  the  6th,  but  changed 
to  the  30th  as  soon  as  its  beneficial  effects  ceased.    At  first 


IN  MEMORIAM—DR,  A,  O.  BLAIR.  78 

every  four  hours  a  dose,  afterwards  three  times  a  day,  then 
every  three  on  four  days.  After  using  it  about  eight  days, 
an  increased  flow  of  urine  was  observable,  which  kept 
increasing  so  that  at  first  the  oedema  of  the  scrotum  then 
that  of  the  other  parts  of  the  body  and  at  length  the 
ascites  gradually  decreased.  Now,  after  about  four  months 
use  of  the  remedy  continued  at  increasing  intervals,  all 
the  dropsical  symptoms  and  at  last  the  obstinate  oedema 
of  the  forehead  have  entirely  disappeared.  The  deathly 
paleness,  in  fact  transparency  of  the  boy,  has  given  place 
to  a  healthy  color  of  the  face.  His  almost  intolerable 
obstinancy  and  his  resort  of  appetite  have  gone,  he  has 
again  begun  to  grow  and  his  movements  are  more  ener- 
getic. The  urine  both  in  quantity  and  quality  is  normal. 
The  heart  trouble  is  of  course  unchanged,  yet  its  move- 
ments are  less  stormy  and  are  regular,  I  will  rejoice  if  my 
colleagues  will  try  this  remedy  in  a  similar  calamity  and 
have  as  favorable  result. 

[Any  of  those  who  doubt  that  drugs  above  the  tenth 
potency  have  any  curative  effect,  will  confer  a  favor  on 
me  if  they  will  state  their  reasons  in  the  Advance  why  in 
this  case  the  patient  got  well  without  the  agency  of  Kali 
carb.  30. — Translator.] 


-<#i 


IN  MEMOKIAN— DK.  A.  O.  BLAIR. 


BY   J.  C.  SANDEBS,    M.    D.,   PROFESSOR   OF    OBSTETRICS   CLEVELAND    HOMOEO- 
PATHIC COLLEGE. 


We  honor  the  dead  most,  not  by  monumuents  of 
granite  and  marble,  nor  by  busts  and  tablets  of  silver  and 
bronze,  but  by  the  memories  of  the  heart.  I  desire  to  link  to 
the  memory  of  the  great  Samuel  Hahnemann  the  memory  of 
the  good  Alonzo  P.  Blair,  whom  death  "has  laid  him  down 
in  his  last  sleep,"  at  the  mature  age  of  seventy-six  years. 
A  Massachusetts  man  by  birth,  an  Ohio  man  by  early 


88  IN  MEMORIAM—DR,  A,  O.  BLAIR. 

adoption,  he  embodied  all  the  sterling  qualities  of  Puri- 
tanic stock  and  the  stir  and  thrift  and  aspiration  of  the 
Empire  of  the  West.  He  was  a  man  about  the  average 
height,  but  large  bodied,  broad  shouldered,  large  chested, 
with  a  finely  proportioned  large  head,  broad  forehead, 
dark  hair,  somewhat  unusually  prominent  eyebrows,  and 
deep  gray  eyes.  His  manner  was  plain,  his  movements 
slow  and  measured,  though  this  was  largely  perforce  of  a 
chronic  infirmity  of  respiration,  having  been  asthmatic 
for  all  his  latter  life.  His  voice  was  low,  his  speech  delib- 
erate, his  conversation  modestly  unobtrusive.  His  learning 
was  by  no  means  broad  and  general,  but  within  its  range 
was  thorough  and  assured.  He  had  great  largeness  of 
heart  towards  the  young,  was  ever  ready  to  render  aid  by 
counsel  an  sympathy,  time  and  skill,  to  the  struggling  and 
needy,  to  the  humble  and  lowly,  in  health  and  in  sickness. 
He  was  full  of  affection  and  had  a  heart  of  tenderness. 
He  was  especially  fond  of  children,  he  exalted  home  and 
motherhood,  ever  crowning  them  with  his  smile  and  bless- 
ing. Of  his  own  home  relations  we  are  not  permitted  to 
speak ;  too  sacred  are  they  for  the  public  eye  and  ear,  they 
lie  treasured  unapproachable  within  the  hearts  of  his 
family  home.  But  of  all  his  other  relations  in  life,  more 
or  less  public  in  character  and  wherein  we  best  knew  him, 
it  is  our  right  and  privilege  to  speak.  A  whole  decade  he 
was  a  professor  in  the  Homoeopathic  college  of  Cleveland, 
and  it  was  in  the  rich  harvest  time  of  his  life,  occupying 
the  chairs  in  succession  of  Materia  Medica  and  of  Theory 
and  Practice,  and  the  latter  half  of  this  decade  the  presi- 
dental  chair. 

He  was  an  earnest  worshiper  at  the  shrine  of  Hahne- 
mann ;  an  uncomproming  expounder  of  the  great  truths 
that  Hahnemann  formulated  and  gave  to  the  world.  As  a 
a  teacher  he  was  plain  and  simple,  yet  profound  ;  as  pro- 
fessor he  taught  no  mongrel,  ambiguous  things,  but  the 
pure,  simple  truth  of  homoeopathy ;  and  fortunate  indeed 
were  they  who,  in  successive  classes,  were  his  pupils  and 


J.  a  SANDERS.  89 

listeners ;  and  it  is  fortunate,  too,  for  the  college  that  his 
successors  in  these  respective  chairs  were  each  his  cher- 
ished pupils  and  wear  spotless  the  ermine  of  his  mantle. 
As  one  of  only  four  yet  connected  with  the  college  who 
were  his  associate  teachers  I  can  speak  only  to  emphasize 
the  kind  and  fatherly  spirit  unexceptionably  manifested 
towards  his  fellow  professors  in  all  the  relations  in  which 
his  life  and  character,  socially  or  officially,  touched  the 
members  of  the  faculty.  As  president  his  administration 
was  characterized  by  careful  deliberation  and  wisdom, 
and  has  left  its  stamp  indelibly  upon  the  history  of  the 
college.  Besides  all  this  he  was  a  representative  practit- 
ioner of  medicine,  of  the  Hahnemann  baptism.  He  prac- 
ticed what  he  taught ;  he  was  loyal  to  his  teachings ;  he 
believed  in,  and  implicitly  trusted  the  homoeopathic  law 
of  cure.  He  was,  however,  profounder  as  a  symptomatol- 
ogist,  than  a  pathologist  though  by  no  means  lacking  in 
the  latter.  As  a  practitioner  he  was  eminently  successful, 
and  his  fame  in  this  is  second  to  no  man's.  His  judgments 
were  never  hasty,  but  rather  careful  deductions  from  well 
considered  premises.  The  key-note  symptom,  the  single 
remedy,  and  a  potency  of  high  range  were  his  ideals. 

This  deliberateness,  simplicity,  and  accuracy,  together 
with  his  personal  qualities,  made  him  dearly  beloved  and 
honored  by  all  who  employed  him.  At  the  bedside  of 
suflFering  he  was  gentle  and.  tender,  full  of  cheer  and  sym- 
pathy; in  the  household  of  sorrow  he  was  judiciously 
calm,  and  knew  when  silence  and  the  unbidden  tear  were 
more  potent  than  words  and  sounds  to  appease  a  wounded 
heart.  To  lose  a  worthy  and  honorable  family  physician 
is  a  loss  over  which  any  household  may  rightly  grieve  and 
mourn.  How  he  shares  their  confidence  and  trust  in  times 
of  hope,  and  in  times  of  anxiety  and  despair ;  how  his 
coming  is  watched  with  eagerness  and  his  going  with 
concern ;  how  his  ministry  of  skill  sends  thrills  of  delight 
throughout  the  home  and  his  disability  to  save,  turns  joy 

into  mourning ;  how  his  smile  renews  and  his  gathering 
4 


90  SIZE  OF  DRAIN  AND  SOIL  PIPES. 

brow  breaks  hope.  Yes,  in  the  family  and  household  he 
is  the  one  above  all  others,  "  whom  all  eyes  follow  with 
one  consent."  The  decease  of  Dr.  Blair  has  robbed  thou- 
sands of  households  of  their  beloved  family  physician. 
Fathers,  mothers,  children  will  ever  remember  him  grate- 
fully and  reverently,  for  his  name  is  embalmed  in  the 
litanv  of  their  loves  and  their  homes. 

As  professor  and  president,  as  physician  and  friend, 
we,  his  survivors  in  college  and  out,  deplore  his  death, 
though  recognizing  the  Biblical  truth,  that  there  is  a  time 
to  be  bom  so  there  is  a  time  to  die,  but  we  deplore  him, 
not  without  profound  gratitude,  that  his  Master's  call 
came  not  until  we  h^d  caught  something  of  his  generous 
and  pure  spirit,  something  of  the  rich  garnerings  of  mature 
and  chastened  experiences,  until  his  life  had  come  to  a 
ripe,  "  full  age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  his 
season." 


-•♦► 


SIZE  OF  DRAIN  AND  SOIL  PIPES. 


In  Great  Britain  6-inch  soil  pipes  were  formerly  com- 
mon to  receive  the  wastes  from  four  or  five  water-closets. 
At  present  5-inch  and  4^-inch  are  the  usual  sizes,  even  for 
a  single  water-closet.  Hellyer  claims  that  the  soil  pipes 
should  be  no  larger  than  the  outlet  of  the  water  closet, 
and  sarcastically  says,  it  is  not  wanted  for  a  coal  shute  or 
dust  shaft,  but  to  be  well  flushed  at  every  using.  For  pri- 
vate houses  where  care  would  be  shown  in  using  fixtures, 
he  thought  a  SJ-inch  lead  soil  pipe  ample  for  a  tier  of  three 
water-closets,  and  a  4^-inch  pipe  for  twelve  closets ;  the 
smaller  pipe  kept  cleaner  than  one  of  larger  size.  Whether 
Mr.  Hellyer  would  favor  an  iron  soil  pipe  of  like  size  is  not 
to  be  taken  for  granted,  as  he  always  assumes  that  lead  is 
smoother  and  can  be  kept  cleaner  than  cast  iron.  Hellyer 
refers  to  the  architects  and  others  who  want  good  strong 


SIZE  OF  DRAIN  AND  SOIL  PIPES.  91 

plumbing — using  the  best  material  but  requiring  very 
large  soil  pipes  and  drains.  These  are  as  common  here  as 
in  Great  Britain,  and  we  have  frequently  come  upon  their 
work — 10-inch  wrought  iron  drains,  with  hubs  as  large  as 
a  barrel. 

Colonel  Waring's  vigorous  advocacy  of  small  drains 
has  converted  most  persons  to  admit  their  advantage.  His 
experiments  at  Saratoga  showed  that  the  drainage  of  a 
large  hotel,  containing  2,000  occupants,  could  be  carried  off 
in  a  6-inch  pipe.  For  an  ordinary  city  dwelling  a  4-inch 
drain  is  ample,  even  including  the  rainfall,  while  for  a 
large  house  or  a  French  flat  a  6-inch  pipe  will  suffice.  The 
common  objection  to  small  drains  is  that  they  may  get 
choked  with  articles  thrown  into  them  by  careless  servants 
— as  scrubbing  brushes,  towels,  broken  glasses,  crockeiy, 
spoons,  forks,  etc.,  all  of  which  have  been  found  in  them . 
but  a  4-inch  drain  will  carry  off  any  article  which  can  pass 
through  a  water-closet  or  sink-trap,  and  hence  it  is  quite 
large  enough  to  meet  that  objection,  so  long  as  it  is  laid 
with  a  proper  pitch,  no  angles,  and  is  well  finished.  The 
growing  use  of  modern  water-closets  which  discharge  sev- 
eral gallons  of  water  each  time  they  are  used,  is  an  addi- 
tional aid  to  keeping  house-drains  clean  and  clear  from 
obstructions.  Small  drains  are  more  likely  to  be  self- 
cleaning  than  large  ones.  A  stream  of  sewage  that  fills 
the  former  completely  will  only  cover  the  bottom  of  the 
latter,  and,  having  less  velocity,  will  exert  less  force  upon 
the  sediments  and  coatings  of  filth  which  forms  within  all 
waste-pipes.  Grease  always  fills  up  a  large  pipe  sooner 
than  a  small  one.  We  have  a  5-inch  drain  taken  from  a 
very  large  house  in  Brooklyn,  in  which  the  water  line 
shows  plainly  exactly  along  the  centre  of  the  pipe.  A 
pipe  two-thirds  as  large  would  have  served  just  as  well. 
Colonel  Waring  now  advocates  reducing  soil  pipes  to  3- 

» 

inches,  but  this  change  is  yet  to  be  demonstrated  by  expe- 
rience. 


92  ON  A  TTEN  UA  TION. 


ON  ATTENUATION. 


BY  DANIEL  W.  CLAUSEN,  M.  D,  M.  I.,  H.  A  ,  AUBURN,  N.  Y. 


The  power  of  attenuation  is  as  marvelous  as  its  phil- 
osophy is  inexplicable ;  its  truth  is  as  evident  and  grand 
to  the  faithful  and  observing  prescriber  as  it  is  obscure 
and  foolish  to  the  careless  and  unobserving  materialist. 
While,  in  point  of  doctrine,  it  is  distinct  from  the  law  of 
similars,  it  is  a  glorious  luminary  by  which  the  truth  of 
that  law  is  more  clearly  revealed. 

A  drug  exhibited  in  an  unattenuated  form,  is  like  the 
light  of  a  lamp  surrounded  by  a  dense  fog :  the  light  is 
there ;  but,  its  glorious  spread  and  illumination  are  pre- 
vented and  veiled  by  the  material  mist,  unlike  the  light 
in  atmosphere  clear  and  transparent,  where  it  can  spread 
it  luminous  rays  and  penetrate  into  every  dark  and  obscure 
corner,  as  the  attenuated  drug  penetrates  into  every 
obscure  corner  of  the  living  organism. 

Dr.  Samuel  Swan,  of  New  York,  has,  in  a  recent  letter 
to  me,  drawn  a  beautiful  comparison  between  attenuations 
and  the  imaginary  circles  around  a  cone.  The  apex  or 
point  of  the  cone  represents  the  mother  tincture ;  and  as 
we  progress  toward  the  base,  we  may  imagine  so  many 
circles  (circular  bands)  of  gradually  increasing  diameters, 
corresponding  to  the  gradually  increasing  potencies  in  the 
scale  of  dilution.  He  thus  argues,  that  as  the  imaginary 
circles  nearer  the  base  of  the  cone  cover  a  large  area  of 
surface,  so  the  higher  potencies  (which  these  represent) 
cover  a  large  field  of  action  in  the  living  organism. 

I  have  only  one  suggestion  to  offer  Dr.  Swan,  in  re- 
gard to  this  beautiful  elucidation,  and  that  is, — that  he 
must  also  imagine  the  cone  to  have  no  base  ;  because,  a 
base  would  represent  a  limit  to  the  process  of  dilution ; 
and,  certainly,  there  is  no  limit ;  for  even  the  D.  M.  M.  is 
by  no  means  the  height  to  which  attenuation  might  be 
carried.     The  possibility  of  attenuation  being  without 


ANTISEPTIC  MEDIC  A  TION.  93 

limitation  is  also  beautifully  illustrated  by  the  gradually 
and  continuously  increasing  divergence  of  the  conical 
figure.  Convergence  comes  to  a  terminating  point,  diverg- 
ence opens  into  wide  expanse  and  boundless  space,  and 
spreads  and  spreads  to  iniinity.  And  who  is  he  that 
would  pretend  to  measure  that  immeasurable  space  in 
which  all  visible  orbs  and  starry  worlds  form  but  a  dot  ? 

Note.— No  figure  of  course  goes  on  all  fours.  Both  Y>x, 
Clausen's  figure  of  light  and  Dr.  Swan's  cone  have  a  danger- 
ously small  origin.  We  would  be  loth  to  accept  either  of  thena 
as  satisfactory  in  their  analogy.  They  are  suggestive,  but  far 
from  conclusive.  We  give  them  for  what  ever  they  may  be 
thought  worth.  It  would  be  easy  to  criticise  Dr.  Clausen's  state- 
ments on  several  points.    That  we  leave  to  the  reader.— [Ed.] 


■^•^- 


ANTISEPTIC  MEDICATION. 


BY  A.  MC  NEIL,  M.  D.,  JBFFEBSONVIIiLB,  IND. 


On  page  485  of  the  last  volume  of  the  Advance  is  an 
article  with  the  above  caption  by  Dr.  L.  Younghusband  ot 
Detroit.  It  is  well  for  the  partizans  of  the  germ  theory  to 
talk  about* truth,  observation,  etc.,  etc.  The  writer  of  the 
above  article  mentions  a  large  part  of  all  the  diseases 
which  afflict  mankind  and  says  ^'they  are  undoubtedly 
caused  by  contagion  "  and  that  it  is  conveyed  by  germs, 
which  are  micro  organisms  or  bacteria.  The  advocates 
of  this  theory  have  taken  for  instance  some  of  the 
pseudo-membrane  from  the  throat  of  a  diphtheritic 
patient,  and  an  examination  with  the  microscope  have 
found  that  there  are  innumerable  numbers  of  bacteria, 
therein;  they  then  put  some  of  these  bacteria  along  with 
the  exudation  into  a  wound  of  a  dog  or  other  animal, 
and  in  a  short  time  diphtheritic  membranes  and  other 
symptoms  of  the  disease  arise.  Then  they  shout  Eureka  I 
Bacteria  are  the  cause  of  diphtheria.      Now  that  looks 


94  ANTISEPTIC  MEDIC  A  TION. 

very  plausible  at  first  sight.  But  let  us  investigate 
more  carefully.  Was  there  anything  conveyed  be- 
sides bacteria,  and  what  was  it?  Why  the  contagious 
products  of  the  disease.  Now  let  us  separate  the  bacteria 
from  the  putrid  membranes  and  place  the  bacteria  in  the 
wound  of  one  dog  and  the  membranes  in  that  of  another 
one,  and  see  what  is  the  result.  Now  I  appeal  to  every  fair 
minded  observer  if  that  is  not  the  fair  and  only  fair  way 
of  seeing  what  causes  the  disease.  Traube  and  Gscheilel 
found  the  warm  blooded  animals  bear  the  injection  of 
considerable  numbers  of  bacteria  without  any  serious  in- 
jury. Arterial  blood  from  a  pup,  taken  carefully  so  as  to 
exclude  the  entrance  of  bacteria  from  the  atmosphere, 
into  whose  veins  twenty-four  or  forty  eight  hours  pre- 
viously, one  and  a  half  centigrammes  of  fluid  containing 
bacteria  had  been  injected,  did  not  putrify  for  months. 
Schles  fttr  vaterlandisches  Kultur  1870. 

Kusner  employed,  in  order  to  obtain  a  filtrate  free 
from  bacteria,  a  glass  funnel  in  which  there  were  two  lay- 
ers of  filtering  paper,  the  neck  of  the  funnel  was  densly 
packed  with  boiled  cotton ;  through  this  he  passed  ichor 
of  different  kinds  (Pyaemic  pus.  Puerperal  and  Peritoneal 
secretions),  containing  bacteria  in  considerable  numbers. 
Microscopic  examination  as  well  as  cultivation,  showed 
that  there  was  in  the  filtered  fluid  no  trace  of  bacteria, 
notwithstanding,  the  injection  of  this  liquid  free  from  bac- 
teria, always  had  the  same  effect  as  th'^t  containing  the 
parasites,  viz.,  death  in  a  short  time.  Dissection  revealed 
the  same  condition  in  both  cases,  viz.,  ichorous  infiltration 
of  the  cellular  tissues.  In  the  blood  and  large  abdominal 
glands  there  was  no  bacteria  in  either  case.  Med,  Cent^ 
Blatt,  Band  F/,  Seit  32, 

No  comment  is  necessary. 

Hiller  separated  the  bacteria  by  different  methods 
from  the  fluids  containing  them,  and  found  that  in  every 
case  the  injection  of  the  parasites  alone  was  innoxious. 
The  next  day  after  the  operation,  fungi  were  found  in  the 


A.  MC  NEIL.  95 

blood,  but  never  afterwards.  Skin  wounds  of  dogs,  wet 
with  liquid  containing  the  micrococci  and  covered  with 
gutta-percha  paper  healed  'without  secreting  pus.  Sub- 
cutaneous injections  of  the  liquid  did  not  cause  the  puru- 
lent process.  He  even  made  in  himself  subcutaneous  in- 
jections of  liquid  containing  bacteria,  to  the  amount  of  a 
grain,  without  any  local  or  constitutional  injury.  Healthy 
wounds  secreting  laudable  pus  covered  with  isolated 
mosses  of  bacteria  continued  to  heal  as  before.  But  the 
filtered  fluid  free  from  bacteria,  or  the  unfiltered  putred 
liquids,  when  so  applied,  soon  produced  the  well-known 
local  and  general  affects  of  septicaemia,  when  applied  to 
recent  wounds,  but  on  old  granulating  ones  no  harm  was 
done.  Hil.ler  asserts  emphatically,  also,  that  these  washed 
bacteria  multiplied  in  cultivation.  Allg.  Med,  Central 
Zeitung^  No.  1,  1874,  and  Chirurgical  Central  Blatt^ 
Band  I,  Seit  33. 

This  covers  the  whole  ground  and  until  they  are  over- 
thrown by  repeated  and  authenticated  experiments,  all  ar- 
guments in  favor  of  the  germ  theory  are,  vaxprceterea  nihil. 

Billroth,  the  greatest  living  surgeon,  experimented  at 
great  length  on  this  subject  in  many  diseases,  and  the  re- 
sult may  be  summed  up.  He  found  that,  they  (bacteria), 
exist  in  the  pus  of  wounds  only  when  it  has  reached  a 
condition  of  decomposition.  Contain  inflammations  (ery- 
sipelas, phlegmos,  or  diphtheria),  must  occur  in  order 
that  the  parasites  may  multiply  luxuriantly,(Untersuchung 
fiber  die  Vegetations  forman  der  Cocco-bacteria.) 

The  whole  argument  of  these  champions  may  be  com- 
pared to  that  of  a  man  seeing  a  mass  of  putrifying  flesh  in 
summer,  which  is  alive  with  maggots,  and  jumps  at  the 
conclusion  that  they  are  the  cause,  when  the  truth  is  they 
could  not  exist  till  putrification  began,  and  they  are  a  wise 
provision  of  nature  to  lessen  it  by  eating  up  the  putrify- 
ing matter. 

But,  let  us  acknowledge  in  order  to  carry  the  argu- 
ment further,  that  bacteria  are  the  cause  of  various  diseases. 


96  GOOD  B  YE  BA CTERIA. 

and  that  if  the  bacteria  be  destroyed  that  the  disease  will 
end.  Turn  to  the  398th  page  of  the  present  volume  of  the 
Advance  and  see  the  carefully  conducted  experiments 
therein  detailed,  made  by  Lewis  Sherman,  M.  D.  I  have 
not  time  to  enumerate  those  experiments,  but  I  ask  all  the 
readers  of  the  Advance  to  turn  back  to  the  January  No. 
and  read  the  article  carefully.  I  will  only  mention  a  fair 
specimen.  He  says :  "  One  part,  in  twenty  or  a  saturated 
solution  of  Carbolic  acid,  did  not  at  first  appear  to  kill  any 
of  the  infusion.  On  the  fourth  day  they  were  still  present 
in  great  numbers  and  retained  some  activity.  They  would 
turn  round  and  round,  move  against  the  current  of  the 
fluid  and  occasionally  run  against  a  globule  of  undissolved 
Carbolic  acid,  without  receiving  any  apparent  injury."  In 
order  to  make  the  fluids  of  the  body  equal  to  this  solution 
in  which  some  of  the  bacteria  lived  thirteen  days,  would 
require  a  dose  of  five  pounds  of  Carbolic  or  Phenic  acid 
which  is  suflBcient  to  kill  1,250  men.  Was  there  ever  such 
absurdity  ? 

The  true  and  only  reason  why  some  men  professing  to 
be  homoeopaths  buy  a  syringe  and  a  set  of  Declat's  prepar- 
ations, is  that  it  is  so  much  easier  than  it  is  to  learn  the 
Materia  Medica  and  carefully  obtain  the  totality  of  the 
symptoms  and  give  the  indicated  remedy.  But  there  is 
no  other  way  to  cure  the  sick,  cito  tuto  et  jucundo. 


•^•1 


GOOD  BYE  BACTERIA. 


Editors  Medical  Advance  : 

I  write  this  time  simply  to  extend  my  compliments 
and  sympathies  to  the  Bacterists  of  the  world ;  and  to  in- 
form them  that  their  bantling,  the  bacteria,  or  germ  the- 
ory of  disease,  has  fallen  mortally  wounded. 

I  now  have  the  microscopic  proof  of  everything  that 
1  ever  claimed  for  the  organizing  and  disorganizing  forms 


B.  B.  OREOO.  97 

of  fibrin,  and  of  far  more  than  I  ever  claimed.  The  proof 
of  the  aJtalloioness  of  the  claims  of  the  bacterists  to  any 
science  in  their  theory,  will  make  the  matter  almost  too 
ludicrous  to  demand  further  serious  consideration;  but 
error  dies  hard,  and  the  more  absurd  it  is  the  harder  it 
dies,  when  it  once  gets  possession  of  the  human  mind ;  so 
the  battle  must  no  doubt  be  fought  out  to  the  end. 

In  view  of  professional  duties,  it  will  probable  require 
two  or  three  months  for  me  to  get  the  time  to  prepare  a 
paper  explaining  all ;  but  I  hope  to  have  it  ready  in  that 
time.  From  specimens  I  already  have  I  could  give  micro- 
photographs  far  surpassing  in  both  beauty  and  numbers 
any  and  all  that  the  bacterists  have  ever  produced. 

And  hear  I  wish  an  earnest  word  with  earnest,  think' 
ing  men  in  our  ranks.  I  am  fighting  a  great  battle  on  this 
subject  for  our  school,  and  for  a  scienti/lc  pathology ;  and 
such  men  as  indicated  have  no  right  to  any  longer  leave 
me  to  fight  this  battle  alone.  I  am  willing  to  work  to  the 
utmost  of  my  endurance,  until  the  field  is  won ;  but  I  can- 
not well  afibrd  to  pay  all  the  expenses  besides,  of  the  large 
number  of  micro-photographs,  etc.,  that  may  be  required 
to  illustrate  all  phases  of  the  subject. 

And  this  leads  me  to  further  say,  that  if  any  of  our 
journals  want  illustrations,  and  will  pay  the  first  cost  of 
producing  them,  I  will  endeavor  to  furnish  them  in  any 
number  they  may  want,  with  explanations  that  will  make 
the  matter  clear  and  satisfactory,  I  think,  to  all.  The  va- 
riety and  beauty  of  illustrations  that  can  be  given  of  or- 
ganizing and  organized,  and  also  of  disorganizing  and  dis- 
organized fibrin,  down  to  its  ultimate  or  primary  granules, 
are  almost  without  limit. 

In  conclusion,  1  believe  I  have  not  as  yet  shown  my- 
self possessed  of  any  selfishness  in  the  development  of 
this  subject,  any  more  than  may  be  inseparable  from  sus- 
taining one's  views  with  what  vigor  he  may,  after  an  ex- 
haustive and  exhausting  investigation  of  the  subject.  My 
sole  desire  has  been  to  see  the  truth  prevail,  and  to  do  all 


98  MEDICAL  MA  TTERS  IN  MICHIGAN, 

in  my  power  to  forward  that  desirable    consummation. 

When  the  climax  comes  I  think  it  will  be  seen  that  I  have 

worked  to  a  purpose. 

Yours  truly, 

R.  R  GREGG,  M.  D. 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  August  1, 1883. 


■^♦•" 


MEDICAL  MATTERS  IN  MICHIGAN. 


LAWS  ENACTED  BY  THE  LAST  LEGISLATURE. 


AN  ACT  TO  PROMOTE  THE  PUBLIC  HEALTH. 

Section  1.  The  People  of  the  State  of  Michigan 
enacts  That  from  and  after  this  act  shall  take  effect,  it 
shall  not  be  lawful  for  any  person  to  practice  medicine  or 
surgery,  or  any  branch  thereof  (except  dentistry),  in  this 
State,  without  having  the  qualifications  required  in  the 
provisions  of  this  act,  and  without  having  first  registered 
in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk  as  provided  in  this  act. 

Sec.  2.  The  necessary  qualifications  to  practice  medi- 
cine in  this  State  shall  be : 

Firsts  That  every  person  who  shall  have  actually 
practiced  medicine  continuously  for  at  least  five  years  in 
this  State,  and  who  is  practicing  when  this  act  thall  take 
effect,  shall  be  deemed  qualified  to  practice  medicine  in 
this  State,  after  having  registered  in  the  oflBce  of  the 
county  clerk  as  provided  by  this  act ; 

Second^  Every  graduate  of  any  legally  authorized 
medical  college  in  this  State,  or  in  any  one  of  the  United 
States,  or  in  any  other  country,  shall  be  deemed  qualified 
to  practice  medicine  and  surgery  in  all  its  departments, 
after  having  registered  as  provided  in  this  act :  Provided^ 
That  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  not  be  construed  so 
as  to  prohibit  any  student  or  under-graduate  from  prac- 
ticing under  the  instruction  of  any  person  legally  qualified 
to  practice  medicine  and  surgerj'  under  and  by  the  pro- 


AN  ACT  TO  PROMOTE  THE  PUBLIC  HEALTH.    99 

visions  of  this  act :  Provided^  That  every  person  quali- 
fied to  practice  medicine  and  surgery  under  the  provisions 
of  this  act,  shall,  within  three  months  after  this  act  shall 
take  effect,  file  with  the  county  clerk  of  the  county  where- 
in he  has  been  engaged  in  practice,  or  in  which  he  intends 
to  practice,  a  statement  sworn  to  before  any  officer  au- 
thorized to  administer  oaths  in  said  county,  setting  forth, 
first,  if  he  is  actually  engaged  in  practice  in  said  county, 
the  length  of  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  such  continu- 
ous practice,  and  if  a  graduate  of  any  medical  college,  the 
name  of  the  same  and  where  located,  when  he  graduated, 
and  the  length  of  time  he  attended  the  same,  also  the 
school  of  medicine  to  which  he  belongs.  And  if  he  is  a 
student  or  under-graduate,  the  length  of  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  study  of  medicine,  and  where,  and  if  he 
has  attended  a  medical  college  the  name  of  the  same,  and 
where  located,  and  the  length  of  time  so  attended  and 
when,  also  the  name  and  residence  of  the  physician  under 
whose  instruction  he  is  practicing  or  intends  to  practice. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  county  clerk  of  each  county  in 
this  State  to  record  in  a  book  to  be  provided  by  the  county, 
the  affidavit  (or  sworn  statement)  of  every  physician  prac- 
ticing in  said  county.  For  recording  each  statement  the 
county  clerk  clerk  shall  receive  fifty  cents,  to  be  paid  by 
the  person  filing  the  same. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  supervisor,  at  the 
time  of  making  the  annual  assessment  in  each  year,  to 
make  out  a  list  of  all  the  physicians  and  each  student  prac- 
ticing under  the  instruction  of  a  preceptor  residing  within 
his  township,  village,  ward,  or  city,  with  the  name,  age, 
sex,  and  color  of  each  and  the  length  of  time  each  has 
been  engaged  in  practice,  and  if  a  graduate  of  a  regularly 
established  and  reputable  college,  the  name  of  the  college, 
and  the  date  of  graduation.  Such  list  shall  be  returned 
by  the  supervisor  to  the  township,  village,  or  city  clerk, 
and  by  tbe  clerk  recorded  in  the  book  in  which  are  kept 
the  records  of  the  local  board  of  health. 


100  AN  ACT. 

Sec.  4.  No  person  who  practices  medicine,  surgery, 
or  midwifery,  in  any  of  their  branches  (except  dentistry), 
shall  be  able  in  any  of  the  courts  of  this  State,  to  collect 
I)ay  for  professional  services  rendered  subsequent  to  the 
time  that  this  act  shall  take  effect,  unless  he  was,  at  the 
time  such  professional  services  were  rendered,  dul}'-  quali- 
fied and  registered  as  a  medical  practitioner  according  to 
the  several  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  5.  The  supervisor,  township,  villiage  or  city 
clerk  is  hereby  authorized  to  administer  the  oaths  required 
by  tliis  act. 

Sec.  6.  Whoever  advertises  or  holds  himself  out  to 
the  public  as  authorized  to  practice  medicine  or  surgery 
in  this  State,  when  in  fact  he  is  not  so  authorized  under 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  mis- 
demeanor, and  on  conviction  thereof,  shall  be  liable  to  a 
fine  of  not  less  than  five  dollars  nor  more  than  fifty  dollars 
for  each  off'ense. 

Sec  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  supervisor  and 
health  officer  of  the  local  board  of  health  in  each  town- 
ship, village,  ward,  or  city,  to  enforce  this  act. 

Approved  June  6, 1883. 


•^♦1 


AN  ACT 


TO   AUTHORIZE  THE  BOARD  OF  CONTROL  OF  THE  INSANE   ASYLUM 

AT  TRAVERSE  CITY  TO  PLACE  THE  SAME  UNDER  CHARGE 

OF  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  SCHOOL  OF  MEDICINE. 


Section  1.  The  People  of  the  State  of  Michigan 
enacts  That  the  board  of  control  of  the  northern  asylum 
for  the  insane  is  hereby  authorized  to  place  the  medical 
administration  of  the  same  under  the  supervision  and  con- 
trol of  a  reputable  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  homoeo- 
pathic school  of  medicine. 

Approved  June  8, 1883. 


IS  THE  LA  W  DEFECTIVE  f  101 


IS  THE  LAW  DEFECTIVE  ? 


Mr,  Editor: 

While  we  hail  any  advance  in  the  line  of  "  promoting 
the  public  health,"  we  think  the  law  as  it  now  stands, 
contains  many  serious  defects  which  we  hope  the  next 
legislature  will  not  fail  to  remedy.  We  believe  a  law  has 
been  as  loudly  called  for  by  the  people  as  by  the  doctors, 
hence  we  consider  it  proper  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
readers  of  your  journal  to  the  defects  in  the  one  passed  by  ' 
the  legislature.  While  a  large  number  of  the  states  around 
us  have  passed  stringent  regulations  concerning  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  Michigan  has  been  "  free  for  all  "  and 
as  a  consequence  has  within  her  borders  many  of  those 
who  could  not  pass  muster  in  our  sister  states,  together 
with  the  indigenous  "  species." 

The  provision  that  "  evejy  person  who  has  practiced 
continuously  for  at  least  five  years,"  etc., "  shall  be  deemed 
qualified,"  is  an  absurdity.  The  school  teacher  who  wishes 
a  position  has  to  pass  a  rigid  examination  before  he  can 
secure  an  appointment.  To  enter  the  legal  profession  the 
candidate  must  be  examined  before  he  can  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  bar.  Any  man  or  woman,  however,  no  matter 
whether  he  can  read  or  write,  if  he  has  "  continuously 
practiced  five  years  "  is  the  peer  before  the  law  of  the 
educated  practitioner.  It  has  been  urged  that  the  people 
are  competent  to  judge.  A  little  observation  will  satisfy 
you  that  such  is  not  the  case.  The  man  who  is  not  allowed 
to  practice  in  our  courts  or  direct  the  studies  of  children  is 
allowed  and  often  does  take  into  his  hands  the  lives  of  the 
little  ones,  and  after  they  are  placed  in  the  grave  the 
poor  mother  is  consoled  by  the  statement  that  it  was  God's 
will.    It  was  murder. 

We  need  not  go  far  to  find  evidence  of  the  truth  of 
our  statement.  A  man  who  calls  himself  "  doctor  " — God 
save  the  mark — stated  to  a  gentleman  of  our  town  within 
the  past  ten  days  that  he  had  a  specific  for  diphtheria ; 


102  IS  THE  LA  W  DEFECTIVE  f 

when  asked  concerning  it,  he  informed  the  gentleman  that 
it  was  toad  oil.  The  recipe  was  as  follows :  "  Four  large 
toads  to  be  killed,  and  then  placed  in  a  bottle  in  the  sun ; 
the  oil  which  exuded  to  be  applied  to  the  throat."  He 
warranted  it  to  cure  in  four  days.  The  statement  may  ex- 
cite your  disgust  or  ridicule,  but  remember  if  he  has  "prac- 
ticed five  years  continuously  "  he  is  '^  qualified  to  practice 
medicine  in  this  state."  This  practitioner  is  undoubtedly 
an  alumnus  of  the  college  that  graduated  a  man  practic- 
'ing  in  Jackson  county,  who  being  called  to  a  case  of  en- 
largement of  the  heart,  gravely  informed  the  patient  that 
her  "  heart  strings  1 "  had  become  stretched  which  allowed 
the  organ  greater  sway  than  it  normally  had.  He  would, 
however,  give  her  an  astringent  to  draw  them  in  position. 
Another  practitioner  of  this  county  has  informed  a  patient 
that  she  has  lizards  in  her  stomach.  He  is  certain  they 
are  there  for  he  "  can  hear  them  splash  1 "  It  is  useless 
to  say,  these  men  are  not  patronized  ;  they  are,  and  gain  a 
comfortable  living  by  their  practice.  We  are  creditably 
informed  that  a  well-known  man  in  this  county,  has  al- 
ready secured  a  license  to  practice  "  having  actively  prac- 
ticed five  years"  and  who  registered  as  belonging  to  the 
electic  school.  Webster  does  not  give  the  word,  hence  we 
conclude  it  is  original  with  the  Dr.  (?)  who  has  probably 
started  a  new  school.  Possibly  he  was  driving  at  eclectic. 
We  have  noticed  these  men  never  "  do  surgery."  No. 
They  may  listen  for  the  heart  on  the  right  side  of  the 
chest ;  speak  of  the  liver  as  on  the  left  side  of  the  body, 
but  they  not  knowing  whether  the  femurs  are  "in  the 
limbs,  loins,  or  larynx,"  feet  a  little  "shaky  "  about  cut- 
ting. 

If  "  five  years  continuous  practice  "  qualifies  one,  why 
has  our  state  imposed  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars  in  taxes 
to  support  the  teaching  of  medicine  at  our  university. 
After  passing  an  examination  in  the  English  branches,  to 
enter  the  university  the  student  is  required  to  attend  lec- 
tures and  demonstrations  three   years,  to  spend  months 


I&  THE  LA  W  DEFECTIVE  f  103 

in  the  dissecting  rooms  familiarizing  himself  with  the 
structure  of  the  human  body;  months  in  the  chemical  and 
microscopical  laboratories.  At  the  close  of  this  course  he 
has  to  pass  examinations  not  only  before  the  faculty,  but 
finally  before  a  Board  of  Censors  who  have  had  no  part  in 
the  teaching  and  who  are  appointed  by  the  regents.  The 
query  will  arise  to  the  young  man  about  to  enter  the  uni- 
versity— "  What  will  it  profit  me  in  the  race  ?  The  toad- 
oil  man  has  as  many  privileges  as  1 1 "  The  public  exercise 
too  little  care.  They  are  running  after  the  worm  lozenger 
vender,  cancer  curers,  magnetizers,  natural  bone-setters, 
and  consult  a  medical  man  to  evade  the  stigma  of  a  coro- 
ner's inquest.  In  these  times  merit  is  voted  a  slow  coach 
and  modesty  a  humbug. 

A  recent  writer  pointedly  remarks :  "  Mythologists 
tell  us  that  Minerva  threw  afeide  the  flute  when  she  found 
it  puiFed  Iter  cheeks.  If  in  this  age  men  cast  away  the 
flute,  it  is  to  use  a  more  potent  instrument  of  puffing :  the 
llowing  of  their  own  horn."  The  applicability  of  the 
above  to  this  class  is  patent  to  every  one.  How  applicable 
to  these  aspirants  are  the  lines  of  Lessing : 

Tompkins  forsakes  his  last  and  awl 

For  literary  squabbles — 
Turns  doctor  next,  but  his  trade 

Remains  the  same,  he  cobbles. 

Second^  "  Every  graduate  of  any  legally  authorized 
medical  college  in  this  state  or  in  any  one  of  the  United 
States  shall  be  deemed  qualified  to  practice,"  etc.  Notice, 
no  distinction  is  made  in  regard  to  colleges.  It  is  notor- 
ious that  a  large  number  of  colleges  that  are  "  legally  au- 
thorized "  are  frauds.  Yet  the  alumnus  of  such  an  insti- 
tution is  the  peer  before  the  law  of  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
or  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  N.  Y.,  or 
even  our  owq  University,  or  others  where  the  curriculum 
8  extensive  and  examinatious  rigid. 


104  CORRESPONDENCE. 

"  Buchanan  men  "  can  find  here  a  congenial  home  and 
nothing  to  hinder  their  "  flourishing  like  a  green  bay 
tree."  Graduates  in  Canada  cannot  settle  among  us  al- 
though it  is  well  known  that  a  higher  standard  is  required 
than  in  any  of  the  states.  If  the  great  Brown  Sequard  or 
any  other  European  surgeon  or  physician,  should  attempt 
to  practice  in  Michigan,  he  could  be  fined  fifty  dollars  for 
his  audacity,  while  the  "toad-oil  doctor,"  with  the  "electic" 
for  associate,  can  hammer  into  sick  humanity  the  laws  of 
health  and  the  cure  of  disease  at  two  dollars  a  visit,"med- 
icine  extra."  For  fear  that  everv  one  should  not  be  accom- 
odated,  it  is  "  provided  that  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall 
not  be  construed  so  as  to  prohibit  any  student  or  under- 
graduate  from  practicing  with  and  under  the  instruction 
of  any  person  legally  qualified  "  etc.  Mr.  Editor,  who 
cannot  practice  ?  I  am  glad  tp  be  informed  that  measures 
are  already  being  taken  by  physicians  throughout  the 
state,  to  have  parties  prosecuted  who  secure  licenses  with- 
out having  any  true  claim  to  them. 

Now  that  the  ball  has  opened,  and  the  doctors  seem 
determined  to  push  the  matter,  we  say  God  speed  and  may 
their  eflbrts  not  cease  till  pretenders  in  this  profession  are 
unmasked.  x.  y.  z. 

St.  Louis,  Mich. 

^•w 

CORRESPONDENCE. 


BY  G.  N.  BBIQHAM,  M.  D.,  GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICH. 


Editor  Advance: 

The  investigations  as  to  honest  work  in  our  pharma- 
cies, and  by  men  who  prepare  the  medicines  we  use,  begun 
by  members  of  the  American  Institute  seems  to  me  very 
timely.  If  we  are  being  imposed  upon  by  any  party 
whomsoever,  let  him  be  exposed  and  branded.  The 
question  of  potency  or  dilution  is  of  much  more  import- 


O.  N.  BRIOHAM.  105 

ance  than  many  believe.  I  have  succeeded  with  an  ad- 
vanced dilution  when  a  cruder  article  failed  me.  Others 
have  had  similar  experience.  But,  if  we  cannot  know 
whether  we  are  using  the  third  dilution  or  the  tenth,  what 
then  ?    Indeed,  we  are  quite  at  sea. 

No  remedy  which  I  have  ever  used  has  given  me  more 
satisfaction  than  Sulphur.  And  a  potency  I  obtained  from 
the  elder  Guernsey,  called  the  100m.  worked  cures  in  cer- 
tain chronic  cases  which  utterly  astonished  me.  But,  if 
the  label  had  no  significance,  I  know  nothing  of  the  dilu- 
tion. I  suppose  it  came  from  Fincke.  Possibly  the  way 
Dr.  Fincke  prepared  his  potencies  may  introduce  an  unre- 
liable factor  so  that  the  strength  is  not  uniform  in  an  ounce 
of  the  same  dilution.  We  want  honest  work  and  reliable 
remedies,  and  this  move  proves  not  to  have  been  made  any 
too  soon.  1  have  often  reported  cases  from  high  dilutions, 
and  they  were  honest  reports.  But,  if  my  remedy  was 
not  as  I  supposed,  I  know  not  what  was  the  dilution.  Let 
the  matter  be  thoroughly  examined. 

And  yet  I  believe  we  must  have  high  dilutions  if  we 
are  to  succeed  in  many  cases  in  our  most  obstinate  forms 
of  diseases.  I  have  not  reached  this  conclusion  upon 
speculative  grounds  or  any  predilections  that  way.  For 
years  I  opposed  the  use  of  all  advanced  potencies.  Ex- 
perience alone  set  me  right  on  the  question.  To  what  ex- 
tent I  have  been  imposed  upon,  I  do  not  pretend  to  say, 
but  I  do  know  there  is  a  difference  indifferent  dilutions 
of  the  same  remedy..  What  failed  in  the  lower  dilu- 
tions has  been  entirely  successful  in  the  higher.  I  could 
not  have  been  always  cheated  if  I  have  been  at  other 
times. 

[That  is  all  right  Brother  Brigham,  but  what  we  want  just 
now  is  ten  dollars  from  every  man  who  like  you  is  in  sympathy 
with  the  American  Institute  work.  Send  it  to  the  editor  of  this 
journal  who  is  authorized  to  colleot  and  it  will  be  duly  reported, 
and  the  money  employed  in  the  purification  of  our  pharmaceu- 
tical work.] 
S 


106  FEVILLETON. 


FEUILLETON. 


The  following  is  the  proportion  of  doctors  to  the  population 
in  the  countries  named,  as  given  by  the  Siglo -Medico  : 


France 2  91  per  10,0000 

Germany 8.21    •*  *' 

Austria 3.41    "  *« 

England 6 


Hungary 6.10  per  10,000 

Italy 6.10    •• 

Switzerland 7.06    "         " 

United  Stales 16.24    " 


It  has  been  discovered  that  the  best  disinfectant  for  sewer 
gases  is  the  washings  from  gas  works.  This  serves  a  double  pur 
pose,  that  of  annulling  the  poisonous  effect  of  the  sewer  gas,  and 
at  the  same  time  enabling  persons  having  defective  traps  to  de- 
tect it  by  the  strong,  pungent  odor  arising  therefrom,  while 
sewer  gas  alone,  almost  odorless,  permeates  the  building,  carry- 
ing sickness  and  death  with  it.  The  washings  from  water  gas 
works,  at  least,  will  not  clog  or  obstruct  even  the  smallest  of 
sewers,  while  their  presence,  as  above  stated,  might  save  valua- 
ble life. —  Water  Oas  Journal, 

Hglferich  reports  a  case  in  which,  as  a  result  of  the  re- 
moval of  fibrosarcoma  from  the  arm  of  a  woman  aged  36,  the 
whole  upper  half  of  the  biceps,  with  the  exception  of  a  thin 
strand  at  its  outer  part,  was  extirpated.  Into  the  cavity  which 
was  left  he  promptly  introduced  a  large  fragment  of  the  biceps 
from  the  leg  of  a  dog.  The  cut  sources  were  carefully  brought 
together  with  sutures,  as  little  injury  as  possible  being  done  to 
the  parts.  The  transplanted  muscle  was  much  more  voluminous 
than  the  original  portion,  and  was  long  after  the  operation  dis- 
tinctly perceptible  to  the  touch.  Electric  experiments  instituted 
about  three  months  after  the  operation  showed  that  the  biceps 
reacted  perfectly  natural  to  both  kinds  of  current.  The  high 
point  of  stimulation  situated  at  the  place  of  section  of  the  mus- 
culo-cutaneous  nerve  was,  however,  absent.  The  movements  at 
the  elbow-joint  were  almost  normal. 

Manganese  for  Ambnorrhcea.— The  permanganate  of 
Potash  is  highly  recommended  by  Dr.  Binger  of  London,  Eng., 
(allopath)  for  ammorrhoea  in  young  girls  who  have  **  missed''  on 
account  of  taking  cold  or  getting  wet.  He  cites  a  great  many 
cases  where  the  menstrual  functions  had  been  re-established  af- 
ter an  absence  of  months.  He  gives  it  in  pill  form,  of  three 
grains  each.  He  says  :  **  In  several  instances  patients  complain 
of  its  producing  a  heavy,  persistent  pain  over  the  upper  part  of 
the  sternum,''  as  *'  if  something  had  stuck  there  and  would  not 


BOOK  NO TICES.  107 

go  down.''    He  farther  states,  that  this  pain  was  not  due  to  the 

drug  being  given  in  the  foroi  of  a  pill,  for  the  same  complaint 

was  made  when  the  same  dose  was  given  in  solution.    Here  is  a 

chance  for  some  of  our  Homoeopathic  **  key  note'*  gentlemen. 

The  peculiar  symptoms  given  is  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  effect  of 

the  manganese,  not  the  potash  in  the  salt,  for  'tis  a  well-known 

fact,  that  manganate  of  soda  and  the  binoxide  of  manganese  are 

equally  regarded  by  the  allopaths  as  efficacious  in  the  treatment 

of  amenorrhoea. 

-^^^ 

BOOK  NOTICES. 


A  COMPEND  OF  VISCERAL  ANATOMY.    By  Samukl  O.  L.  Potter,  M. 
A..  M.  D.    P.  BlakiRton  Son  <&  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

This  is  an  admii'able  pocket  rembrancer  for  both  student 
and  practitioner.  The  illustrations  are  familiar  and  much  in- 
crease its  value. 


A  QUIZ— CoMPEND  on  Materia  Medlca  and  Therapeutics.  By  8.  O.  L.  Pot- 
ter, M.  A.,  M.  D.,  A.  A.  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.  P.  Blackiston  Son  &  Co., 
Philadelphia. 

From  the  stand  point  of  the  dominant  school  of  practice, 
this  compend  is  a  pocket  companion  of  great  value  to  the  stu- 
dent and  busy  practitioner.  It  is  well  and  tersely  arranged,  and 
enables  the  salient  points  of  a  drug  to  be  seen  at  a  glance.  We 
regret  that  the  autlior^s  study  of  Hahnemann  and  Dunham  did 
not  convince  him  of  the  absurdity  of  the  substitution  of  drugs. 
But,  like  Bartholow  and  Ringer,  he  may  learn  this  in  time  for 
the  second  edition. 


INDICAZIONI  SPEdALI  DI  VENTICINQUE  RIMEDJ  NELLA  FEBBRE 
INTERMITTENTE.  Per  111  Dott  T.  P.  Wilson,  etc.  Verslone  dall' 
Inglese  del  Dott.    Q.  Pomplll,  Rome,  1882. 

We  owe  the  distinguished  translator  an  apology  for  fail- 
ing to  notice  this  work  before.  The  "  Twenty  Five  Remedies 
in  Intermittent  Fever  *^  is  graced  in  its  new  Italian  dress  by  an 
interesting  preface  by  the  translator,  which  shows  that  '*the 
homoeopathic  idea  '*  is  well  understood  by  our  Italian  confrer. 
The  disjointed  and  unscientific  miethods  that  disgrace  some  por- 
tions of  our  American  homoeopathic  literature  in  regard  to  the 
treatment  of  Intermittent  Fever  do  not  find  favor  with  Doctor 
Pompili.  He  believes  that  Homoeopathy  is  the  true  healer  as 
much  with  fever  and  ague  as  with  other  diseases.   We  commend 


108  BOOK  NOTICES. 

the  doctor's  views  and  appreciate  the  honor  his  translation  has 
done  to  our  little  book. 


HOMOEOPATHY  IN  ITS  RELATION  TO  DISEASES  OF  FEMALES  OR 
GYNiECOI>OGY.  pp  66.  By  Tuos.  Skinner,  M.  D.,  London.  Hom- 
CBopatblc  Publishing  Co.,  No.  2  Flnsbury  Circus. 

This  little  work  when  it  first  appeared  several  years  ago  at- 
tracted very  considerable  attention.  It  appears  that  the  inter- 
est has  not  died  out,  and  the  author  has  put  it  into  more  sub- 
stantial form  and  placed  a  second  edition  before  the  profession. 
Dr.  Skinner  is  a  vigorous  thinker  and  writer.  He  does  nothing 
by  halves.  When  he  left  the  Allopathic  camp  and  became  a 
Homoeopath  it  was  not  only  with  zeal  that  'he  did  it,  but  with 
unusual  intelligence.  He  grasped  the  philosophy  of  Hahnemann 
fully  and  followed  it  logically.  In  the  midst  of  a  large  gynse- 
cological  practice  he  threw  away  everything  but  the  things 
needed  for  a  correct  diagnosis,  and  then  relied  implicity  upon 
the  indicated  remedy.  This  is  not  modern  gyntecology,  but  it  is 
Homoeopathy  applied  to  diseases  of  women.  The  reader  will  do 
well  to  study  this  little  book  and  to  profit  by  its  teachings.  Many 
will  think  it  too  full  of  faith,  but  no  one  can  justly  charge  it 
with  heresy. 

PRACTICAL  LESSONS  IN  GYNECOLOGY.  By  Hbywood  Smith.  A.  M., 
M.  D.,  Oxon,  <&o.,  <&o. 

**  A  little  old  man  named  MoCaw, 
Oh,  be  was  well  read  up  in  law  ; 
Witb  a  very  wise  look 
He*d  take  down  a  great  book, 
And,  turning  its  leaves  say  **  pshaw  !  " 

The  Englishman  takes  pride  in  his  reputation  for  bluntness 
or  abruptness  of  address,  in  other  words,  he  prefers  to  cut  short 
everything  he  can,  and  is  amused  at  his  brother  American  who 
loves  to  indulge  in  a  little  spread  eagle  language,  which  often 
attracts  and  entertains  the  reader.  When  I  met  the  author  of 
the  above  work  in  London,  in  1881,  he  remarked  that  he  was 
then  completing  a  work  on  gynsecology,  which  should  be  thor- 
oughly practical.  In  turning  over  the  leaves  I  can  fully  concur 
with  the  author,  it  is  practical  in  more  senses  than  one ;  it  is 
more  than  an  abridged  dictionary.  If  a  practitioner  of  this 
country  should  dare  to  oflfer  to  the  profession  a  work  similar  in 
character  and  make  up,  a  petition  would  be  presented  to  congress 
paying  for  the  author's  banishment  to  the  Fiji  Islands.     How 


BOOK  NO TICES.  109 

the  medical  profession  of  Great  Britian  can  accept  tlie  work 
without  a  strong  protest,  is  beyond  the  comprehension  of  the 
average  American  practitioner.  The  only  acknowledgement  the 
writer  makes  in  the  preface  is,  to  Dr.  Thomas'  work  on  diseases 
of  women  whose  aid  was  relied  upon  for  the  *^  systematic  order 
of  the  matter."  Under  tlie  head  of  **  diseases  of  the  uterus  (un- 
impregnated) ''  the  author  disposes  of  the  **  definition,''  causes, 
symptoms,  signs,  diagnosis,  prognosis,  of  catarrh  of  the  uterus 
in  eight  linea^  that  is  indeed  **  boiling  it  down  "  with  a  vengance. 
The  treatment  consists  **  rest,  tonics  (?),  Iron,  Quinine,  Zinc, 
£rgot,  intra-uterine  injections  of  Carbolic  acid  and  Glycerine  or 
Iodine.'*  In  metritis  he  advises  '*  rest,  leeches  to""  the  cervix 
uteri.  Opium  in  full  doses  and  mild  diet."  For  endocervicitis 
*'  laxatives,  tonics  (?)  (whatever  that  may  mean)  injections  of 
warm  water  with  Opium,  applications  of  Nitrate  of  Silver, 
Iodine,  (Do  they  not  know  that  the  force  of  this  remedy  is  spent 
upon  the  first  tissue  it  comes  in  contact  with  ?  It  is  not  absorbed 
beyond  the  surface,  and  is  about  as  useless  in  gynaecological  prac- 
tice as  Nitrate  of  Silver.)  Carbolic  acid,  another  remedy  that 
will  soon  be  cast  aside,  Tannin,  Acetate  of  Lead,  Chromic  acid, 
Nitrate  of  Mercury,  Nitric  acid,  acutal  cautery^  scarification," 
**The  three  beat  methods  of  treatment  are:  1st,  by  Potassa 
Caustica;  2d,  the  actual  cautery  \  3d,  excision."  Menorrhagia: 
**Cold  applications  to  vulva  and  thighs,  cold  drinks,  Galic  acid. 
Ergot,  Opium ;  intra-uterine  injections  of  Carbolic  acid  and 
Glycerine,  Iodine,  persulphate  of  Iron."  This  is  simply  a 
sample  of  the  remainder  of  the  work,  and  of  course  speaks  for 
itself.  Every  time  a  medical  work  of  any  special  note  or  char- 
acter is  published  in  this  country,  it  is  at  once  severely  reviewed 
and  criticised  by  the  English  journals  until  the  author  wonders 
why  he  did  not  subscribe  himself  in  large  capitals  an  Aaa,  They 
review  with  a  vengance  that  is  startling,  our  gynaecological 
efforts.  The  reviewers  always  perceive  that  every  portion  of  the 
text  that  is  valuable,  was  stolen  from  some  one  or  other  writer  of 
that  country  on  the  subject,  and  the  plates  were  pirated  from  a 
valuable  English  work,  and  then  what  a  scathing  would  the  un- 
fortunate compiler  of  pirated  medical  literature  and  art  get. 
Then  we  have  an  other  set  of  publishers  of  English  medical  lit- 
erature, and  to  curry  favor  with  our  transatlantic  brothers  accept 
with  an  eclat^  that  is  truly  humiliating  any  medical  writings 
published  on  that  side  of  the  water.  I  give  the  following,  taken 
from  a  republisher  of  English  works  who  referred  to  a  review  of 


110  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

one  of  our  standard  gynsecological  works :  *'  With  the  character  of 
this  criticism  as  affecting  the  profession  of  this  country,  or 
whether  our  reviewer  would  not  materially  have  changed  his 
tone  and  temper  had  he  been  better  acquainted  with  the  status 
of  the  writer,  we,  as  publishers,  have  of  course  nothing  to  do. 
Our  business  is  to  furnish  a  reprint  only,''  including  downright 
abuse  too,  I  suppose.  Oh,  Holy  Keeper  of  the  departed  spirits 
of  our  forefathers  in  medicine  in  this  country,  cannot  you,  in 
your  omnipotent  power,  bring  forth  from  their  sanctums  of  rest, 
those  will  rise  up  in  their  dignity  and  wisdom  to  defend  your 
offsprings  from  these  assaults  of  unjust  criticism?  Shall  we 
submit  calmly  to  ridicule  and  sarcasm  ?  No  !  The  answer  comes 
back  in  thundering  tones,  **  establish  for  yourselves  on  a  scien- 
tific basis  a  proper  recognition  of  medical  literature  and  colleges, 
that  will  demand  the  respect  and  honor  of  the  world."  To  be 
compelled  to  return  the  criticism  of  an  English  work  on  gynae- 
cology is  indeed  a  sad  condition  of  affairs.  To  think  that  any 
one  in  the  practice  of  this  branch  of  medicine  would  present  to 
the  profession  such  a  useless  book,  is  a  mystery.  It  shows  a 
degree  of  retrogression  in  practice  that  is  simply  appalling.  We 
supposed  that  our  brother  Englishmen  would  at  least  keep  peace 
with  our  American  works,  especially  as  they  have  had  an  op- 
portunity to  study  Thomas,  Emmet.  Dr.  Siiiith,  aside  from  his 
crude  manner  of  treating  his  cases,  has  not  what  Hewitt,  Barnes, 
Wright  or  Tait  can  boast  of,  interesting  study  of  the  pathological 
conditions  of  diseases.  He  also  believes,  evidently,  that  brevity 
is  the  soul  of  wit,  as  whole  chapters  are  completed  with  half  a 
page.  We  beg  the  privilege  of  suggesting  to  Dr.  Protheroe 
Smith,  who  was  made  the  victim  of  the  author's  dedications, 
that,  in  the  future,  he  look  well  to  the  editions  that  are  likely  to 
follow.  It  is  extremely  painful  to  witness  the  Old  School  alioB 
Allopaths,  cdiaa  regulars,  alixis  scientific  medicine,  aliaa  code  or 
no  code,  going  back,  fifty  years  in  their  therapeutical  treatment 
of  diseases  peculiar  to  women.  Phil.  Porteb. 


•<•»- 


EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


Dr.  a.  R.  Wheeler,  U.  of  M.,  is  located  at  St.  Louis,  Mich. 
Dr.  Wm.  D.  Cooper,  U.  of  M.,  '83,  has  settled  at  Wayne, 
Mich. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  Ill 

Dr.  J.  A.  Gross  has  removed  to  North  Branch,  Lapeer  Co., 
Mich. 

I>R.  Morton  C.  Reeves,  U.  of  M.,  commences  practice  in 
Clinton,  Mich. 

Dr.  a.  Stanley  Dolan  (U.  of  M.)  has  located  in  Dans- 
viUe,  Mich. 

Prof.  E.  C.  Frankxin  has  resigned  his  position  in  the 
University  of  Michigan  and  removed  to  St.  Louis,  his  former 
home. 

The  Homoeopathic  Hospital  of  the  University  is  undergoing 
extensive  repairs,  and  will  be  ready  for  patients  the  last  week  in 
September. 

The  Ann  Arbor  School  of  Music  is  an  institution  worthy  of 
special  mention.  It  offers  rare  inducements  to  students  seeking 
a  musical  education.    Send  for  a  circular  to  Prof.  C.  B  Cady. 

Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  says  that  bad  air,  bad  whisky 
and  irregular  hf:bits  keep  the  doctors  alive.  He  must  be 
mistaken.  Tho^e  very  things  have  killed  several  doctors,  we 
know. 

A  Xew  Brunswick  doctor  was  asked,  at  the  Falls,  why  he 
didn't  ask  the  Institute  to  meet  in  his  city.  He  replied:  *' O, 
you  doctors  will  go  to  my  town  soon  enough. '*  He  lives  in  Hal- 
ifax. 

The  Medical  Era  is  a  new  Homoeopathic  journal  of  Chicago, 
published  by  Gross  &  Delbridge,  and  edited  by  Dr.  James  E. 
Gross.  We  like  its  appearance  very  much  and  hope  it  may  suc- 
ceed. 

The  many  friends  of  Dr.  Thos.  S.  Hoyne,  of  Chicago,  will 
feel  a  deep  sympathy  with  him  in  the  death  of  his  honored 
father,  Hon.  Thomas  Hoyne,  who  was  killed  in  a  recent  railroad 
disaster. 

Next  month  we  shall  publish  the  list  of  donors  to  the  In- 
vestigation Fund  of  the  Microscopical  Bureau  of  the  American 
Institute.  Now  is  the  time  to  send  in  your  ten  dollars.  Fifty 
more  subscribers  are  wanted. 

The  announcements  for '83  of  all  the  Homoeopathic  Colleges 
are  on  our  table  save  that  of  the  Homoeopathic  Department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan.  This  delay  in  issuing  the  annual 
catalogue  of  this  school  is  unavoidable.  Our  readers  may,  how- 
ever, rely  upon*  the  school  being  open  as  usual  and  in  running 
order  October  1st. 


112  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

The  Homoeopathic  Department  of  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan has  added  a  new  and  important  motto  to  its  banner  :  For 

THE  HIGHER  MEDICAL  EDUCATION  OF  MEN  AND  WOMEN.      Other 

schools  may  have  a  different  experience,  but  the  University 
of  Michigan  is  able  to  demonstrate  the  perfect  success  of  the  co- 
education of  the  sexes. 

The  Medical  Era  marvels  that  when  Dr.  Egbert  Guernsey, 
in  the  American  Institute  gave  notice  that  he  would  introduce  a 
resolution  strilsing  the  word  Homoeopathy  from  the  name  of  the 
Institute  no  one  entered  a  protest  or  made  any  remarks.  Does 
not  the  Era  also  marvel  that  Dr.  Guernsey  failed  to  introduce 
his  promised  resolution  ?  The  idea  was  so  absurd  it  could  not  be 
seriously  opposed.  The  doctor  did  the  wisest  thing :  He  took 
the  first  train  for  New  York. 

Prof.  E.  C  Franklin  has  retired  from  his  post  as  Surgeon 
in  the  Homoeopathic  Department  of  the  University  of  Michigan. 
The  doctor  has  made  a  splendid  record  both  in  general  surgery 
and  spinal  curvature  practice.  In  his  hospital  work  he  has 
shown  remarkable  success,  while  as  a  teacher  he  has  done  a  large 
amount  6f  valuable  work.  The  doctor  returns  to  his  former 
home  in  St.  Louis  with  the  best  wishes  of  his  late  confreres  and 
the  highest  regards  of  his  many  Michigan  friends. 

The  Medical  Counselor,  Aug.  1st :  **  The  faculty  of  the  Ho- 
moeopathic College  of  the  University  of  Michigan. is  undergoing 
the  regular  annual  reorganization.  Prof.  E.  C.  Franklin  sent  in 
his  resignation  as  Professor  of  Surgery  and  has  left  Michigan  for 
his  former  home.  Dr.  A.  C.  Cowperthwaite,  of  Iowa,  has  been 
appointed  to  the  chair  of  Gynecology,  but  refu':es  to  accept.  This 
leaves  the  Professor  of  Theory  and  Practice  sole  professor  of  the 
field."  And  also  it  leaves  the  editor  of  the  Medical  Counselor 
still  out  in  the  cold.    Hlnc  illae  lachrymce, 

Havanau,  N.  Y.,  July  19th,  1883. 

Dear  Doctor:  Will  you  give  notice  in  your  Journal  of  the 
meeting  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  at  Ithaca,  September  11th  and  12tli.  The  Ithaca  Ho- 
tel will  entertain  at  $2.00  per  day.  The  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
&  Western  R.  R.  will  sell  return  tickets  at  Ithaca  for  one-third 
the  usual  rate.  This  road  connects  with  N.  Y.  &  Buffalo.  The 
Utica,  Ithaca  &  Eimira  will  carry  from  Utica  &  Elmira  for  the 
fare  one  way.  The  steamboat  on  Cayuga  Lake  will  carry  from 
Cayuga  Bridge,  on  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  H.  R.  R.  and  return  for  $1. 
All  of  the  above  tickets  sold  on  the  certificate  of  the  Secretary, 
A.  P.  Hollett. 


:^4^^¥^%e'V^, 


'^t-^ 


Vol.  XIV.        Ann  Abbok,  September,  1883.  No.  3. 

All  aabBarlptioiis  and  biuliiaBB  commanlcations  Bhonld  b« 


Are  Wb  Humbuqoed  ?— The  natural  tendency  of  the 
human  mind  is  to  settle  down  on  Rnaltttea.  Most  men  de- 
sire to  anchor  somewhere,  and  feel  that  they  are  fastened 
to  somethmg.  To  be  mentally  afloat  and  drifting,  is 
looked  upon  as  criminal.  This  surely  is  needless,  since  so 
many  havens  of  security  are  offered  us.  Not  to  enter  the 
domain  of  philosophy  or  religion,  we  can  easily  find  in 
medicine  this  same  tendency  most  strongly  marked. 
Doubtless  there  is  some  virtue  in  all  this,  but  in  the  vast 
majority  of  cases  it  is  only  a  covert  for  laziness  and  cow- 
ardice. Many  men  are  too  indolent  to  think  for  them- 
selves, and  many  more  lack  the  courage  to  do  so.  In  this 
way  they  attempt  to  escape  individual  responsibility.    In 


114  EDITORIAL. 

the  palmy  days  of  the  lancet,  tens  of  thousands  of  patients 
were  hurried  to  their  graves  by  being  bled,  and  the  physi- 
cian, so  called,  who  knew  he  was  killing  his  patients,  ex- 
cused himself  on  the  ground  that  he  was  following  the 
rule.  Mercury,  too,  has  slain  its  multitude,  and  the  doc- 
tor who  employed  it  was  conscious  of  the  wrong,  but  the 
crime  was  not  in  him,  but  in  the  system.  This  was  con- 
venient for  the  indolent  man  and  plausible  for  the  coward. 
But  there  is  after  all  but  very  little  difference  between  the 
past  and  the  present.  The  same  classes  of  men  are  still 
in  the  medical  profession,  and  they  worship  finalities  as 
devotedly  as  did  their  fathers.  They  have  systems  which 
have  metes  and  bounds,  and  over  the  line  they  do  not  and 
dare  not  go.  These  men  are  generally,  very  "  scientific.*' 
They  are  the  loyal  and  liberal  patrons  of  science.  With 
them,  science  is  some  fixed  and  invariable  standard,  and 
by  that  standard  they  can  at  once  measure  and  accept,  or 
condemn.  Neophytes  are  generally  greatly  charmed  by 
the  pretensions  of  these  "  scientific  gents."  They  capture 
the  young  students  in  medicine,  for  the  boys  "  want  to 
know,  you  know,"  and  here  is  the  only  chance.  An  aged  " 
wise  man  shakes  his  head,  and  that  is  not  encouraging. 
When  these  blatant  pretenders  mount  the  rostrum,  the 
world  is  all  eyes  and  ears.  At  this  moment,  such  is  the 
real  state  of  affairs  in  medical  science.  Everybody  knows 
that  doctors  humbug  the  people,  but  everybody  does  not 
know  how  thoroughly  doctors  humbug  one  another.  And 
so  it  is,  ''  fleas  have  fleas  to  bite  'em." 


Scientific  Experts  have  decided  many  important 
questions.  In  our  courts  of  justice  and  upon  expert  tes- 
timony, men  have  been  condemned  not  only  to  years  of 
prison  life  but  to  death.  In  our  penitentiaries  are  not  a 
few  prisoners  serving  life  sentences ;  and  many  men  have 
gone  to  the  gallows  almost  solely  on  the  testimony  of  sci- 
entific experts.    This  is  a  startling  fact,  and  allowed  in  an 


EDITORIAL.  115 

intelligent  government,  principally,  because  it  is  the  fash- 
son.  It  is,  however,  dawning  on  the  public  mind,  that  ex- 
perts are  not  infallible.  Popular  confidence  in  their  tes- 
timony is  being  badly  shaken.  It  is  easy  to  decide  a  ques- 
tion if  only  one  expert  is  allowed  to  testify.  Neither 
judge  nor  jury  can  gainsay  his  evidence.  But  when  two 
or  more  experts  assay  the  same  work,  it  appears  that  they 
do  not  always  agree.  They  mutually  vitiate  each  others 
testimony.  The  public  has  recently  been  greatly  shocked 
by  the  discovery  of  expensive  adulterations  of  lard.  The 
market  was  found  stocked  with  thousand  of  tierces  of  so- 
called  lard,  which  contained  foreign  substances,  chiefly 
tallow  and  cotton-seed  oil.  The  discovery  of  this  alleged 
fraud,  has  caused  heavy  commercial  failures ;  moreover  it 
has  struck  a  serious  blow  at  commercial  integrity.  It  was 
thought  that  chemistry  could  and  would  easil}^  settle  the 
question.  Chemistry  and  the  microscope  were  both  con- 
fidently invoked.  Lard  and  tallow  were  substances  so 
well  known,  that  their  presence  or  absence  could  easily  be 
detected.  A  series  of  test  cases  was  therefore  made  up 
and  the  aid  of  science  invoked,  through*  specially  selected 
experts.  The  result  is  laughable  if  nothing  more.  The 
experts  failed.  With  all  their  knowledge  of  chemistry 
and  microscopy,  they  could  not  tell  the  pure  from  the 
adulterated.  Of  course  they  each  made  a  learned  report, 
and  decided  as  to  the  samples  given  them,  but  it  proved 
they  were  very  wide  of  the  mark.  So  at  precent,  in  this 
department,  expert  testimony  is  in  a  state  of  collapse. 
Now,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  much  of  our  so-called  medical 
science,  is  resting  on  this  sort  of  foundation.  Scientific 
experts  are  in  possession  of  the  field,  and  they  are  trying 
to  decide  vital  questions  for  us ;  and,  as  the  fashion  goes, 
we  are  guilty  of  heresy  if  we  do  not  bow  down  humbly 
to  their  decisions.  Against  all  this  we  venture  to  protest. 
The  sham  of  pretended  scientists  are  cheating  us.  We 
want  true  science,  but  we  shall  never  get  it  by  jumping 
at  hasty  and  ill-considared  conclusions. 


116  MICHIGAN  ST  A  TE  SOCIETY. 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  FOURTEENTH  ANNUAL 

SESSION  OF  THE  HOMCEOPATHIO  MEDI- 

CAL  SOCIETY  OF  THE  STATE  OF 

MICHIGAN. 


HELD  AT  LANSING  MAY  15tH  AND  16tH,  1883. 


(CONCLUDED.] 


Bureau  of  Ophthalmology  and  Otology. — Dr.  Mc- 
Guire,  chairman,  reported  a  paper  from  Dr.  J.  F.  Brown, 
of  Jackson,  on  "  Eye  Clinics,"  and  one  from  Prof.  T.  P 
Wilson,  M.  D.,  of  Ann  Arbor,  on  "  The  Relation  of  the 
Specialist  and  the  General  Practitioner  to  the  Diseases  of 
the  Eye." 

Dr.  McGuire  then  read  a  paper  entitled  ^'  Some  Re- 
marks on  the  Clinical  History  of  Diseases  of  the  Optic 
Nerve,  as  met  in  Young  Subjects."  Discussed  by  Drs. 
J.  G.  Gilchrist  and  H.  C.  Allen. 

On  motion,  the  papers  reported  by  Dr.  McGuire  were 
referred  to  the  Publication  Committee. 

The  President  announced  the  Bureau  of  Pathology 
for  the  ensuing  year,  viz.:  H.  R.  Amdt,  chairman ;  R.  C. 
Olin,  Detroit ;  H.  M.  Warren,  Jonesville. 

Bureau  of  Theory  and  Practice^  O.  R.  Long,  chair- 
man ;  Wm.  Bailey,  and  A.  B.  Grant. 

Moved  by  Dr.  Morley  to  go  into  Committee  of  the 
Whole. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Bailey,  this  motion  was  laid  upon 
the  table. 

On  motion,  the  papers  from  the  Bureau  of  Theory  and 
Practice  was  referred  to  the  Publication  Committee. 

Dr.  Eldridge  presented  the  name  of  C.  E.  Covey,  M.D., 
of  Grand  Ledge,  and,  on  motion,  he  was  elected  to  mem- 
bership in  the  Society. 

The  convention  then  adjourned  till  1:30  p.  m. 


FO  URTEENTH  SESSION.  117 

Wednesday  Afternoon  Session. — The  Society  was 
called  to  order  by  President  Franklin  at  1:40  p.  m. 

Dr.  Eldridge  presented  the  names  of  J.  0.  Wheelock, 
M.  D.,  of  Bancroft,  and  R.  Simmons,  M.  D.,  who  were 
were  elected  to  membership. 

Dr.  Amdt,  for  the  Committee  on  President's  Address, 
made  a  report,  which,  on  motion  of  Dr.  Porter,  was 
adopted. 

Dr.  Eldridge,  necrologist,  reported  that  so  far  as  he 
knew  there  had  been  no  death  during  the  year. 

The  Secretary  offered  a  resolution  that  the  General 
Secretary  be  instructed  to  enter  the  names  of  gentlemen 
present  who  have  been  elected  to  membership,  in  his  own 
writing,  which  was  carried. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  offered  a  resolution  of  thanks  for  the  use 
of  the  Council  rooms,  and  Pioneer  room.    Adopted. 

ELECTION  OF  DELEGATES. 

To  American  Institute  of  Homceopathy — Drs.  Rorabacher,C. 
J.  Covey,  Wm.  Bailey,  Johnson,  Olin,  Simmons,  L.  M.  Jones, 
and  Hyde. 

To  Western  Academy  of  ffomoeopathy^'Dra.  Amdt,  Rora- 
baeher,  and  Eldridge. 

To  the  New  York  State  Society — Drs.  R.  B.  House,  H  C 
Allen. 

To  Ohio  State  Society— Drs.  Porter  and  Gilchrist. 

The  President  was  requested  to  appoint  delegates  to 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  and  appointed 
the  following : 

To  Indiana  State  Society — Drs.  Van  Horn  and  Warren. 
To  Illinois  Society— Drs.  Wm.  Bailey  and  B.  Defendorf. 
To  Wisconsin  Society—Dra.  Reynolds  and  Whitehead. 
To  Minnesota  Society— Drs.  Botsford  and  Grant. 

Dr.  Porter  presented  a  German  work  to  the  Society, 
and  moved  that  it  be  translated  and  printed  in  the  trans- 
actions. 

The  motion  prevailed,  and  Dr.  Arndt  was  requested 
to  complete  the  translation. 


118  MICHIGAN  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

The  Treasurer,  Dr.  Robertson,  presented  a  final  report, 
which  was  accepted. 

Dr.  House  moved  that  the  Treasurer  be  instructed  to 
erase  the  names  of  all  delinquents,  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws.    Adopted. 

Dr.  Porter  moved  that  Drs.  Eldridge,  Covey,  Sawyer, 
and  Pomeroy  be  placed  on  the  honorary  list,  and  relieved 
from  further  financial  obligation.    Adopted. 

Dr.  Eldridge  respectfully  declined  the  honors  offered 
him,  if  such  action  would  debar  him  from  the  privileges  of 
the  Society,  as  he  had  decided  objections  to  being  laid 
upon  the  shelf. 

Dr.  Bailey  then  moved  that  all  honorary  members  of 
the  Society  shall  have  all  rights  and  privileges  accorded  to 
regular  members.    Adopted. 

Dr.  H.  C.  Allen  moved  that  all  members  of  this  So- 
ciety who  have  been  members  for  twenty  years,  and  have 
paid  all  dues,  be  relieved  from  further  financial  obliga- 
tions.   Adopted. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  moved  that  the  Treasurer  notify  mem- 
bers in  arrears  for  dues  to  the  amount  of  $6.00  and  over, 
that  they  will  be  proceeded  against  for  collection  of  the 
same.    Adopted. 

Dr.  Allen  requested  universal  consent  to  have  the 
name  of  Dr.  F.  Woodrufi*  placed  on  the  honorary  list. 
And  Dr.  Porter  moved  a  resolution  to  that  efiect.  Adopted. 

ELECTION  OF  OFFICERS. 

The  Convention  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  oflBi- 
cers  for  the  ensuing  year,  with  the  following  result : 

• 

President — Dr.  R.  B.  House,  of  Tecumseh. 

Ut  Vice-President— Jyi.  Phil.  Porter,  of  Detroit. 

2d  Vice-President — Dr.  A.  A.  Allen,  of  St.  Johns. 

Secretary—Jyv.  J.  Q.  Qilchrist,  of  Detroit. 

Corresponding  Secretary— Jj,  T.  Van  Horn,  of  Homer. 

Treasurer— T>x.  G.  A.  Robertson,  of  Battle  Creek. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  moved  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized 

to  pay  the  janitor  $2.00.    Adopted. 


OHIO  STA  TE  SOCIETY.  119 

c 

Dr.  A.  B.  Avery  read  the  following  paper : 

GHsNTiiEMEN,— In  view  of  the  action  of  this  Society  con- 
doning the  confessed  outrages  perpetrated  upon  the  profession 
by  your  President,  E.  G.  Franklin,  and  feeling  it  a  duty  to  the 
first  graduating  class  of  our  University  department  as  their 
president,  and  to  the  profession  at  large  as  first  vice-president,  I 
protestagainst  this  action,  and  against  the  refusal  of  this  Soci- 
ety to  infiict  the  proper  penalty  prescribed  by  the  constitution 
and  by-laws,  and  for  your  quaM  endorsement  of  said  E.  G. 
Franklin,  by  your  refusal  to  do  anything  as  a  society  in  the 
matter. 

Therefore,  there  is  but  one  honorable  course  for  me  to  pur- 
sue ;  and  in  doing  this  I  feel  that  no  one  could  have  more  just 
grounds  for  severing  professional  ties. 

Gentlemen,  I  hereby  tender  my  resignation  as  a  member  of 
your  Society.  A.  B.  Avery. 

For  the  above  reasons,  I  hereby  join  in  tendering  my  resig- 
nation to  your  Society.  Ghables  G.  Morley. 
Lansing,  Mich.,  May  16,  1883. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned. 


!«► 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NINETEENTH   SESSION 
OF  THE  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCI- 
ETY OF  THE  STATE  OF  OHIO. 


HELD  AT  THE  BOARD   OF    TRADE  ROOMS,   CITY  HALL   BUILDING, 
COLUMBUS,  OHIO,  MAY    8tH  AND  9tH,   1883. 


Columbus,  O.,  Tuesday,  May  8,  1883. — The  Society 
was  called  to  order  by  the  President,  C.  C.  White,  M.  D., 
of  Columbus,  at  10:30  a.  m.  Tlie  Treasurer's  report  being 
called  for,  the  Treasurer,  J.  C.  Sanders,  M.  D.,  moved  it 
be  deferred  until  the  second  day  of  the  proceedings. 

The  Secretary,  H.  E.  Beebe,  M.  D.,  then  made  his  re- 
port. 

Reports  from  other  Societies  being  in  order,  H.  C. 
Allen,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  in  the  Homoeo- 
pathic College,  University  of  Michigan,  said : 


120  OHIO  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

I  have  no  written  report  to  present.  We  have  a  hospital  in 
connection  with  our  University,  which  was  opened  in  1880.  We 
have  clinics  in  connection  with  the  college,  and  both  are  in  a 
prosperous  condition.  When  the  hospital  was  opened  it  was 
readily  filled,  and  has  remained  so  ever  since.  Our  hospital  and 
dispensary  work  are  very  satisfactory,  and  our  clinics  well  at- 
tended. We  try  to  take  care  of  every  patient  who  enters.  Now 
I  have  to  say  that  I  am  very  glad  to  be  here,  to  make  a  report  of 
our  hospital  at  the  University.  There  has  been  a  good  deal  of 
bitterness  between  the  two  schools, which  is  gradually  subsiding. 
Occasionally  a  patient  comes  from  the  other  hospital,  and  gets 
cured.  But  we  do  not  operate  upon  every  case  that  comes  into 
the  hospital.  We  try  to  avoid  having  any  funerals,  though 
we  have  had,  I  believe,  one  this  year.  We  are  holding  our  own 
nicely,  and  gaining  all  the  time.  Our  friends  of  the  other  school 
have  fought  us  stubbornly,  but,  we  prefer  to  let  them  do  the 
fighting.    It  does  not  pay. 

Dr.  Connell,  being  the  only  member  of  the  Board  of 
Censors  present,  was  requested  to  act  as  chairman,  and 
Drs.  L.  Barnes  and  J.  R.  Flowers  were  added  to  the 
Board. 

Dr.  Sanders  gave  a  report  from  the  Cleveland  College. 

Dr.  Allen  :  I  do  not  know  that  we  can  have  a  better  place 
than  this  to  air  some  of  our  college  matters.  I  am  very  much 
pleased  with  this  report.  I  do  not  know  but  up  in  out  school 
we  have  raised  the  standard  too  high.  Our  college  course  has 
been  lengthened  to  three  years  of  nine  months  each.  Why  I 
say  I  do  not  know  but  we  have  elevated  our  standard  too  high, 
is,  that  some  students  do  not  like  to  face  the  music.  If  any  fail 
to  pass  the  freshman  or  junior  examinations  instead  of  coming 
back  again  they  go  elsewhere,  and  that  is  the  last  we  see  of  them 
until  they  get  their  degree,  or  we  see  their  names  in  some  other 
college  announcement,  after  one  course  of  lectures,  as  full-fledged 
M.  D.'s!  Now,  what  I  would  like  to  propose  is  that,  like  this 
college,  we  all  raise  our  standard  of  scholarship.  Our  students 
say  they  can  go  down  to  Cnicago, — and  I  don't  speak  of  Chicago 
to  make  any  invidious  comparisons, — that  they  can  go  down  to 
Chicago  and  get  just  as  clean  parchments,  just  as  good  litho- 
graphs, with  less  study,  and  in  shorter  time. 

Dr.  Barnes :  I  don't  know  that  I  am  one  who  ought  to  say 
anything  against  the  standard,  fjr  I  have  put  three  boys  into 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  121 

the  medical  profession.  The  more  I  learn  in  the  world,  the  more 
I  am  convinced  that  it  takes  a  great  while  to  learn  a  little.  Yoa 
may  take  any  branch  of  study,  and  it  will  take  at  least  three 
years  for  any  man  to  become  proficient  in  it.  And  yet  we  take 
a  young  man  who  has  never  been  trained  to  study,  and  we  make 
a  doctor  of  him  in  two  or  three  years,  with  two  courses  of  lec- 
toree  of  six  to  nine  mouths  each.  Now  there  is  certainly  some- 
thing wrong  in  this.  Yet  I  have  no  doubt  that  our  Homoeo- 
pathic colleges  have  done  the  best  they  could.  Now,  not  only 
must  we  have  better  students,  but  we  must  Yi2iwe  better  prof ea- 
aara,  I  go  in  for  a  regular  reform.  I  am  getting  pretty  old.  I 
suppose  I  have  been  in  the  practice  as  long  as  any  man  in  Ohio. 
I  should  remodel  some  of  these  colleges  if  I  had  charge  of  them, 
but  I  have  not.  If  a  student  should  apply  for  admission  into  a 
senior  class,  I  would  take  him  in,  and  graduate  him  if  he  were 
competent,  wherever  or  however  long  he  may  have  studied,  but 
I  would  make  the  standard  very  high.  Now,  some  of  you 
younger  men  may  take  these  things  and  lay  them  to  heart  if 
you  please ;  and  if  yon  don't  please,  do  it  any  way ! 

Dr.  Cleveland  :  It  may  not  be  out  of  place  for  one  of  the 
youngest  members, who  has  just  joined  you  this  moruing,  to  ex- 
press an  opinion  on  this  subject.  It  may,  perhaps,  be  in  the 
power  of  some  of  us  who  are  coming  on,  to  reach  for  the  degree 
of  B.  A.  before  the  degree  of  M .  D. 

Dr.  Sanders:  I  recognize  the  correctness  of  all  that  Dr. 
Barnes  has  said.  And  in  addition  I  would  say  that  the  Cleve- 
land college  hospital  has  been  moving  right  directly  toward  this 
higher  plane  indicated  by  Dr.  Barnes.  Preliminary  examina- 
tion was  first  instituted  by  this  college,  and  we  design  that  the 
examination  shall  be  made  more  and  more  rigid  from  year  to 
year.  Many  come  to  us  who  are  graduates  of  High  Schools,  or 
who  hold  the  degrees  of  B.  A.,  etc.  This  examination  applies  only 
to  those  who  hold  no  such  certificates.  But  over  forty  per  cent 
of  our  matriculates  were  graduates  of  High  Schools,  or  held  the 
degree  of  B.  A.  or  M.  A.  Our  standard  is  not  yet  as  high  as  de- 
sirable, but  we  are  moving  as  rapidly  as  possible  ;  and  we  hope 
to  make  it  so  high  that  no  man  will  be  admitted  who  does  not 
hold  the  degree  of  B.  A.  or  M.  A.  However  there  is  a  curious 
fact  that  should  make  us  cautious.  And  it  is  this  :  that  some- 
times those  students  who  have  possessed  only  a  moderate  schol- 
arship are  the  ones  who  most  frequently  come  out  at  the  top. 
You  can't  always  tell.    Possibly  we  are  in  danger  of  making  the 


122  OHIO  8TA  TE  SOCIETY. 

standard  go  high  as  to  exclude  some  of  the  finest  minds.  I  could 
mention  several  who  had  hard  work  to  get  through,  and  who  to- 
day are  at  the  very  top  of  the  profession.  Such  facts  should 
make  us  careful  as  to  the  standard  of  general  education  abso- 
lutely demanded  of  our  matriculates. 

Report  on  Legislation  was  made  by  Dr,  J.  R.  Flowers, 
and  were  adopted. 

Afternoon  Session. — At  2:15  the  convention  reassem- 
bled, and  listened  to  the  able  address  of  President  White. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  a  committee 
on  the  President's  address,  viz.:  Drs.  Wm.  Webster,  J.  R. 
Flowers,  and  J.  M.  Miller. 

Bureau  of  Materia  Medica. — Dr.  Ralph  Morden,  of 
Groveport,  read  a  paper  on  "  A  Proving  of  Epifagus." 

discussion  of  db.  mordents  papbb. 

Dr.  Pulford :  Epifagus  has  a  very  delicate  waxy  appear- 
ance. It  grows  twenty  or  thirty  inches  high  under  the  shadow 
of  the  beech  tree  I  have  had  very  little  experience  with  the 
drug.  I  think  it  would  be  a  little  more  commendable  in  this 
paper  of  Dr.  Morden's  if  he  had  told  us  whether  it  was  sick 
headache,  or  gastric  headache,  that  he  cured  with  Epifagus. 

Dr.  Allen  :  I  hope  Dr.  Morden  does  not  put  this  forward 
as  K proving.  It  seems  to  me  that  it  is  singularly  wanting  as  a 
proving.  There  are  hundreds  of  remedies  that  we  use  to  cure 
sick  headache.  I  think  the  Doctor  should  have  given  us,  from 
his  notes,  the  character  of  the  pain,  how  long  it  lasted,  etc. 

Dr.  Morden  :  I  will  Just  say  that  my  experience  with  the 
drug  is  very  limited.  The  pain  was  of  the  character  of  a  pressing 
pain  in  the  temples. 

Bureau  of  Obstetrics, — Dr.  J.  0.  Sanders  read  a  paper 
on  "  The  Liquor  Amnii."     (See  June  issue). 

A  telegram  from  the  Indiana  State  Homoeopathic 
Medical  Society,  now  in  session,  was  received  and  read  by 
the  Secretary,  the  same  being  in  answer  to  one  sent  by 
this  convention. 

Dr.  M.  M.  Eaton,  chairman  of  this  Bureau,  read  a  pa- 
per on  '*  How  to  Make  Labor  Rapid  and  Safe :  " 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  123 

This  subject,  though  often  discussed,  never  loses  its 
interest  to  the  obstetrical  practitioner.  During  the  past 
ten  years  it  has  engrossed  more  attention  than  previous  to 
that  time,  and  the  profession  has  been  eager  to  secure 
more  rapid  delivery  than  was  the  custom  twenty-five 
years  since.  This  desire  to  hasten  delivery  has  caused 
many  accidents,  especially  to  the  mother,  notably  cervi- 
cal and  perineal  lacerations.  The  reason  of  this  is  to  be 
found  in  the  giving  of  Secale  Comutum  to  the  lying-in 
woman,  before  there  was  full  dilatation  of  the  os  uteri, 
or  suitable  relaxation  of  the  vagina,  thus  resulting  in 
more  rapid  delivery ;  but  the  practice  is  not  to  be  com- 
mended,  because  of  the  injury  to  the  mother,  very  fre- 
quently following  in  such  cases.  The  use  of  the  forceps 
under  circumstances  similar  to  those  mentioned  is  equally 
objectionable,  and  should  never  be  practiced  or  approved. 

Disapproving,  therefore,  of  the  careless  use  of  Ergot 
or  the  forceps  to  cause  rapid  delivery,  we  still  believe 
there  is  a  possibility  of  making  most  labors  not  only  rapid 
and  easy,  but  safe  also  to  both  mother  and  child.  This 
belief  is  founded  upon  a  reasonably  large  obstetrical  prac- 
tice, and  upon  the  experience  of  many  other  physicians. 

My  own  cases  of  labor  in  the  past  ten  years  have 
averaged  less  than  three  hours'  detention,  the  longest  de- 
tentioii  having  been  but  thirteen  hours,  which  was  a  first 
labor  in  a  woman  thirty-four  years  of  age,  whose  husband 
was  very  large,  and  the  wife  below  medium  size.  Two 
other  cases  in  first  labor,  nearly  the  age  mentioned,  both 
having  large  husbands,  were  terminated  in  nine  and  ten 
hours  respectively.  Fortunately  during  this  time  I  have 
had  but  one  case  of  monstrosity,  which  was  in  consulta- 
tion. This  I  delivered  at  once,  by  turning.  The  attend- 
ing physician.  Dr.  Coan,  had  been  in  attendance  on  the 
case  for  three  days  previously.  Cases  of  monstrosity  in 
the  child,  or  deformity  of  the  mother,  are  not  considered 
in  this  paper,  more  than  to  remark  that  they  may  un- 
avoidably delay  delivery  in  the  hands  of  any  one.  But  we 


124  OHIO  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

intend  to  discuss  the  ordinary  case  of  natural  labor  which 
may  terminate  without  material  assistance  if  time  enough 
be  allowed  and  no  account  is  taken  of  the  mother's  pro- 
tracted suffering. 

The  evils  resulting  from  this  practice  are  not  alone 
the  suffering  of  the  mother,  but  there  is  danger  to  both 
mother  and  child  in  tedious  labor.  Danger  to  the  mother 
in  the  exhaustion  produced,  in  the  danger  of  sloughing 
of  the  soft  parts  from  long-continued  pressure  of  the  child 
in  the  pelvis,  causing  vesico  or  recto-vaginal  fistula,  and 
in  any  event  tending  to  cause  the  development  of  puer- 
peral peritonitis.  There  is  danger  to  the  child  in  tedious 
labor  from  the  long-continued  pressure  causing  debility 
or  strangulation,  asphyxia,  etc.,  from  the  interruption  of 
the  circulation  in  the  cord.  These  considerations,  in  con- 
nection with  the  loss  of  time  to  the  physician  and  the 
great  anxiety  of  friends,  cause  me  to  be  in  favor  of  rapid 
delivery  as  a  rule,  when  it  can  be  accomplished  with 
safety  to  both  mother  and  child.  How  to  accomplish  this 
we  will  now  consider. 

First  see  to  it,  if  possible,  that  the  mother  takes  ex- 
ercise in  moderation  up  to  the  time  of  delivery,  and  give 
her  a  3  gr.  powder  of  the  3x  trit.  of  Pulsatilla  three  times 
a  day  for  six  weeks  before  the  expected  labor.  See  that 
her  bowels  are  kept  regular,  by  diet,  enemas,  or  suitable 
remedies.  Do  not  allow  labor  to  come  on  before  the  com- 
pletion of  the  full  period  of  gestation,  if  it  is  possible  to 
prevent  it.  Disregard  of  this  injunction  in  my  opinion 
causes  many  protracted  deliveries  and  much  loss  of  life. 
We  lay  it  down  as  a  rule  that  no  labor  should  be  encour- 
aged unless  the  cervix  uteri  has  disappeared  and  the  os  is 
felt  as  a  simple  opening  in  a  membrane,  so  to  speak.  The 
tissue  of  the  uteinis  should  not  be  felt  thicker  than  paste- 
board or  heavy  cloth  in  any  case  at  the  completion  of  full 
term.  When  the  cervix  uteri  is  felt  a  half  inch  long,  stop 
the  pains  if  they  are  present,  even  though  there  be  dilata- 
tion suflScient  to  readily  admit  the  index  finger,  or  even 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  125 

the  ends  of  two  fingers.  Unless  we  do  this,  the  case  will 
be  protracted,  if  not  dangerous.  Attention  to  this  prin- 
ciple of  practice  we  wish  to  emphasize,  as  we  think  more 
attention  should  be  given  this  matter  than  has  ever  been 
given  to  it  by  writers  or  practitioners ;  and  to  its  neglect 
more  than  one-half  of  the  tedious  labors  may  be  attrib- 
uted. When  called  to  a  case  supposed  to  be  in  labor,  we 
first  make  an  examination  to  determine  whether  or  not 
the  cervix  has  disappeared.  If  it  has  not,  we  take  meas- 
ures to  arrest  the  pains,  even  if  they  are  quite  regular,  and 
there  is  present  considerable  dilatation  of  the  cervix.  This 
we  usually  accomplish  with  Secale  3x  dilution,  or  with 
Bell.  3x  if  there  is  a  flushed  face  present  in  the  patient. 
If  these  remedies  fail  to  arrest  the  pains,  we  give  Camph. 
3x  ;  and  if  this  is  not  sufficient,  we  give  ^  gr.  pill  of 
Morph.  Sulph.,  and  repeat  it  in  an  hour  if  the  pains  etill 
continue.  These  false  pains,  coming  on  before  the  com- 
pletion of  term,  often  mislead  the  physician  when  he  fails 
to  note  the  condition  of  the  cervix  uteri,  and  he  states 
that  labor  has  commenced,  and  goes  about  attending  to 
the  case,  has  the  nurse  sent  for,  etc.,  etc.  After  an  hour 
or  two  the  pains  grow  less  frequent,  or  stop  entirely  in 
some  instances,  when  he  feels  called  upon  to  make  his 
words  good  by  trying  to  excite  pains  by  giving  warm  teas, 
irritating  the  cervix  uteri  with  the  finger,  and,  as  soon  as 
some  pain  occurs,  giving  Secale  cor.  flu.  ext.  in  half-tea- 
spoonful  doses,  till  the  uterus  is  excited  into  violent  con- 
traction. Still  the  08  dilates  but  slowly,  and  time  wears 
away,  little  progress  is  made,  the  patient  becomes  ex- 
hausted, stimulants  are  given,  and  often  more  Ergot  also, 
and  still  no  delivery  takes  place;  the  friends  become 
alarmed,  the  doctor  gets  nervous,  another  is  called  in  con- 
sultation, and  the  forceps  decided  upon  owing  to  the  ex- 
haustion of  the  patient  and  the  little  progress  made, 
though  by  this  time  a  considerable  dilatation  of  the  os 
has  been  accomplished.  All  this  goes  to  make  up  a  bad 
case.    The  forceps  are  not  easily  applied  owing  to  the  lack 


126  OHIO  ST  A  TE  SOCIETY. 

'  of  full  dilatation  of  the  os  and  vagina,  and  delivery  with 
them  when  finally  adjusted  is  slow  and  difficult,  very  fre- 
quently causing  laceration,  and  in  too  many  cases  results 
in  loss  of  life  to  both  mother  and  child. 

This  is  a  dark  picture,  but  jone  only  too  often  seen ; 
all  of  which  is  attributable  to  the  mistake  made  at  first, 
in  supposing  the  labor  pains  genuine,  and  the  full  term  of 
gestation  accomplished. 

I  hope  I  have  made  myself  well  understood  in  regard 
to  the  necessity  for  preventing  premature  delivery,  in  con- 
nection with  which  I  might  mention  as  an  important  con- 
sideration that  in  these  cases  the  child  is  less  strong,  even 
if  able  to  live,  the  soft  parts  of  the  mother  are  more  un- 
•  yielding,  and  consequently  more  liable  to  laceration,  than 
at  the  completion  of  full  term. 

We  will  now  consider  normal  labor  at  full  term,  and 
how  we  may  make  it  rapid  and  easy.  First,  keep  the  pa- 
tient warm  in  bed  most  of  the  time,  see  to  it  that  the 
bowels  have  been  freely  evacuated  recently,  and  that  tlie 
urine  is  frequently  voided ;  be  careful  that  the  membranes 
are  not  ruptured  till  nearly  complete  dilatation  of  the  os 
is  accomplished;  and  if  they  are  accidentally  ruptured, 
distend  the  os  with  two  fingers  during  each  pain,  to  take 
the  place  of  the  bag  of  waters  which  usually  will  distend 
the  OS  when  the  membranes  are  not  ruptured.  Apply  a 
little  diluted  Bell,  ointment  to  the  cervix  uteri,  if  there  is 
any  rigidity  of  its  margin ;  let  the  patient  inhale  a  little 
chloroform  every  ten  minutes  during  dilatation  of  the  os, 
not  to  cause  insensibility,  but  simply  to  relax  the  system. 
This  accomplishes  what  was  once  secured  by  venesection 
and  emetics.  Occasionally  Tart.  Em.  3x  may  be  given  to 
advantage,  if  the  patient  or  friends  object  to  chloroform. 
When  full  dilatation  is  secured,  and  the  vagina  is  relaxed, 
rupture  the  membranes  and  let  the  labor  progress,  which 
it  usually  does  rapidly.  I  then  encourage  the  patient  to 
use  voluntary  expulsive  efforts  till  the  head  of  the  child 
begins  to  press  upon  the  perineum ;  then  I  give  chloro- 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  127 

form  to  cause  almost  a  loss  of  consciousness,  till  the  pa- 
tient have  three  or  four  pains,  which  will  usually  termin- 
ate the  labor.  In  case  the  child  is  not  rapidly  delivered 
I  allow  the  chloroform  discontinued  for  a  time,  and  I  hold 
the  child  back  at  each  pain  for  a  half  hour  or  so,  to  allow 
of  relaxation  of  the  vagina,  then  again  give  the  chloro- 
form and  allow  the  head  to  progress,  ^simply  supporting 
the  perineum  gently  with  the  palm  of  the  hand  and  press- 
ing the  head  gently  toward  the  pubis.  As  soon  as  the 
head  of  the  child  is  delivered,  wipe  it  with  a  soft  cloth 
and  remove  any  mucus  from  its  mouth  which  may  be 
there,  then  insert  a  finger  by  the  side  of  the  child's  neck, 
hook  it  under  an  arm,  and  use  a  little  traction  in  the  axis 
of  the  outlet  of  the  vagina — i.  e.,  forwards.  This  usually 
terminates  the  labor  at  once.  When  the  child  is  delivered 
we  wipe  its  face  and  chest  dry,  and  see  that  the  cord  is 
not  around  its  neck.  It  is  well  to  notice  this  as  soon  as 
the  head  is  delivered ;  but  in  some  cases,  when  we  dis- 
cover this,  we  cannot  slip  the  cord  over  the  head  on  ac- 
count of  its  being  too  short,  and  can  only  remove  it  after  , 
the  child  is  delivered.  As  soon  as  the  child  is  delivered 
and  wiped  dry,  the  chloroform  is  discontinued.  The  cord 
is  cut  if  the  child  cries  lustily ;  if  not,  wait,  bathe  its  face 
and  chest  in  cool  water,  or  use  artificial  respiration  if  need 
be.  Never,  if  possible,  cut  the  cord  till  the  child  breathes 
freely  and  cries ;  then  tie  the  cord  tightly  and  firmly  with 
strong  cord  about  an  inch  from  the  child's  body,  and  cut 
it  two  inches  from  where  it  is  tied.  Now  pass  the  hand 
over  the  mother's  abdomen  and  ascertain  if  the  uterus  is 
contracting,  arid  aid  its  contraction  if  it  is  not,  by  the  fric- 
tion of  the  extended  palm.  As  soon  as  we  find  the  uterus 
contracting,  we  assist  the  delivery  of  the  placenta  by 
gently  pressing  it  backwards  and  downwards  into  the  hol- 
low of  the  sacrum,  with  two  fingers  passed  into  the  ante- 
rior of  the  vagina,  thus  speedily  delivering  the  placenta, 
and  using  care  not  to  tear  off*  a  part  of  the  membranes  to 
be  left  in  the  uterus  to  cause  after-pains. 


128  OHIO  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

Regarding  the  use  of  the  forceps  to  hasten  delivery, 
I  must  say  a  few  words.  In  cases  where  we  have  full 
dilatation  of  the  os,  and  a  complete  relaxation  of  the  va- 
gina, and  the  labors  are  retarded  from  the  large  size  of 
the  head  of  the  child  in  comparison  with  the  mother's 
pelvis,  the  shortness  of  the  funis,  or  the  inefficiency  of  the 
pains,  and  two  doses  of  20  drops  of  the  flu.  ext.  of  Ergot 
fail  to  cause  progress  to  be  made  in  two  or  three  hours,  or 
where  the  head  becomes  impacted  and  does  not  progress 
for  this  length  of  time,  I  much  prefer  to  apply  the  forceps 
and  deliver.  In  such  cases  we  think  this  the  safer  prac- 
tice, rather  than  to  wait  ten  or  twelve  hours  with  no  prog- 
ress in  the  case.  We  usually  give  some  chloroform  before 
applying  the  forceps,  and  do  not  often  ask  for  advice  be- 
fore using  them,  though  in  the  case  of  a  young  physician 
I  would  advise  asking  for  a  consultation  in  such  cases,  if 
one  can  readily  be  obtained.  After  the  delivery  of  the 
child,  in  any  case,  and  the  removal  of  the  placenta,  we 
apply  a  bandage  gently  about  the  mother's  abdomen. 
This  we  direct  the  nurse  to  tighten  from  day  to  day,  al- 
ways seeing  that  it  is  tighter  in  its  lower  portion  than 
above. 

These,  I  believe,  constitute  the  main  points  I  have 
practiced,  to  secure  rapid  and  safe  delivery,  and  I  hope 
the  discussion  which  may  follow  will  bring  out  the  experi- 
ence of  many  others  upon  this  important  subject. 

Dr.  Eaton  said,  after  reading  his  paper :  These  views  are 
simply  my  own,  as  they  have  come  to  me  in  my  practice.  This 
subject,  though  often  discussed,  can  never  lose  its  interest  to  the 
obstetric  practitioner.  The  profession  have  been  eager  to  hasten 
delivery.  Before  sitting  down  a  word  in  regard  to  success.  In 
using  the  forceps  I  have  not  caused  laceration  but  in  one  in- 
stance. 

DISCUSSION. 

Dr.  Connell :  I  am  a  little  surprised  at  some  things  in  that 
paper.  I  am  surprised  that  one  of  our  own  school  should  come 
before  this  Society  and  advocate  the  use  of  chloroform  in  oar 
practice.    I  take  decided  exceptions  to  this.    I  do  not  think  it -is 


NINETEENTH  SESSION  129 

« 

in  aoGordanoe  with  the  principles  of  our  practice  to  use  chioro- 
form.  And  I  am  satisfied  from  my  own  observation  that  the 
giving  of  chloroform  cannot  help,  but  be  an  injury  in  a  majority 
of  eases.  If  it  must  be  done  in  any  case,  it  is  the  greatest  exception ; 
it  is  not  to  be  done  very  often.  And  I  would  be  very  careful  in 
employing  a  physician  in  my  own  family,  or  for  a  friend,  that 
was  in  the  habit  of  using  chloroform.  You  get  relaxation,  but 
it  ia  general  relaxation,  and  that  is  what  you  do  not  want.  It 
becomes  an  agency  that  you  cannot  control.  And  I  am  satis- 
fied that  many  a  patient's  life  has  been  lost  because  we  have  been 
in  a  hurry.  The  friends  get  anxious,  and  they  say,  **  Doctor, 
can't  you  do  something  for  Annie  or  Jane?"  And  the  doctor 
goes  to  work  and  gives  his  ansesthetics ;  and  the  patient,  I  be- 
lieve, often  diei^  as  the  result.  A  word,  also,  as  to  bandages. 
Every  physician'  fears  prolapsus  uteri.  You  place  the  patient 
upon  her  back,  to  apply  the  bandage,  and  what  can  you  do  ?  I 
don't  care  how  skillful  you  are,  you  are  going  to  do  an  injury. 
I  say,  if  you  are  going  to  have  a  good  delivery,  and  a  strong 
female  after  delivery,  give  up  the  use  of  ansesthetics  and  band- 
aging. 

A  Member :  I  would  like  to  ask  the  doctor  if  he  bases  .his 
views  OQ  his  experience  ? 

Dr.  Connell :  I  have  used  ansesthetics  but  a  few  times.  Once, 
in  a  case  of  version.  I  have  watched  other  practitioners  by  my 
side,  and  I  can  say  that  the  cases  which  have  been  disastrous 
have  been  the  cases  which  were  given  chloroform  or  ansesthet- 
ics. I  could  call  instances.  One  of  our  prominent  physicians  a 
short  time  ago  lost  his  wife.  He  had  given  her  an  anseathetic. 
I  do  not  say  it  killed  her,  but  he  said  to  me,  **  I  wish  I  had  not 
done  it." 

Dr.  Mills :  I  have  given  ansesthetics,  and  I  have  not  had 
the  least  difficulty  or  any  bad  results.  This  does  not  prove  anses- 
thetics to  be  so  objectionable. 

A  Member :  Neither  does  it  prove  a  good  delivery  to  be  the 
result  of  ansesthetics. 

Dr.  Warren  :  I  would  like  to  say  a  word  in  regard  to  false 
pains.  I  have  always  endeavored  to  impress  upon  the  patients 
that  these  are  false  pains  ;  that  they  are  not  real  pains.  I  have 
tried  that  plan  with  success.  I  had  one  case  where  a  lady  had 
over-lifted,  and  she  thought  labor  had  commenced.  By  impress- 
ing upon  her  mind  that  labor  had  not  commenced,  that  these  were 
ftilae  pains,  she  was  immediately  relieved  and  went  to  full  term. 
3 


130  OHIO  STATE  SOCIETY. 

As  to  the  use  of  ohloroform,  I  believe  that  it  is  an  old  saying 
that  he  who  knows  but  one  religion  does  not  know  any  religion. 
And  I  tliink  this  is  applicable  to  those  who  do  not  use  chloro- 
form. They  should  not  so  freely  condemn  those  who  do.  I  have 
used  chloroform  in  labor  with  marked  relief  to  the  .patient. 
Never  saw  any  bad  effects  from  its  use,  and  believe  the  danger 
of  hemorrhage  from  its  use  is  very  greatly  over-estimated.  We 
frequently  see  bad  cases  of  hemorrhage  where  it  has  not  been 
used  at  all.  Look  for  shreds  or  pieces  of  placenta  left  in  the 
uterus  before  blaming  the  chloroform.  I  would  rather  have 
statistics  given  to  show  its  bad  effects  ;  they  are  more  convinc- 
ing than  assertions. 

Dr.  Eggleston  :  I  do  not  use  chloroform  except  in  certain 
cases.  Where  it  is  indicated,  I  use  it.  Use  it  carefully,  and  it 
is  safe. 

Dr.  Morrill :  I  never  yet  gave  a  woman  chloroform,  and 
my  success  is  as  good  as  my  neighborR\  I  also  find  it  is  best 
to  cut  the  cord  about  an  inch  long.  It  is  my  practice  to  give 
Pulsatilla. 

Br.  Allen  :  I  think  the  doctor  ought  to  have  put  in  the 
word  ''  not ''  in  the  title  of  his  paper—**  How  not  to  Make  Labor 
Bapid  and  Safe.''  I  have  the  same  habit  that  Dr.  Morrill  has, 
of  giving  Pulsatilla  or  some  other  remedy.  Surely  Dr.  Eaton 
does  not  mean  to  give  Pulsatilla  dx  three  times  a  day  for  six 
weeks  before  parturition  I  Why,  he  might  produce  an  abortion. 
I  would  have  been  very  glad  to  have  a  few  remedies  given  in  the 
paper  for  **  rigid  os,''  because  if  we  understand  our  Materia 
Medica  well  we  do  not  need  chloroform.  I  have  never  given 
chloroform  in  my  life  during  labor.  I  have  never  given  mor- 
phia. I  have  never  ruptured  the  waters.  As  a  rule  we  have  too 
much  business  on  our  hands  to  be  good  obstetricians.  A  young 
practitioner  told  me  that  he  used  the  forceps  in  about  one-half 
his  cases.  Now  he  is  furnishing  cases  for  the  gyneecologist.  He 
is  leaving  many  a  ruptured  os  behind  him. 

Dr.  Eaton :  I  want  to  say  a  word  as  to  chloroform  being 
such  a  dangerous  thing.  I  have  never  lost  a  single  case  from 
the  use  of  chloroform.  There  was  only  one  case  where  there 
was  post-partem  hemorrhage.  I  don't  think  that  chloroform 
produced  it. 

A  Member :  Must  a  physician  give  chloroform  and  do  some- 
thing, so  that  he  can  collect  his  money  ? 


NINETEENTmSESSlON.  131 

Dr.  Eaton  :  No^  sir.  But  I  hold  that  it  is  a  physician's  prov- 
ince to  save  pain  as  well  as  life.  Those  who  object  to  the  use  of 
anesthetics  will  tell  you  it  is  very  common  to  sit  24  or  30  hours 
with  the  patient  in  labor.  Now  if  that  is  righbf  then  go  on. 
But  I  tell  you  those  patients  die,  and  die  undelivered.  I  will 
tell  you  how  it  is.  Sonie  doctors  have  a  way  of  sliding  out  of 
bad  cases.  Some  one  will  say,  **I  don't  know  but  we  had  bet- 
ter call  somebody  else."  And  the  doctor  replies,  **  Well^I  have 
no  objections.''  So  they  call  another  physician,  and  then  this 
man  can  say  he  has  never  lost  a  single  case !  These  points  I 
think  I  have  made  clear,  viz. :  Po  all  you  can  to  hasten  labor 
with  safety.    Rapidly  and  safely. 

Bv/reau  of  Clinical  Medicine, — Dr.  R.  N.  Warren, 
chairman  of  this  Bureau,  reported  a  paper  from  S.  D. 
Waters,  M.  D.,  entitled  ''  Bright's  Disease  vs.  The  Kid- 
neys." 

On  motion  the  paper  was  received. 

The  following  paper  was  read  by  M.  M.  Mills,  M.D.,  of 
Attica,  on  "  Ague :  •' 

I  present  the  following  cases,  hoping  they  may  be  the 
means  of  inducing  some  of  our  members  to  abandon  the 
louline  and  unscientific  method  of  prescribing  for  every 
case  of  "  Ague"  or  Intermittent  Fever  the  universal  Allo- 
pathic remedy.  Quinine.  Believing  that  every  remedy 
has  its  key-note,  and  that  every  case  its  corresponding 
characteristic  symptom,  and  can  therefore  be  very  easily 
prescribed  for  on  the  grand  law  of  Similia  Similibus  Ou- 
rantur^  I  consequently  give  only  the  key-note  symptoms 
in  some  of  the  cases,  it  being  the  only  ones  obtained. 

Case  1. — Geo.  H ,  aet  45 ;  dark,  fleshy ;  miller  by 

trade;  sent  for  me  Aug.  22, 1877, during  second  paroxysm, 
which  came  on  at  same  hour  as  on  the  20th.  Severe  chill 
and  high  fever  with  delirium.  Sweat  long  continued. 
Apyrexia  clear.  Head  feels  large  as  "bushel  basket." 
Gave  Quinine  3x  trit.  powder  every  three  hours  for  two 
days,  which  was  all  that  was  needed  until  the  present 
spring. 

Case  2. — March  5th,  1883,  saw  him  again  during  sweat 
of  second  paroxysm,  and  learned  that  it  came  on  two 


132  OHIO  8TA  TE  SOCIETY. 

hours  ealier  than  preceding  one  of  the  3d,  and  in  both  he 
was  very  thirsty  only  during  chill.  Ign.  12th  prevented 
another. 

Case  3. — Isaac  S ,  aet.  48;  dark,  large,  lean ;  car- 
penter. Had  the  third  every  other  day.  •■'  Chill  Fever" 
May  30, 1878,  when  I  saw  him.  Chill  very  severe,  irregu- 
lar in' time,  accompanied  by  thirst  for  large  draughts.  No 
thirst  at  other  stages.  During  chill  small  of  back  felt  hot, 
and  cold  during  fever.  Ign.  2x,  five  drops  every  four 
hours  permanently  cured  him. 

Case  4. — Flora  H ,  aet.  22 ;  light,  tall,  and  slender ; 

teacher.  Has  taken  Quinine  and  broken  fever  three 
times  this  spring,  only  to  have  a  return  in  a  short  time. 
June  20th,  1878,  found  her  in  bed  with  burning  fever,  not- 
withstanding she  was  heavily  and  closely  covered.  The 
least  movement  or  removal  of  covering  caused  her  to 
chill.  After  paroxysm  she  is  so  weak  she  can  hardly  walk. 
Nux.  2x,  in  water,  every  two  hours  cured  after  a  light  chill 
on  the  22d. 

Case   5. — Geo.  C ,  aet.  33;    tall,  dark;    fartner. 

Called  on  me  August  1st,  1878,  his  "  well  day."  Being 
only  able  to  ride  to  town  since  his  "  shake"  yesterday. 
Describe  paroxysms  as  every  other  day,  not  at  same  hour. 
Chill  without  thirst;  slight  shaking,  lasting  half  an  hour. 
Heart  with  thirst  and  headache,  and  desire  to  be  covered 
up  in  bed,  as  it  made  him  cold  to  move  or  be  uncovered. 
Nux.  vom.  12th  every  three  hours  cured  without  another 
"  shake." 

Case  6. — Ad.  W ,  aet.  35 ;  light ;  red  whiskers  and 

hair ;  sallow  and  weak ;  a  farmer.  Came  to  me  on  his 
well  day,  Sept.  23, 1878.  Has  been  sick  all  summer  with 
every  other  day  "  Ague."  Has  taken  Quinine  in  large 
doses  from  two  Homoeopathists  and  three  Allopathists, 
breaking  up  the  paroxysms  for  a  short  time  at  first,  but 
now  it  has  no  eflect.  Present  symptoms,  hard  chill  and 
fever;  no  sweat;  fever  lasting  until  next  chill  in  light 
form ;  therefore  is  not  well  any  day.    No  appetite ;  dull 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  133 

headache  all  the  time.  Very  weak ;  hardly  able  to  sit  up 
all  of  his  well  day.  Gave  Polyp,  off.  2x  five  drops  every 
four  hours,  and  in  ten  days  he  was  at  work  on  the  farm 
and  has  had  no  return  to  this  date. 

Case  7. — Edna  F ,  eet.  8 ;  light,  slender  and  ner- 
vous. At  7  A.  M.,  April  21st,  1880,  had  violent  chill.  Pa- 
rents sent  word  that  she  was  in  spasms.  Found  her  semi- 
conscious, with  great  thirst;  complained  of  tickling  in 
ears.  Gave  Sac.  lac.  until  I  could  see  her  again  at  noon, 
when  I  found  her  with  temp.  102  and  increasing,  thirsty, 
and  tickling  in  ears.  Hydroa  covering  lips.  Nat.  mur. 
30th  cured. 

Case  8. — Carrie  N ,  eet.  21;  brunette;  small  (wt. 

80  lbs.)  and  nervous.  A  teacher  of  music.  Has  had  Chill 
Fever  and  sweat  every  other  night  for  a  week.  Chill  with 
desire  to  get  nearer  the  stove  and  warm ;  no  thirst.  Heat 
with  thirst ;  oppression  of  chest  and  extreme  tenderness 
of  lo^er  bowels ;  cannot  have  the  bedclothes  touch  her. 
The  least  pressure  on  throat  causes  cough.  Sweat  relieves 
all.  Lach.  30th  every  four  hours  cured,  and  she  has  had 
no  return  now  for  three  months. 

Dr.  Warren  then  read  a  paper  on  "  Salicylic  Acid  as 
a  Primary  Dressing  for  Lacerated  and  Incised  Wounds :" 

Much  has  been  written  during  the  last  decade  on  the 
subject  of  micro  organisms  and  the  relation  they  bear  to 
the  human  system.  Posterity  in  writing  a  history  of  the 
science  of  medicine  will  doubtless  call  this  the  "  Oerm 
Age:' 

The  object  of  this  paper  will  not  be  to  discuss  the 
truth  or  falsity  of  the  germ  theory ;  but  as  a  prelude  to 
what  I  have  to  say  on  the  primary  treatment  of  wounds  I 
shall  call  your  attention  briefly  to  that  part  of  the  germ 
theory  that  relates  to  the  suppurative  process.  A  host  of 
careful,  conscientious  and  untiring  workers  are  in  the  field 
in  search  of  these  microscopic  bodies,  to  ascertain,  if  pos- 
sible, their  origin,  their  habits,  their  place  of  abode,  and 


134  OHIO  STATE  SOCIETY. 

the  relation  they  sustain  to  the  human  organism  in  health 
and  disease.  Are  they  organized  or  unorganized  bodies  ? 
Do  they  belong  to  the  animal  or  vegetable  kingdom  ?  Are 
they  the  cause  or  the  result  of  disease  ?  These  and  many 
other  questions  concerning  them  are  yet  in  doubt  in  the 
minds  of  many  observers.  Some  contending  that  they  are 
nolhing  more  than  fibrin  threads  and  fat  crystals ;  but  the 
fact  that  they  are  capable  of  independent  locomotion  and 
multiply  by  fission  is  evidence  to  my  mind  that  they  are 
organized  bodies.  They  probably  belong  to  the  vegetable 
kingdom,  a  species  of  fungi  or  algae.  Eminent  patholo- 
gists are  still  in  doubt  in  regard  to  the  relation  these  bod- 
ies sustain  to  the  suppurative  process.  Wiggart  was  in- 
clined to  regard  micro-organisms  not  merely  a  cause,  but 
the  sole  cause  of  acute  suppuration  ;  but  this  idea  has  been 
dissipated  by  later  and  more  trustworthy  experiments. 

Billroth  concluded  after  much  experience  that  bacte- 
ria were  the  result  and  not  the  cause  of  certain  changes  in 
the  secretions  and  tissues  during  the  suppurative  process. 
It  is  said,  however,  that  of  late  he  has  materially  modified 
some  of  his  conclusions.  Conheim  thinks  that  suppura- 
tion not  due  to  bacteria  is  extremely  rare.  Belfield  says, 
practically  we  may  regard  acute  suppuration  as  proof  of 
the  access  of  external  irritant  matter  organized  or  unor- 
ganized. Pasteur,  Lister,  Koch,  and  many  other  patholo- 
gists of  note,  attribute  suppuration  in  a  majority  of  cases 
to  the  puterfactive  fermentation  set  up  in  animal  fluid  by 
the  development  in  it  of  organisms  carried  into  it  as  germs 
floating  through  the  atmosphere,  and  not  spontaneously 
developed  in  it  by  any  change  taking  place  in  the  tissues 
or  fluids  of  the  part  independently  of  such  impregnation. 
It  necessarily  follows  that  if  this  "  germ  theory,"  as  ap- 
plied to  suppuration,  be  correct,  suppuration  in  open 
wounds  can  in  a  large  proportion  of  cases  be  avoided  by 
preventing  the  entrance  of  germs  into  the  wound,  or  by 
destroying  their  vitality  by  some  antiseptic  agent.  Nature 
is  an  excellent  teacher,  and  an  apt  scholar  can  learn  much 


NINETEENTH  SESSION  135 

by  observing  closely  her  methods :  witness  the  blood  clot, 
nature's  hsemostatic,  which  forms  and  covers  the  wound 
with  crust  or  scab,  excluding  all  foreign  material  that 
would  be  noxious  to  the  healing  process.  Thus  many 
wounds,  entrusted  to  her  care,  either  in  man  or  the  lower 
dnimals  heal  promptly. 

Assuming  the  "germ  theory"  as  regards  open  wounds 
tb  be  correct,  and  taking  a  suggestion  from  nature  as  my 
guide,  I  at  once  entirely  occlude  the  wound  with  an  agent 
fulfilling  the  indications,  viz.:  prevening  the  access  of  irri- 
tant  matter,  either  inorganized  or  if  organized,  rendering 
it  inert.  This  agent  is  dry  Salicylic  Acid,  it  being  nearly 
itisoluble  in  blood  and  serum,  it  unites  with  them,  forming 
a  crust  which  protects  mechanically  as  well  as  antiseptic- 
ally.  Salicylic  Acid  unquestionably  holds  a  place  in  the 
front  rank  of  antizymotic  agents  and  is  a  powerful  remedy 
to  prevent  puterfactive  changes.  Some  of  the  advantages 
of  this  mode  of  treatment  are : 

Ist,  The  wound  unites  without  suppuration,  conse- 
quently without  loss  of  tissue. 

2d,  Time  is  saved  to  the  patient  as  the  process  of 
healing  is  shorter  than  when  suppuration  takes  place. 

3d,  A  great  saving  of  labor  to  the  physician  and 
nurses,  because  of  infrequent  dressings. 

4th,  The  Acid  being  a  feeble  poison  and  very  insoluble 
there  is  no  danger  of  accidents  from  absorption. 

5th,  The  odor  is  not  so  disgusting  and  unpleasant  as 
eome  other  remedies  now  in  use. 

6th,  It  is  very  inexpensive  as  compared  with  some 
other  methods. 

When  to  use  this  remedy  as  a  dressing : 

1st,  The  rule  is,  to  use  it  in  all  lacerated,  incised  and 

operating  wounds  that  can  be  closed  or  nearly  closed. 
2d,  Do  not  use  it  in  wounds  when  there  is  a  great  loss 

of  tissue  or  the  surrounding  soft  parts  so  badly  injured  as 

to  destroy  their  vitality. 


136  OHIO  ST  A  TE  SOCIETY. 

3d,  In  this  paper  the  Acid  is  recommended  as  a  pri- 
mary  dressing,  as  I  have  had  no  experience  in  its  use  after 
the  wound  has  become  infected. 

My  first  experienoe  in  the  use  of  this  agent  as  a  dress- 
ing was  in  "  scalp  wounds,"  and  the  result  being  excellent 
I  was  led  to  its  use  in  incised  and  lacerated  wounds  in 
other  parts  of  the  body ;  thus  far  the  results  have  been 
extremely  satisfactory.  I  can  cheerfully  recommend  it  for 
further  trial. 

How  to  use  it :  Cleanse  the  wound  of  all  foreign  ma- 
terial, check  hemorrhage  if  troublesome,  coaptate  the 
edges,  using  silver  wire  sutures  when  necessary,  and  over 
all  apply  the  dry  Acid,  pressing  it  down  and  making  it 
compact,  absolutely  occluding  the  entire  wound. 

Unless  there  is  evidence  of  putrefaction  or  suppura- 
tion do  not  disturb  the  wound  for  a  number  of  days.  Let 
infrequent  dressing  be  the  rule.  Do  not  bandage  heavily 
over  the  wound  after  applying  the  acid,  just  enough  to 
keep  everything  in  its  place.  My  rule  is,  keep  the  injured 
part  cool  and  dry.  Warmth  and  moisture  favor  suppura- 
tion, according  to  my  experience. 

Case  1. — Gillie  H.,  aet.  10,  was  attacked  by  a  savage  and 
ferocious  dog  and  severely  bitten  about  the  head  and  face ; 
the  scalp  being  sadly  lacerated  in  a  great  number  of  places. 
After  cleaning  and  coaptating  the  parts  as  best  I  could, 
the  wounds  were  immediately  occluded  with  dry  Salicylic 
Acid.  The  result  was  almost  immediate  relief  of  pain. 
There  was  no  suppuration,  and  no  change  of  dressing  was 
needed.  No  work  for  the  attendants.  Wounds  all  healed 
in  a  few  days. 

Case  2. — J.  S„while  under  the  influence  of  poor  whisky,, 
had  his  head  and  face  fearfully  lacerated  with  beer  glasses. 
On  presenting  himself  for  treatment  I  doubt  if  his  own 
mother  would  have  recognized  him,  so  terribly  were  his 
head  and  face  disfigured,  flesh  hanging  in  pieces  about  his 
forehead,  eyebrows  cut  loose  and  turned  downward  over 
his  eyes,  upper  lip  cut  entirely  through  and  through.    It 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  137 

was  a  long  and  tedious  task  to  get  him  in  shape  again — a 
stitch  here  and  a  stitch  there  until  all  was  completed — 
then  all  was  occluded  with  the  dry  Acid.  The  result  was 
excellent,  all  the  wounds  healing  without  suppuration — 
I)ossibly  a  few  drops  formed  where  some  of  the  stitches 
were  inserted  as  that  frequently  occurs  when  the  stitches 
are  silk. 

In  conclusion,  1  would  say  1  have  used  Calendula,  wa- 
tery solution,  also  Carbolic  Acid  in  water,  and  in  oil,  as 
applications  to  open  wounds,  but  feel  confident  that  dry 
Salicyle  Acid  has  given  me  the  best  results  when  used  as  a 
primary  dressing. 

Dr.  Eaton  :  Dr.  Warren  has  shown  us  much  tljat  will  com- 
mand the  respect  of  all  practitioners.  I  must  say  that  Salicylic 
Acid  is  superior  to  anything  with  which  I  am  acquainted. 

Dr.  Webster :  I  have  made  use  of  it  for  three  or  four  years. 
It  is  excellent. 

Dr.  Allen  :    How  does  it  differ  from  Calendula  ? 

Dr.  Warren  :  I  think  that  it  acts  mechanically,  as  well  as 
antiseptically.  Calendula  has  always  been  used  in  water.  This 
can  be  used  with  very  little  trouble — applied  dry  to  the  wound. 

Bureau  of  Pmdohgy. — No  report.  Dr.  Sanders  offered 
the  following : 

Resolved^  That  any  member  of  this  Society,  who  shall  have 
maintained  a  membership  in  good  and  regular  standing  for  a  pe- 
riod of  twenty  years,  shall  be  placed  on  the  roll  of  honorary 
membership,  and  shall  thenceforth  be  exempt  from  further 
financial  obligations  to  tlie  Society. 

Dr.  Sanders  :  It  seems  to  me,  Mr.  President,  that  a  mem- 
ber who  has  thus  served  out  a  period  of  twenty  years,  should  be 
exempt  from  further  financial  obligation. 

Dr.  Conn  ell  said :  This  is  a  motion  to  let  our  old  war- 
horses  go  free.  They  are  the  men  who  have  the  money,  while 
we  young  men  have  to  bear  the  burden.  Certainly  they  are  bet- 
ter prepared  than  our  young  men  to  pay  their  dues.  I  am  iure 
the  old  men  can  afford  to  back  up  the  young  men.  I  do  not 
think  the  Society  will  be  benefited  by  such  action.  I  think  it 
will  tend  to  lessen  the  obligation  on  the  part  of  the  older  men. 

The  President :    This  Society  has  been  organized  since  '64. 


138  OHIO  ST  A  TE  SOCIETY. 

Dr.  Eaton :  We  have  in  our  city  (Cincinnati)  some  of  these 
old  members  whom  we  delight  to  honor.  The  purpose  of  this 
resolution  is  to  show  them  honor.  If  the  gentleman  who  has 
opposed  the  motion  had  been  here  twenty  years,  he  would  be 
willing  to  accept  the  honor. 

Dr.  Webster :  I  am  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  this  Soci- 
ety. It  would  be  very  humiliating  to  us  to  be  laid  upon  the 
shelf.  I  think  we  can  pay  our  dues.  If  we  do  pass  this  resolu- 
tion we  have  got  to  change  our  constitution.  I  am  opposed  to  it 
myself. 

The  resolution  prevailed. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Connell,  Drs.  Pulte  and  Benjamin 
Ehrman  were  placed  on  the  honorary  list. 


Wednesday's  Session. — The  Society  was  called  order 
at  9:15  a.  m.,  by  Dr.  0.  E.  Walton,  of  Hamilton,  first  Vice- 
President. 

Credentials  and  reports  were  presented  from  North- 
eastern Ohio  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  and  from  the 
physicians  of  the  Ohio  Hospital  for  Women  and  Chil- 
dren. 

Dr.  Flowers  presented  the  report  of  the  Necrologist, 
ond  read  an  obituary  of  Dr.  McMahon,  of  Marion,  O. 

Bureau  of  Anatomy^  Physiology  and  Pathology. — Dr. 
W.  O.  Miller,  acting  as  chairman,  announced  a  paper  by 
Dr.  C.  W.  Carroll,  on  ''  Spina  Bifida." 

Dr.  Sanders :  I  am  not  very  familiar  with  this  subject,  but 
am  very  much  interested  in  it.  The  paper  is  very  commenda- 
ble, is  very  praiseworthy.  I  think  there  could  have  been  added 
to  it,  vt-ry  properly,  the  consideration  of  some  malformations. 

Dr.  Walton  :  I  was  recently  called  to  an  interesting  case. 
The  breech  presentation  had  terminated  in  delivery  as  far  as  the 
head,  when  all  progress  ceased ;  the  vagina  was  occupied  by  a 
large  fluctuating  mass  upon  which  the  struggling  uterus  exer- 
cised its  fruitless  efforts.  After  patient  endeavors  the  forceps  were 
introduced,  and  careful  manipulation  resulted  in  the  delivery  of 
an  enormous  hydrocephalic  head.  The  child  also  presented  the 
unusual  accompaniment  of  a  Spina  Bifida.  Whethei  the  fact 
that  the  mother  of  the  child,  and  of  the  child  referred  to  in  my 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  189 

paper,  resided  within  a  few  yards  of  the  Hamilton  Reservoir,  or 
whether  the  long-6on tinned  and  animated  discussion  of  the  wa- 
ter works  question  had  any  relation  with  the  production  of  these^ 
water- logged  youngsters,  I  Will  lea>^  too  older  and  wiser  heads 
to  determine. 

Bureau  of  Surgery. — Dr.  Walton  said :  "  1  am  sorry 
to  say  that  so  far  as  I  know  I  am  the  only  member  of  that 
Bureau  present."  He  then  presented,  by  title,  a  paper  by 
M.  P.  Hunt,  M.  D.,  and  proceeded  to  read  hie  own,  on 
''  Intravaginal  Paracentesis." 

The  papers  were  received  by  the  Society. 

Bureau  of  Oynmcology. — The  Secretary  said  he  had 
no  papers  from  this  bureau. 

Dr.  Wm.  Webster  read  a  paper  on  "  Abnormal 
Growths  in  Connection  with  Uterine  Organs." 

Dr.  Walton :  Mr.  President,  I  would  like  to  ask  by  the 
shade  of  Hahnemann  what  the  doctor  means  by  uterine  tonics  f 

Dr.  Webster :  After  this  lady  had  this  removed.  I  gave  her 
Aconite  3x  for  two  or  three  days  to  prevent  inflammation  ;  then 
followed  with  Nux.  vom.  dx;  then  Bryonia  6x.  I  consider  these 
i^ong  the  best  uterine  tonics.  I  will  state  that  t  am  in  the 
habit  of  giving  one  remedy  at  a  time,  then  watch  the  effect. 

Dr.  Walton :  I  will  ask  the  doctor  if  it  would  not  have 
been  a  good  plan  to  not  give  any  medicine  at  all,  and  watch  the 
case.  I  have  often  not  given  anything,  and  think  it  a  good 
plan. 

Dr.  Allen  :  I  would  like  to  ask  Dr.  Webster  a  question. 
You  gave  ue  three  or  four  remedies-as  uterine  tonics.  I  would 
like  to  ask  if  you  have  any  remedies  in  the  Materia  Med ica  that 
are  not  uterine  tonics? 

A  paper  was  read  by  C.  Hoyt,  M.  D.,  of  Oxford,  on 
"  Pelvic  Cellulitis,''  and  it  was  received  and  referred. 

Dr.  Sanders :  I  was  very  much  pleased  with  this  paper.  It 
is  evidently  a  veiy  scholady  production.  This  is  a  subject  of 
very  great  interest.  Sometimes  a  case  has  run  its  career  undiag- 
nosed, or  sometimes  as  inflammation  of  the  womb.  While  the 
paper  is  a  very  interesting  one,  I  would  have  liked  it  better  if  he 
had  indicated  what  particular  drugs  he  used.  I  have  really  but 
one  criticism,  and  that  is  in  regard  to  the  use  of  camphorated 
olL    Camphor  is  a  drug  that  is  incompatable  with  many  of  our 


140  OHIO  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

remedies.  I  do  not  think  anything  will  be  gained  by  its  use,  but 
on  the  contrary,  will  interfere  with  the  lndioate4  drug,  which 
may.  be  used  tropically  in  these  cases. 

Dr.  Allen  :  I  think  that  point  is  very  well  taken  by  Dr. 
Sanders.  We  cannot  or  ought  not  to  apply  camphor  while  treat- 
ing our  patients  with  internal  remedies.  We  do  not  pay  nearly 
enough  attention  to  the  relationship  of  remedies.  We  will  give 
one,  and  then  another,  and  another  without  a  proper  under- 
standing of  their  action.  For  a  number  of  years  Dr.  Hering 
paid  great  attention  to  this  relative  action  of  remedies.  One 
remedy  may  be  the  direct  antagonist  of  another.  Another  thing 
I  would  like  to  add  is,  Aloe,  for  instance,  is  not  a  good  remedy 
with  which  to  commence  the  treatment  of  a  chronic  case.  It 
resembles  Lycopodium  in  this  respect.  Sometimes  an  acute  at- 
tack of  diarrhoea  will  be  cured  by  it.  But  Aloe  like  Lycopodium, 
is  not  a  good  remedy  to  commence  a  chronic  case  with.  But,  I 
repeat,  as  a  rule  we  do  not  pay  enough  attention  to  the  relation 
of  one  drug  to  another.  If  we  would  pay  more  attention  to  this 
we  should  have  better  success,  infinitely  better. 

Bureau  of  Insanity,, — ^Dr.  Gilbert,  chairman,  reported 
a  paper  by  J.  K.  Webster,  M.  D.,  of  Dayton,  on  *•  The 
Study  of  Mental  Diseases,"  and,  on  motion,  it  was  read*by 
Dr.  Geppert : 

The  National  Association  for  the  Protection  of  the  In- 
sane has  issued  a  circular,  addressed  to  the  various  Medi- 
cal Colleges  of  the  country,  asking  that  the  didactic  and 
clinical  teachings  of  insanity  be  introduced. 

Now,  all  are  aware  that  the  study  of  mental  and  ner- 
vous diseases  are  receiving  too  little  attention  from  the 
profession.  About  a  dozen  of  Old  School  colleges  have 
lectures  on  mental  diseases,  and  I  believe  our  school  has 
in  proportion  a  larger  percentage.  Yet,  each  college 
ought  to  have  a  course  of  lectures  on  mental  diseases  and 
clinical  instruction  in  the  same  when  possible.  How  few 
young  physicians  have  seen,  professionally  speaking,  a 
case  of  insanity,  and  when  confronted  with  his  first  case 
how  incompetent  he  feels  to  treat  it.  He  has  heard  no 
lectures  on  the  subject,  consequently  has  no  notes  to 
which  he  can  refer,  and  as  to  books  pertaining  to  the  mat- 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  141 

ter,  it  is  doubtful  whether  his  small  library  contains  a  line 
pertaining  to  the  case  in  hand.  Who  does  he  blame? 
Who  should  he  blame  ?  Other  subjects  which  he  has  not 
heard  mentioned,  he  can  read  up.  But  in  regard  to  this 
one  he  finds  the  literature  exceedingly  meager.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  physicians  of  riper  years.  How  few  are 
competent  to  treat  successfully  nervous  diseases,  espec- 
ially mental  diseases.  We  as  a  school  claim,  and  I  think 
justly,  to  be  in  the  advance.     Let  us  then  not  falter  here. 

Until  the  present  decade  little  was  known,  and  the 
fraternity  seemed  to  care  less,  concerning  this  branch  of 
practice.  And  even  now  with  the  general  practitioner, 
the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  send  the  patient  to  the  asy- 
lum. The  question  arises  is  it  always  proper  to  send  the 
patient  to  this  resort  at  once.  Well,  yes,  when  we  know 
so  little  about  treating  his  afflictions.  We  claim  and  be- 
lieve that  so  far  as  Homoeopathic  treatment  has  been 
tested  in  mental  diseases  its  superiority  has  been  as  fully 
demonstrated  as  in  the  treatment  of  other  diseases.  And 
let  us  and  our  students  be  fully  prepared  to  take  charge 
of  and  intelligently  treat  all  such  cases  as  may  come  un- 
der our  care. 

The  time  is  coming,  and  we  trust  is  not  far  distant, 
when  Ohio  will  have  her  Homoeopathic  Asylums,  and  let 
us  be  prepared  for  the  work.  True,  this  is  a  specialty. 
But  where  are  our  specialists  ?  When  the  time  referred  to 
arrives  who  will  we  recommend  ?  The  men  of  experience 
are  too  busy  and  could  not  accept.  The  young  men  are 
not  prepared.  The  Old  School  have  men  who  have  held 
subordinate  positions  in  such  institutions,  and  when  a  new 
man  is  needed  all  that  is  necessary  is  promotion.  We 
cannot  do  this  at  present. 

We  have  not  advanced  these  ideas  in  any  spirit  of 
criticism  toward  the  teaching  in  our  colleges,  for  we  be- 
lieve they  are  equal  in  this  branch  to  the  Old  School.  But 
let  us  be  ahead  in  this  as  we  are  in  many  others.  Clinical 
teaching  with  the  present  facilities  would  hardly  be  prac- 


142  OHIO  ST  A  TE  SOCIETY. 

ticable,  but  let  us  have  more  didactic  instruction  now  and 
clinical  when  we  can.  Now  that  our  Old  School  brethren 
consider  us  insane,  let  us  be  able  to  treat  insanity. 

Dr.  Cleveland :  This  subject  is  one  undoubtedly  greatly  ne- 
glected. As  we  get  reports  from  Europe  we  And  tiiat  insanity  is 
on  the  increase.  And  our  medical  colleges  are  greatly  deficient 
in  instruction  relating  to  these  diseases.  I  myself  have  had 
some  experience  in  regard  to  mental  diseases.  Two  years  ago 
while  studying  in  the  college  in  New  York,  I  felt  a  peculiar  sen- 
sation while  listening  to  the  hospital  lecture,  and  was  not  able 
to  follow  the  professor  at  all.  From  this  fact,  that  medical  stu- 
dents frequeptly  give  out,  they  should  be  instructed  as  to  the 
peculiar  constitution  of  the  min^. 

Dr.  Geppert,  of  Oincinnati,  then  read  a  paper  on 
"  The  Care  of  the  Insane.'- 

Bureau  of  Ophthalmology  and  Otology. — A  pax)er  was 
read  by  W.  A.  Phillips,  M.  D.,  of  Cleveland,  on  "  Acute 
Suppurative  Inflammation  of  the  Middle  Ear." 

After  reading  his  paper  Dr.  Phillips  related  a  case  from 
practice,  illustrative  of  a  class  of  cases  in  which  timely  operative 
interference  is  of  the  greatest  benefit.  A  little  girl,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  severe  cold,  was  attacked  with  ear-ache  (acute  otitis 
media).  The  second  day  afterward  I  was  called  in  consultation, 
and  found,  by  examination,  that  both  of  the  drum-heads  were 
bulged  outwards  and  intensely  red — the  patient  suffering  ex- 
treme pain  and  feverish.  She  had  taken  Aeon,  internally  and 
warm  applications  had  been  made  locally.  The  bulging  of  the 
drum-heads  was  produced  by  the  pressure  of  inflammatory  pro- 
ducts in  the  tympanic  cavity,  and  would  have  favored  ulceration 
of  the  drum-heculs,  which  latter  would  have  soon  ruptured,  and 
were  then  liable  to  be  partially  if  not  entirely  ulcerated  away. 
The  indication,  then,  was  plain.  An  opening  through  the  tym- 
panic membranes  with  a  broad  needle  would  be  sufficient  to 
evacuate  the  contents  of  the  drum  cavity,  and  the  wounds  thus 
made  would  be  far  more  favorable  for  healing  than  they  would 
if  produced  by  ulceration  and  pressure.  Chloroform  was  admin- 
istered and  the  puncture  of  the  membranes  was  made.  A  thin, 
straw-colored  liquid  was  discharged.  Instillations  of  warm  Wft- 
ter  were  to  be  made  into  the  ear  during  the  next  twenty-foof 
hours,  provided  the  pain  should  reappear.    In  three  days  the 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  143 

openiDgs  were  entirely  healed,  and  the  patient  recovered 
promptly  without  impairment  of  hearing. 

Dr.  Wehdter :  How  long  does  it  take  the  puncture  in  the 
drum^head  to  heal  ? 

Dr.  Phillips :  In  thirty-six  hours,  and  even  sooner,  the 
drum-head  will  be  nicely  healed.  If,  however,  ulceration  attack 
the  edges  of  the  wound,  so  that  a  loss  of  substance  occurs  then 
the  time  of  healing  will  be  indefinite.  And  if  the  opening  be- 
oomes  large,  it  may  never  close,  but  leave  a  permanent  perfora- 
tion, which  is  generally  accompanied  by  a  chronic  aural  dis- 
charge that  is  frequently  very  difficult  to  cure.  A  clean  cut 
through  the  drum-head  will,  in  many  cases,  heal  by  first  inten- 
tion ;  and  ulcerative  opening  necessarily  by  granulation — the 
latter  being  so  slow  that  the  edges  of  the  perforation  may  heal 
over  without  the  perforation  itself  ever  being  closed  at  all ;  and 
hence,  a  chronic  aural  discharge  results  that  might  have  been 
prevented  by  paracentesis. 

The  doctor  was  asked  what  remedies  he  would  recommend 
as  being  most  efficacious  in  the  hands  of  general  practitioners 
for  the  treatment  of  chronic  discharges  from  the  ear,  to  which 
reply  was  made  as  follows  : 

Finely  powdered  boracic  acid  blown  into  the  ear  after  the 
discharge  has  been  removed,  is  undoubtedly  the  best  application. 
Other  powders  are  used,  but  should  not  be  applied  without  being 
very .  carefully  watched,  as  they  are  liable  to  form  hardened 
masses, which  are  often  difficult  to  remove,  and  may  produce  ad- 
ditional trouble.  I  employ  a  very.simple  instrument,  of  my  own 
device,  for  a  powder  blower,  which  consists  of  a  rubber  bulb  and 
tube,  like  those  used  in  the  construction  of  Delano's  atomizer.  I 
insert  in  the  end  of  the  rnbber  tube  a  glass  tube  three  inches 
long,  one-fourth  of  ftn  inch  in  diameter,  and  having  a  calibre  of 
rather  more  than  one-eight  of  an  inch.  It  is  now  ready  for  use. 
Strike  the  free  end  of  the  glass  tube  perpendicularly  into  the 
powder,  and  you  can  thus  fill  the  tube  to  any  desired  extent.  In- 
sert the  end  of  the  tube  into  the  meatus,  and  a  quick,  light  grasp 
of  the  bulb  blows  the  powder  unto  the  diseased  surface.  Of 
oourse,  the  same  thing  can  be  done  through  a  quill  or  long  glass 
tube  with  the  breath,  provided  you  are  not  particular  about  the 
neatness  of  the  procedure.  Among  the  liquid  preparations  I  re- 
gard Garb,  acid,  five  drops  to  the  ounce  of  glyc.  and  water,  half 
and  half;  Sulp.  of  Zinc,  or  Sulph.  of  Alum,  two  or  three  grains 
to  the  ounce,  as  the  best  applications.    If,  however,  hypertro- 


144  OHIO  STA  TE  SOCIETY. 

phic  tissue,  or  polypi  have  formed,  none  of  these,  including  Bo- 
racic  acid,  will  be  of  much  service.  In  answer  to  the  question 
concerning  the  use  of  internal  remedies,  I  have  to  say,  that  my 
experience  in  the  effort  to  cure  chronic  suppurative  discharges 
from  the  ear  with  them  has  beed  unsatisfactory.  The  trouble  is 
local,  as  this  term  is  understood,  and  in  my  Judgment,  is  best 
met  by  local  applications.  I  do  not  feel  certain  that  I  have  ever 
cured  a  case  by  internal  remedies  alone,  although  I  have  tried  to 
the  best  of  my  ability.  Some  cases  will  get  well  without  any 
treatment— even  very  chronic  cases ;  and  for  that  very  reason, 
the  few  cases  I've  known  to  get  well  under  the  internal  medica- 
tion alone,  I  am  in  doubt  about  as  to  whether  the  medicine 
cured,  or  whether  they  would  have  recovered  without  it.  In 
other  words,  theoretically,  1  believe  in  internal  remedies  for  this 
affection  ;  practically,  I  am  somewhat  in  doubt.  There  is  evi- 
dence, however,  to  believe  that  internal  and  local  treatment  will 
accomplish  more  than  either  one  will  alone.  About  TeUurium. 
O  yes,  we've  all  tried  Tellurium  on  the  plan  of  the  **  lish  pickle 
smell ;''  but,  for  my  part,  I  either  never  encountered  that  classic 
odor,  or  else  Tellurium  isn't  **  up  to  snuff."  The  remedies  that 
have  seemed  to  me  to  avail  the  most  are  Araen.Iod,,  Sulph,,Oalo. 
Phoa,,  and  Silicea. 

Dr.  McDermott :  This  paper  is  certainly  of  great  interest  to 
us.  Now  here  is  a  fact,  that  sometimes  sweet  oil  is  used  as  an 
application.  Sweet  oil  should  not  be  used  in  healing.  Perhaps 
it  might  not  do  harm.  I  have  used  it  in  fungus  growths ;  but  it 
is  likely  to  become  rancid.  No  doubt  it  does  in  some  cases  pro- 
duce acute  inflammation.  The  best  way  to  use  it  is  in  liquid 
vaseline.  That  does  not  become  rancid.  Now,  another  thing 
about  using  water.  Be  careful  not  to  have  it  drop  on  the  drum- 
head, for  it  will  cause  intense  pain.  Let  the  water  strike  upon 
the  canal,  and  it  will  run  down  and  not  give  pain.  Liquid  vas- 
eline will  do,  but  yet  it  is  not  as  good  as  water. 

Dr.  Webster  :  I  agree  with  the  doctor  about  the  use  of  sweet 
oil.  It  is  so  likely  to  become  rancid.  Yet  people  will  take  the 
risk  of  putting  it  in.  And  they  will  put  in  cotton  and  sweet  oil, 
and  camphor  and  sweet  oil,  and  tobacco  and  sweet  oil.  I  have 
used  glycerine,  and  found  it  gave  ease  and  comfort. 

Dr.  Morrill :  I  am  a  general  practitioner.  I  suffered  from 
an  acute  attack.  Several  of  these  specialists  treated  me,  and 
were  continually  prescribing  Mercury  for  me.  About  two  years 
ago  I  removed  a  number  of  mercurial  fillings  from  my  teeth, 
and  have  not  had  prescriptions  for  Mercury  since. 


NINETEENTH  SESSION  145 

Dr.  Phillips :  I  will  explain  wliy  it  is  so  difflci^lt  to  do  any- 
thing in  these  cases.  The  drum  covering  is  very  narrow.  The 
middle  ear  is  lined  by  a  mucous  membrane,  and  this  mucous 
lining  becomes  thickened.  And  in  some  cases  the  whole  mas- 
toid process  is  filled  up,  There  is  the  trouble.  It  is  because  of 
that  fungus  growth.  Most  of  those  recent  cases  can  be  cured  ; 
but  cases  that  have  existed  for  years  are  in  many  instances  al- 
most incurable.  As  to  local  applications  :  Boracic  acid  has  been 
used  a  great  deal,  and  that  is  good.  But  water  injected  will 
make  the  matter  worse. 

Dr.  Allen  :  I  wish  to  mention  a  case  examined  before  the 
clinic  for  chronic  catarrhal  inflammation.  He  had  amalgam 
fillings.  They  were  removed,  and  the  patient  got  well.  We  do 
not  pay  enough  attention  to  mercurial  fillings.  One  of  the  first 
remedies  in  suppurative  infiammation  is  Silicea ;  if  the  charac- 
teristic fish-brine  odor  of  discharge  is  present,  Tellurium  Is 
also  good.  I  would  suggest  that  we  pursue  the  investigation 
farther  with  Tellurium.    We  want  a  better  proving. 

G.  C.  McDermott,  M.  D.,  of  Cincinnati,  read  a  paper 
on  "  Strabismus." 

W.  I.  Miller,  M.  D.,  of  Cleveland,  from  the  Bureau  of 
Anatomy,  Phyaiplogy,  and  Pathology,  read  a  paper  on 
"  Specimens  of  Pathological  Anatomy."  Dr.  Miller  ex- 
hibited some  very  interesting  specimens. 

The  President  appointed  delegates  to  the  American 
Institute  of  Homoeopathy,  and  to  the  Michigan  State  So- 
ciety. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  for  dinner. 


Wednesday  Afternoon  Session. — The  committee  on 
President's  Address  made  their  report,  which,  on  motion 
of  Dr.  Cleveland,  was  accepted. 

The  Convention  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  oflS- 
cers  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Dr.  J.  C.  Sanders  was  nominated  for  President,  and 

the  nomination  was  heartily  seconded.    On  motion,  the 

Secretary,  Dr.  Beebe,  cast  the  affirmative  vote,  and  Dr. 

Sanders  was  declared  elected. 
4 


146  OHIO  STATE  SOCIETY. 

Dr.  Sanders  said : 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Society  :  I  will  only 
say  that  I  thank  you  most  heartily  for  this  compliment,  which 
is  entirely  unsought  for. 

Drs.  Wm.  Webster  and  Geppert  were  put  in  nomina- 
tion for  first  Vice-President. 

Dr.  Webster  having  declined  the  honor,  on  motion  the 
Secretary  cast  the  affirmative  ballot  for  Dr.  Geppert. 

Dr.  Geppert  said : 

Mr.  President  and  Members  of  the  Society  :  I  can  truly  say 
that  this  honor  is  most  unexpected  to  me.    I  thanli  you  all  for  it. 

Drs.  M.  B.  Hunt  and  W.  I.  Miller  were  nominated  for 
second  Vice-President. 

Dr.  Miller  declining,  the  Secretary  was  instructed  to 
cast  an  affirmative  ballot  for  Dr.  Hunt,  and  he  was  duly 
elected. 

Dr.  Hunt  said : 

Mr.  President :  It  is  ceitaiuly  impossible  for  me  to  make  a 
speech.    I  thank  you  all  for  the  honor. 

Dr.  Beebe  was  heartily  nominated  for  Secretary,  and 
on  motion  the  President  cast  an  affirmative  ballot  for  his 
election. 

Dr.  W.  I.  Miller  was  nominated  for  Treasurer,  and  the 
Secretary  instructed  to  cast  the  affirmative  ballot,  which 
he  did,  and  Dr-  Miller  was  elected. 

On  motion  the  same  Board  of  Censors  that  served  this 
year  were  continued  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Dr.  Cleveland  was  nominated,  and  elected  by  the  bal- 
lot of  the  Secretary,  to  the  office  of  Assistant  Secretary. 

The  retiring  Treasurer,  Dr.  Sanders,  made  his  report. 
Dr.  Sanders  said : 

I  will  say  that  we  were  somewhat  surprised  at  the  size  of 
the  bill  from  the  Medical  Advance,  But  I  subsequently  submit- 
ted the  work  to  the  Economy  Printing  Company,  of  Cleveland, 
who  said  that  they  would  charge  more.  It  must  be,  therefore, 
that  this  bill  is  proper,  and  ought  to  be  paid.    I  would  like  to 


NINETEENTH  SESSION.  147 

submit  to  the  consideration  of  the  Society  the  names  of  some 
delinquent  members.  I  have  a  long  list  of  men  in  arrears.  I 
will  read  a  few  of  them. 

Dr.  Walton  :  Mr.  President,  I  would  lilte  to  ask  if  there  is 
not  a  provision  for  such  cases  ? 

Dr.  Sanders :  There  is ;  but  I  beg  to  add  that  I  have  not 
held  to  this  rule. 

Drs.  Eggleston,  Flowers,  and  Barnes  were  named  a 
committee  to  audit  the  Treasurer's  report. 

The  President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer  were  made  a 
cominittee  on  publication. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Sanders,  H.  C.  Allen,  M.  D.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Materia  Medica  in  the  University  Homoeopathic 
College,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  was  elected  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  Society. 

Place  of  Meeting, — Dr.  Geppert  moved  that  Colum- 
bus be  selected,  and  that  hereafter  it  be  the  place  of  meet- 
ing.   Lost. 

Dr.  Miller  proposed  Cleveland,  and  Dr.  Geppert  pro- 
posed Cincinnati.  On  taking  the  vote,  the  motion  to 
select  Cincinnati  was  lost.  The  vote  was  then  taken  on 
Cleveland,  and  prevailed. 

President  White  said : 

I  wish  to  say  a  word  to  the  younger  members.  It  all  de- 
pends on  them  to  mal^e  a  success  of  the  Society.  I  hope  they 
will  do  their  best. 

The  second  Tuesday  in  May  was  fixed  as  the  date  of 
meeting  next  year. 

The  committee  to  audit  the  Treasurer's  report  made 
their  report. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Sanders,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  ten- 
dered to  President  White,  for  his  able  administration. 

President  White  said :  "  I  thank  you  for  your  atten- 
tion, and  helping  me  along." 

Dr.  Flowers  moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  worthy 
Secretary  for  his  services,  and  the  motion  prevailed. 


148  CHRONIC  ALCOHOLISMUS. 

Dr.  Walton  moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  retiring. 
Treasurer,  and  the  motion  prevailed. 
The  Convention  then  adjourned. 


■••^ 


CHRONIC  ALCOHOLISMUS. 


RBAD  BEFORE  THE  MINNESOTA  HOMCEOPATHIC   INSTITUTE. 


C.  F.  MIL8PAUOH,  M.  D.,  BINGHAMPTOX,  K.  T. 


Dr.  Milspaugh's  paper,  in  that  gentleman's  absence, 
was  read  by  Dr.  Brazil,  the  most  interesting  part  being  the 
following  description  of  an  aggravated  case  and  its  suc- 
cessful treatment : 

Mr.  S — ,  aged  48,  had  been  an  habitual  imbiber  of  alco- 
holic liquors  for  over  ten  years,  and  of  late  so  great  had 
its  bonds  of  slavery  galled  him,  that  he  determined  to 
come  East  in  order  to  escape  his  companions  while  he 
made  the  attempt  to  cast  off  his  fetters.  Stopping  in 
Binghampton,  he  had  occasion  to  consult  me.  He  had  had 
no  passage  per  rectum  in  eleven  days,  and  was  feeling 
very  uncomfortable  in  consequence.  Upon  recording  his 
case  he  gave  the  following  symptoms :  Morning,  head- 
aches, during  which  his  head  felt,  as  he  expressed  it,  like 
a  block  of  wood ;  eyes  weak  ;  no  desire  for  business ;  all 
efforts  tired  him ;  chronic  anorexia  and  constipation ;  he 
had  eaten  nothing  for  eight  days,  except  a  few  shreds  of 
raw  salted  codfish ;  great  hyperaesthesia ;  every  sudden 
jar  or  sound  startled  him  spasmodically;  mouth  tasted 
sour  or  bitter;  bitter  eructations,  with  frequent  mucoid 
vomiting. 

You  have  all  determined  ere  this  that  Nux  vomica 
was  the  only  remedy  indicated  in  this  case,  and  I  agree 
with  you  fully.  But  then,  you  know,  we  are  all  of  us  sub- 
ject to  the  fascinating  influence  of  theory,  and  at  this  time 
I  was  under  the  spell.    I  had  but  just  theorized  that  the 


(7.  F.  MILSPAUOH.  149 

chronic  effects  of  any  poison  may  be  cured  by  a  high  po- 
tency of  the  offending  substance,  and  this  chance  to  ride 
my  hobby  was  too  good  to  waste.  I  therefore,  after  evac- 
uating the  bowels  with  an  ounce  injection  of  a  solution  of 
oil  soap  in  tepid  water,  gave  him  one  dose  of  alcohol 
cm.  upon  the  tongue,  and  a  vial  of  Placebo. 

The  next  day  lie  reported  himself  worse  of  all  symp- 
toms, except  the  headache ;  that  had  left  entirely.  He 
had  used  his  habitual  amount  of  stimulant,  and  had  eaten 
nothing.    Placebo  continued. 

Third  Day. — No  change. 

Fourth  Day. — Thinks  he  feels  a  little  better  generally. 
Does  not  relish  his  whisky  at  all — it  tastes  bad,  and  gags 
him.  Has  eaten  nothing  except  a  dried  herring.  No  pre- 
scription, as  evidently  an  action  has  commenced,  and  it  is 
better  to  await  results. 

Fifth  Day. — Improvement  quite  noticeable ;  he  en- 
joyed quite  a  supper  last  evening,  but  vomited  two  hours 
afterwards.    Took  but  one  drink  to-day. 

Sixth  Day. — I  called  upon  him  at  his  hotel,  and  found 
that  he  had  just  eaten  a  hearty  dinner,  perhaps  of  nearly 
every  course ;  he  was  feeling,  as  he  expressed  himself, 
"  better  than  for  years,"  and  asked  me  "  to  take  some- 
thing" to  his  rapid  recovery.  I  complied  by  taking 
"star,"  while  he  poured  himself  a  generous  glass  of  bour- 
bon. As  he  raised  it  to  his  lips  the  glass  fell  from  his 
hand,  and  running  to  the  window  he  vomited  profusely. 
I  left  him  in  his  room,  he  feeling  very  weak  and  exhausted. 

Seventh  Day. — Mr.  S.  reported  himself  feeling  splen- 
didly; he  ate  a  hearty  supper  last  night,  an  excellent 
breakfast  this  morning,  and  was  prepared  to  do  ample  jus- 
tice to  dinner ;  no  headache  ;  no  cough. 

Eighth  Day. — Doing  finely  ;  appetite  excellent  for 
"  four  meals  a  day."  I  discharged  him  for  two  weeks,  as 
he  desired  to  visit  the  oil  regions  of  Bradford,  Pa. 

Twenty-second  Day. — An  erect  gentleman  came  into 
my  office  this  morning  with  a  frank  "  How  are  you,  doc- 


160  DOUBLE  OVARIOTOMY. 

tor  ? "  It  was  quite  a  moment  before  I  recognized  in  him 
my  alcoholic  patient,  so  utterly  changed  was  he,  and  in  a 
few  days  he  left  for  home,  well  pleased  with  his  first  ex- 
perience with  homoeopathy.  I  received  a  letter  from  him 
three  months  after,  in  which  he  says :  "  The  smell  of 
whisky  nauseates  me,  and  I  am  certain  a  taste  of  it  would 
cause  me  to  vomit.  Please  send  me  some  of  your  whisky 
antidote.  It  is  certainly  a  grand  thing."  It  is  needless  to 
say  that  I  did  not  send  the  antidote. 


-♦»•■ 


DOUBLE  OVARIOTOMY. 


PHIL.  PORTER,  M.  D.,  DETROIT. 


Mrs.  H.,  8et.  64,  of  sanguine  temperament.  Never  was 
pregnant.  Sent  by  Dr.  L.  Younghusband,  who  had  been 
called  in  to  take  the  case  from  a  '*  woman  tumor  doctor  " 
who  claimed  the  power  to  "  rub  away  all  kinds  of  tumors," 
one  of  Nature's  physicians,  that  are  horn^  not  made. 

Inquiry  into  the  history  of  the  case  elicited  the  facts 
that  the  tumor  was  first  noticed  about  three  years  ago,  as 
a  round  ball  in  the  right  iliac  region,  and  very  movable. 
It  grew  rapidly,  and  was  attended  with  pain. 

After  seeking  relief  in  various  quarters  from  homoeo- 
pathic practitioners  (she  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  hom- 
oeopathic principles),  and  meeting  with  but  indifferent 
encouragement  or  advice,  she  fell  into  the  hands  of  this 
"  woman  "  (nature's  phys.),  who  of  course  was  ready  at 
all  times  to  give  valuable  information  relative  to  the  dis- 
ease. This  person  claimed  to  be  helping  the  trouble,  but 
soon  abdominal  ascites  manifested  itself,  and  the  patient 
was  abandoned  by  the  self-made  doctor. 

Careful  examination,  made  the  first  day  of  attend- 
ance, revealed  a  large  hard  mass  in  the  abdominal  cavity, 
but  owing  to  the  large  amount  of  ascitic  fluid  nothing  def- 
inite could  be  mapped  out.    I  then  determined  to  remove 


PHIL.  PORTER.  161 

the  liquid  in  order  to  be  able  to  arrive  at  a  proper  diagno- 
sis, which  was  done  by  one  of  Billroth's  combination  tro- 
cars, and  relieved  the  patient  of  thirty-six  pounds  of 
water.  On  further  examination  I  discovered  two  tumors, 
one  occupying  the  right  and  the  other  the  left  side  of  the 

abdomen. 

Owing  to  the  low  condition  of  the  -patient — her  tem- 
perature being  sub-normal  and  her  pulse  120 — I  called  a 
council,  and  the  result  of  the  deliberation  was  to  operate. 
The  family  as  well  as  the  patient  being  extremely  anxious 
to  have  the  operation  performed;  no  encouragement  was 
offered  the  friends  or  patient. 

After  changing  the  residence  of  the  patient,  in  order 
to  give  her  all  the  advantage  of  good  surroundings  and  as 
perfect  hygienic  conditions  as  possible,  I  operated  in  the 
usual  manner  for  ovariotomy,  taking  all  the  precautions 
necessary  in  so  grave  a  case. 

For  three  days  before  the  operation  she  was  restricted 
to  a  liquid  diet  exclusively,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
operation  her  bowels  were  freely  evacuated  by  enema. 
Having  thus  prepared  the  patient,  I  proceeded  to  operate, 
assisted  by  Drs.  Miller,  Olin,  McGuire,  Bailey,  and  Griffin. 
Being  quickly  brought  under  the  influence  of  the  anaes- 
thetic (chloroform)  by  Dr.  Miller,  I  made  the  abdominal 
incision  from  the  umbilicus  to  the  pubes.  As  soon  as  I 
had  divided  the  abdominal  parietes,  a  large  amount  of  as- 
citic fluid  escaped,  and  the  tumors  were  exposed.  Before 
tapping  the  cysts  the  abdominal  cavity  was  thoroughly 
cleaned  out.  As  soon  as  the  abdomen  was  opened  cancer- 
ous deposits  were  found,  covering  the  peritoneum,  intes- 
tines, bladder,  and  omentum.  The  tumors  were  then 
evacuated  with  one  of  Wells's  trocars,  and  found  to  con- 
tain a  thick,  creamy  fluid,  with  a  large  amount  of  flakes 
of  lymph.  The  tumors  did  not  present  that  pearly  blue 
appearance  usually  seen  in  ordinary  ovarian  cysts. 

The  adhesions  were  so  extensive  and  vascular  that  I 
deemed  it  unwise  to  attempt  a  separation,  so  I  simply 


152  CHRONIC  OTOBRHCEA. 

peeled  out  both  cysts  and  ligated  the  pedicles  in  four  dif- 
ferent places.  The  right  pedicle  was  five  inches  in  width, 
the  left  four.  The  entire  mass,  including  the  cyst  fluid, 
weighed  sixty-four  pounds. 

After  carefully  performing  the  toilet  of  the  periton- 
eum, I  applied  a  soft  sponge,  saturated  with  equal  parts  of 
Calendula  and  Hypericum^  to  the  exposed  surfaces  of  the 
pedicles  and  adhesions,  and  closed  the  incision  with  silk- 
worm gut  sutures,  employing  only  the  deep  sutures^  my 
usual  manner  of  closing  abdominal  incisions.  A  soft  rub- 
ber drainage-tube  was  left  in  the  lower  angle  of  the 
wound.  The  abdomen  was  then  dressed  in  the  usual 
manner,  with  carbolized  gauze,  cotton,  and  bandaged. 

No  inflammatory  symptoms  followed  the  operation, 
but  the  patient  died  on  the  second  day,  from  exhaustion. 
Drainage  was  perfect.  The  temperature  was  sub-normal 
before  as  well  as  after  the  operation. 

Out  of  eight  cases  of  ovariotomy  for  this  year,  this 
must  be  recorded  as  the  onlv  fatal  one. 

Detroit,  April  27th,  1883. 


— <•► 


"THE  USE  OF  BORACIC  ACID  IN  THE  TREAT- 
MENT  OF  CHRONIC  OTORRHCEA." 


HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY  OF  OHIO,  1883. 


BT  H.  A.  SHERWOOD,  M.  D.,  WARREN,  O. 


Of  the  various  chronic  affections  which  the  general 
practitioner  of  medicine  is  called  \x\>on  to  treat,  thore  is 
perhaps  none  more  perplexing  than  that  of  "  Otorrhoea.'' 

After  reading  in  the  Hahnemannian  Monthly  of  De- 
cember last  an  account  of  several  cases  successfully  treated 
with  Boracic  Acid  in  impalpable  powder,  as  prepared  by 
Wyeth  &  Bro.,  of  Philadelphia,  I  decided  to  give  the  rem- 
edy a  trial,  and  accordingly  ordered  some  of  the  medicine, 


H.  A.  SHER  WOOD.  153 

and  used  it  in  the  manner  described  by  Dr.  0.  Bartlett,  of 
Philadelphia,  in  the  article  referred  to.  The  ear  is  first  to 
be  thoroughly  cleansed  by  the  use  of  absorbent  cotton 
wrapped  around  a  probe,  wiping  out  the  secretions  of  the 
tympanic  cavity  by  the  aid  of  reflected  light  from  a  con- 
cave mirror  with  head-band  and  speculum.  The  cavity  is 
then  packed  full  of  the  powder,  and  covered  with  absorb- 
ent cotton,  to  be  removed  on  retiring.  The  powder  to  be 
left  until  washed  away  by  the  discharge,  which  varies  in 
time  with  different  cases  from  one  to  several  days.  Fol- 
lowing is  a  report  of  three  cases  treated  in  this  manner 
since  January  last. 

Case  1. — ^F.  Q.  A.,  aet.  26.  Railroad  ticket  agent.  Had 
scarlatina  whten  two  years  of  age,  leaving  him  with  per- 
foration of  the  right  tympanic  membrane,  and  an  offensive 
discharge  during  this  interval  of  twenty-four  years.  Has 
been  treated  by  a  n\imber  of  physicians,  but  always  with- 
out satisfactory  results.  First  treatment  January  23d,  fol- 
lowed by  two  other  treatments,  at  intervals  of  three  days, 
stopped  the  discharge  entirely.  Patient  has  had  several 
colds  since,  and  is  troubled  with  chronic  nasopharyngeal 
catarrh,  but  to  this  date  (April  25)  has  not  had  the  least 
sign  of  any  discharge  from  the  ear.  No  medicine  was 
given  internally  during  this  treatment. 

Case  2. — Mary  H.,  aet.  21.  Otorrhoea  of  eleven  years' 
duration,  following  scarlatina.  Perforation  of  both  tym- 
panic membranes,  and  discharge  from  both  ears.  Three 
treatments,  at  intervals  of  three  weeks,  stopped  the  dis- 
charge.   No  medicine  was  given  internally. 

Case  3. — J.  B.  M.,  aet.  55.  Tubercular  subject,  and 
poorly  nourished.  Otorrhoea  of  six  months'  duration.  No 
cause  known,  except  the  general  impoverished  condition 
of  the  system.  First  treatment  January  23d.  Gave  this 
patient  twenty-eight  treatments,  at  intervals  of  from  one 
to  three  days.  No  discharge  since  last  treatment.  This 
patient  had  Hepar.  3x  tr.  three  times  a  day,  and 
Hydroline  three  times  a  day  at  meal  time.    He  has  con- 


154  PUERPERAL  ECLAMPSIA. 

tinued  the  internal  treatment  to  date,  and  has  gained  sev- 
eral pounds  in  weight,  and  feels  better  in  every  particular. 
These  are  the  only  cases  that  I  have  treated  in  this 
manner,  and  it  is  of  course  too  soon  to  know  whether  a 
cure  has  really  been  effected  in  these  cases  or  not ;  but  the 
result  thus  far  has  been  so  much  more  satisfactory  than 
any  treatment  I  have  ever  used  before,  that  I  feel  encour- 
aged to  give  it  a  further  trial,  as  well  as  to  watch  with  in- 
terest the  result  in  the  cases  reported. 


-*♦♦■ 


PUERPERAL  ECLAMPSIA. 


BT  J.  J.  STUBOIS,  X.  D.,  CONNEBSVILLE,  IND. 


I  was  called  April  29th  to  see  Mrs.  W ,  eet.  25,  ner- 
vous temperament,  primipara  eight  months  advanced. 
The  telegram  which  summoned  me  to  attend  her  stated 
that  she  was  suffering  from  convulsions — and  these  of  a 
very  violent  nature.  Upon  my  arrival  I  found  her  just 
recovering  from  the  seventeenth  attack.  The  paroxysms 
began  by  clinching  of  the  hands,  rolling  of  the  head  from 
from  side  to  side ;  suddenly  followed  by  violent  closing  of 
the  teeth,  retraction  of  the  head,  laborious  and  rapid 
breathing,  with  frothing  at  the  mouth.  The  attacks  lasted 
about  five  minutes,  and  had  come  on  with  clock-like  reg- 
ularity every  half  hour.  I  learned  from  her  husband  that 
she  got  up  as  usual  that  morning  and  prepared  breakfast 
— seeming  in  the  best  of  health.  About  eight  o'clock, 
while  sitting  on  the  lounge,  she  complained  of  a  sharp 
pain  in  the  left  temple,  and  shortly  after  was  seized  with 
the  first  convulsion.  For  a  week  or  more  previous  her 
hands,  eyelids  and  face  had  been  very  much  swollen,  but 
these  symptoms  were  not  looked  upon  as  indicating  any 
serious  disorder,  and  but  little  attention  was  paid  them. 
An  examination  of  her  urine  revealed  it  heavily  loaded 
with  albumen.  She  had,  previous  to  my  arrival,  been  un- 
der the  care  of  an  old  school  physician,  who  had  adminis- 


J.  J.  STUBGIS.  155 

tered  faithfully  the  Bromide  of  Potassium,  in  pretty  sen- 
sible doses,  but  apparently  with  no  result.  Later  he  gave 
the  case  entirely  up,  saying  that  she  could  not  possibly  re- 
cover, and  it  was  useless  to  do  anything  more  for  her. 

After  the  cessation  of  the  paroxysm  in  which  I  found 
her  upon  my  arrival,  I  administered  Bell.  &,  in  water, 
led,  I  must  confess,  by  no  very  prominent  indications.  I 
also  instituted  an  examination  at  this  time  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  the  condition  of  the  os,  and  whether  there 
was  likely  to  be  a  premature  delivery.  I  found  the  os 
widely  dilated,  and  the  vertex  engaging.  My  investiga- 
tions were  cut  short  by  the  onset  of  the  eighteenth  con- 
vulsion, during  which  the  child  was  delivered,  followed 
shortly  by  the  afterbirth.  But  little  hemorrhage  occurred. 
The  child  evinced  no  signs  of  life  and  the  usual  restora- 
tive measures  produced  no  change. 

Hoping  now  for  a  cessation,  or  at  least  an  amelioration 
of  the  paroxysms,  I  administered  a  dose  of  Stramonium — 
to  the  selection  of  which  I  was  led  by  the  fact  that  during 
the  intervals  the  patient  seemed  very  loquacious,  and  de- 
sired all  the  light  possible.  Contrary  to  my  expectation, 
however,  at  her  "  appointed  time,"  exactly  thirty  minutes 
from  her  last  attack,  she  was  again  seized  with  what  I  was 
told  was  by  far  the  severest  paroxysm  she  had  experienced, 
and  was  certainly  the  most  severe  one  I  had  witnessed.  I 
was  beginning  to  despair,  aud  was  afraid  the  grave  prog- 
nosis of  my  predecessor  was  going  to  be  verified.  I  had 
about  decided  to  resort  to  chloroform  as  a  palliative  meas- 
ure, when  all  at  once  the  thought  struck  me  that  there 
might  be  something  in  the  ohok-like  regularity  of  the  at- 
attacks^  coming  on  as  they  did  every  half  hour.  So  before 
resorting  to  my  chloroform,  I  determined  to  try  the  effect 
of  Cedron^  whose  marked  periodicity  is  its  characteristic 
feature.  I  administered  it  at  the  6x  dilution,  and  awaited 
the  result  with  more  than  usual  interest.  The  attack  came 
on  as  before,  but  was  much  less  severe  and  lasted  but  a 
few  minutes.    This  was  the  last.    Her  mind  wandered 


156  CLINICAL  CASE. 

slightly  that  evening,  and  the  following  day,  but  on  the 

third  day  she  was  "  herself  again."    She  made  a  safe  and 

rapid  recovery. 

^«^ 

CLINICAL  CASE. 


BT  H.  RING,  M.  D. 


Mr. ,  aet.  45 ;  weight  165  lbs. ;  health  generally 

good,  occasionally  some  discomfort  referred  to  the  stom- 
ach ;  and  frequently  a  sensation  of  general  nervousness. 
Occupation  easy,  with  sufficient  out-door  activity.  In 
early  manhood  he  was  intemperate  in  alcoholic  stimula- 
tion, and  in  the  use  of  tobacco.  During  the  last  fifteen 
years  he  has  abandoned  the  drinking  wholly,  but  has,with 
the  exception  of  about  three  periods  of  time,  continued 
smoking  and  chewing. 

For  several  years  past  he  has,  during  periods  varying 
from  several  nights  continuously  to  several  weeks  nightly, 
been  greatly  annoyed  before  he  could  get  asleep.  He  had 
been  entirely  free  from  the  trouble  only  for  short  periods. 
While  falling  asleep  he  would  be  startled  by  a  sudden 
spasmodic  constriction  over  the  region  of  the  heart,  caus- 
ing much  anxiety.  Pain  was  felt,  at  the  same  time,  in  the 
left  arm  ;  and  a  sensation  as  of  motion  of  flatus  from  right 
to  left  in  the  region  of  the  transverse  colon,  beneath  the 
left  side  of  the  chest.  No  eructations  occurred  or  passage 
of  flatus  downward.  There  was  no  palpitation  of  the 
heart.  On  feeling  the  pulse  he  noticed  intermissions  in 
the  beats.  The  paroxysm  would  pass  off*  in  a  short  time 
to  be  repeated,  many  nights,  a  second  and  a  third  lime  be- 
fore he  could  finally  get  asleep;  after  which  he  would  rest 
until  morning.  The  pulse  did  not  intermit  at  other  times, 
and  the  structural  condition  of  the  heart  was  apparently 
normal.  He  was  disposed  to  think  that  his  stomach  had 
much  to  do  with  the  trouble,  although  his  diet  was  care- 
fully attended  to.  His  general  nervousness  was  greater 
during  the  days  when  this  night  trouble  prevailed ;  and 


AMBROSIA  ARTEMI&I^FOLIA.  167 

he  was  disposed  to  refer  this  to  too  much  tobacco.  I  en- 
couraged this  opinion,  and  once  had  him  read  in  Allen's 
Materia  Medica  a  part  of  the  pathogenesis  of  Tabacum, 
where  very  similar  symptoms  arereferred  to  the  excessive 
consumption  of  tobacco.  But  he  had  already,  about  three 
times,  abstained  sometime  from  its  use, — once  for  over  a 
year, — without  experiencing  any  marked  relief. 

I  had  given  him  Nux.  vom.  and  other  remedies  with- 
out appreciable  benefit,  excepting  that  from  Pulsatilla  he 
was  apparently  benefited  for  a  short  time. 

In  the  summer  of  last  year  he  appealed  to  me  ur- 
gently for  relief,  and  on  reconsidering  the  case  carefully 
the  verified  pathogenesis  of  remedies  led  me  preferably  to 
medicines  which  had  already  been  employed,  but  had 
failed  to  relieve. 

His  father,  still  living,  had  been  a  great  suffierer  from 
gout,  annually,  since  early  manhood.  The  son  had  had 
no  sickness  which  had  ever  been  referred  to  gouty  inheri- 
tance. 

After  studying  the  pathogenesis  of  Oolchicum,  al- 
though not  found  to  be  a  close  similimum,  this  remedy 
was  given  in  No.  35  pellets — four  a  dose — moistened  with 
the  3x  decimal  dilution  of  this  remedy.  He  was  promptly 
relieved,  and  for  about  ten  months  has  not  had  the  least 
trouble,  his  general  health  being  good,  although  he  has 
continued  to  use  tobacco,  as  he  has  done  in  the  last  three 
years. 


AMBROSIA  ARTEMISI^FOLIA,  (RAGWEED.) 


PROM  THE  TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  CLINICAL  SOCIETY  OE  HAHN- 
EMANN HOSPITAL,  CHICAGO. 


BT  B.  E.  HOLMAN,  M.  D.,  ENOLKWOOD,  ILL. 


The  Ambrosia  is  a  coarse,  homely  weed,  and  grows  in 
great  abundance  in  waste  places  and  roadsides.  The  Uni- 
ted States  Dispensatory  refers  to  the  weed  in  connection 


168  AMBROSIA  ABTEMISI^FOLIA. 

with  another  of  its  species,  the  Ambrosia  triAda^  as  hav- 
ing found  a  place  in  the  Materia  Medica  of  the  Eclectics, 
who  deem  it  an  astringent  5nd  somewhat  exciting.  They 
use  it  in  low  forms  of  fever,  like  typhoid,  and  in  other 
conditions  of  the  system  in  which  the  vital  actions  are  en- 
feebled. Like  a  great  many  other  bitter  herbs,  it  has  been 
employed  in  the  treatment  of  intermittents.  On  account 
of  its  astringent  nature,  it  has  been  given  to  check  intes- 
tinal discharges  of  blood  and  mucus,  and  to  palliate  mer- 
curial salivation.  However,  the  enthusiastic  Dr.  Scudder, 
one  of  the  foremost  in  the  Eclectic  School,  did  not  con. 
sider  the  weed  of  sufficient  importance  to  merit  a  place  in 
his  latest  work  on  Materia  Medica. 

The  little  that  I  have  learned  concerning  Ambrosia, 
its  medical  properties  and  their  application,  has  been  de- 
rived entirely  from  the  following  sources :  1.  By  observ- 
ing its  action  on  hay  fever  victims  who  lived  where  it 
flourished,  and  who  attributed  their  periodical  attacks  to 
the  influence  of  this  weed.  2.  From  its  clinical  use,  as 
suggested  by  its  action  on  hay  fever  cases.  3.  From  a  per- 
sonal proving  of  the  drug,  and  subsequent  clinical  appli- 
cation and  verification. 

Ragweed,  as  a  potent  factor,  or  exciting  cause,  in  the 
annual  blossoming  of  hay  fever,  hay  asthma,  or  ragweed 
fever,  as  it  is  often  called,  has  no  equal.  Why  the  name. 
Ambrosia,  the  classical  meaning  of  which  is  food  for  the 
gods,  should  have  been  so  sarcastically  applied  to  this  par- 
ticular species  of  the  composite  family,  is  indeed  a  won- 
der ;  but  the  gods  may  well  feel  proud  to  have  their  divin- 
ity associated  with  a  weed,  miserable  though  it  be,  when 
that  weed  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  most  useful  rem- 
edial agents  at  our  command.  But  in  its  relation  to  hay 
fever,  as  the  exciting  cause,  with  the  exception  of  the  per- 
tussis-like cough  and  accompanying  epistaxis  which  it  so 
often  produces,  I  have  noticed  no  symptoms  different  from 
those  which  we  find  in  cases  of  the  same  disease  with  other 
exciting  causes.    So,  while  these  cases  are  incited  and  ex- 


E.  E.  HOLMAN.  169 

died  by  living  where  the  ragweed  flourishes,  those  suflFer- 
ing  with  asthma  proper  are,  on  the  other  hand,  greatly 
benefited  by  breathing  the  atmosphere  impregnated  with 
the  aroma  of  the  plant.  Nor  do  hay  fever  subjects  expe- 
rience any  relief  from  the  internal  use  of  this  remedy ;  on 
the  contrary,  they  are  aggravated  by  it.  I  should  state, 
however,  that  the  tincture  and  low  dilutions  were  used, 
and  it  is  possible  that  the  use  of  a  potency  high  up  in  the 
scale  might  have  had  an  antidotal  effect,  on  the  same  basis 
as  Rhus  tox.,  which  is  said  to  antidote  poisoning  by  the 
same,  if  given  in  a  higher  potency — the  2m,  for  instance. 

My  attention  was  first  called  to  the  use  of  the  remedy 
in  a  case  of  pertussis,  in  which  the  cough  and  nose-bleed 
so  closely  resembled  the  same  symptoms  as  seen  in  the 
hay-fever  cases.  Drop  doses  of  the  tincture  put  an  end, 
not  only  to  the  epistaxis,  but  to  the  cough  as  well.  Sev- 
eral cases  of  chronic  nasal  hemorrhage  have  been  cured  by 
its  empirical  use. 

However,  not  entirely  satisfied  with  the  uncertain 
knowledge  obtained  by  noting  its  action  in  cases  abnor- 
mally sensitive  to  the  weed,  I  concluded  to  make  a  mar- 
tyr of  myself  by  proving  the  drug  on  my  own  person. 
Beginning  with  drop  doses  of  the  tincture,  it  was  not  un- 
til the  quantity  had  been  gradually  increased  to  teaspoon- 
ful  doses,  three  times  per  day,  that  it  began  to  take  effect. 

The  first  indication  of  its  creating  a  disturbance  of  the 
vital  forces  was  manifested  by  an  oppressed  or  stuffed-up 
sensation  in  the  chest,  with  oppressive  pain  in  the  left 
breast ;  worse  from  early  evening  until  midnight;  had  to 
sit  up  in  bed  in  order  to  breath  with  any  degree  of  com- 
fort. 

Close  upon  the  heels  of  the  above  symptoms  came  a 
dry,  wheezy  cough ;  would  fall  asleep  and  awaken  sud- 
denly with  spasmodic  pertussis-like  cough;  face  would  be- 
come darkened,  eyes  congested,  and  hemorrhage  from  nose. 
Later  on,  the  eyes  became  more  angry  in  appearance,with 
swollen  lids,  smarting,  watery  discharge ;  nose  red  and 


160  AMBROSIA  ABTIMISjEFOLIA. 

swollen,  with  profuse,  watery  discharge ;  head  and  nose 
stuffed  and  dry  in  the  morning ;  at  times,  nose-bleed. 

As  the  effect  of  the  drug  wore  off,  the  cough  became 
loose  instead  of  dry  and  wheezy  as  before,with  copious  ex- 
pectoration of  yellowish  mucus. 

A  teaspoonful  of  the  tincture,  taken  at  this  stage  of 
the  proving,  revived  all  the  symptoms  with  renewed 
vigor. 

Since  proving  the  remedy,  I  have  had  occasion  to  pre- 
scribe it  in  three  cases  of  pertussis,  and  with  the  following 
very  flattering  results : 

Case  1.  O.  P ,  a  boy  aged  five  years,  in  the  spasmo- 
dic stage  of  the  disease.  Has  been  whooping  for  three  weeks. 
The  boy's  father,  who  is  a  homoeopathic  physician,  and 
also  an  excellent  prescriber,  has  failed  to  relieve  with  the 
usual  remedies.  The  cough  was  worse  from  8  o'clock  p.  m. 
until  midnight.  If  he  falls  asleep,  he  awakens  suddenly, 
springs  up  in  bed,  and  gasps  for  breath.  The  cough  is 
wheezy,  asthmatic,  with  pain  in  left  breast.  Ambrosia 
cut  this  case  short  in  three  days.  There  was  very  little 
trouble  the  first  night  after  taking  it. 

Case  2.    N.  P ,  a  boy  three  years  old,  brother  to 

above  case.  1  saw  him  the  first  day  that  signs  of  whooping- 
cough  put  in  an  appearance.  There  were  no  special  indi- 
cations for  Ambrosia^  but  the  speedy  recovery  of  the 
child's  brother  suggested  its  use  on  general  principles,  so 
it  was  given.  After  five  days,  there  was  no  remaining 
trace  of  the  disease. 

Case  3.  D.  K ,  a  girl  aged  five  years,  in  the  spas- 
modic stage,  having  violent  fits  of  coughing.  The  face  be- 
comes purple ;  blood  spurts  from  left  nostril.  The  eyes  are 
red,  the  lids  swollen,  and  there  is  profuse  lachrymation.  Al- 
most constant  oppressive  "stuffed-up"  sensation  in  the  chest 
is  complained  of.  All  the  symptoms  are  worse  about  mid- 
night. The  first  day's  use  of  Amh^osia  put  an  end  to  the  epis- 
taxis,  and  from  this  on  there  was  steady  improvement  in 
the  cough  and  other  symptoms,  with  an  entire  cure  at  the 


COBBESPONDENCJS.  161 

end  of  one  week.  The  tincture  was  given  in  each  instance. 
Indeed,  I  have  had  no  success  with  the  dilutions.  I  usu- 
ally put  a  half  teaspoonful  of  the  tincture  in  a  glass  of 
water,  and  give  teaspoonful  doses  every  two  hours. 

The  following  symptoms,  most  of  which  can  be  found 
in  Prof.  Hawkes'  "characteristics,"  I  consider  reliable: 
"  Stuffed-up"  feeling  in  nose,  head  and  chest ;  eyes  red, 
dry,  smarting,  or  watery,  with  profuse  lachrymation.  Eye- 
lids red  and  swollen. 

Nose  red  and  swollen,  with  profuse  watery  discharge ; 
or  stuffed  and  dry ;  at  times  nose-bleed,  particularly  dur- 
ing severe  fits  of  coughing. 

Wheezy,  asthmatic  cough,  with  pain  in  left  breast,  and 
uncomfortable  "  stuffed"  feeling.  Whooping-cough,  es- 
pecially when  there  is  nosebleed,  Nux  vomica  adtidotes 
Ambrosia. 


■**^ 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


Editor  Advance  : — Just  criticism  is  the  governor  of 
our  acts,  our  words,  and  especially  of  making  a  book.  It 
is  well  we  have  critics,  and  I  think  it  better  that  they  be 
unjust  than  to  have  none  at  all. 

Dr.  Phil.  Porter,  of  Detroit,  reviewed  in  the  August 
number  of  The  Advance  a  production  entitled  "  Practical 
Lessons  in  Gynaecology,"  by  Hey  wood  Smith,  A.M.,  M.D., 
Oxon.,  etc.,  etc.,  in  a  somewhat  humorous,  wholesale,  de- 
nunciative, and,  finally,  totally  destructive  manner,  were 
his  criticism  true ;  and  I  doubt  not  there  was  more  truth 
than  poetry  in  his  review. 

But  if  one  "  casts  his  bread  upon  the  waters,"  it  is 
quite  liable  to  return,  in  this  late  day  of  American  hero- 
ism. See  Dr.  Porter's  remarks  in  the  same  issue  of  The 
Advance,  made  at  the  State  Medical  Society  at  Lansing, 
regarding  Europe,  Hahnemann's  German  associates,  Ger- 
man provings,  etc. 
S 


162  FEUILLETON. 

Now,  honestly,  would  not  Dr.  Porter's  "  Homoeo- 
pathic Materia  Medica  "  and  Smith's  "  Gynaecology "  re- 
semble each  other  more  than  any  two  books  you  ever  saw 
upon  different  subjects  ? 

I  hardly  think  one  has  the  capacity  to  learn  all  there 
is  even  in  Homoeopathy,  in  Germany,  on  a  flying  trip 
through  all  Europe  of  only  two  years'  duration. 

A*   B*   A» 


><•► 


FEUILLETON. 


Hanging  on  the  wall  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  in 
which  the  Ohio  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  met,  we  observed 
the  following : 

••  PRO  PATRIA  MORI,   GLORIA  EST. 

Ohio  Mourns  for  24,591  Gallant  Bead. 

Od  Fame's  eternal  camping  ground 

Tbelr  silent  tents  are  spread. 
And  glory  guards  with  silent  round 

The  bivouac  of  the  dead." 

Forgot  the  Password.— A  private  in  one  of  the  compa- 
nies, who  is  a  homoeopathic  student  of  medicine,  was  outside  the 
lines  last  night,  and  when  he  came  back  he  had  been  taking  so 
many  homoeopathic  doses  of  something  that  he  quite  forgot  the 
password,  which  was  **  Stony  Creek."  He  was  stopped  by  the 
sentinel,  and  after  deep  meditation  pronounced  the  words  **  Stony 
River."  The  sentinel,  who  knew  him,  said  that  if  he'd  give 
him  a  homoeopathic  dose  of  that  word  it  would  be  all  right.  The 
Hahnemannian  student  at  this  hint  **  tumbled,"  and,  remem- 
bering that  creek  was  the  epitome  of  river,  gave  the  word. — De- 
troit Evening  News, 

The  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia. 
— The  Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  College  have  Just  purchased 
a  large  lot  of  ground  on  which  they  intend  to  erect  the  new  Col- 
lege, Dispensary,  and  Hospital  buildings.  The  ground  is  sita- 
ated  two  squares  north  of  the  new  public  buildings,  near  the 
business  centre  of  the  city.  It  extends  from  Broad  street  (north 
of  Race  street)  westward  to  Fifteenth  street,  having  a  frontage 
of  one  hundred  and  six  feet  on  Broad  street,  and  one  hundred 


FEUILLETON.  163 

and  forty-two  feet  on  Fifteenth  street.  The  entire  length  of  the 
lot  is  three  hundred  and  ninety-six  feet.  The  cost  of  this  mag- 
nificent site  is  $104,500.  This  looks  like  business.  Our  Phila- 
delphia friends  are  determined  to  sustain  the  reputation  the 
school  has  always  enjoyed.  They  have  long  felt  the  need  of  a 
new  college  building  and  a  commodious  hospital,  and  the  pre- 
sent plan  appears  to  leave  nothing  wanting  in  this  line. 

**  Jambs  Bbgkis's  Hospital,  81  Friars'  Vennel,  Dumfries. 
Broken  ribs  set  and  attended  to  on  the. shortest  notice;  in  fact, 
all  complaints  speedily  cured.  English,  French,  Germans  and 
Americans  receive  special  attention  and  made  good.  J.  B.  as- 
sures his  friends  and  patrons  that  he  has  daily  brought  under  his 
notice  cases  of  long  standing  and  short  standing  diseases,  which 
he  speedily  rectifies,  and  re- invigorates  to  perfect  health  and 
strength,  and  in  a  very  short  time,  and  having  a  very  extensive 
practice  he  never  turns  away  a  case  incurable.  Eyes  and  joint-s 
replaced  without  the  slightest  pain ;  teeth  set  on  easy  terms ;  and 
all  classes  of  skin  diseases  speedily  eradicated  at  three  hours'  no- 
tice. Accidents  and  all  kinds  of  unfortunate  cases  receive  most 
patient  attention.  Consultations,  examinations,  and  operations 
every  lawful  day  at  his  establishment,  ^4  Friars'  Vennel,  Dum- 
fries, from  8  A.  M.  to  9  p.  M.  Advice  gratis.  Presiding  Surgeon 
— Prof.  Beggs.     Umbrellas  of  every  description  made  to  order." 


Birmingham,  Ala.,  August  15,  1883. 
Doctors  in  Council. — Action  in  Regard  to  the  Practice  of 
Irregular fi{f),— At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Jefferson  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted : 

Whereas,  The  Jell'erson  County  Medical  Society  has,  by  formal  reso- 
lotions  adopted  on  the  6th  day  of  December,  1881,  condemned  the  system  of 
contract  practice  In  this  county  as  not  being  in  accordance  with  the  code  of 
ethics  of  the  American  Medical  Association,  nor  with  the  amendments 
thereto  adopted  by  the  Medical  Association  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  and 
also  declared  in  said  resolutions  Its  determination  to  exterminate  all  such 
contract  practice  in  this  county ;  and. 

Whereas,  Since  the  adoption  of,  and  passage  of  these  resolutions, 
there  have  arisen  questions  upon  which  members  of  this  Society  have  dif- 
fered lu  their  constructions  of  the  resolutions,  both  as  to  what  character  of 
contracts  are  allowable,  and  also  as  to  the  proper  course  to  be  pursued  by 
regular  practitioners  who  were  called  upon  to  visit  patients  who  are  or  have 
been  under  the  care  of  any  irregular ;  therefore,  be  It 

Resolved,  First,  That  the  condemnation  of  the  Jefferson  County  Medi- 
cal Society  does  not  extend  or  apply  to  a  certain  kind  of  contract  practice 


164  FEUILLETON. 

or  service,  Bometimes  required  In  cooDection  with  medical  stafh  of  the 
army  and  navy,  nor  to  the  hospital  tax,  or  sailors  in  the  marine  hospital 
system,  nor  to  a  class  of  public  charitable  institutions,  such  as  county  alms- 
houses, orphan  asylums,  city  or  country  pest-houses.  Jail,  or  hospital,  as 
specified  in  the  report  of  the  Judicial  council  of  the  American  Medical  As- 
sociation, made  at  its  annual  session  held  in  Detroit  In  1S74,  but  does  apply 
to  every  other  contract  for  medical  services  not  therein  specified. 

Second,  That  every  member  of  the  JefiTerson  County  Medical  Society 
shall  hereafter  refuse  all  professional  fellowship  or  recognition  to  all  physi- 
cians who  shall  directly  or  indirectly  extend  any  sort  of  professional  serv- 
ice or  advice  to  patients  under  the  care  of  homoeopathic  or  lrregular(?)  prac- 
titioners; no  such  service  or  advice  being  allowable  until  the  homceopathlc 
or  irregular(?)  practitioner  has  been  formally  and  permanently  discharged 
ft'om  all  further  attendance  upon  the  case,  either  as  physician,  nurse,  or  in 
any  other  capacity ;  and  all  physicians  under  the  ban  of  this  Society  are 
considered,  and  shall  be  treated  in  every  way,  as  irregular  practitioners. 

Attest:  Henry  N.  Rosser,  President. 

Albert  G.  Douglass,  Secretary. 


BiKMINGHAM,  ALA.,  AUgUSt  16,   1888. 

Doctors  in  Council.— -4c<iow  in  Regard  to  the  Practice  of 
Regular8.{f)-'At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Jefferson  County  Hom- 
oeopathic Society,  the  following  preambles  and  resolutions  were 
adopted  : 

WUEREAS,  The  Jefferson  County  Medical  Society  (of  Regular8[?]),  at  a 
called  meeting,  dated  Aug.  15th,  1883,  adopted  a  resolution  placing  all  prac- 
titioners of  Homceopathy  under  the  ban  of  that  Society,  also  all  Regular8(?) 
who  shall  show  any  courtesy  to  said  Homoeopaths  in  reference  to  any  case  In 
which  such  Homoeopaths  shall  officiate.  **  whether  as  nurse,  physician,  or 
in  any  other  capacity."  and. 

Whereas,  Such  *' other  capacity"  must  include  his  officiating  In  such 
case  as  minister,  coolc,  chambermaid  or  privy^council,  and. 

Whereas,  The  members  of  this  Society  and  their  patients  are  satisfied 
with  their  present  mode  of  treatment,  and  are  entirely  independent  of  the 
ministrations  of  said  Jefferson  County  Medical  Society  members,  as  doctors, 
ministers,  nurses,  cooks,  chambermaids,  etc.,  courting  as  it  were,  only  the 
good  will  and  social  intercourse  of  certain  of  its  members,  and 

Whereas,  Certain  members  of  said  Jefferson  County  Medical  Society 
have  been  knowu  to  con  tract  with  theclty  of  Birmingham  as  city  physician, 
small-pox  physician,  etc.    Therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  First,  That  the  condemnation  of  this  Society  shall  apply  aa 
well  to  physicians  doing  contract  practice  for  said  city  as  to  those  practicing 
similarly  with  mines,  mills,  furnaces,  or  any  other  wealthy  corporations. 

Resolved,  Second,  That  every  member  of  the  Jefferson  County  HomoBO- 
pathic  Medical  Society  shall  hereafter  refuse  all  professional  fellowship  or 
recognition  to  all  physicians  who  shall  directly  or  indirectly  extend  any 
sort  of  professional  service  or  advice  to  patients  under  the  care  of  regolar 
practitioners,  no  such  service  or  advice  being  allowable  until  the  allopatblo 
or  regular  practitioner  has  been  formally  and  permanently  discharged  fh>m 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  165 

all  farther  attendance  upon  tbe  case,  either  as  physician,  nurse,  or  in  any 
other  capacity ;  and  all  physicians  under  the  ban  of  this  Society  shall  be 
treated  and  considered  as  regular  practitioners,  and  upon  frequent  repeti- 
tion of  said  offense,  shall  be  prosecuted  to  the  Aillest  extent  of  the  law. 

Attest,  A.  L.  Monroe,  President. 

A.  E.  Meadow,  Secretary. 


««•»- 


BOOK  NOTICE. 


MINER'S  CASE  RECORD.    Joel  A.^ Miner.     Ann  Arbor.  1888. 

This  is  the  most  comprehensive  clinical  record  book  we 
have  ever  seen.  It  is  not  only  well  arranged  for  the  general 
practitioner,  but  the  Oynecological  form  is  most  complete  and 
forms  a  most  useful  blank  for  ready  reference ;  easily  kept  and 
readily  refered  to.  Tbe  author  pays  :  **  Most  young  practition- 
ers suffer  largely  through  having  only  a  hap-hazard  way  of  ex- 
amining their  patients.  These  deficiencies  in  method  which 
originate  in  inexperience,  too  frequently  become  the  confirmed 
habits  of  maturer  life.  It  goes  without  contradiction,  that  if  a 
young  physician  would  use  a  book  like  the  present  one  until  the 
systematic  habit  of  examining  case  becomes  established,  he 
would  feel  the  beneficial  effects  throughout  his  entire  profes- 
sional career.''  No  man  can  become  a  careful  and  successful 
homoeopathic  prescriber  without  properly  **  taking  the  case,'' 
and  this  can  be  done  only  by  writing  it  out.  With  an  abreviated 
form  like  this  the  labor  and  time  is  reduced  to  a  minimum. 


<<•{ 


EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


The  Sorb  Heads  as  usual  are  coming  to  the  front.  They 
never  will  believe  in  the  Homoeopathic  Department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan — never  till  they  get  into  it. 

University  of  Michigan,  Homoeopathic  Department. 
—The  position  of  Professot  of  Surgery  made  vacant  by  the  res- 
ignation of  Professor  Franklin,  ban  been  filled  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Dr.  Henry  L    Obetz,  of  Illinois.    Dr.  Obetz  was  form- 


166  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

eriy  a  member  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Cleveland  College,  and  has 
since  followed  with  great  success  his  chosen  practice,  surgery. 
We  liave  abundant  reason  to  know  that  in  his  new  position  he 
will  as  usual  *' fill  the  bill.'' 

The  last  Legislature  of  Michigan,  with  characteristic  liber- 
ality, established  and  endowed  a  new  chair  of  Obstetrics  and 
Diseases  of  Women  and  Children  in  the  Homoeopathic  Bepart- 
partment.  The  Board  of  Regents  have  appointed  to  this  chair 
Newton  Baldwin,  M.  B.,  of  Marshall,  Mich.  Br.  Baldwin  is  a 
Michigan  boy,  a  graduate  of  the  University,  and  formerly  part- 
ner with  Br.  A.  I.  Sawyer,  of  Monroe.  He  has  spent  some  years 
in  practice  in  Staunton,  Va.  He  has  taken  post-graduate  work 
in  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and  more  recently  settled  at 
Marshall.  The  doctor's  many  friends  predict  for  him  a  success- 
ful career  as  teacher.  We  believe  these  two  chairs  are  now  filled 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  entire  profession. 

Married  —Sept.  6,  1883,  Charles  L.  Hoyt,  M.  B.,  and  Miss 
Helen  M.  Will,  at  McArthur,  Ohio.    Bon  voyage. 

Married.— Sept.  6th,  1883,  R.  G.  BePuy,  U.  of  M.,  and 
Miss  Charlotte  Lloyd,  at  Jamestown,  Bakota  Territory.  We 
send  greetings. 

Br.  Robert  Bruitt,  author  of  **  Bruitt's  Surgery,"  is  dead. 

BiED.—* 'Our  good  Br.  G.  L.  Bailey,  (of  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,) 
departed  this  life  June  21st,  after  a  short  illness,  toeing  in  bed  only 
two  weeks."— S.  H.  Morley. 

Br.  J.  Q.  A.  Coffeen  died  at  his  residence  at  Wyoming,  0.» 
Aug.  29th.  Several  weeks  ago  a  little  girl  five  years  old,  named 
Cook,  was  playing  on  the  C,  H.  <&  B.  Railroad  track,  and  had 
both  feet  crushed,  one  cut  off,  by  the  cars.  Br.  Coffeen  was 
called  in,  and,  with  his  brother-in-law,  Br.  Shepperd,  of  Qlen- 
dale,  had  attended  her  ever  since.  While  cleaning  his  instru- 
ments, after  dressing  the  wound,  several  days  ago,  he  cut  his 
thumb,  which  soon  became  very  sore.  Br.  Shepperd  admonished 
him  to  give  it  good  attention,  but,  though  so  tenderly  careful  of 
others,  he  neglected  himself  and,  his  blood  becoming  poisoned, 
he  died  from  the  effects. 

M.  C  Reeves,  M.  B.,  U.  of  M.,  has  located  at  Clinton,  Mich. 

T.  L.  Hazard,  M.  B.,  U.  of  M.,  has  located  at  Salamanca, 
N.  Y. 

T.  H.  Turner,  M.  B.,  U.  of  M.,  removes  from  Plnckney  to 
Pontiac,  Mich. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  167 

Jay  8.  Mead,  M.  D.,  U.  of  M.,  is  at  Edwardsburg,  Mich., 
looking  aft^r  the  practice  of  Dr.  Lusk,  who  is  on  the  sick  list. 

J  AS.  T.  Martin,  M.  D.,  U.  of  M.,  receives  a  Government 
appointment  at  the  Indian  Agency  of  Skokomish,  Washington 
Territory. 

F.  H.  Tyler,  M.  D.,  U.  of  M.,  removes  from  Sturgis  to  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Mich.,  where  he  succeeds  Dr.  Stoner,  who  has  an  ap- 
pointment in  Montana. 

Geo.  E.  Pugh,  M.  D.,  removes  to  Elgin  Hot  Springs, 
Gunnison  ( *o.,Col.  We  are  pleased  to  note  that  the  Doctor's  health 
is  steadily  improving  under  the  bracing  atmosphere  of  the 
West. 

Mrs.  S.  M.  Hicks,  M.  D.,  U.  of  M.,  and  Miss  E.  E.  Bower, 
M.  D.,  U.  of  M  ,  are  taking  a  special  course  in  Gynecology,  un- 
der the  instruction  of  Phil.  Porter,  M.  D.,  of  Detroit.  Mrs. 
Hicks  locates  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  Sept.,  for  the  practice  of  her 
profession. 

J.  B.  HuBBELii,  M.  D.,  U.  of  M.,  is  on  the  staff  of  The 
American  AsBodation  of  the  Red  Cfroaa,  **  This  Association  is  for 
the  relief  of  suffering  by  war,  pestilence,  famine,  floods,  fire,  and 
other  calamities  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  be  deemed  national 
in  extent.  Both  it  and  its  auxilliary  societies  operate  under  the 
provisions  of  the  Geneva  Treaty,  promulgated  at  Geneva,  Switz- 
erland, in  1864,  and  signed  then  by  all  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
including  the  United  States,  which  gave  in  its  adhesion  through 
President  Arthur  in  1882.''  It  did  noble  work  in  the  Michigan 
fires  and  the  late  floods  in  the  Southwest. 

Practice  for  Sale.— A  man  of  experience  and  good  pro- 
fessional qualifications  can  step  into  a  practice  of  $8,000  per  year 
in  one  of  the  best  cities  in  the  West,  if  he  is  prepared  to  pay  for 
such  an  advantage.  For  full  particulars  address  '*  Editor  Ad- 
vance.*' 

For  Sale. — Property  and  practice  in  a  village  near,  and 
connected  by  railroad  with,  a  large  city.  Residents  do  business 
in  the  city.  Several  villages  near.  ^4,000,  in  easy  payments. 
For  particulars  address  Geo.  W.  Smith,  143  West  Fourth  street, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Practice  for  Sale. — Desirable,  medium,  growing  practice 
on  sea  shore  near  New  York.  Sell  furniture,  horse,  phaeton, 
medicines,  etc.,  or  practice  alone,  introduce  successor,  established 
ten  years,  price  nominal,  possession  Sept.  Ist.     Dr.  B , 


168  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

lock  box  B~,  Woodsburgh,  Long  Island.    N.  B.    No  postals 
answered. 

American  Institute  of  Homceopathy  :  Report  upon  the 
Special  Fund  for  the  Bureau  of  Mtcroacopy  and  Histology. — In 
1882  the  report  of  the  chairman  of  the  Bureau  of  Microscopy 
and  HiHtology  (Prof.  J.  Edwards  Smith)  was  of  so  much  interest 
and  importance,  and  it  was  so  evident  that  the  work  done  in- 
volved so  much  time  and  expense,  that  a  special  fund  was  raised 
by  subscription,  amounting  to  over  two  hundred  dollars,  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  chairman,  to  aid  him  in  the  further 
prosecution  of  his  work.  At  the  session  of  the  Institute  in  1888 
at  Niagara  Falls,  Prof.  Smith  presented  the  result  of  the  work 
done  last  year  by  himself  and  Prof.  Wood,  and  it  proved  to  be 
of  such  magnitude  and  value  that  the  members  again  raised  a 
special  fund  for  the  use  of  the  Bureau,  especially  to  assist  Profs. 
Smith  and  Wood  in  continuing  their  work.  The  undersigned 
was  made  a  special  committee  to  solicit  subscriptions,  and  the 
following  is  the  result  up  to  date  : 

H.  B.  Clark,  $10  ;  D.  R  Gardner,  $10 ;  J.  P.  Dake,  $10;  Qeo. 

B.  Peck,  $10 ;  O.  S.  Runnells,  $10 ;  P.  Dudley,  $10 ;  I.  T.  Talbot, 
$10;  C.  H.  Walker,  $10;  B.  W.  James,  $20;  A.  I.  Sawyer,  $10; 

C.  G.  Higbee.  $10 ;  E.  Cranch,  $10 ;  H.  E.  Stone,  $5 ;  J.W.  Shel- 
don, $5;  J.  C.  Sanders,  $10;  D.  H.  Beckwith.  $10;  Henry  L. 
Obetz,  $5;  L.  H.  Willard,  $10;  C.  H.  Farusworth,  $10;  T.  P. 
Wilson,  $10;  S.  S.  Luugren,  $10;  A.  W.  Woodward,  $10;  L.  C. 
Grosvenor,  $10  ;  R.  N.  Foster,  $10  ;  S.  Lilienthal,  $10 ;  J.  £.  Gil- 
man,  $10;  Anson  Parsons,  $5;  J.  E.  James,  $10;  H.  E.  Spauld- 
ing,  $5 ;  P.  H.  Van  Vleck,  $.5 ;  B.  F.  Dake,  $10 ;  N.  Schneider, 
$10;  T.  F.  Allen,  $10;  J.  H.  McClelland,  $10;  A.  R.Wright, 
$10;  W.  T.  Helmuth,$lO;  F.  H.  Orme,  $10  ;  W.  J.  Hawkes,  $10; 
J.  P.  Paine,  $5 ;  E.  C.  Morrill,  $10;  F.  W.  Ingalls,  $10;  Drs. 
Chase,  $10 ;  T.  L.  Brown,  $5  ;  H.  M.  Paine,  $5  ;  N.  A.  Pennoyer, 
$5 ;  D.  S.  Smith,  $2;  Lewis  Sherman,  $10 ;  J.  W.  Dowling,  $5; 
H.  H.  Reed,  $2 ;  A.  M.  Bennett,  $5. 

Nearly  every  dollar  of  this  is  paid  in  up  to  date.  The  list 
will  be  kept  open  until  January  1st,  1884,  and  additional  sub- 
scriptions are  solicited.  It  is  expected  the  fund  will  be  sufficient 
for  the  uses  of  the  Bureau  for  the  coming  two  years.  This  is  the 
greatest  work  of  its  kind  ever  attempted,  and  deserves  liberal 

encouragement. 

T.  P.  Wilson. 

Ann  Arbor,  September  10,  1888. 


Vol.  XIV.  Ann  Arbor,  October,  1883.  No.  4. 

All  •nbsoiiptlona  and  bnalnoaa  oommnnioatioam  ■honld  be 
■ddnaMd  to  MEDICAL  ADVANCE  PUBLISHING  Co..  Ann 
Aiboi,  Mlob,     Subaoription,  Sa.OO  per  annnm. 


Motion  and  Rest. — It  is  a  well  demonstrated  principle 
in  physiology  that  both  growth  and  maintenance  depend 
upon  molecular  activity.  Interstitial  increase  of  structure 
requires  nutrition  and  decay.  In  the  animal  world  this 
principle  is  developed  to  its  highest  possibilities.  But 
here  we  must  recognize  a  third  factor :  Functional  activity. 
The  tissue  of  whatever  kind  must  be  brought  into  syste- 
matic action.  This  is  most  apparent  in  the  muscular 
structures.  Inaction  prevents  developement.  The  func- 
tion of  the  muscle  is  contraction.  Nutrition  with  differ- 
entiation may  lay  down  tlie  primitive  fibres  so  far  as  to 


170  EDITORIAL. 

show  the  position  and  form  of  the  muscle,  but  it  can  go  no 
further,  unless  the  function  of  the  muscle  is  brought  into 
play.  Muscular  activity  in  utero  is  therefore  a  necessity 
to  the  growth  of  the  body.  After  birth  the  functional 
activity  is  greatly  increased  and  growth  is  correspondingly 
accelerated.  In  the  domain  of  pathology  we  find  much 
depending  upon  the  excess  or  diminution  of  action.  That 
over-action  is  a  fruitful  source  of  disease  is  a  well  recog- 
nized fact.  It  was  in  recognition  of  this  fact  that  rest 
became  a  potent  means  of  cure.  Hinton's  classic  work, 
Rest  and  Pain,  develope  the  practical  view  of  this  method, 
and  every  wise  physician  makes  constant  use  of  this  prin- 
ciple. He  cures  many  serious  maladies  by  rest.  But  it  is 
equally  apparent  that  in  many  cases  the  remedy  lies  in 
promoting  the  activity  of  the  parts.  This  principle  is  sec- 
ond to  no  other  in  therapeutics.  Upon  this  fact  rests  the 
very  general  custom  of  curing  disease  by  exercise.  By 
promoting  the  activity  of  an  affected  tissue  we  free  it  from 
its  morbid  condition.  Also  as  is  well  known,  when  the 
tissue  or  organ  is  not  diseased  we  develope  and  increase 
its  growth  by  systematically  calling  it  into  functional 
action.  Gymnastics  serves  a  manifold  purpose :  It  cures 
often  when  disease  is  present ;  it  increases  the  size  and 
power  of  the  parts,  and  it  gives  resistance  to,  and  immu- 
nity from  disease.  Rest  and  motion  are  therefore  both, 
and  perhaps  equally  necessary  in  curing  disease. 


Active  and  Passive  Motion. — As  curative  agents, 
motion  and  rest  are  applicable  to  a  large  number  of  dis- 
eases. It  is  not  easy  always  to  say  which  is  preferable  in 
any  given  case.  And  it  is  certain  that  many  times  a 
judicious  use  of  both  is  of  great  value  to  the  patient.  It 
having  been  determined,  let  us  suppose,  that  a  certain  case 
requires  motion,  we  are  then  met  by  the  question :  Shall 
it  be  active  or  passive  motion  ?  Active  motion  is  generally 
well  understood.     Walking,  rowing,  all  the  various  me- 


EDITORIAL.  171 

thods  of  the  gymnasium  are  well  known  forms  of  active 
motion.  As  promoters  of  health  they  have  unquestion- 
able value;  but  in  the  cure  of  disease  it  is  certain  that  great 
danger  lies  in  this  indiscriminate  and  routine  use.  Even 
when  patients  require  exercise  they  have  often  been  exer- 
cised to  death.  It  should  always  be  remembered  that 
active  motion  being  that  which  the  patient  voluntarily 
puts  forth,  produces  a  double  effect:  First,  as  is  obvious 
upon  the  tissue  brought  into  play.  This  effect  is  the  one 
chiefly  sought.  Such  action  promotes  the  growth  and 
health  of  the  parts.  But,  in  the  second  place,  all  this 
activity  materially  exhausts  the  nerve  centres  which  sup- 
ply force  to  the  tissue.  Just  in  proportion  as  the  tissue  is 
exercised,  the  nerve  centres  are  depleted.  But  as  is  well 
known,  the  nerve  centres  are  the  store  houses  of  force.  If 
they  fail,  all  else  must  fail.  If  now  we  can  promote  the 
growth  of  the  tissue,  and  at  the  same  time  increase  rather 
than  exhaust  the  amount  of  reserve  force  in  the  nervous 
ganglia,  we  have  in  many  instances  accomplished  a  most 
desirable  end.  .  This  end  is  reached  by  passive  motion. 
By  passive  motion  the  tissue  is  thoroughly  brought  into 
play,  and  the  nerve  centres  are  measurably  undisturbed. 
In  this  way  exercise  to  an  almost  unlimited  extent  can  be 
employed  with  comparatively  little  exhaustion.  This  is  a 
very  important  fact,  as  any  one  may  determine  by  experi- 
ment. Not  to  speak  of  many  other  methods  of  producing 
passive  motion,  we  desire  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
reader  to  what  may  be  called  the  vibratory  method.  It 
can  be  produced  only  by  the  use  of  suitable  machinery. 
By  using  a  rapidly  revolving  eccentric  an  infinite  number 
of  delicate  blows  can  be  delivered  upon  any  tissue  or 
organ,  superficial  or  deep,  or  with  a  larger  eccentric,  many 
of  the  muscles  can  be  brought  into  use,  while  the  patient 
is  passive  and  by  no  means  wearied  by  the  exercise.  Our 
present  attempt  is  to  awaken  an  interest  in  this  subject. 
We  would  be  glad  to  have  the  subject  more  fully  discussed 
in  our  pages. 


172  ABNORMAL  OHO  WTHS  IN  UTERINE  ORGANS. 

ABNORMAL  GROWTHS  IN   CONNECTION  WITH 

THE  UTERINE  ORGANS. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  OHIO  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 


W.  WEBSTER,  M.  D.,  DATTON,  OHIO. 


In  entering  upon  this  part  of  the  field  of  Gynaecology, 
it  will  be  impossible  as  well  as  unwise  and  imprudent  to 
present  all  the  particulars  and  minutiae  in  connection  with 
i^erine  growths.  We  have,  therefore,  in  this  simple  essay 
endeavored  to  notice  only  two  particular  forms  of  growths, 
viz.,  ovarian  cysts  and  hydatid  cysts  of  the  uterus,  speci- 
mens of  which  I  have  in  my  possession. 

First,  we  will  speak  of  the  multiple  ovarian  cyst, 
which  is  rarely  met  in  private  practice.  In  a  practice  of 
thirty-four  years  I  have  never  met  but  one  case,  which  I 
have  here. 

Simple  cysts,  authors  say,  arise  from  an  abnormal 
augmentation  of  the  liquid  in  the  Graafian  vesicles  some- 
times called  dropsy  of  the  Graafian  vesicles,  which  is  caused 
by  a  prolonged  hypereemia  of  the  ovaries.  This  hyperae- 
mia  being  communicated  to  the  walls  of  the  vesicles,  is 
the  cause  of  the  hypersecretion,  which  occurs  upon  the 
internal  surface — these  walls  being  hypertrophied  and 
perhaps  somewhat  indurated  or  compact — render  them  im- 
possible to  be  broken  or  ruptured  ;  hence  the  retention  of 
the  constantly  accumulating  liquid  secreted,  which  is  evi- 
dently stimulated  or  increased  by  each  subsequent  men- 
struation or  attempt  at  ovulation. 

Where  there  are  many  vesicles  afifected,  they  may  not 
grow  to  large  size — about  the  size  of  a  pea  or  filbert. 
When  only  a  single  one  or  a  very  few  are  afifected,  they 
may  attain  the  size  of  a  man's  head.  The  case  I  had  was 
single,  on  the  right  side,  and  the  size  of  a  gallon  measure, 
and  contained  hair,  fragments  of  bones,  or  rather  rudi- 
ments of  bones  or  apparent  cartilages,  and  thousands  of 
sebaceous  balls  from  the  size  of  a  pin's  head  to  that  of  an 


TF.  WEBSTER.  173 

acorn,  and  a  thick,  yellowish  liquid,  and  lumps  of  fat. 
These  filled  the  whole  sac. 

In  consequence  of  repeated  hypersemias  and  exuda- 
tion on  the  surface  of  the  peritoneal  covering  or  envelope, 
the  wall  may  attain  the  thickness  of  two  or  three  lines. 

In  the  interior  of  these  cysts  with  thickened  and  hy- 
peftrophied  walls,  neoplasms  are  often  seen  in  the  form  of 
papillae,  which  at  length  may  fill  up  the  whole  cavity  com- 
pletely, and  convert  it  into  a  solid  mass  or  tumor ;  or  the 
papillae  may  themselves  be  transformed  into  minute  cysts, 
and  by  endogenetic  development  of  these  cysts  the  simple 
cyst  becomes  a  multiple  cyst.  (See  specimen.)  There- 
fore, while  the  simple  cysts  result  from  development  of 
the  Graafian  vesicles,  the  multiple  cysts  depend  upon  a 
specific  alteration  of  the  parenchyma  of  the  ovary  itself. 
The  lamellae  of  the  connective  tissue,  which  form  the  par- 
enchyma, adhere  to  one  another,  forming  closed  capsules, 
which  are  flattened  by  their  reciprocal  contact  at  many 
I>oints.  Sometimes  (writers  say)  one  of  the  capsules  is 
developed  more  than  all  the  others,  and  forms  a  true  cyst 
larger  than  the  rest  of  tumor,  and  in  its  walls  the  germs 
of  new  secondary  cysts  are  soon  formed,  which  from  small 
cavities  enlarge  so  as  to  fill  the  whole  cavity  of  the  pri- 
mary cyst. 

The  multiple  cysts  contain  different  substances  in  the 
different  cavities  or  compartments,  such  as  fat,  hair,  car- 
tilage, bones,  and  teeth.  The  fat  is  occasioned  by  excess- 
ive development  of  the  layer  of  cells  in  the  pavement  epi- 
thelium on  the  internal  surface  of  the  cysts.  The  fat 
is  sometimes  liquid ;  at  other  times  solid,  yellow  fat,  like 
lumps  of  tallow. 

Hair  is  found  in  these  fatty  cysts,  like  cushions  (vari- 
ously colored),  of  some  thickness.  They  have  their  roots 
in  the  walls  of  the  cysts,  provided  with  sebaceous  follicles, 
or  in  the  layer  of  epidermis  which  covers  this  wall.  The 
teeth  are  developed  in  the  interior  wall  of  the  cyst,  in  the 
dental  sac.  And  Scanzoni  says  that  sometimes  the  cavi- 
ties are  seen  filled  with  loose  teeth. 


174   ABNORMAL  OBO  WTH8  IN  VTEBINE  OBOANS. 

The  bony  substances  proceed  fronoi  the  ossification  of 
the  cellular  tissue  of  the  walls  of  the  cyst.  They  may  be 
either  long  or  flat  bones,  but  are  said  not  to  resemble  the 
bones  of  the  skeleton. 

The  cartilages  originate  in  the  papillary  excrescences 
which  occupy  the  internal  wall  of  the  cysts.  These  are 
more  rare  than  bones  or  teeth. 

The  size  and  growth  of  multiple  cysts — the  last  vari- 
ety described — vary.  At  the  end  of  several  years  they 
may  not  attain  the  size  of  a  goose  egg,  while  some,  in  a 
few  months,  may  attain  the  size  of  a  gravid  uterus  at  full 
term.  The  patient  from  whom  I  obtained  this  specimen 
(after  postmortem)  had  a  large  simple  cyst  in  the  right 
side,  as  large  aF  a  gallon  measure,  as  described  before. 
This  specimen,  which  I  call  a  multiple  cyst,  was  in  the 
left  side  of  the  same  patient,  and  evidently  included  the 
whole  ovary.  It  had  been  located  there,  and  of  the  ap- 
parent size  as  now  presented,  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years 
previous  to  her  death,  which  was  caused  by  typhoid  fever. 
I  will  say  in  passing,  that  she  was  barren,  had  never  borne 
children,  but  had  menstruated  irregularly  for  a  few  years, 
but  not  for  many  years  previous  to  her  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  about  40  years  of  age.  Her  abdomen  at  death 
was  as  large  as  a  woman's  at  full  term  of  pregnancy. 

The  hair  in  this  specimen  is  three  inches  long.  Incut- 
ting  into  it  I  found  several  small  bones.  It  was  supposed 
by  several  of  my  colleagues  at  the  autopsy,  to  be  ovarian 
pregnancy.  I  pronounce  it  a  dermoid  cyst,  or  multiple 
cyst.  If  I  am  wrong  in  my  diagnosis,  I  wish  to  be  cor- 
rected, as  it  is  the  only  case  I  ever  had  in  my  practice. 
The  patient  for  many  years  had  been  sickly,  sallow,  and 
never  well. 

Without  trespassing  much  further  upon  the  time  and 
patience  of  this  Society,  allow  me  to  exhibit  an  interest- 
ing specimen  of  hydatid  cyst  from  the  cavity  of  the  uter- 
us. The  true  cause  of  this  character  of  growth  is  a  dis- 
puted point.    While  all  may  agree  as  to  its  true  anatomi- 


W.  WEBSTER.  176 

cal  nature  and  structure,  writers  disagree  whether  it  can 
occur  independently  of  pregnancy  or  not.  We  are  all  en- 
titled to  our  own  opinion.  And  while  we  know  that  hy- 
datids can  grow  in  the  uterus,  liver,  kidneys,  bowels,  and 
brain,  in  the  male  sex  as  well  as  in  the  female  sex,  I  am 
led  to  believe  that  they  can  be  produced  in  the  uterus  in- 
dependently of  pregnancy. 

This  specimen  I  removed  from  a  young  lady  nineteen 
years  of  age — a  girl  above  suspicion;  had  menstruated 
rather  irregularly  and  painfully;  had  been  afflicted  for 
several  months  with  enuresis  nocturna.  Being  called  in 
haste  one  night,  by  her  father,  I  found  her  suffering  the 
most  intense  agony  with  what  they  said  was  her  menses, 
it  being  her  regular  period.  The  pains  were  extreme,  and 
in  paroxysms,  as  a  woman  in  true  labor.  Could  hear  her 
several  squares  from  her  house.  My  first  impressions 
were  that  she  was  miscarrying,  not  then  knowing  her  his- 
tory, character,  habits,  etc.  Feeling  the  importance  of  an 
immediate  examination,  I  obtained  immediate  consent  by 
telling  her  and  her  mother  that  it  was  perhaps  a  bad  case 
of  retroversion,  and  an  examination  was  absolutely  neces- 
sary, as  well  as  an  operation.  In  passing  the  index  finger 
into  the  vagina,  I  found  issuing  from  the  os  uteri  a  large 
indescribable  mass  the  size  of  a  fcetus  of  six  months.  On 
removing  a  fragment  and  bringing  it  to  the  light,  I  dis- 
covered at  once  what  it  was,  and  by  advising  her  to  bear 
down  with  her  pains,  and  pulling  on  my  other  hand,  true 
labor  like,  I  soon  succeeded  in  removing  the  whole  mass. 
Her  sufferings  ceased  at  once.  A  few  fragments  passed 
away  for  two  or  three  days.  No  inflammation  followed. 
I  kept  her  in  bed,  and  on  low  diet  and  Aconite  for  one 
week,  then  followed  with  uterine  tonics  for  a  few  weeks — 
Apis,  Calcarea  Garb.,  etc. 

There  have  been  no  signs  of  a  return  of  the  growth. 
She  has  menstruated  regularly  at  each  period  since,  with 
no  unusual  inconvenience,  and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  ro- 
bust, rosy  health. 


176  INTBA-VAOINAL  PARACENTESIS. 

I  brought  these  specimens  with  me  for  the  benefit  of 
my  young  brethren  in  the  profession,  assuming,  of  course, 
that  all  these  veterans  and  medical  magnates  have  met 
and  seen  tJiouaanda  of  them  in  their  practice  before. 


^^^ 


INTRA-VAGINAL  PARACENTESIS. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  OHIO  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 


OHASLBS  E.  WALTON,  M.  D. 


Paracentesis,  as  a  surgical  procedure,  is  so  simple  and 
frequent  that  it  is  scarcely  worthy  of  mention  in  a  formal 
paper  emanating  from  a  surgical  bureau  of  a  State  society. 
However,  certain  features  may  attend  some  particular  case 
which  may  render  it  exceptionally  interesting  and  furnish 
an  excuse  for  its  recital. 

Seven  hours  after  the  inception  of  labor,  I  was  called 
to  assist  a  physician  in  the  delivery  of  a  child.  The  case 
was  that  of  a  strong,  healthy  woman,  in  her  third  or  fourth 
labor ;  knee  presentation ;  os  dilated ;  pains  frequent  and 
vigorous ;  no  progress ;  cause  undetermined. 

When  a  woman  has  been  exerting  herself  in  child- 
birth for  several  hours,  has  a  dilated  os,  and  there  is  no 
progress,  the  hesitating  practitioner  should  certainly  place 
himself  beyond  criticism  by  determining  the  cause  of  de- 
tention. 

Dame  Nature  is  not  nearly  so  lenient  as  her  would-be 
servitors;  she  frequently  kills  a  patient  while  they  are 
waiting  for  her  help.  Nature  is  very  apt  to  ''  take  her 
course,"  a  course  rendered  inevitable  by  the  circum- 
stances, and  kind  Providence  is  called  in  to  bless  the 
funeral  meats. 

After  bringing  down  the  feet,  a  well  lubricated  hand 
introduced  into  the  uterus  discovered  a  vast  extent  of 
baby ;  it  seemed  as  though  an  embryonic  Falstaff  were 
there,  so  disproportionately  large  was  that  abdomen.    In 


CHARLES  E.  WALTON.  177 

all  directions  was  felt  the  distended,  fluctuating  body ;  the 
diagnosis  was  complete ;  we  had  a  case  of  foetal  ascites, 
one  of  the  very  rarest  of  foetal  dystocise. 

With  the  patient  fully  anaesthetized,  and  strong  trac- 
tion made  upon  the  legs,  a  bistoury  slipped  along  the  pal- 
mar surface  of  the  fore-finger  soon  cut  its  way  through  the 
left  lumbar  region  into  the  abdominal  cavity,  and  out 
rushed  the  fluid  in  a  veritable  torrent.  With  the  collapse 
of  the  abdomen  the  birth  was  almost  instantaneous,  and 
the  deformity  was  before  us.  The  sex  was  at  first  indeter- 
minate, for  the  empty  scrotum  looked  very  like  a  vulva, 
and  a  pubic  nodule  very  unlike  a  penis.  A  subsequent 
autopsy  revealed  the  testicles  still  in  the  abdominal  cav- 
ity, and  the  penis  to  be  very  rudimentary  and  imperfomte. 
A  little  persuasion  resulted  in  procuring  permission  to 
carry  off  the  trophy  of  the  night's  work  for  a  private  ex- 
amination. 

Externally,  the  head  and  each  upper  extremity  ap- 
peared to  be  that  of  an  ordinary  child  at  full  term,  but  the 
pelvis  and  lower  extremities  appeared  much  too  small. 
In  the  umbilical  region  the  integument  was  supplanted  by 
a  white,  glistening  membrane  for  a  space  the  size  of  a 
silver  dollar,  surrounding  the  attachment  of  the  cord. 
Through  the  collapsed  abdominal  walls  could  be  felt  a  tu- 
mor some  five  inches  long,  extending  from  the  umbilicus 
down  into  the  pelvis,  and  closely  adherent  to  the  walls. 
A  careful  injection  of  the  abdominal  cavity  determined 
its  capacity  to  be  three  and  one-half  pints.  Upon  opening 
the  cavity  the  tumor  was  found  to  be  an  enormously  dis- 
tended bladder  containing  one-half  pint  of  fluid.  The 
muscular  coats  of  the  bladder  shaded  off*  into  a  mem- 
branous extension  completing  its  upper  third,  lined  with 
mucous  membrane,  and  identical  with  that  which  formed 
a  part  of  the  abdominal  wall.  The  caliber  of  the  right 
ureter  was  distended  to  the  dimension  of  one-half  inch. 
The  left  ureter  was  occluded  at  its  origin,  and  dilated  into 
an  adjunct  bladder  at  its  termination  about  one  inch  in 


178  PEL  VIC  CELL  ULITIS. 

diameter.  The  left  kidney  was  one-third  larger  than  the 
right,  and  its  pelvis  was  dilated  into  a  foetal  hydronephro- 
sis. The  undescended  testes  were  hugging  either  side  of 
the  bladder,  unable  to  find  their  way  into  the  inguinal 
canals,  and  the  empty  scrotum  waited  in  vain  their  arrival. 

To  the  pathologist  we  will  leave  the  problem  of  solv- 
ing the  cause  of  this  abnormal  urinary  apparatus  with  its 
attending  ascites. 

To  the  young  practitioner  we  will  call  attention  to  the 
value  of  introducing  the  entire  hand  in  diagnosing  the 
cause  of  difficult  labors. 

To  the  incipient  surgeon  we  will  say  that  the  perform- 
ance of  so  simple  an  operation  as  an  intra-vaginal  para- 
centesis will  tend  very  largely  to  increase  his  fame  as  a 
skillful  obstetrician. 


«#♦»* 


PELVIC  CELLULITIS. 


READ  BEFORE  TUE.  OHIO  H0M(E0PATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 


0.  HOYT.  M.  D.,  CIIILLICOTHE,  OHIO. 


This  disease  has  been  described  under  various  titles. 
Thus  some  of  the  synonyms  are  peri-uterine  cellulits,  peri- 
metritis, pelvic  abscess,  abscess  of  the  uterus,  etc.,  etc.  It 
seems  to  have  been  generally  overlooked  by  the  old  wri- 
ters on  diseases  of  women,  although  full  and  distinct  ac- 
counts of  it  are  to  be  found  in  the  writings  of  various  old 
Greek  and  Roman  Physicians,  probably  two  thousand 
years  ago. 

It  is  a  disease  of  great  importance,  and  not  infre- 
quently met  with  in  practice.  It  is  usually  not  difficult  of 
detection,  although  some  cases  are  quite  obscure,  and  will 
test  the  physician's  skill.  This  disease  usually  occurs  after 
confinement,  or  is  produced  by  some  unlucky  operation 
upon  the  pelvic  organs.    It  may  also  be  produced  by  cold 


C.  HOYT.  179 

during  the  menstrual  period.  This  disease  may  occur  at 
any  time  of  life,  from  childhood  to  old  age,  and  is  not  en- 
tirely confined  to  the  female  sex.  Oases  of  pelvic  cellu- 
litis or  abscess  sometimes  occur  in  the  male  sex  from  cold, 
or  after  operations  upon  the  rectum,  or  urethra. 

The  pelvis  is  lined  with  a  fascia  which  is  reflected  over 
the  muscles  contained  within  it,  and  over  the  pelvic  or- 
gans. It  serves  to  strengthen  and  separate  them.  Be- 
tween this  fascia  and  the  organs,  or  muscles,  which  it  cov- 
ers there  is  interposed  this  loose  cellular  tissue.  It  is 
especially  abundant  between  the  folds  of  the  broad  liga- 
ments, also  between  the  uterus  and  bladder,  and  uterus 
and  rectum.  It  is  supposed  by  some  writers  that  this  cel- 
lular tissue  is  increased  during  pregnancy,  the  same  as  the 
muscular  coat  of  the  uterus.  Pelvic  cellulitis  consists  es- 
sentially in  an  inflammation  of  this  cellular  tissue  in  some 
part  of  the  pelvis.  This  disease  is  usually  divided  into 
three  stages :  The  first  or  congestive  stage ;  the  second  or 
stage  of  efllision,  and  the  third  stage,  that  of  resolution, 
or  suppuration. 

This  disease  is  usually  ushered  in  by  a  chill,  or  rigor, 
and  is  soon  followed  by  fever  of  greater  or  less  intensity, 
with  quick  pulse,  and  hot  skin,  and  all  the  phenomena  of 
a  well  marked  synechia.  Soon  the  patient  begins  to  com- 
plain of  intra-pelvic  pain,  and  tenderness,  which  is  in  a 
short  time  followed  by  an  exudation  of  serum,  or  liquor 
sanguinis.  The  necessary  result  of  this  efl*usion  is  a 
swelling  in  some  part  of  the  pelvis,  depending  of  course 
upon  the  location  of  the  inflammation. 

The  pressure  of  this  eff*used  fluid  upon  the  rectum  or 
bladder  often  gives  rise  to  severe  strangling,  or  tenesmus, 
also  to  sciatica,  from  pressure  upon  the  sciatic  nerve.  Our 
remedies  will  fail  in  giving  much  relief  in  these  cases  un- 
til the  pressure  from  this  fluid  is  removed.  Frequently 
the  leg  on  the  side  where  the  efi^usion  is  the  greater  will 
be  permanently  drawn  up,  and  cannot  be  extended  with- 
out great  sufifering.    This  tumor,  or  swelling,  will  be  of 


180  PEL  VIC  CELL  ULITIS. 

greater  or  less  extent  according  to  the  particular  location 
of  the  inflammation,  and  the  amount  of  the  effusion. 

The  swelling  is  usually  at  first  dense,  and  hard  to  the 
feel,  so  much  so  that  it  might  even  be  mistaken  for  scir- 
rhus.  In  many  instances  where  there  is  an  opportunity  to 
examine  the  case  daily,  you  can  detect  the  disease  advanc- 
ing, and  taking  in  more  and  more  of  the  cellular  tissue 
until  the  uterus  becomes  fixed  and  firm  in  the  pelvis.  This 
is  of  course  not  always  the  case,  and  it  will  depend  upon 
the  extent  and  location  of  the  inflammation; 

The  swelling  is  usually  easy  of  detection  by  examina- 
tion through  the  vagina  and  rectum,  or  through  the 
abdominal  walls,  although  some  cases  come  on  very 
slowly  and  insidiously,  and  it  will  tax  the  physician's  skill 
to  make  a  correct  diagnosis.  This  disease  may  be  mis- 
taken for  pelvic  perotonitis,  pelvic 'hiematocele,  or  uterine 
fibroids.  The  pain  is  usually  more  acute  in  pelvic  i)eri- 
tonitis,  and  the  tendency  to  suppuration  not  so  great.  It 
is  usually  produced  by  cold  at  the  menstrual  periods  while 
cellulitis  mostly  occurs  after  confinement. 

Pelvic  hsematocele  occurs  in  patients  that  are  weak 
and  anaemic,  and  where  the  blood  is  of  a  poor  quality.  It 
is  also  incident  to  the  hoemorrhagic  diathesis.  The  swell- 
ing comes  on  suddenly,  and  is  marked  by  great  and  sud- 
den prostration.  Uterine  fibroids  are  of  slow  growth,  and 
cause  little  pain.  There  are  frequent  attacks  of  metrorrha- 
gia, and  no  tendency  to  suppuration. 

In  the  treatment  of  pelvic  cellulitis  we  should,  if  it 
is  possible  to  do  so,  prevent  exudation,  or  if  exudation  has 
already  taken  place,  to  promote  absorption,  and  removal 
of  the  deposit,  and  by  so  doing  prevent  suppuration  and 
abscess.  Where  the  patient  has  enjoyed  good  health  pre- 
vious to  the  attack,  and  the  physician  sees  the  case  early, 
the  amount  of  eff'usion  can  be  greatly  lessened.  There  is 
no  reason  why,  if  we  can  see  our  patients  in  time,  that 
many  cases  of  threatened  cellulitis  cannot  be  prevented 
from  going  beyond  the  period  of  congestion. 


a  HOYT.  181 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  we  possess  remedies  that 
will  so  act  upon  the  cellular  tissues  as  to  check  the  in- 
flammation and  prevent  exudation.  Gases  that  have  pre- 
viously been  drugged,  or  are  in  bad  health  from  any  cause 
will  usually  go  on  from  bad  to  worse  in  spite  of  our  efforts, 
and  finally  end  in  suppuration,  and  possibly  death. 

Among  the  best  remedies  in  the  early  stage  of  this 
disease,  will  be  found  Aconite,  Arnica,  Belladonna,  and 
Verat.  viride.  These  remedies  should  be  combined  with 
the  local  application  of  hot  flannels,  or  cloth  rung  out  of 
hot  water.  Hot  vaginal  injections  by  means  of  a  syphon. 
The  old  fashioned  bran  poultice  is  also  good,  or  anything 
by  which  you  can  apply  steady  heat,  and  by  so  doing  re- 
duce the  pain  and  congestion.  In  many  instances  this 
mode  of  treatment  will  nip  the  disease  in  the  bud,  and 
bring  about  a  speedy  recovery.  In  cases  where  effusion 
has  taken  place  such  remedies  as  Apis  mel.,  Ars.,  Colchi- 
cum,  Bryonia,  Rhus  tox..  Digitalis,  Cantharis,  Mercurius, 
Hellebore,  and  Sulphur  will  be  found  appropriate  accord- 
ing to  their  sx)ecial  indications  in  each  case.  In  this  stage 
it  is  very  necessary  that  the  patient  be  put  upon  a  gener- 
ous diet,  as  the  weaker  and  more  run  down  the  patient  is, 
the  greater  the  liability  to  hectic  fever  and  abscess.  Such 
articles  of  diet  as  beef  tea,  eggs  and  milk,  or  milk  punch, 
will  be  found  appropriate.  The  local  use  of  camphorated 
oil  over  the  inflamed  region  is  excellent.  It  should  be 
thoroughly  annointed  with  it,  and  then  covered  with  a 
thick  layer  of  cotton.  If  this  disease  remains  unchecked 
for  a  period  of  from  ten  to  fifteen  days,  there  will  be  a  for- 
mation of  pus,  and  all  possibility  of  aborting  the  disease 
will  be  eijded.  When  unable  to  avert  suppuration,  give 
such  remedies  as  Hepar  sulph.,  Mercurius,  Cal.  carb.  and 
Sulphur,  and  promote  the  discharg-e  of  the  pus  as  fast  as 
possible.  The  local  use  of  emollients  and  hot  fomenta- 
tions will  also  hasten  the  desired  result.  After  pus  has 
formed  the  two  most  common  outlets  for  it  are  either  through 
the  vagina,  pr  rectum,  which  are  fortunately  the  two  most 
favorable  outlets. 


182  PEL  VIC  CELL  ULITIS. 

The  pus  sometimes  finds  an  outlet  through  the  uterus 
or  bladder,  thus  sometimes  causing  fistulous  openings 
which  are  diflScult  to  heal.  Some  times  the  pus  burrows, 
and  may  follow  down  and  find  any  opening  at  the  groins, 
or  upon  the  thigh,  or,  in  fact,  almost  anywhere  around  the 
floor  of  the  pelvis.  Usually  the  safest  and  best  place  to 
open  the  abscess,  when  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  is  at  the  roof 
of  the  vagina,  in  the  posterior  cul-de-sac.  Here  fluctua- 
tion is  easily  detected,  and  the  walls  separating  the  ab- 
scess are  thin  and  the  pus  easily  evacuated.  It  is  some 
times  opened  through  the  rectum,  but  the  place  just 
mentioned  is  much  to  be  preferred. 

If  the  abscess  points  externally  it  should  be  lanced  as 
soon  as  it  is  ready  to  discharge  freely,  although  undue 
haste  is  unnecessary.  Wait  until  the  integuments  cover- 
ing the  place  where  it  is  going  to  point  have  become  thin, 
and  the  abscess  in  a  condition  to  be  thoroughly  evacuated, 
then  open  at  the  lowest  point.  After  the  abscesss  has 
been  evacuated  it  may  be  dressed  with  a  lotion  of  Calen- 
dula, or  a  weak  solution  of  Carbolic  acid  in  water.  The 
patient  should  be  placed  upon  a  generous  diet  and  every 
thing  that  will  aid  her  in  gaining  health  and  strength  re- 
sorted to.  The  prognosis  should  be  cautiously  made. 
Much  will  depend  upon  the  general  strength  and  vitality 
of  the  patients  as  well  as  upon  the  complicating  lesions. 
This  disease  rarely  if  ever  runs  its  entire  course  without 
being  complicated  with  other  diseases  of  the  pelvic  organs, 
all  of  which  will  influence  the  prognosis  more  or  less. 

Some  of  the  most  important  of  these  diseases  are, 
peritonitis,  haematocele,  haemorrhoids,  ovaritis,  cystitis, 
urethritis,  vaginitis,  ulceration  of  the  cervix  uteri,  ulcera- 
tion of  the  rectum  and  chronic  metritis.  Any  of  these 
diseases  will  complicate  the  original  trouble  more  or  less 
according  to  their  severity,  and  will  have  to  be  duly  con- 
sidered in  making  a  correct  diagnosis  as  well  as  prognosis. 

Among  the  most  common  sequelae  of  this  disease  will 
be  found  sterility,  menstrual  derangements,  uterine  dis- 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  MIDDLE  EAR.         183 

placements  and  recto-  or  vesico- vaginal  fistulee.  In  many- 
instances  the  patients  recover  their  health  in  every  re- 
spect, except  that  in  the  future  they  remain  barren.  In 
such  cases  the  inflammation  in  some  way  causes  the  func- 
tion of  reproduction  to  be  suspended.  In  the  same  man- 
ner menstruation  is  interferred  with,  probably  either  by 
occlusion  of  the  Fallopian  tubes  or  by  some  ovarian  trou- 
ble. 

Uterine  displacements  are  a  very  common  result  of 
cellulitis,  especially  so  where  there  the  seat  of  the  trouble 
is  in  the  broad  ligaments.  As  the  patient  recovers  there 
will  be  necessarily  more  or  less  contraction  of  the  liga- 
ments and  a  corresponding  displacement  of  the  uterus. 
Fislutae  is  sometimes  caused  by  sloughing  of  the  tissues 
and  the  discharge  keeping  up  for  a  long  period  of  time. 

In  writing  this  paper  I  have  aimed  to  call  attention  to 
the  more  prominent  points  of  this  disease,  as  well  as  to 
mention  in  a  brief  manner  what  seems  to  me  to  be  the 
best  treatment.  It  is  a  disease  of  the  first  importance  and 
quite  often  met  with  in  practice.  It  deserves  to  be  thor- 
oughly studied  and  understood  by  every  physician,  so 
when  called  to  attend  a  case  he  will  be  able  to  treat  the 
case  intelligently,  and  by  so  doing  gain  honors  for  himself, 
and  health  and  happiness  for  his  patients. 


•4«^ 


ACUTE  SUPPURATIVE  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE 

MIDDLE  EAR. 


BEAD  BEFORE  THE  OHIO  HOMCEOPATHIO   MEDICAL   SOCIETY. 


W.  A.  PHILLIPS,  M.  D.,  CLEVELAND,  O. 


Acute  suppurative  inflammation  of  the  middle  ear  is 
by  no  means  in  the  aggregate  a  trivial  affection.  It  de- 
mands as  a  rule  more  skilled  attention  than  is  usually  ac- 
corded to  it  in  order  to  prevent  one  or  more  of  the  follow- 


184         INFLAMMA  TION  OF  THE  MIDDLE  EAR. 

lowing  terminations :    1.  A  continual  offensive  discharge; 
2.  Impairment  of  hearing ;  3.  Death. 

The  trouble  is  usually  produced  in  consequence  of  an 
acute  and  severe  inflammation  of  the  throat,  resulting 
from  various  causes,  as  scarlet  fever,  diphtheria,  or  a  hard 
cold,  the  inflammation  extending  along  the  mucous  lining 
of  the  Eustachian  tube  to  the  drum  cavity.  The  inflam- 
mation may,  however,  begin  in  the  tympanum  as  a  direct 
result  of  taking  cold.  In  either  case  the  subsequent  course 
of  the  disease  will  be  substantially  the  same,  and  will 
accordingly  demand  much  the  same  general  and  special 
management. 

The  tympanic  cavity  has  but  one  outlet,  and  that  a  very 
imperfect  one,  as  a  means  of  drainage,  viz.,the  Eustachian 
tube.  But  normally  the  walls  of  the  tube,  in  a  part  of 
their  extent  at  least  are  in  opposition,  and  when  inflamed, 
as  they  always  are  more  or  less  in  severe  inflammation  of 
the  tympanic  cavity,  they  are  still  more  firmly  pressed  to- 
gether, and  hence  the  drum-cavity  becomes  closed ;  and 
an  accumulation  of  muco-purulent  or  distinctly  purulent 
matter  in  it  is  practically  an  abscess. 

The  prominent  symptom  is  intense  pain  in  the  ear ; 
and  the  reason  why  the  suffering  occasioned  by  "  ear- 
ache "  is  so  great  is  because  the  mucous  lining  of  the 
drum-cavity  is  intimately  united  with  the  periosteum, 
and  hence  the  pain  is  not  unlike  that  produced  by  a  felon. 
As  the  cavity  fills  with  inflammatory  products  the  drum- 
head becomes  distended  and  reddened.  The  pressure  it 
sustains  soon  leads  as  a  rule,  to  ulceration  of  its  substance 
and  perforations  adds  a  means  of  temporary  or  permanent 
relief  to  the  abscess ;  but  also  generally  adds  a  complica- 
tion which  is  a  prolific  source  of  trouble.  If  one-fourth 
or  more  of  the  drum-head  be  destroyed  by  the  ulcerative 
process,  it  is  not  probable  that  the  orifice  thus  occasioned 
will  become  closed ;  although  even  a  larger  opening  than 
this  may  become  filled  with  new  tissue  bearing  a  remark- 
able resemblance  to  the  original.    Persistent  perforation 


W.  A.  PHILLIPS^  185 

of  the  drum-head  constitutes  a  serious  complication  for 
the  reason :  1st.  That  it  affords  a  means  of  direct  communi- 
cation of  the  air  with  the  tympanic  cavity,  which  favors 
the  continuance  of  the  discharge.  2d.  The  loss  of  sub- 
stance of  the  drum-head,  and  adhesions,  render  it  imper- 
fect as  an  element  in  the  mechanism  of  hearing.  It 
should  be  recollected,  however,  that  perforation  of  the 
drum -head  does  not  of  iteelf  necessarily  produce  noticea- 
ble impairment  of  hearing.  But  when  there  is  perforation, 
there  are  also,  as  a  rule,  adhesions  and  a  thickening  of  the 
mucous  lining  of  the  cavity  of  the  middle  ear  about  the 
foramen  ovalis,  and  hence  the  vibrations  of  air  do  not  pro- 
duce the  impression  upon  the  structures  of  the  internal 
ear  which  they  would  otherwise  do  if  the  drum-head  and 
lining  of  the  cavity  about  the  foot  of  the  stapes  were 
normal.  It  is  really,  then,  the  catarrhal  thickening  of  the 
mucous  lining  of  the  middle  ear  that  occasions  the  chronic 
discharge,  and  produces  the  deafness.  It  is  not  easy  to 
determine  which  is  the  most  to  be  regretted,  the  disgust- 
ing fetid  discharge,  or  the  impairment  of  hearing. 

But  acute  suppurative  inflammation  of  the  middle 
ear  is  never  entirely  free  from  the  danger  of  resulting  in 
meningitis,  cerebral  abscess,  or  pyaemia,  with  their  so  fre- 
quently fatal  termination ;  and  the  anatomical  relation  of 
the  ear  and  cerebral  struetures  fully  explains  the  reason  of 
these  complications. 

A  chronic  suppurative  discharge,  instead  of  being  a 
salutary  circumstance  as  it  is  often  regarded  by  the  laity, 
and  even  sometimes  by  physicians,  is  a  trouble  that  con- 
stantly threatens,  in  consequence  of  a  cold,  to  develop  an 
acute  Otitis  which  is  liable  to  the  same  complications  as 
the  original  attack.  Periostitis  extending  from  the  tym- 
panic cavity  to  the  mastoid  process,  and  producing  heat, 
pain,  redness,  and  swelling  in  this  situation  is  generally 
the  first  sign  that  indicates  the  gravity  of  the  case. 

The  treatment  in  the  early  stage  demands  that  the  in- 
flammation be  allayed  as  much  as  possible  by  the  use  of 
3 


r 


186         INFLAMiaATION  OF  THE  MIDDLE  EAR. 

applicalioiis  of  warm  wafer  carefully  iHstilled  into  the 
ear,  filling  the  meatus  quite  full.  A  hot  flannel  doth 
should  Ihen  be  placed  over  the  ear.  The  water  should  be 
allowed  to  remain  for  five  minutes,  then  by  turning  the 
hea*i  over  on  to  a  towel  the  meatus  is  emptied.  This  pro- 
cedure should  be  repeated  several  times,  using  the  water 
as  warm  as  can  be  borne.  This  will  generally  be  found  to 
be  very  grateful  to  the  patient,  and  unless  the  inflamma- 
tioii  is  very  severe,  or  unless  continued  long  enough  to  have 
induced  suppuration  and  considerable  bulging  of  the 
drum-head,  will  often  prevent  perforation.  Warm  water 
may  be  used  in  this  manner,  one,  two,  or  three  hours,  ac- 
cording to  the  degree  of  pain.  During  the  intervals  the 
ear  and  side  of  the  head  should  be  kept  warm  and  dry.  If 
the  case  be  recent  the  direct  result  of  cold.  Aconite  in- 
ternally is  especially  indicated,  and  also  at  any  stage  of 
the  disease,  provided  fever  be  present.  If  the  throat  be 
affected,  Mercurius,  Bell.,  or  Potash  in  some  form  will 
usually  meet  the  indications.  When,  however,  the  ear 
trouble  occurs  as  a  complication  of  diphtheria,  scarlet 
fever,  or  measles,  the  medical  treatment  of  the  throat 
should  be  conducted  with  immediate  reference  to  the 
relief  of  the  disease  constituting  the  primary  trouble.  In 
the  diseases  named  the  symptoms  of  inflammation  of  the 
ear  are  frequently  masked  by  the  symptoms  of  the  original 
affection  ;  and  hence  in  all  cases  of  these  diseases,  espec- 
ially in  young  children,  the  drum-head  should  be  care- 
fully examinedjby  the  use  of  a  speculum  and  ear-mirror. 
If  the  use  of  warm  water  and  the  indicated  remedies  do 
not  suffice  to  relieve  the  pain  and  other  symptoms,  and 
the  drum-head  is  bulged  outwards,  the  accumulation  of 
the  tympanic  cavity  should  be  evacuated  by  puncturing 
the  drum-head  with  a  broad  needle.  This  surgical  meas- 
ure will,  in  most  cases  if  done  at  the  proper  time,  not 
only  afford  immediate  reUef  of  the  pain,  but  also  prevent 
ulceration  of  the  drum-head  and  a  permanent  perforation, 
favoring  a  permanent  di.wharge  and  more  or  less  incura- 


A  SEVERE  BUBN.  187 

ble  deafness.  At  the  same  time,  the  danger  of  an  exten- 
sion of  the  disease  to  Ihe  brain  or  its  coverings  is  greatly 
lessened.  It  is  unfortunately  a  fact  that  many  fatal  cases 
of  brain  disease  have  resulted  from  ear  trouble  as  the 
primary  cause,  without  the  attending  physician's  recog- 
nizing the  ear  inflammation  as  the  foundation.  Whereas, 
had  the  primary  cause  been  early  detected,  the  brain 
complication  might  have  been  by  proper  management  en- 
tirely prevented.  But  as  mastoid  diseases  generally  pre- 
cede danger  to  the  brain,  it  is  especially  to  be  emphasized 
that  swelling  over  the  mastoid  process  should  receive 
careful,  and  ordinarily  surgical  attention.  In  many  cases 
the  opening  of  the  tissues  down  to  the  bone  will  not  be 
sufficient ;  but  trephining  the  mastoid  will  be  indispensa- 
ble to  the  recovery  of  the  patient. 

Typical  cases  could  be  cited  to  illustrate  this  disease 
in  all  its  stages  and  degrees  of  severity  from  a  mild  ear- 
ache to  a  post  mortem,  but  to  teach  you  the  minutiae  of 
the  management  would  require  far  more  space  than  the 
limits  of  one  paper  suitable  for  presentation  to  this  society. 
But  the  citation  of  such  cases,  treated  according  to  the 
best  light  thrown  on  the  subject,  compared  with  similar 
cases  neglectel  or  iiyudiciously  treated,  would  serve  to 
show  that  aural  medicine  is  worthy  of  far  more  considera- 
tion than  general  practitioners  have  given  to  it  through  per- 
sonal study  or  through  the  assistance  of  specialists  in  this 

department. 

'^•^ 

A  SEVERE  BURN. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  OHIO  H0M(E0PATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 


I.  W.  DISBRO,  M.  D.,  CLEVELAND,  O. 


On  May  27th,  1882,  6  a.  m.,  was  called  to  see  Mr. 
Clark,  aged  53  years.  Mr.  C,  a  stationary  engineer  by 
occupation,  while  under  the   boiler   attending  to  some 


188  A  SEVERE  B  URN. 

duty,  had  occasion  to  reach  his  right  arm  over  a  steam 
pipe  in  connection  with  the  boiler.  While  in  this  attitude 
the  pipe  was  suddenly  forced  out  of  the  boiler,  the  end 
flying  up  and  catching  him  under  the  right  arm,  and  hold- 
ing firmly  against  the  boiler  in  such  a  manner  that  he 
received  the  following  injuries : 

First. — ^The  right  side  of  the  face  was  burned  almost 
entirely  away,  as  represented  by  a  line  drawn  from  the 
right  ala  nasi  along  the  malar  prominence  and  zygoma  to 
one  inch  behind  the  lobe  of  the  right  ear ;  thence  along 
the  stemo-mastoid  muscle  to  about  an  inch  beneath  the 
angle  of  the  inferior  maxillary  bone ;  thence  downwards 
and  forwards  to  a  point  about  an  inch  an  a  half  beneath 
the  lower  border  of  the  body  of  the  jaw,  near  the  sym- 
physis; thence  upwards  to  the  point  of  starting.  This 
burn  was  very  deep,  laying  bare  the  entire  width  of  the 
lower  jaw  to  the  extent  of  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length, 
and  burning  entirely  through  Steno's  duct,  also  involving 
the  lobe  of  the  ear  to  some  extent.  It  measured  5^  by  3i 
inches. 

Second. — The  posterior  half  of  the  left  ear  was  en- 
tirely destroyed,  together  with  a  portion  of  the  scalp 
immediately  behind  the  ear.  This  was  burned  nearly  to 
the  bone,  and  measured  two  by  three  inches. 

Third. — The  back  was  burned  from  the  outer  border 
of  the  acromion  process  on  the  right  side,  to  nearly  the 
same  point  on  the  opposite  side.  This  burn  was  from  six 
to  seven  inches  in  width,  about  thirteen  inches  long,  and 
from  half  an  inch  to  an  inch  deep — the  deepest  portion 
being  just  above  the  spine  of  the  scapula  on  either  side. 

Fourth. — A  very  severe  and  extensive  bum  in  the 
right  axilla,  extending  from  a  point  two  and  one-half 
inches  beneath  the  center  of  the  clavicle,  and  four  inches 
from  the  center  of  the  sternum,  to  the  axillary  border  of 
the  scapula,  measuring  about  eight  inches  in  length,  and 
three  and  one-half  inches  in  width  in  front  of  the  shoulder. 


/.  W.  DISBBO.  189 

This  bum  extended  down  the  arm  from  the  axilla  about 
three  inches,  and  about  the  same  distance  down  the  side. 

Fifth. — There  was  a  deep  burn  on  the  right  arm,  com- 
mencing near  the  inner  condyle  of  the  humerus,  and 
extending  upwards  five  inches,  measuring  three  inches  in 
width. 

These  burns  all  penetrated  deeply  into  the  subcu- 
taneous areolar  and  muscular  tissues,  constituting,  accord- 
ing to  Dupuytren,  burns  of  the  fourth  and  fifth  degrees. 
Erichsen  says :  "  Surgically,  the  fourth  degree  is  the  most 
important.  Its  importance  is  due  to  the  complete  destruc- 
tion of  the  whole  thickness  of  the  skin,  and  the  consequent 
extensive  granulating  and  supurating  surfaces  that  are 
left;  the  tendency  to  deformity  from  the  contraction  of 
the  cicatrices,  formed  as  they  are  of  entirely  new  tissue, 
the  great  peculiarity  and  tendency  of  which  is  to  contract 
into  hard  bands  and  bridles." 

My  principal  reason  for  reporting  this  case  is  the  fact 
that,  although  the  burns  were  very  extensive  and  deep, 
there  is  no  deformity  from  contractions  or  adhesions  of 
the  cicatrical  tissue.  The  only  bridling  that  occurred  was 
where  the  lobe  of  the  right  ear  was  drawn  downward  by 
being  involved  in  the  scar  on  the  cheek.  This  was  com- 
pletely remedied  by  a  very  neat  plastic  operation  per- 
formed by  Prof.  H.  F.  Biggar.  The  treatment  of  this  case, 
which  differs  somewhat  from  that  recommended  by  most 
surgical  writers,  was  as  follows : 

1.  Constitutional. — The  first  day  he  was  given  suffi- 
cient morphine  to  render  the  pain  bearable,  after  which 
he  took  no  opiate  of  any  kind.  During  the  first  weok  he 
was  given  Aeon.  nap.  1  x  in  water,  dose  every  hour  or  two. 
Under  this  treatment  he  rallied  from  the  shock  speedily 
and  satisfactorily.  His  temperature  did  not  exceed  101° 
F.,  and  that  only  for  the  first  few  days.  From  the  time 
suppuration  had  fairly  commenced  until  cicatrization  was 
completed,  his  treatment  consisted  of  Ars.  Alb.  3x,  a 
powder  every  3  or  4  hours,  and  China  Off.  ^  5  to  10  drops 


190  A  SE  VEBE  B  UBN. 

three  times  per  day,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  doses  of 
Hepar  suL,  Silicia  or  Causticum  as  indicated  by  the  char- 
acter of  the  granulations.  Diet  consisted  of  milk,  eggs, 
beef  tea,  milk  punch,  porter,  etc. — our  aim  being  to  "  feed 
him  well,"  and  judging  from  the  fact  that  within  the  next 
nine  months,  notwithstanding  the  great  amount  of  suppu- 
ration— he  had  gained  about  twenty-five  pounds,  we  had 
accomplished  out  object. 

2.  Local  Treatment. — The  first  two  or  three  days  the 
dressings  consisted  of  Linseed  oil  and  cotton  batting.  This 
was  followed  by  poultices  composed  of  equal  parts  of 
ground  flaxseed,  slippery  elm  and  charcoal,  with  sufficient 
baker's  yeast  to  make  it  of  the  required  consistence.  Then 
poultices  were  continued  until  the  sloughs  had  entirely 
separated.  As  fast  as  they  became  detached  they  were 
removed,  and  the  line  of  separation  stimulated  with  ni- 
trate of  silver,  20  grs.  to  an  ounce  of  water.  At  this  stage 
the  odor,  which  had  become  very  offensive,  was  overcome 
by  means  of  Thymol  and  Carbolic  acid  solutions  used  as 
washes.  After  the  sloughs  were  removed,  the  resulting 
ulcers  were  dressed  with  Calamine  cerate,which  is  a  prep- 
aration of  Carbonate  of  zinc.  The  granulations  were  kept 
in  good  condition  by  the  free  use  of  nitrate  of  silver,  20 
grs.  to  the  ounce ;  and  where  they  were  too  profuse  and 
weak,  by  the  occasional  use  of  burnt  alum.  As  fast  as  the 
scars  were  formed  they  we  kept  thoroughly  anointed  witli 
cosmoline.  The  portion  of  inferior  maxillary  that  was  de- 
stroyed was  treated  with  sesqui  carbonate  of  potash  10 
grs.  to  an  ounce  of  water,  till  it  had  separated  from  the 
sound  bone  bone  beneath,  when  the  granulating  surface 
which  presented  was  dressed  with  tincture  of  myrrh  and 
water,  1  to  10.    The  treatment  (local)   contained  these 

items  of  interest : 

1.  Hastening  the  removal  of  the  sloughs  hj/  judiciov^ 
poulticing,  2.  Thorough  stimulation  of  the  granulations. 
3.  Dressing  the  ulcers  with  calamine  cerate.  4.  Keeping 
the  scar  tissue  well  anointed  with  cosmoline. 


A  SURGICAL  CASE.  191 

There  was  one  very  noticeable  feature  connected  with 
the  healing  process.  After  cicatrization  had  commenced 
the  progress  was  not  at  all  uniform ;  on  the  contrary,  it 
was  intermittent,  appearing  to  heal  rapidly  for  four  or  five 
days,  and  then  remaining  stationary  three  or  four  days. 
This  wave-like  variation  was  observed  during  a  period  of 
several  months,  and  I  became  so  accustomed  to  it  that  I 
could  tell  very  accurately  what  to  expect  several  days  in  ad- 
vance. (SeeDr.  V.Qrauvogl's  Lehrbuch  der  Homoeopathic. ) 

Mr.  Clark  has  entirely  recovered  from  the  effects  of 
his  injuries,  excepting  the  salivary  fistula  caused  by  the 
destruction  of  Steno's  duct.  This,  if  necessary,  will  be 
remedied  by  another  plastic  operation. 

I  am  indebted  to  Prof.  H.  F.  Biggar,  who  was  the  con- 
sulting surgeon,  for  much  valuable  advice  in  Mr.  Clark's 

case. 

-^♦^ 

A  SURGICAL  CASE. 


B.  S.  HUNT,  M.  D.,  TAW  ANA,  O. 


On  Monday  morning,  Oct.  17th,  1881,  I  was  hastily 
summoned  to  attend  Oscar  R.,  a  little  boy  nine  years  of 
age,  who,  the  messenger  informed  me,  had  been  kicked  in 
the  head  by  a  vicious  horse.  The  boy,  while  playing  in 
the  street,  all  unconscious  of  danger,  was  run  over  by  a 
man  driving  in  a  buggy,  being  thrown  under  the  horse's 
heels  and  violently  kicked  by  the  frightened  animal.  On 
arriving  at  the  case,  I  found  the  patient  in  a  comatose  con- 
dition, all  unconscious  of  the  frightful  injury  he  had  only 
a  few  moments  before  received.  On  examination  of  the 
the  case  I  found  an  ugly  wound  on  the  posterior  and  left 
portion  of  the  head,  accompanied  by  a  fracture  of  the  skull. 

Upon  careful  examination  I  found  a  fracture  about  one 
and  a  half  inches  in  length  by  one  inch  in  width,  on  the 
posterior  portion  of  the  left  Parietal  bone,  about  two 
inches  to  the  left  of  the  medium  line.  The  piece  of  bone 
was  almost  entirely  detached,  only  a  small  portion  being 


192  A  SURGICAL  CASE. 

intact,  on  the  anterior  edge,  acting  as  a  hinge :  The  free 
edge  being  driven  down  into  the  membrane  of  the  brain, 
rupturing  them  to  a  considerable  extent,  as  well  as  the 
brain  substance  itself,  a  portion  of  which  was  seen  oozing 
from  the  ghastly  wound.  But  it  was  impossible  to  deter- 
mine the  exact  extent  of  brain  injury,  on  account  of  the 
haemorrhage  from  the  wound.  Seeing  that  the  case  was  a 
critical  one,  and  not  feeling  justified  in  undertaking  the 
operation  alone,  I  immediately  dispatched  a  messenger  for 
Dr.  H.  E.  Beebe,  of  Sidney.  The  Doctor  arrived  in  a 
short  time,  and  taking  in  the  situation  at  once,  we  deter- 
mined to  operate  immediately.  After  thoroughly  anes- 
thetizing our  patient,  we  proceeded  to  detach  the  adhering 
portion  of  the  bone,  but  experienced  considerable  of  diffi- 
culty in  so  doing  on  account  of  the  tough  condition  of  the 
bone  in  a  child  of  that  age,  and  also  the  care  required  to 
prevent  further  rupture  of  the  brain  and  its  membranes. 
We  finally  succeeded  in  removing  the  piece  of  bone  entire, 
and  after  cleaning  the  wound  thoroughly,  put  in  five  silk 
sutures,  drawing  the  edges  of  the  scalp  neatly  together 
and  closing  the  ghastly  opening  into  the  vital  i)ortion  of 
the  human  anatomy.  We  ordered  a  dressing  of  ice-water 
and  Arnica  to  the  wound,  to  be  changed  often,  also  put 
our  patient  on  Arnica  3x  internally.  Thus  we  left  the 
case,  giving,  of  course,  a  very  unfavorable  prognosis.  The 
next  day  after  the  accident  our  patient  rested  remarkably 
well.  We  changed  the  local  treatment  to  Calendula  and 
applied  a  bladder  of  ice,  expecting  soon  to  have  to  en- 
counter the  symptoms  of  inflammation.  The  next  day  our 
expectations  were  realized.  Infiammation  having  set  in 
in  the  meninges  and  brain  substance.  Now  we  changed 
the  internal  treatment  to  Aconite  1  x  every  hour,  and  con- 
tinued the  same  local  treatment  as  before.  Spasms  set  in 
during  the  next  day,  lasting  from  one  to  three  minutes ; 
there  was  frothing  at  the  mouth  and  twitching  of  the  mus- 
cles of  the  face  and  limbs,  accompanied  by  a  drowsy  and 
stupid  condition  between  the  spasms,  which  came  at  inter- 


TONSILLITIS'.  ACUTE  AND  CHBONIC.  193 

vals  of  one-half  to  three  hours.  On  the  fourth  day  after 
the  accident  the  spasms  subsided  to  a  considerable  extent, 
but  instead  he  would  arise  with  a  sharp,  shrill  scream, 
such  as  is  heard  in  hydrpcephalous,  and  then  would  sink 
back  into  that  drowsy  state,  from  which  we  could  only 
arose  him  with  considerable  difficulty.  For  this  condition 
we  changed  the  internal  treatment  to  Hyoscyamus,  with 
good  effect,  as  on  the  fifth  day,  the  symptoms  of  inflamma- 
tion began  to  subside,  the  spasms  were  of  shorter  duration 
and  longer  intervals,  our  patient  resumed  a  more  rational 
condition,  and  by  the  seventh  or  eighth  day  was,  to  all  in- 
tents, as  well  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  The  wound 
appeared  to  be  healing  nicely,  and  on  the  eighth  day  we 
took  out  the  sutures.  But  after  about  two  weeks,  the 
wound  began  to  open,  and  it  seemed  nothing  would  entice 
it  to  unite.  Soon  we  noticed  small  spiculae  of  bone  ap- 
pearing in  the  wound,  which  soon  told  us  that  they  were 
the  irritating  cause.  The  periosteum  being  torn  from  the 
edges  of  the  bone,  deprived  it  of  its  nutriment,  and  finally 
suppuration  loosened  the  particles,  until  fifteen  pieces  in 
all  were  extracted,  varying  in  size  from  a  grain  of  wheat 
to  one-fourth  the  size  of  the  original  piece,  and  continuing 
over  a  penod  of  more  than  two  months ;  when  the  wound 
quickly  began  to  heal,  and  in  a  few  days  was  united  to- 
gether, leaving  no  landmark,  only  a  slight  scar,  and  a 
throbbing  pulsation  of  the  brain.  Thus  he  continued,  and 
is  as  well  to-day  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  leaving  no 
derangement  either  of  mind  or  body. 


-#♦»- 


TONSILLITIS  :  ACUTE  AND  CHRONIC. 


M.  P.  HUNT,  M.  D.,  DELAWARE,  OHIO. 

My  topic  is  not  one  belonging  directlj'^  to  the  Bureau 
of  Surgery,  but  it  nevertheless  treats  of  a  disease  fre- 
quently requiring  surgical  interference.    I  hope  my  few 


194  .  TONSILLITIS:  ACUTE  AND  CHRONIC. 

remarks  on  "  Tonsillitis,  Acute  and  Chronic "  will  not 
come  amiss.  Acute  inflammation  ol  the  tonsils,  or  Qnin- 
sy,  is  a  disease  not  infrequently  met  with  in  our  variable 
climate  during  the  spring  and  fall.  It  is  a  disease  of  youth 
and  middle  age ;  rarely  attacks  the  aged,  or  children,  un- 
less complicated  with  some  exant  hematic  fever.  The 
causes  appear  to  be  associated  with  some  disordered  state 
of  health.  A  scrofulous  or  gouty  habit,  or  previous  suffer- 
ing from  some  constitutional  disturbance,  seems  to  render 
the  throat  and  tonsils  especially  susceptible  to  the  influ- 
ence of  cold.  These  we  will  term  the  predisposing  causes, 
and  direct  exposure  to  the  frequent  atmospheric  changes, 
or  "  taking  cold,"  the  immediate  cause  of  an  attack. 

Symptoms, — ^The  premonitory  stage  is  usually  ushered 
in  with  a  chill,  followed  by  high  fever  and  violent  head- 
ache, with  cerebral  hyperaemia  and  soreness  in  the  limbs 
and  body.  At  this  time  we  are  very  apt  to  mistake  the 
true  disease  for  one  of  acute  meningeal  trouble,  as  the 
local  throat-symptoms  do  not  manifest  themselves  until 
the  fever  has  lasted  some  little  time ;  but  if  we  examine 
the  throat  we  will  find  one  side,  rarely  both,  red  and  con- 
gested. This  is  soon  followed  by  swelling  of  the  tonsil 
and  pain  of  a  lancinating,  stinging  character  in  the  fauces 
and  upper  part  of  the  throat,  on  swallowing.  As  the  dis- 
ease progresses  the  suffering  of  the  patient  becomes  more 
intense ;  the  fever  remains  high ;  there  are  pains  in  the 
jaws,  and  severe  sufiering  in  the  part  affected  ;  a  heavily 
loaded,  creamy  and  swollen  tongue,  with  foul  breath ; 
muffled  articulation  ;  great  difficulty  in  swallowing,  yet  a 
constant  urging;  on  attempting  to  swallow  fluids  they  will 
frequently  escape  through  the  nostrils,  causing  a  great  fear 
of  strangulation ;  there  is  an  abundant  secretion  of  saliva 
of  a  stringy,  ropy  character,  and  the  patient  will  be  ob- 
liged to  sit  forward  or  lie  on  on  one  side  to  allow  it  to 
escape  from  the  mouth.  A  local  examination  at  this  time, 
usually  made  with  the  finger,  as  it  is  less  painful  to  the 
patient,  will  show  us  the  swelling  very  much  increased, 


M.  P.  HUNT.  Id5 

completely  hiding  the  posterior  wall  of  the  pharynx,  run- 
ning forward  in  the  substance  of  the  soft  palate  on  the 
side  affected,  and  sometimes  as  far  forward  as  the  incisor 
teeth,  implicating  the  tissues  covering  the  hard  palate.  In 
this  manner  the  disease  continues  for  an  indefinite  period, 
until  pus  forms  and  is  evacuated.  In  some  cases  it  will 
form  in  from  forty-eight  to  sixty  hours ;  others  will  run 
many  days  before* pus  can  be  detected;  nine  days  is  the 
average  time  before  the  abscess  breaks.  During  this  time 
the  patient  passes  his  days  and  nights  in  suffering  and  mis- 
ery ;  he  can  take  no  solid  food,  and  but  little  liquid  nour- 
ishment— in  fact,  frequently  nothing  is  taken  in  the  last 
twenty-four  hours;  he  obtains  but  little  sleep,  and  that 
little  of  a  disturbed  character;  has  difficult  respiration 
from  more  or  less  oedema  of  the  tissues  involved,  and  a 
nervous  horror  of  suffocation.  Sooner  or  later  the  abscess 
will  burst,  if  left  to  itself,  when  the  urgency  of  the  symp- 
toms will  begin  to  subside ;  the  patient  becomes  comfort- 
a1)le,  and  expresses  himself  as  wonderfully  relieved,  and 
asks  for  something  to  eat  or  drink.  The  prognosis  is  usu- 
ally favorable.  Death  sometimes  occurs  from  oedema  of 
the  glottis,  producing  suffocation ;  rarely  from  exhaustion. 

The  chronic  form  of  Tonsillitis,  with  enlargement,  is 
by  far  a  more  common  disease.  It  usually  affects  children 
from  the  second  year  of  life  until  puberty,  but  frequent 
attacks  of  the  acute  form  in  adults  will  cause  chronic  en- 
largement. As  pain  is  seldom  a  symptom  in  these  cases, 
the  attention  is  rarely  drawn  to  the  local  condition  until 
the  loud  snoring  in  sleep  or  thick  articulation  calls  the 
mother's  attention  thereto. 

The  causes  which  produce  this  disease  are  not  satis- 
factorily established.  It  does  not  depend  on  want  of  nour- 
ishment or  lack  of  cleanliness,  for  it  is  met  with  in  chil- 
dren of  both  the  upper  and  lower  classes.  Neither  does 
cold  produce  it,  although  the  frequent  acute  attacks  to 
which  these  cases  are  liable  may  be  caused  by  cold.  On 
the  other  hand,  children  who  have  been  "  raised  by  hand," 


196  TONSILLITIS:  ACUTE  AND  CHRONIC, 

or  early  weaned,  or  convalescing  from  some  eruptive  fever, 
are  liable  to  this  form  of  disease ;  and  the  scrofulous  child 
is  almost  invariably  affected  in  this  way.  Another  cause 
my  experience  teaches  me  lies  with  the  parents.  They 
may  be  individually  healthy,  robust  people,  but  too  much 
alike  in  temperament  and  disposition  to  raise  healthy  chil- 
dren. In  nine  cases  out  of  ten  the  offspring  of  these  mis- 
matched  parents  will  be  affec:^ed  with  some  glandular  en- 
largement, usually  tonsillitis. 

Symptoms, — The  symptoms,  both  objective  and  sub- 
jective, are  easily  detected.  It  interferes  with  free  respi- 
ration ;  the  voice  is  generally  muffled  and  pronunciation 
thick;  breath  offensive;  the  child  snores  loudly  in  its 
sleep,  and  often  starts  and  awakes  in  alarm ;  sleeps  with 
the  mouth  open;  inconvenience  in  swallowing.  On  in- 
spection we  find  one  or  both,  usually  both,  tonsils  enlarged ; 
the  surface  uneven,  pitted ;  the  mucous  membrane  thick 
and  velvety,  and  small  points  of  a  thick,  sticky,  sebaceous 
secretion  will  be  observed,  marking  the  orifices  of  ducts 
leading  into  the  substance  of  the  gland. 

The  enlarged  glands  are  constantly  liable  to  acute  at- 
tacks of  inflammation,  attended  with  high  fever  and  ex- 
acerbation of  all  symptoms  above  referred  to,  and  fre- 
quently violent  brain  symptoms.  Earache  is  a  frequent 
accompaniment  to  the  acute  attacks. 

The  effects  of  Chronic  Tonsillitis,  should  the  enlarge- 
ment continue,  are  sometimes  quite  serious.  Mackenzie 
says :  "  The  interference  of  the  enlarged  glands  with  res- 
piration is  by  far  the  most  serious  of  their  evil  results. 
The  occlusion  of  the  nasal  channel  positively  obliges  the 
patient  to  keep  the  mouth  almost  constantly  open,  and 
renders  him  exceptionally  liable  to  the  external  influences 
which  produce  inflammation  of  the  respiratory  tract,  while 
the  persistent  obstruction  to  respiration  leads  to  serious 
changes  in  the  walls  of  the  throat.  The  characteristic  de- 
formity met  with  in  cases  of  enlarged  tonsils  is  a  circular 
depression  of  the  walls  of  the  chest  at  about  the  junction 


M  P.  HUNT.  197 

of  the  lower  and  middle  thirds,  corresponding  with  the  at- 
tachment of  the  diaphragm  internally,  and  evidently  due 
to  the  constant,  energetic  contractions  of  that  muscle  to 
overcome  the  obstacle  to  free  respiration." 

Treatment — If  there  is  one  disease  more  than  another 
that  we,  as  homoeopaths,  can  treat  successfully,  that  dis- 
ease is  Quinsy.  Of  course,  the  success  of  the  treatment 
depends  to  a  great  extent  upon  the  stage  the  disease  has 
reached  when  first  called  to  prescribe.  Belladonna  is  our 
sheet-anchor  in  the  stage  of  inflammation.  This,  with 
Aconite,  if  given  in  time,  will  abort,  or  at  least  cut  short, 
most  cases.  Usually,  however,  the  physician  is  not  called 
until  the  swelling  has  reached  a  degree  where  it  would  be 
mere  waste  of  time  to  exhibit  these  remedies.  Then  we 
have  our  Mercurius  sol.  and  Hepar  sulph.  These  will 
either  prevent  suppuration  or  hasten  it.  In  the  course  of 
the  disease  we  may  have  symptoms  calling  for  Apis  mel., 
Lachesis,  or  Baryta  carb.  If,  after  every  effort  to  abort 
the  disease  proves  ineffectual,  and  we  find  pus  is  forming, 
it  is  our  duty  to  hasten  the  process  as  fast  as  possible.  As 
accessory  measures  to  the  remedies  indicated,  apply  hot 
fomentations,  changing  frequently.  Allow  the  patient  to 
hold  his  mouth  over  a  vessel  containing  hot  water,  letting 
the  steam  reach  the  affected  part.  As  soon  as  pus  can  be 
detected  at  any  point,  let  it  out  with  the  scalpel  or  bis- 
toury, being  careful  not  to  wound  any  of  the  vessels  or 
tissues  unnecessarily.  I  am  aware  that  some  condemn 
this  procedure  as  unnecessary  aijd  uncalled  for,  but  it 
seems  to  me  if  the  natural  evacuation  of  an  abscess  in  the 
throat  can  be  anticipated  twenty-four  to  forty-eight  hours 
by  the  use  of  the  knife,  and  thus  relieve  the  intense  suf- 
fering, it  is  our  duty  to  do  it,  for  the  relief  is  almost  in- 
stantaneous. The  after-treatment  is  not  much — a  good, 
nourishing  diet,  and  care  of  the  throat  during  the  balance 
of  the  season,  with  a  vial  of  Belladonna  3  x  in  the  pocket 
to  take  whenever  pain  is  felt  in  the  throat. 

The  chronic  form  is  much  more  obstinate,  and  re- 
quires a  great  deal  of  patience  on  the  part  of  both  parents 


198  THE  LABORER  WORTHY  HIS  HIRE. 

and  physician  to  successfully  treat  it.  The  remedies  indi- 
cated are,  for  the  most  part,  constitutional.  Calc.  carb., 
Calc.  phos.,  Hepar  sulph.,  Baryta  carb.,  and  Sulphur  are 
the  remedies  most  frequently  indicated.  These,  together 
with  a  good,  wholesome  diet,  regular  habits,  and  plenty  of 
pure,  fresh  air,  with,  whenever  possible,  a  sea  voyage  or 
sea  bathing,  will  work  wonders  in  iime.  I  am  certain  that 
most  cases  can  be  cured  by  following  this  line  of  treat- 
ment. But  remember  that  Time  and  Patience  are  the  two 
great  factors  in  the  treatment  of  chronic  enlargement  of 
the  tonsils. 

But,  should  the  case  have  reached  that  point  when  we 
have  the  "  stoop  "  shoulders,  depressed  chest  walls,  diffi- 
cult respiration  with  hacking  cough,  and  the  child  seems 
wasting  away  and  about  to  "  yield  up  the  ghost "  for  want 
of  breath,  we  must  resort  to  more  heroic  means  if  we 
would  save  a  life.  Happily,  Surgery  comes  to  our  relief 
again,  and  tells  us  to  remove  the  oflFending  tonsils.  This 
may  be  done  with  the  probe,  pointed  bistoury,  or  the  ton- 
sillitome.  I  much  preier  the  latter  instrument,  as  there 
is  less  danger  of  wounding  the  vessels  and  tissues,  and 
easier  managed.  If  the  tonsils  be  very  large,  remove  a 
considerable  portion,  but  it  is  not  advisable  to  remove  the 
whole  of  the  mass. 

After  removal,  give  the  indicated  remedies  again,  and 
usually  they  will  not  return. 


-^♦^ 


THE  LABORER  WORTHY  HIS  HIRE. 


president's  address    INDIANA    INSTITUTE    OP    HOMCEOPATHY. 


BT  C.  S.  FAHNKSTOCK,  X.  D.,  LA  PORTS,  IND. 


*  *  If  a  public  hospital  or  dispensary  is  established, 
the  builder,  mechanics  and  contractors  all  expect  and  freely 
receive  full  pay  for  their  services.    When  the  same  is  in 


a  S,  FAHNESTOCK.  199 

running  order  the  grocer,  butcher,  druggist,  in  fact  all  who 
furnish  supplies  or  aid  in  running  the  establishment,  are 
fully  numerated  for  their  wares  or  time,  excepting  the 
physicians  and  surgeons.  They  are  expected  to  work 
gratuitiously.  The  honor  of  a  position  is  consedend  suffi- 
cient pay.  But  the  honor  of  the  office  does  not  free  the 
encumbant  from  liabilities  of  all  kinds,  annoyances  of 
every  description  nor  does  the  fact  of  gratuitous  service 
secure  him  the  right  of  regulating  the  time  or  specifying 
the  amount  of  labor  he  shall  perform.  In  every  other  vo- 
cation when  responsibility  is  placed  upon  a  party  and 
demands  made  upon  his  time  the  renumeration  is  propor- 
tionate. Perhaps  no  better  illustrations  of  public  feeling 
toward  physicians  can  be  cited  than  the  demands  made 
upon  them  for  the  poor  by  individuals  and  state.  With 
the  exception  of  a  half  dozen  localities  the  provision  for 
the  medical  care  of  the  poor  is  of  the  "  cheap  John " 
order.  The  county  commissioners  award  the  position  of 
township  or  poor  doctor  to  the  lowest  bidder,  and  the  one 
on  the  right  side  of  the  question  politically,  generally  has 
the  lowest  bid.  The  chief  object  of  this  appointment  is 
not  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  but  to  prevent  claims  be- 
ing brought  against  the  county  for  service  rendered  to 
those  who  are  unable  to  pay.  He  who  accepts  the  posi- 
tion does  not  expect  to  treat  the  poor  nor  attend  strictly 
to  any  of  his  supposed  duties.  If  that  were  the  intention 
one  certainly  could  not  afford  to  do  the  work  for  four 
townships,  a  town  of  three  thousand  inhabitants  and 
county  jail,  furnishing  his  own  medicines  for  the  paltry 
sum  of  $65  per  annum,  as  is  the  case  in  one  of  the  north- 
em  counties  of  this  state.  No  practitioner  can  well  avoid 
doing  a  certain  amount  of  charity  work,  but  most  of  those 
who  serve  the  county  have  learned  the  trick  of  being  too 
busy  to  attend  acknowledged  paupers,  until  compelled  to 
do  so  by  an  order  from  the  township  trustee.  Because  of 
this  the  poor  often  suffer  greatly  in  two  ways.  First  from 
the  delay  in  getting  their  calls  answered,  and  secondly 


200  THE  LABORER  WORTHY  HIS  HIRE, 

from  the  hurried  and  stinted  attention  given  by  one  who 
has  no  personal  or  financial  interest  in  the  case  except  the 
profit  derived  from  neglecting  it.  Many  of  you  probably 
recall  the  case  of  a  poor  woman  who  died  some  two  years 
ago,  after  thirty-six  hours  of  laVor  still  undelivered.  The 
township  doctor  was  to  busy  to  answer  the  call  and  per- 
form his  duty,  for  the  roads  were  bad  and  the  weather 
stormy.  Nor  could  any  physician  be  procured  in  time  to 
render  aid.  Each  one  called  upon  knew  it  was  a  charity 
case  and  felt  that  while  the  county  provided  and  paid  for 
such  service,  it  was  not  their  duty  to  do  the  work  and  face 
the  midnight  storm  without  compensation.  The  public 
press  was  loud  in  its  denounciations  and  private  citizens 
profuse  in  their  expressions  of  contempt  for  the  different 
physicians,  but  not  one  word  was  said  about  the  law  that 
was  responsible  for  that  untimely  death.  The  business 
men  who  were  violent  of  speech  would  not  have  loft  their 
beds  that  night  and  traveled  over  those  rough  roads,  fac- 
ing the  storm,  to  present  some  poor  and  needy  person 
merchandise  to  the  value  of  ten  dollars.  No — not  they — 
but  if  a  starving  man,  woman,  or  child,  robs  them  of  a 
mere  pittance  to  ease  the  pangs  of  hunger,  they  raise  the 
cry  "  give  robbers  the  full  extent  of  the  law."  The  pub- 
lic admires  charity  greatly,  and  practices  too  when  it  be- 
gins at  home,  but  deny  the  doctor  the  same  privilege. 

On  another  occasion  a  poor  man  suffered  from  reten- 
tion of  urine.  About  4  p.  m.  he  sent  for  the  iownship 
doctor,  who  as  usual  was  too  busy.  Nor  could  any  physi- 
cian be  found  who  would  answer  the  call  that  night.  The 
trustee  could  not  be  found.  About  5  a.  m.  a  physician 
passing  that  way  was  called  in,  and  at  once  emptied  the 
bladder  with  a  catheter.  To  test  the  matter  he  presented 
a  bill  to  the  county  commissioners  basing  his  claim  for 
services  on  the  ground  that  the  proper  county  official  re- 
fused to  make  the  call.  Payment  was  refused,  it  being 
held  that  a  competent  person  was  paid  for  such  work,  and 
if  any  other  did  it  he  was  intentionally  rendering  gratui- 


a  S.  FAHNESTOCK.  201 

tou8  service,  and  the  county  were  not  responsible.  Now 
if  for  any  reason  any  citizen  though  he  may  never  have 
received,  aid  from  the  county  should  become  destitute  and 
could  not  obtain  food  or  fuel,  the  county  makes  every 
provision  to  prevent  his  suffering  from  the  lack  of  these 
necessities,  and  there  should  be  equal  liberality  shown  in 
^  relation  to  medical  attention ;  for  the  man  who  cannot 
pay  the  doctor  is  just  as  much  a  pauper  in  the  eyes  of 
physicians  as  he  who  cannot  pay  for  flour  is  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  grocer,  ^hose  who  have  never  investigated 
this  matter,  who  have  never  given  much  thought  to  the 
subject  can  not  conceive  the  vast  amount  of  needless  suf- 
fering it  inflicts  upon  the-i>oor,  nor  can  they  estimate  the 
amount  of  unprofitable  work  it  forces  upon  every  practi- 
tioner, in  addition  to  all  this,  it  tends  to  constantly  in- 
crease the  number  of  professional  paupers.  In  bright 
contrast  to  this  is  the  method  of  at  least  two  counties 
in  the  state.  There  such  physicians  as  are  willing  to  at- 
tend the  poor  at  a  discount  from  the  usual  fees,  notify  the 
trustee  and  when  called  to  a  family  unable  to  pay,  they 
receive  an  order  to  render  all  necessary  service  and  pre- 
sent his  bill,  less  the  stipulated  discount  to  the  county  of- 
ficials. Phpsicians  who  are  unwilling  to  make  such  dis- 
count receive  no  order,  and  the  case  is  transferred  to  such 
as  are.  When  we  consider  that  all  criminals,  no  matter 
how  grave  or  horrible  their  crime,  or  how  conclusive  the 
evidence  of  their  guilt,  are  furnished  at  the  county's  ex- 
pense, attorneys  to  defend  them  and  that  the  court  in 
doing  this  does  not  let  these  cases  out  by  the  year  to  the 
lowest  bidder,  but  allows  the  defendent  with  slight  restric- 
tions his  choice  from  the  bar,  does  it  not  appear  like  put- 
ting a  premium  on  crime  and  practically  make  felons 
more  entitled  to  respect  than  the  poor.  The  course 
adopted  by  these  counties  also  reduces  the  number  of 
medical  dead-beats,  for  the  "  respectable  poor,"  so  called, 
will  make  an  effort  to  pay  something  rather  than  have  it 

known  that  they  are  treated  at  the  county's  expense. 
4 


202  THE  LASOREIt   WORTHY  SIS  UIME. 

And  just  as  the  county  attempts  and  does  impose  up- 
on medical  men,  bo  do  individuals.  la  there  any  other 
business  where  perfect  strangers  will  have  the  affroutry 
to  ask  your  advice  and  merchandise,  monopolize  your 
time  and  then  cooly  walk  away  saying :  "  Dr.,  I  have  no 
money  today — please  charge  it."  Is  there  any  other 
class  of  men,  who,  after  giving  their  time  and  spending 
tlieir  money,  for  every  case  is  a  matter  of  expense  to  the 
physician,  especially  if  surgical,  knowing  while  so  doing 
that  not  one  penny  will  ever  be  returned,  under  these 
circnmstances  is  there  any  other  class,  who,  because  of 
accident  or  through  the  ignorance  of  communities  is  com- 
pelled to  pay  large  sums  as  malpractic  penalties,  and  that 
generally  to  the  very  dregs  of  society.  Is  there  any  other 
vocation  whose  members  the  railroad  and  other  corpora- 
tions call  on  so  often  and  at  inconvenient  times  and  wholly 
ignore  when  asked  for  a  fee  ?  If  a  lawyer  gives  advice 
that  does  not  turn  out  the  case  as  expected,  does  the  city 
or  corporation  attempt  to  force  from  him  the  damages  re- 
sulting therefrom  f  But  when  a  city  is  sued  for  damages 
caused  by  defective  walk  or  otherwise,  how  often  the  at- 
tempt is  made  to  throw  the  blame  on  the  doctor,  who  nine 
times  in  ten  receives  the  charge  of  malpractice  as  his  only 
fee. 

As  with  others  so  with  the  state.  It  is  not  backward 
in  its  demand  on  us.  It  passes  a  bill  and  every  doctor 
must  write  hia  name  in  a  book  and  pay  the  otEcer  a  small 
fee  for  the  privilege.  It  passes  a  bill  and  we  are  compelled 
under  penalty  of  the  law  to  fill  blanks  and  make  returns, 
not  only  without  compensation,  but  in  the  maijority  of  in- 
stances at  an  expense  for  postage  and  stationarj'.  Not 
content  with  this  imposed  task,  it  seems  to  be  the  policy 
of  every  state  board  to  make  the  work  as  arduous  as  pos- 
sible. They  furnish  us  three  different  blanks  and  when  a 
child  is  born  we  have  twenty-five  or  more  questions  to 
answer,  if  still  born  the  questions  swell  to  forty-eight.  If 
a  death  should  occur  twenty-three  questions  are  waiting 


a  S.  FAHNESTOCK.  203 

the  doctor  and  so  also  when  certain  diseases  are  met  with. 
Many  of  these  questions  have  not  the  slightest  bearing  on 
the  information  contained  in  or  value  of  any  report  ever 
issued  by  a  state  boa  d.  In  order  to  make  a  complete  re- 
turn as  asked  for  by  the  board,  the  reporter  is  often  com- 
pelled to  make  an  extra  trip  sometimes  miles  away.  This 
must  he  do  and  in  addition  bear  his  share  of  the  expense 
in  maintaining  the  very  body  that  increases  his  labor  and 
never  say  thank  you.  The  absolute  power  of  the  Board  of 
Health  cannot  be  greater  than  that  of  the  State  which 
gave  it  birth.  The  State  does  not  pretend  to  compel  an 
answer  to  any  question  that  pertains  to  more  than  ordinary 
and  necessary  information  acquired  in  treating  the  case, 
nor  does  the  State  ever  in  any  ot  its  Courts,  be  they  high 
or  low,  attempt  to  ask  the  doctor  questions  whose  answer 
would  be  a  violation  of  the  confidence  placed  in  him  by 
his  patient,  as  does  the  State  Board  of  Health. 

It  is  not  the  intention  of  this  paper  to  belittle  the 
State  Board  or  find  fault  with  its  work.  It  has  a  legiti- 
mate and  useful  field,  and  the  information  it  cellects  and 
gives  the  public  is  of  material  value,  but  for  all  this  there 
is  no  legitimate  reason  why  when  all  other  information 
and  statistics  pertaining  to  public  aff'airs  are  paid  for  di- 
rectly or  come  through  salaried  ofiicials,  these  should  be 
made  an  exception  and  a  certain  class  of  citizens  com- 
pelled to  furnish  these  without  compensation,  especially 
when  the  very  task  necessitates  considerable  time,  ex- 
pense, and  often  loss  of  business. 

Gentlemen,  all  these  indignities  which  are  heaped  up- 
on our  profession,  come  from  what  source  they  may,  result 
from  a  lack  of  harmony  among  the  different  schools,  and 
the  quarreling  of  extremists  in  each  school.  The  early 
part  of  this  paper  aimed  to  convey  a  fair  representation 
of  the  principal  schools,  the  ideas  entertained  by  each, 
both  of  themselves  and  others,  and  the  origin  of  the  difii- 
culty.  Nothing  was  said  in  malice,  nothing  to  intention- 
ally wound  the  feelings  of  any,  but  that  which  seemed  to 


204  ULCERATION  OF  THE  RECTUM. 

be  the  absolute  truth  has  been  openly  and  plainly  stated. 
The  number  of  physicians  who  advocate  liberality  in  medi- 
cal relations  who  do  not  endorse  such  lines  and  views  as 
were  quoted  from  Dr.  OathelPs  book,  who  approve  the 
publication  of  partizan  and  bitter  articles  on  matters  of 
theory  and  belief,  who  have  an  earnest  desire  to  make  all 
that  is  true  common  property  and  permit  the  greatest  lat- 
itude in  all  that  is  doubtful,  is  to  day  large  and  rapidly 
becoming  larger.  It  is  our  duty  to  aid  in  the  movement, 
not  by  renouncing  anything  we  know  to  be  true,  not  by 
trying  to  compel  others  to  believe  as  we  do,  but  by  extend- 
ing to  all  the  same  privileges  and  charity  we  have  asked 
for  ourselves.  As  this  is  done  and  therapeutics  are  stu- 
died and  compared  with  honesty  the  gap  will  grow  slowly 
less  and  less,  and  while  all  may  not  hold  identical  views 
they  will  fraternize  as  physicians  and  by  unanimity  of 
purpose  and  action  put  an  end  to  the  insults  heaped  upon 
our  profession. 

Gentlemen,  in  closing  I  thank  you  for  the  honor  con- 
ferred by  your  kind  suffrages,  and  it  it  was  the  earnest  de- 
sire to  merit  the  respect  of  this  intellectual  body,  that  led 
me  to  adopt  a  non-partizan  view  of  this  case,  in  the  hope 
that  by  pointing  out  some  of  the  causes  of  the  disrespect 
shown  us  a  solution  of  the  problem  might  be  evolved  that 
would  be  of  benefit  to  physicians  at  large. 


-*♦•• 


ULCERATION  OF  THE  RECTUM. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  INDIANA  INSTITUTE  OP  HOMCEOPATHY. 


W.  D.  HILL,  M.  D.,  GBKSNCASTLB,  IND. 


I  give  the  above  title  to  this  paper,  and  yet  the  paper 
may  cover  more  than  is  indicated  by  the  title.  The  au- 
thors of  our  text-books  have  little  to  say  with  regard  to 
the  diseases  of  the  rectum,  excepting,  in  each  will  be 


W.  D.  HILL.  205 

found  a  short  article  on  Haemorrhoids.  The  disease  that 
we  now  have  under  review  exists  higher  up  in  the  rectum 
than  the  Haemorrhoids.  In  fact,  the  Haemorrhoid  veins 
are  not  implicated.  Yet  both  of  these  diseases  may  and 
sometimes  do  exist  at  the  same  time ;  when  this  is  the  case 
the  suffering  becomes  almost  unendurable.  This  disease 
may  be  either  acute  or  chronic  in  its  nature,  hence  we  find 
it  in  all  the  stages  from  simple  inflammation  to  chronic 
blennorrhoea,  and  ulceration.  Some  times  there  are  quite 
large  patches  of  the  gut  that  are  inflamed  or  ulcerated ; 
and  until  a  thorough  examination  is  made,  little  can  be 
known  of  the  true  nature  of  the  disease.  Too  frequently, 
the  busy  practitioner  makes  a  great,  and  it  may  be  an  in- 
excusable mistake,  by  taking  the  statement  of  the  patient, 
who  may  either  withhold  or  greatly  magnify  the  symp- 
toms, rather  than  take  the  time  to  make  a  thorough  ex- 
amination. He  thus  will  pronounce  it  a  case  of  Haemor- 
rhoids, and  give  the  remedies  which  he  thinks  to  be 
indicated,  but  to  his  astonishment  he  finds  that  there  is 
little  if  any  improvement,  unless  it  may  happen  that  there 
is  a  complication  with  the  Haemorrhoidal  disease,  when 
there  will  be  a  slight  improvement.  After  a  time  the  pa- 
tient becomes  dissatisfied  and  applies  to  some  other  phy- 
sician for  treatment.  Now,  this  second  physician  may  im- 
prove the  case,  for  if  he  is  a  sensible  man.  and  desires  to 
place  a  feather  in  his  cap,  he  mades  a  critical  examination 
when  he  beholds  the  true  nature  of  the  disease,  and  is  en- 
abled to  treat  it  upon  scientific  principles,  and  thus  effect 
a  cure.  I  confess  that  I  have  made  the  above  foolish,  and 
I  may  say  unpardonable  mistake,  but  I  have  come  to  the 
conclusion,  that  "  what  was  worth  doing  was  worthy  of 
being  done  right." 

If  the  necessary  examination  is  made,  wc  shall  find 
some  of  the  following  pathological  changes  or  appear- 
ances. It  may  be  a  simple  catarrhal  inflammation  like 
that  which  is  found  on  any  other  mucous  surface.  The 
little  capillaries  are  distended,  infiltration,  mucous  secre- 


206  ULCERATION  OF  THE  RECTUM. 

tion,  thickening  of  the  membrane,  patches  of  the  mucous 
surface  may  be  destroyed,  chronic  blenorrhoea,  ulceration. 
Now  this  upon  examination  is  found  to  be  high  up  in  the 
rectum  above  the  second  set  of  sphincter  muscles,  and  can 
only  be  properly  and  satisfactorily  investigated  by  using 
a  wire  speculum  made  for  the  purpose.  It  is  but  natural 
that  we  should  inquire,  after  making  the  examination, 
has  been  the  cause  of  this  trouble. 

In  the  first  place,  we  should  be  aware  of  the  fact,  that 
the  entire  mucous  membrane  is  subject  to  catharral  dis- 
eases, or  that  certain  atmospheric  or  electrical  changes 
produce  diseases  of  the  mucous  membrane.  These  chai  ges 
effect  the  terminal  nerve  fibers  that  communicate  with  the 
mucous  surface.  These  changes  in  the  nerve  fibers  pro- 
duce a  change  in  arterial  circulation,  causing  either  too 
little  or  too  great  a  flow  of  the  blood  to,  through,  and  from 
the  parts,  so  that  in  a  short  time  we  find  a  local  disease  of 
the  part  is  set  up.  This  then  may  be  and  is  one  cause  of 
the  disease.  Another  cause  is  from  the  use  of  purgative 
medicines.  Too  many  have  been  taught  that  it  is  necessary 
for  them  to  give  themselves  a  thorough  cleaning  out  about 
once  in  from  seven  to  thirty  days.  The  action  of  these 
purgatives  are  anything  but  natural.  They  are  disease- 
producing.  Every  one  who  will  stop  a  moment  to  think 
will  acknowledge  the  truthfulness  of  the  universal  law 
that  "action  and  reaction  are  always  equal  but  in  opposite 
directions."  And  yet  action  may  be  so  great  as  to  destroy 
the  object  acted  upon.  When  this  is  the  case,  local  disease 
is  the  result,  which  is  too  frequently  the  case  in  the  use  of 
purgative  medicines. 

Another  cause  is  the  use  of  medicated  injections.  In 
some  cases  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  that  worms  are  the 
cause.  Sometimes  the  cause  is  mechanical.  In  women  it 
is  frequently  caused  during  pregnancy  by  the  pressure  up- 
on the  parts,  but,  the  greatest  cause,  and  the  one  most  fre- 
quently found  to  exist  is  constipation.  The  faeces  remain- 
ing for  a  long  time  in  the  folds  of  the  rect^um  becomes  an 


W.  D.  HILL.  207 

irritant,  and  when  the  rectum  becomes  impacted  the  pas- 
sage of  the  large  faeces  denude  the  gut  of  its  mucous  sur- 
face and  then  keeps  up  the  irritation. 

It  may  be  well  for  us  to  inquire  for  the  leading  symp- 
toms of  the  disease.  There  is  found  a  burning,  throbbing, 
tearing  pain.  The  sufferer  says,  that  it  appears  to  him 
that  there  is  something  sticking  in  the  rectum,  which 
causes  him  to  use  great  exertion  to  force  it  out.  This  state 
of  things  is  always  worse  during  an  evacuation ;  so  that 
he  is  compelled  to  make  many  attempts  without  receiving 
the  desired  satisfaction.  There  is  a  constant  desire  to 
evacuate  the  bowels.  In  some  cases  the  bladder  is  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  disease,  causing  retention  of  urine  and  even 
strangury.  If  it  be  a  women  that  is  diseased  she  will  be 
troubled  with  leucorrhoea,  and  it  may  be  with  falling  of 
the  wound.  The  bowels  are  nearly  always  constipated, 
yet  the  stools  may  appear  natural,  excepting'covered  with 
mucous  or  slime,  which  may  be  colorless  but  more  fre- 
quently tinged  with  blood.  This  is  the  acute  form.  In 
chronic  cases  the  character  of  the  pain  is  not  so  lacerating, 
but  of  a  dull,  aching  nature.  In  this  case,  the  most  promi- 
nent symptom  is  the  constant  discharge  of  a  thick  yellow- 
ish and  it  even  may  be  purulent  secretion  from  the  dis- 
eased surface  of  the  rectum.  This  secretion  is  either 
mixed  with  the  faeces,  or  else  it  covers  the  otherwise  nat- 
ural discharges  from  the  bowels.  It  sometimes  oozes  from 
the  bowels,  staining  the  linen.  The  chronic  form  is  fre- 
quently attended  with  catarrh  of  the  bladder,  catarrh  of 
the  vagina  and  uterus,  and  it  may  be  complicated  with 
Haemorrhoids.  This  much  for  the  disease  pathologically 
and  symptoraatically.  We  shall  now  give  our  attention  to 
the  treatment  of  the  disease,  or  the  means  to  be  used  to 
effectually  overcome  the  diseased  condition. 

I  am  aware  of  the  fact  that  we  have  a  local  disease  to 
treat,  and  if  it  arises  from  the  cause  which  produces  ca- 
tarrh then  we  as  well  have  a  constitutional  trouble  to  con- 
tend with.    If  the  disease  is  cured  it  must  be  by  the  inter- 


208  ULCERATION  OF  THE  RECTUM. 

nal  administration  of  the  indicated  remedy,  and  at  the 
same  time  by  the  local  application  of  remedies  to  the  dis- 
eased parts.  Some  may  think,  that  the  disease  should  be 
overcome  by  the  internal  use  of  the  remedy  indicated  by 
the  symptoms. 

It  may  be  possible  that  cures  have  resulted  from  this 
method  of  treatment,  but  they  are  the  exceptions  and  not 
the  rule.  Some  of  the  symptoms  may  be  controled  by  in- 
ternal treatment.  Indeed,  it  would  be  thought  strange 
were  they  not.  Some  may  say,  if  some  are  controlled 
why  not  all,  and  thus  a  cure  eflFected  ?  This  difficulty  pre- 
sents, which  prevents  the  cure  of  internal  medication 
alone :  The  mucous  membrane  in  all  of  the  cases  before 
the  patient  applies  to  a  physician  is  abraded  and  even  ul- 
ceration has  taken  place,  hence  the  passage  of  the  rough, 
hardened  faecal  matter  passing  over  this  diseased  surface 
keeps  up  a  cohstant  irritation,  which  prevents  the  healing 
process.  Then  in  order  that  a  cure  may  be  effected,  there 
is  necessity  to  correct  constipation  where  it  exists,  and 
then  apply  a  lotion  of  Carbolic  acid,  the  strength  of  which 
is  to.  be  determined  by  the  condition  of  the  parts.  It 
should  be  applied  at  no  other  time  than  after  the  faecal 
matter  has  been  discharged  from  the  lower  bowels.  It 
should  be  applied  through  a  flexible  tube,  which  can  be 
passed  up  the  bowels  above  the  diseased  parts,  and  the  lo- 
tion should  be .  forced  through  the  tube  into  the  bowel. 
This  should  be  done  as  the  tube  is  slowly  withdrawn,  so 
that  the  lotion  will  come  in  contact  with  the  whole  of  the 
diseased  surface.  This  need  not  be  repeated  oftener  than 
twice  per  week,  unless  in  the  most  severe  and  stubborn 
cases.  After  the  use  of  the  Carbolic  acid  lotion  in  many 
cases  Calendula,  or  Hydrastis  lotions  will  be  found  to 
answer  as  good  if  not  a  better  purpose  in  healing  the 
bowel. 

If,  while  using  the  local  treatment,  the  indicated  rem- 
edies are  selected  and  given,  it  will  be  but  a  short  time 
before  two  persons  are  really  made  to  rejoice. 


CLINICAL  CASES.  209 


CLINICAL  OASES. 


J.  W.  ELY,  M.  D.,  WAYNICSBUBG,  PA. 


Case  1. — Arsenicvim  in  Asthma  Spasmodicum.    Was 

called  June  24th  to  see  Mrs.  J ,  aet.  32,  in  a  paroxysm 

of  asthma.  I  found  the  patient  propped  up  in  bed,  with 
knees  drawn  up ;  her  head  and  arms  upon  her  knees.  She 
could  not  keep  still;  she  was  almost  suffocating.  Face 
very  pale  and  clammy.  Pulse  small  and  quick.  Feet 
very  cold.  Great  burning  in  the  chest.  Violent  thirst ; 
drink  taken  often  and  in  small  quantities.  This  was  the 
most  severe  attack  she  ever  had.  I  gave  her  Ars.  30x  one 
powder  every  five  minutes  until  relieved.  I  left  her 
twenty  powders,  one  to  be  taken  every  four  hours.  She 
has  never  had  an  attack  since.  Says  she  enjoys  better 
health  than  she  has  for  years.  She  had  had  asthma  ever 
since  a  child,  and  for  two  years  previous  to  this  attack  the 
paroxysms  came  on  every  six  weeks,  always  between  mid- 
night and  early  morning. 

Case  2. — Charley  E ,  aet.  11,  was  brought  to  my 

office  July  15th.  Had  been  suffering  from  asthma  for  nine 
years.  They  had  used  every  remedy  from  which  they 
could  reasonably  expect  any  benefit.  He  had  been  treated 
by  several  old  school  physicians,  even  patent  medicines 
had  been  resorted  to,  but  to  no  purpose.  Family  history 
good.  The  family  being  free  from  diseases  of  the  respi- 
ratory organs.  The  dyspnoea  was  most  distressing ;  could 
not  lie  down ;  had  to  sit  propped  up  in  bed.  The  counte- 
nance bore  evidence  of  great  distress.  Patient  greatly 
emaciated.  Skin  very  pale.  Pulse  small  and  quick,  ioud 
wheezing.  On  applying  the  stethoscope,  dry,  sibilant  and 
sonorous  rhonchi  could  be  heard.  The  impulse  of  the 
heart  violent,  uneven  and  irregular.  He  would  have  a 
paroxysm  once  a  week,  generally  occurring  between  mid- 
night and  early  morning.  Violent  thirst,  taken  often  and 
little  at  the  time.    Cough  entirely  absent.    I  prescribed 


210  DR.  MACFABLAIPS  CASE. 

Ars.  30x,  twenty-five  powders,  one  to  be  taken  every 
four  hours.  I  also  had  him  use  the  cold  sponge  bath  to 
chest  every  morning. 

Aug.  20th. — Had  only  three  paroxysms  up  to  this  time, 
and  could  lie  down  quite  comfortable.  I  gave  him  twen- 
ty-five powders  more,  to  be  taken  twice  daily.  Has  had 
no  paroxysms  since,  though  nearly  ten  months  have 
elapsed. 


■^♦•" 


DR.  MAOFARLAN'S  CASE. 


Philadelphia,  Aug.  2.  1883. 

Dear  Doctor :  Your  postal  card  was  duly  received, 
asking  me  for  particulars  of  my  case  of  loss  of  bowel  tis- 
sue. The  facts  are  that  I  was  called  Saturday,  January 
30, 1869,'by  Dr.  W.  B.  Davis  to  see  Mrs.  Anna  B.  Kensell, 
aged  37,  of  1112  Hanover  street,  who  was  suffering  with 
strangulated  femoral  hernia  of  right  side,  of  three  days 
duration,  since  the  previous  Wednesday.  Hernia  had  ex- 
isted for  three  years.  Assisted  by  attending  physician  and 
my  students,  Drs.  H.  W.  Rice  and  Sam'l  Kennedy,  her- 
neotomy  was  performed,  the  bowels  exposed  and  stricture 
relieved  by  dividing  the  falciform  process  of  the  fascia 
lata  and  gumbernats  ligament.  The  sac  was  opened,  a 
quantity  of  fluid  escaped,  and  there  was  brought  to  view  a 
blackened  loop  of  small  intestine.  Finding  that  efforts  at 
restoration  of  the  bowel  to  a  healthy  condition  would  not 
take  place,  as  perforation  and  escape  of  fecal  matter  su- 
pervened on  fourth  day.  the  diseased  loop  of  bowels  was 
withdrawn  and  held  in  position  at  the  cite  of  the  original 
incision  in  the  groin,  the  opening,  or  incision,  being  en- 
larged, and,  both  ends  of  the  bowels  presenting,  like  the 
muzzle  of  a  double-barrelled  gun.  From  the  date  of  the 
operation  until  the  17th  of  February,  all  the  contents  of 
her  bowels  were  passed  through  this  artificial  anus,  at  that 
date  the  septum  between  the  bowel  tubes  was  separated 


PROTECTIVE  INOCULA TION.  211 

or  divided  and  a  pad  applied  over  the  artificial  anus.  Feb. 
22d  she  had  a  movement  by  the  rectum.  After  that  the 
discharge  from  groin  became  gradually  less  until  it  ceased 
entirely  and  the  wound  healed.  I  suppose  there  was  about 
four  inches  of  the  bowel  removed.  During  her  treatment 
the  diet  was  composed  of  liquid,  starchy  and  animal  food, 
with  Aconite,  Rhus,  and  China,  separately  as  they  seemed 
to  be  indicated  by  her  symptoms. 

The  above  data  I  copied  this  morning  from  my  list  of 
that  date.  The  intestinal  loop,  I  remember,  was  so  soft, 
black  and  disorganized,  that  I  have  estimated  the  length 
removed — it  couldn't  be  measured.  The  patient  made  a 
good  recovery,  and  I  believe  is  alive  and  well  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  Yours  truly,  Malcolm  Macfarlan. 


•^♦^ 


PROTECTIVE  INOCULATION:  KOCH  AND  PAS- 
TEUR. 


FROM    **  THE  LANCET,"    LONDON,  ENGLAND. 


The  controversy  which  has  arisen  between  the  two 
foremost  investigators  into  the  intimate  nature  of  conta- 
gion— the  veteran  chemist  of  Paris  and  the  younger  path- 
ologist of  Berlin — is  one  of  which  we  are  only  just  seeing 
the  commencement.  The  issues  are  so  important,  that  it 
is  to  be  desired  that  renewed  investigation  will  be  under- 
taken by  unprejudiced  observers,  in  the  hope  that  the 
truth  may  be  revealed.  There  can  be  no  denying  that 
Dr.  Koch  has  hit  the  weak  points  of  M.  Pasteur's  case, 
and  his  analysis  is  all  the  more  vulnerable  from  the  severe 
and  critical  manner  in  which  he  has  dealt  with  the  sub- 
ject— a  style  which  differs  very  widely  from  that  of  his 
opponent — a  difference  partly,  no  doubt,  explained  by  the 
admitted  diversity  in  modes  of  thought,  work,  and  expres- 
sion between  the  Gaul  and  the  Teuton.  Those  who  have 
perused  the  summary  of  Dr.  Koch's  reply,  that  we  have 


212  PBOTECTIVE  INOCULA  TION. 

just  published,  will  note  how  little  agreement  there  is  be- 
tween himself  and  M.  Pasteur,  not  only  upon  the  subject 
of  anthrax,  but  upon  those  other  infectious  diseases  which 
have  been  experimentally  studied  by  the  latter.  Thus, 
Koch  thinks  it  indubitably  proved  that  the  supposed  virus 
of  rabies  which  Pasteur  discovered  is  identical  with  that 
of  the  septicaemia  of  the  rabbits ;  and  he  says  the  same  of 
equine  typhoid  too,  thereby  implying  that  M.  Pasteur  is 
ignorant  of  the  characteristic  microbe  of  septicaemia  in 
rabbits,  or  that  he  has  been  very  careless  in  safeguarding 
his  observations.  Indeed,  Koch's  strongest  attack  is  di- 
rected against  the  method  followed  by  Pasteur  in  his  as- 
sumption of  specific  micro-organisms  in  the  saliva  of  a 
hydrophobic  child,  or  in  the  nasal  mucus  of  a  horse  suffer- 
ing from  typhoid  fever,  without  taking  the  precaution  to 
isolate  the  organism  and  cultivate  it  before  making  his 
inoculations — the  method  which  Koch  claims  to  be  the 
only  safe  one  for  determining  the  question.  It  is  in  an- 
thrax that  the  most  important  issues  are  involved,  for  it  is 
only  in  this  disease  that  the  practical  application  of  Pas- 
teur's doctrines  has  been  made — viz.,  that  immunity  from 
this  scourge  can  be  attained  by  vaccinnating  (or  rather  in- 
oculating) sheep  and  oxen  with  the  attenuated  virus. 
Koch  admits  ths  fact  of  attenuation,  and  it  may  be  re- 
marked, agrees  with  Pasteur  and  differs  from  Dr.  Klein,  in 
believing  that  this  is  due  to  some  change  effected  in  the 
pathogenic  bacilli  themselves ;  but  he  does  not  admit  that 
this  change  is  due  to  the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere,  as  M. 
Pasteur  thinks,  and  by  a  series  of  carefully  conducted  ex- 
periments he  shows  how  the  virus  loses  its  power  in  culti- 
vation more  or  less  rapidly  according  to  the  temperature 
to  which  it  is  submitted.  There  are  graver  differences 
than  this,  however,  which  may  be  summed  up  in  a  very 
few  words.  The  method  of  vaccination  is  alleged  by  Koch 
to  be  imperfect.  Although  an  animal  previously  inocu- 
lated with  a  highly  attenuated  virus  is  able  to  resist  the 
effect  of  a  second  and  more  powerful  vaccination,  yet  this 


MULTILOCULAR  CYST  OF  THE  LEFT  O  VAR  Y.    213 

is  not  a  universal  rule,  and  a  certain  proportion  of  the  vac- 
cinated animals — a  number  which  Koch  places  much  high- 
er than  Pasteur — die  from  the  elfects  of  the  secondary- 
vaccination  itself.  After  passing  through  so  severe  an  or- 
deal, the  survivors  should  be  suflBciently  protected,  if  any 
real  practical  value  is  to  accrue  from  the  method.  But 
Koch  shows  that,  although  they  may  resist  further  inocu- 
lations, such  animals  may  still  fall  victims  to  spontaneous 
anthrax.  If  this  be  true,  where  is  the  protection  ?  and 
what  reliance  is  to  be  placed  upon  the  "  vaccinations  " 
and  "  revaccinations  "  to  which  so  many  thousand  head 
of  cattle  in  France  and  elsewhere  have  been  subjected  ? 
Coming  from  one  whose  researches  upon  this  and  other 
infectious  diseases  have  received  general  approbation  for 
the  exactitude  and  care  with  which  they  are  conducted, 
such  criticisms  as  are  here  oflFered  upon  Pasteur's  labors 
must  receive  attention;  for  it  must  never  be  forgotten 
that,  wide  apparently  as  is  the  principle  upon  which  Pas- 
teur has  based  his  advocacy  for  "  vaccinations,"  applica- 
ble as  it  may  seem  to  be  to  many  human  diseases,  it  has 
yet  to  be  conclusively  proved,  even  in  the  case  of  anthrax, 
where  the  conditions  and  nature  of  the  virus  have  been 
so  thoroughly  worked  out. 


•^•^ 


MULTILOCULAR   CYST   OF    THE   LEFT   OVARY. 

RECOVERY. 


PHIL.  PORTER,  M.  D.,  DETROIT. 


Mrs.  B ,  8Bt.  32.    Nervous  temperament.    Niece  of 

Dr.  O.  P.  Baer,  Richmond,  Ind.  First  noticed  an  enlarge- 
ment of  her  abdomen  about  one  year  ago,  but  supposed 
she  was  pregnant,  although  she  menstruated  regularly. 
After  the  expiration  of  nearly  a  year,  she  called  the  at- 
tention of  a  physician  to  her  condition,  who  pronounced 
her  disease  an  ovarian  tumor,  and  sent  her  to  me  for  an 


214    MULTILOCULAR  CYST  OF  THE  LEFT  O  VAR  Y. 

examination.  I  confirmed  his  diagnosis.  She  had  suf- 
fered no  pain  from  the  growth,  and  could  hardly  realize 
the  fact  of  the  presence  of  a  tumor. 

On  examination  I  found  great  distension  of  the  ab- 
dominal parietes,  the  skin  as  tense  as  a  drum  head.  Two 
weeks  before  I  saw  her  she  had  received  a  fall  which  she 
thought  had  caused  a  rapid  increase  in  the  size  of  the  ab- 
domen and  loss  of  flesh  and  shortness  of  breath.  The 
girt  of  the  abdomen  at  the  most  prominent  part  was  42 
inches.  On  making  the  incision,  all  the  tissues  were  found 
very  thin.  The  erectus  muscle  through  which  I  passed  was 
like  a  ribbon  in  thickness.  Some  adhesions  to  the  abdom- 
inal  wall  were  separated,  and  the  tumor  brought  well  up 
in  the  opening,  before  introducing  the  trocar.  The  fluid 
of  the  first  cyst  was  viscid  mucoid  in  character,  the  second 
similar,  but  the  third  cyst  contained  a  thin  serum,  with 
ten  or  fifteen  per  cent,  of  blood  intimately  mixed  with  it, 
which  no  doubt  was  caused  by  the  injury  the  patient  re- 
ceived two  weeks  previous. 

After  separating  all  adhesions,  the  tumors  were  care- 
fully drawn  out  through  the  opening,  and  the  pedicle 
ligated  with  carbolized  catgut,  and  divided  with  scissors. 
The  pedicle  was  then  washed  with  Calendula  and  Hyper. 
and  dropped  back  into  the  abdomen.  Then  the  toilette  of 
the  peritoneum  was  carefully  performed,  as  some  of  the 
fluid  from  the  last  cyst  had  escaped  into  the  abdominal 
cavity,  and  the  wound  closed  in  the  usual  manner,  and 
dressed  with  oil  silk  and  carbolized  gauze.  No  drainage 
tube  was  employed. 

This  patient  was  put  upon  Hyp.  200,  with  an  occa- 
sional dose  of  Bry.  200,  or  Oolcynth  200,  for'  the  first  two 
weeks.  No  bad  symptoms  followed  the  operation,  the 
mean  temperature  being  98^  the  first  week,  and  the  pulse 
89 ;  after  this,  normal  temperature  and  pulse. 

I  was  assisted  in  these  operations  by  Drs.  Miller  (who 
had  entire  charge  of  the  last  case),  Olin,  Bailey,  Pol- 
glaise,  and  Griflln.    Miss  Sarah  A.  Henderson,  M.  D.,  of 


THREE  CLINICAL  CASES.  216 

Sandusky,  Ohio,  Mrs.  Hicks,  Miss  E.  E.  Bower,  and  Mr. 
Martin,  of  the  senior  class  ot  the  U.  of  M.,  were  guests. 

Later,  I  shall  report  several  interesting  gynaecological 
cases,  whereby  I  shall  be  able  to  show  the  superiority  of 
the  after  treatment  under  the  homoeopathic  principle,  over 
that  of  the  old  school. 

In  the  last  six  months  I  have  performed  twelve  oper- 
ations which,  under  the  old  method,  would  certainly  call 
for  Morphia ;  but  all  pain  and  restlessness  was  nicely  con- 
trolled by  the  indicated  drug. 

I  am  satisfied  that  union  of  divided  tissues  is  always 
retarded  by  Morphine,  or  in  other  words,  repair  is  inter- 
fered with  to  a  greater  extent  than  heretofore  supposed  by 
surgeons.  What  is  often  called  "  chloroform  sickness  " 
is  nothing  more  or  less  than  "  morphine  sickness." 


K»^ 


THREE  CLINICAL  C ISES. 


(BARRY  AND  EATON  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.) 


WILLIS  P.  POLHEMX78,  K.  D. 


Mr,  President^  Ladies  and  Oentlemen: 

I  wish  to  present  three  clinical  cases  to  you,  which 
may  serve  "  to  point  a  moral"  if  not  to  "  adorn  a  tale." 
There  is  such  a  widespread  tendency  at  the  present  day 
among  the  members  of  our  profession  to  long  for  the  flesh 
pots  of  the  older  school,  for  their  quinine,  morphine, 
chloral  hydrate,  bromides,  and  other  narcotics  and  seda- 
tives, that  a  glance  at  the  other  side  of  the  question  may 
not  be  without  profit  to  us  as  homoeopaths.  And  thereby 
the  tendency  to  worship  false  gods  be  somewhat  re- 
strained. 

Case  1. — Mrs.  D ,  aet.  30 ;  married  six  years ;  one 

child  living,  five  years  old.  Was  confined  two  years  ago, 
and  lost  the  child  several  days  after  birth ;  from  the  grief 


216  THREE  CLINICAL  CASES. 

caused  by  this  loss  she  had  never  rallied.  Has  been  under 
old  school  treatment,  sedative  and  tonic  in  character,  for 
the  past  thirty  months.  Her  present  symptoms  are  as  fol- 
lows :  She  has  spasms  nearly  every  night,  soon  after  going 
to  bed  and  as  she  is  about  falling  to  sleep.  Clonic,  convul- 
sions of  the  lower  limbs  and  arms  succeed  each  other  rapidly. 
At  times  only  left  side  affected.  Often  a  condition  of  al- 
most complete  catalepsy  is  induced.  She  suffers  from 
much  weak  faintness,  in  the  stomach,  appetite  poor,  is  thin 
and  pale.  Menses  come  too  often,  blood  black,  clotted, 
smells  like  canon ;  accompanied  with  much  pain  in  back 
and  groins.  Leucorrhoea,  profuse,  yellow,  sometimes  in 
lumps,  irregular  as  to  time.  Is  sterile,  and  suffers  from  a 
raw,  smarting  pain  in  vagina  during  coition.  Headache 
in  and  above  eyes,  runs  up  to  vertex. 

But  of  more  importance  are  the  mental  symptoms 
manifested:  Memory  is  failing,  especially  of  recent 
events.  Much  silent  grief,  will  sit  and  cry  for  hours ; 
broods  over  the  death  of  her  child ;  cannot  throw  off  her 
bad  feelings.  Is  very  easily  affected  by  sorrow.  Her  con- 
dition is  such  that  friends  fear  for  her  reason.  Her  medi- 
cal adviser,  a  well  qualified  practitioner  of  the  old  school, 
can  only  relieve  her  by  increasing  doses  of  sedatives,  etc., 
which  already  include  bromide  of  potash,  chloral  hydrate 
and  chloroform. 

Her  husband  comes  most  earnestly  asking  if  Homoe- 
opathy can  do  better.  When  the  case  was  lost  sight  of, 
she  had  made  almost  complete  recovery  under  Ignatia  fol- 
lowed by  Actea. 

Case  2. — Mrs.  R ,  married  seven  years ;  ailing  two 

years ;  has  three  children,  youngest  five  weeks  old.  At 
birth  of  child,  two  years  ago,  had  puerperal  fever,  was 
treated  by  an  old  school  physician ;  slow  recovery.  In  the 
following  fall  she  suffered  a  severe  fright  from  a  double 
murder  and  suicide  in  the  neighborhood.  As  a  result,  she 
soon  lapsed  into  the  following  condition :  Could  see  bears, 
snakes  and  wolves  about  her  bed,  all  seemed  so  real,  al- 


WILLIS  P.  POLHEMUS.  217 

though  she  knew  they  were  not.  Imagined  friends  were 
present  in  opposition  to  the  fact.  Had  a  strong  impulse  to 
kill  her  child,  as  the  mother  had  none  in  the  above-men- 
tioned case ;  feared  she  should  do  so  in  spite  of  herself. 
Feared  to  be  left  alone,  but  did  not  wish  to  visit  among 
relatives  or  friends.  While  in  conversation  her  mind 
would  w'ander  off  into  long  trains  of  thought  in  which  she 
would  forget  her  companions.  Great  anxiety  about  she 
knows  not  what.  Became  so  bad  that  she  had  sudden  at- 
tacks of  insanity,  characterized  by  all  these  symptoms  in 
an  aggravated  form.  She  and  her  friends  fearing  a  total 
loss  of  reason,  and  finding  their  fears  were  shared  by  the 
"  scientific"  and  "  rational"  physician  in  attendance,  she 
was  put  under  the  care  of  a  less  learned  member  of  the 
same  school,  from  whom  she  received  great  relief. 

At  the  time  I  saw  her  first,  she  informed  me  that  she 
wished  to  try  Homoeopathy,  as  her  former  alleviation  lived 
too  far  to  be  readily  accessible,  and  she  naively  adds : 
"  His  medicine  does  taste  so  bad."  She  feels  herself  go- 
ing on  into  the  same  condition  as  she  was  before.  Also 
complains  of  the  following  symptoms:  Is  very  tired, 
sleep  does  not  rest  her,  she  is  sleepy  all  the  time  ;  joints 
sore  and  stiff ;  headache  in  occiput,  extends  down  between 
shoulders,  also  in  sinciput,  dull  in  character.  No  appetite, 
all  food  tastes  the  same.  Sore,  swelled  feeling  in  right 
groin,  much  pruritus  vulvae.  Profuse  yellow  leucorrhoea. 
Prescribing  almost  wholly  upon  the  mental  symptoms  of 
the  previous  attack,  she  received  Stramonium  3x.  Upon 
this  medicament,  with  occasional  doses  of  Sulphur,  she 
made  an  almost  complete  recovery  in  four  weeks. 

Case  3. — Mrs.  G ,  aged  24.    Married  five  years,  in 

which  time  she  has  borne  three  children.  Two  years  ago, 
while  menstruating,  she  took  cold  and  suppressed  the  flow 
suddenly.  Has  been  quite  irregular  since.  Was  confined 
five  months  ago,  and  suffered  from  what  she  thinks  was 
child  bed  fever.  Under  old  school  treatment  she  made  a 
slow  and  partial  recovery.  Is  nursing  her  child,  but  men- 
5 


218  THREE  CLINICAL  CASES.       , 

struat^s  profusely  every  five  weeks,  as  is  her  usual  custom. 
Present  symptoms :  Much  tenderness  of  spinal  column ; 
sore  pain  through  the  shoulders ;  numb  feeling  in  the  left 
arm ;  pain  in  the  region  of  the  heart,  to  shoulder ;  "  pull- 
ing down"  sensation  in  heart;  appetite  poor;  stomach 
bloats;  tongue  livid  and  flabby;  menses  profuse,  dark 
color,  bad  odor,  clotted,  last  four  days ;  much  pain  through 
the  hips  and  back,  of  a  neuralgic  character — makes  her 
very  weak ;  leucorrhoea  before,  after,  or  all  of  intermedi- 
ate period — very  profuse,  yellow,  acrid,  bad  odor.  Men- 
tal symptoms :  Much  nervousness ;  very  excitable,  always 
made  worse  by  the  approach  of  night ;  the  least  noise 
startles  her ;  thinks  robbers  are  in  the  house  at  night,  but 
is  too  much  afraid  to  look  lor  them ;.  memory  failing — 
e.  g.,  she  went  to  the  cupboard  three  times  on  the  morning 
of  this  day  for  some  simple  articles,  forgetting  each  time 
her  errand ;  much  sore  pain  in  eye-balls ;  fears  she  will 
go  crazy,  which  apprehension  is  riiared  by  her  medical  at- 
tendant. 

She  improved  greatly  on  Actea  30th,  which,  with 
Sepia  30th,  made  an  almost  entire  change  in  her  mental 
symptoms  for  the  better. 

The  above  records  are  submitted,  not  for  their  rarity, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  as  examples  of  common  cases  of  in- 
cipient insanity,  in  part  being  hurried  to  that  undesirable 
goal  by  injudicious  treatment.  Coming  as  they  do  from 
the  common  walks  of  life,  they  confirm  Dr.  Hammond^s 
statement  that  here  is  found  the  majority  of  insanity's 
victims. 

I  hold  that  such  methods  of  treatment  as  the  old 
school  employs,  more  than  an  increasing  population,  are 
furnishing  the  inmates  for  our  two  asylums,  as  well  as 
making  a  new  one  imperative. 

In  all  the  cases  the  influence  of  the  puerperal  state  is 
manifest  as  an  exciting  cause,  such  observations  having 
been  already  put  on  record  by  Ramsbotham,  Playfair, 
Leishmen,  and  many  other  writers  on  midwifery.  Indeed, 


CORRESPONDENCE.  219 

Esquirol  goes  so  far  as  to  state  that  po8t-f)artem  affections 
gave  rise  to  insanity  in  from  one-seventh  to  one-twelfth  of 
all  cases  observed  by  him. 

In  the  first  two,  there  is  the  added  effect  of  shock, 
grief,  in  the  first  tending  toward  that  terrible  form  of 
hopeless  alienation — melancholia;  in  the  second,  fright 
tends  to  produce  that  no  less  dreadful  condition — homo- 
cidal  mania.  The  third,  simply  "  Spinal  Irritation,"  with 
the  added  drain  of  concomitant  lactation  and  menstrua- 
tion, was,  by  injudicious  and  non-homoeopathic  treatment, 
being  hurried  on  into  a  condition  of  mental  unsoundness. 

Can  we,  as  homoeopaths,  do  better  ?  The  individual 
experience  of  our  practitioners,  the  statistics  of  our  asy- 
lum at  Middletown,  New  York,  I  think  give  this  question 
a  most  gratifying  answer  in  the  afiirmative. 

The  temptation  to  fly  to  narcotics  and  sedatives  in 
nervous  diseases  is  certainly  strong,  but  in  the  light  of  the 
failures  of  the  so-called  "  scientific  medical  schools  "  of 
to-day,  is  it  best  ? 

Our  Materia  Medica  is  rich  in  mental  symptoms,  and 
we  can,  I  believe,  draw  upon  its  stores  with  confidence 
that  it  will  bring  health  to  our  patients  and  satisfaction 
and  success  to  ourselves. 


•^•^ 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


Richmond,  Ind.,  July  26th,  1883. 
It  is  Not  a  Fact.— In  your  issue  for  July,  page  49,  article : 
Is  it  a  Fact^  R.  Ludlam,  M.  D.,  is  made  to  say ;  that.  Pregnant 
Women  having  Leucorrhea,  never  have  nausea.  This  is  one 
man's  experience,  and  so  far,  so  good  ;  but  it  does  not  make  the 
thing.an  infallible  truism.  My  experience  has  been  very  differ- 
ent indeed.  The  worst  case  of  nausea  and  vomating  of  pregnant 
women,  I  ever  had,  was  also,  one  of  the  worst  cases  of  Leucor- 
rhea. It  was  in  a  small,  nervous,  spare  and  generally  pale,  del- 
icate woman ;  just  turned  of  twenty-five  years.  Had  been  mar- 
ried about  six  months  when  she  became  pregnant.  Commenced 
being  sick  in  the  morning,  even  before  rising;  when  only  about 


220  CORRESPONDENCE. 

four  or  five  weeks  ^one.  The  family  physician  (Allopath)  was 
called  in  ;  he  treated  her  for  two  months  or  more,  without  the 
least  effect,  except  for  the  worse,  as  she  became  very  emaciated, 
tremulous  and  excitable.  She  was  compelled  to  keep  her  bed 
constantly.  The  sickness  was  spread  throughout  the  entire  day. 
The  doctor  finally  gave  the  family  notice ;  that,  the  woman  was 
in  a  most  dangerous  condition,  and  that  he  feared  he  would  have 
to  effect  abortion,  in  order  to  save  her  life.  A  consultation  was 
proposed,  and  rejected,  by  the  friends.  I  wa«  finally  sent  for, 
and  in  trying  to  get  her  early  history,  I  found  she  had  com- 
menced menstruating  very  early ;  usually  regular,  but  very  free 
and  dark.  Was  subject  to  infant  leucorrhea  from  her  third 
year ;  often  so  profuse  as  to  greatly  stiffen  her  linen.  This  vagi- 
nal discharge  kept  on  more  or  less  constantly  until  after  quick- 
ening. .  The  leucorrhea  was  variable  in  character,  at  times  thin 
and  watery,  at  other  times  yellow  or  green  and  more  or  less  the 
thickness  of  ordinary  cream.  I  prescribed  tobacco  smoke,  from 
a  merschaum  pipe,  on  the  veranda,  adjoining  her  room.  The 
cure  was  prompt  and  permanent,  and  the  leucorrhea  was  cured 
by  Sepia ;  giving  it  high  or  low,  as  the  condition  of  my  patient 
seemed  to  demand  it.  After  quickening  she  gained  flesh  rapidly, 
up  to  the  time  of  delivery.  Leucorrhea  occasionally  made  its 
appearance,  particularly,  when  on  her  feet  much.  At  the  seventh 
month  she  had  some  threatening  of  premature  labor,  attended 
with  sickness  and  leucorrhea  for  a  few  days,  but  Pulsatilla  con- 
trolled all  unpleasant  symptoms,  and  my  patient  went  swim- 
mingly forward,  had  a  quick,  natural  delivery,  and  a  good  re- 
covery. In  28  months  she  was  again  caught,  and  the  leucor- 
rhea, which  troubled  her  occasionally  when  nursing,  became 
more  profuse  than  ever,  and  morning  sickness  with  vomiting, 
followed  in  as  before.  I  gave  her  tabacum  for  a  few  days,  but  as 
the  nausea  did  not  entirely  subside,  I  resorted  to  tobacco  smoke, 
as  in  the  first  case,  with  the  same  beautiful  results.  This  was  a 
trying  and  singular  case.  She  never  could  bear  tobacco  smoke 
when  well,  as  it  generally  made  her  sick  and  dizzy.  Hence  I 
was  so  cautious  in  having  the  smoking  done  outside  of  her  bed 
chamber,  that  if  it  did  not  do,  as  desired,  I  could  at  once  cut  ofiT 
the  current  by  closing  the  window.  The  smoke  was  perfectly 
pleasant  to  her,  and  beneficial  beyond  all  my  sanguine  expecta- 
tions. Her  leucorrhea  was  controlled  in  this,  as  in  the  former 
attack  by  Sepia.  The  first  child  was  a  boy,  the  second  a  girl, 
both  did  well.    I  have  had  numerous  cases,  where  nausea  and 


BOOK  NOTICES.  221 

leacorrhea  were  simultaneous  during  pregnancy.    Having  just 

had  a  case  in  a  woman  of  a  strumous  habit, who  had  both  troubles 

almost  during  her  entire  preznancy. 

I  have  just  conversed  with  Dr.  Emmons  of  our  city,  who 

says,  that  his  experience  corroborates  mine. 

O.  P.  Baer,  M.  D. 
■^♦^ 

BOOK  NOTICES. 


MEDICAL  ESSAYS,  1842-1882.    By  O.  W.  Holmes,  M.  D.,  Houghton,  Mifflin 
&  Co.,  Boston. 

This  volume  of  440  pages  contains  nine  essays;  and  the 
mechanical  execution  is  a  credit  to  the  publishing  house 
of  Boston.  We  regret  that  we  cannot  say  as  much  with 
regard  to  the  authors  method  of  treating  a  scientific  subject. 
/'Homoeopathy  and  its  kindred  delusions,''  is  treated  by 
this  caustic  writer  from  the  stand  point  of  theory  alone^ 
not  from  scientific  experimentation.  Any  experiment,*  on 
any  subject,  to  be  of  the  slightest  value  to  the  scientific  world 
must  be  of  such  a  nature,  that,  the  circumstances  aiid  materials 
being  given,  they  can  be  verified  by  others  and  their  truth  or 
falsity  demonstrated.  Where  would  the  science  of  chemistry  be 
had  its  experiments  been  treated  by  the  method  of  Dr.  Holmes? 
Hahnemann  never  proposed  to  submit  his  discovery  to  the  belief 
or  faith  of  any  man.  He  simply  asked  that  his  experimentH  be 
submitted  to  the  crucible  of  scientific  research  under  given  con- 
ditions, and  the  failures  published  to  the  world.  Truth  is  truth, 
whether  Dr.  Holmes  believes  it  or  not.  Faithcaxi  have  no  place 
in  Science,  and  no  man  ought  to  know  that  simple  fact  better 
than  the  author.  The  simple  law  of  the  similars  is  a  verity. 
Like  does  cure  like,  whether  he  wants  it  to  or  not.  Homoeo- 
pathy may  be  d  priori  the  most  absurd  of  all  his  **  kindred  de- 
lusions,'' and  yet  be  d  posteriori  true.  Light  to  the  blind,  and 
sound  to  the  deaf,  may  be  equally  absurd ;  and  Dr.  Holmes 
should  not  forget  that  his  belief  cannot  change  a  scientific  fact. 
In  verba  magiatri  Jurare  has  never  aided  science  one  iota,  and 
the  skeptical  negations  of  Dr.  Holmes  will  not  throw  any  light 
on  the  subject. 

In  1842  this  gifted  author  tried  his  hand  at  prophecy  in  the 
following:  *'Not  many  years  can  pass  away  before  the  same 
curiosity  excited  by  one  of  Perkin's  Tractors  will  be  awakened 
by  the  sight  of  one  of  the  Infinitesimal  Globules.    If  it  should 


222  BOOK  NOTICES. 

claim  a  longer  existence,  it  can  only  be  by  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  sordid  wretches  who  wring  their  bread  from  the  cold 
grasp  of  disease  and  death  in  the  hovels  of  ignorant  poverty." 

Not  seeing  it  materiatize  as  rapidly  as  he  anticipated,  in  1861 
he  modified  it  to  suit  the  time.  '*  The  infinitesimal  globules  have 
not  become  a  curiosity  as  yet,  like  Perkin's  Tractors.  But  time 
is  a  very  elastic  element  in  Geology  and  Prophecy.  If  Daniel's 
70  weeks  mean  490  years,  as  the  learned  Prideaux  and  others 
have  settled  it  that  they  do,  the  *  not  many  years '  of  my  pre- 
diction may  be  stretched  out  a  generation  or  two  beyond  our 
time,  if  necessary,  when  the  prophecy  will  no  doubt  prove  true." 
We  think  the  author  should  have  re-written  this  wonderful 
prophecy.  Since  it  was  put  forth  Boston  has  had  its  fair  and 
raised  $100,000  for  a  homoeopathic  hospital ;  and  while  this  edi- 
tion was  running  through  the  press  another  $60,000  has  been 
subscribed  and  donated  for  its  enlargement.  Surely  a  resident 
of  Boston,  and  an  Emeritus  Professor  of  Harvard  who  knows  so 
much,  should  know  that  homoeopathy  does  not  '*  wring  its  exis- 
tence from  the  hovels  of  ignorant  poverty  "  in  Boston.  The 
book  is  readable  and  should  grace  every  Medical  library,  if  for 
no  other  reason  than  to  enable  us  to  **  see  oursil  as  Ithers 
see  us." 


**  The  Popular  Science  Monthly  "  for  September  begins  with 
a  clear  exposition  of  **  The  Germ -Theory  of  Disease,"  by  Dr.  H. 
Gradle,  who,  in  plain  words,  showing  his  command  of  the  sub- 
ject, explains  the  theory,  defines  the  extent  to  which  it  has  so 
far  been  found  surely  applicable,  and  sums  up  the  evidence  on 
which  it  rests.  Dr.  Felix  L.  Oswald  continues  his  pungent  pre- 
scriptions and  recommendations  of  **The  Remedies  of  Nature." 
with  a  paper  on  **  Asthma,"  and  its  treatment.  In  '*Fire-proof 
Building  Construction"  Mr.  William  E.  Ward  describes  and 
recommends  a  system  of  building  with  iron  and  bhton  without 
wood,  which  he  has  tried  and  found  practicable  and  effective. 
*^  Insanity,"  by  one  who  has  been  insane,  is  a  picture,  from  the 
inside,  of  a  disease  whose  moving  springs  and  workings  can  be 
only  most  obscurely  perceived  from  the  outside,  and  oflfers  sug- 
gestions, derived  from  the  author's  own  experience,  as  to  points 
in  which  the  treatment  of  the  insane  and  the  management  of 
asylums  should  be  improved.  Mr.  E.  T.  Merrick  presents  a  dif- 
ferent view  of  **Our  Marriage  and  Divorce  Laws"  from  that 
which  was  given  by  Mr.  Stewart  in  the  June  number  of  the 
**  Monthly,"  especially  as  relates  to  conditions  in  the  Southern 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  223 

States.  In  **How  the  Earth  was  Peopled/*  by  the  Marquis  de 
Saporta.the  eminent  Freeh  botanist  and  palaeontologist,  discuss- 
ing the  origin  land  antiquity  of  man,  attempts  to  show  in  what 
way  and  by  what  means  the  h'uman  race  became  scattered  over 
all  the  continents  at  the  very  earliest  stages  of  its  existence.  In 
"  Insects  and  Disease  "  Professor  A.  F.  A.  King  charges  mosqui- 
toes with  being  the  most  active  and  efficient  agents  in  the  dis- 
semination of  malarial  poison.  Several  other  articles,  su oh  as 
**  The  Chemistry  of  Cookery,"  "Agricultural  Experiment  Sta- 
tions," **Ways  of  Preserving  Food,"  and  "Primitive  Map- 
Making,"  are  of  practical  or  special  interest.  The  editor  vigor- 
ously sustains  Mr.  Adams  in  his  attack  on  **  The  Dead-Language 
Superstition."  The  late  Sir  William  Logan,  of  the  Canadian 
Geological  Survey,  is  the  subject  of  a  biographical  sketch,  which 
is  accompanied  by  the  usual  portrait. 


-•♦^ 


EDITOR'S  TABLE- 


Dr.  R.  G.  DePuy  (U.  of  M.)  of  Jamestown,  Dakota, dropped 
in  upon  us  the  other  day. 

Died.— The  venerable  father  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Wood  of  Monroe, 
Mich.,  recently  died  full  of  years  and  ripe  experience. 

**OuR  society  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  We  are  organized 
under  the  name  of  Barry  and  Eaton  Medical  Society.  We  meet 
every  three  months.  The  interest  is  good.  At  our  yesterday's 
^  meeting,  we  had  a  paper  on  Diphtheria  by  Dr.  Carpenter  of 
Woodland,  and  the  inclosed.  Dr.  C.  S.  Burton  is  our  president 
and  Dr.  Chas.  Snell  of  Vermontville,  secretary."  w.  p.  p. 

In  his  annual  address  before  the  Wayne  County  Medical 
Sooiety,  Dr.  Brodie,  the  president  of  that  learned  body  dealt  with 
peculiar  stress  upon  the  importance  of  the  microscopical  school, 
the  "developments"  of  which,  he  added,  **  bid  fair  to  revolu- 
tionize the  great  fabric  upon  which  the  present  science  of  medi- 
cine is  based."  If  that  be  so,  then  the  "great  fabric"  must  be 
an  arrant  humbug,  and  the  very  foundation  of  the  *^ present 
science  of  medicine  "  must  be  error  and  falsehood  We  had  half 
come  to  that  conclusion  some  time  ago  ourselves,  but  not  on 
account  of  the  microscopical  school  so  much  as  from  the  innate 
charlatanry  that  characterize  so  much  of  the  practice.  It  is  not  a 
comforting  thought  for  the  sick  to  be  assured  in  thisofficial  and  au- 
thoritative way, that  the  physicians  who  are  treating  them  are  not 
sure  but  they  are  doing  them  more  harm  than  good.— j^e.  News. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


We  are  indebted  to  Henry  M.  8mitli.  M.  D.,  of  New  York, 
for  the  following : 

A  OiiBious  Scrap  op  Hibtoky.— 2Van«ac(tojw  of  t?>e  Med- 
ioal  Societff  of  the  City  and  County  of  New  York. — At  a  meeting 
t^eplember  10, 1882,  tlie  following  persouH  were  proposed  for  hon- 
orary niemberKhip:  John  Sing  Darey,  M.  D.,  V.  P.  Medical 
Society  of  N.  J  ,  by  Dr.  Piatt;  Dr.  C.  O,  Kelly,  Surgeon  in  the 
BritiehNavy,  by  Dr. McCaffrey  ;  R.Duiiglisnn,M.D.,  of  Virginia, 
by  Dr.  Caruthers ;  Prof.  Hecker  and  Dr,  Heyfelder,  by  Dr.  Leo 
Wolf;  8.  F.  Hahnemann,  by  Dr.  Gray. 

At  a  meeting  November  12,  1832 ; 

Present— Drs.  Cieves,  Gray,  Piatt,  Bedford,  I.  H.  Rodgero, 
Throckmorton,  H.  Sweeney,  Leveridge,  Bowron,  D.  L.  Rndgera, 
G.  Carter,  John  StearuB,  Baxter,  Drake,  Siieldon,  Gilbert,  Mill- 
doller,  W.  Anderson,  Kirby,  Jamea  Wrlglil,  Stepheueon,  Sand- 
bam,  Berntielsel,  Duvul,  and  otheni. 

Jas.W.  Anderson,  M.  D.,  of  tbe  Ittland  of  Cuba.and  Samuel  F. 
Hahnemann,  M.  D.,  were  elected  honorary  members. 

At  a  meeting  July  10,  1843,  on  the  motion  of  Janien  R.  Man- 
ley,  it  wna  Resolved.  That  tbe  resolution"  of  tblH  ooclety  of  Ko> 
vember  12, 1832,  conferring  honorary  mt^mbertthlp  of  this  society 
on  8amneir.Hahnemann,  t  of  Germany, be  and  the  Hume  is  here- 
by rescinded. 


Ayes— Jumea  Wright,  Fenelon  Ha.sbrouck,  James* 
Ktewart.  Wiliiam  P.  Buell,  Aaron  Wright,  E.  H.  8  Hol- 
den,  James  R.  Wood,  John  K.  Van  Kluck,  Ashley,  Isaac 
Wood,  R.  K.  Hotfman,  Kllbourne.  Whiting,  John  Stearns, 
8.  Hasbrouck,  Bartlet,  Vandervoort,  Manley,  A.  Under- 
bill, J.  W.  Bradshaw,  B.  R.  Robaon,  0.  White,  E.  L. 
Beadle,  Thomas  PitU,  B.  W.  Budd,  J.  H.  Chee«maD.  Mar- 
vin and  H.  D.  Bulkley. 


NAYs-Rcnjamin  F.  Bowers  and  Benjamin  F.  Joslin. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  S.  Hasbrouck  it  was 

Ewolved,  That  the  resolution  of  Dr.  Manly  be  published. 

•  Tlierp  WHS  no  resolution.  It  wna  an  election  bj  bnUot. 

t  HamuGl  F.  nubnemanu  hnd  died  nt  Paria  clgUI  liufi  previous  in  tbli 
vole,  in  the  SSUi  j'ear  of  blaage;  bad  been  82  feurs  a  Dootorof  Mpdictne 
(probnbly  more  yeara  thau  tbo  oldentof  tht^se  votes  had  breathed);  Wat  lb« 
Kulhor  of  nearly  aJOdiEsartMlons  nn  mcdlolne  {more  medical  worka  ibao 
BOmB  of  Uioiu  bad  ever  readi.  Waa  the  founder  i.r  a  ayatem  of  mnllulu* 
(tbe  Homoeopalblc)  that  Duinliara  more  followers  throuKlioul  tbe  world  than 
any  other  aobooi  whatever,  aod  la  tbo  gra«lKal  lioon  l<i  huniaulty  even  con- 


All  subacriptions  and  buslneas  comraunicatlons  should 
be  addresaed  to  MEDICAL  ADVANCE  PUBLISHING  CO  , 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.    Subscription,  62.O0  per  a 


The  June  No,  of  the  I'irpulnr  Science  Moinkhj.  a  journal 
we  liave  so  often  commended,  contains  as  its  leading  article 
a  pajier  upon  "Medical  Quacks  and  Quackeries,  by  Francis 
J,  Shepherd,  M.  D.''  The  article  in  (jiiestion  is  a  mere  com- 
pilation of  stories  and  statements  concerning  a  class  of  per- 
sons whom  the  writer  \a  pleased  to  call  quacks  and  he  adopts 
Dr.  Johnson's  definition  of  a  quack  as  "  a  boastful  pretender 
to  an  art  he  does  not  understand.''  In  these  particular  in- 
stances the  art  in  question  is  the,  art  of  healing  and  the 
quacks  specified,  are  all  medical.  Guided  by  the  definition 
it  seems  impossible  for  the  writer  to  fail  to  include  the  entire 
medical  profession,  from  the  days  of  Hippocrates  to  Hahne- 
mann.    If  sober  historical  facts  are  srood  evidences,  medical 


226  EDITORIAL. 

art  was  not  understood  by  its  many  pretentious  practitioners 
for  more  than  two  thousand  years.  It  was  an  art  that  had 
no  Materia  Medica,  no  Pathology,  and  therefore  no  Thera- 
,  peutics  in  any  scientific  sense  of  the  term.  The  theory  of 
the  men  of  those  days  have  been  almost  universally  over- 
thrown, and  their  practices  almost  wholly  discarded.  It  was 
rarely  by  good  luck,  even  that  any  of  them  stumbled  upon 
any  valuable  fact  or  principle.  They  made  great  displays 
of  wisdom,  they  made  boastful  pretentions  to  knowledge, 
they  deluded  the  world  by  their  assumptions  of  skill,  and 
they  gained  both  money  and  reputation  by  attempting  to 
practice  an  art  they  did  not  understand.  If  to  do  that  is  to 
be  a  quack,  then  these  men  were  quacks.  There  is  no 
escaping  this  conclusion,  for  their  posterity,  the  men  of 
to-day,  glory  in  the  fact  that  they  have  discovered  the 
wrongs,  corrected  the  evils  and  discarded  the  errors  of  their 
predecessors.  And  yet  this  writer  upon  quacks  fails  to 
include  this  great  class  of  quacks,  and  satisfies  himself  by 
selecting  out  a  few  cases  here  and  there  and  holding  them  up 
to  view  as  sinners  above  other  men.  Dr.  Shepherd  is  not  a 
man  well  informed  on  this  question  or  else  he  is  unjust  and 
untruthful.  But  the  article  he  writes  shows  his  animus 
clearly  before  it  is  concluded.  Of  course  he  is  an  Allo^atliic 
doctor,"and  as  he  has  the  entree  of  the  Popular  Science  Monthly 
he  does  not  miss  his  chance,  but  promptly  impales  Homoe- 
opathy, and  attempts  to  prove  it  the  prince  of  quacks.  At 
the  outset  he  demonstrates  his  ignorance  of  Homoeopathy. 
In  the  art  of  writing  Dr.  Shepherd,  therefore,  is  himself 
nothing  less  than  a  quack.  He  can  be  easily  classified  by 
his  own  showing  as  one  who  pretends  to  an  '*art  he  does  not 
understand."  He  writes  to  instruct  the  public.  He  only 
deludes  himself  and  misleads  his  trusting  readers.  This  is 
not  creditiible  to  the  head  or  heart  of  even  an  Allopathic 
doctor. 


•  In  the  October  No.  of  the  Populxir  Science  Monthly  the 
venerable  Dr.   Edward   Bayard  presents   us  an  article    on 


EDITORIAL.  227 

^'  Homojopathy  as  a  Science."  From  the  accompanying  edi- 
torial it  is  clear  that  the  editor  is  fairly  disposed  to  offer 
some  atonement  for  Dr.  Shepherd's  article,  to  which  we  have 
already  alluded.  The  editor  attempts  to  wash  his  hands  of 
any  responsibility  in  publishing  the  views  of  Dr.  Shepherd 
on  Homoeopathy  and  after  disclaiming  all  feeling  of  parti- 
sanship, he  then  proceeds  to  overthrow  Dr.  Bayard's  position 
and  in  effect  cast  his  influence  against  the  Homoeopathic 
school.  He  would  have  his  readers  believe  that  in  under- 
mining Dr.  Bayard's  arguments  he  is  causing  the  Homoeop- 
athic system  to  topple  to  its  fall ;  if  indeed  he  does  not  hoM 
that  the  outcome  of  the  controversy  is  to  place  HouKeopathy 
hors  dn  combat  This  is  common  to  all  writers  of  that  school. 
If  once  thev  condescend  to  write  us  down  we  are  thenceforth 
<lead  beyond  hope.  Dr.  Bayard's  article  is  full  of  many  good 
and  strong  points.  He  is  to  be  congratulated  for  the  candor 
and  self-possession  which  so  strongly  mark  his  writing.  "But 
Dr.  Bayard  gives  only  his  own  views  of  Homoeopathy,  when 
he  says  that  "  Homoeopathy  as  a  science  is  the  law  of  the 
vital  force,"  he  is  talking  in  a  language  common  enough  a 
half  century  ago,  but  wholly  out  of  date  to-day.  And  when 
he  tells  us  that  *'  disease  is  the  impairment  of  the  equaliza- 
tion of  the  vital  force."  he  shows  iis  the  torce  of  his  earl  v 
education.  The  facts  of  Homoeopathy  are  one  thing;  the 
philosophy  of  Homoeopathy  is  quite  another  thing.  The 
editor  in  answering  Dr.  Ba3'ard  very  properly  raises  the  ques- 
tion, "  Is  there  any  such  thing  as  the  vitAl  force?"  He  could 
have  put  it  much  stronger  and  said,  it  is  quite  universally 
denied  by  modern  scientists  that  there  is  any  such  thing  as  a 
vitAl  force.  Dr.  Bayard's  facts  are  true  enough,  but  the  homre* 
tipathic  school  cannot  be  held  to  endorse  his  philosophy. 
The  editor  of  the  Popular  Science  MoafhJi/  may  demolish  Dr. 
B's.  reasons,  but  he  dops  not,  and  cannot  touch  his  facts. 
Homoeopathy  admits  of  explanation  on  modern  scientific 
groun<ls,  and  placed  upon  that  ground,  the  editor  would 
hardly  find  his  task  of  answering,  as  easy  as  when  he  meets 
a  man  schooled  in  the  philosophy  of  fifty  years  ago.     The 


228  THE  SCIENCE  OF  FIBRIN. 

journal  in  question  has  done  excellent  service  in  exposing 
the  errors  and  evil  practices  of  the  Allopathic  school,  and  we 
have  no  reason  to  complain  of  the  showing  it  has  of  late 
given  Homoeopathy,  but  we  protest  against  making  the 
*'  vitill  force  "  any  necessary  part  of  our  philosophy,  or  that 
our  practices  shall  stand  or  fall  as  the  "  vit^l  force  "  shall 
be  maintained  or  overthrown.  Homoeopathy  is  a  simple, 
straight-forward  system  of  Therapeutics,  a  plain  and  easily 
understood  method  of  healing  the  sick.  It  may  or  may  not 
be  explained.     Put  it  to  practical  test;  that  is  all  we  ask. 


t» 


THE  SCIENCE  OF  FIBRIN, 


REAJ)  BEFORE  THE  MICROSCOPIC  CLUB  OF  BUFFALO. 


BY  ROLLIN   R.  <JRE<.(J,  >I.  D.,  BrFKAI.O.  N.  Y. 


At  the  late  meeting  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeo- 
pathy at  Niagara  Falls,  I  was  severely  attacked,  both  pub- 
licly and  privately,  for  my  opposition  to  the  accepted  teach- 
ings about  bacteria.  Under  the  excitement  of  mind  incident 
to  those  attacks  it  occurred  to  me  to  boil  and  also  to  rot  some 
blood  and  see  what  the  effects  of  both  would  be  upon  the 
fibrin  it  contained. 

The  attraction  for  each  other  of  the  granules  of  fibrin,  on 
coagulating  from  the  Huid  state  into  granules,  and  tlieir 
cohesive  power  after  coming  together,  appear  to  be  very 
great;  and  my  idea  was  to  first  partially  and  then  wholly 
destroy  that  cohesive  power,  and  watch  the  results.  Behold 
what  a  revelation  I  Nothing  more  marvelous  was  ever  seen 
in  the  microscopic  world;  and  a  new  science  has  thereby 
been  o})ened  to  tlie  study  of  men. 

All  the  forms  that  the  bacterists  ever  pictured  or  saw,  in 
their  bacteria,  are  exactly  repeated  in  boiled  blood;  and 
there  are  manv  more  forms  found  therein  than  thev  have 
ever  mentioned. 

There  are  the  so-c.iUeJ  '* micrococci "  by  the  million; 


R.  R.  GRFMii.  .    229 

I 

there  are  spherical  bacteria,  "aggregated  in  pairs  and  in 
fours,"  or  in  any  other  number  that  may  be  wished;  tliere  are 
*'chaplets"  and  '*  rosaries"  in  great  numbers,  and  straight 
strings  of  beads  by  the  hundred ;  there  are  "  dumb-bells," 
** clubs"  and  "rods;"  there  are  "straight-rods,  sometimes 
[often]  of  considerable  length,  which  break  up  by  transverse 
sub-division  into  seperate  cells ;  "  there  are  "  threads  felted  " 
and  "felted  into  swarms;"  there  are  "spirals"  single  and 
double,  triple  and  even  quadruple;  there  are  the  chains  with 
short  and  close,  and  with  open  and  long  links ;  there  are 
stocks  with  lashes  on  them  much  like  whips,  and  also  "  shep- 
herd's crooks ;  "  there  are  "  tails  "  and  "  spikes  "  and  still 
other  forms ;  and  all  consisting  of  the  fibrin  of  healthy  blood 
which  had  been  organized  by  standing,  first  into  granules,  then 
threads  or  fibrils  more  or  less  of  spiral  form ;  and  next  par- 
tially disorganized  by  boiling,  to  take  all  the  numerous  forms 
to  correspond  exactlv  with  what  the  bacterists  have  seen  in 
disease  and  miscalled  bacteria. 

Rotted  blood  shows  even  still  more  astounding  results. 
It  gives  far  greater  numbers  of  all  the  forms  just  named,  and 
many  more  beside.  In  it  are  to  be  found  rings  and  pieces  of 
rings,  hooks  and  loops,  "  watch  chain.s  "  witli  a  loop  upon 
one  end  and  a  hook  upon  tiie  other;  crosses  and  horseshoes, 
several  letters  of  the  alphabet,  as  I,  U,  V,  X,  Y,  etc.  Indeed 
there  is  scarcely  an  thing  in  the  way  of  form,  from  a  straight 
thread  to  a  ring  and  globe,  or  that  a  thread  or  combination 
of  threads  or  of  grannules  can  be  put  into,  that  is  not  imi- 
tated more  or  less  exactly  by  fibrin  in  rotting  l)lood.  I  have 
one  specimen  whicii  shows  a  pair  of  open  pincers;  others 
which  show  pairs  of  compasses  or  dividers  open ;  canes  with 
heads  and  some  with  hooks ;  and  many  exact  pictures  of  the 
muscae  volitantes,  or  granular  tiireads  that  many  people  see 
at  times  dancing  about  before  their  eyes,  and  think  fore- 
bode serious  consequences  to  their  vision.  These  muscn& 
volitantes  which  have  never  been  explained,  I  now  see  are 
made  up  of  various  combinations  of  granules  of  fibrin  in  the 
fluids  of  the  eye,  and  cast  their  shadows  upon  the  retina,  to 


2:^0  THE  SCIENCE  OF  FIBRIN, 

t 

be  thereby  perceived.  And  last,  but  not  least,  I  have  numer- 
ous inaitations  in  the  form  of  tadpoles  and  wrigglers  and  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  imitations  of  a  fanciful  letter  K  that  I 
ever  saw. 

In  short,  as  it  looks  to  me  now,  fibrin  appears  to  contain 
most,  if  not  all,  of  the  formative  forces  of  the  organic  world* 
It  clearly  shows  itself  to  be  but  one  and  the  first  stef)  ih 
organic  matter,  from  the  ))rinciple  of  life  within  us,  as  this 
force  of  life  is  but  one  and  the  first  step  from  its  creator.  Thus 
it  is  that  this  new  knowledge  of  fibrin  must  bring  us  nearer 
to  the  beginnings  of  all  living  things  than  ever  before;  and  1 
am  not  certain  but  it  will  open  up  to  us  in  a  new  light  the 
whole  question  of  generati  on  in  both  vegetable  and  animiil 
life. 

In  addition  to  saying  that  fibrin  appears  to  contain 
most  of  the  formitive  forces  of  the  organic  world,  I  will  go 
farther,  and  say  that  this  force,  or  these  forces  of  fibrin 
appear  to  be  in  direct  and  intimate  relations  with  the  other 
forces  of  the  world,  if  not  with  those  of  the  universe.  One 
thing  is  certain,  the  attraction  of  the  granules  of  fibrin  for 
each  other,  and  their  cohesive  p)wer  after  coming  together, 
are  among  the  most  remirkable  manifestations  of  these 
forces  that  is  to  be  found  in  all  matter.  Even  repellant  pow- 
ers of  no  minor  degree  are  shown  by  said  granules,  under 
some  circumstances.  In  no  other  wav  can  we  account  for  the 
almost  infinite  varietv  of  forms  thev  give  under  various 
combinations,  than  through  the  powerful  attractions  for  each 
other  under  many  conditions,  and  their  repjllant  i)0wersi 
under  others.  The  attraction  of  fibrin  for  oil  globules  and  for 
some  other  kinds  of  matter,  also  appear  to  be  very  marked. 

Well,  applying  these  facts  to  generation,  what  do  we 
find?  In  the  germ  of  every  organic  thing,  fibrin  undoubt- 
edly exists.  In  fact,  it  is  through  the  fibrin  in  them,  that 
form  is  given  to  all  germs.  Placing  a  germ  then  under  the 
requisite  conditions,  according  to  kind  of  moisture,  warmtli 
etc.,  for  its  development,  the  latent  powers  of  its  fibrin  are 
released  and  set  to  work.    Those  released,  and  astonish inirlv 


R.  R.  GREGG.  231 

active  powers,  attract  other  fibrin  and  other  matter  into  the 
substance  of  the  developing  germ,  until,  through  those  fibrin 
forces,  thus  acting,  and  all  directly  superintended  by  the  yet 
superior  principle  of  life,  the  ultimate  being  comes. 

And  Jiere  let  me  tell  the  scientists,  that  if  they  wish  to 
study  the  buildings  up  of  life  in  all  its  steps,  and  in  all  its 
forms,  whether  vegetable  or  animal,  they  must  study  its  build- 
ings down.  That  is  if  they  will  study  the  disintegration  of 
organic  matter  under  decay,  they  will  find  it  going  down, 
step  after  step,  in  regular  order,  from  the  higher  or  highest 
organization,  down  to  the  next  below,  and  from  this  to  the 
next  lower  still,  and  so  on  until  it  disintegrates  into  its  water- 
gases,  and  salts  or  other  inorganic  matters. 

And  in  this  going  down  it  accurately  repeats  every  step, 
but  in  the  exact  inverse  order  of  its  going  up.  That  is,  the  lasi 
step  of  organic  matter  under  decay,  before  it  dissolves  into 
its  inorganic  elements,  is  an  exact  repetition,  but  inversely 
of  the  first  step  taken  to  build  up  an  organism;  and  the  first 
step,  after  death,  that  disintegration  takes,  is  like  the  last  one 
taken  to  perfect  the  proper  combinations  of  organizations.  This 
may  be  stated  as  positively  as  though  it  were  a  law  of  nature, 
and  it  is  not  improbable  that  it  is  a  law. 

A  rotting  leaf  or  blade  of  grass  shows  this  principle  of  dis- 
organization and  it  is  a  singular  thing  that  the  fact  was  never 
carefully  studied,  and  more  of  life  and  its  organizations 
learned  through  it.  I  have  studied  this  subject  not  a  little, 
for  over  twenty  years  and  am  not  giving  fancy  sketches. 

If  we  knew  nothing  as  to  how  a  house  were  built,  and 
should  first  see  one  after  it  was  completed,  common  sense 
would  nut  suggest  that  we  begui  at  the  foundation  to  tear  it 
down  to  learn  how  it  was  constructed,  and  involve  ourselves 
in  the  general  ruin — which  is  much  the  way  however  that 
both  life  and  disease  have  been  hitherto  investigated.  But 
we  would  begin  at  the  topmost  shingle  and  take  everything 
apart  whether  shingles,  boards,  timbers  or  bricks,  in  the 
inverse  order  of  their  having  been  put  together,  then  we 
could  learn  something  of  the  manner  and  ways  of  its  con- 


2:52  THE  SCIENCE  OF  FIBRIN. 

struction.  And  this  is  precisely  what  must  be  done  hence- 
forth in  regard  to  life  and  disease,  if  we  would  ever  master 
the  mystery  that  envelops  both  them  and  us. 

But  we  must  return  to  our  manipulated  blood  for  proof 
of  what  is  claimed  in  our  main  issue,  or  that  of  bacteria. 
After  conceiving  the  idea  of  boiling  and  rotting  blood,  I 
requested  my  butcher  to  bring  me  some  healthy  bullock's 
blood,  it  not  being  practicable  of  course  to  get  healthy 
human  blood  in  sufficient  quantity  for  extensive  investiga- 
tions. A  healthy  animal  was  killed  one  afternoon,  and 
the  blood,  about  a  quart  of  it,  brought  to  me  the  next  morn- 
ing. A  half  pint  or  more  of  this  was  boiled  at  noon  of  that 
day,  for  about  an  hour.  Then  a  small  drop  of  this  boiled 
blood  was  put  upon  a  slide,  and  at  the  same  time  a  small  drop 
of  the  same  blood  unboiled  was  put  upon  another  slide,  so 
as  to  carefully  compare  the  two. 

Now,  as  is  known,  boiling  the  fluids  in  which  are  the  real 
bacteria,  kills  these  organisms;  so  if  they  had  secured  an 
entrance  into  this  blood,  between  the  time  of  its  being  drawn 
and  of  my  boiling  it,  (to  have  develoi)ed  bacteria  in  great 
numbers,  as  it  is  claimed  thev  will  in  a  few  hours  in  all 
fluids  in  which  they  grow),  my  boiled  blood  should  not  have 
shown  them  at  all,  or  but  little  if  anv:  while  the  unboiled 
blood  should  have  shown  them  in  considerable  if  not  in 
great  numbers.  But  the  facts  were  all  exactly  the  reverse. 
In  the  boiled  blood,  as  already  said,  all  the  forms  appeared 
that  bacterists  ever  pictured,  or  have  spoken  of,  and  many 
more  beside;  while  in  the  unboiled  blood,  but  little  of  those 
forms  appeared  at  all,  and  where  they  did,  it  was  clear  to  see 
they  were  uncombined,  or  loosely  combined,  granules  of 
fibrin. 

There  were  tens,  hundreds,  thousands,  tens  of  thousands 
and  even  millions,  according  to  kiqd,  in  the  boiled  blood,  of 
the  exact  forms  that  all  bacterists  have  been  telling  us  so  persist- 
ently for  many  years,  were  found  in  the  blood  of  various  dis- 
eases, and  are  the  causes  of  all  the  diseases  wherein  they  are 
found.     How  was  the  development  of  tliese  forms  brought 


R.  R  GREGG,  23,S 

about  by  simply  boiling  the  blood?    This  is  one  of  the  eas- 
iest questions  in  the  world  to  answer. 

As  has  been  stated,  tibrin  coagulates,  or  organizes,  from 
the  fluid  state,  into  granules,  and  these  granules  cohere  to 
each  other  to  form  threads  or  fibrils  in  great  numbers,  where 
congestion  takes  place  under  disease,  in  any  part  of  the  body. 
And  the  same  or  a  similar  action  takes  place  in  the  blood 
after  it  is  drawn  and  allowed  to  stand  quietly  a  few  minutes. 
It  is  indeed,  to  this  action  of  fibrin  that  the  clotting  of  all 
drawn  blood  is  due  as  you  know. 

Very  well,  boiling  it  moderately  destroys  in  part  the 
cohesive  power  of  the  granules  of  fibrin  for  each  other;  and 
gives  us  an  innumerable  number  of  forms  just  according  to 
whether  that  cohesive  power  is  entirely  killed  in  some  of  the 
fibrils,  thus  breaking  them  down  in  their  separate  granules, 
the  so-called  micrococci  of  disease;  whether  it  is  not  so  fulh' 
destroyed,  but  enough  to  break  the  fibrils  up  into  very  short 
pieces,  called  bacterium  termo,  or  longer  pieces,  like  rods> 
clubs,  etc.,  and  called  bacillus  subtilis;  or  whether  it  is  left 
still  more  intact,  and  then  gives  us  spirals,  which  are  called 
spiral  bacteria;  also  chains,  rings,  felted  threads,  or  what 
not,  and  all  falsely  called  bacteria  when  found  in  disease. 
And  this  is  all  there  is  of  this  part  of  our  subject.  These 
granules  of  fibrin  are  not,  however,  all  wholly  separated  from 
each  other  without  prolonged  boiling.  In  the  specimen  boiled 
for  an  hour,  I  had  to  let  it  stand  and  rot  for  two  or  three 
weeks  before  all  the  fibrils  were  broken  up  into  short  pieces 
and  granules. 

Indeed,  fibrin  possesses  a  most  remarkable  life  or  tenac- 
ity of  life  of  its  own.  In  one  specimen  of  the  blood  boiled 
for  an  hour,  there  is  as  beautiful  an  example  of  orgaization 
as  could  be  anywhere  found  in  animal  life;  and  which  was 
apparently  the  result  of  the  organizing  forces  possessed  by 
the  fibrin,  independently  of,  or  separated  as  it  was  from  all 
other  life,  or  sources  of  life.  This  specimen  quite  evidently 
organized  on  the  glass  slide,  after  the  drop  of  boiling  hot 


2^,4  THE  SCIENCK  OF  FIBRIN, 

blood  was  placed  there,  and  while  it  was  cooling  and  the 
liquid  part  evaporating  from  it. 

Further  details  of  the  rotted  blood  may  not  be  uninterest- 
ing. I  poured  a  half  pint  of  the  healthy  bullock's  blood  into 
a  wide-moujthed  glass  bottle,  corked  it  as  tightly  as  a  closely 
fitting  cork  would  allow,  and  placed  the  bottle  where  its  con- 
tents would  maintain  a  temperature  of  100°  to  150°.  The 
first  few  days  there  was  little  chancre  to  l)e  seen  bv  the  micro- 
scope,  in  that  blood.  After  that,  however,  the  w^onders 
began,  and  have  not  yet  ceased,  although  it  is  now  ten  weeks 
since  the  experiments  began.  No  paper  of  ordinary  length 
would  allow  of  the  half  being  told  of  the  marvels  that  have 
developed  in  that  bottle.  There  is  ten  times,  if  not  a  hun- 
dred times,  more  life  in  blood  than  has  ever  hitherto  been 
conceived. 

At  the  end  of  one  week  changes  had  begun  in  its  fibrin, 
by  showing  much  of  it  organized  in  a  way  to  give  beautiful 
samples  of  anastomosing  vessels,  as  though  the  bottle  were 
full  of  life— but  not  as  beautiful  in  this  respect  as  the 
one  specimen  of  boiled  blood  had  given.  As  yet  few  forms 
of  the  so-called  bacteria  had  appeared,  though  there  were 
some  to  be  seen.  In  ten  days  the  anastomosing  vessels  were 
less  conspicuous,  and  more  ^'bacteria''  appeared.  In  two 
weeks  there  was  still  l^ess  vascular  appearance,  and  much 
more  evidence  of  the  fibrin  j>arting  into  separate  fibrils,  and 
these  breaking  up  into  rods,  clubs  and  granules.  In  sixteen 
days  nearly  all  the  anastomosing  vessels  were  gone,  though 
there  were  yet  traces  of  them :  and  then  '*  micrococci ''  (^gran- 
ules of  fibrin)  began  to  show  by  the  million,  and  most  of  the 
other  "bacteria,"'  as  rods,  clubs,  rosaries,  chaplets,  etc., 
(fibrils  of  fibrin),  developed  by  hundreds,  thousands  arid  tens 
of  thousands,  as  the  case  might  be.  Indeed,  in  proportion 
as  the  fibrin  broke  down  from  its  first  and  higher  organiza- 
tion by  rotting,  in  just  th^t  proportion  did  the  broken  pieces* 
of  fibrin  appear,  and  it  was  truly  wonderful  thfe  great  variety 
of  forms  they  took.  There  is  scarcely  anything  in  form,  as 
already  said,  that  this  broken  fibrin  did  not  imitate.     From 


INEBRIETY  IN  WOMEN.  235 

the  film  on  the  surface  of  the  blood  in  that  bottle,  I  obtained 
some  of  the  most  beautiful  imitations  of  single  and  multiple 
linked  watch  chains,  like  those  worn  by  both  gentlemen  and 
ladies ;  and  others  like  hair  chains. 

After  that  time  I  examined  the  same  blood  every  two  or 
three  days,  for  ten  days  to  a  fortnight  longer,  but  saw  noth- 
ing of  particular  interest,  excepting  the  further  breaking 
down  of  the  fibrin  into  very  short  pieces  and  granules,  until 
there  was  little  else  to  be  seen.  From  that  on,  I  paid  little 
attention  to  it,  only  to  condemn  my  indolence  in  not  throw- 
ing the  putrid  stuff  out ;  but  fortunately  did  not  do  it,  because 
of  an  undercurrent  of  hope  that  there  might  something 
further  come  out  of  it.  And  this  brmgs  up  another  chapter 
of  interest. 

[to  be  continued.] 


4a»> 


INEBRIETY  IN  WOMEN.   ITS  CAUSES  AND  RESULTS. 


FROM   OBSERVATIONS   MADE  AT  THE   REFORMATORY    PRISON  FOR 

WOMEN,  8HERB0RN,  MASS. 


BY  LUCY  M.  HALL,  M.  !>.,  PHYSICIAN  IN  CHARGE. 


*  *  He  who  discovers  and  eradicates  the  sources  of  con- 
tamination which  would  result  in  the  outbreak  of  diphtheria 
or  typhoid  fever  in  a  household  or  a  community,  does  a  far 
better  work  than  he  who  simply  cures  or  conducts  to  recov- 
ery the  victims  of  preventable  disease.  • 

In  no  department  of  medicine  does  this  question  of  pro- 
phylaxis assume  so  high  a  degree  of  importance  as  in  deal- 
ing with  the  mighty  problems  of  inebriety,  for  whether  a  vice 
in  the  beginning,  or  whether  attributable  to  the  action  of  a 
diseased  nervous  organism,  inherited  or  accidentally  acquired 
or  whether  produced  by  a  combination  of  causes,  inebriety 
at  length  becomes  a  disease  in  itself,  and  demands  at  our 
hands  all  the  con^sideration  due  to  anv  other  diseased  state. 

Moreover,  as  the  results  of  this  condition  are  not  con- 
fined to  the  individual,  but  are  transmissible  to  the  offspring 


\ 


-J36  INEBRIETY  IN  WOMEN 

of  the  inebriate,  burdening  the  world  with  beings  faulty  in 
organization,  in  whom  the  nutritive  processes  have  been  per- 
verted from  the  moment  of  their  earliest  action,  necessity  for 
prevention  of  an  evil  so  wide-spread  and  so  lasting,  assumes 
double  importance. 

Nor  are  all  the  conditions  antenatal  whereby  the  inebri- 
ate's children  are  defrauded  of  that  which  is  the  birthright 
of  every  child,  a  sound  body  in  which  a  sound  mind  may 
expand  and  develop.  These  children  are  too  often,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  parental  vice,  poorly  clothed,  poorly  fed,  liv- 
ing amid  squalor,  discomfort,  ^nd  perturbation,  subjected  to 
exposure  to  cold  and  wet,  to  cruel  beatings,  especially  to 
blows  about  the  head :  in  short,  their  congenital  deficiencies 
are  so  supplemented  by  post-natal  surroundings  the  most 
detrimental,  that  wc*  are  often  in  doubt  a??  to  the  origin  of 
the  defects  which  we  are  called  upon  to  note. 

I  will  here  state  that  of  eighty-two  inebriate  married 
women,  I  find  thirty-two  who  have  been  mutilated  about  the 
head  until  from  one  to  twenty  scars  per  capita  are  visible. 
In  all  these  (.-ases  it  was  alleged  that  the  injuries  were  re- 
ceived at  the  liands  of  drunkon  husbands,  and  it  is  safe  to 
suppose  that  the  husbands  did  not  always  escape  from  the 
f?ncounter  unscathed.  Amid  such  wholesale  brutality  the 
children  are  always  the  greatest  sufferers.  I  find  that  of 
four  hundred  and  eight  children  born  of  one  hundred  and 
eleven  inebriate  mothers,  eighty-three  of  whom  had  inebriate 
husbands,  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  perished  in  infancy 
and  early  childhood;  while  of  the  survivors  many  are  in- 
fants and  young  children,  having  apparently  but  a  frail  ten- 
ure of  life. 

.  From  the  standpoint  of  the  sanitarian  the  results  of  in- 
ebriety are  too  far-reaching,  too  complicated  and  perplexing 
to  be  fully  presented  here.  In  order  that  the  causes  of  this 
great  evil  may  be  more  fully  understood,  a  vast  amount  of 
work  must  be  accomplished,  and  each  searcher  for  truth,  in 
his  own  particular  field,  must  labor  patiently  to  swell  the 
slowly  accumulatnig  mass  of  material  from  which  finally  a 


LUCY  M,  HALL,  237 

basis  for  more  well-directed  and  efficient  work  in  the  preven- 
tion or  control  of  inebriety  may  be  evolved. 

In  the  hope  of  adding  something  which  may  aid  those 
who  are  laboring  to  the  accomplishment  of  this  end,  I  have 
directed  my  efforts  toward  ascertaining,  so  far  as  possible: 
1st,  The  age  at  which  the  habit  of  using  intoxicants  is  most 
likely  to  be  formed.  2d  Associations,  inducements,  etc., 
which  led  to  their  use  in  these  cases.  3rd,  Condition,  occu- 
pation, and  place  of  residence  at  the  time.  4th,  Intoxicat- 
ing beverages  first  used.  5th,  Place  where  they  were  drunk. 
6th,  Hereditarv  influences. 

Of  the  204  cases  examined  by  me,  132  were  committed 
to  the  prison  for  drunkenness,  56  for  crimes  against  chastity 
and  public  order,  and  16  for  crimes  against  property.  Their 
ages  when  committed  averaged  thirty  and  one-half  years. 
Sixty-five  were  between  thirty  and  forty-one  years  of  age; 
forty-nine  between  twenty-five  and  thirty-one  years;  thirty- 
four  between  twenty  and  twenty-six  years;  and  thirty  between 
fifteen  and  twenty -one  years;  the  remainder  were  over  forty 
years  of  age.  Fifty-six  were  serving  a  first  sentence,  forty- 
one  a  second,  forty-two  a  third,  and  twenty-six  a  fourth.  Of 
the  older  cases  many  could  not  tell  the  number  of  sentences 
which  they  had  received.  One  of  them  thought  she  had 
been  committed  more  than  a  hundred  times.  Seventy-three 
were  married,  but  separated  from  their  husbands;  seventy 
were  single;  thirty-nine  were  married,  ahd  twenty-two  were 
widows. 

Twenty-seven  began  to  use  intoxicating  drinks  before 
they  were  ten  years  of  age;  eleven  began  between  the  ages 
of  nine  and  fifteen  years ;  seventy-four  between  the  ages  of 
fourteen  and  twenty-one  vears ;  thirtv-seven  between  twentv 
and  twenty-six -years;  thirty-three  between  twenty-five  and 
thirty-one  years;  nineteen  between  thirty  and  forty-one 
years,  and  three  between  forty  and  fifty-one  years.  The 
average  age  was  eighteen  and  one-third  years.  Moi-e  them 
one-half  had  formed  habits  of  intemperance  before  they 
were  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  more   than   one-third 


238  INEBRIETY  IN  WOMEN. 

at  the  giddy   ages  between  fifteen   and   twenty   inclusive. 

One  hundred  and  thirty-two  claimed  to  have  drank 
socially,  and  never  otherwise  ;  forty-seven  admitted  that 
they  loved  the  liquor  which  they  drank;  eleven  gave  trouble 
or  anger  as  a  reason  for  the  indulgence;  fourteen  were  more 
or  less  ill  when  they  began,  and  I  regret  to  state  that  in  three 
instances  it  was  alleged  that  the  appetite  was  awakened  by 
the  xise  of  stimulants  which  had  been  prescribed  by  a 
physician.  In  the  other  cases  a  mother,  husband,  or  some 
officious  friend  had  recommended  or  urged  their  use  as  a 
medicine. 

One  hundred  and  thirty-two  began  to  drink  with  female 
friends;  twenty-eight  with  male  friends  (20  of  the  28  were 
the  husbands  of  the  women);  three  with  male  and  female 
friends  together,  and  seven  alone.  A  few  began  by  drinking 
beer  in  mill  or  shop  while  taking  lunch  with  their  compan- 
ions. 

When  the  indulgence  commenced,  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  were  single;  seventy- two  married;  eight  married 
but  separated  from  their  husbands,  and  ten  were  widows. 
Forty-eight  were  engaged  in  domestic  service,  forty-four 
worked  in  mills,  and  fifteen  in  shops  (usually  shoe  shops). 
One  hundred  and  ninety-seven  resided  in  the  city,  and  seven 
in  the  country.  One  hundred  and  twenty-eight  began  by 
drinking  beer;  thirty -seven  by  drinking  whisky  (usually  as 
punch  at  first) ;  twenty  began  with  wine,  and  eight  with  gin ; 
eleven  were  unable  to  remember  the  beverage  first  used.  A 
large  number  avered  that  they  fell  into  habits  of  intoxica- 
tion by  first  using  a  substance  familiarly  known  as  tonic.'^ 
This  beverage  is  harmless  in  itself,  but  when  drunk  in  the 
company  of  those  who  were  indulging  in  stronger  drinks  it 
was  soon  supplemented  by  beer  or  other  intoxicants  and  thus 
insidiously  the  habit  was  formed.  Ninety-one  began  to 
drink  at  their  own  homes,  forty-nine  at  the  homes  of  friends, 
and  sixty-four  in  saloons. 

*  Made  of  hops,  sugar  and  water,  charged  with  carbonic  acid,  and  colored  with 
burnt  Migar. 


LUCy  M.  HALL.  239 

In  but  on^  hundred  cases  were  even  the  most  meager 
details  of  the  family  histories  obtainable,  but  these,  no 
doubt,  may  be  considered  to  fairly  represent  the  class.  In- 
temperance, transmissible  disease,  or  any  family  neurosis 
which  would  be  likely  to  affect  the  offspring  unfavorably 
were  noted. 

Of  the  fathers,  sixty-seven  were  dead.  Of  these,  twenty- 
four  died  of  consumption,  four  of  heart  disease,  two  of  kid-' 
ney  disease,  one  of  scrofula,  and  one  of  neuralgia;  one  com- 
mitted suicide.  In  several  cases  the  cause  of  death  was  not 
known.  Fifty-six  were  intemperate,  eight  were  extremely 
nervous,  and  three  were  insane.  Of  the  mothers,  thirty- 
seven  were  dead.  Of  these,  twenty-one  died  of  consump- 
tion, three  of  heart  disease,  one  of  cancer,  one  of  epilepsy, 
thirty-one  were  intemperate,  twenty-five  were  extremely 
nervous,  and  three  were  insane.  -Of  the  brothers  and  sisters, 
fifteen  were  known  to  have  died  of  consumption  and  two  of 
heart  disease;  eight  were  insane,  and  two  simple.  Of  the 
grandparents,  four  were  known  to  have  died  of  consump- 
and  two  of  heart  disease;  two  were  known  to  have  been 
insane.  Of  the  uncles  and  aunts,  thirty-two  were  known  to 
have  died  of  consumption,  one  of  cancer,  and  one  of  heart 
disease;  twenty  were  known  to  have  been  insane.  In  all 
but  eight  of  the  one  hundred  cases  examined  were  one  or 
more  of  the  above  conditions  found  to  have  existed  in  tiie 
family.  In  one  case— that  of  an  extremely  nervous  but 
intelligent  girl— both  father  and  mother  were  very  nervous, 
a  grandfather,  brother,  and  uncle  were  insane,  and  two  broth-, 
ers  were  simple. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  add  that  of  these  204  inebriate 
women,  12()  had  been  guilty  of  other  crimes ;  yet  in  but  six- 
teen instances  did  the  first  commitment  of  these  crimes 
antedate  the  habit  of  drinking.  Fifty-three  used  snufl'  in 
the  mouth  (in  Massachusetts  a  habit  confined  chieliv  to  the 
mill  population);  forty-three  used  snutf  in  the  usual  wa;  , 
thirty-nine  smoked  tobacco,  and  three  opium.  The  kst 
named  vice  is  making  rapid  headway  in  New  York  and  in 


240  INEBRIETY  IN  WOMEN, 

man}'  of  our  western  cities ;  in  Boston  only  a  beginning  has 
as  yet  been  made,  but  a  swift  spread  of  the  evil  is  feared* 
Six  used  opium  or  morphine  hypodermically  or  per  ovem. 

Concerning  nationality  sixty-seven  were  Irish,  fifty-two 
Irish-American,  seventeen  American,  seven  negro,  seven  of 
mixed  foreign  parentage  born  in  America,  and  twenty-two 
born  in  other  countries.  Of  the  Irish-born  forty-five  came 
to  America  when  young,  and  claimed  never  to  have  used 
intoxicants  prior  to  this  time. 

To  determine  the  actual  effects  upon  the  system  of  the 
habitual  use  of  alcohol  is  a  difficult  or  rather  impossible 
task.  Yet  nothing  ci\n  be  more  obvious  than  that  results 
the  most  profound  and  enduring  do  follow  its  use.  Boehm 
tells  us  that  "  alcohol  must  be  ranked  with  those  narcotics 
which,  after  long-continued  use,  leave  behind  them  perma- 
nent and  enduring  changes  in  the  bodily  organs.  These 
changes  may  not  be  recognized  by  the  minute  anatomist, 
but  they  nmy  l>e  known  very  unequivocally  by  persistent 
anomolies  of  function."  ^'  In  no  direction  in  this  atmormal 
condition  and  action  ^>o  constant  and  so  well  marked  as  in 
those. most  delicate  and  complicated  structures,  the  brain 
and  nerves.  The  other  expressions  of  a  diseased  condition, 
ju  the  inebriate  may,  often  with  a  show  of  reason,  be  attrib- 
uted to  other  causes  than  the  toxic  action  of  Alcohol,  but  the 
evidences  of  the  fatal  deterioration  in  these  organs  are 
unmistakable. 

In  cla8sifvin<;  the  cases  which  have  come  under  my 
care  I  have  made  foui  divisions,  each  embracing,  beside  its 
representative  meml^ers,  many  who  presented  minor  degrees 
of  variation  from  the  type  of  the  class : 

Class  1.  Here  an  unstable  state  of  the  emotions  begins 
to  manifest  itself.  The  woman  is  often  depressed  in  spirits : 
weeps  easily,  and  is  easily  consoled.  The  most  trival  circum- 
stances will  annov  and  excite  her.  All  the  currents  of  her 
life  are  disturbed,  and  are  in  inharmonious  relations  with 
each  other.    This  is  partly  from  the  action  of  Alcohol  upon 

♦Ziemssens  Cyclopedia.  Vol.  XVII. 


LUCY  M.  HALL,  24] 

the  tissues  of  the  system,  partly  from  the  moral  i)rotest 
which  is  goading  the  victim  with  a  sense  of  the  ruin  in  which 
she  is  becoming  involved. 

Class  11.  In  this  class  we  have  the  psychical  disturb- 
ances more  marked.  The  woman  is  apprehensive,  believes 
that  she  is  wronged,  and  imagines  every  one  to  be  against 
her,  the  temper  is  irritable,  and  often  uncontrollable ;  the 
moral  sense  is  involved ;  the  perception  of  what  constitutes 
right  and  wrong  is  blurred  and  distorted  ;  purposeless  lying, 
deceitfulness,  a  general  absence  of  integrity  and  honest}'', 
characterize  this  condition  :  and  the  higher  the  intellect  of 
the  woman  the  greater  the  divergence  from  the  normal  stand- 
ards. The  patient  believes  that  she  can  easily  reform,  and 
resolves  to  do  so  without  a  moment's  doubt  or  hesitation.  The 
capacity  for  suffering  is  active,  remorse  being  a  prominent 
factor  in  the  distress  which  so  often  possesses  her.  The  eye 
is  unsteady,  and  the  facial  muscles  often  twitch  nervously. 
Gastric  and  intestinal  disturbances  are  common  in  this  class, 
and  headache  an  almost  constant  accompaniment. 

Class  III.  This  is  a  dual  class,  and  one  in  which,  from 
the  long,  continued  use  of  intoxicants,  the  vital  forces  liave 
gradually  come  to  *' equilibrate  around  new  centres,'-  and 
the  resultant  conditions  have  assumed  a  (lesjree  of  fixity, 
from  this  persistent  abnormal  adjustment  of  the  life  forces. 
In  this  class  we  find  ourselves  dealiui?  with  i)er.sonj?  whose 
reasoning  j)Owers  and  governing  imjmlses  have  little  in  com- 
mon with  our  accej)ted  standards.  All  the  liigher  qualities 
have  hopelessly  deteriorated.  If  the  woman  is  a  criminal 
she  has  l)Ut  little  comprehension  of  the  significance  anrl 
extent  of  her  crimes;  if  of  a  i)hlegniatic  temperament,  the 
capacity  for  suffering  is  diminished,  and  the  impulses  are  less 
active  than  in  either  of  the  preceding  classes.  The  brain 
and  nerves  seem  to  have  gone  through  a  stu|)efying  process. 
The  will  is  weak,  and  the  woman  is  not  troubled  with 
regrets  or  a  sense  of  her  failures.  The  Divine  fire  which 
characterizes  our  humanity  has  l)een  almost  com])letelv 
extinguished  in  her.  and  she  has  sunk  to  the  level  of  the 
3 


242  INEBRIETY  IN  WOMEN. 

lower  animals;  in  some  respects  indeed  she  is  below  the 
intelligent  brute. 

If  some  intercurrent  disease  does  not  end  life,  the  patient 
v\^ill  remain  in  this  condition  for  a  long  period,  finally  sink- 
ing into  a  state  of  complete  dementia.  The  system  in  these 
cases  seems  to  have  established  a  tolerance  for  the  poison, 
and  the  nutritive  functions  are  less  actively  disturbed  than 
in  patients  of  either  of  the  other  classes. 

In  the  woman  of  a  more  highly  nervous  temperament, 
we  find  at  this  .stage  a  very  great  divergence  from  the  pre- 
ceding type. 

Here  the  system  is  in  a  state  of  rebellion  against  the 
unnatural  and  long  continued  stimulation.  The  woman  is 
broken,  shattered,  demoralized.  Her  condition  is  one  which 
approaches  to  a  state  of  permanent  intoxication.  Her  inhib- 
itory centers  have  become  liopelessly  impaired  in  structure 
and  action;  she  is  excitable  to  the  wildest  extreme;  she 
weeps  at  nothing,  and  blesses  and  curses  in  the  same  breath; 
her  anger  is  easily  aroused,  and  she  becomes  ghastly  in  her 
rage;  the  discipline  of  the  prison  is  irksome  and  often  unen- 
durable to  her;  she  has  no  control  over  her  passions  or  her 
appetites,  and  she  is  often  aware  of  this.  Said  a  poor  girl  of 
this  class  to  me  the  other  day — she  had  been  returned  to 
the  prison  after  a  few  weeks  of  freedom  (?) — *'I  know  I  told 
you  before  I  went  out  that  I'd  never  drink  again.  I  knew 
then  that  I  could  not  help  myself  if  I  got  where  the  liquor 
was.  Still  I  am  sure  I  meant  to  try,  but  I  got  drunk  the  day 
I  left  here,  and  have  kept  so  nearly  all  the  time  since.  I 
never  will  trv  a^ijain,  for  it  is  of  no  use;  I  wish  I  had  a  ten 
vears'  sentence." 

This  is  onlv  one  case  of  scores  which  I  could  mention. 
That  they  have  passed  the  limits  of  responsible  action  and 
are  under  tlie  coutrol  of  a  diseased  organism,  none  the  less 
real  because  self-induced,  cannot  be  doubted.  Protection 
and  not  punishment  is  demanded  in  these  cases.  .  Absolute 
control  is  necessary,  but  not  with  the  surroundings  of  a  prison 
or  a  mad-house,  for  to  consign  them  to  either  is  an  injustice. 


ECZEMA  CURED  BY  GRAPHITE,  24:5 

v  There  are  usiially  marked  physical  disturbances  in  these 
cases;  headache  is  a  prominent  symptom,  also  a  dreadful 
feeling  in  the  head  is  complained  of — a  sensation  as  though 
it  were  opening  and  shutting  at  the  vertex,  spinning  around, 
or  as  though  a  tight  band  were  about  the  forehead ;  a  com- 
mon expression  with  them  is,  *'my  head  is  crazy.''  Fine 
muscular  twitchings  and  tremblings  are  observed,  also  the 
muscles  are  relaxed  and  wanting  in  tonicity.  A  prominent 
and  constant  accompaniment  of  this  state  is  the  generally 
lowered  tone  of  the  svstem.  The  vital  forces  have  been 
consumed  far  in  advance  of  the  years  of  the  patient,  she 
often  having  the  appearance  of  being  ten  or  even  twenty 
years  older  than  she  really  is,  and  her  powers  of  exertion 
and  endurance  partake  correspondingly  of  this  prematurely 
senile  condition  —  gastric  catarrh,  or  gastritis,  bronchial 
catarrh,  affections  of  the  heart,  liver,  and  kidneys  are  fre- 
quent  but  not  constant  complications.  In  this  stage  of  her 
career  death  often  comes  to  the  relief  of  the  wretched 
patient,  and  the  scene  is  closed.  Otherwise  in  Class  IV  we 
find  her  parting  with  the  last  vestige  of  her  reason,  and 
sinking  into  the  oblivion  of  hopeless  dementia,  tossing  in 
her  restlessness  and  wretchedness  toward  some  wilder  form 
of  insanity,  or  revelling  in  the  splendors  of  untold  wealth 
and  boundless  possessions,  she  goes  on  swiftly  and  surely, 
helpless  and  mindless,  to  the  death  which  awaits  her. 


•«•»• 


EC-ZEMA  CURED   BY   GRAPHITE. 


FROM    THE    ALUiEMEIXER    HOMCEOPATHIC    ZEITUN(i,    TKANSLATED 

BY    A.    MCNEIL,  M.  D. 


BY   DR.   AMBER«i,  OK   ARNSBKR*.,  GEKMAN V. 


I  was  called  on  October  1st,  1882,  to  the  one-year  old 
child  of  an  official  who  had  fever  arisin<r  from  a  cold  which 
was  removed  on  the  following  day  by  Aconite  3.  I  found 
the  head  and  almost  the  entire  face  of  the  child  covered  by 


244  CARE  OF  THE  INSANE. 

black  eczematous  crusts  and  moist  pus,  secreting  spots.  I 
was  told  that  this  eruption  had  existed  three-quarters  of  a 
year.  The  former  attendant  had  considered  treatment 
unnecessary.  Friends  had  said  that  it  would  be  injurious  to 
heal  it  as  is  so  frequently  exj)res8ed  by  the  public.  Cream, 
fat  and  the  'like  had  been  used  to  .soothe  it.  I  also  advised 
against  a  rapid  removal  by  external  treatment.  I  allowed 
the  cream  to  be  continued,  and  gave  Aethiops  antim  3,  with 
such  good  results  that  in  eight  days  the  child  was  entirely 
changed  and  beautified.  But  in  fourteen  days  the  cure  had 
not  progressed  further,  and  after  the  discontinuance  of  the 
medicine  no  improvement.  New  vesicles  and  crusts  now 
appeared.  I  then  gave  0  draps  of  Graphites,  200  in  80 
grammes  of  water,  to  be  given  three  times  a  day  and  then 
twice  in  teaspoonful  doses.  No  further  prescrij)tion  was 
necessary,  for  during  its  use  and  after  effects  the  eruption 
was  cured  and  now  remains  seven  months  after."  v 

[I  ask  those  who  deny  the  presence  of  medicine  or  medi- 
cinal action  in  potencies  above  the  10th,  to  explain  how 
chronic  eczema  disappeared  so  soon  after  the  administra- 
tion of  the  200th. — Translator.] 

(ARE  OF  THE  INSANE. 


READ    BKFORE   THE    HOM'KOPATHK'    MEDICAL    SOCIETY    OF     OHIO, 


UY     .1.    I*.   «.EPPKI:T.    M.   I).,  (  INXINNA'II.   <>. 


Centralization  has  been  in  the  past  an  agency  or  the  pre- 
decessor of  decline,  the  antecedent  of  too  great  development 
of  parts  of  a  unit.  In  nations  one  seat  of  power  has  pre- 
ceeded  their  obliteration.  In  arts  one  school  predominating 
has  ignored  extraneous  worth  and  prevented  growth,  and 
with  cessation  of  growth  has  begun  retrogression.  In  ani- 
mal nature  the  development  of  one  quality  has  weakened  or 
extinguishecl  others.  The  (ilyj>todon  developed  excessively 
its  armor  of  defense  until  its  carapace  became  such  a  bur- 


J.  p.  GEPPERT.  245 

den  as  to  prevent  locomotion  and  efforts  for  its  preservation 
and  its  race  died  from  off  the  earth.  So  with  communities, 
the  neglect  of  any  duties  necessary  to  preservation  weakens 
them,  even  the  neglect  of  the  insane.  The  State  had  better 
not  encourage  the  pursuit  of  specialties  to  too  great  an  ex- 
cess at  the  inconvenience  of  a  class  of  its  unfortunates. 

The  mind  of  man  needs  recreation.  Change  of  study  or 
variety  of  pursuit  afford  that  change  of  activity  which  is 
needed  for  health.  The  impaired  mind  specially  needs  recre- 
ation, change,  variety.  In  the  tendency  to  classification 
that  now  exists,  there  is  a  factor  that  prevents  healthy  vari- 
ety. This  method  of  classification  and  determination  of 
individuals  into  communities  with  a'  peculiar  disease,  aggra- 
vates the  condition  of  those  afflicted.  The  disease  feeds 
upon  the  deteriorating  entities  about  it.  Where  there  is  not 
a  healthy  mental  condition,  the  entities  proceeding  from  the 
minds  of  those  imprisoned  in  large  asylums  have  a  subtle 
effect  on  those  brought  in  contact  with  each  other.  We 
purify  other  media,  as  the  air,  by  mingling  the  pure  with  the 
contaminated.  The  mentally  impaired  can  be  better  im- 
proved under  a  healthy  influence  than  under  an  unhealthy. 
-  The  State  has  transcended  her  eleemosvnary  duties  in 
providing  places  for  keeping  the  mentally  sick  in  large 
groups.  This  provision  relieves  the  i)ersonally  responsible 
of  their  duties  and  thus  favors  the  production  of  like  afflict- 
ed from  the  same  parentage.  It  removes  from  divisions  of 
the  State  the  influence  members  of  these  smaller  brands  of 
government  should  exercise  for  the  improvement  of  the 
afflicted.  It  makes  impossible  personal  active  interest  of 
relations.  It  renders  possible  the  kidnapping  and  imprison- 
ment of  sane  persons.  It  makes  possible  the  constant  inflic- 
tion of  cruelties  that  cannot  be  readilv  investigated  bv  the 
public.  This  system  of  crowding  so  many  human  beings 
into  small  compass,  many  of  whom  are  more  humane  and 
fit  to  be  at  perfect  liberty  than  those  put  over  them,  renders 
possible  that  abuse  of  power,  whereby  for  a  money  gain, 
hundreds  are  abused,  starved,  frozen,  ducked,  drowned,  ren- 


246  CARE  OF  THE  INSANE. 

dered  physically  and  mentally  greater  wrecks  than  before 
their  entrance  into  one  of  the  evils  of  modern  life,  State 
hmatic  asylums.  These  asylums  have  supplied  history  with 
some  of  her  most  mournful  tragedies.  The  soul-piercing 
cries  of  burning  victims,  the  wailings  and  heart-sickening 
pleadings  of  the  confined  are  a  strong  argument  against  this 
perpetuation.  Who  are  these  persons  actively  engaged  in 
securing  appropriations  for  erection  of  these  pandemoni- 
ums? Are  they  philanthropists?  Or  are  they  politicians, 
seekers  after  gain  in  a  questionable  way  ?  Do  we  find  active, 
thoughtful  citizens  giving  this  subject  the  attention  it  de- 
serves? What  portion  of  the  community  know  anything  of 
asylums  built  by  the  'State  for  them?  The  abuses  are 
always  existing,  but  they  are  so  carefully  covered  from  the 
public  that  the  public  is  shocked  when  a  Tewksbery  rev- 
elation is  made :  yet  some  of  the  scandalous  practices  of 
that  institution  are  not  unique  to  it.  Our  State  offers  too 
great  temptation  for  mercenary  men  to  avoid  the  portions 
made  bv  these  institutions.  Were  the  salaries  about  the 
asvlums  rendered  so  small  as  to  exclude  monev  seekers  and 
allow  men  of  large  hearts  who  appreciate  and  respect  the 
precept,  "The  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil,''  then 
would  follow  improvement  in  the  treatment  and  condition 
of  the  insane.  The  results  of  the  treatment  of  insane  in 
large  asylums  have  not  been  satisfactory.  We  hove  no  less 
insanity  at  thir?  period  of  the  world  than  formerly.  The 
State  at  great  expense  only  changes  the  bearers  of  inflic- 
tions from  the  sane  to  the  insane.  That  is  on  the  plea  of 
protecting  the  public  who  are  sane  from  assumed  dangers 
from  the  insane  the  State  positively  inflicts  on  the  insane, 
the  manv  abuses  received  bv  inmates  of  asvlums. 

We  would  recommend  that  all  insane  persons  be  kept 
within  their  native  county,  and  when  no  special  reasons  exist 
for  a  change,  that  the  relatives  of  the  insane  person  to  the 
third  generation,  be  made  responsible  for  his  keeping.  This 
disposition  of  the  State  to  relieve  individuals  of  the  crosses 
of  life  is  not  wise.     It  is  as  unhealthy  for  State  growth  as 


CARDIALOIA  CURED  BY  THUJA.  247 

fatalism  is  to  mental  development  or  agnosticism  is  to  spirit- 
ual life.  In  this  craze  for  building  State  lunatic  asylums 
may  not  the  question  put  by  Shakespeare  appeal  to  us : 

"Or  have  us  eaten  of  the  insane  root 
That  takes  the  reason  prisoner  ?'* 

In  the  treatment  of  the  insane  physical  influences  are 
more  worthy  of  attention  than  heroic  drugging  and  physical 
force.  By  a  kindly  directing  will  we  can  divert  the  mind  to 
those  fields  of  thought  that  rest  exhausted  portions  of  the 
brain  and  make  a  perverted  activity  assume  a  useful  sphere. 
The  personal  interested  friends  of  the  victim  will  alwaj's  be 
able  the  better  to  appreciate  the  injurious  influences  and  act 
more  wisely  than  strangers.  Through  this  method  we  can 
do  what  is  asked  of  us  in  the  following  lines: 

"  Cans't  thou  not  minister  to  a  mind  diseased  ; 
Pluck  from  the  memory  a  rooted  sorrow  ; 
Page  out  the  written  troubles  of  the  brain  ; 
And,  with  some  sweet  oblivious  antidote, 
Cleanse  the  foul  bosom  of  that  perilous  stuff, 
Which  weighs  upon  the  heart  ?" 


CARDIALGIA  CURED  BY  THUJA. 


BY    DR   KINKEL,   KIKL. 


I  was  consulted  on  tlie  10th  of  Marcli,  1871,  by  Mis<  T. 
fiBtas  13,  She  was  weakly  with  bloated  face  and  thick  lip^. 
She  has  suff'ered  for  years  from  attacks  of  Cardialgia.  They 
continue  from  half  an  hour  to  half  a  day,  attended  with 
frontal  headache.  The  use  of  food  of  difl'erent  kinds  is  of 
slight  influence ;  when  walking,  pain  in  thighs  and  legs,  not 
when  at  rest;  paralytic  weakness  of  lower  extremities: 
catarrh  of  the  respiratory  tract,  cough  with  profuse  expecto- 
ration, particularly  in  the  day  time;  involuntary  dif?charge 
of  urine  with  tlie  cough.  I  did  not  learn  anything  about  the 
urinary  secretion.  Further,  breath  fetid,  canine  hunger  even 
immediately  after    eating;  very  depressed  mentally,  never 


248  THREE  PECULIAR  CASES. 

satisfied ;  sleepy  in  the  .  day  time,  at  night  heavy,  as  if 
stunned.  Leucorrhoea.  Strong  suspicion  of  self- pollution  ; 
constant  dryness  of  the  hair.  Thuja  200.  (Lehrman's)  one 
dose. 

April  21.  Two  weeks  ago  she  felt  exhausted  for  a  couple 
of  days,  then  occurred  urgent  pressure  to  urinate  with  pro- 
fuse discharge  of  urine,  mixed  with  much  mucous;  general 
health  much  better ;  disposition  very  good ;  fluor  albus  still 
present;  bloatedness  of  the  face  less;  still  many  dreams. 
Sacch.  lac. 

I  did  not  learn  anything  farther  till  Oct.  17,  1878,  when 
I  learned  that  she  had  been  well  until  the  spring  of  that 
year.  Then  the  former  mental  depression  set  in,  the  mem- 
ory was  strikingly  weakened,  sleep  again  extraordinarily 
heavy  ; ''when  she  is  awakened,  she  is  quite  beside  herself;' 
frequent  discharge  of  urine;  besides  hardness  of  hearing  in 
consequence  of  catarrh  of  the  Eustachian  tubes  for  which  she 
had  been  treated  unsuccessfullv  at  several  aural  clinics; 
headache,  etc.     Thuja  20(),  three  doses  in  six  days. 

November  1.  Hearing  considerably  better,  the  noises 
still  continue,  particularly  in  the  left  ear;  no  headache  ;  gen- 
eral health  good. 

January  22d,  187*.>.  Tlu?  complaints  in  her  ears  gone; 
general  health  good.  The  only  complaint  is  of  temporary 
toothache,  for  which  I  gave  the  apparently  indicated  remedy 
Cah'area  carb.     Since  then  I  have  not  heard  from  her. 

This  case  contains  two  more  remarkable  coincidences  of 

restoration  to  health  in  a  hopeless  condition,  after  giving 

iiothinfj  twice.     Please  explain. 

A.   McNeil. 


THREE  PECULIAR  CASES. 


BY   PKOF.  .1.   T.   KKNT,   M.   !»..  ST.    ].<tVl^.   MIKSOIKI. 


Case  I. — Mrs.  L.  tet  86,  had  been  in  bed  with  pelvic  cellu- 
litis. She  apparently  had  been  a  sufferer,  notwithstanding 
ample  medical  attention.     There  was  much  tumification  of* 


/.   r.  KENT.  249 

the  abdomen  and  great  tenderness  of  all  the  pelvic  organs, 
and  the  tenderness  extended  to  the  abdominal  tissues  and 
viscera.  There  was  enlargement  of  the  uterus  and  ovaries 
with  erosion  of  vaginal  portion  of  the  uterus  and  anterior 
wall  of  the  vagina.  Hot  douches  per  vagina  and  hot  hops 
constituted  her  only  possible  comfort,  when  her  abdomen 
had  cooled  from  the  absence  of  the  hops,  pain  became 
unbearable;  so  she  lived  and  so  she  was  dying.  Every 
change  to  cold  increased  her  suffering. 

Her  bowels  were  constipated,  her  menses  came  too  soon 
and  her  feet  were  always  cold  and  felt  damp.  The  evidence 
of  her  suffering  was  ample.  Her  mental  state  was  gloomy. 
The  hop  poultices  and  hot  injections  were  discontinued  and 
she  was  placed  in  warm  clothing.  Calc-c,  85  m  (Finke), 
one  dose,  was  given. 

No  more  medicine  was  needed.  She  was  able  to  work 
in  four  months  and  is  now  perfectly  well.  Three  days  after 
taking  the  medicine  her  menses  came  on  with  profuse  flow 
and  increase  of  pain ;  at  the  proper  time  the  flow  ceased  and 
all  the  tenderness  and  previous  suffering  passed  away. 

Case  II. — Mrs.  F.,  let  84,  at  The  Memorial  Home,  Some 
months  before  I  assumed  control  of  the  Home  this  old  ladv 
had  an  attack  of  vomiting  blood,  The  matron  declared  there 
was  over  a  gallon.  The  physician  then  in  charge  said  he  never 
saw  so  large  a  quantity  of  blood  vomited,  and  expressed  his 
opinion  that  it  was  from  the  lung  as  he  did  not  see  the  act 
of  vomiting,  disputing  tlie  matron  who  saw  the  vomiting. 
The  treatment  was  directed  to  prevent  another  hemorrhage 
from  the  lungs — large  doses  of  astringents.  The  old  lady 
continued  to  decline,  and  when  the  attendant  acknowledged 
his  impotence  in  the  case,  and  the  friends  of  the  old  lady 
outside  of  the  Home  made  complaint,  I  was  requested  to 
assume  the  duties  of  medical  attendent  of  the  Home,  and 
this  case  with  others  came  under  my  charge.  The  matron 
explained  the  situation  and  I  immediately  suspected  that 
the  hemorrhage  came  from  an  ulcer  in  the  stomach.     The 


250  THREE  PECULIAR  CASES. 

dropsical  condition   prevented  a  satisfactory  examination, 
but  the  subjective  history  confirmed  the  diagnosis. 

But  the  important  thing  now  is  the  dropsy.  Her  limbs 
were  enormousl3r  swollen  and  her  abdomen  no  less  so,  and 
her  stomach  could  tolerate  nothing  but  a  little  milk. 

The  dropsy  having  a  hemorrhage  for  its  cause  guided 
nie  to  the  selection  of  China,  which  was  repeated  at  proper 
intervals  in  77m  (Finke) ;  while  she  was  going  down  rapidly 
she  began  immediately  to  improve.  No  other  medicine  has 
been  given  and  she  is  as  well  as  anybody  in  the  Home.  As 
she  had  ])een  so  near  .the  angels  she  has  the  liberty  of  the 
house  and  is  a  general  pet,  running  three  long  stairs,  visiting 
all  the  rooms  and  chatting  and  joking  everybody.  Old  peo- 
ple recover  when  given  the  right  remedy  in  suitable  potency 
in  a  surprising  manner.  Some  years  ago  I  supposed  that 
when  an  old  i)erson  become  dropsical  his  or  her  time  had 
come.  At  present,  I  do  not  declare  an  unfavorable  prog- 
nosis because  of  old  age,  but  when  the  disease  causing  the 
dropsy  is  one  hard  to  manage  regardless  of  age. 

Case. — Mrs.  S.,  ivt  76  also  an  inmate  of  the  Meino7'ial  Home 
came  to  my  charge  the  same  time  as  Mrs.  F.  She  was  drop- 
sical and  asthmatic.  The  urine  was  loaded  with  albumen, 
and,  apparently,  she  was  progressing'  to  a  fatal  termination 
without  interruption. 

She  took  Ars.  Apis,  Apocyn.  Lach.  with  some  relief 
The  latter  seemed  to  give  the  only  relief;  finally,  she  was 
beconjing  very  large;  hands,  face,  limbs  and  abdomen  all 
anlematous,  while  Lach.  afforded  relief  I  had  decided  not  to 
tap.  Though  she  had  taken  medicine  at  proper  intervals, 
when  there  seemed  a  demand  for  a  repetition,  yet  the  time 
came  when  she  seemed  to  get  no  benefit  from  the  remedy. 
The  suffocation  after  sleep  was  the  special  symptom  guiding 
to  Lach.  41m — was  the  preparation  used.  Early  one  morn- 
ing I  was  advised  as  to  her  condition.  She  had  suffered 
greatly  during  the  night  with  pains  in  the  feet  and  legs,  and 
her  feet  were  getting  black.  The'  matron  thinking  that  she 
was  about  to  die,  gave  her  some  whiskey  without  relief.    The 


/.  T,  KENT,  251 


great  pain  in  feet  and  legs,  skin  turning  blacky  perJiaps  threatening 
gangrene,  Ars.  and  Lach.  had  failed,  guided  me  to  Tarantula 
cubensis,  which  was  given,  12x  one  dose.  The  pain  subsided 
immediately,  the  dark  color  of  the  skin  on  legs  became 
bright-red  and  in  a  general  w£ty,  she  felt  improved  and  got 
up.  Next  night,  she  slept  well  until  toward  morning,  when 
pain  in  lower  limbs  returned,  Tarant.  cub.  12x  was  repeated, 
with  perfect  relief.  The  medicine  has  been '  repeated  by 
necessity  about  every  day  since  November  20th. 

December  1.  There  is  now  a  fiery  redness  of  the  skin 
below  the  knee  to  the  ankles  on  both  legs,  tender  to  the 
touch  and  covered  with  small  blisters.  Everybody  that 
looked  at  it  thought  it  was  erysipelas.  A  serous  transuda- 
tion is  going  on  from  the  surface  of  both  limbs  from  the  feet 
to  about  six  inches  above  the  knees,  which  runs  down  and 
drips  from  the  heels  and  also  saturates  the  absorbent  dress- 
ings in  a  few  minutes.  A  sheet  placed  on  the  limbs  as  an 
outer  covering  must  be  taken  off  every  hour  and  another  put 
on  as  the  serum  is  so  great  in  quantity.  A  sheet  dried  shows 
very  little  discoloration  but  is  pungent  to  the  smell.  There 
has  been  no  perspiration  from  any  part  of  body.  The 
oedema  appears  to  be  going  down. 

December  25th.  The  oedema  has  gone  from  the  face, 
hands  and  thighs.  The  abdomen  has  become  nearly  natu- 
ral in  size,  and  albumen  has  not  been  noticed  in  the  urine 
since  December  1.  Urine  has  been  very  scanty.  The  legs 
are  covered  from  knees  to  ankles  with  a  profusion  of  fliit 
ulcers  which  secrete  a  serous  flow,  and  large  yellow  crusts 
are  forming. 

December  20.  (Edema  gone  out  of  feet  and  ulcers  are 
still  flat  with  red,  and  ^  in  places  blue  margins  and  red  and 
bluish  interspaces  on  the  skin.  Yellow  scales  are  Torming. 
The  patient  is  somewhat  prostrated,  but  says  she  is  more 
comfortable  with  the  ulcers  than  with  the  "bloat"  as  she 
nearly  suffocated  before.  Since  December  1,  she  has  had  an 
occasional  dose  of  the  medicine,  as  the  pain  in  the  legs 
became  severe. 


252  TARANTULA  CUBENSIS. 

January  1,  '83.  She  shows  signs  of  sinking,  though  she 
says  she  is  feeling  comfortable  except  the  occasional  sharp 
pain  in  the  ulcers. 

It  is  evident  she  is  going  to  die,  but  will  she  die  of 
exhaustion  or  will  the  dropsy  return  and  death  occur  as 
usual  from  such  a  condition?    Such  was  my  querry. 

January.  9.    She  died  of  exhaustion. 


TARANTULA  CUBENSIS. 


BY   I'ROF.  J.  T.   KENT,  M.   I»..  ST.    LOlIS. 


Case  I. — A  young  man  came  to  me  with  a  bubo  in  the 
left  groin.  He  had  been  disappointed  in  that  he  had  not 
obtained  relief  from  the  treatment  used.  His  bones  ached, 
his  tongue  was  loaded,  and  his  breath  smelled  badly.  The 
tumifaction  was  hard  and  painful,  bluish  and  mottled,  ivlth  great 
huridn<i  and  sharp  adtiag  pair..  It  was  discolored  some  dis- 
tance around  and  the  heat  was  intense.  lie  took  Tarantula 
oubensis  12x,  one  powder  dry  on  the  tongue  three  mornings 
in  succession.  He  returned  on  the  third  day  after  taking  his 
last  i>owder  saying  that  he  was  poisoned.  He  complained  of 
a  wild  feeling  in  his  brain  and  a  *drawing  sensation  in  the 
.scalp  and  nmscles  of  the  face.  He  was  in  a  state  of  great 
mental  anxiety  and  said  he  felt  as  if  he  was  going  to  lose  his 
reason.  Mental  restlessness  was  marked  in  his  countenance. 
He  could  not  kee])  quiet  even  after  I  assured  him  that  he 
was  in  no  danger.  His  i)rimary  symptoms  had  nearly  gone 
and  the  bubo  had  lost  its  bad  color.  The  next  day  he  was 
much  improved  in  a  general  way  and  the  bubo  had  nearly 
disappeared.  I  saw  him  again  in  three  days  and  the  im- 
|)rovement  was  going  on  rapidly.  The  chancre  healed  rap- 
idlv  and  in  one  month  he  told  me  he  had  never  been  so  well. 

Case  II. — A  middle-aged  gentleman  had  an  abscess  on 
the  side  of  the  fiice  just  in  front  of  the  ear.     Suppuration  was 


J.  T.  KENT.  25:$ 

advanced  and  the  fluctuation  was  marked.  Silecia  had  done 
some  good  as  it  had  controlled  the  pain.  The  cavity  was 
aspirated  by  a  surgeon  several  times  but  it  continued  to  refill. 
After  three  weeks  there  was  no  abatement  of  the  difficulty. 
The  integument  took  on  a  new  feature,  becoming  bluish,  mot- 
tled with  great  burning  and  sharp  cutting  pains.  The  hardness 
was  extending  and  the  opening  gave  out  a  bloody  thin 
excorating  fluid  of  foul  smell.  He  was  chilly  and  nauseated 
and  had  symptoms  of  pyaemia.  After  one  dose  of  Tarantula 
cubensis  12x  an  immediate  change  for  the  better  took  place. 
No  more  pus  formed  and  he  was  well  in  ten  days.  The  dis- 
colored localization  became  a  bright  red  and  then  faded  to 
the  natural  color.  The  nausea  and  general  pysemic  symptoms 
were  greatly  relieved  within  twelve  hours.  No  more  medi- 
cine. 

Case  III. — A  lady  aged  about  30,  suffered  greatly  from  a 
carbuncle  on  the  back  of  the  neck.  She  had  applied  many 
domestic  medicines  and  obtained  no  relief  The  tumefaction 
seemed  destined  to  suppurate.  It  was  mottled  bluish  and  the 
pain  was  intense,  knife-aUting  and  burning.  She  was  sick  at 
the  stomach  to  vomiting,  and  at  night  she  was  delirious. 
Her  eyes  were  staring  and  there  was  some  fever;  the  tongue 
was  foul  and  the  breath  fetid.  There  was  great  tension  in  the 
scalp  and  muscles  of  the  face.  She  begged  for  morphine  to 
"stop  that  burning  and  cutting  pain.'-  Tarantula  cubensis  12x 
one  dose  produced  quiet  immediately  and  the  angry  looking 
tumefaction  failed  to  complete  its  work ;  it  did  not  suppurate. 
The  discoloration  was  gone  in  two  days,  and  the  hardness? 
soon  disappeared  also.  She  regained  her  normal  state  very 
rapidly,  and  she  stated  to  me  a  short  time  ago  that  she  had 
never  had  her  old  headaches  since  that  swelling  left  her, 
showing  how  deeply  the  medicine  aff'ected  her  whole  system. 

If  a  part  is  mottled  (Lach.),  bluish,  growing  dark,  with 
those  symptoms,  Tarantula  cubensis  must  be  the  most 
appropriate  remedy. 


•254  PEXXSYLVAXJA  MEDICAL  SOClilTY, 

HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY  OF  PENNSYL: 

VANIA:     ANNUAL  MEETING. 


The  nineteenth  annual  session  of  the  Homoeopathic 
^ledical  Society  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  was  held  in  the 
Aldine  Hotel,  Philadelphia,  commencing  September  18th, 
1883. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Dr.  Hugh  Pitcaim, 
the  first  Vice-President  of  the  society.  Dr.  Trites,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Philadelphia  County  Society,  then  extended  a 
cordial  welcome  to  the  guests,  assuring  them  that  Philadel- 
phia physicians  would  do  all  in  their  power  to  'make  this 
meeting  a  memorable  one  in  the  annals  of  the  society.  Dr. 
Pitcaim,  after  responding  to  Dr.  Trites'  cordial  welcome, 
introduced  the  President,  Dr.  Pemberton  Dudley,  who  pro- 
ceeded then  to  deliver  his  annual  address,  which  included  a 
suggestion  for  the  reduction  or  abolition  of  the  initiation  fee 
of  new  members,  in  the  belief  that  it  operates  to  diminish,  as 
well  as  increase  the  society's  income;  also,  to  allow  the 
appointment  of  any  member  to  but  one  of  the  scientific 
bureaus,  and  urging  that  a  lafger  number  of  such  appoint- 
ments be  made;  also,  that  each  bureau  shall  select  some 
specific  subject  for  the  "discussion,"  which  shall  be  also  the 
subject  for  at  least  one  of  the  "papers"  presented  and  shall 
have  the  subject  announced  in  the  secretary's  annual  circular. 

The  "address"  then  alluded  to  the  evidences  of  homoeo- 
pathic progress  in  the  State,  as  shown  by  the  hospitals,  col- 
leges, journals,  standard  literature,  and  the  increasing  num- 
ber of  its  practitioners  and  laymen,  and  expressed  the  belief 
that  the  hospital  and  college  improvements  in  Pittsburg  and 
Philadelphia  would  give  an  additional  impulse  to  homoeo- 
pathic advancement. 

The  address  next  refers  to  the  "class  legislation,"  by 
which  all  appropriations  for  medical  objects  are  diverted  to 
the  exclusive  use  of  a  certain  favored  class  of  citizens,  while 
the  remainder  are  left  without  any  such  public  provision. 
Particularlv  is  this  the  fact  with  reference  to  the  five  im- 


PENNS  YL  VA  XI A  MEDIC  A  L  SOCIETY.  255 

mense  hospitals  for  the  treatment  of  the  insane,  with  their 
three  thousand  beds  and  their  half  a  million  dollars  appro- 
priation annually. 

The  influence  of  homoeopathy  upon  allopathic  literature 
and  practice  was  next  discussed,  the  speaker  dwelling  upon 
the  systematic  and  premeditated  spoliation  of  homoeopathic 
literature  for- the  enrichment  of  allopathic  text-books.  Allud- 
ing to  the  fact  that  the  allopathic  code  forbids  a  certain  kind 
of  practice,  because  it  is  "exclusive,"  no  matter  whether  it 
be  efficacious  or  not,  the  speaker  asserted  that  whatever 
homoeopathic  practice  might  be,  the  homoeopathic  law  or 
dogma  was  not  itself  exclusive.  It  simply  declares  a  certain 
general  fact  of  nature,  but  does  not  deny  or  even  question 
the  existence  of  any  other  fact.     Continuing,  he  said : 

*I  am  not  quite  done  with  this  subject  yet.  JW'hen  it  is  pro- 
posed to  unify  the  schools  of  medicaj  practice,  let  me  ask  how  it  is 
possible  for  the  homoeopathic  school  of  physicians  to  be  associated 
professionally  with  men  who  hold  that  medical  questions  are  to  be 
decided,  not  by  the  processes  of  the  laboratory  and  the  hospital, 
but  by  the  methods  of  the  machine  politician?  According  to  the 
allopathic  method  of  deciding  certain  medical  problems,  the  prop- 
erties and  the  habits  of  the  tubercle  bacillus,  the  existence  of  the 
invisible  corpuscle,  the  benefit  of  the  antiseptic  method  and  the 
curative  powers  of  the  homoeopathic  similimum  are  to  be  estimated, 
not  by  the  researches  of  a  Koch,  a  Xorris,  a  Lister  or  a  Hahnemann. 
»  not  by  the  observations  of  those  who  honestly  and  intelligently  fol- 
low the  direction  of  these  discoverers,  but  by  the  ballot  of  a  med-- 
ical  society,  not  one  of  whose  votes  would  be  challenged,  even 
though  the  voter  could  not  distinguish  an  eye-piece  from  an  objec- 
tive, or  a  steam  atomizer  from  a  saw-mill,  and  not  two  per  cent,  of 
whom  could  give  a  correct  defination  of  homtpopathy,  *  though 
'twere  to  buy  a  world  of  happy  days,'  or  to  perpetuate  their  cher- 
ished code.  If  this  statement  seems  overdrawn,  let  it  be  remem- 
bered that  the  right  to  decide  by  ballot  whether  physicians  shall 
prescribe  on  the  principle  of  similars  implies  also  the  right  to  say 
whether  they  shall  employ  anti-parasitic  treatment  in  consumption 
or  antiseptic  methods  in  surgical  operations. 

"It  will  doubtless  be  asked,  has  not  the  New  York  S;ate  Allo- 
pathic Society  already  receded  from  this  absurd  and  untenable 
position?    I  answer  No.    She  has  simply  extended  somewhat  the 


2o(i  PENXSYL I  A  MA  MEDIC  A  L  SOCIETY. 

privileges  of  her  members;  but  she  has  not  surrendered  her  author- 
ity to  rescind  this  action  whenever  she  pleases,  nor  has  she  in  any 
way  intimated  that  there  is  any  limit  to  her  arbitrary  prerogative. 
All  her  members  still  know  that  she  is  their  absolute  mistress,  with 
power  to  interfere  at  any  time  in  their  professional  relationship. 

"It  is  not  pleasant  to  say  things  respecting  a  sister  sect  of  the 
medical  profession,  but  in  no  other  way  can  it  be  shown  in  what 
consists  the  cause  of  medical  sectarianism,  and  where  the  responsi- 
bility for  its  continuance  rests.  If  I  have  torn  away  a  mask  frora 
the  face  of  our  opponent,  it  is  only  to  show  exactly  against  what 
and  for  what  our  school  is  contending.  Let  the  word  go  forth  to 
every  corner  of  our  State  that  medical  unity  is  possible  at  any  time, 
even  without  unanimity  of  belief.  But  let  it  be  thoroughly  under- 
stood that  even  with  unanimity  on  purely  medical  questions,  there 
never  will  be— there  never  can  be — unity  or  harmony  or  peace  in 
the  medical  profession  until  the  right  of  one  physician  to  control 
the  medical  belief  or  the  professional  conduct  of  any  other  physi- 
cian is  absolutely  renounced  and  forever  repudiated.  In  our  rela- 
tions  with  our  patients  we,  as  a  school  and  as  individual  physicians, 
acknowledge  no  master  save  the  dictates  of  conscience  and  of  judg- 
ment and  the  laws  of  the  land,  and  these  only  will  we  obey. 

*' Fellow-members,  it  is  because  of  the  facts  I  have  thus  stated 
that  we  are  met  today  as  a  distinct  organization  of  physicians,  not, 
only  to  preach  this  new  medical  gospel,  but  also  to  defend  the  liber- 
ties of  those  who  accept  it.  In  our  deliberations  we  shall  sadly  miss 
the  counsels  of  some  who,  since  we  met  a  vear  ago,  have  gone  into 
the  more  immediate  presence  of  the  Master  Physician — Ashton, 
Rousseau,  Marsden,  Malin,  McCiatchey.  Distinguished  among 
their  brethren,  learned,  faithful  Christian  physicians,  every  one. 
What  hijrher  earthly  tribute  could  they  merit?  So  long  as  their 
names  shall  linger  on  our  lips  and  their  memory  in  our  hearts,  so 
long  may  the  influence  of  their  teaching  and  example  be  seen  in 
our  lives.  May  this  occasion  oe  to  us  all  a  season  of  mutual  profit 
and  improvement,  and  from  what  we  shall  gather  here  may  we 
each  be  enabled,  in  the  year  that  is  before  us,  to  mitigate  pain,  to 
prevent  suflering,  to  avert  threatened  disasters  and  to  save  precious 
lives.  Our  mission,  as  a  distinct  profession,  is  of  Heaven ;  our 
daily  work  is  holy.  Let  us  walk  worthv  of  the  vocation  wherewith 
we  are  called.'" 

Dr.  K.  E.  Caruthers,  Chairman  of  the  Bureau  of  Organi- 
zation, Registration,  and  Statistics,  reported  that  the  State 
Society  now  numbers  170  active  and  16  corresponding  mem- 


PENNSYLVANJA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.  257 

bers.  During  the  past  year  five  members  were  lost  by  death. 
Two  new  societies  were  formed  in  Beaver  and  Schuvlkill 
Counties.  Three  new  medical  clubs  have  been  organized, — 
the  Hahnemannian  Society,  of  Reading,  the  Philadelphia 
Medical  Club,  and  the  Northwestern  Medical  Society  of  Pliila- 
delphia.  Our  college  and  hospitals  are  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. 

Drs.  William  A.  Phillips,  of  Cleveland,  H.  C.  Allen,  of 
Ann  Arbor,  and  E.  Hasbrouck,  of  Brooklyn,  were  then  intro- 
duced to  the  society,  and  extended  the  i)rivileges  of  the 
floor. 

The  reports  of  bureaus  now  being  in  order,  the  Bureau 
of  Obsfetrics  then  reported  through  the  chairman.  Dr.  Millie 
J.  Chapman,  of  Pittsburgh. 

Dr.  Caruthers's  paper  consisted  of  the  report  of  a  case 
of  puerperal  convulsions,  in  which  tlie  first  convulsion  ap- 
peared about  one  hour  after  labor.  Gelsemium  and  other 
remedies  were  prescril)ed.  Chloroform  failed  to  check  the 
convulsions  until  it  wa*  administered  just  at  the  first  mani- 
festjitions  of  the  prodroma  of  the  attacks.  The  patient  finally 
lapsed  into  unconsciousness,  and  remained  so  for  twenty-four 
hours.  When  she  recovered,  she  had  lost  the  use  of  the  right 
arm  and  leg.  There  was  a  sensation  as  if  the  paralyzed  part^ 
were  drawn.  The  urine  was  retained.  It  contained  no  albu- 
men. There  was  no  droi)sy.  The  labor  was  rather  precipi- 
tate and  no  doubt  anticipated  the  normal  date  of  delivery  by 
reason  of  the  preceding  attack  of  cholera  morbus.  Dr.  Caru- 
thers's ex])crienco  had  heen,  that  most  cases  like  the  i>reced- 
ing  die. 

In  the  absence  of  tlie  autlior,  Dr.  Chapman  read  a  paper 
on  *' Puerperal  Mania,''  by  Dr.  S.  W.  S.  Dinsmore.  of  Sharps- 
burg,  in  which  were  recorded  three  cases  of  this  troublesome 
complication  of  tlie  lying-in  state.  Hyoscyamus  cured  the 
first  case  after  the  failure  of  Aconite  and  Veratr.  vir.  Iirnatia 
and  Hvos.  were  used  in  the  second  case. 

Dr.  J.  Nicholas  Mitchell  having  been  called  awav  from 
thf  meeting.  Dr.  Chaiiman  proceeded  to  read  liis  paper  on 
3 


258  PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

"  Puerperal  Stetistics."  Among  the  two  hundred  consecutive 
cases  reported,  Dr.  Mitchell  had  had  an  unusually  large  per- 
centage of  complicated  cases,  owing  to  many  of  the  cases 
having  been  seen  with  other  physicians  and  with  the  stu- 
dents at  the  college.  There  were  four  cases  of  placenta  prse- 
via.  All  the  mothers  and  one  of  the  infants  were  saved. 
These  cases  were  treated  by  tamponing  the  crevix  with 
Barnes's  bags,  removing  the  placenta,  and  dehvering  the 
child.  In  a  case  in  which  craniotomy  was  performed,  every- 
thing went  all  right,  when  the  mother  got  up  to  go  to  the 
bath-room,  and  fell  in  a  faint  and  died,  owing  to  the  embo- 
lism of  the  pulmonary  artery.  Decapitation  was  performed 
in  a  case  of  impacted  shoulder  and  trunk  presentation.  The 
mother  made  a  good  recovery. 

The  report  of  the  bureau  being  before  the  society  for  dis- 
cussion, Dr.  John  C.  Morgan  expressed  his  horror  at  the  idea 
of  taking  infantile  life.  In  a  practice  of  thirty  years  he  had 
never  been  obliged  to  take  the  life  of  the  infant  to  save  that 
of  the  mother.  He  had  performed  craniotomy  in  a  few 
cases  when  the  infant  was  already  dead. 

There  being  no  further  discussion,  the  bureau  was  de- 
clared closed. 

Dr.  John  K.  Lee,  of  Johnstown,  being  the  only  member 
of  the  Bureau  of  Clinical  Medicine  present,  at  the  request  of 
the  society  read  Dr.  W.  J.  Martin's  paper  on  "Clinical  cases 
in  which  infrequently  used  remedies  were  employed."  Case 
1.  A  primipara,  after  recovery  from  her  confinement,  could 
only  urinate  when  on  her  knees.  Pareira  brava  cured. 
Case  2  and  3.  Pain  in  the  hip  and  about  the  sciatic  nerve, 
which  was  aggravated  by  motion  and  relieved  by  rest. 
Dioscorea  cured,  after  failure  of  Bryonia.  Case  4.  A  male 
patient,  aet.  33,  was  annoyed  by  a  small  quantity  of  urine 
trickling  down  the  leg  after  each  act  of  micturition.  Picric 
acid.  Case  5.  Similar  to  the  last,  was  cured  by  Petroleum 
after  Picric  ac.  had  failed.  Case  6.  A  lady  contracted  cold  ; 
cough,  with  sore  chest,  scanty  menses,  rapid  pulse  and  even- 
ing fever;  chest  sore   on  percussion;   cough  was   dry  and 


PEXNS  YL  I VI A7. 1   MEDIC  A  L  SOCIETY.  2o9 

worse  at  night:  violent  eructations  accompanied  tlie  cougli. 
Phos.  failed  but  Ambragrisea  cured. 

Dr.  Lee  also  read  Dr.  Joseph  E.  Jones's  paper  on  ''A 
Elare  Case  of  Ascites,"  which  ^required  numerous  tappings. 
The  total  amount  of  water  removed  from  this  case,  would  fill 
six  barrels.  The  patient  died,  but  no  post-mortem  examina- 
tion was  permitted. 

The  time  for  adjournment  having  arrived,  the  remainder 
of  the  Report  of  the  Bureau  of  Clinical  Medicine  was  laid 
over  until  the  afternoon  session. 

AFTKRNOON    SKSSIOX. 

The  Report  of  the  Hureau  of  Clinical  Medicine  was  re- 
sumed. Dr.  Clarence  Bartlett  read  abstracts  from  his  paper 
on  "Locomotor  Ataxia."  Attention  was  directed  to  the 
etiological  relation  between  syphilis  and  ataxia.  The  dis- 
crepancies'between  different  authorities  on  this  subject,  were 
spoken  of.  The  speaker  did  not  believe  that  the  true  rela- 
tions between  these  diseases  were  yet  understood.  Out  of 
fifteen  cases  under  his  care,  six  had  had  syphilis.  In  speak- 
ing of  the  diagnosis  of  the  disease,  particular  stress  was  laid 
on  the  importance  of  the  eye  symptoms,  the  lightning  pains, 
and  the  absent  patellar  reflex.  None  of  these  symptoms 
were  considered  pathognomonic,  but  their  association  with 
each  other  placed  the  diagnosis  beyond  question,  even 
though  no  ataxia  be  present.  Hydropathic  and  electrical 
treatment  was  recommended  in  conjunction  with  the  reme- 
dies employed.  Those  recommended  were  Argent  n.,  Arg. 
phos..  Zinc,  Zinc,  phos.,  Alumina,  Gelsem..  Silic,  Ergot, 
Phos.,  Bell.,  Picric  ac^ 

Dr.  John  C.  Morgan  next  called  the  attention  of  the  so- 
ciety to  the  gluten  preparations  as  a  remedy  in  constipation. 

By  request  of  the  society,  Dr.  Carutliers  read  abstracts 
from  the  Allegheny  County  Society's  paper  on  ''Albumin- 
uria." The  first  symptom  of  nephritis  noticeable  is  usually 
dimunition  in  the  amount  of  urine  passed.  The  urine  then 
becomes  opaque,  and  contains  albumen,  casts,  blood  and 
•  epithelium.     There  is  tenderness  in  the  renal  region,  swell- 


goo  PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY, 

ing  of  the  eyelids  in  the  morning,  and  finally,  general  dropsy 
which  may,  in  severe  cases,  cause  death  by  its  mechanical 
effects.  In  unfavorable  cases,  the  patient  passes  into  a  coma. 
The  usual  course  of  the  disease  is  to  recovery,  but  the  dis- 
ease may  become  chronic.  The  first  symptom  noticed  in 
chronic  cases  is  usually  oedema,  with  anaemia  and  debility 
without  apparent  cause.  The  peritoneum  is  the  first  serous 
cavity  to  be  invaded.  Vomiting  and  occasionally  diarrhoea 
appear.  The  cerebral  symptoms  are  of  the  convulsive  form. 
Albumen  is  large  in  quantity.  Granular  kidney  may  exist 
for  a  long  while  without  symptoms.  It  usually  makes  itself 
known  by  slight  albuminuria,  with  frequent  calls  to  micturi- 
tion, the  specific  gravity  of  the  urine  being  low.  Headache^ 
bronchitis,  indigestion,  retinal,  cardiac,  and  vascular  changes 
appear.  The  fatal  result  comes  from  uraemia.  Reference 
was  then  made  to  the  lardaceous  kidney.  In  the  way  of 
treatment,  the  diet  recommended  was  milk,  gruel,  arrow- 
root, buttermilk  and  weak  broths.  Meat  in  large  quantity 
should  be  avoided.  J[n  the  chronic  form  care  should  be  taken 
not  to  interfere  with  any  organ  which  may  be  acting  for  the 
kidneys.  Perspiration  should  be  encouraged.  A  mild  and 
dry  climate  is  the  best.  Remedies:  Arg.  n.,  Ars.,  Ars. 
hydrag.,  Benz.  ac,  (-hina,  Eup.  pur..  Hell.,  Nitr.  ac.  Dr. 
Cooper  considers  Arsen.  hydrogen  to  be  our  best  remedy  for 
renal  haemorrhage. 

Dr.  Bernard's  paper  on  the  **  Treatment  of  Idiopathic 
Goitre  *■  was  read  by  Dr.  Caruthers.  Calc.  c,  Kali  hyd., 
Spong.,  and  Iodine  were  among  the  remedies  recommended. 

Dr.  Ivins  then  read  the  following  abstracts  of  the  paper 
on  "  Phthisis'-  by  the  Philadelphia  County  Society : 

Ptitmounnj  Phthisic. — There  are  now  three  forms  of  pulmonary 
consumption  admitted  to  exist,  -caseous  phthisis,  tubercular  phthi- 
sis, and  tibroid  phthisis,— all  of  which  tend  to  produce  similar  re- 
sults, viz..  consolidation,  followed  by  destruction  of  the  lung-sub- 
stance, associated  with  wasting  of  the  blood  and  the  tissues  of  the 
body.  The  symptoms  of  each  form,  however,  present  numerous 
differences,  and  for  the  take  of  clearness  and  convenience,  I  will 
take  up  each  variety  separately  and  treat  the  symptoms  accordingly. 


PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.  261 

Gaseous  Phthisis, — This  form  presents  three  types  of  cases, 
which,  in  order  of  frequency,  are  the  chronic,  subacute,  and  acute, 
or  phthisis  florida.  This  latter  variety  should  not  be  confounded 
with  acute  miliary  tuberculosis^  which  is  a  febrile  aflfection,  due  to  the 
deposit  generally,  through  the  body,  of  the  gray  tubercle-granules, 
and  is  a  constitutional,  not  a  local  disease. 

The  chronic  variety  comes  on  so  insidiously  that  it  is  impossible 
to  tell  with  certainty  when  the  first  symptoms  presented  them- 
selves. There  is  a  history  of  repeated  colds  of  gradually  increas- 
ing severity;  each  severe  cold  is  accompanied  by  chilliness,  some 
fever,  pains  in  chest,  loss  of  appetite,  and  persistent  cough,  with 
'expectoration  of  muco-pus.  Hiemorrhage  in  a  varying  degree,  may 
also  be  present.  After  one  of  these  attacks,  it  is  found  that  instead 
of  the  cold  getting  better,  the  cough  and  expectoration  increase  in 
severity  and  persistency;  that  there  is  a  daily  morning  chilliness, 
with  an  evening  rise  of  temperature,  accelerated  pulse,  and  the 
train  of  symptoms  so  well  known.  Well-marked  physical  signs  are 
now  developed  in  the  lungs,  and  as  they  progress,  the  severity  of 
the  other  symptoms,  becomes  greatly  increased,  till  at  last  the  pa- 
tient succombs  to  the  great  drain  upon  the  vital  force«5. 

Subacute  Variety. — The  onset  is  not  so  gradual.  There  is  a 
similar  history  of  a  severe  cold  (catarrhal  pneumonia),  in  an 
apparently  robust  individual,  with  the  usual  train  of  symptoms, 
the  patients  often  being  confined  to  their  beds  for  a  week  or  two, 
the  symptoms  go  from  bad  to  worse,  being  interspersed  with  inter- 
vals of  repose. 

The  achte  variety  is  one  continuous  advancement  with  no  remis- 
sion of  symptoms,  or  severity  of  the  symptoms.  It  runs  its  course 
in  a  few  weeks.  It  begins  as  a  catarrhal  pneumonia  involving  the 
whole  of  one  or  part  of  both  lungs.  It  commences  abruptly  with 
chilliness  and  high  fever;  associated  with  these  symptoms,  are 
profuse  and  exhausting  night  sweats,  with  intense  prostration  and 
adynamia;  the  emaciation  is  marked,  and  the  appetite  wholly  want- 
ing; dyspnoea,  cough,  and  expectoration,  which  is  often  streaked 
with  blood  or  is  bloody.  These  symptoms  persist  and  increase  in 
violence,  and  in  a  short  time,  the  case  necessarily  terminates 
fatally. 

Tubercular  Phthisis. — The  hereditary  type  of  the  disease 
usually  comes  under  this  head.  These  cases  begin  either  by  loss  of 
appetite,  indigestion,  decline  in  weight,  etc.,  without  any  physical 
signs  or  an  attack  of  haemoptysis  may  be  the  first  symptom. 
Usually,  however,  the  onset  is  characterized  by  a  short  dry  cough, 
which  is  rather  more  troublesome  at  night,  preventing  sleep,  dys- 


262  PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

pnoea,  pains  in  chest,  increased  respiration,  with  some  nocturnal 
perspiration.  The  heart's  action  is  accelerated  by  slight  causes,  the 
pulse  is  soft  and  compressible.  In  the  beginning,  the  bowels  are 
constipated,  but  diarrhoeasoon  sets  in,  appetite  is  poor  and  progress- 
ive emaciation  exists.  These  symptoms  all  increase  in  severity, 
the  indigestion,  cough,  expectoration,  and  night  sweats  becoming 
very  troublesome.  Haemorrhage  is  the  most  alarming  symptom  to 
the  patient  (and  often  to  the  physician);  it  varies  from  merely 
streaking  the  sputa,  to  quantities  sufficient,  to  prove  immediately 
fatal ;  frequently  a  quantity  of  blood  is  swallowed,  entering  the 
stomach,  where  it  is  acted  upon  by  the  gastric  juice,  and,  when 
subsequently  it  is  vomited,  it  has  the  appearance  of  hitmatemesis. 
After  the  haemorrhage  has  been  arrested  for  some  days,  small-sized 
blackish  clots  are  expectorated.  The  hnemorrliage  is  brought  on  by 
paroxysu>6  of  coughing,  or  is  due  to  the  prolonged  and  intense  strain 
which  the  vessels  have  undergone.  Many  authorities,  especially 
followers  of  the  German  scliool  under  Xiemeyer,  say  that  "capillary 
hiemorrliMge,  either  bronchial  or  pulmonary,  is  the  cause  of  tuber- 
culosis." Clinically  we  admit  that  hcemoptysis  is  the  initiatorv 
symptom  of  phthisis  to  which  the  attention  of  tlie  medical  attend- 
ant may  be  called,  but  on  close  examination,  we  will  almost  invar- 
iably find  that  for  weeks  and  months  previously,  the  patient  has 
been  gradually  losing  flesh,  ha«  felt  unusually  weak,  that  there  have 
been  suspicious  febrile  symptoms,  slight  cough,  etc.  Hitmoptysis 
is  due  to  something  already  wrong  in  the  lungs,  be  it  tubercular  or" 
not ;  if  not  tubercle,  it  is  harmless,  and  probably  due  to  cardiac  causes 
or  to  some  trouble  of  the  general  vascular  system.  As  the  case  pro- 
gress, anannia  is  marked:  there  is  cedema  of  the  dependent  parts, 
great  debility,  increased  frequency  of  the  pulse  but  wanting  in  tone. 
The  urine  is  more  or  less  febrile  in  the  early  stages,  and  contains 
excess  of  tissue  destruction  ;  finally  it  becomes  watery  and  deficient 
in  solids;  albumen  or  sugai  may  be  present.  The  disease  may  pro- 
gress steadily,  either  rapidly  or  gradually,  from  bad  to  worse,  but, 
as  is  well  known,  pthisis,  as  a  rule,  does  not  advance  by  continuous 
progress,  but  by  a  serie.=i  of  successive  invasions,  separated  by  inter- 
vals of  improvement,  followed  by  exacerbations. 

Fibroid  PfUhisis. — This  form  of  consumption  is  a  disease  of  ma- 
tured life,  and  is  extremely  rare  in  patients  of  less  than  thirty  years. 
It  is  the  mostchronic  form,  and  its  early  history  is  that  of  bronchial 
catarrh,  it  being  years  before  the  lungs  are  attacked.  The  symp- 
toms are  about  the  same  as  in  the  other  varieties,  only  far  more 
gradual  in  their  onset. 


PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,  263 

The  complications  must  frequently  met  with  in  the  course  of 
pulmonary  phthisis  are  aflfections  of  the  larynx  and  trachea,  bron- 
chitis, pneumonia  (catarrhal)  pleurisy,  perforation  of  the  pleura  with 
consequent  pneumothorax,  enlargement  of  the  external  absorbent 
glands  or  of  those  of  the  chest  and  abdomen,  meningitis  or  tubercle 
of  the  brain,  tubercular  peritonitis,  ulceration  of  the  intestines, 
especially  the  ileum,  fatty  or  amyloid  liver,  fistula  in  ano,  Bright's 
disease  in  its  various  forms,  diabetis,  pyelitis  and  thrombosis  of  the 
veins  of  the  legs. 

Diagnosis.— When  the  disease  is  well  advanced,  the  abnormal 
physical  signs  are  usually  quite  conspicuous,  and  the  cognition  of 
pulmonary  consumption  presents  no  difficulty.  Besides  the  mere 
recognition,  it  is  desirable  to  obtain,  if  possible,  a  correct  knowledge 
of  its  seat  and  extent,  its  stages  in  different  parts  of  the  lungs,  and 
its  nature  and  origin.  This  can  only  be  acquired  by  a  careful  con- 
sideration of  the  history  and  presenting  symptoms  of  the  cases,  as- 
sociated with  a  thorough  systematic  examination.  , 

Laryngeal  Phthisis. — Under  this  division  of  the  subject  Dr.  X. 
F,  Ivins  discussed  the  question  whether  this  manifestation  of  the 
disease  ever  precedes  the  existence  of  lung  tubercle.  He  then  des- 
cribed the  two  varieties — acute  and  chronic — and  dwelt  particularly 
upon  the  differential  diagnosis  of  the  disease  in  its  various  stages. 
The  treatment,  both  medicinal  and  hygienic,  was  carefully  consid- 
ered, and,  in  certain  instances  in  which  the  apparently  indicated 
homoeopathic  remedies  fail  to  give  satisfactory  results,  he  advised 
local  applications  as  effective  aids  to  the  homoeopathic  remedial 
action. 

This  finislied  the  Bureau  report.  Dr.  J.  K.  Lee,  of  Phila- 
delphia, opened  the  discussion  by  praising  the  indefatigable 
industry  of  the  gentleman  representnig  .their  county  society 
in  the  preparation  of  their  paper;  but  he  considered  the 
local  treatment  recommended  as  innovations  that  should  be 
chocked,  as  they  were  in  direct  opposition  to  our  law  of  cure. 

Dr.  Morgan,  like  Dr.  Lee,  had  great  respect  for  the  gen- 
tlemen who  understood  thoroughly  the  use  of  instruments 
of  percision  in  diagnosis.  Still  these  cases,  diagnosed  so  ac- 
curately and  for  which  local  treatment  is  recommended,  are, 
some  of  them,  similar  cases  to  those  cured  by  the  earlier 
.homoeopaths  who  had  no  special  knowledge  of  the  disease 
they -were  curing. 


•J'U  PEXySYLVAXIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

Dr.  I  vine  replied  that  he  always  preferred  to  cure  with 
the  indicated  remedy  whtn  possible.  He  had  had  eases  sent 
to  him  where  good  prescribers  had  failed  to  cure,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  use,  in  these,  local  measures. 

Dr.  Lee  thought  that  this  was  an  acknowled.Lanent  of  the 
deficiencies  of  our  materia  medica;  or  is  it  an  acknowledge- 
ment of  the  inadequacy  of  the  law  of  cure. 

Dr.  Farrington  considered  that  it  was  the  duty  of  special- 
ists to  improve  our  materia  medica  in  the  line  of  their 
specialty.  To  his  mind,  the  homoeopathic  r(Mnedy  never 
failed  in  its  mission  of  cure. 

Dr.  Ivins  agreed  with  Dr.  Farrington,  and  said  that  where 
he  could  find  the  true  remedy  he  would  not  give  local  treat- 
ment. 

Dr.  E.  Hasbrouck  diverted  the  dis(;ussion  to  albumin- 
uria by  remarking  that  Fuchine  2^  or  .*>^  in  ids  hands  never 
failed  to  reduce  the  quantity  of  albu.nen  in  the  urine,  but 
that  was  all  the  good  it  did. 

Dr.  Bartlett  asked  if  the  gentlemen  present,  considere<l 
it  any  more  Homtieopathic  to  use  Fuchsine  as  a  routine  rem- 
edy in  albuminuria,  than  to  use  Morphia  in  like  manner  to 
relieve  pain.  In  eitlier  ca.se,  we  might  occasionally  make  an 
accidental  homoeopathic  prescription. 

Dr.  Hasbrouck  disclaimed  any  disposition  on  his  part  to 
use  Fuchsine  as  a  routine  measure,  as,  in  the  case  just  spoken 
of,  he  merely  administered  the  remedy  for  experimental  pur- 
poses. 

Dr.  Ivins  spoke  of  Graph,  and  Fluoric  Ac,  as  remedies' 
for  goitre. 

Dr.  Morgan  said  that  when,  in  the  later  stages  of  phthisis, 
oedema  of  the  feet  and  diarrhoea  set  in,  amyloid  degeneration 
of  the  kidney  was  present,  as  shown  by  an  examination  of 
the  urine  in  these  c«ises. 

Dr.  H.  C.  Allen  thought  that  routine  measures  in  hy- 
giene were  no  better  than  routine  measures  in  prescribing 
remedies.  Each  patient  should  be  treated  according  to  his 
case,  and  not  according  to  the  name  of  his  disease. 


PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,  265 

Dr.  Bartlett,  replying  to  Dr.  Morgan,  said  that  he  had 
examined  the  urine  in  five  cases  of  pthisis  with  diarrhoea 
and  oedema  of  the  feet,  and  had  failed  to  find  anything 
abnormal. 

On  motion,  the  discussion  on  the  report  of  the  Bureau 
of  Clincal  Medicine  was  declared  closed. 

V 

The  chairman  of  the  Bureau  of  Sanitary  Science  reported 
that  no  papers  had  been  received  by  him.  By  vote  of  the 
society,  it  was  resolved  to  hold  a  discussion  on  the  subjects 
belonging  to  the  bureau. 

Dr.  Farrington  spoke  of  the  advantage  of  leaving  tlie 
trap  off  of  the  main  drain  of  the  house.  This  main  drain 
should  be  ventilated  by  a  pipe  five  or  six  inches  in  diameter, 
running  up  to  the  roof  of  the  hoifse.  If  the  main  drain  is 
trapped,  and  there  is  no  ventilating  shaft,  then  all  the  air 
between  the  trap  and  the  house  is  dead-airy  and  is  very  pois- 
ons. Each  water  closet  should  have  its  trap  or  its  ventilat- 
ing pipe. 

Dr.  B.  W.  James  said  that  it  was  not  only  necessary  to 
have  good  drainage  in  one's  own  house,  but  also  to  have  the 
neighboring  houses  well  drained  before  we  can  assure  our- 
selves that  our  hygienic  surroundings  are  perfect.  Sewer 
gases  may  be  forced  out  of  the  drain  pipes  into  houses,  by 
the  flooding  of  the  sewers  with  water,  through  the  culverts. 
This  may  be  assisted  by  imperfect  traps.  Health  authorities 
should  look  after  the  plumbing.  Rules  should  be  adopted 
by  which  they  shall  appoint  sanitary  engineers.  In  London 
and  Liverpool,  when  a  tenant  rents  a  house,  the  owner 
thereof  gives  him  a  certificate  of  its  sanitary  condition. 

The  time  for  adjournment  having  arrived,  further  dis- 
cussion on  Sanitary  Science  was  deferred  until  the  evening 
meeting. 

The  society  then  visited  the  Library  and  Reading  Room 
at  1000  Arch  street. 

[TO  BE  (;ONTINUED.J 


206  A  CLINICAL  CASE. 

A  CLINICAL  CASE. 


BY  C.  O.   WILSON,  M.  D.,  ST.  CLOUD,  MINN. 


Mr.  A.  -B.,  aged  30,  scrofulous  constitution.  Came  to  the 
office  Oct.  17,  with  this  history  :  Caught  cold  the  15th  while 
working  in  the  rain.  In  the  evening  had  beating,  bursting 
headache,  high  fever,  backache,  unrest.  The  16th  the  head- 
ache continued  with  anorexia  and  sore  throat.  Is  used  to 
sore  throats.  Felt  very  weak.  Now  the  posterior  part  of  the 
tonsils  and  pharynx  are  covered  with  diphtheritic  membrane; 
neck  somewhat  swollen  and  stiff.  Lymphatics  swollen  on 
left  side,  on  which  side  the  soreness  began,  and  very  sensi- 
tive to  touch.    Much  ptyalism,  breath  offensive,  fluent  coryza. 

The  remedy  was  plain'and  the  attenuation  and  frequency 
of  giving  it  were  based  upon  Dr.  Gregg's  successful  experi- 
ence in  this  disease.  Lach.  m.  one  dose.  In  the  evening  he 
was  verv  weak  and  tired. 

18th.  Restless  all  last  night.  Headache  less,  tonsils 
swollen  more,  membrane  about  the  same.  In  the  evening 
throat  easier.    Sweats  from  least  hot  drink.     Quite  hoarse. 

19th.  Sleepless  last  night,  but  feels  better  generally  this 
morning.  Hawks  up  mouthfuU  of  mucm,  which  tastes  sour; 
dirty  yelow  color,  stringy  and  hard  to  raise.  Gave  Lye.  ^. 
every  four  hours;  I  think  this  was  a  mistake.  The  patient 
was  improving,  and  notwithstanding  the  above  indication  to 
which  he  called  my  attention  without  any  questioning,  the 
action  of  the  Lach.  should  have  been  continued.  I  realized 
this  fully  after  leaving  the  house,  and  in  the  evening,  on 
finding  little  or  no  mucus  raised,  gave  Lach.  m,  one  dose. 

20th.  Slept  better,  can  swallow  more  easily.  Food  Hlls 
up  immediately.  Hawh  tip  vuwus  again  with  the  sour  tast€. 
Uvula  much  elongated  and  covered  on  the  end  and  posterior 
surface  with  the  membrane.  The  symptoms  were  elicited 
by  the  indefinite  question  "  How  do  you  feel  to-day  ?  "  for  I 
was  not  looking  for  Lye.  symptoms.  It  seemed  so  well  indi- 
cated, however,  that  it  was  given,  one  dose,  mth.  attenuation. 


SLEEP,  2H7 

21st.  Much  better  every  way,  throat  clearing  up.  Can 
move  neck  freelv. 

22d.  Uvula  clear  as  well  as  most  of  the  throat,  but 
quite  tender,  can  swallow  well,  appetite  returning. 

23d.  All  right  except  a  little  weakness  from  abstinence 
of  food,  etc. 

The  room  was  fumigated  every  morning  with  Sulphur, 
which  doubtless  had  a  good  dynamic  effect  also.  Placebo  of 
Alcohol  10  gtt.  in  a  teaspoonful  of  water  every  four  hours. 
Other  cases  will  be  treated  similarly  but  with  more  confi- 
dence in  the  result. 


•#•► 


SLEEP. 


RKAD   BEFORE   THE    HOMOEOPATHIC    MEDICAL    SOCIETY   OF   0HH>. 


BY   R.   B.  JOHNSON,   M.    D. 


What  is  sleep?  It  is  that  condition  of  the  system  where 
all  voluntary  actions  of  the  mind  and  body  are  at  perfect 
rest.  And  the  importance  of  this  subject  will  be  better  real- 
ized when  we  consider  that  at  least  one-third  of  the  life- 
time of  every  individual  is  spent  in  sleep;  and  it  is  as  essen- 
tial to  every  one,  who  would  enjoy  good  health,  that  they 
should  have  this  sleep  as  it  is  that  they  should  have  good 
food  to  eat.  And  I  do  not  know  but  it  is  more  so,  for  who 
has  had  the  courage  to  test  the  human  system  to  its  utmost 
capacity  in  this  direction  and  tell  us  how  long  life  can  be 
sustained  without  sleep;  whereas  Dr.  Tanner  and  various 
others  have  tested  the  power  of  the  system  in  abstaining 
from  food  and  found  that  for  forty  days  or  more  life  can  be 
sustained  without  food,  but  I  doubt  whether  it  can  be  done 
without  sleep.  How  important  it  is  then  to  know  how  to 
sleep  and  get  the  most  benefit  therefrom. 

In  order  to  consider  this  subject  more  thoroughly  I 
shall  divide  it  into  when  to  sleep,  where  to  sleep  and  how  to 
sleep. 


268  SLEEP, 

Now  it  has  been  said  that  there  is  a  "  time  tor  all  things, 
a  time  to  laugh  and  a  time  to  weep,  a  time  to  live  and  a  time 
to  die,  a  time  to  wake  and  a  time  to  sleep."  and  the  time  to 
sleep  is  when  we  can  get  the  most  rest  out  of  the  same 
amount  of  time. 

Now  when  a  person  is  awake  and  .in  action  he  is  using 
up  the  vitality  that  is  stored  within  himself,  that  is  he  is 
throwing  off  the  life-giving  elements  of  tlie  system,  and  is 
taking  on  those  that  tend  to  brins:  on  decay  and  death ;  but 
when  we  sleep  the  order  is  reversed  and  we  take  on  those 
elements  we  lose  when  awake,  and  throw  off  those  that 
tend  to  produce  death.  Now  when  we  examine  into  the 
vegetable  kingdom  we  there  tind  the  same  order  preserved, 
but  those  elements  that  are  death  to  the  animal  kingdom  are 
life  to  the  vegetable;  therefore  when  the  vegetable  world  is 
sleeping  or  giving  ofi'  the  element  that  are  detrimental  to  it, 
in  the  greatest  profusion  is  when  man  can  get  the  most  of 
those  elements  which  are  calculated  to  build  up  his  system 
and  it  is  an  e«tablished  fact  tkat  this  is  done  in  the  night 
time,  and  that  then  is  the  time  for  all  to  sleep  who  would 
enjoy  good  health.  Hut  alas,  how  many  there  are  who 
spend  their  nights  in  other  ways  than  that  designed  by  the 
Creator  of  the  Universe  I  and  alas  for  the  results  in  broken 
down  constitutions  and  premature  deaths. 

In  the  second  place  the  question  where  to  sleep  will 
depend'  largely  upon  circumstances,  but  wherever  it  is  it 
ought  to  be  in  a  room  that  is  well  ventilated,  where  pure  air 
can  be  obtained  at  all  times,  and  free  from  malarial  influ- 
ences. In  malarial  districts  it  is  best  not  to  sleep  near  the 
ground  as  it  is  there  that  this  poison  to  the  human  family 
lingers,  and  it  is  .said 'that  it  does  not  rise  over  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  above  the  ground  and  that  those  who  sleep  above 
this  are  apt  to  be  exempt  from  its  influences  even  in  very 
malarious  countries. 

To  show  how  people  are  mistaken  in  reference  to  pure 
air  I  will  relate  a  case.  Was  called  to  see  a  lady  who  lived 
in  a  very  malarious  place,  who  was  shaking  furiously  every 


R.  B.  JOHNSON.  2m 

day  with  ague;  she  was  very  indignj^nt  to  think  that  she 
should  have  tlie  ague  when  she  had  taken  so  much  pains  to 
prevent  it  and  have  pure  air  to  breathe,  and  one  of  her  pre- 
cautions was  that  she  had  slept  out  of  doors  under  an  apple 
tree  all  summer.  Of  course  she  shook,  and  who  Would  not 
have  done  so?  Then,  as  I  said  before,  if  in  such  a  country 
get  up  as  high  as  you  can  to  sleep,  and  then,  by  all  means 
have  plenty  of  fresh  air  in  the  room.  But  now  after  choos- 
ing the  proper  time  and  place  it  will  not  give  you  good  sleep 
if  certain  other  rules  are  not  observed  about  how  to  sleep. 
But  before  I  speak  further  of  this  let  me  say  something  of 
the  bed  to  be  used.  Now,  I  am  not  going  to  say,  as  many 
do,  that  we  must  sleep  on  a  hard  bed  of  some  kind ;  but  will 
say  of  whatever  material  it  is  composed  have  it  comfortable. 
Place  it  in  the  room  so  it  will  extend  north  and  south  so  the 
electric  current  of  the  atmosphere  will  run  parallel  with  the 
body,  and  for  aged,  weak  and  debilitated  or  rheumatic  per- 
sons, insolation  of  the  bed  will  add  much  to  their  comfort 
and  health,  and  they  will  arise  in  the  morning  much  more 
refreshed  and  invigorated  than  the}'  would  be  were  this  not 
done. 

Now  then,  when  retiring  leave  all  care  of  patients 
finances,  or  anything  else  that  tends  to  disturb  or  distraci 
the  mind  outside  of  the  bed-chamber.  Do  not  talk  with  your 
companion  of  anything  disagreeable  or  anything  that  may 
Vjring  on  a  discussion,  but  have  everything  as  pleasant  and 
serene  as  j)0ssible,  and  thus  being  at  peace  with  ourselves, 
fellow-men  and  our  God,  we  will  be  prepared  to  receive  and 
a))preciate  *'  Nature's  sweet  restorer,  sleep,'*  and  "  bleirs  the 
man  who  invented  sleep." 

Now,  if  we  as  Physicians,  who  are  the  conservators  of 
the  health  of  tlie  people  would  give  more  attention  to  this 
subject  and  instruct  our  patrons  therein,  we  would  have 
more  healthy  })eoi)le  and  a  fewer  number  of  nervous  and 
debilitated  persons,  and  we  would  not  be  called  so  often  to 
hear  complaints  of  sleeplessness,  nor  make  so  many  pre- 
scriptions to  make  them  sleep. 


i>70  TWO  CASES  OF  ECZEMA  CAPITIS. 

TWO  CASES  OF  ECZEMA  CAPITIS. 


BY  S.   E.   BURCHFIBLD,  M.  D.,  LATROBE,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Case  I. — Nov.  1st,  1881.  L.  P ,  boy  about  one  year 

old,  large  head,  fat,  florid.  Has  had  an  eruption  in  patches 
on  his  head  and  neck  for  two  months.  The  ulcers  suppurate 
profusely,  are  deep,  with  wide  red  edges,  tending  to  spread 
in  rings.  The  discharge  mats  the  hair  and  forms  into  thick 
scabs  on  the  head,  nectk  and  tace.  All  the  sores  very  tender 
to  touch.  Cervical  lymphatic  glands,  swollen  and  hard. 
Various  common  remedies  were  used  bv  the  mother  without 
having  any  curative  effects.  Being  called  to  see  the  child  I 
prescribed  Hepar  s.  c.  ^,  in  solution  thrice  daily.  In  a 
month  under  this  treatment  alone  the  eruptions  were  all 
completely  healed,  and  in  the  intervening  two  years  tlie 
child  has  been  perfectly  well. 

Case  II. — Sept.   Ist,  1882.     J.  H ,  male  child  aged 

about  four  months.  Healthy  when  born.  One  month  ago 
an  eruption  appeared  on  his  head,  beginning  behind  his 
ears.  The  eruption  rapidly  spread,  soon  covering  a  large 
portion  of  the  scalp,  and  all  the  folds  of  the  neck.  The  hair 
was  matted  into  thick  tangles.  A  sticky,  acrid,  foul,  clear 
fluid  exuded  from  all  the  sores,  making  new  excoriations 
and  sores  where  it  touched.  In  the  folds  of  the  neck  deep 
ulcers  appeared,  and  the  skin  was  red  and  inflamed  by  the 
discharge.  The  mother  had  tried  home-cures  and  various 
old  women's  remedies,  and  still  the  child's  head  got  scabbier. 
A  noted  old  school  physician  and  surgeon  prescribed  for  the 
child  without  benefit,  and  shortly  afterwards  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  the  case  was  incurable  as  it  stood.  The  parents 
not  wishing  to  abandon  attempts  at  getting  the  scabs  cleaned 
off  consulted  me  as  a  dernier  resort.  Called  to  see  the  child 
and  considered  it  curable,  indeed  so  great  faith  had  I  in  my 
medicines  that  I  asked  for  a  month  in  which  to  cure  the 
case.  As  Graphites  was  plainly  indicated,  I  prescribed,  as  is 
my  custom  with  this  remedy,  the  30th  potency.     This  med- 


RH  US  RA  Die  A  NS.  27 1 

icine  given  in  solution  twice  a  day  for  three  weeks,  completely 
cured  one  of  the  worst  cases  of  eczema  capitis  I  have  ever 
seen.  Onlv  a  few  scars  were  left  to  mark  the  location  of  the 
deeper  uclcers.  The  child  has  continued  well  ever  since,  and 
in  fact  from  a  puny  infant  has  rapidly  developed  into  a  fine, 
heartv  bo  v. 


f  >  ' 


RHUS    RADICANS. 


BY  CHAS.    K.  <iILBEKT,   M.   !»..   \VASHIN(;TUN,   D.  ('. 


This  remedy  has  been  so  little  used  that  the  following: 
cases  are  copied  from  the  American  Journal  of  Homaopatht/^ 
August  15,  1846,  p.  la): 

Case  I.  Miss  B.  W.,  aged  52,  of  scrofulous  diathesis 
formerly  subject  to  sick  headaches ;  sixteen  years  since  left 
fore-arm  and  hand  became  partially  paralyzed,  supposed  to 
come  from  glands  about  the  neck  enlarged  by  scrofula ; 
fifteen  years  since  during  a  severe  attack  of  w^hat  was  sup- 
posed to  be  sick  headache,  became  apoplectic,  followed  by 
nearly  complete  paralysis  of  the  left  hand  and  arm,  since, 
which  they  have  been  useless,  pulseless,  nearly  bloodless, 
numb,  prickling — with  occasional  turns  of  severe  pain  in  the 
whole  arm,  which  were  almost  insupportable — flabby,  dimin- 
ished in  size  and  greatly  so  in  strength,  using  the  right  to 
help  raise  the  left.  Sho  was  fretful,  touchy,  easily  discour- 
aged and  inclined  to  weep,  excitable,  unhappy;  general 
health  delicate.  July  1st,  o  pellets 3  dilution;  passed  a  rest- 
less night  with  much  severe  aching  of  the  back  of  the  neck, 
shoulders,  instep  and  toes  of  left  foot,  with  severe  tingling 
and  prickling  of  the  left  arm  and  hand.  Repeated  the  dose 
on  the  evening  of  the  2d;  the  pains  continued  severe  through 
the  4th,  and  extended  to  the  whole  left  arm  and  hand  which 
seemed  swollen,  and  the  veins  which  had  usually  been  per- 
ceptible to  the  sight  or  feel,  became  full,  blue,  hard  and 
painful  in  the  extreme:  in  addition  there  was  dizziness  of  the 
head,  slight  turns  of  faintness,  great  inability  and  complain- 


272  CHAS.  B.  GILBERT. 

ing,  less  than  the  usual  appetite,  insecure  feeling  when  walk- 
ing, or  unsteadiness  of  gait,  free  motions  of  the  bowels  and 
abundant  discharge  of  pale  urine.  On  the  5th  the  symptoms 
began  ito  abate,  and  on  the  1st  of  August,  she  was  doing 
one-third  of  a  day's  work  in  sewing  (was  left  handed)  with 
steadily  increasing  strength  and  was  improved  in  general 
health  and  spirits. 

Case  II.  Mrs.  B.,  aged  55,  of  sanguine,  nervous  temper- 
ament; has  been  sick  three  years;  was  treated  one  year  ago 
without,  avail;  has  pain  on  the  top  of  the  head  in  the  morn- 
ing, with  swimming  in  head  when  stooping  or  rising,  cloudi- 
ness of  the  eyes,  soreness  of  the  mouth  and  throat,  dry 
cough  in  the  morning,  attacks  of  tearing  pain,  sometimes 
stinging  and  sharp,  commencing  in  the  stomach  and  extend- 
ing to  the  sides  and  shoulders  and  nape  of  neck,  with 
stiffness ;  distress  in  stomach  like  a  weight,  bitter  from  eat- 
ing; sense  of  fullness  in  stomach;  eructations;  cannot  bear 
even  the  presence  of  light  cloths ;  bearing  down  or  pressing 
pain  in  bow^els;  pain  in  left  side  as  if  something  adhered  to 
ribs ;  constipation ;  pain  in  hips  and  legs  as  if  in  the  bones, 
like  rheumatism  ;  jerking  of  the  feet  in  the  evening;  numb- 
ness of  the  arms  with  prickling  in  the  fingers ;  fatigue  from 
walking  and  excessive  debility;  sleep  disturbed;  pain  in 
stomach  at  night;  the  pains  are  tearing,  stinging  and  press- 
ing and  shifting  from  one  side  to  the  other,  and  at  times  on 
both,  some  aggravated  by  movement,  others  better  from  lying 
down  and  rest ;  suffering  aggravated  on  change  of  weather. 
The  attacks  had  occurred  daily  at  5  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  almost 
always  waked  her  from  sleep  in  the  night;  there  had  been  no 
intermission  for  months.  "  I  was  struck  with  the  peculiar 
stinging,  pricking  pains  of  this  case  as  corresponding  to  those 
I  had  experienced  in  my  own  person  from  the  above  drug. 
On  the  26th  of  June  last,  at  4  p.  m.,  I  gave  3  globules  of  the 
3d  dilution.  She  had  no  attack  that  day  nor  has  she  had 
any  since — her  health  improved  and  it  is  now  good." 

The  first  case  is  by  Dr.  Barlow,  of  New  York,  and  the 
second  by  Dr.  Snow,  one  of  the  editors. 


STRABISMUS.  273 

STRABISMUS. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  OHIO  STATE   HOM(EOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY 


BY    G.    V.   MC    DERMOTT,    M.    D.,    PROF.    O.    AND    O.,    PULTE    MEDICAL  CX)LLfy?E,  CINCIN- 

N.U"!,  OHIO. 


Strabismus  or  squint  may  be  said  to  be  an  affection  of 
childhood;  at  least  in  true  cases  of  convergent  squint  it  has 
its  begining  at  an  early  age  in  life,  and  may  exist  throughout 
a  life  tin)e. 

It  is  the  seeming  indifference  given  to  this  deformity  by 
the  physicians  generally,  that  I  wish  to  make  a  suggestion, 
viz.,  the  importance  of  its  early  coirection,  Hypermetropia  is 
that  condition  of  tlie  refraction  in  which  the  eye-ball  is  too 
flat  from  before  backwards,  or  its  antero-posterior  diameter 
is  too  short;  the  retina  lying  within  the  focal  distance  of  the 
crystalline  lens,  and  as  a  consequence  images  formed  upon 
it  being  indistinct  and  blurred.  To  remedy  this  the  refrac- 
tive power  of  the  lens  must  be  increased,  which  is  accomp- 
lished by  a  greater  convexity  of  its  surfaces,  the  result  of 
the  muscle  of  accommodation  upon  its  suspensary  ligament. 

In  the  emmetropic,  or  normal  eye,  this  effort  of  accom- 
modation is  only  called  into  use  for  near  objects,  which  at 
the  same  time  though,  requires  more  or  less  convergence  of 
the  optic  axes  in  order  that  they  may  be  directed  to  the 
same  point.  Hence  it  is  seen  there  is  a  co-ordination  between 
these  two  muscular  actions  of  convergence  and  accommo- 
dation; and  which  is  not  disturbed  by  the  faulty  shape  of 
the  eye-ball  which  is  merely  an  imperfect  development  of  an 
external  organ. 

In  the  hypermetropic  eye,  the  accommodation  is  neces- 
sary for  vision  of  distant  objects,  for  which  no  convergence 
is  required ;  but  the  co-ordination  of  the  central  ganglia  over- 
powers the  visual  reciuirements  and  the  internal  recti  con- 
tract with  the  ciliary  muscles.  These  ciliary  muscles  are 
constantly  active  during  the  waking  hours,  and  the  internal 
recti  receive  more  than  their  share  of  nerve  influence  and 
5 


274'  STRABISMUS. 

are  called  upon  for  more  than  their  due  share  of  functional 
activity;  as  a  result,  they  may  become  hypertrophied,  or 
come  to  preponderate  over  the  external  recti,  and  their  state 
of  frequent  contraction  produces  a  tendency  to  structural 
shortening.  The  effect  of  this  is,  that  the  axes  of  the  eye- 
balls, in  a  state  of  perfect  rest,  are  no  longer  approximately 
parallel,  but  distinctly  and  equally  convergent. 

At  the  age  of  two  or  three  years  when  the  child 
begins  to  view  small  or  near  objects,  he  requires  a  still 
greater  convergence  effort  of  accommodation  in  order  to  see 
them  clearly,  and  in  doing  so  he  makes  a  corresponding 
effort  of  convergence,  with  the  result  that,  as  his  eyes  start 
from  a  point  of  acquired  convergence  instead  of  from  par- 
allelism, their  total  convergence  becomes  greater  than  is 
necessary,  and  they  are  both  directed  to  a  point  nearer  than 
the  object,  so  that  double  vision  is  produced.  In  order  to 
see  clearly,  and  to  avoid  the  double  images,  tlie  child  renders 
one  eye  more  divergent,  so  that  it  may  be  directed  to  the 
object;  and  as  the  two  axes  have  become  combined  in  a 
relation  of  convergence,  instead  of  in  their  original  relation 
of  parallelism,  it  follows  that,  when  one  eye  turns  outward 
to  fix  the  object,  the  other  turns  inward  in  a  greater  degree 
than  before,  or  squints.  In  some  children,  in  whom  the 
refraction  and  the  acuteness  of  vision  are  alike  in  the  two 
eyes,  and  in  whom  the  external  recti  are  of  e<|Uiil  strength,  it 
is  a  uKitter  of  accident  which  eye  will  be  directed  to  the 
object,  and  which  towards  the  nose,  and  the  squint  is  then 
said  to  be  alternating.  Sometimes  one  eve  squints,  some- 
times the  other.  But  this  equality  of  sight  and  of  muscular 
power  is  not  common ;  and  the  majority  of  children  can 
direct  one  eye  more  readily  than  the  other,  or  can  see  with  it 
more  clearly.  When  this  is  the  ciise,  the  employment  of 
the  best  eye  becomes  instinctive;  it  is  always  directed  to  the 
object,  and  the  other  always  squints.  The  squint  is  then 
said  to  be  fixed,  and  under  such  circumstances  the  vision  of 
the  squinting  eye  will  usually  undergo  a  steadily  progressive 
deterioration. 


FEUILLETON.  275 

• 

It  is  this  amblyopia  from  non  use  that  complicates  and 
endangers  an  eye,  which  compells  us  to  remark  that  an 
early  correction  is  most  urgently  demanded,  and  shouM 
always  be  suggested  to  the  parents. 

When  the  sight  of  both  eyes  is  good,  and  the  squint  is 
uncomplicated  by  paralysis,  it  is  always  curable,  not  only 
partially  and  thus  correct  a  manifest  deformity;  but  per- 
fectly, so  as  to  restore  harmony  of  position  and  movement 
under  all  circumstances,  by  a  well-planned  and  skillfully 
performed  operation  or  operations. 

As  long  as  the  squint  is  alternating,  the  operation  may 
be  postponed  without  injury;  but  as  soon  as  the  squint 
becomes  fixed,  unnecessary  delay  wiU  probably  involve 
impairment  of  sight  in  the  squinting  eye ;  and  this,  besides 
being  a  loss  to  the  patient,  will  interfere  with  the  excellence 
of  the  result. 

FEUILLETON. 


Dr.  Wm.  E.  Payne  of  Bath,  Me  ,  seems  to  have  been  the  first  to 
give  Kali  bi.  in  croup  and  published  an  article  in  the  IJomicopothic 
Examiner  for  March,  1846.  Now  that  its  use  in  such  cases  has  been 
verified  so  often,  it  is  worth  something  to  his  friends  that  it  should 
be  known  to  whom  the  credit  is  due.  He  was  an  honor  to  our 
school — a  Prince  among  men.  i .  h  <;. 

Dr.  Robert  Burns  says,  "The  true  function  of  a  medical  society 
is  to  gather  together  and  then  difi'use  knowledge,  to  encourage 
independent  inquiry,  to  survey  from  time  to  time  by  the  light  of 
mutual  reflection,  the  positions  attained,  and  thus  to  seek  sound 
guidance  in  the  application  of  our  knowledge  to  our  practical, 
duties."  How  true  the  above  and  still,  how  little  appreciated  by 
the  profession,  *'in  union  there  is  strenjrth,''  yet  witness  the 
meagre  attendance  we  have  at  our  State  Society,  compared  with 
the' large  number  practicing  in  this  State.  To  save  ten  dollars, 
many  practitioners  will  remain  at  home  and  accumulate  ignorance 
rather  than  obtain  knowledge  on  subjects  pertaining  to  their  pro- 
fession. I'.  I'. 

Hot   Water   as   a   Garole — Dr.    Ritzy    has    found    hot  water 
systematically  employed  as  a  gargle  of  great  benefit  in  overcoming 


276  FEUILLETON. 

m 

tbe  Mnsation  of  rawness  incident  to  acute  pharyngitis.  He  founds 
that  the  use  of  hot  water  paled  the  red  and  inflamed  mucous  mem- 
brane more  or  less  permanently.  And,  so  far  as  unpleasant  personal 
sensation  went,  it  cored  the  phayngitis.  He  also  believes  that  this 
simple  plan  of  treatment  would  prove  beneficial  in  diphtheria,  in 
patients  old  enough  to  gargle  intelligently.  In  ordinary  tonsillits 
hot  water,  he  thinks,  would  hardly  fail  to  act  well.  The  water 
should  be  used  as  hot  as  can  be  well  borne,  and  gargling  should  be 
practiced  for  several  minutes  at  a  time,  and  repeated  every  twenty 
minutes.  p.  p. 

Artificial  Respiration.  The  following  simple  method  of  pro- 
ducing artificial  respiration,  is  known  as  McDaniel's  and  is  worthy 
of  the  general  practitioner*s  consideration.  The  method  is  an 
improvement  on  Hall's  or  Sylvesters,  and  is  given,  as  taken  from 
The  New  Orleans  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal. 

"After  the  invention  of  the  spirometer  by  Hutchinson,  it  was 
soon  ascertained  that  the  chest  is  greater  in  the  erect  form  than  in 
any  relieved  or  recumbent  position.  This  is  a  great  fact  for  physi- 
ology for  pathology  and  for  therapeutics.  The  chest  is  a  cylinder, 
and  the  diaphragm  is  a  piston,  whose  pump  motion  varies  the  chest 
capacity,  and  causes  an  ingress  and  egress  of  air.  In  the  recum- 
bent position  the  liver  and  other  contents  of  the  abdomen  press 
upon  the  diaphragm  and  diminish  the  chest  capacity.  In  changing 
from  the  recumbent  to  the  erect  position,  this  pressure  is  gradually 
removed  and  the  chest  capacity  is  increased.  It  is  obvious  that  all 
that  is  necessary  to  cause  air  to  enter  the  lungs,  is  to  change  the 
patient  from  any  recumbent  or  any  inclined  position  to  the  erect 
one;  and  all  that  is  necessary  to  cause  the  air  to  pass  out  of  the 
lungs  is  to  move  the  patient  back  from  the  erect  to  any  inclined  or 
recumbent  position.  But  I  have  discovered  that  the  increase  of 
-capacity  in  the  chest  is  slow  and  small  in  moving  from  the  recum- 
bent position  to  an  elevation  of  forty-five  degrees,  and  rapid  in 
•ascending  from  forty-five  degrees  to  the  erect  position.  It  is,  there- 
fore, not  essential  in  practicing  artificial  respiration  to  move  the 
patient  through  the  whole  range  from  recumbency  to  erectness,  but 
is  sufficient  to  use  only  the  upper  half  of  this  range,  merely  moving 
the  patient  from  a  forward  inclination  of  forty-five  degrees  to\he 
erect  position  and  back  again.  Every  upward  and  backward 
movement  produces  an  inspiration,  and  every  forward  and  down- 
ward movement  an  expiration,  and  the  two  together  a  complete 
respiratory  act.  By  regularly  repeating  these  acts,  artificial  respira- 
tion is  rythmically  performed,  and  can  be  prolonged  at  will.     Any 


BOOK  NOTICES.  277 

one  will  find  (hat  if  he  leAns  forward  from  the  erect  position  to  an 
inclination  of  say  forty  five  degrees,  he  will  mechanically  and 
involuntarily  expire,  and  if  he  moves  hack  to  the  erect  position  he 
will  mechanically  and  involuntarily  perform  inspiration.  He  can*- 
not,  hy  any  power  of  volition,  prevent  the  result  or  reverse  it. 
This  simple  movement  of  upward  and  backward  to  the  erect  posi* 
tion,  and  downward  and  forward  to  a  sufficiently  inclined  position, 
regularly  repeated,  constitutes  my  proposed  new  method  of  artificial 
respiration."  p.  p. 

BOOK  NOTICES. 


A  DICTIONARY  OF  MEDICINE:  Including  General  Pathology.  General  Thera- 
peutics, Hygiene  and  The  Diseases  Peculiar  to  Women  and  Children.  By  Vari- 
ous Writers.  Edited  by  Richard  Quain,  M.  D.  Third  Edition.  D.  Appleton  &. 
Co.,  New  York. 

We  have  purchased  the  ahove  and  added  it  to  our  lihrary 

because  it  seemed  to  be  a  valuable  work  worth  the  buying,  and  so 

far  as  we  have  looked  it  over,  it  more  than  meets  our  expectations. 

It  is  a  "Medical  Encyclopedia''  and  in  no  sense  a  "Dictionary/' 

Our  readers  better  look  it  up. 

THE  AMERICAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  PHARMACOPCEIA.  Second  Revised  Edition. 
Bosricke  &  Tafel. 

The  second  edition  of  this  valuable  work  has  been  recently 
published  under  the  supervision  of  J.  T.  O'Conner,  M.  D.  The  few 
botanical  errors  which  crept  into  the  first  edition  have  been  care** 
fully  corrected,  and  both  editor  and  publisher  deserve  the  thanks 
of  the  profession.    No  medical  library  is  complete  without  it. 

HAND'BdOK   OF   ELECTRO  THERAPEUTICS.     By  Dr.  Wilhelm    Erb.     With 

Thirty-nine  Wood  Cuts.    New  York,  Wm.  Wood  A  Co. 

It  is  almost  needless  to  say  that  the  author  is  a  distinguished 
Professor  at  Leipsic  and  an  acknowledged  -authority  upon  the  sub^- 
ject  upon  which  he  writes.  For  one  in  search  of  the  latest  infor- 
mation upon  this  subject  there  is  no  better  work  extant.  The  pres- 
ent volume  is  the  June  No.  of  "  Wood's  Library  of  Standard 
Authors"  for  1888,  and  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  the  present 
series.  The  work  is  well  illustrated,  and  if  carefully  studied  will 
enable  any  one  to  master  thoroughly  the  whole  question  of  Electro 
Therapeutics. 

THE  MEDICAL  STUDENT'S  MANUAL  OF  CHEMISTRY.    By  R.  A.  Witthaus,  a! 

M..  M.  D.    New  York,  Wm.  Wood  &  Co. 

Already  our  shelves  are  crowded  with  works  on  Chemistry. 
Those  devoted  to  students  are  especially  numerous.     Our  first 


278  EDITORS  TABLE, 

impression  is  that  another  book  is  superfluous.  A  careful  perusal 
of  this  manual  will  dissipate  such  an  idea.  To  the  medical  student 
this  book  will  prove  of  incalculable  service.  The  principles  of 
chemical  science  and  chemical  physics  are  well  treated  in  the 
openinji^  chapters.  In  this  way  the  student  can  pass  to  the  consid- 
eration of  special  chemistry  and  can  appreciate  the  operations  and 
manipulations  with  which  the  work  closes.  We  heartily  commend 
it  as  a  iftxt-book  of  rare  value. 


THE  DISEASES  OF  THE  EYE:  THEIR  MEDICAL  AND  SURGICAL  TREATMENT. 
By  J.  H.  B^'FFUM,  M.  1).,  O.  et  A.  Chir.,  Prof.  et<.\,  Chicago  Homoeopathic- 
College.  Oue  Hundred  and  Piflv  Wood  Engravings,  Twenty-Five  Colored 
Lithographs.    Chicago,  rjross  &  Delbridge,  188.7. 

As  Aoant  Coureur  of  the  coming  year  sure  to  be  full  of  jrood 
things  comes  this  new  candidate  for  public  favor.  We  have  taken 
it  up  with  interest,  scanned  its  well  filled  pages,  and  now  lay  it 
down  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  because  it  has  met  our  expecta- 
tion. Defects,  the  work  undoubtedly  has,  but  they  are  none  of 
them  serious  and  can  easily  be  rectified.  For  the  first  time  we 
have  a  representative  work  in  this  department.  It  is  well  written 
and  handsomely  printed,  and  we  congratulate  the  author  upon  his 
success  and  upon  the  fidelity  he  has  shown  in  maintaining  right 
methods  in  his  treatment.  The  student  and  practitioner  need  not 
hesitate  to  add  this  book  to  their  librarv. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE 


Married. — At  Hanover,  Ind.,  on  October  11,  by  the  father  of  the 
bride,  J  J.  Sturgus,  M.  D.,  of  Connersville,  Ind.,  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  D.  D.  McKee.  No  cards.  The  doctor  has  just  been 
appointed  physician  to  the  Nisqually  Agency  at  New  Tacoma,  W. 
T..  the  terminus  of  the  N.  P.  Pw.  R.  Salary  $1,20(>.  We  extend  our 
congratulations;  and  hope  to  hear  from  time  to  time  how  "Lol" 
takes  to  little  i>ills. 

Died. —Dr.  Chas.  H  Crane.  Surgeon  General  of  the  U.  S.  Army, 
dit^d  Oct.  10.     He  had  only  held  the  office  one  year. 

Died.— At  Cincinnati,  October  8,  of  gastric  fever,  Mrs.  Crawford, 
wife  of  Professor  J.  M.  Crawford,  M.  D.,  Registrar  of  Pulte  College. 

Died.— Chas.  E  Blumenthal,  M.  D.,  L.L.  D.,  of  New  York,  late 
editor  of  Tlie  American  Homwopath^  died  Oct.  11.  He  was  one  of 
the   most   noted   linguists   of  New 'York,  familiar  with   Hebrew, 


EDITORS  TABLE,  279 

Arabic,  and  Sanskrit,  as  well  as  most  of  the  modern  languages  of 
Europe.  He  was  Grand  Commander  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Knight 
Templars.  His  body  was  cremated  at  Washington,  Pa.,  and  the 
ashes  deposited  by  the  side  of  his  first  wife  in  the  country  cemetary 
at  Carlisle,  Pa.  « 

Removed.— Dr.  B.  A.  Bradley  from  135  W.  12th  to  504  W.  7th  St. 
Cincinnati. 

J.  T.  Martin,  M  D.,  U.  of  M.,  has  also  received  a  Government 
appointment,  as  physician  to  the  Indian  Agency  at  Skokomish, 
W.  T.    Salary  $1 ,000. 

Dr.  N.  p.  Smith,  of  Oakland,  111.,  succeeds  Dr.  Obetz,  at  Paris. 

Dr.  H  W.  Hawley  removed  from  Toledo  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
and  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Dr.  M.  M.  Eaton. 

Sherman's  Pharmacv  of  Milwaukee  has  recently  ispued  a  very 
neat  and  extensive  catalogue  and  physicians'  price  list. 

BoERECKE  &  Tafel's  Pharmacy  at  New  Orleans,  has  removed 
into  new  commodious  quarters,  154  Canal  street. 

Walter  Y.  Cowl,  M.  D.,  removes  to  152  W.  34th  street  and  his 
laboratory  will  be  at  the  northeast  corner  of  9th  avenue  and  34th 
street,  NY. 

H.  M.  LuFKix,  M,  D.,  U.  of  M.,  goes  to  Anambsa,  Iowa,  where  hfe 
succeeds  Dr.  Hall,  who  is  taking  post-graduate  work  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan. 

Dr.  I.  T.  Talbot,  of  Boston  is  reported  by  the  papers  to  be 
recovering  from  a  dangerous  attack  of  septicemia,  the  particulars 
of  which  we  are  not  informed. 

*CiRO  DE  SuzzARA  Verdi,  M.  D  ,  has  returned  from  a  two  years 
sojourn  in  Europe  and  settled  at  1121  17th  street  N.  W.,  Washington, 
D.  C.    He  will  give  special  attention  to  nervous  diseases. 

Halsey  Bros,  have  dissolved.  The  Chicago  and  Detroit  phar- 
macies will  be  conducted  by  Tappan  Plalsey,  the  junior  member  of 
the  late  firm,  while  C.  S.  and  G.  E.  Halsey  enter  the  wholesale 
manufacturing  business  at  12  Madison  St. 

Any  persons  having  purchased  a  copy  of  the  U.  S.  Pliarmacopctia 
of  1870,  and  desiring  a  list  of  the  corrections  since  made  therein, 
can  procure  same  by  sending  a  two  cent  stamp  to  Wm.  Wood  k  Co., 
Publishers,  56  and  58  Lafayette  Place,  N.  Y. 

Science  of  September  28  and  October  5  contains  a  very  able  arti- 
cle on  "Climate  in  the  Cure  of  Consumption."  which  will  well  repay 
perusal.  This  weekly  is  becoming  a  popular  and  able  exponent  of 
the  latest  developments  in  the  scientific  world. 


280  .       EDITOR'S  TABLE, 

A.  McNeil,  M.  D.,  our  well  known  contributor  has  been 
appointed  professor  of  Materia  Medica  in  the  new  Homoeopathic 
College  in  San  Francisco.  We  congratulate  the  doctor  on  this  rec- 
ognition of  his  abilities  and  wish  him  success  in  his  new  field. 

The  meeting  of  the  American  Public  Health  Association  in 
Detroit,  Nov.  13-16,  bids  fair  to  be  a  representative  gathering.  We 
hope  to  see  a  large  attendance.  Many  valuable  papers  will  be  read, 
and  the  question  of  Active  and  Associate  members  will  be  settled. 

Dr.  F.  H.  Orme,  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  met  with  a  fearful  accident 
recently  by  being  overturned  in  his  buggy  by  a  runaway  horse,  and 
having  both  arms  broken  above  the  elbow.  It  came  near  costing 
the  doctor  his  life,  but  from  late  reports  we  are  glad  he  is  happily 
recovering. 

Dr.  C.  Lippe  is  preparing  a  second  edition  of  his  Repertory, 
and  incorporating  with  it  Boeninghausen's  Repertory  which  has 
never  been  translated  from  the  German.  This  will  make  it  a  very 
desirable  office  companion.  But  its  usefulness  would  be  greatly 
enhanced  to  the  busy  man  by  the  addition  of  different  type  to  distin- 
guish the  value  of  the  remedy. 

There  appears  to  be  a  lurking  suspicion  among  some  of  our 
leading  pharmacists  that  the  experiments  made  by  Dr.  Smith,  of 
Cleveland,  to  ascertain  the  relative  purity  of  the  different  brands  of 
Sugar  of  Milk  and  Pellets,  were  not  quite  impartial.  To  obviate  any 
possible  objection  of  this  kind,  in  the  interests  of  the  profession^ 
and  the  members  of  the  American  Institute  who  furnish  the  fnnds 
with  which  to  continue  the  experiments;  and  lor  the  reputation  of 
those  men  who  are  using  their  utmost  endeavors  to  produce  pure  and 
r6diable  pharmaceutical  preparations,  we  suggest  the  following: 
!rhat  the  President  of  the  Institute  procure  samples  from  the  phar- 
macies, and  that  each  sample  be  numbered  and  the  name  and  num- 
ber be  retained  by  the  president;  the  number  and  samples  only  to 
be  given  Dr.  Smith.  Neither  should  the  pharmacies  know  when 
nor  for  what  purpose  the  samples  were  procured.  This  could  be 
safely  entrusted  to  the  good  judgment  of  the  President.  Justice  to 
all  interested  would  be  secured  by  some  scheme  like  this.      h.  c.  a. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Medical  Society  of  the  County  of 
New  York  for  the  election  of  officers,  occurred  October  22.  It  is 
needless  to  say  it  was  a  lively  session.  The  ticket  of  the  "Old  Coders,** 
although  headed  by  a  man  of  the  fame,  abilitv,  unblemished 
reputation  and  rare  personal  magnetism  of  Dr.  Thomas,  was  defeated 
by  a  majority  of  from  150  to  175  in  a  meeting  where  600  members 
were  present.    This  decided  victory  for  "  freedom  of  opinion  "  has 


CORRESPONDENCE.  281 

ruDg  the  death  knell  of  the  "Code''  on  Manhattan  Island,  if  not  in 
the  Empire  State.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  "this  is  none  of  our 
funeral."  Nevertheless,  when  we  see  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation resorting  to  very  questionable  means  to  stifle  discussion  or 
prevent  an  attempt  to  modify  its  code;  or  when  the  American  Sur- 
gical Association  can  deliberately  expel  one  of  its  ablest  members 
because  he  would  not  renounce  his  opinion  at  the  ipse  dixit  of  the 
Association,  w^e  cannot  help  feeling  an  interest  in  the  contest  at 
least,  or  an  inclination  "to  pat  the  upper  dog  in  the  fight.''    h.  c.  a* 


m 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


ABORTIVE  TREATMENT  01  GONORRHCEA. 


Dear  Editor: — Who,  among  our  homoeopathic  brethren  has  not 
a  "pet"  prescription  or  an  injection  ready  for  every  case  of  gonor- 
rhoea that  presents  itself  for  treatment?  and  yet,  how  often  that 
said  "pet "  prescription  has  failed  us.  Now,  I  desire  to  inflict  upon 
your  readers  my  "pet"  injection,  one  that  is  growing  in  popularity 
on  account  of  its  simplicity  and  non-irritating  properties.  It  is 
aqua  fevernSy  (hot  water)  and,  when  once  employed  faithfully, 
according  to  directions,  becomes  the  "  pet"  treatment  for  all  cases  of 
acuUe  gonorrhoea.  One  thorough  application  of  hot  water,  in  twenty- 
four  hours,  is  equal  in  benefit  to  several  injections  of  Zinc,  Plumbum, 
NitraU  of  Silver ^  Permanganate  'of  Potassium ,  Hyper-sulphite  of  Soda, 
Hydroitin,  or  even  green  tea,  during  that  time. 

We  reason  first,  that,  two  surfaces,  in  a  diseased  condition,  in 
constant  and  close  apposition  with  each  other  will  be,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  unfavorable  to  recovery,  hence,  to  separate  these  inflamed 
wails  of  the  uretha  by  hot  water  injections,  each  injection  retained 
by  compressing  the  glans  penis  for  a  period  of  five  minutes,  and 
repeated  for  twenty  minutes  at  each  seance  will  produce  a  mechan- 
ical result — dilitation  of  the  uretha.  Second,  it  removes  all  the 
gonorrhoeal  discharge,  a  constant  source  of  irritation  to  the  uretha, 
and  is,  therefore,  salutary  in  this  regard  ;  and,  thirdly,  the  well- 
known  action  of  hot  fomentations  or  hot  water,  upon  all  inflamed 
tissues  is  so  beneficial  that  we  need  not  dwell  upon  its  applica- 
bility to  gonorrh'^a.  And,  lastly,  no  danger  to  be  apprehended 
from  two  powerful  astringent  injections,  to  be  followed  by  cystitis 
or  a  stricture. 

The  indicated  remedy  should  be  given  internally.  p.  p. 


282  CORRESPONDENCE, 

Always  order  this  injection  to  be  given  with  a  good  hard  rubber 

penis  syringe  and  the  water  at  as  high  a  temperature  as  can  be 

tolerated  by  the  patient,  and  you  will  be  as  highly  delighted  with 

he  result  as  vour  victim. 

Respectfully,  P.  P. 


GYNECOLOGY. 


Sub- IN  VOLUTION  of  the  Uterus. — We  have  selected  a  part  of  a 
valuable  lecture,  given  by  Dr  C.  Gushing  of  San  Francisco  on  the 
above  subject  on  account  of  its  great  importance  and  close  relation- 
ship to  our  general  practitioners.  There  is  no  disease  in  gynecology, 
that  causes  more  unhappy  homes  with  distress  and  suffering  than 
sub-involution  and  none  more  susceptible  to  proper  treatment. 

The  lecturer  "considers  premature  assumption  of  domestic 
duties  after  parturition  as  one  of  the  most  frequent  causes  of  this 
unfortunate  condition,  and  he  formulates  the  following  sound  advice 
to  physicians :" 

''If  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  I  know  of  no  better  investment  of 

time  and  money  than  for  a  woman  who  is  raising  a  familv,  to  devote 

at  least  o  month  following  her  delivery  to  real  and  quiet,  Rwd  as  free  from 

excitement  of  any  kind  as  may  l)e.    Unless  she  is  confined  to  her 

bed  by  poor  health,  it  is  the  only  oi)portunity  a  mother  of  a  family 

has  to  remain  quiet  long  enough  to  get  really  rested  ;  and  I  would 

advise  you  to  inculcate,  in  the  most  thorough  manner,  the  minds  of 

your  puerperal  patients  with  the  idea  that  a  full  month  must  be 
given  up  lo  rest  and  recuperation  after  delivery,  and  that  a  portion 
of  each  day  after  getting  out  of  bed  must  be  spent  upon  a  lounge  or 
couch  for  several  weeks.  Of  so  much  consequence  do  I  consider 
this  advice,  that  I  would  again  urge  you  to  use  all  your  eloquence  to 
show  your  patients  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  a  montirt» 
bodily  and  mental  rest  following  confinements.  P.  P. 

Ad  hominem. — Lord  Odo  Russell,  while  calling  upon 
Prince  Bismarck  a  short  time  ago,  asked  him  how  he  man- 
aged to  rid  himself  of  that  class  of  unfortuiiate  visitors 
whom  he  could  not  well  refuse  to  see,  but.  whose  room  he 
found  preferable  to  their  company.  "Oh,"  replied  the  chan- 
cellor, **I  have  a  very  simple  method.  My  wife  knows  them 
pretty  well,  and  when  she  sees  they  are  with  me  she  gener- 
ally contrives  to  call  me  away  upon  some  pretext  or  another.'* 
He  had  scarcely  finished  speaning  when  the  Princess  put 
her  head  in  at  the  door  and  said:  '*Otto,  vou  must  come  and 
take  your  medicine.     You  ought  to  have  had  it  ten  minutes 

ago.'-* 


^: 


N^^tt 


iJ 


^ 


T.  P.  WII.5>iOX,  >l.  ».. 

Editor. 


PHI  I.  PORTKR.  yk,  IK. 

<iVSK«r)LO«.I<Al-    Kdiior. 


Vol.  xrv. 


Ann  AiutoiJ.  DKcKMnKii.  Ihs:^ 


Xo.  •'». 


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THE  SCIENCE  OF  Fri5RIX, 


READ  HEKOflKTIIK  MICKOSCOPICWL  CM'B  <)F  Bl'FFAI.O. 


iSY  Itnl.r.IN  K.  <;RK<ii..  M.  I>.,  I'.IFFAl.o,  N.  V. 


.Continued  from  No.  'i. ^ 

From  wiiat  was  observed  in  tht-  l»oile<l  hlo;)^,  I  had  sjiid 
to  two  medical  friends  tliat  \  believed  atVr  \\w  til)rin  had 
given  up  by  rottins]^,  all  its  hi'^lier  animal  lite  and  ori^aniza- 
tion,  it  would  then  tak^*  on  the  forms  of  til>rin  in  ve«;(?table 
life;  and  that  herein  mii^ht  br  tbund  the  st^cret  or  connect- 
ing link,  in  similarity  of  forms,  between  tin*  librin  of  blo«)d 
disorganized  in  and  by  disease,  and  the  real  bacteria  in  the 
lowest  order  of  vegetable  lite,  as  in  mould,  stagnant  water, 
etc. 

But  after  seeing  that  nothing  of  the  kind  took  phice  at 
the  end  of  four  weeks,  tlnit  idea  was  iriven  up  a<  the  hope  of 
too   excited    an    inr.iiiination.  and   matters  settled  down  to 


284  '  THE  SCIENCE  OF  FIBRIN. 

what  was  considered  cooler  thinking  on  the  subject.  Two 
weeks  more  passed,  and  my  sample  not  having  been  thrown 
away  yet,  this  idea  of  a  secohd  and  vegetable  life  in  fibrin, 
came  over  me  with  still  greater  force  than  before,  and  I  pre- 
])ared  a  new  specimen  for  examination,  and  behold  what  an- 
other revelation  I 

New  life  and  organization  liad  been  taken  on,  but  in  the 
main,  of  an  entirelv  ditterent  character.  There  were  still 
myriads  of  granules  of  Hl)rin  to  be  seen  in  some  parts  of  the 
field,  even  clusters  of  them,  containing  enormous  numbers; 
but  there  had  been  a  se(;()ndarv  net- work  formed,  in  meshes 
entirely  different  from  anything  before  develo{)ed.  There 
were  nuclei,  or  centers  of  exceeding  brilliancy,  from  which 
fibres  started  out  in  two,  three,  or  more  directions,  to  meet 
like  fibres,  from  other  centres,  and  thus  was  the  net- work  con- 
structed. There  W(?re  also  great  numl)ers  of  large  cells  show- 
ing "cleavage"  or  the  binary  sul)-division  by  which  cells  mul- 
tiply— the  beginnings  and  completion  of  it  in  much  beauty. 
At  this  time  too,  ''  tadpoles  "  and  "  wrigglers,"  or  forms  much 
like  them,  appeared  in  large  numlicrs.  At  six  weeks  and 
four  days,  'there  were  still  different  developments,  the  net- 
work was  different,  and  there  were  other  diflierences  shown, 
which  we  must  however  pass,  for  still  other  marvels. 

At  seven  weeks  the  secondary  net-work  was  entirely  gone 
from  most  parts  of  the  field,  but  the  centers  from  which  the 
threads  started  to  m  ike  that  work  were  there  in  all  their 
brilliancy.  an<l  what  may  it  be  supposed  were  the  appear- 
ances then?  Many  of  those  centers  had  a  halo  surrounding 
them,  much  like  the  sun,  or  much  as  this  is  frequently  pic- 
tured, though  of  far  greater  beauty  than  ordinary  imitations. 
Nor  was  this  all.  The  granules  of  fibrin  had  re-appeared  in 
great  numbers  in  nearly  every  part  of  the  field,  excepting  for 
a  short  distance  around  each  of  those -bright  centers;  and 
here  the  field  was  entirely  clear  of  granules,  as  though  they 
had  been  absorbed  or  attracted  into  those  centers,  and  there 
consumed  to  keep  up  the  brilliancy  of  the  latter.  It  was, 
indeed,  no  great  stretch  of  the  im  vgination  to  fancv  one's  self 


R,  R.  QREOG.  i's> 

in  the  midsi  of  a  process  of  universe-buildings  in  a  micro- 
scopic way,  with  central  suns,  and  their  planetary  systems 
(granules  of  fibrin),  around  them,  but  at  considerable  dis- 
tance therefrom.  Some  of  these  centers  had  a  halo  extend- 
ing out  for  more  than  a  quarter,  or  even  less,  of  their 
circumference  like  comets,  some  half,  some  three-fourths, 
and  some  all  around,  as  though  many  of  them  were  in  process 
of  construction,  while  some  were  just  completed.  All  this,^ 
I  am  well  aware,  sounds  much  more  like  romancing,  than 
like  sober  talk ;  but  scientists  can  prepare  their  own  speci- 
mens, and  see  how  much  of  this  is  fancy,  and  how  much  of 
reality  there  may  be  as  a  foundation  for  such  a  description. 
One  thing  is  quite  certain,  they  will  be  interested  in  what 
they  see;  if  not  surprised  at  it. 

At  this  time  too,  the  "tadpoles'*  and  "  wrigglers"  had 
disappeared,  or  nearly  so.  A  long  search  found  but  few  of 
them.  And  in  several  specimens  there  was  no  net-work 
to  be  found  now,  excepting  at  one  small  point,  where  it 
showed  in  much  beautv,  but  in  the  main  different  from  anv- 
thing  before  that.  What  more  changes  there  may  be  I  know 
not,  but  am  awaiting  developmentvS  with  much  interest. 

Thus  is  fibrin  shown  to  be  one  of  the'  primary  and  ori- 
ginal creations,  at  least  in  organic  nature;  and  its  granules 
are  the  most  remarkable  "  impersonations  of  immortality'' 
to  be  found  in  this  world.  In  no  other  way  can  be  explain-ed 
their  various  arrangements  and  re-arrangements  again  and 
again  into  such  an  almost  infinite  variety  of  forms  as  they 
show,  and  all  from  their  own  inherent  forces  apart  from  all 
other  sources  of  life. 

This  fact  of  fil>rin  giving  up  its  higlier  or  animal  life, 
and  taking  on  a  lower  or  vegetable  life  under  decay,  brings 
up  the  whole  (juestion  of  "cultivation ''  and  "staining''  of 
bacteria,  about  which  so  much  has  been  said:  but  it  would 
require  too  much  space  to  discuss  those  points  here.  One 
thing,  however,  I  will  speak  of  The  fibrin  appeared  to  eat 
up,  or  attract  to  itself,  all  the  rest  of  the  contents  of  that  bot- 
tle, the  blood  corpuscles,  fatty  matters,  albumen,  salts,  etc.. 


urn  THE  SCIENCE  OF  FIBRIN. 

iind  thereby  had  the  food  supplied  to  enable  it*  to  develop 
iill  the  great  variety  of  forms  that  it  went  through. 

But  it  may  be  asked  what  has  all  this  to  do  with  dis- 
ease, and  the  germ  theory  of  its  causation?  It  has  just  this 
to  do  with  it.  Inflammation  and  suppuration  are  always  a 
rotting  process,  and  the  blood  congested  in  the  inflamed  parts 
is  rotted  by  the  suppuration.  The  fibrin  in  the  blood  so 
-congested,  organizes  naturally  as  stated;  first  into  granules 
which  join  to  form  fibrils,  and  these  into  bundles  or  mem- 
branes. Next,  suppuration  breaks  it  all  up  in  the  inverse 
order,  membranes  and  bundles  into  fibrils,  fibrils  into 
pieces,  and  these  into  granules,  thus  giving  the  bacterists  all 
the  forms  ever  seen  in  diseased  products,  from  micrococci  to 
rosaries,  and  from  rosaries  to  ''  motile  filamentous  bacteria," 
or  ''tadpoles''  and  ''  wrigglers,"  or  any  other  forms  they  have 
ever  seen.  And  not  one  of  all  these  forms  in  disease  is  bac- 
teria at  all,  but  the  organizing  and  disorganizing  particles  of 
fibrin;  not  a  germ  in  any  sense  of  the  word  whatever,  l)ut 
simply  a  reHult,  not  a  cause  of  disease. 

To  evade  the  results  of  these  very  damaging  revelations 
the  bacterists  may,  however,  do  as  they  have  repeatedly  done 
before  wiien  criticized,  viz:  charge  mr,  as  they  have  others, 
with  greet  carelessness  in  not  preventing  bacteria  from  get- 
ting into  my  specimens  from  the  atmosi)here.  and  from  ihjit 
developing  in  tiie  rotting  l)lood.  Professor  Koch,  of  Berlin, 
last  spring  very  unjustly  chartjed  Dr.  Forinad,  of  Philadel- 
phia, with  carelessness  in  his  work,  though  this  was  evidently 
done  with  the  greiitest  care;  and  simply  l)ecause  the  latter, 
though  a  strong  believer  in  bacteria,  disagreed  with  the  for- 
mer on  some  points. 

But  thev  must  not  take  that  course  in  this  case.  It  will 
do  them  no  good  if  they  do.  There  is  too  much  of  this  sul)- 
ject  to  be  set  aside  by  quibbles.  I  grant  that  I  wa:?  not  very 
careful  in  keeping  my  samples  from  the  air,  beyond  corking 
the  bottle  pretty  tightly,  and  that  I  opened  it  freely  when- 
ever I  wished  specimens.  But  nature  is  not  so  exacting  as 
iire  the  bacterists,  in  requiring  conditions  almost  impossible 


R.  R.  GREGG.  287 

of  fulfilment,  to  learn  what  she  does  and  how  she  does  it. 
Once  the  key  to  her  work  is  found  anrl  everything  is  made  as 
plain  and  simple  as  it  is  possible  to  wish;  and  she  then  leads 
the  true  observer  on  ste])  after  step  to  greater  and  still  greater 
wonders,  which  are  impossible  for  the  human  mind,  even  the 
most  imaginative  to  conceive  without  first  seeing  them. 

To  confirm  this  it  was  perfectly  easy  to  see  how  all  the 
assumed  biicteria  of  disease  are  made.  The  bacterium  termo 
or  rod-like  bacteria,  are  made  by  the  fibrils  of  fibrin  breaking 
up  into  short  pieces  or  rods;  and  the  micrococci  by  these 
pieces  then  breaking  up  into  the  separate  granules  of  which 
they  are  constituted.  The  rosaries  are  made  as  follows:  A 
ring  of  fibrin  will  form  around  a  glol)ule  of  oil,  many  exam- 
ples of  wliicli  I  have,. then  under  decay,  some  of  the  granules 
or  a  longer  or  shorter  piece,  will  fall  out  of  the  ring,  and  the 
balance  of  the  granules  constituting  the  ring  will  partly  sep^ 
arate,  to  give  it  a  beaded  appearence,  when  the  rosary  appears. 
The  chains  are  made  by  fibrils  doubling  upon  themselves  at 
or  near  tlieir  middle,  and  then  twisting  up,  precisely  like 
twisting  a  })iece  of  twine,  then  doubling  it  and  letting  it  twist 
upon  itself — thus  making  a  close  twist,  or  close  links,  if  hard 
twisted,  or  long  links  if  loosely  twisted.  The  doubled  end 
forms  the  loop  or  ring  for  that  end  of  the  chain,  while  if  not 
doubled  in  the  middle,  the  larger  end  of  the  fii)ril  will  curl, 
to  form  the  hook  on  the  other  end  of  the  chain.  The  "ta<l- 
])oles"  and  '' wriggliM's"  were  made  in  an  equally  simple 
manner.  The  secondary  net-work  si)oken  of,  when  breaking 
down,  would  show  a  se})aration  of  all  the  threads  but  one  or 
two,  from  the  central  nucleus  or  head  from  which  thev 
started;  and  if  but  one  thread  were  left  this  would  form  the 
body  or  tail  of  the  ''tadpole.''  and  the  nucleus  its  head;  or  if 
two  threads  wen^  left  attached  to  it,  then  it  would  be  two- 
tailed  as  sonic  w(M*e. 

If  it  should  still  be  insisted  upon  that  I  was  careless  in 
my  manipulations  of  the  rotting  blood,  I  was  nevertheless 
cautious  enough  to  wash  a  large  clot  of  blood  until  every- 
thing but  fibrin  was  washed  out  of  it,  so  I  knew  I  had  noth- 


'J88  THE  SCIENCE  OF  FIBRIN. 

m 

ing  but  fibrin  to  deal  with.  This  I  also  boiled  and  rotted, 
and  treated  in  various  ways  to  see  what  it  would  do,  and  it 
told  much  the  same  story  in  many  particulars,  though  it  was 
not  so  rich  in  developments  as  the  rotting  blood,  simply  be- 
cause it  had  nothing  else  to  feed  upon  as  in  the  latter- case. 
The  facts  thus  gained,  I  used  for  frequent  comparisons,  to 
avoid  errors  in  conclusions  as  to  what  was  seen  in  the  blood, 
and  was  thus  aided  greatly  in  my  work. 

Furthermore,  I  was  careful  to  put  the  thinnest  possible 
film  of  organized  fibrin  from  a  washed  clot  of  healthy  blood, 
upon  a  slide,  and  closely  examine  that;  which,  by  the  way, 
some  bacterists  hav^  evidently  never  done.  In  this  way,  and 
with  the  very  first  specimen  I  tried,  I  obtained  a  perfect  re- 
production of  some  cuts  or  micro-photographs  of  "anthrax 
bacilli,"  which  Dr.  Belfield,  of  Chicago,  furnished  last  win- 
ter, in  connection  with  his  "Cartwright  Lectures,"  and  pub- 
lishml  in  the  Neio  York  Medical  Record^  the  24th  of  last  Feb- 
ruary. How  any  physician  of  intelligence,  who  had  ever 
examined  organized  fibrin,  could  have  furnished  such  cuts  and 
called  them  ''anthrax  bacilli,"  is  entirely  beyond  comprehen- 
sion. The  only  rational  conclusion  is  that  the  Doctor  never 
examined  healthy  fibrin,  to  see  how  it  did  look. 

Why,  from  the  fibrin  in  the  fluid  of  a  blister,  caused  by 
friction,  on  the  hand  of  a  perfectly  healthy  boy  of  thirteen,  I 
obtained  beautiful  specimens  of  "  micrococci "  and  ''bacillus 
subtiles."  And  this  brings  up  one  of  the  most  astounding 
results  in  all  this  chapter  of  wonders.  After  that  blister- 
fluid  had  dried  on  the  slide,  its  fibrin  presented  the  most 
beautiful  imitations  of  ferns,  mosses  and  even  of  corals,  I 
ever  beheld.  They  remained  in  that  form  for  three  or  four 
weeks;  but,  (and  here  the  great  wonder  comes  in),  these 
forms  have  now,  at  the  end  of  six  or,  seven  weeks,  and  on 
that  dry  slide,  more  than  three-fourths  of  them,  entirely 
changed,  and  in  the  main,  present  wholly  different  appear- 
ances. There  are  the  most  exquisite  cactus-like  kind  of 
growths  that  it  is  possible  to  conceive  of.  Now,  also,  several 
excellent  imitations  of  star-fish  have  appeared.      How  all 


R.  R.  GREGG.  289 

this  has  been  brought  about  on  that  dry  slide,  J,  of  course, 
know  not:  but  it  has  been  done.  This  secondary  and  cac- 
tus-like  growth  appears  to  have  formed  and  grown  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  fern-like  and  mossy,  growths  that  preceded  it, 
traces  of  the  latter  l>eing  still  seen  in  the  distance  ))ehind  the 
former.  This  shows  the  fact,  that  fibrin  can  be  •'cultivated," 
as  the  bacterists  sav  of  their  claimed  bacteria;  and  as  would 
appear  now,  is  the  only  thing  that  can  be  cultivated  in  this 
manner. 

And  here  too,  in  these  manifold  develojmients  of  the 
granules  of  fibrin,  we  find  the  lon^  sought  connecting  link 
between  vegetable  and  animal  life;  and  it  is  not  impossible 
that  this  may  settle  the  whole  question  of  evolution.  Possi- 
bly, moreover,  we  may  here  iiml  evidences  ot  spontaneous 
generation  or  something  akin  to  it,  but  this  I  (;annot  yet  ac- 
cept. 

Even  from  the  water  in  which  a  few  choice  potatoes 
were  thoroughly  boiled  for  eating,  and  a  drop  or  two  of  the 
water  put  at  once  upon  the  slide,  boiling  hot,  I  obtained 
"micrococci"  in  great  numbers,  and  "bacterium  termo  "  in 
less  but  considerable  numbers;  and  something  of  the  same 
from  the  milk  of  both  raw  and  cooked  ^aven-corn.  Fibrin 
is  contiiined  in  all  vegetal >]e  structures. 

If  one  wishes  to  see  the  most  awkward  and  coarse  imi- 
tations of  vegetable  growths,  fern-like  and  otherwise,  and  at 
the  same  time  the  most  delicate  and  exquisite^  they  must  ex- 
periment with  water  in  which  potatcx'S  liav<*  been  boiled. 
The  difference  is  owing  to  whether  the  lluid  dries  slowly  of 
itself  on  the  slide,  or  is  dried  (luicklv  bv  heat,  tin?  latt<'rLMV- 

1  ■  ■ 

ing  the  excjuisite  forms. 

And  here  J  will  iinlulge  in  a  little  speculation.  Fibrin 
certainly  must  have  several  kinds  of  life,  to  go  through  all 
these  changes  or  evolutions,  and  that  spc^ntaneously  wlien 
separated,  as  it  was,  from  all  other  life.  In  no  other  way 
can  we  account  for  such  astonishing  developments  as  1  have 
seen,  and  herein  detailed.  Well,  when  disease?  attacks  us,  it 
of  course  lowers  our  vitality,  and  renders  the  j)rinciple  of  life 


2^)0  THE  SCIENCE  OF  FIBRJX. 

in  us  incapable  for  the  time  of  dominating  fully  over  the 
Ijfe^nnd  great  activity  of  all  the  fibrin  witliin  us,  as  it  does 
in  health,  keeping  this  up  to  its  higher  work  and  purposes, 
tor  the  needs  of  our  higlier  existence.  Then,  some  of  this 
fibrin  in  us,  though  comparatively  little  of  it,  freed  from 
full  control,  begins  to  manfe.st  the  activitv  of  its  own  life, 
and  first  shows  that  kind  of  growtli  in  which  it  has  the 
strongest  life,  then  the  next  after  that,  and  so  on  down. 
And  in  this  wav  different  diseases  show  a  different  loss  of 
control  of  our  life  over  tliat  of  fibrin,  thus  allowing  this  to 
develop  in  different  ways  in  diflerent  diseases  to  correspond 
witli  all  the  hacterists  have  ever  S(H*n  in  disease,  and  called 
rcrfi  (fifth'  parasites. 

Sinct-  the  foregoing  was  written  1  have  received  from 
Kiiglaiid  the  Lnndnn  Smviruiry  of  August  22d.  IScSi),  sent  me 
l»v  s«»ine  one  who  had  marked  an  article  on  vellow  fever. 
wliicli  starts  oil"  thus:  "A  series  of  investigations  into  the 
origin  of  this  ]»estilent  fever  liave  Just  been  made  In*  Dr. 
Doniingas  Friez<',  a  Brazilian  physician.  Dr.  P^'ieze  has  dis- 
covered that  tlie  blood  of  the  i)atient  contains  a  minutt; 
]M)int.  and  in  one  form  or  another  continues  in  existence 
after  tlie  death  of  the  patient."  This  "minute  point''  is  the 
in<'vitable  granule  of  fibrin  from  the  patient's  own  ])lood, 
coagulated  into  granules,  or  '"  i)oints,"  by  the  fever.  And  the 
fact  of  ittf  "continuance  in  existence,"  "after  the  death  of 
the  patient."  is  due  to  the  life  of  the  fibrin  which  does  not 
die  with  the  i>atient;  but  goes  on  develoj)ing  into  "one  form 
and  another,"  Ioul^  after  animal  life  has  lost  all  control  of  it. 
as  1  have  alreadv  sulHcientlv  ])()inted  out. 

A  few  words  now  in  a  general  way.  Jf  half  that  I  have 
claimed  on  this  sui^ject  be  true,  then  it  has  already  jKissed 
l.»eyond  a  mere  personal  matter,  or  personal  triumph,  and 
l»ecomes  a  great  public  question.  And  being  that,  the  pro- 
fession in  this  citv  mav  well  take  an  interest  in  it,  as  of  no 
little  conse«prence  to  the  future  credit  of  our  city.  Further. 
J  will  say  that  there  is  sufficient  talent  in  the  profession  in 
this  city,  if  men  will  only  forego  all  prejudices  and  examine 


NURSING  BABIES.  291 

the  subject  solely  upon  its  merits,  to  settle  all  points  of  it 
right  here  for  the  world  and  for  all  time.  That  certainly 
would  be  something  worth  working  for,  and  one  man  cannot 
well  do  it  all  alone  in  any  reasonable  length  of  time. 

Why  should  this  not,  in  fact,  become  a  national  ques- 
tion? Professor  Koch  and  his  co-workers  in  this  field  have 
the  German  government  to  sustain  them  and  to  supply  ample 
funds  for  all  needs;  and  Professor  Pasteur  has  the  French 
nation  at  his  back,  voting  him  large  sums  to  carry  on  his  work. 
But  this  must  not  be  construed  as  an  appeal  for  national  aid 
in  my  work.  The  truth  will  stand  without  national  help.  It  is 
error  alone  that  that  needs  support.  But  I  want  to  see  this 
subject,  this  science  of  fibrin,  built  up  to  what  it  can  be 
made  by  the  talent  of  this  country  alone;  and  not  longer  see 
our  home  talent  accepting  error  for  science,  simi)ly  because 
it  comes  from  abroad. 

It  is  possible,  indeed  it  is  very  probable,  that  I  have 
made  some  mistakes  in  my  hurried  investigations,  but  after 
ample  allowance  is  made  for  many  mistakes,  there  will  still  ^ 
be  facts  and  marvels  enoui^h  left  to  fullv  satisfv  all  reason- 
ablv  exactintj  and  reasonahlv  critical  investij2:ators. 

Our  knowledge  of  disease,' and  of  its  beginninus  and 
]>rogress  is  going  to  be  greatJij  extended  l)y  thorough  investi- 
gations into  the  action  o\^  various  diseases  ui)on  the  organi- 
zation of  the  fibrin  of  our  blood;  and  also  by  the  effects  ol. 
disease  upon  our  blood  corpuscles.  Nor  in  this  work  must 
the  effect  of  all  diseases  upon  the  natural  and  healthy  pro- 
portions  of  the  constituents  of  the  blood  be  overlooked.  These 
few  points  thonwjjhhi  investigated  will  lift  much  of  the  mys- 
tery from  three-fourths  or  more  of  all  morbid  phenomena. 


NURSING  BABIES. 


HY   .1.   F.   KDT.AR.   M.   D. 


"Doctors  differ''   of  course,  but   the   thoughtful,  clear 
headed  ones  are  beginning  to  see  that  the  digestive  troubles 

2 


2;>J  NURSING  BABIES. 

of  babies  and  children  are  caused  by  their  stomachs  being 
exhausted  by  too  frequent  nursing  or  feeding. 

And  they  are  taught  to  en/  by  their  mothers  or  nuraeH!  Most 
mothers  will  at  onco  sharj)ly  deny  this;  but  I  assert  it 
earnestly — the  baby  is  taught  to  cry! 

Haby  sehlom  gets  his  nourishment  till  \u'  cries  for  it.  If 
he  cries  again  from  colic,  or  a  bent  pin,  or  any  irritation,  the 
nipple  is  shoved  in  his  mouth  to  (juiet  him  ;  at  night  when 
the  stomach  is  beginning  to  get  out  of  order  and  baby,  is 
restless,  the  ni]>ple  is  again  shoved  in  his  nlouth.  sometimes 
every  hour — more  or  less — exhausting  the  babies  digestive 
powers,  and  exhausting  the  mothers  as  well,  also  depraving 
the  milk.  Then  again,  the  liaby  being  raised  in  this  way, 
as  he  gets  older  and  wants  to  play,  but  being  hungry,  comes 
to  the  mother  and  cries  till  she  puts  the  nipple  in  his  mouth 
— he  nurses  a  short  time,  jumps  down  and  plays  awhile, 
comes  back  and  whines  for  more,  gets  the  nipple  again, 
probably  three  or  four  times  till  he  is  asleep.  Now  you  all 
know  that  is  wrong, — try  eating  that  way  yourself.  If  a 
baby's  reactive  power  wasnt  far  ahead  of  an  adults,  they 
couldn't  stand  it  any  better  than  you  could.  But  the 
stomach's  *' patien(.*e  ceases  to  be  a  virtue''  after  a  longer  or 
shorter  time,  and  the  baby  has  indigestive  bowel  trouble, 
and  so  called  ''sick  from  teething,"  and  many  of  them  die, 
and  it  wasnt  the  mother's  fault — or  the  doctor's,  *' for  they 
<lid  every  thing  they  could." 

That  was  it  exactly,  *'did  everything  they  could"  to 
weaken  the  babv's  life  force. 

1  can't  leave  my  weak  criticism  of  the  habit  of  giving 
the  child  the  nipple  every  time  it  cries,  till  I  speak  of  the 
expression  of  a  six  year  old  child  whom  the  mother  was 
still  nursing,  and  who  got  her  finger  burned,  and  cried  in 
agony,  and  constantly,  although  many  soothing  applications 
had  been  made  to  the  burn. 

Suddenly  she  said,  "Mother  give  me  the  titty  tjuick!  that 
will  stop  my  crying;  why  didn't  I  think  of  that  beforel'' 
And  it  did  stop  the  agonizing  sobs  at  once,  and  after  a  few 


/.  F,  EDGAR.  293 

draws  from  the  breast,  she  jumped  down  and  went  about  her 
play. 

ip.  :|f  ^  -^  ip.  ^  ^ 

I  have  been  in  labor  with  this  subject  a  long  while; 
will  not  some  of  the  profession  take  it  up  and  help  me  out 
with  it?  The  proposition,  as  I  understand  it  now,  is  to  have 
regular  hours  to  nurse  the  baby,  and  nurse  it  full  at  those 
hours,  and  at  no  other  time.  The  hours  I  have  selected  are 
6  and  11  a.  m.  and  4  and  9  p.  m.  thus  giving  a  full  night's 
rest  to  both  mother  and  baby.  At  first,  baby  may  waken 
in  the  night,  but  by  turning  him  over,  or  patting,  or  a  little 
water  to  drink, — sweetened  if  you  wish, — for  baby  will  soon 
learn  that  his  crying  will  not  bring  him  the  nipple  till  the 
regular  time;  and  those  times  ought  to  have  some  kind  of 
noise  that  the  baby  will  learn  tp  recognize  as  feeding  time, 
and  I  have  this  day  written  the  Seth  Thomas  Clock  Co.»  to  see 
if  they  can't  make  an  apparatus  to  strike  only  at.  those  hours. 

The  worst  crying  babies  I  have  ever  seen  when  nursed 
or  fed  as  I  have  described  in  the  foregoing,  when  I  could  pur- 
suade  the  mother  to  change,  to  nurse  only  at  regular  periods, 
long  apart,  soon  changed  their  temperment  and  health  to 
that  of  a  child  to  near  what  a  baby  should  be. 

And  distinctly  understand  that  when  the  baby  is  nursed 
it  is  to  receive  a  full  supply;  if  it  is  not  furnished  naturally 
by  the  mother,  then  give  her  remedies  that  will  increase  the 
flow  naturally,  and  supplement  that  witli  artificial  food  till 
the  desired  quantity  is  attained.  And  if  feeding  is  resorted 
to,  either  wholly  or  partially,  do  not  use  rubber  nipples  and 
feeding  bottles,  but  teach  the  baby  to  drink  it  oiit  of  a  small 
glass,  whicli  he  will  learn  in  a  day  or  two,  then  let  him 
Jiniih  with  the  niother\s  nurse  at  all  thnes.    . 

Upon  another  thing  let  ihe  write  my  condenmatiou:  the 
practice  of  some  mothers,  who  having  an  abundant  How  of 
milk,  waking  a  sleeping  baby  in  the  night,  or  at  other  times, 
to  nurse  out  the  swollen  breast,  because  it  hurts  them.  They 
don't  deserve  the  sacred  name  of  mother.  I  invite  the 
opinions  of  tlie  profession  on  the  foregoing  subject. 


294  TUBERCLE  ONLY  A  LESION  OF  SCROFULA. 

TUBERCLE  ONLY  A  LESION  OF  SCROFULA. 


TRANM.ATF.I)  BY  O.   B.   MOSS.   M.   D. 


In  looking  through  VArt  Medical,  I  find  under  the  head 
of  General  Pnthology,  the  article  whose  title  is  given  above, 
from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Piedvache.  Since  this  article  was  writ- 
ten, (1880),  Dr.  Koch  has  become  famous  by  his  researches 
respecting  the  etiology  of  tuberculosis;  and  even  now  other 
well  known  observers  claim  that  the  same  kind  of  micro- 
organisms, which  Koch  claims  to  be  the  basis  of  the  tuber- 
cular disease  in  the  lungs,  may  be  found  in  the  sputii  and 
feces  of  the  healthy!  Thinking,  therefore,  that,  while  these 
disputes  are  being  carried  forward  by  able  pathologists,  it 
might  not  be  amiss  to  review  the  subject  briefly  from  the 
point  of  view  of  our  French  confrere  I  take  pleasure  in  offer- 
ing the  following  to  the  readers  of  The  Medical  Advance: 

To  the  readers  of  VArt  Medical,  as  to  the  pupils  of  Tessien 
and  of  M.  Jousset,  pulmonary  phthisis  is  nothing  else  than 
a  scrofulous  affection.  It  is  the  same  tubercular  products 
localized  in  the  meninges,  the  serous  coats,  the  testicle, 
kidneys,  etc. 

It  is  a  (juestion  of  nosology,  independent,  more  or  less, 
of  diffusion  and  frequence  of  the  tubercular  lesion  in  the 
manifestations  of  scrofula,  constitutional  disease,  character- 
ized in  consequence  by  the  multiplicity  of  morbid  products. 

To  discover  what  these  are  from  amongst  those  affections 
which  have  a  tubercular  nature,  is  then  a  question  of  path- 
ological anatomy,  of  which  the  solution  is  not  indispensable 
to  the  con>^titution  of  the  unity  of  scrofula  and  to  the  nega- 
tion of  a  so-called  tubercular  diathesis, — of  the  taberculosfi  ;  in 
a  word,  following  the  harmonious  terminology  in  vogue.  Do 
thev  not  also  sav  i^crofulous?  But  we  shall  see  this  studv 
develop  another  forced  conse<iuence,  which  is  that  arthritic 
and  herpetic  phtliises  have  existed. 

Tiie  discovery  of  tubercle  in  affections  like  King's  evil, 
white  tumon^,  lupus,  for  example,  constitutes  a  potent  means 


0  B.  MOSS.  295 

of  conviction,  a  veritable  proof  by  analogy  of  the  absorp- 
tion of  tubercle  through  scrofula,  although,  let  us  not  forget, 
insufficient  by  itself  to  carry  evidence  unless  joined  to  the 
totality  of  clinical  characteristics. 

The  importance  of  this  fact  had  been  well  understood 
by  Dr.  Thaon,  (of  Nice,)  commented  on  by  M.  Jousset  (Art 
Medical).  He  pointed  out  tubercle  in  King's  Evil,  and  drew 
from  it  a  very  weight}^  argument  for  the  place  of  phtliisis  in 
nosological  list.  This  proof  appears  to  me  to  have  been 
extended  and  preciseh'  stated  in  the  recent  excellent  work  of 
Dr.  Brissaud,  prosector  of  the  course  of  pathological  anat- 
omy for  the  medical  faculty.  A  short  analysis  which  we 
will  make  from  it  will  not  fail  to  interest  the  readers  of  a 
journal  which  has,  whether  designedly  or  not,  inspired  all 
these  ideas  and  formulated  a  long  time  in  advance  of  all  this 
doctrine. 

The  German,  Friedlander,  demonstrated  first,  in  1<S71, 
the  anatomical  identity  of  tubercle  and  certain  products  of 
scrofula,  particularly  lupus.  It  is  just,  nevertheless,  to 
ascribe  to  Bazin  the  honor  of  the  discovery,  in  spite  of  the 
evasions  w^hich  we  will  reconsider.  No  one  will  question 
the  scrofulous  origin  of  true  lupus;  it  has  incontestably  the 
stamp  (»f  that  malady. 

(  ontinuing  the  works  of  Charcot,  and  under  his  sug- 
gestion, Brissaud  found  in  scrofulous  products,  in  the  fungi 
of  white  swellings,  tubercle  exactly  identical  with  that  of 
common  phthisis.  ^  Berne  Mens'ielle  de  Medicine  et  de  (liirnr- 
gie,  1879.) 

These  facts  were  not  satisfactory  and  could  not  be  easily 
accepted,  for  one  can  not  pass  in  a  day  from  the  negation  of 
scrofula,  as  a  lesion,  to  the  complete  comprehension  of  its 
phases  of  evolution.  Also  H.  Martin  first,  then  Grancher, 
pointt'd  out  the  so-called  differences  between  the  tubercle  of 
scrofula  and  that  of  phthisis.  The  full-grown  tubercle,  that 
is  to  say.  the  gray  granulation,  was  never  seen  in  scrofula  by 
Grancher  particularly,  which  leads  to  this  enormity  (only 
when  by  chance,  as  we  shall  see  presently,  the  granulation  is 


29(5  TUBERCLE  ONLY  A  LESION  OF  SCROFULA. 

met  with  there)  that  scrofula  ceases  to  give  place  to  tubercu- 
losis. It  is  necessary,  then,  that  our  age  should  have  for- 
gotten every  nosological  idea,  to  subordinate  the  knowledge 
of  a  morbid  species  to  a  simple  problem  of  pathological 
anatomy.  Strange  confusion !  One  realizes  very  well  never- 
theless that  it  is  not  the  true  ground  which  the  mind  seeks 
so  much  as  clinical  arguments.  The  tubercular  disease  is 
recognized,  says  H.  Martin,  by  the  generalization  of  its 
lesions.  According  to  this  statement,  how  much  of  phthisis 
localized  in  the  lungs  would  be  foreign  to  the  so-called  tuber- 
cular diathesis?  And  vet,  is  it  a  disease  usuallv,  and  of  its 
nature  generalized,  of  which  the  lesions  can  not  be  localized? 
For  example  the  purulent  diathesis,  which  can  be  explained 
as  a  single  or  circumscribed  lesion;  rheumatic  endocarditis, 
etc.  To  distinguish  a  morbid  si)ccies,  one  ought  to  require 
the  sum  total  of  sj)ecilic  characters,  a  distinct  evolution, 
while  attentive  observation  teaches  us  that  generalized  or 
localized  phthisis  is  a  phase,  a  period  or  a  form  of  the  evo- 
lution of  scrofula.  Primitive  phthisis,  or  phthisis  in  it« 
incipiency,  is  only  an  apparent  exception  which  one  meets 
in  all  constitutional  diseases.  Tertiary  syphilis  offers  many 
analogous  oases. 

Brissaud,  to  whom  it  is  time  to  return,  takes  up  judic- 
iouslv  the  anatomical  constitution  of  the  tubercle.  Does  it 
possess  a  sj>ecific  element?  First  the  cell  of  Lebert  had  its 
day;  the  giant  cell,  which  Schuepfel  announced  a  short  time 
in  Germany  as  characteristic,  is  seen  in  several  other  pro- 
ductions; it  does  not  exist  as  a  special  element.  But  they 
believe  generally  to-day  (Koster,  Brissaud)  that  what  is 
peculiar  in  this  morbid  product,  is  the  arrangement  of  ele- 
ments, that  is  their  reciprocal  relations  to  constitute  what 
they  have  named  the  primitive  tubercular  follicle,  visilile 
only  under  the  microscope.  It  was  composed  at  the  centre* 
of  one  or  two  giant  cells  with  their  ramified  prolongations, 
and  at  the  periphery  of  a  layer  of  cells  called  epithdoid. 

The  casefication  is  effected  from  the  centre  to  the  peri- 
phery; this  is  moreover  susceptible  of  transformation  into 


I 


0.  B.  MOSS.  2M7 

fibrous  tissue,  which  clearly  proves  that  tubercle  has  a  nat- 
ural tendency  towards  recovery.  The  accunfulation  of  a 
more  or  less  large  number  of  these  follicles,  their  complete 
or  regressive  state,  accounts  for  the  diverse  forms  admitted 
by  Laennec:  miliary  tubercles — granulations — unformed 
tubercles  in  masses  of  variable  size — encvsted  tubercles. 
The  casefication  commences  always  through  the  centre  of  the 
agglomerations. 

Behold  then  the  grey  granulation,  semi-transparent, 
divested  of  its  preeminence;  the  four  forms  of  Laennec  have 
the  same  anatomical  constitution.  And  one  can  no  longer 
argue  from  the  absence  of  the  granulation  in  caseous  phth- 
isis, in  scrofulous  lesions,  to  call  in  question  the  presence  of 
true  tubercle. 

But  still,  is  the  absence  of  the  granulation  constant  in 
cases  of  this  nature?  We  shall  see  that  it  is  not,  as  it  is 
true  that  it  is  nothing  else  anatomically  than  a  mode  of 
grouping  follicles,  and  clinically  a  form  more  grave.  Bris- 
saud  has  encountered  it  in  effect  sufficientlv  often  in  local 
tuberculization  of  scrofulous  origin,  in  the  uterus  and  ovaries, 
in  white  tumors,  in  the  lungs  around  the  centres  of  the 
tubercles  of  recovery  of  CruX*eilheir,  the  same  centres  which 
Bazin  described  under  the  name  of  pulmonary  scrofula. 
Brissaud  relates  from  this  last  category  two  or  three  curious 
observations. 

The  history  of  the  anatomy  of  lupus  is  not  less  inter- 
esting. Bazin  admitted  formerly  its  tubercular  nature, 
while  the  Germans  considered  it  as  a  common  lesion,  con- 
cerning themselves  but  little  about  scrofula  for  which  Lebert 
had  not  found  the  i>roiH'r  anatomical  element.  Unsettled  by 
the  works  of  Auspitz.  Bazin  changing  his  opinion,  after- 
wards regarded  lupus  as  fibro-plastic.  But  Fried  lander, 
taking  uj)  the  old  ideas  of  French  dermatologists,  showed 
tubercular  infiltration  of  the  skin  in  this  affection,  the  same 
as  for  scrofuh)US  ganglions  and  articular  fungosities.  Never- 
theless Volkman  imagined  this  ingenious  theory,  that  scrof- 
ulous affections  were  onlv  tuberculoid. 


29S  TUBERCLE  ON  LI  A  LESION  OF  SCROFULA. 

The  return  of  these  German  works  to  France  has  been 
extremely  unwelcome,  though  we  know  that  Brissaud  has 
already  taken  up  the  investigations  and  verilied  with  perfect 
exactitude  the  conclusions  of  Friedlander.  While  the 
lesion  of  lupus  exists  in  the  skin,  the  scrofulous  gomme, 
tuberculous  also,  has  a  sub-dermatic  localization.  They 
have  not  met  then  so  far  the  granulations  formerly  classi- 
fied, but  that  is  not  necessary.  The  French  school  has 
returned  with  reason  to  the  true  doctrine  of  the  unity  of 
phthisis:  Grancher  in  particular  is  a  very  warm  partisan  of 
it.  One  may  then  en<]uire  of  him,  by  what  claim  caseous 
])hthisis  is  a  true  tubercular  affection  more  than  any  other 
local  tubercle  lesion,  if  all  the  anatomical  forms  of  tubercle 
are  not  equivalents?  Brissaud  goes  on  to  conclude — and  it 
i:?  a  marvel  to  see  how  a  just  notion  of  i)ath()logioal  anatomy 
could  make  him  understand  the  higher  and  more  difficult 
nosological  solution.  The  right  path  always  conducts  to  the 
truth. 

Does  it  result,  says  our  author,  from  the  rxistenoe  of 
true  tubercle  in  scrofula,  that  this  is  going  to  disappear 
before  that?  No,  he  judicioush-  replies,  because  all  lesions 
of  scrofula  are  not  tubercular.  What  results,  on  tiie  con- 
trarv,  sav^  he,  is  that  the  scrofulous  i?)  diathesis  absorbs  to 
its  profit  the  so-called  tui)ercular  diathesis.  Scrofula  is  not 
an  ejdiemeral  malady;  it  continuis  for  years  like  syphilis, 

and  tubercle  is  an  anatomical  detail  of  that  diathesis;  but  it 

• 

does  not  represent  a  uni(iue  morbi<l  variety  any  more  than 
it  is  fatal  and  inevitable.  In  other  terms,  the  scrofulous  are 
not  more  condemned  to  have  tubercles  than  are  the  syphil- 
itic to  have  gomme-i ;  but  l)oth  are  eijually  menaced.  From 
the  dav  when  one  becomes  scrofulous  as  from  the  day  when 
one  becomes  syphilitic  one  is  exposed  to  the  superlative 
manifestations  of  the  diathesis.  Does  this  conception  exclude 
incipient  phthisis  from  scrofula  which  occurs  unexpectedly 
in  a  subject  reputed  to  be  exemj)t  from  every  scrofulous 
accident?     Never. 

One  can  onl}'  take  up  here  the  term  diathesis  applied 


ANAL  FISTULA.  299 

to  scrofula,  and  the  incorrect  idea  that  one  becomes  scrofu- 
lous as  one  becomes  syphilitic.  It  is  statel\'  language  not 
unworthy  of  VArt  MMical^  to  the  doctrines  of  which  it  is  a 
splendid  homage.  May  these  doctrines  born  of  the  genius 
of  Tessier  be  powerful  to  impress  the  mind ! 

I  will  take  the  liberty  of  adding  to  the  discussion  of  the 
author  an  indispensable  corollary.  Since,  in  effect,  phthisis 
is  an  affection  of  scrofula,  and  since  in  another  form  its 
characteristic  anatomical  lesion  is  found  in  other  scrofulous 
affections,  it  still  would  not  be  known  as  an  arthritic  or 
herpetic  affection ;  it  is  a  stern  consequence.  And  arthritic 
and  herpetic  phthisis  are  suppressed  into  naught.  Also 
nothing  indeed  hinders  the  herpetic  or  gouty  from  becoming 
phthisical;  that  is  seen  every  day,  because  it  is  possible  that 
they  be  at  the  same  time  scrofulous.  But  M.  Pidoux,  the 
early  master  of  'all  these  phthises,  has  nevertheless  taught 
us  that  the  most  fortunate  occurrence  for  the  hepetic  or 
gouty,  who  have  become  phthisical,  is  to  see  the  gouty  and 
herpetic  manifestations  freely  reappear,  for  then  the  tuber- 
cular malady  can  be  more  easily  checked.  The  learned 
inspector  of  the  Bonnes  Srprings  has  himself  seen  there 
what  he  has  called  elements  of  antagonism.  That  is  remote 
from  this  theory  for  the  identification  of  phthisis  with  gout 
or  herpes.  Brought  back  to  their  true  point,  these  very 
substantial  facts  usher  in  a  new  day  more  favorable  to  })rac- 
tical  consequences,  and  merit  a  special  study  for  which  this 
is  not  the  place. 

ANAL  FISTULA. 


.M.   R()i:\R\l  HEK,   M.I)..   BATTLE   fRKKK.   MUU 


Without  desiring  to  occupy  space  or  time  with  a  disser- 
tation upon  the  inception  and  history  of  this  disease,  we 
will  confine  ourselves  brieflv  to  that  which  most  interests 
the  busy  practitioner,  viz:  The  treatment  of  this  most  obsti- 
nate and  perplexing  disease. 


800  ANAL  FISTULA. 

In  the  outset  let  me  say  that  tlie  surgeon  is  scarce  ever 
made  aware  of  its  presence  in  his  patient,  particularly  in 
females,  on  account  of  delicacy,  until  It  has  made  consider- 
.  able  inroads  into  the  constitution,  and  consequently  much 
valuable  time  is  lost,  and  the  disease  has  become  aggravated 
by  delav. 

Fistula'  may  for  convenience  be  divided  into  two  classes, 
the  complete  and  incomplete;  complete  when  it  has  an 
external  perineal  opening,  and  an  internal  or  rectal  opening; 
and  incomplete  when  the  sinus  or  canal  does  not  enter  the 
intestine.  Formerly  in  nearly  all  cases,  resort  was  had  to 
the  knife  as  a  means  of  cure.  This  was  done  by  thrusting  a 
probe-pointed  scalpel  or  history  into  the  external  opening  of 
the  fistula,  the  finger  or  a  round  stick  the  size  of  the  finger 
into  the  rectum,  and  then  by  one  sweep  downward  and  out- 
wards, divide  the  sinus,  sphincter  muscle,  and  all  intervening 
tissues.  It  is  against  this  treatment  that  we  wish  to  raise 
our  protest,  not  only  because  of  its  many  signal  failures  and 
consequent  inconvenience  to  the  patient,  but  because  we 
believe  there  is  a  better  way,  and  one  far  more  pleasant  to 
both  surgeon  and  j)atient. 

When  the  surgeon  is  made  aware  of  the  presence  of  an 
Anal  Fistula  in  his  patient  his  first  duty  is  to  carefully  and 
slowly  examin(%  by  probing,  ever\'  part  of  the  sinus  to 
ascertain  its  direction,  and  branching  if  any;  this  determined 
he  should  then  take  a  small  pledget  or  tent  of  fine  absorbent 
cotton,  and  inclose  some  finely  pulverized  Sulphate  of  Zinc, 
introducing  it  into  the  sinus,  making  sure  that  it  is  pushed 
to  the  bottom  or  to  its  opening  into  the  intestine.  This  will 
not  cause  the  ]>atient  severe  pain,  but  simply  a  burning  in 
the  parts  for  an  hour  or  more.  It  will  thoroughly  destroy 
the  pyogenic  membrane  forming  the  walls  of  the  sinus. 
This  is  the  first  and  most  important  step  towards  a  cure. 
After  two  or  three  davs  we  shall  find  this  membrane  to  have 
completely  sloughed  out,  leaving  the  opening  or  canal  ina 
healthy  condition  for  healing,  which  must  be  assisted  as 
rapidly  as  possible.     We  are  now  to  take  another  tent  of 


CHEESY  PNEUMONIA.  301 

cotton  saturated  with  plain  Cosmoline  and  introduced  inta 
the  opening,  pushing  it  to  the  bottom,  to  prevent  the  canal 
from  healing  externally  before  it  does  at  tlie  bottom.  This 
will  insxu'e  healthy  granulations  which  will  soon  close  up 
the  canal  from  the  bottom  whilst  it  is  open  externally  giving 
drainage  for  the  necessary  discharge.  As  to  internal  reme- 
dies, the  general  condition  of  the  patient  must  govern  our 
prescribing,  but  material  aid  will  be  given  by  such  remedies 
as  Caust.,  Graph.,  Silica,  Sulph.,  and  perhaps  Merc.  The 
patient  should  not  be  aMowed  to  walk  much  during  the 
healing  proee^^. 

If  this  mode  of  treatment  is  closely  followed,  failure 
need  not  occur,  and  the  terrible  abhorrence  on  the  part  of 
patients  to  the  use  of  the  knife  obviated. 


CHEESY  PNEUMONIA  OR  CHRONIC  PHTHISIS  PUL 

MONUM. 


I'.Y  a.   N.    HRHiM-VM,   M.   D.,   GHAND   RAriI>>. 


Mrs.  Scott  has  Ix'en  failing  in  health  for  three  years.  Is 
now  at  her  climaxis  not  having  menstruated  for  three 
months.  Has  been  troubled  with  a  cough  for  three  years 
and  constantly  getting  worse,  and  lier  strength  also/  has 
steadily  diminished  and  more  especially  for  the  last  six 
months.  Attending  physician  has- treated  her  for  ])ronchitis 
wliich  mav  have  been  the  cliaract  r  of  her  disease  at  fir,st. 
She  has  a  bad  record  in  familv  historv  as  most  of  lier  friends 
have  died  of  consumption.  Percussion  shows  dullness  of 
most  of  the  ui)per  tliird  of  tlie  right  lung  and  tenderness  from 
percussion  stroke.  Auscultation  gives  hrochophony  and 
mucus  role-  of  a  suspicious  cliaracter.  Exi>ectorates  a  thick 
3'ellowish  muco-puruler.t  matter.  My  theory  is  that  a 
clironio  bronchitis  has  progre.ssed  downward  until  casts  liave 
blocked  the  air-cells,  and  by  pressure  strangulated  the  circu- 
lation mostly  in  tlie  caj)illaries  in  this  part  of  the  lung.  This 
has  caused  exudation  also  from  the  walls  of  the  blood-ves- 


302  CHEESY  PNEUMONIA. 

sels  of  a  fibrinous  nature  wliich  are  of  the  nature  of  tubercle 
or  histologically  follow  probably  the  laws  of  tubercle.  In 
this  way  a  large  per  cent,  of  our  consumptives  come  to  us. 
Her  temperature  is  only  a  little  above  the  natural  but  her 
pulse  sums  up  over  100  per  minute.  She  has  night  sweats 
very  little  appetite  and  is  sleepless  and  nervous.  Has  chills 
which  begin  on  the  hands  and  run  up  the  back:  hot  hands 
and  feet  and  flashes  of  heat.  Is  troubled  with  an  irritable 
bladder,  weakness  of  chest  from  talking — says  she  coughs 
mo^  in  the  morning.  Gave  Sulphur,  100  m.,  (Fincke.)  one 
dose,  to  be  followed  in  two  days  by  Lachesis  200  at  night 
on  going  to  bed.  Reports  in  one  week.  Night  sweats  nearly 
gone,  cough  greatly  ameliorated,— raises  less  and  feels  much 
better.  Continue  Lachesis  at  longer  intervals.  Reports  in 
two  weeks.  Pulse  down  to  1)0  per  minute,  continues  to 
improve.  This  patient  has  now  been  in  our  charge  for  five 
weeks  and  seems  pro^ressin*:  well.  We  had  grave  doubts 
about  her  recovery  when  we' took  i>atient  owing  to  her  age 
and  antecedents,  and  so  expressed  ourselves  to  her  husband. 
We  ordered  Trommer's  Ext.  Malt  to  be  taken  three  times  a 
day  and  plenty  of  out  of  door  excercise.  We  also  ordered 
her  the  free  use  of  milk  and  cream  and  a  good  diet;  that 
she  should  be  carefully  wiped  off  after  sweating,  with  alcohol 
and  rubbed  dry;  that  she  should  wear  silk  next  the  skin 
over  the  chest  and  on  her  feet. 

This  patient  came  to  us  after  visiting  Detroit,  and  con- 
sulting a  physician  who  diagnosed  a  tul)ercular  atfection  of 
the  apex  of  right  lung  and  selected  for  her  treatment  Sul- 
phur 2(X)  and  Calcarea  Carb.  200  in  alternation,  which  she 
had  taken  for  one  week  with  a  slight  amendment  as  she 
thought,  upon  the  cruder  drugs  taken  for  the  three  years 
previous.  Tlie  improvement,  if  any,  is  no  doubt,  from  the 
use  of  Sulphur  and  not  the  Calcarea.  But  the  quick  response 
from  the  one  dose  of  1(X)  m.  shows  how  much  better  its 
.action,  and  this  supported  by  Lachesis  a  valuable  remedy 
for  the  menapause  seems  to  have  accomplished  all^that  could 
be  desired. 


PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.  303 

HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY  OF  PENNSYL- 
VANIA:    ANNUAL  MEETING. 


■("oi  tiiuiod  from  No.  ^.1 


EVENING    SESSION. 

Dr.  B.  W.  James  resumed  the  discussion  by  making 
remarks  on  the  poor  ventilation  of  school-rooms.  Frequently 
the  heater  and  ventilator  were  on  the  same  side  of  the  room, 
so  that  the  air  came  out  of  the  heater  and  immediately-passed 
upwards,  and  out  of  the  ventilator  without  warming  the  room. 

Dr.  J.  F.  Cooper  said  that  in  the  construction  of  our 
buildings,  we  should  see  that  ventilation  should  be  so  attended 
to,  that  the  inhabitants  breathe  the  air  in  as  natural  a  condi- 
tion as  possible.  In  some  of  the  buildings  in  Europe,  fresh 
air  is  procured  by  forcing  it  in  by  a  fan  kept  in  constant 
motion.  SufHcient  attention  is  not  paid  to  the  ventilation  of 
public  halls.  If  the  air  in  these  should  be  surcharged  with 
carbonic  acid,  many  who  are  compelled  to  breathe  it  cannot 
resist  the  drowsy  influences  thus  engendered.  . 

Dr.  L.  H.  Willard  spoke  of  impure  food  and  drink.  He 
referred  to  an  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  under  his  observa- 
tion which  was  undoubtedly  due  to  impure  milk. 

Dr.  B.  \V.  James  said  that  while  in  Englaud  a  year  or  so 
ago,  he  called  on  Dr.  Richard  Hughes,  who  told  him  of  a 
number  of  cases  of  typhoid  fever  he  was  then  treating,  arising 
it  was  supposed  from  drinking  contaminated  milk. 

Dr.  Trites  thought  that  from  the  discussion  this  evening, 
one  would  be  led  to  believe  that  to  have  a  house  in  a  sani- 
tary condition  was  impossij^le,  yet  such  things  were  feasible. 
We  should  have  sanitary  inspectors,  whose  business  it  was 
to  enforce  all  sanitarv  measures  in  the  construction  of  houses. 

Dr.  A.  R.  Thomas  said  that  before  we  could  regulate 
matters  under  discussion,  we  would  have  to  understand  the 
causes  of  disease.  It  really  looks  as  if  the  germ  theory  of 
disease  will  answer  many  puzzling  questions. 

Dr.  J.  F.  Cooper  then  closed  the  discussion  by  making  a 


•  \ 


^304  PENXS  YL  V  A  NIA  MEDIC  A  L  SOCIETY. 

few  reniiirks;  and  Dr.  A.  R.  Thomas,  chairman  of  the  Bureau 
of  Pathology  and  Pathological  Anatomy  presented  his  report. 
But  two  papers  were  presented  by  this  bureau.  One  on  the 
"Pathology  of  the  Blood"  by  Dr.  A.  R.  Thomas,  and  the 
other  "On  the  Arrangement  of  Living  Matter"  by  Dr.  W. 
C.  Goodno.  These  papers  were  read  and  referred  for  publi- 
cation.  No  discussion  ensuing,  the  report  of  the  Bureau  of 
Ophthalmology  and  Otology,  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Bigler,  chairman, 
was  declared  in  order. 

Dr.  Bartlett  in  his  paper  "On  the  Etiological  Relati(m  be- 
tween chronic  suppurative  otitis  media  and  brain  disease" 
contended  that  disease  of  tlie  middle  ear,  was  liable  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  cerebral  disease,  not  by  reason  of  suppression  of 
the  original  disease,  but  by  extension  of  the  i>rimary  inflam- 
mation to  the  brain  by  continuity  of  structure. 

A  paper  by  Dr.  Jos.  E.  Jones  of  West  Chester,  was  then 
read  by  title. 

Dr.  Pemberton  Dudley  presented  by  synopsis,  a  paper 
on  the  "Physiology  of  the  Middle  Ear."  He  explairted  that 
under  the  received  theory,  that  sonorous  vibrations  are  trans- 
mitted across  the  tympanum  by  the  swing  of  the  ossicles,  the 
fact  that  the  ear  can  appreciate  a  number  of  notes  at  one 
time,  cannot  be  understood.  The  additional  fact  that 
destruction  of  the  membrane  witli  consequent  loss  of  the 
ossicular  function,  does  not  destroy  the  auditory  sense,  fur- 
nishes strong  evidence  that  the  old  theory  is  either  entirely 
wrong  or  else  at  least  incomplete.  His  own  view  is,  that 
sonorous  vibrations  do  not  cause  movements  of  the  ossicles 
ill  nia-is,  but  oscillatory  movements  of  their  particles  only,  and 
that  in  all  probability  most  of  the  vibrations  are  transmitted 
through  the  tympanic  air,  and  n«t  through  the  ossicles  at  all, 
the  function  of  the  latter  being  chiefly  and  j)erhaj)S  solely,  to 
"set"  or  "attune"  the  tympanic  membrane  in  the  tirat 
place,  and  (by  pressure  of  the  stapes  against  the  cochlear  fluid) 
the  membrane  of  the  "round  window"  in  the  second  place. 

Dr.  Bigler  read  a  paper  on  the  **  Relation  of  Ophthalmos- 
copy to  General  Medicine"  of  which  the  following  is  an  ab- 


PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,  305 

«tract.  There  are  certain  general  symptoms  that  depend  upon 
certain  conditions  of  the  eyes,  and  can  only  be  remedied  by 
treatment  of  these.  Such  are  the  head-aches  and  neuralgia, 
dependent  upon  muscular  and  accommodative  asthenopia, 
and  are  relieved  only  by  the  use  of  proper  glasses.  There  are 
•certain  diseases  of  the  eye,  dependent  upon  systemic  condi- 
tions, and  therefore  to  be  remedied  only  by  attention  to  these, 
as  disturbance  of  the  sexual  organs.  Disorders  of  digestive 
■organs  affect  the  eye,  producing  muscie  volitantes.  Serious 
•deterioration  of  vision  often  results  from  disease  of  the  teeth 
and  jaws.  Retinal  affections  sometimes  attend  chronic  liver 
•complaints.  Catarrh  occurs  in  diabetes,  and  certain  forms 
of  retinitis  in  Bright's  disease.  Certain  abnormal  conditions 
•of  the  pupil  are  noticed  in  various  diseases  of  the  nervous 
system.  Retinal  hemorrhage  may  point  to  atheromatous 
blood-vessels,  hypertrophy  of  the  heart,  or.  impending  cere- 
bral apoplexy.  The  changes  in  Bright's  disease,  point  so 
unmistakably  to  it  that  the  diagnosis  can  be  pronounced 
even  before  the  on^et  of  albuminuria.  Locomotor  ataxy  can 
frequently  be  diagnosed  by  the  ocular  symptoms  before  the 
staggering  gait  has  occurred.  Meningitis  is  frequently  recog- 
nized (irst  in  the  eye.  •  Finally,  in  localizing  tumors,  clots 
and  lesions  in  the  l>rain,  the  ocular  symi)tonis  are  of  the 
highest  importance. 

The  report  of  the  bureau  was  now  placed  before  tlie  so- 
cietv  for  discussion. 

Dr.  Farrington  referred  to  a  case  under  his  observatiiiU 
of  a  little  boy,  aet.  twelve  years,  who  had  a  series  of  nervous 
symptoms  which  led  his  physicians  to  diagnose  l»rain  dis- 
ease.    The  fitting  of  proper  glasses  cured. 

Dr.  II.  C.  Allen  believed  that  specialists  often  overdid 
matters.  They  will  have  every  third  or  fifth  child  wearing 
glasses.  He  had  seen  cases  in  wliich  specialists  had  pre- 
scribed glasses,  and  afterwards,  when  these  patients  had  im- 
proved in  hejdth  under  homteopathic  treatment,  they  were 
•enabled  to  throw  glasses  aside. 

Dr.  William  A.  Phillips,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  said  that  in 


3()t)  PEXNS YL  V. I yiA  MED  10 A  L  SOCIETY. 

* 

no  disease  did  the  general  ]>ractitioner  more  frequently  fail 
in  his  treatment  than  in  chronic  oton:hoea.  He  is  also  apt  to 
counsel  his  patients  to  let  the  disease  alone.  Yet  this  trouble 
may  go  on  and  j)roduce  fatal  brain  disease.  Only  recently  a 
professional  friend  called  on  him  and  spoke  of  his  little 
daughter's  case  of  otorrhoea  without  apprehension,  yet  the 
symptoms  were  such  ns  to  show  that  brain  disease  had 
already  set  in.  That  child  died  in  a  few  davs.  The  sooner 
the  discharge  can  l)e  cured^the  sooner  will  the  patient  be  out 
of  danger.  Dr.  Allen  spoke  of  cases  cured  by  the  general 
practitioner.  Those  were  cases  in  which  there  was  aj)parent 
myopia  after  the  spasm  of  the  muscle  was  relieved ;  then 
there  was  no  necessity  for  the  use  of  glasses.  Myopia  of 
school  children  is  produced  only  by  continually  working  at 
close  objects.  In  answer  to  a  question  by  Dr.  Morgan,  Dr. 
Phillips  said  that  the  symj)tc)ms  in  the  fatal  case  of  otorrhoea, 
were  hea<lache,  fever,  rigor,  tenderness  over  the  mastoid,  and 
beginning  stujmr. 

Dr.  H.  \V.  .lames  thought  that  these  ear  troubles  should 
be  cured  as  soon  as  possible,  for  there  is  great  liability  of  ex- 
tension of  the  diseased  process  to  the  niastoid  cells.  In  some 
cases,  it  is  advisable  to  make  local  aj)plications. 

Dr.  H.  (\  Allen  said  that  specialists  having  their  atten- 
tion directed  to  certain  subjects,  were  apt  to  run  in  grooves. 
Having  their  thoughts  continually  directed  to  the  eyes,  they 
were  very  aj)t  to  neglect  constitutional  symptoms,  and  apply 
topical  apulications  where  the  general  practitioner  would  cure 
the  patient  with  his  constitutional  remedies. 

Dr.  Higler  disagreed  with  Dr.  Phillips  regarding  the  cause 
of  the  trouble  in  the  cases  wearing  glasses  referred  to  by  Dr. 
Allen  as  having  been  cured.  The.se  were  cases  of  hyperme- 
tropia.  Weakness  in  the  muscle  of  accommodation  produced 
by  poor  health,  cau.sed  asthenopia.  The  remedies  builcling 
up  the  general  health,  the  asthenopia  was  cured. 

Dr.  Morgan  said  that  in  some  cases  the  emmetropic  eye 
may  be  affected  with  weakness  of  the  ciliary  muscle,  and 
may  require  convex  glasses  for  its  relief. 


PENNSYLVANIA   MEDICAL  SOCIETY.  307 

There  being  no  further  discussion,  the  bureau  ch)sed.  and 
the  meeting  adjourned  until  the  following  morning. 

SECOND    DAY.  — MORNING    SESSION. 

The  report  of  the  Bureau  of  Piedology  was  called  for, 
and  Dr.  M.  M.  Walker,  the  chairman,  responded  by  reading 
a  paper  by  Dr.  S.  F.  Shannon  on  *^  Gastritis. " 

A  paper  on  ''Haemorrhage  from  the  Umbilicus,"  by  Dr. 
J.  R.  Mansfield,  was  presented  on  behalf  of  the  Germantown 
Medical  Society.  The  paper  closed  with  the  report  of  the 
case  of  an  infant,  five  days  old,  in  which  haemorrhage  from 
the  umbilical  cord  set  in.  Re-ligation  of  the  cord  and  Hama- 
melis  locally,  relieved  for  awhile.  Then  styptic  cotton, 
nitrate  of  silver,  compresses,  and  persulphate  of  iron  were 
applied,  with  no  avail.  At  last,  a  subcutaneous  ligature  was 
applied  about  tlie  umbilicus,  but  the  child  soon  afterwards 
died. 

Dr.  Van  Artsdalen  then  read  a  paper  in  which  he  treated 
fully  of  the  etiology,  symptomatology,  etc.,  of  ** Cyanosis." 

Dr.  J.  C.  Guernsey  read  a  paper  on  "Convulsions."  The 
following  are  a  few  of  the  remedies  recommended,  with  their 
indications:  Aniyl  nitrite^  unconsciousness,  inability  to  swal- 
low. Hepar  in  cases  caused  by  injury  after  Arnica  fails. 
J?ryon?a,'cases  arising  from  repercusi'ion  of  measles.  Camphor, 
from  suppressed  catarrh  of  the  head  or  chest.  Cuprum,  ader 
the  spasm,  the  child  twists  and  turns  until  another  one 
comes.  Hydrocyanic  acid,  spasms  aftecting  muscles  of  the 
face,  jaws  and  back,  blueness  of  the  surface  of  the  body. 
Platina,  in  ansemic  children,  tonic  spasms  without  loss  of 
consciousness.  Stanyium,  convulsions  with  the  cutting  of 
each  tooth,  worm  symptoms.  Stramonium,  spasms  better  in 
the  light  and  wor.se  in  the  dark.  Veratr,  vir.,  ana?mic  sub- 
jects, from  exhausting  diarrhoea.  Indigo,  when  there  is  great 
tendency  to  frequently  recurring  spasms. 

Papers  were  then  read  by  Dr.  E.  S.  Sharpless  on  •*  Intej?- 
tinal  Worms,"  and  by.  Dr.  M.  M.  Walker  on  "Intestinal  In- 
flammations." 

Dr.  Hasiirouck,  of  New  York,  opened  the  di.scussion  bv 
.3 


30S  PENNSYLIANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

rehiarking  that  Pelleterine  was  his  favorite  remedy  for  tape- 
worm. He  knew  of  no  symptom  which  indicated  positively 
the  presence  of  tape-worm,  except  the  passage  of  segments  of 
the  worm  itself.  In  the  treatment  of  pin- worms,  he  used  in- 
'♦^etions  of  salt  water  followed  by  inunction  of  lard. 

Dr.  M.  M.  Walker  had  met  with  four  cases  similar  to 
those' of  Dr.  Mansfield,  and  all  proved  fatal,  and  in  all,  the 
physician  was  blamed  for  not  tying  the  cord  properly.    . 

Dr.  Skeels  referred  to  endocarditis  during  uterine  life  as 
a  possible  cause  of  cyanosis.  He  believed  that  convulsions  in 
children  are  frequently  due  lo  mismanagement  of  the  cord 
at  birth. 

Dr.  Hetts  spoke  of  the  natural  method  of  separation  of 
ho  child  from  the  placenta  in  those  cases  in  which  there  is 
no  physician  to  interfere,  namely,  severing  of  the  cord  by 
violence  at  a  point  about  three  or  four  fingers'  breadths  from 
the  umbilicus.  This  is  the  point  at  which  we  should  ligate 
the  cord,  and  in  doing  this  good  silk  should  be  used.  He 
was  in  the  habit  of  dressing  the  cord  with  absorbent  cotton 
in  his  cases.  Some  cases  of  htemorrhage  from  the  umbilicus, 
are  due  to  hsemaphilia. 

Tiie  discussion  was  then  closed.  The  President  next 
called  for  the  report  of  the  Bureau  of  Surgery,  Dr.  L.  H.  Wil- 
lard,  of  Allegheny  City,  chairman. 

Dr.  John  E.  James  read  the  records  of  four  cases  of  car- 
buncle in  which  Hepar  was  indicated.  The  first  case  was  that 
of  a  man,  aged  sixty  years.  The  carbuncle  here  was  sur- 
rounded by  indurated  spots.  The  pain  was  intense.  After 
taking  the  remedy  one  day,  the  pain  was  relieved;. healthy 
pus  was  discharged  from  tlie  carbuncle.  The  small  openings 
over  it  became  more  numerous.  The  entire  slough  came 
away  in  a  week,  and  in  a  short  time  the  sore  was  healed. 
Hardly  had  this  taken  place  when  a  new  carbuncle  began 
about  six  inches  from  the  first.  Hepar  was  given  with  a  bril- 
liant result.  The  other  cases  were  similar  to  the  above,  and 
were  all  promptly  cured  by  Hepar. 

Dr.  \j.  H.  Willard  read  a  paper  on  *'  Bryonia  in  Injuries 


PENNSYLVANIA   MEDICAL  SOCIETY  309 

of  the  Spine."  He  8j)oke  of  a  lad  who  received  a  slight  injury 
to  the  back,  and  who  was  permitted  to  go  about  as  usual. 
Four  days  after  the  recejHion  of  the  injury,  he  could  not  walk 
or  sit  up  in  bed.  The  spine  was  sensitive  to  a  very  slight 
touch.  Be/ladonna,  Arnicd,  and  Pulsatilla  were  given  with 
no  benefit.  Brynnia  was  next  given,  and  the  improvement 
was  satisfactory.  The  remedy  was  discontinued  and  aggra- 
vation set  in.  Recovery  went  on  again  after  the  renewal  of 
the  remedv. 

Dr.  McClelland  read  a  paper  on  '•  The  Radical  Cure  of 
Inguinal  Hernia."  He  recommended  that  an  incision  be  made 
over  the  hernial  tumor  and  the  hernial  sac  exposed.  Then 
the  hernia  is  returned  without  opening  the  sac  if  it  is  reduci- 
ble. If  necessary,  open  the  sac  to  effect  reduction.  If  it  has 
not  been  opened,  it  is  invaginated,  and  the  hernial  aperture  is 
closed  witli  two  or  more  sutures  and  dressed  antiseptically. 
If  the  sac  has  been  opened,  it  can  be  removed  in  whole  or  in 
part;  stitches  introduced,  and  care  taken  to  secure  drainage. 
Results  are  more  satisfactory  when  healing  by  granulation 
hiis  taken  place. 

Dr.  L  H.  Williird  reported  a  case  of  subglenoid  disloca- 
tion of  the  humerus,  in  which  the  j)atient  could,  with  the 
hand  of  the  injured  side,  touch  the  shoulder  of  the  opposite. 

Dr.  Lefever  reported  an  interesting  case  of  a  foreign  body 
in  tiie  rectum. 

Dr.  John  E.  James,  in  discussing  Dr.  Willard's  case  of 
dir^location  of  the  shoulder,  said  that  he  presumed  that  the 
ligaments  of  the  joint  must  have  been  longer  than  normal  to 
])ermit  of  this  motion  of  the  hjind.  In  one  case  of  inguinal 
hernia  in  which  Dr.  James  had  operated  and  removed  part 
of  the  omentum,  he  neglected  to  take  the  precaution  to  stitch 
tlie  mass  in  the  ring.  While  a  cure  was  effected,  it  was  only 
temporary. 

Dr.  McClelland  referred  to  a  case  of  inguinal  hernia  in 
which  he  n^moved  part  of  the  omentum,  but  neglected  to 
stitch  the  omentum  in  the  ring.  The  case  made  a  good 
recover  v. 


3H)  PKNSS  YL  VA  MA  MEDIC  A  L  SOCIETY, 

Dr.  Willard  had  used  carbolic  acrid,  one  to  ^\e^  to  })ro- 
niote  rapid  su[)j)uration.  He  did  not  agree  with  Dr.  Janies 
that  there  were  rehixed  li^^anients  in  his  case  of  (hsK)cation  at 
the  shoulder-joint,  as  the  humcMUS  in  efi'ectin«:  reduction  went 
back  with  a  snap.  He  thought  that  the  explanation  of  the 
symptom  <?ould  l)e  found  in  the  fact  that  the  i>atient  had  pos- 
terior and  lnteral  curvatures  of  the  spine. 

Drs.  Hashrouck,  Burr,  Walker,  Betts,  Dunning,  Jones, 
and  Phillips,  of  Cape  May,  continued  the  discussion  on  car- 
buncle; after  which  tiie  Bureau  of  Materia  Medica  through 
its  chairman,  Dr.  Pitcairn,  reported  the  following  |)apers  as- 
having  heenjpresented  for  consideration  by  the  society. 

"A  Study  of  Piscidia  Erythrina,"  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Morgan; 
"A  Schema  of  the  Proving  of  Picrate  of  Zinc,"  by  Dr.  H.  Pit- 
cairn; *' Provings  of  Jessiimine,"  by  Dr.  L.  H.  Willard; 
"  Provings  of  Arctium  Lappa,''  by  the  C'hester,  Delaware,  and 
Montgomery  (bounty  Society;  '* Verifications  of  Baptisia,''  by 
Dr.  Joseph  K.  Jones;  ''Verifi(;ations  of  Lycopus,"  by  Dr.  H* 
H.  Heed;  "' Verifications  of  Pulsatilla  and  Sulphur,"  by  Dr. 
K.  C.  Allen;  "The  Hotnoeopathic  Materia  Medica,"  by  Dr.  L 
Lefever;  and  ''Comments  upon  Remedies  for  Post-Nasal  Ca- 
tarrh,'' by  Dr.  E.  A.  Farrington. 

Of  the  last  named  paper,  we  give  the  following  abstracts: 
Fmjopi/rum,  is  the  remedy  when*  each  exposure  is  sure  to  in- 
crease the  catarrh,  with  formation  of  dry  crusts  and  granular- 
like  appearance  of  the  ]>osterior  nares  and  intolerable  itching, 
which  the  patient  tries  to  relieve  by  the  use  of  his  tongue. 
.Eiculns  hip.,  cold  extending  into  the  posterior  nares,  and  also 
down  the  pharynx,  with  dryness  and  a  scraping  or  burning 
feeling,  mucus  drops  down  and  causes  choking;  ha,Mnorrhoi- 
dal  complications  Sinapis  m.,  dryness  of  the  anterior  nares, 
and  also  in  the  pharynx;  dryness  of  the  posterior  nares,  with 
slightly  lumpy  secretion.  Wt/ethia,  pricking,  (iry  sensation  in 
the  posterior  nares;  granular  appearance  of  tife  pharyngeal 
mucous  m^^mbrane.  Peathonim  aedoide^,  when  there  is  a  con- 
tinual feeling  as  though  the  posterior  nares  were  moist;  sen- 
sation of  fuhu^ss  in  the  nose  and  ears;  posterior  nares  raw,  as 


PK.WkS  YL  1  A  MA   mi: PICA  L  S0(  lETY,  31 1 

if  denuded.  Osmium,  coryza,  sneezing,  as  if  from  snuff",  larynx 
sensitive  to  the  air; 'small  lumps  of  phlegm  loosen  from  the 
posterior  n:ires  and  larynx;  severe  pain  in  the  larynx,  worse 
when  talking  and  coughing.  Teucrlum,  when  there  are  large 
irregular  clinkers  hawked  from  the  posterior  nares.  Cinaahar, 
when  the  post-nasal  discharge  is  of  a  dirty  yellow  color.  Sul- 
phuric  aci'l^  when  the  discharire  trickling  down  from  the  nose 
is  of  thin  consistence  and  of  a  lemon-yellow  color.  Saponin^ 
touch,  tenacious  mucus  extending  iuto  the  larynx,  iiidilajay 
<X)ld  in  the  head  contracted  in  warm,  damp  weather.  Sangul' 
narinn  nitrate,  when  there  are  rawness  and  soren(»ss  in  the  pos- 
terior nares  and  hawking  of  thick  yellow,  sometimes  Moody, 
mucus.  Antinioninm  sulph.  aur.^  excessive  secretion  from  the 
posterior  nares.  In  syi)hilitic  cases,  we  think  of  Theridion, 
Aurum^  and  Kali  hi/flriodicum. 

It  heing  rather  late  in  the  day,  discussion  on  the  Bureaus 
of  Materia  Medica  and  Gynaecology,  was  postponed  until  the 
closinir  session. 

In  the  afternoon  the  guests  took  a  drive  through  Fair- 
mount  Park,  and  in  the  evening  attended  the  bantjuet,  at 
which  Dr.  Dudley  presided  and  Dr.  J.  V.  Guernsev  acted  as 
toast-mjister.  Addresses  were  delivered  bv  Drs.  A.  R  1'homas, 
McClelland,  I*hillif)s,  Allen,  Farrington,  P(H'k,  Hunt,  and 
Maguire. 

THIKI)  OAY. 

The  societv  was  called  to  order,  and  discussion  on  the 
papers  presented  by  the  Bureau  of  Materia  Medica  »vas  de- 
clared in  order. 

Dr.  Pitcairn  narrated  the  histories  of  several  cases  of 
post-nasal  catarrh  with  off'ensive  discharge,  in  which  Ant. 
Sulph.  Anr.  cured. 

Dr.  Betts  spoke  in  commendation  of  Dr.  Farrington's 
efforts  to  bring  together  the  remedies  and  their  indications  for 
<?ertain  n'gional  difficulties.  These  coUec^tions  mav  be  of  use 
in  other  wavs  than  that  indicated  bv  the  author.  He  referred 
to  the  transfer  of  such  indications  from  the  mucous  mem- 
brane  of  the  larynx  and  j)harynx  to  that  of  the  genital  canal. 


31 2  PENXSYL  VA  NIA  MEDIC  A  L  SOCIETY. 

We  have  only  partial  provings  of  remedies  acting  on  the  lat- 
ter region.  We  may  make  up  part  of  the  deficiency  by  the 
transfer  referred  to.  In  this  wav  we  mav  increase  our  tliera- 
peutic  resources,  and  so  be  enabled  to  do  away  with  much  of 
our  local  treatment.  The  old-school  pliysicians  are  doing 
away  with  local  treatment,  and  constitutional  measures  are 
rapidly  coming  in  favor  with  them.  One  of  their  number 
uses  Actea  rac.  and  PahatiUa^  and  another  declares  that  Ercfot 
in  post-partum  hannorrhage  is  useless. 

Dr.  H.  N.  Martin  did  not  agree  with  the  last  speaker,  re- 
garding the  transfer  «f  indications  from  one  region  to 
another.  For  instance,  Pulsatilla  gives  a  thin,  milky,  cor- 
rosive discharge  from  the  vagina,  and  a  thick,  green  and 
offensive  discharge  from  the  nose.  It  may  \)v  possible  to 
transfer  indications  of  some  remedies,  as  Belladonna,  but  not 
all. 

Dr.  IT.  r.  Allen  agreed  most  heartily  with  Dr.  Hetts.  He 
made  a  plea  for  the  cultivation  of  a  purer  honni?opnthy,  and 
the  abandonment  of  local  apj)lications  and  routine  in  prac- 
tice, as  ex(*mplified  in  the  treating  of  diseases  by  name.  The 
advanced  men  of  the  old  school,  particularly  the  specialists, 
are  abandoning  the  local  for  the  constitutional  treatment, 
while  some  of  the  specialists  of  our  school  are  forsaking  the 
constitutional  treatment  of  Hahnemann  for  the  delusion  of 
local  treatment.  In  closing  his  remarks  he  referred  to  sop- 
ping tlie  head  with  water  once  or  twice  a  day  as  a  cause  of 
nasal  catarrh. 

Dr.  B.  W.  .Tames  used  local  applications  only  when  nec- 
essary. He  questioned  the  j)ropriety  of  collecting  our  reme- 
dies in  domestic  treatises,  etc.  Young  physicians,  instead  of 
studying  the  Materia  Medica,  consults  in  his  work  on  prac- 
tice, a  certiiin  class  of  remedies,  and  he  finally  begins  to  think 
that  he  cannot  go  out  of  that  class.  His  experience  did  not 
confirm  that  of  Dr.  Betts.  Remedies  that  relieve  a  mucus 
discharge  from  the  nasal  passages  are  not  sufficient  to  relieve 
the  same  character  of  discharge  from  other  portions  of  the 
body. 


PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,  313 

Dr.  Dudley  expressed  his  doubts  concerning  the  signifi- 
cance of  the  direction  to  treat  patients  and  not  the  diseases. 
He  always  thought  it  was  the  physician's  duty  to  treat  the 
diseases  and  not  the  patients.  It  is  our  duty  to  direct  our 
remedy  at  the  unity  of  the  group  of  symptoms.  Each  symp- 
tom in  the  case  probably  has  the  same  central  origin.  We 
have  to  deal  with  symptoms  as  the  outward  expression  of  iin 
inward  disease.  We  ought  to  leave  the  patient  for  the  time 
being  out  of  sight.  Where,  however,  any  dyscrasia  exists, 
that  must  be  taken  into  account. 

Dr.  Betts,  in  replying  to  the  remarks  of  Dr.  Martin,  said 
that  the  milky  leucorrhoeal  discharge  is  due  to  the  admix- 
ture of  mucus  from  the  vagina.  The'  discharge  from  the 
uterus  in  such  cases  is  simihir  to  that  from  the  pharynx 
when  Pulsatilla  is  indicated. 

Dr.  Martin's  experience  did  not  permit  him  to  agree  with 
Dr.  Betts  regarding  the  ability  of  PulsatiUa  to  cure  thick 
greenish  discharges  from  the  uterus. 

There  being  no  further  discussion,  the  report  of  the 
Bureau  of  Gynaecology  was  called  for. 

Dr.  Betts  read  a  few  extracts  from  tlie  paper  on  "  Lacera- 
tion of  the  Cervix,"  by  the  Lehigli  Valley  Homoeopathic 
Medical  Society. 

Dr.  B.  W.  James  opened  the  discussion  by  remarking 
that  the  men  who  cut  the  cervix  years  ago  are  the  ones  who 
to-day  advocate  the  sewing  up  of  these  Ulcerations. 

Mb 

Dr.  Smedlcy  said  that,  in  order  to  cure  our  patients,  we 
must  frecjuently  employ  local  as  well  as  constitutional  means. 
From  an  extensive  experience  among  allopathic  gymecolog- 
ists,  he  had  observed  that  they  cured  the  local  conditions 
quicker  than  we  do,  but  frequently  they  are  unable  to  re- 
lieve the  nervous  symptoms  of  the  case.  We  cannot  cure 
these  cases  with  medicines  alone.  Educated  allopaths  now 
individualize  their  cases  of  laceration  of  the  cervix,  and  thev 
now  know  when  to  operate  and  when  not.  Some  cases  in 
which  there  is  marked  congestion  of  the  uterus  require  to  be 
treated  by  scarification.     In  other  cases  the  Nabothian  fol- 


314  PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

liclej>  must  be  opened,  but  with  these  measures  must  be  com- 
bined  constitutional  treatment.  Cases  of  dvsmenorrhoea 
must  be  individualized.  The  cervical  canal  changes  at  the 
menstrual  periods.  At  times  it  may  be  impossible  to  intro- 
duce the  uterine  sound  between  the  periods,  yet  this  can 
readily  be  done  when  the  menstrual  flow  comes  on.  Her- 
mann's investigations  lead  him  to  state  that  in  fifty  per  cent, 
of  the  cases  of  anteflexion,  there  is  no  dysmenorrhoea.  Some 
patients  have  dysmenorrhoea  without  anteflexion.  In  mar- 
ried women  with  sterilitv  and  dvsmenorrhoea,  stenosis  of  the 
cervical  canal  may  be  suspected,  and  dilatation  usually 
effects  a  final  cure. 

Dr.  Martin  said  tliat  he  sometimes  adopted  local  meas- 
ures, but  then  only  the  mildest.  He  then  made  an  eloquent 
plea  for  tiie  more  thorough  investigation  of  uterine  and  vagi- 
nal diseases  by  the  general  practitioner.  The  eye  or  throat 
must  receive  a  thorough  examination,  but  scarcely  ever  the 
uterus.  Caustics,  while  they  frequently  heal  erosions,  prepare 
the  wav  for  cancer. 

Dr.  McClelland  agreed  with  Dr.  Smedley  that  members 
of  our  school  neglect  too  much  the  local  treatment  of  these 
cases.  There  are  certain  cases  in  which  the  manifestations 
are  purely  local,  and  these,  constitutional  treatment  will  not 
cure. 

Dr.  B.  \V.  .James  said  that  in  manv  cases  lacerations 
healed  of  themselves  sufficiently  to  give  a  good  result. 

Dr.  Sartain  did  not  believe  that  as  long  as  we  have  Oimi- 
cifaga,  we  have  any  need  of  the  scarificator.  Recarding  the 
influence  of  uterine  flexions  before  gestiition  in  causing  cer- 
vical liiqerations,  she  could  not  see  how  this  could  be.  Some 
cases  of  cervical  laceration,  can  be  cured  bv  internal  treat- 
ment,  and  others  require  to  be  healed  by  operation. 

Dr.  Smedlev  did  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  recom- 
mending  scarification  as  a  routine  measure,  for  in  truth,  it 
was  needed  but  rarely.  Anteflexion  rarely  causes  a  tendency 
to  laceration  during  labor.  Where  the  anteflexion  is  marked, 
the  fundus  bends  on  the  cervix,  and  there  will  be  a  place 


PENNSYLVANIA  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,  315 

f  • 

where  the  circulation  is  poor.     In  these  cases  Ulceration  may 

occur. 

Dr.  Betts  closed  the  discussion  by  remarking  that  we 
should  never,  in  the  treatment  of  a  case,  be  guided  by  the 
dictum  of  another,  but  we  should  individ«alize  each  case,  and 
do  for  that  case  without  fear,  favor  or  prejudice,  to  the  best 
of  our  ability.  Regarding  the  benefit  to  be  obtained  from  the 
repair  of  lacerations  of  the  cervix,  D'r.  Betts  said  that  so  suc- 
cessful had  been  the  results  of  his  own  operations,  that  no 
matter  who  shall  proclaim  them  useless,  he  should  still  keep 
on  operating. 

This  dosed  th^  scientific  business  of  the  session. 

The  Committee  on  President's  Address  then  made  its  re- 
port, which  was  accepted. 

During  the  different  sessions,  the  Board  of  Censors  made 
supplementiiry  reports,  recommending  for  membership  the 
following  gentlemen:  Drs.  P.  O.  B.  Clause,  William  P.  Mivllin, 
Joseph  Hancock,  E.  E.  Davis,  William  T.  Maguire,  Isaac 
Crother,  J.  H.  Reading,  S.  C.  Ro.<*s.  H.  D.  Say  lor,  W.  P. 
Weaver,  William  Tearsley,  Sarah  J.  Coe,  J.  W.  Coolidge,  J. 
S.  Skeels  and  Samuel  Brown. 

Drs.  H.  C.  Allen  and  W.  A.  Phillips  were  elected  honor- 
ary members,  and  Dr.  Richard  Hughes,  of  Brighton.  England, 
a  corresponding  member. 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  A.  W.  Koch  was  presented,  but 
was  unanimously  not  accepted. 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  H.  A.  Kimball  was  accepted. 

The  election  of  officers  for  1884  resulted  as  follows: 

President,  W.  R.  Childs,  M.  D.,  of  Pittsburgh;  First  Vice- 
President,  Charles  Mohr,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia;  Secand  Vice- 
President,  H.  Detwiler,  M.  D.,  of  Easton ;  Recording  Secre- 
tary, Clarence  Bartlett,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  R.  E.  Caruthers,  M.  D..  of  Alleghany  ;  Treas- 
urer, J.  F.  (-ooper,  M.  D.,  of  .Vllegheny;  Necrologist,  M.  M 
Walker,  M.  1).,  of  Germantown  ;  Board  of  Censors,  J.  K.  Lee, 
M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia;  L.  H.  Willard.  M.  D.,  of  Allegheny, 
And  Harriet  J.  Sartain,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia. 


316  ACONITE  L\  CIIRC^'IC  COXDJTIONS. 

It  w«is  unanimously  decided  to  hold  tlie  next  meeting  iv:> 
PittsburdK  The  Alleojhenv  Countv  Medical  Society  was 
made  the  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

The  President  announced  tlie  Connnittees  and  liureaus 
for  the  year  1S84,  an*d  the  session  then  adjourned. 

ACONITE  IN  OHUONIC  CONDITIONS. 


15Y    (Has.    H.   «;lI.HKin\   M.  F>..    \VA>HlN«iT(>N,    D.  <  . 


Cask  I. — A  young  man  about  5  ft.  9  in.  high,  thin,  witii 
liglit  hair  and  hlue  eyes,  was  in  the  hahit  of  Heing  out  late 
at  niglit  with  ''the  boys"  which  finally  brought  on  a  dull 
pain  at  the  base  of  the  brain,  tliat  nothing  but  a  good  night's 
sleej)  would  relieve.  He  afterwards  married  and  '*  settled 
down.'*  He  lost  his  right  arm  just  i)elow  the  elbow  in  the 
late  war  and  is  a  government  clerk.  In  Sept.  1S70,  his  syuip- 
toms  were  as  follows: 

Walked  into  the  office  in  a  dull  and  listless  way.  looking 
as  though  lie  had  not  a  friend  in  the  world.  Verv  low 
spirit€Ml,  and  had  doubts  about  getting  well.  Sudden  feeling 
of  pressure  upwards  in  the  head;  feels  in  the  head  as  if  he 
would  face  to  the  right,  to  which  side  he  staggers  when 
walking.  Wakes  suddenly  from  sleep  with  an  indescribable 
feeling  of  fear  of  something,  he  knows  not  what,  an  "  all 
gone  ■'  feeling  at  the  epigastrium,  in  which,  as  well  as  the 
head,  there  is  a  throbbing;  draws  very  short  breaths  for  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes  (j)robably  not  one-half  of  that,  G.),  after 
which  attack  passes  off  though  it  may  return  before  he  falls 
asleep;  these  attacks  sometimes  come  on  while  he  is 
undressing,  or  in  the  morning  wliile  dressing,  not  througli 
the  day.  During  these  attacks  the  heart  is  much  quickened. 
Feeling  of  fullness  in  left  side.  Numb,  prickling  feeling  in 
left  arm  running  up  to  shoulder.  Eyes  weak  when  the 
trouble  is  bad  and  when  looking  intently  at  anything  wdiite. 
Constipated.  An  infinite  variety  of  sensations  all  over 
which  he  cannot  describe  or  even  recollect,  they  are  so  num- 


en  AS.  B,  GJLBI'Jrt.  317 

erous.  A  few  ]iowders  ot  Aeon.  *".  In  a  week  he  walked 
into  the  office  with  a  quick,  ^^prin^iv  step,  his  head  up,  and 
his  countenance  bright  and  cheerful;  ''have  not  had  an 
attack  for  a  week  until  yesterday,  but  I  was  sight  seeing 
with  friends  and  climbed  the  dome  of  the  capitol.  and  last 
night  had  a  slight  attack."     Aconite  ^. 

June  1st,  1879.  Had  no  return  and  had  to  be  reminded  of 
the  symptoms  one  by  one.  Turning  to  Guiding  Symptoms  we 
find: 

No.  2.     Vertigo,  staggers  to  the  right. 
''     3.     Fullness   and   heavy    feeling  as   if   something 
would  push  out  of  the  forehead. 

No.  5.     Sensitive  to  light  x  x;  light  dazzles  the  eyes. 
'*     8.     Anxious  expression. 

*'  17.     Palpitation  in  pit  of  stomach  with  peevish  anx- 
iety. 

No.  29.  Anxiety,  difficulty  of  ])reathing,  flying  heat  in 
the  face,  sensation,  of  something  rushing  into  head. 

No.  32.  Numbness  of  the  left  arm ;  can  scarcely  move 
the  hand ;  tingling  of  the  fingers. 

No.  36.  Numbness,  tingling;  left  side.  Formication 
now  in  one,  now  in  another  part. 

No.  42.     Direction  :  towards  right  side  ;  staggers  to  rig! it 
in  vertigo. 
'      No.  46.     F'ine  pinchings  as  from  needles  here  and  there. 

It  is  so  common  to  give  Aconite  for  fever,  to  which  I 
contend  it  is  not  homoeopathic,  and  for  little  else,  espe- 
cially in  clironic  conditions  that  I  report  this  case  with  much 
satisfaction.  Besides  it  shows  what  a  valuable  mirror  the 
Guiding  Symptoms  is,  for  the  case  is  perfectly  pictured  there. 
It  has  seemed  that  Aconite  is  rarely  indicated  in  this  cli- 
mate, Bryonia  and  Rhus  tox,  seeming  to  take  the  place  that 
Aconite  does  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

In  March  last,  h!'  plethoric  man  got  chilled  in  a  north- 
west wind  about  4  p.  M.  When  I  saw  him  at  11  p.  m.,  he 
was  going  from  one  side  of  the  bed  to  the  other,  grunting 
and  groanin<j,  his  joints  all  swollen  and  very  painful,  high 


318  IN  FLA  MM  A  TION. 

fever  (the  chilliness  had  ceased),  and  very  much  afraid 
that  he  was  going  to  have  rheumatism.  Gave  Aconite  ^ 
in  water,  every  hour;  at  2  a.  m.  he  went  to  sleep  and  when 
he  woke  at  6  a.  m.  the  swelling  and  excitability  were  all 
gone  and  much  of  the  restlessness,  but  his  fever  was  as  high 
<we??er.  and  it  did  not  come  down  at  all  until  he  got  Rhus  tox, 
when  it  rapidly  and  permanently  subsideil.  '^Inflammation" 
is  not  "fever."  Pathologists  may  theorize  as  much  as  they 
please  in  the  dead  house,  and  pathology  is  good,  while  Ther- 
apeutists cure  in  the  sick  room  by  means  of  the  remedy  that 
covers  the  facts  of  the  case — the  symptoms.  It  is  much 
better  to  know  much  Materia  Medica  and  little  pathology, 
than  much  pathology  and  little  Materia  Medica,  but  better 
still  to  know  both.  However,  in  the  first  case  detailed 
above,  I  didn't  stop  to  ask  what  remedies  affect  the  solar  or 
other  plexus,  but  the  similimum  according  to  the  symptoms^ 
cured. 

INFLAMMATION. 


READ    BEFORE    THE     HONKKOPATIirc    MEDICA  I,    SOCIETY    OK    OHIO. 


J.  ('.  Anderson,  m.  d..  mansfiei>. 


There  is  no  subject  that  concerns  the  surgeon  so  much  as 
that  of  infianimation. 

In  all  his  dealings  with  the  nial-conditions  of  the  humun 
organism,  inliammation  is  an  universal  concomitant  threat- 
ening to  do  either  the  work  of  destruction  or  repair.  It  is 
the  pillar  of  cloud,  and  the  pillar  of  fire  of  which  the  vigi- 
lant surgeon  should  never  lose  sight.  Here  we  reach  a 
point  which  discriminates  bet\veen  art  an<l  science.  We  can 
readily  conceive  how  an  Esculapian  may  achieve  renown  by 
an  artistic  wielding  of  tlie  knife,  but  to  meet  the  exigencies 
of  an  inflammation  requires  none  less  than  a  skilled  Hahne- 
mannian. 

Theories  however  efficient  in  order  to  cope  successfully 
with  diseases,  must  be  supported  by  intelligent  environment. 


J.  C.  ANDERSON  319 

Many  of  the  vague  theories  of  the  older  pathologists  are 
passing  away  and  more  recent  investigations  into  the  sciences 
of  pathology  and  histology  have  accomplished  much  that 
will  result  in  clinical  advantage  to  the  practising  surgeon. 
For  the  sake  of  brevity  we  will  try  to  avoid  details  and  take 
a  casual  glance  at  the  histology  of  inflammation. 

In  the  inflammatory  process  we  have  three  factors  prin- 
cipally concerned,  viz:  1st,  the  vessels;  2nd,  the  blood;  and 
3rd,  the  inhibitory  nerves 

The  vessels  serve  as  avenues  through  which  the  blood 
and  elements  of  nutrition  are  conveyed  to  various  parts  of 
the  body,  for  purpose  of  repair  and  growth.  They  are 
divided  into  three  classes,  viz:  veins,  arteries  apd  capillaries; 
the  latter  of  which  are  the  terminal  extremities,  and  claim 
the  greater  consideration  in  this  connection  as  in  them  are 
concerned  the  various  phenomena  of  nutrition  as  well  as  of 
inflammation.  The  larger  vessels  are  formed  of  well  defined 
organized  tissues  which  are  lost  in  the  capillary  system. 
These  capillaries  may  be  considered  as  semi-organized  pro- 
toplasmatic cylinders  with  calibre  so  small  as  to  admit  of 
but  a  single  blood  globule  at  a  time.  These  lumen,  how- 
ever, seem  to  be  capable  of  expansion  and  contraction, 
which  in  lieu  of  the  absence  of  contracted  tissues  may  be 
accounted  for  somewhat  after  the  manner  of  protoplasmic 
and  emboid  vibrations. 

The  second  factor  or  blood  mav  also  be  divided  into  the 
separate  parts,  vis:  The  red  cells  or  corpuscles,  the  white  or 
lymphoid  cells  and  the  lymph  or  fluid  part.  The  lymph 
is  al)out  equal  to  both  the  bulk  of  the  red  and  white  cells, 
and  the  white  cells  as  one  to  800  of  the  red.  They  serve  as 
conductors  of  impressions  to  various  parts  of  the  body 
and  are  divided  into  two  classes,  the  afferent  and  efferent, 
the  former  conveying  impressions  to  the  cerebro-spinal  axis, 
and  the  later  in  the  opposite  direction,  or  toward  the  capil- 
'   laries. 

In  health  the  white  corpuscles  array  themselves  along 
the  anterior  portion  of  the  lumen  of  the  vessels  as  though 


320  INFL  A  MMA  TION, 

to  protect  th^se  walls  from  the  influence  of  the  red  cells 
which  are  Widened  with  oxygen.  These  white  blood  corpu- 
scles cons. St  huvijely  of  protoplasmic  substance  and  from  their 
tendency  to  penetrate  and  insinuate  themselves  through  the 
surrounding  textures,  have  received  the  name  of  ameboid  or 
migratory  cells. 

These  white  cells  are  important  factors  in  this  connection, 
as  they  bear  an  important  part  in  the  intlaiiimatory  process 
w^hich  will  be  refered  to  hereafter. 

The  lymph  is  a  colorous  aqueous  fluid  capable  of  rapid 
coagulation  when  at  rest  and  exposed  to  atmospheric  influ- 
ences. Although  much  has  been  writen  of  this  substance, 
yet  we  may  safely  say  that  it  is  but  meagerly  understood  at 
the  present  day.  There  have  been  experiments  made  for 
the  purpose  of  demonstrating  that  per])etual  motion  is  not 
necessary  to  its  perpetual  liquifaction,  yet  we  incline  to  the 
opinion  that  at  the  normal  temperature,  motion  is  a  neces- 
sary concommitant  to  its  normal  consistancy.  If  this  be 
true  it  also  serves  an  important  part  in  the  process  of  inflam- 
mation and  assists  to  establish  more  plausibly  the  migratory 
theory. 

Although  the  nerves  are  lost  in  the  capillary  vessels,  yet 
it  IS  agreed  that  they  maintain  an  important  influence  over 
the  workings  of  the  capillary  system,  conducting  impressions 
to  and  from  the  seat  of  irritation. 

As  the  nerve  fillaments  can  not  be  traced  to  the  capillary 
vessels  it  is  thought  bv  some  that  there  is  no  direct  commu- 
nication  of  the  capillaries  with  the  nervous  system.  This 
theory  has  been  weakened,  however,  by  experiments  per- 
formed with  some  of  the  lower  forms  of  vegetable  and 
animal  life  organisms  such  as  the  aquatic  plant  (confervas) 
and  the  protococacus  family.  In  these  we  have  remarkable 
instances  of  a  purely  physical  automatism.  There  is  no 
nervous  system  to  call  forth  the  motions  of  these  active  forms, 
they  are  brought  about  by  the  endowment  of  the  protoplasm 
contained  within  the  vegetable  cell  which  extends  itself  into 
the  motile  filaments.     If  we  take  a  higher  form  of  vegetable 


./.  C.  ANDERSON.  321 

uutomatism  as  the  sensitive  plant  {mimosa  sensatlvx)  or  the 
Versus  b  ily-trap  {Dionaea  mumpaia)  we  have  an  illustration 
of  protoplasmic  conductility.  In  the  Venus's  fly-trap,  as  in 
the  sensitive  plant,  the  contraction  is  not  in  the  part  which 
is  itself  irritated,  but  in  a  distant  part;  recent  investigations 
demonstrate  the  fact  that  the  communication  between  the 
part  touched  and  the  part  which  contracts  is  eflected  by  a 
<iontinuous  thread  of  protoplasm  passing  from  cell  to  cell. 
Through  these  illustrations  we  are  enabled  to  glean  an  idea 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  nervous  svstem  mav  exert  an 
influence  over  the  capillary  and  nutritive  organs  although 
we  mav  be  unable  to  trace  nervous  til  laments  into  the  sub-- 
stance  pro[)er. 

The  ca]>illaries  are  formed  of  connected  enlongated  cells, 
lamelUe,  which  become  curved  and  joined  together  as  a  tube. 

Through  the  blending  together  of  stellate  cells  is  formed 
a  very  delicate  net- work,  and  through  the  interstices  of  this 
net-work  the  wandering  lymphoid  cells  find  exit  to  the  sur- 
rounding tissues. 

This  migration  or  passing  out  of  the  cells  takes  i)lace 
much  more  rapidly  when  the  pirts  are  in  an  inflamed 
condition,  partly  because  of  the  enervation  of  the  vessels 
themselves  thus  widening  the  interstices,  and  partly  from 
increased  action  of  the  heart.  Through  this  process  we  are 
enabled  to  account  for  the  phenoniLnia  of  swelling  that 
accompanies  any  great  amount  of  intiammation;  and  tlius  it 
is  that  Strickers  opposition  to  the  migratory,  fails  of  that 
pla usability  that  otherwise  gave  some  force  to  his  o[>position 
to  this  theory. 

One  of  Jthe  misleading  causes  of  Strickers  experiments 
in  til  is  direction,  is  that  tliey  were  con«lucted  principally  with 
tissuf^s  that  are  incapable  of  inflammatory  action. 

With  the  foregoing  theoretical  hints  we  may  draw  the 
following  practical  conclusions:  1st,  that  the  seat  of  an 
infiammation  is  largely  under  the  influence  of  the  inhib- 
itory nerves  and  intimatelv  allied  with  the  functions  of 
nutrition.    2d,  that  motion  is  a  necessary  concomitant  of  life. 


322        •  ANTO-KLEPTOMANJA 

nutrition,  repair  and  growth,  and  that  a  condition  of  stasis  is 
fatal  to  either.  Considering  the  extreme  delicacy  of  these  or- 
gans we  also  learn  that  but  a  very  slight  degree  of  distortion 
may  set  up  a  condition  favorable  to  the  most  destruction 
intiammation,  which  many  with  myself  have  no  doubt  wit- 
nessed in  the  practice  of  forcible  distention  in  fractures,  in 
Tnorbii^'i  coxarius,  and  other  similar  examples.  Also  of  the 
fatal  consequences  that  may  follow  the  indiscriminate  use  of 
opiates  in  cases  of  deep,  injurious  wounds,  etc.,  when  the 
organs  of  nutrition  may  be  paralyzed  ai  d  the  reparative 
eff(»rts  of  these  delicate  organs  thwarted  in  their  efforts  to 
heal  such  wounds.  For  a  practical  illustration  I  only  need 
to  refer  you  to  the  lamentable  treatment  of  our  late  President, 
James  A.  fJarfield. 

ANTO-KLKPTOMANIA?     (STEALING  FROM  SKLt ). 


BY  ,1.    K.    BROWN.  jAfKSON,    MIOHUJAN. 


I  have  just  had  a  very  curious  somnambulistic  pheno- 
menon brought  to  my  notice.  The  patient,  if  she  may  be  so 
called,  is  an  Irish  woman  of  the  ignorant  class,  aged  41,  the 
mother  of  nine  children,  the  youngest  about  four  months  old. 

Tiie  history  of  the  matter  under  consideration,  as  given 
me  bv  her  is  about  as  follows:  She  conceived  the  idea  some 
during  her  wakeful  hours  of  laying  asi<lf  or  saving  one  half 
of  the  money  given  her  on  Saturday  nighis  by  her  husband 
for  some  special  occiisions,  whenever  they  presented  them- 
selves, in  other  words  "laying  up  for  a  rainy  day.'' 

Til  is  occurred  to  her  some  three  or  four  months  ago. 
Soon  after  this  she  found  tliat  iier  money  had  been  tampered 
with  on  vSatunlay  night,  and  half  of  it  or  about  that  disap- 
peared. At  first  she  supposed  that  her  husl)and  had  taken  it 
from  her,  but  this  he  persistently  denied,  and  she  believed 
that  he  told  her  the  truth  us  no  such  thing  had  transpired 
before  during  tlieir  twentv  vears  married  life.  She  then 
thought  the  children  or  some  one  else  guilty  of  the  theft,  but 
could  get  no  trace  of  the  purloiner  nor  money. 


/.  F.  BROWN.  82.S 

The  thing  remained  a  mystery  to  her  till  one  Saturday 
night  a  short  time  since,  when  she  awoke  in  the  night  and 
found  herself  standing  in  the  room,  near  one  of  the  children's 
beds,  pocket-book  in  hand,  a  part  of  the  money  gone  from  it, 
and  the  balance  of  it  in  her  hand.  On  tliis  occasion  it 
contained  the  night  before  81.85,  the  85  cents  was  disposed 
of,  and  the  $1  was  in  her  hand.  This  circumstance  con- 
vinced her  how  the  money  had  disappeared,  but  not  where; 
nor  has  she  been  able  by  the  strictest  search,  to  find  any 
of  it.  She  says  that  in  all,  some  ?l(i  or  S18  have  disap- 
peared. 

On  one  occasion  she  put  away  a  small  sum  on  Saturday 
night  to  pay  the  milkman  at  his  next  call,  but  when  it  was 
brought  forth,  half  of  it  was  gone.  The  most  that  disappeared 
at  one  time  was  81.75. 

At  one  time  since  she  discovered  the  way  in  which  her 
nK)ney  disappeared,  she  gave  the  Saturday  night's  amount  to 
her  daughter  and  told  her  to  put  it  away  without  telling  her 
why.  She  says  she  did  not  know  exactly  where  the  child  put 
the  money  but  knew  nearly  where,  as  they  had  a  certain  box 
where  they  kept  their  valuables.  Part  of  the  money  w.i?* 
gone  as  usual. 

Before  she  awoke  in  the  night  and  understood  the  matter, 
she  and  her  husband  had  several  disputes  about  her  being  up 
in  the  night,  he  asking  what  she  was  up  for,  and  she  denying 
being  up  at  all. 

She  has  not  told  any  member  of  the  family  of  her  dis- 
covery and  seems  to  be  sensitive  on  the  matter  partially 
breaking  down  at  one  time  while  relating  these  incidents  to 
me.  Says  she  does  not  drink  except  occasionally  a  glass  of 
beer.  Says  her  husband  only  drinks  occasionally.  At  first  I 
was  disposed  to  be  incredulous  but  the  more  I  talked  with 
her,  and  questioned  her,  the  more  I  became  convinced  she 
was  telling  me  a  truthful  story.  She  applied  to  me  to  see  if 
anything  could  be  done  to  check  her  propensity  to  steal 
from  herself.  • 

What  is  the  similimum? 
4 


324  CA  SES  FR  OM  PRA  CTl  CE. 

CASES  FROM  PRACTICE. 


BY  ^<.  L.,  NEW   YORK. 


1.  Rev.  Mr.  B.,  a  Methodist  minister,  had  intermittent 
fever  a  year  ago  in  New  Jersey,  and  though  frequently  sus- 
pended, it  obstinately  refused  to  yield  entirely.  Lfist  May  he 
returned  to  New  York  city  to  take  charge  of  an  up-town  con- 
gregation. September  10th,  he  went  in  the  forenoon  to  his 
dentist  to  have  a  tooth  filled  and  during  the  operation  he  was 
taken  with  a  most  severe  chill.  Carried  home  he  nearly 
screamed  at  every  jolt  of  the  carriage.  After  three  hours 
shaking,  a  short  stage  of  dry  heat  followed,  and  to  this  suc- 
ceeded a  drenching,  sour  s.nelling  perspiration  with  relief  of 
all  symptoms.  Snmbucns,  2c.,  in  water,  during  the  perfect 
apyrexia.  Four  weeks  have  since  passed,  our  Dominie  has 
attended  the  annual  conference  and  enjoys  his  meetings. 

2.  Mrs.  K.,  wife  of  a  physician,  lean,  lank,  and  over  forty, 
labors  for  years  under  the  idea  of  having  an  organic  heart 
aftection,  wliich  is  sure  to  kill  her  one  of  these  days.  Sep- 
tember 12.  For  a  week,  patient  could  not  lie  down  at  night, 
as  her  heart  beat  so  violently  that  she  was  afraid  she  would 
choke,  and  the  palpitation  could  be  seen  as  well  as  heard. 
There  was  bloated ness  of  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  perfect 
dread  of  eating,  as  it  increased  the  palpitations,  burning 
pains  in  stomach  and  throat,  relieved  by  discharge  of  flatus 
Several  drugs  seemed  to  be  indicated,  but  only  Oxalic 
Acid  corresponded  fully  and  the  2  c.  Oxalic  Acid,  gave  per- 
fect relief  to  all  the  symptoms.  The  night  after  taking  it  she 
enjoved  a  comfortable  night's  rest.  Appetite  returned,  the 
heart  remained  more  quiet,  but  she  still  complained  f>f  a  dry 
titilating  cough  as  if  from  dust  in  the  throat,  coming  on  par- 
oxysmally  at  night  and  waking  her  from  a  good  sleep.  Cal- 
carea  Carbonica,  2  c,  acted  charmingly.  An  invalid  for  years 
and  still  she  responded  quickly  to  the  simile.  Probably  Cal- 
carea  phosphorica  t)r  Calcarea  oxalica  will  bring  her  out  all, 
right. 


CYANOSIS.  :J2.> 

Many  members  of  our  school  have  a  perfect  horror  of 
prescribing  Chininum  Sulfuricum  or  of  Calomel,  and  still  we 
meet  often  cases  where  no  other  drug  is  the  simile.  Thus 
there  are  cases  where  our  Nux  Vom.,  Ipecacuanha,  Natrum 
mur.,  Eupartorium  or  Areenicum,  or  any  other  remedy  did 
well  and  removed  every  symptom  but  the  intermittent  with 
a  clear  apyrexia.  Here  Chininum  and  nothing  else  is  the 
indicated  remedy  and  it  will  remove  that  symptom  whether 
you  give  it  Ix  or  2c.  The  individuality  of  the  patient  decides 
the  potency. 

In  cholera  infantum,  when  Mercurials  are  indicated.  I 
often  succeeded  (vith  Calomel,  after  the  failure  of  the  Solu- 
bilis.  Its  stools  are  well-known  and  the  more  tenesmus  and 
burning  (chafing)  the  more  it  is  indicated.  It  is  sometimes 
<lifficult  to  differentiate  it  from  Iris  versicolor,  but  the  latter 
has  more  exhaustion  and  debility  from  the  very  beginning 
of  the  disease;  in  fact  there  is  very  little  exhaustion  where 
the  Murcurials  are  indicated. 


CYANOSIS. 


READ  BKFORE  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY  OF  OHIO. 


BY  J.  ('.  TRKir,  M.  I).,  FINDLAY 


Tnis  is  not,  strictly  speaking,  a  disease  but  merely  a 
S3'mptom.  Cyanosis  proper  is  characterized  by  a  blue  color 
of  the  face,  extremities,  sexual  organs,  and  generally  mani- 
fests itself  soon  after  the  birth  of  the  child.  The  blue  color 
is  most  distinctly  perceived  when  the  child  is  exerting  its 
muscles  or  lungs,  especially  when  crying  or  nursing. 

The  more  marked  the  blue  appearance  of  the  child,  the 
more  irregular  is  the  beating  of  the  heart,  tiie  action  of  which 
is  tumultuous,  accompanied  by  a  buzzing  noise  and  bc^.l- 
lows  murmur;  the  child  frequently  faints  away  or  is  attacked 
with  suffocative  spasms,  and  the  least  physical  exertion  is 
followed  by  a  labored  panting  respiration,  bloated  face,  pro- 
truded eyes  and  tremulous  intermittent  pulse.     These  par- 


326  J.  C.  TRICH. 

oxysms  sometimes  last  two  or  three  hours  and  terminate  by 
a  deep  sobbing  respiration,  after  which  the  breathing  grad- 
ually becomes  easier  and  the  blueness  is  a^ain  confined  to 
the  previously  mentioned  localities.  Cyanotic  children  as  a 
rule  cut  their  teetli  very  slowly  and  with  difficulty.  Later 
on  the  disease  is  characterized  by  fainting  fits,  hemorrhages 
from  the  lungs,  nose  or  bowels,  and  dropsical  symptoms  as  in 
other  organic  affections  of  the  heart  make  their  appearance. 

Some  of  the  mal-formations  existing  in  this  disease  are: 
1st,  The  foramen  ovale  in  the  interventricular  septum  is  not 
closed  ;  2nd,  the  aorta  arises  from  the  right  and  the  pulmon- 
ary artery  from  the  left  ventricle;  3rd,  the  ductus  arteriosus 
botalli  remains  unclosed.  But  by  far  the  greater  number  of 
cases  belong  to  the  first  class  named. 

CameH. — The  proximate  cause  is  the  non-closing  of  the 
foramen  ovale  and  ductus  arteriosus  botalli,  the  i)ulmonary 
arterv  being  jrenerallv  contracted. 

PrognoaiH  generally  unfavorable. 

Ih-ecUment. — Unfortunately  Homoeopathy  can  claim  but 
little  in  the  treatment  of  this  affection.  Tlie  greatest  num- 
ber of  cures  has  been  brought  about  by  following  the  plan 
first  advocated  by  Prof.  C.  D.  Meigs  which  is:  Place  the 
child  on  the  right  side,  h^ad  and  body  raised  to  an  angle  of 
about  30°,  and  if  necessary  maintain  the  position  for  weeks 
and  even  months. 

On  assuming  this  i)osition  the  ])lood  in  the  left  auricle, 
will  press  the  value  of  Botalli  down  upon  the  foramen  ovale, 
and  if  the  child  should  belong  to  the  first  class  named,  the 
chances  of  a  cure  are  (enhanced  by  compelling  all  the  blood 
of  the  right  Jiuricle  to  j)ass  by  the  iter  ad  ventriculum  on  to 
the  lungs  to  be  aerated.  Professor  Meigs  claims  to  have 
saved  at  least  100  children  by  following  this  course.  The 
purpose  of  this  short  j)aper  was  not  to  advance  any  new 
theory  or  plan  of  treatment,  but  merely  to  state  that  in  two 
instances  T  have  verified  Dr.  Meigs'  plan  and  should  I  have 
any  other  cases  in  the  future  1  would  not  hesitate  to  pursue 
it  and  should  expect  good  results  to  ensue. 


FESTIXA  LENTE,  327 

FESIINA  LENTE. 


BY   WM.  JEFFERSON  fJlHRSSEY.  M.   D. 


The  following  rules  are  gathered  from  observations  by 
men  who  ought  to  know,  and  whose  success  in  practice  proves 
that  they  do  know^  "whereof  ^ley  speak." 

Sympathy  for  .the  sufferings  of  those  intrusted  to  our 
<jare,  anxious  entreaties  of  friends  and  relatives  and  the  gibes 
of  skeptical  neighbors,  all  tempt  the  worried  doctor  to  ''hurry 
up  the  cure."  As  a  check  on  this  pressure  to  such  ruinous 
haste,  let  the  reader  cut  these  rules  out  and  paste  them  in  his 
Materia  Medica  and  there  review  them  from  time  to  time. 

'Tis  here  that  the  adage  quoted  above  is  proven  a  truth 
in  verity. 

The  writer  has  repeatedly  verified  every  one  of  the 
rules,  and  only  regrets  that  he  has  so  many  times,  to  his 
sorrow,  neglected  to  be  led  by  them. 

RULES. 

1.  Xerer  prescribe  until  you  are  sure  of  your  choice  of  a 
remedy.  (Study  the  case  at  the  bedside,  or  give  S.  L.  and 
wait  till  you  reach  your  office,  l)ut  do  not  give  a  temporary 
medicine.     TYiq  first  prescription  may  "make  or  break,") 

2.  In  the  first  prescription,  or  subsequently  on  chang- 
ing to  another  remedy,  give  but  one  dose  and  wait.  (One 
dose  will  often  cure  a  case.  If  it  does  not,  more  can  easily 
be  supplied.  Some  cases  are  very  susceptible  and  easily 
aggravated,  which  may  confuse  you  and  must  delay  the 
cure). 

3.  If  found  necessary  to  repeat  a  medicine  already  pre- 
scribed, give  several  doses  of  the  same  potency  in  water,  or 
of  a  different  potency  dry. 

4.  After  repeating  a  medicine,  allow  an  interval  of  rest 
without  medicine. 

5.  Let  the  patient  have  plenty  of  Sac.  Lac.  (How  can  we 
expect  the  laity  to  have  faith  in  the  "one  dose"  system  when 
so  many  of  the  profession  ridicule  it?; 


828  FES'IINA  LENTE. 

().,  Give  no  medicine  so  long  as  the  patient  continues  to 
improve. 

7.  Do  not  be  tempted  to  deviate  from  Rule  6  because 
new  symptoms  arise  if  the  patient  is  really  better. 

8.  So  long  as  the  patient  grows  no  worse,  even  if  not  better, 
in  a  disease  that  would  probablv  increase  in  severitv  without 
treatment,  it  is  favorable  and  should  go  without  medicine. 
(Dr.  C.  Lippe  recently  related  to  the  writei'  a  severe  case  of 
<lysentery  for.  which,  at  the  first  prescription,  he  gave  one 
dose  of  a  remedy  well  indicated.  The  patient,  who  had 
been  growing  rapidly  worse,  was  found  the  next  day  at  a 
statn  fjao.  No  medicine  was  given.  The  next  day  discovered 
precisely  the  same  state.  No  medicine.  On  the  following 
day  the  case  was  almost  well.  A  great  many  remedies 
require  a  rest,  and  as  the  (ujgraoation  had  ceased,  the  Doctor 
rightly  concluded  he  was  "making  his  i)oint.") 

U.  If  a  relapse  into  the  same  symptoms  follow  an  ameli- 
oration from  the  single  dobe,  that  remedy  must  be  rrj)eat^d. 
(See  Rule  ?>,) 

10.  If  new  and  important  symptoms  appear,  be  >iare 
beyond  a-  'doubt  whether  they  do  not  Ijelong  to  the  remedy 
just  given.  If  they  do,  wait.  (These  new  symptoms  may 
be  an  aggravation  of  the  remedy.  If  you  cannot  remember 
them  as  belonging  under  that  drug,  look  it  up  rather  than 
spoil  the  case  by  a  change*. 

11.  \i  there  is  no  improvement  and  there  has  not  been 
any,  and  the  case  is  one  that  would  probably  remain  so 
without  treatment,  review  tiie  symptoms  to  see  whether 
the  remedy  last  given  is  still  indicated  before  changing  to 
another.  If  you  are  satisfied  with  the  first  choice,  repeat 
it  as  suggested  in  Rule  3. 

12.  If  the  disease  is  a  *' periodic"  one  it  is  favorable  if  the 
next  attack  following  the  administration  of  the  first  dose  is 
in  the  slightest  degree  lighter,  shorter  or  later ;  or  if  it  is  mark- 
edly the  reverse,  viz.:  very  mueh  heavier,  longer  or  earlier.  In 
either  case.  wait. — Horn,  Physician. 


\ 

SANITARY  MEASURES.  329 

SANITARY   MEASURES  APPLICABLE  TO  VILLAGES 

AND  COUNTRY  HOMES. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  FIOMEOPATUIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY  OF  OHIO. 


BY  L.  P.  STURTEVANT,  M.  P.,  CONNEAIT. 


Science,  being  the  general  principles  or  leading  truths 
relating  ta  any  subject,  arranged  systematically,  it  becomes 
necessary  for  the  welfare  and  stability  of  that  science  to 
have  its  peculiar  tenets  presented  to  the  public  in  such  a 
manner  that  they  will  obtain  a  hearing,  and  nuike  an  im- 
pression upon  them  that  will  cause  the  testing  of  those  te- 
nets. And  the  results  arising  from  such  a  test  will  be  the 
measure  by  which  the  worth  of  that  science  will  be  deter- 
mined.  In  view  of  these  facts,  we  have  a  perfect  right  to 
ast,  how  have  the  truths  of  sanitary  science  been  received; 
what  have  been  the  results  obtained  by  the  testing  of  the 
truths  heretofore  advanced? 

As  to  the  reception  of  the  principles  and  tenets  of  this 
science,  we  know  that  it  has  varied  according  to  the  times, 
and  manner  of  its  presentment.  Some  nations  have  made 
them  a  part  of  their  religion;  others  have  incorporated  them 
in  their  laws,  making  a  violation  of  them  a  crime  against  the 
government.  Later  the  people  became  less  careful  from  var- 
ious causes  and  accordingly  their  thoughts  were  turned  into 
difterent  channels  until  they  were  nearly  lost  sight  of.  And 
when  tiiey  were  again  awakened  to  the  fact  that  something 
must  be  done  to  stay  the  progress  of  some  particular  disease 
or  epidemic  their  efforts  were  all  directed  to  that  end  ;  and 
when  some  new  trouble  arose,  or  some  one  fancied  that  he 
had  found  a  solution  of  tlie  problem,  a  new  theory  was 
advanced,  until  there  was  and  is  now  such  a  confusion 
among,  and  apparent  contradictions  between  writers  and 
teachers,  that  the  j)eople  in  common  are  led  to  believe  that 
it  is  all  nonsense. 

And  although  there  are  not  the  contradictions  that  are 


330  SA  NIT  A  R  Y  MEASURES. 

supposed  to  exist,  yet  the  manner  in  which  these  truths  are 

m. 

presented,  and  the  hinguage  and  terms  used  by  some  are  so 
abstract,  and  by  others  so  ambiguous  and  learned,  treating 
of  bacteria,  mycoclenus,  micrococci,  vibriones,  monecels,  and 
other  forms  that  are  without  forms,  that  they  are  in  turn  re- 
jected. Then  again  nearly  all  that  is  said  on  the  subject  is  by 
those  living  in  our  larger  cities,  and  deals  with  those  phases 
that  concern  them  and  their  clientage  as  sewer  gas,  ot  which 
we  of  the  country  know  but  little  by  experience;  and  there- 
fore they  fail  to  get  the  ear  of  a  large  portion  of  the  people. 
And  if  I  can  present  anything  new,  or  bring  to  remembrance 
any  former  thing  I  will  feel  thankful.  The  air  we  breathe, 
and  the  water  we  drink  are  the  subjects  we  will  have  the 
most  to  do  with  sanitarily ;  air  being  the  principal  one.  It 
follows  then  that  we  should  possess  some  knowledge  of  this 
agent  in  order  to  instruct  others.  In  considering  this  ques- 
tion there  are  four  points  to  be  borne  in  mind. 

*  1st.  '^  The  amount  of  air  necessary  for  the  performance 
of  the  respiratory  process. 

2nd.  The  means  of  ascertaining  when  air  is  impure; 
and,  if  impure,  what  substances  are  mixed  with  it. 

3rd.     The  means  of  purifying  impure  air. 

4th.  The  diseases  due  to  a  deficiency  of  quantity,  and 
alteration  in  the  quality.'' 

t"The  first  question  can  be  answered  both  by  calcula- 
tion and  experiment. 

By  calculation  Dr.  Parker  finds  that  2,082  cubic  feet  of 
air  must  be  supplied  per  head  per  hour  to  so  dilute  the  pro- 
ducts of  respiration,^  and  transpiration  from  the  sound  body, 
as  to  keep  the  air  fresh  and  pure. 

From  numerous  experiments  in  which  the  outflow  of  air 
was  measured,  and  the  carbonic  acid  simultaneously  deter- 
mined, he  found  that  at  least  2.000  cubic  feet  per  hour  must 
be  given  to  keep  the  carbonic  acid  at  its  normal  level  of  five 


•Libran*  of  Universal  Knowledge. 

fl  bid. 

J  Library  of  Universal  Knowledge. 


L,  P.  STURTEVANT.  331 

or  six  ill  1,000  vol u rues  and  to  remove  the  odor  hunianm  or 
fetid  smell  of  animal  matter." 

It  is  difficult  to  lay  down  any  rules  in  regard  to  the 
amount  ol  fresh  air  required  in  sickness.  The  vitiation  of 
the  air  by  the  products  of  combustion  of  lamps,  etc.,  must 
not  be  overlooked.  *'*The  composition  of  dry  air  may  be 
roughly  estimated  to  consist  of  four  volumes, of  nitrogen,  one 
of  oxygen  with  a  slight  admixture  of  carbonic  acid,  and  a 
mere  trace  of  other  suV)stances.*' 

t '*The  impurities  may  be  divided  into  suspended  mat- 
ters, gaseous  substances  and  special  impurities. 

Among  the  suspended  matters  are  to  be  found  the  germs 
of  organic  beings,  both  animal  and  vegetjible,  such  as  bac- 
teria vibriones,  fallen  spores  of  fungi,  etc.,  minute  particles 
of  inorganic  are  also  often  taken  up  by  currents  of  air  and 
remain  in  suspension.  Among  gaseous  substances  which 
merely  pass  into  the  air  either  from  natural  causes  or  from 
manufactories  are  various  compounds  of  carbon,  sulphur, 
nitrogen  and  phosphorus,  with  oxygen  and  hydrogen  which 
it  is  unnecessarv  to  enumerate  here.  Besides  which  we  must 
notice  organic  vapor  from  decomposing  animal  matter,  which 
has  been  called  carbo-ammoniacal. 

Amongst  special  impurities  those  caused  by  respiration 
are  the  most  important."     **^Vn  adult  mm,  under  ordinary 

•Science  in  short  <'hapters.  W.  M.  William's. 

conditions,  gives  off,  in  24  hours,  from  1*2  to  lb  cubic  feet  of 
carbonic  acid  by  the  lungs,  and  a  certain  additional  quantity, 
not  determined  >)y  the  skin.  Watery  vapor  ranging  from 
2o  to  40  ounces,  together  with  an  undetermined  quantity  of 
organic  matter,  which  is  partly  suspended  (as  particles  of 
♦•pithelium,etc.,)  and  partly  made  up  of  organic  vapor.  This 
vapor,  when  collected  and  condensed  from  a  large  volume  of 
respired  air,  is  found  to  be  nitrogenous,  and  has  a  very  fetid 
smell."  Here  then  is  a  'most  powerful  source  of  vitiation, 
and  one,  over  which  we  can  and  should   have  control,  by 


♦  Ibid. 

t Library  of  Tniversal  Knowledge. 


332  SANITARY  MEASURES.      ' 

ascertainini^  whether  our  clients  occupy  small  bed  rooms, 
and  sleep,  as  many  do  with  closed  doors,  and  the  bed-clothes 
drawn  over  their  heads,  thereby  compelled  to  breathe  the 
same  air  over  and  over  again. 

■ 

And  who  can  tell  but  what  many  cases  of  consumption 
arise  from  this  very  source,  where  no  hereditary  conditions 
exist,  hut  are  charged  to  contagion  or  bacteria,  when  it 
should  be  blood  poisoning. 

Also  many  disordered  conditions  of  the  whole  alimen- 
tiiry  tract. 

On  the  other  hand  I  would  not  be  understood  to  advo- 
cate the  indiscriminate  opening  of  windows,  and  exposing 
the  tender  surface  of  the  mucous  membranes  to  the  damp 
and  chilly  air  at  night,  for  I  think  that  a  fruitful  source  of 
throat  and  lung  difficulties;  but  would  advise  the  entrance 
of  air  through  other  rooms,  at  a  rate  not  to  exceed  two 
feet  per  second  as  that  to  most  persons  is  perceptible  and 
gives  the  sensation  of  draft.  Anotlier  point  I  would  like 
to  make  here,  as  bearing  upon  the  subjects  of  ventilation 
and  impurities  in  the  air,  is  that  of  open  fire-places  and 
grates. 

*'\Ve  all  know  that  when  air  is  heated  it  expands 
largely,  and  becomes  lighter  bulk  for  bulk  than  air  of  a 
lower  temperature;  and  therefore  if  two  portions  of  air  of 
unequal  temperatures,  and  free  to  move,  are  in  contact  with 
each  other,  the  colder  will  flow  under  tlie  warmer  and  push 
it  upward."  Now  let  us  bear  this  fact  in  mind ;  also  the 
height  of  the  upper  edge  of  the  fire-place,  which  is  on  an 
average  of  24  inches,  and  see  what  the  result  will  be  in  a 
room  fitted  with  one  or  more  windows  a  trifle  leaky,  the 
same  number  of  doors  in  a  like  condition,  and  a  fire-place 
in  which  coal  is  burning;  from  10  to  20  per  cent,  of  the  heat 
is  radiated  into  the  room,  the  rest  is  forced  up  the  chimney 
by  an  ascending  current  of  air,  as  is  demonstrated  by  the 
presence  of  smoke  entangled  w^ith  it,  and  this  is  evidently 
done  by  the  cooler  air  which  flows  into  the  room  from  some- 
where, and  which  must  get  under  it  in  order  to  lift  it.     In 


L.  P.,STURTEVANT.  835 

ordinary  rooms  this  supply  is  entirely  dependant  upon  the 
defective  construction,  ♦  ba;d  joinery." 

*'It  enters  through  the  crevices  about  the  windows  and 
doors,  no  especially  designed  opening  being  made  for  it. 
Usually  the  chief  inlet  is  the  space  under  the  door,  through 
which  pours  a  stream  of  cold  air  which  spreads  out  like  a 
lake  upon  the  floor.  At  the  same  time  more  or  less  is  enter- 
ing at  the  top  atid  side  spaces  of  the  doors  and  through  win- 
dow crevices.  And  as  it  is  colder  than  the  air  of  tlie  room 
at  the  place  of  entrance  it  immediately  falls  to  join  the 
stream  entering  under  the  door.  Now  when  we  remem- 
ber the  height  of  the  fire-place  which  is  the  outlet  of  this 
stream  or  lake  of  cold  air,  is  24  inches  we  have  the  ex- 
tent of  ventilation  bv  their  aid.  Below  this  level  there 
is  an  abundance,  above  it  there  is  none;  the  cat  on  the 
rug,  and  our  feet  have  an  abundant  supply  " — of  fresh 
air,  but  as  we  are  addicted  to  sitting  on  chairs,  our  breath- 
ing apparatus  is  brought  above  the  level  of  ventilation. 
The  atmosphere  in  which  our  heads  are  immersed  is  prac- 
tically stagnant,  loaded  with  impurities  in  suspension  and 
which  are  being  constantly  drawn  into  our  lungs,  contam- 
inating the  blood.  And  when  the  season  arrives  for  the 
abolition  of  fires  a  resort  is  had  to  patent  medicine^-,  or  va- 
rious teas  or  infusions  to  '^cleanse  the  hlooiV^  we  are  told ;  which 
(to  use  a  homely  phrase),  is  like  locking  the  barn  after  the 
horse  has  been  stolen.  There  are  two  means  of  purifying 
the  air,  viz :  removing  the  cause  of  contamination  and  dis- 
infection. 

In  removing  the  causes  look  to  the  sleeping  rooms,  to 
the  cellars,  the  pantry,  the  wash-house,  the  back  yard  and 
the  water  closet.  Allow  no  vault  to  be  dug  in  the  ground, 
but  build  it  of  brick,  plastered  inside  with  mortar,  and  a 
daily  use  of  dry  earth  as  a  deodorizer.  Do  not  fail  (through 
a  feeling  of  modesty)  to  mention  these  subjects  at  your  daily 
visits,  for  in  so  doing  you  will  render  more  aid  to  the  cause 

♦Science  in  short  chapters,  W.  M.  Williams. 


•       9 

m   ff 


334  CAFSir  CM  NOTES. 

of  sanitation,  than  by  endeavoring  to  write  long  and  learned 
dissertations,  on  the  subject,  that  are  never  read,  and  banish 
more  of  the  diseases  which  are  directlv  traceable  to  these 

ft' 

different  sources,  such  as  typhoid  fever,  choleni,  dysentery, 
diphtheria,  consumption,  scarlet  fever,  erysipelas,  rheuma- 
tism, carbuncles,  and  a  host  of  others  than  can  possibly  be 
done  by  any  other  means. 

CAPSICUM  NOTES. 


BY    H.   N.  GrKRNNKY,   M.   1>. 


There  are  a  few  general  symptoms  of  this  remedy,  wlien- 
ever  found,  that  are  worthy  of  deep  consideration  no  mattet 
what  the  pathological  condition  may  be  supposed  to  be. 

One  of  the  most  important  of  these  in  prescribing  for  the 
sick  is  a  sensation  of  ronatrictinn.  It  must  be  nminaUfifdly  a 
sensation  of  constriction  somewhere,  experienced  by  the  patient. 
For  instance  a  sensation  of  constriction  in  the  fauces  in  sore 
throat  or  catarrh  of  the  throat  or  of  the  post«'rior  nares — the 
same  sensation  also  in  Diptheria.  A  sensation  of  constriction 
in  the  chest  in  asthma  or  other  affections  of  the  chest,  coughs, 
etc.  A  sensation  of  constriction  in  urinarv  difliculties,  as  in 
dysuria,  gonorrhrea,  etc.  A  sensation  of  constriction  in  the 
rectum  in  dysentary,  diarrhoea  or  constipation. 

In  ^catarrh  of  the  posterior  nares  when  the  secretion  is 
tough  and  fibrinous  requiring  great  effort  to  draw  it  into  the 
mouth,  particularly  in  the  morning. 

Fifteen  years  ago  I  drew  the  attention  of  the  profession 
at  hirge  to  the  value  of  this  remedy  when  there  was  inflam- 
mation of  the  petros  portion  of  temporal  bone,  as  a  '^key 
note,"  and  it  still  remains,  and  always  will  remain,  an  infal- 
lible '^guidmg  symptom."  ' 

All  affections  that  commence  in  the  back  and  gradually 
spread  all  over  the  body,  as  in  intermittent  fever  where  the 
chill  commences,  xuKnudijiedly  in  the  hack  and  spreads  t-lienoe 
over  the  bod  v. 


CO  HRESPONDENCE.  33  5 

Another  symptom  of  great  value  is  a  sensation  as  if 
cdyenne  pepper  had  been  applied  to  the  part  affected.  For 
instance  in  the  throat  or  upon  any  of  the  mucous  surfaces — 
on  the  scalp  or  otlier  portions  of  the  skin. 

Samuel  Hahnemann  observes  that  iiylividuals  of  a 
rigid  fibre  are  not  as  a  rule,  favorable  subjects  for  the  action 
of  this  remedy. 

Capsicum  is  a  very  searching  remedy  having  a  very  deep 
action  and  should  never  be  prescribed  lower  than  the  30th 
attention  and  a  much  higher  insures  a  more  favorable  result. 
We  should  be  very  ^low  to  prescribe  another  remedy  after 
Capsicum.  Of  course  the  above  symptoms  must  take  super- 
ior or  inferior  rank  with  others,  as  the  totality  is  brought 
under  consideration,  and  its  administration  must  be  accord- 
ing  to  the  rules  laid  down  in  the  organon  of  Samuel  Hahn- 
emann. 

— .- ' 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


To  The  Editor  of  the  Medical  Advance: 

In  the  October  number  of  the  Advance,  pages  191  and 
192,  is  quite  an  interesting  account  of  fracture  of  the  cranium 
in  a  boy  nine  years  of  age.  But  there  is  one  feature  of  the 
case  which  I  think  will  bear  criticism. 

It  is  stated  that  he  was  violently  kicked  by  a  horse  and 
that  the  doctors  "  found  him  in  a  comatose  condition,  all  un- 
conscious of  the  frightful  injury  he  had  received.  It  was 
found  necessary  to  remove  broken  fragments  of  the  skull. 
This  was  done  "after  thoroughly  anaesthetizing  our  patient." 

Will  those  doctors  be  kind  enough  to  give  the  reason  for 
*' anaesthetizing"  a  patient  who  was  already  in  a  "comatose 
and  unconscious  condition?  It  must  have  been  a  mistake 
and  should  not  be  allowed  to  go  out  to  our  profession  un- 
questioned. 

1  have  known  allopathic  surgeons  to  make  this  blunder, 
but  the  above  is  the  first  I  have  observed  in  our  school.     I 


336 


CORRESPOND  ENCE. 


hope  none  of  our  surgeons  will  repeat  it  for,  although  no 
great  harm  may  arise  from  it,  they  will  be  subject  to  ridicule 
if  it  becomes  known  to  their  old-school  rivals.      A  Senior. 


Editors  of  the  Medical  Advance: 

It  has  not  been  my  privilege  to  attend,  and  take  part  in 
the  proceedings  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  of  the 
State  of  Michigan  for  some  years  past,  nevertheless  I  have 
anxiousl}'  watched  for  the  transactions  to  appear  in  our  Medi- 
cal Journals,  hoping  to  receive  partial  compensation  for  what 
I  regard  an  incomparable  loss  to  any  physician  who  has  a 
desire  to  cultivate  the  social  and  profit  by  the  moral  and 
mental  influence  which  is  always  so  perceptibly  felt  at  those 
meetings. 

In  years  past  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  be  present  atone 
of  those  annual  gatherings,  when  by  request  I  gave  my  expe- 
rience with  Sulph.  High,  in  the  treatment  of  intermittent  fever. 

You  just  ouglit  to  have  been  there !  I  can  smell  the  fumes 
of  sulphur  when  I  think  of  the  warm  reception  they  gave  me. 

I  must  confess  I  have  always  felt  a  secret  desire  that 
some  of  the  members  then  present  might  in  the  future 
have  an  opportunity  of  proving  the  remedy  sufficiently,  to 
obtain  the  much  talked  of  pathological  results,  or  tissue 
changes. 

I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  all  Medical  subjects,  but  an 
especial  interest  in  drug  provings  as  practiced  by  Hahne- 
mann and  his  corps  of  faithful  followers,  who  have  given  us 
our  large  and  valuable  Materia  Medica,  out  of  which  I  would 
not  willingly  erase  one  symptom. 

I  am  confident  that  any  physician  who  will  follow  the 
plain  rules  as  laid  down  by  Hahnemann  in  his  Organem  will 
not  only  gain  confidence  in  our  law  of  cure,  but  in  attenuated 
medicine  as  well.  I.  Dever,  M.  D. 

The  new  Library  of  the  University  of  Michigan  is  at  last 
finished,  dedicated  and  ready  for  use.  Over  one  hundred 
•thousand  dollars  have  been  expended  in  the  structure,  and 
it  now  contains  one  of  the  largest  collection  of  books  in  the 
United  States. 


•  *   *a 
I  **  a 


•  •• 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  337 

EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


"It  is  now  over  50  years  since  I  first  read  the  Organon.  I  just 
begin  to  comprehend  it."  Ad.  Lippe. 

"Men  who  cut  the  cervix  years  ago  are  the  men  who  to-day 
advocate  the  sewing  np  of  these  lacerations."  B.  W.  James. 

H.  N.  Guernsey,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  is  at  work  on  a  book: 
**The  Natural  Philosophy  of  Disease,  and  the  Natural  Method  of  its 
Cure,"  with  numerous  illustrations  from  practice. 

Died. — A.  M.  Woodruff,  M.  D.,  at  Las  Vegas,  N.  M.,  of  luemo- 
ptysis.  The  doctor  went  South  a  year  ago  to  try  the  beneficial 
effects  of  a  change  of  climate  for  a  disease  of  the  lungs.  He  was 
evidently  improving  up  to  the  time  of  his  sudden  death.  He  was  a 
very  successful  practitioner,  one  we  can  iH'afford  to  lose.  He  was, 
interred  in  the  family  vault  at  Ann  Arbor. 

Indiana. — We  are  to  have  two  new  hospitals  in  our  State, and  I 
see  no  reason  why  the  Homoeopaths  are  not  entitled  to  the  medical 
control  of  at  least  one  of  them.  I  liave  a  petition  in  pamphlet 
form  now  ready  for  publication,  to  go  before  the  senate  and  legis- 
lature, and  I  want  the  name  of  every  Homce.'»pathic  physician  in 
the  State  attached  to  it.  Send  your  name  at  once  and  ask  your 
neighbor  to  do  the  same,  as  list  closes  January  1." 

J.  D.  Grabill,  M.  D.,  Union  City. 

Pennsylvania  State  Society. — During  a  business  trip  P'.ast, 
being  desirous  of  seeing  how  they  did  it  in  the  City  of  "  Brotherly 
Love,"  we  arranged  to  take  in  the  Pennsylvania  State  Society.  The 
oflficers  of  the  Philadelphia  County  Society  had  charge  of  the  local 
arrangements,  and  notliing  was  left  undone  to  make  the  meeting 
both  pleasant  and  profitable.  Everything  was  complete.  Too 
much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  on  the  County  Society  for  their 
effort**.  The  reader  will  naturally  ask,  what  effect  had  this  elabo- 
rate and  faultless  programme  on  the  attendance?  Well,  not  much. 
The  attendance  was  not  so  large  as  at  Michigan  State  Society,  and 
would  have  been  considered  fair  in  Kansas,  Iowa  or  Nebraska. 
W^hen  we  take  into  consi  eration  that  there  are  over  7(K)  homceo- 
pathic .physicians  in  the  State,  .')00  of  whom  are  in  the  county  of 
Philadelphia,  we  can  only  imagine  "what  might  have  been,"  and 
have  come  to  the  cnnclusion  thai  all  the  "Kilkenny  cats"  are  not 
found  in  Michigan  ;  that  even  in  the  city  of  "Brotherly  Love," 
there  are  members  of  the  profession  who  "agree  to  differ. 

Among  the  visitors  we  noticed  Phillips  of  Cleveland,  Has- 
brouck  of  Brooklyn,  and  Peck  of  Providence.     The  programme  was 


338  EDITORS  TABLE. 

well  carried  out,  the  papers  of  more  than  average  ability,  but  gome 
of  the  best,  especially  those'  of  Drs.  Goodno  and  Thomas,  of  the 
bureau  of  pathology,  went  by  the  board  without  discussion.  One 
of  the  most  interesting  discussions  was  that  on  Sanitary  Science, 
which  was  brought  about  by  a  flank  movement  on  the  part  of  Drs. 
Cooper  and  B.  W.  James.  When  the  Bureau  was  called,  Dr.  Cooper, 
Chairman,  found  himself  without  a  paper,  and  moved:  ''That  the 
time  allotted  to  the  Bureau  be  devoted  to  discussion  on  Sanitary 
Science."  The  subject  was  broati,  and  the  members  improved  the 
opportunity.    It  was  the  most  brilliant  strategic  move  of  the  session. 

The  Homceopathic  Librarj*  and  Reading  Room  was  visited  on 
Tuesday  evening.  The  Association,  at  considerable  expense,  has 
purchassd  the  libraries  of  the  late  Drs.  Hering  and  McCiatchey  and 
laid  the  foun<lation  of  a  tine  library.  They  need  better  and  more 
corfimodious  rooms^  which  will  come  in  due  time. 

The  old  college  building  on  Filbert  street,  in  which  so  much 
good  work  has  been  done,  sadly  needs  something.  It  certainly  is 
not  a  credit  to  the  school  or  the  State,  and  the  arrangements  for  a 
new  building  and  hospital  were  not  premature. 

The  drive  in  Fairmount  Park,  which  contains  about  3000  acres, 
and  the  stop  to  "water  the  horses,"  at  the  resting  place  on  the 
beautiful  Wissahickon,  was  charming  in  the  extreme.  Sandwiched 
between  the  Business  Manager  and  the  Managing  Editor  of  the 
Hohnemannian  Monthly,  we  enjoyed  it  "immensely."  We  hope 
some  day  to  be  able  to  extinguish  our  indebtedness  by  showing 
them  the  (College  Campus  and  the  romantic  Huron. 

The  banquet  was  most  elaborate.  Mine  host,  of  the  Aldine 
hotel,  knows  how  to  entertain  a  State  Medical  Society.  We  respect- 
fully suggest,  that  in  luture  the  banquet  of  the  American  Institute, 
be  managed  by  the   oHicers    of  the  Philadelphia  County  Society. 

SPECIAL  NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS. 

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H.  C.  ALLEN.  M.  D..  Bueinesa  Manager. 


"The  Vital  Force.  ' — In  the  November  number  of  last 
year,  we  look  exception  to  Dr.  Bayard's  position  as  set  forth 
in  the  Popular  Science  MonllUy,  in  his  explanation  of  Homos- 
'  opathy,  that,  as  a  science,  it  "la  the  law  of  the  vital  force." 
Dr.  P.  P.  Wella,  in  a  late  number  of  the  Homasopalhic  Pky- 
ncian,  has  iliecussed  the  question  at  some  length  in  his 
peculiar  way.  Allowing  all  he  says  to  be  true,  it  reduces 
him  to  the  absurdity  of  atleraptinR  to  prove  a  self-evident 
proposition.  When  the  point  at  issue  is  assumed  by  either 
party,  to  say  the  least,  it  cuts  out  the  party,  so  assuming,  and 
argument  is  ended.  We  cannot,  therefore,  follow  Dr.  Wells, 
since  to  our  mind,  the  question  is  debatnble,  and  worthy  of 
study;  and  is  one  which  cannot  be  settled  by  flippant  asser- 
tions. It  is  also  clear,  that  so  broad  a  question  cannot  be 
properly  discussed  in  a  brief  editorial.  We  are  not,  how- 
ever, disposed  to  leave  the  controversy  as  it  stands  at  present. 
We  repeat,  that  the  facts  of  HomtEopathy  are  one  thing;  the 
theories  which  help  to  explain  them  are  another  thing.     It 


340  EDITORIAL, 

is  a  necessity  of  the  human  mind  to  have  things  explained. 
The  best  of  all  explanations,  is  a  demonstration.  A  thing 
which  can  be  demostrated  is  a  scientific  fact.  We,  however, 
incorporate  much  into  science  so-called,  which  we  cannot 
demonstrate;  and  we  explain  all  such  things  by  the  help  of 
theories.  Many  points  are  settled  by  the  theory  of  authority. 
An  ecumenical  council,  a  synod,  a  conference  or  an  individ- 
ual, is  often  considered  suflScient.  There  are  persons  who 
would  take  Dr.  Wells'  statement  upon  almost  any  question 
as  a  final  settlement  of  it.  Upon  this  theory  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  point  out  what  the  authorities  say;  and  most  of  the 
hard  questions  that  might  otherwise  vex  the  mind  of  man, 
are  i^  this  way  answered  and  disposed  of.  Next  to  the  theo- 
ries of  this  sort,  stand  theories  founded  on  imagination  or 
superstition.  Given  a  series  of  phenomena,  apparently  inex- 
plicable, and  all  you  have  to  do,  is  to  construct  an  ideal 
cause.  The  ocean,  the  forest  and  the  air,  were  once  filled 
with  imaginary  beings,  who  drove  the  winds  about,  made 
the  seas  boil  and  hurled  thunderbolts  through  the  heavens. 
Spirits,  malign  and  benign,  filled  every  unexplored  corner  of 
the  universe,  and  became  the  efficient  source  of  its  myste- 
rious phenomena.  For  centuries,  imagination  backed  by 
authority,  covered  the  whole  ground,  and  solved  all  riddles. 
Subsequently,  Science  came  into  the  field,  and  claimed  her 
right  to  answer  these  puzzling  questions.  This  she  does  in 
two  ways:  First,  by  demonstration.  She  repeats  the  phe- 
nomenon at  will  and  shows  every  step  in  the  experiment. 
In  this  way  she  curbs  and  controls  imagination  and  destroys 
the  specters  of  superstition.  But  secondly,  science  must 
employ  theories  respecting  many  things  she  cannot  demon- 
strate. But  such  theories  are  always  essentially  scientific 
theories.  They  hold  no  relation  to  the  theories  of  authority 
or  imagination,  because  in  essence,  they  always  correspond 
with  the  facts  of  sciences. 

Now  to  the  point  at  issue.  The  phenomena  of  life  were 
easily  settled  a  thousand  years  ago  by  imagining  a  life  prin- 
ciple to  exist  in  the  living  body.     This  theory  came  to  us 


EDlTOTtlAL. 


fWI 


(irst  !\v  authority.  The  Bible  settled  the  question  when  it 
declared  that  God  breathed  into  man  and  made  him  a  liv- 
ing being.  We  had  the  authority  of  the  Church  for  ii,  aud 
that  was  enougli.  But  the  imagination  now  holds  the  same 
theory  iii  place  us  u  co(ivenient  solution  of  life's  uiyBterious 
problems.  It  is  however  a  theory,  whether  true  or  false,  that 
has  in  it  no  element  of  science.  Once  it  was  potent  to  shut 
out  all  investigation.  Life  was  "a  sacred  mystery,"  and  we 
could  raise  no  question  which  the  "life  principle"  could  not 
solve.  But  during  the  last  century,  the  investigator  has 
invaded  the  domain  of  life  and  stripped  it  of  much  of  its 
mystery.  And  upon  thiit  small  part  which  yet  is  not  capa- 
ble of  demonstration,  it  has  resolutely  placed  well  defined 
scientific  theories,  and  eo,  in  effect,  shut  out  the  old  imagin- 
ation of  a  "  life  principle."  As  scientists  we  take  Matter  and 
Force  as  our  ultimates,  and  out  of  them  construct,  where 
needed,  good  working  theories,  to  which  we  hold  tentatively 
until  demonstration  shall  come  up  take  final  pusaea^ion.  We 
have  no  need  to  go  outside  of  the  laws  which  govern  matter 
and  force,  to  understand  life  and  disease,  and  the  nature  of 
drugs  and  the  mode  of  curing  disease.  Nothing  can  help  us 
on  with  more  certainty  than  Chemistry  and  Physics,  if  prop- 
erly applied.  Upon  these  Homceopathy  can  stand  with  no 
fear  of  falling.  We  reject  the  assumption  of  a  "life  prin- 
ciple," first,  because  it  is  an  unscientific  theory;  and  sec- 
ondly, because  it  is  not  needed  to  account  for  the  phenora- 
dna  of  life  or  health  or  dlBease.  And  we  more  especially 
object  to  making  it  the  foundation  of  the  Homceopathic 
healing  art.  because  it  is  quite  too  shadowy  and  untenable; 
and  we  can  only  lose  by  resting  upon  a  false  foundation. 
Dr.  Wells  declares  that  "without  this  force  as  a  chief  factor, 
Homcepathy  hn«  no  philosopky ;  neither  can  there  be  without 
this  force  included  in  it,  any  rational  philosophy  of  life 
health  or  sickness."  And  he  adds  as  his  belief  that  "it  is 
indispensible  to  a  useful  aud  successful  practice  of  this  phil- 
osophy." But  what  we  want  is  not  a  rational  philosophy 
but  a  scientijir  phihaopky :  iiiul  that  we  certainly  have,  aud  it 


342  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE  AS  A  BUSINESS. 

as  certainly  shuts  out  all  superstitious  beliefs  in  the  old  and 
exploded  notion  of  a  "life  principle"  otherwise  known  as 
"the  vital  force." 


tm 


THE  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE  AS  A  BUSINESS. 


READ    BEFORE   THE    POLK   COUNTY,    IOWA,    MEDICAL   SOCIETY 

AUGUST  21,  1883. 


BY  CHABLES  WOODHULL  EATON,  M.  D. 


The  suggestions  I  am  about  to  offer  before  you,  will,  I 
am  sure,  excite  much  mental  comment  and  individual  opin- 
ion while  being  read  in  your  hearing.  Let  me  ask  at  the 
outset  that  this  comment  and  opinion  be  expressed  fully 
and  without  reserve.  Criticism  is  what  the  writer  desires, 
and  it  makes  little  difference  whether  that  criticism  be  pro 
or  con,  when  one  is  assured  it  is,  at  all  events,  friendly. 
Further,  no  one  save  myself  only  has  known  the  contents  of 
this  paper.  It  in  no  sense  conveys  the  sentiment  of  my 
immediate  colleagues,  nor  does  it  voice  the  opinion  of  that 
oflSce  of  which  I  am  one  of  the  working  members.  They 
are  in  happy  ignorance,  both  Dr.  Linn  and  Dr.  Morgan,  of 
the  exhibition  of  crankism  which  I  have  prepared  for  this 
evening. 

Two  things,  then,  in  the  practical  life,  not  of  medicine, 
but  of  the  doctors  of  medicine,  have  arrested  my  attention. 
They  have  not  arrested  this  attention  because  sought  after  by 
the  inquiring  mind.  The  challenge  has  come  startlingly, 
persistently,  and  in  spite  of  preconceived  opinions.  They 
confront  one  at  every  turn  in  defiance  of  inherited  notions 
of  the  exalted  plane  occupied  by  the  professions. 

The  first  is  this.  There  is  not  among  my  acquaintance 
a  single  successful  practitioner  who  has  been  out  of  college 
long  enough  to  draw  the  line  between  theory  and  fact,  ideal 
and  real, and  who  has  given  his  confidence  to  me,  who  is  not 
now  planning  to  get  out  of  the  practice  of  medicine,  or 


CSARLES  WOODBULL  BATON.  IT.  D. 


343 


resolving  that  he  will  at  some  future  day — not  bo  very  dis- 
tant either.  When  I  aay  succeesl'ul  practitioner,  I  mean  thoae 
whose  prominent  position  as  honored  physicians,  and  large 
earnings  in  dotlars  and  cents  make  tbeni  the  ones  ordinarily 
supposed  to  be  the  most  fortunate.  Those  who  find  them- 
selves not  making  as  rapid  8tride9  toward  high  position  and 
fat  practice  aa  they  had  hoped,  are,  of  course  open  to  the 
suspicion  of"  having  been  soured  by  hard  experience.  Of 
these  I  have  nothing  to  say.  My  point  is  the  almost  unan- 
imous diasatisfiiction  of  those  who  are  already  at  the  top. 
Dissatisfaction  in  failure  is  one  thing.  Dissatisfaction  in 
success  is  quite  another,  and  challenges  our  attention. 

Two  physicians,  occupying  positions  with  which  you 
and  I  would  he  abundantly  satisfied  (at  least  we  think  we 
should),  have  expressed  themselves  to  me  within  a  week. 
The  way  of  putting  it  was  characteristic  of  the  men.  Said 
one,  "I  don't  blame  any  man  who  leaves  the  practice  of 
medicine.  1  have  more  than  once  felt  like  doing  so,  havent 
you'i"'  Tiie  other,  "Some  day  I  expect  to  throw  up  the 
whole  damned  business." 

If  you  will  allow  me,  then,  I  will  pin  up  this  proposi- 
tion before  you.  That  the  successful  doctors  are  greatly  dis- 
satisfied with  (not  medicine,  but)  the  practice  of  medicine. 
Hold  this  clearly  in  mind  while  we  follow  up  the  second 
fact  in  practical  medical  life,  which  clamors  for  attention. 

Every  year  you  meet  many  worthy  young  doctors 
looking  anxiously  fur  a  location.  I  grant  that  there  be 
many  who  deserve  no  location  and  no  success.  But  they  do 
not  form  a.  ie^Eitimate  factor  in  the  present  discussion.  They 
must  be  left  out  of  consideration  now,  while  we  are  speak- 
ing of  the  industrious,  honest,  clever,  competent  fellows, 
whom  there  is  a  goodly  number.  They  look  the  grounc 
over  as  carefully  as  their  pocket  books  will  admit,  and  fin 
ally  settle  in  what  seems  to  them,  all  things  considered,  the 
moat  promising  field  for  their  endeavor.  With  what  feelings 
do  they  make  tliis  decision,  and  open  the  modest  office,  and 
hang  out  thf  freshly  painted  sign?     I  say,  with  what  feel- 


844  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE  AS  A  BUSINESS. 

ings,  I  do  not  say  with  what  thoughts.  For  in  their  fresh 
and  beautiful  loyality  to  medicine,  to  Homoeopathy,  they 
do  not  allow  themselves  any  such  nihilistic  thinking  as  this 
paper  betrays.  But  they  have  feelings  which  they  cannot 
suppress,  and  yet  do  not  confess;  and  the  ill-concealed  feel- 
ing is  that,  after  all,  it  is  a  miserable  game  of  chance,  instead 
of  a  J3U8iness  demonstration,  whether  they  have  located  well 
or  ill,  whether  they  have  before  them  a  business  success  or  a 
business  failure. 

But  the  uncertainty  of  location  is  not  the  end  of  the 
misery,  it  is  only  the  beginning  of  it.  How  is  business  to 
be  worked  up?  How  established  in  a  legitimate  and  honor- 
able way?  If  he  hopes  it  may  be  in  part  from  his  church 
connection,  he  can  but  despise  himself  for  making  his  house 
a  house  of  merchandise.  If  from  his  brother  doctor's  fail- 
ures he  yet  feels  a  conscious  littleness.  For  the  chances  are 
that  his  neighbor  is  as  competent  as  himself,  and  it  always 
hurts  an  honest  man  to  hear  his  brother  craftsmen  tra- 
duced, and  know  that  he  profits  by  the  misunderstanding  or 
misrepresentation  of  which  his  colleague  has  been  the 
victim.  If  he  is  to  get  business  by  masonic  membership,  by 
the  clap- trap  of  society,  by  personal  display  or  brag,  by 
r^pid  driving  in  and  out  of  the  town,  going  in  desperate 
haste  to  see  "no  one  no  where,"  still  he  is  degraded  by  the 
unconscious  conciousness  that  these  methods  do  not  belong 
to  a  sturdy  straight- forwardness, — that  they  have  a  tinge  of 
falsehood  and  dishonesty  about  them. 

Would  you  and  I  be  willing  to  do  as  a  practitioner  of 
this  place  is  doing,  i.  e.,  dropping  into  the  homes  of  her 
patrons  at  any  and  all  times,  in  a  social  way,  to  express  her 
great  interest  in  them, — the  motive  being  to  get  and  keep 
their  patronage?  Would  we  be  willing  to  do  it?  Is  the 
interest  and  friendship  expressed,  quite  sincere  and  quite 
honest?  Does  she  wish  to  be  understood,  or  does  she  delib- 
erately wish  to  deceive  and  pull  the  "wool"  over  their  eyes? 
Which? 

Our  young  man  cannot  advertise  throug^h  the  press  in 


CHARLES  WOODHULL  EATON,  M.  D,  345 

such  a  way  that  it  shall  be  of  any  service  to  him,  for  the 
code  forbids  it,  and  rightly,  for  this  reason.  When  mer- 
chants advertise  attractions,  the  public  is  fairly  competent 
to  decide  what  is  true  and  what  is  not  as  to  goods  and  prices, 
and  judge  between  the  claims  of  rival  houses.  Moreover,  it 
is  comparatively  a  small  matter.  But  where  the  life  and 
health  of  themselves,  their  wives  and  their  little  ones  is  at 
stake,  with  the  added  importance  of  the  matter,  they  are  at  the 
same  time  left  incompetent  to  judge  rival  claims  in  newspaper 
columns.  So  reputable  doctors  agree  against  ad vertisements, 
and  depend  upon  their  established  character,  thus  forcing 
from  the  charlatan,  who  spreads  his  claims  in  public  prints, 
the  confession  that  he  has  no  established  character  and  can- 
not depend  upon  any  such  broken  reed. 

In  fact,  our  young  graduate  is  left  to  succeed  or  fail  on 
the  lucky  chj^nce  of  sojue  prominent  case,  or  the  sheer  force 
of  months  or  years  of  waiting  worthiness.  Three  possibili- 
ties stand  before  him.  Methods  which  lower  his  self-respect, 
pluck  and  indomitable  waiting.  Which  shall  he  take? 
Which  ought  to  satisfy  him  ?  Which  would  satisfy  a  sound 
business  test?    Which  would  satisfy  us? 

To  look  at  the  same  thing  from  another  stand-point.  A 
doctor  told  me  recently  of  his  desire  to  take  up  for  his 
department  the  diseases  of  children.  He  wished  to  make 
that  his  work.  Certainly  it  was  a  legitimate  desire.  Cer- 
tainly it  was  a  legitimate  thing  to  do.  Could  he  take 
charge  of  all  the  croup  in  his  town,  his  experience  would 
both  insure  a  better  success,  and  the  tabulated  results  would 
be  worth  more  for  the  literature  and  progress  of  medicine, , 
than  if  the  same  number  of  cases  were  divided  among  a 
dozen  doctors.  More  than  this,  he  would  grow  more  expert 
than  he  of  divided  attention,  in  interpreting  the  signs 
of  speechless  infancy.  I  shall  never  forget  the  time 
when  an  old  lady  kindly  volunteered  to  me  the  infor- 
mation that  when  a  baby  smiled  in  its  sleep,  it  had  the 
colic.  I  was  a  graduate  in  medicine  and  surgery,  yet  my 
face  turned  as  red  as   mv  whiskers,  because   I   never  had 


346  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE  A8  A  BUSINESS. 

heard  the  etatement  and  coutd  neither  affirm  nor  deny.  I  do 
not  yet  know  whether  it  be  true  or  not,  and  ray  friend,  could 
he  pursue  his  favorite  work,  might  solve  the  problem  for  me. 

But  though  his  purpose  and  ambition  are  perfectly  legi- 
timate and  laudable,  neither  he  nor  I  could  devise  any  way 
by  which  he  could  place  his  purpose  before  the  people, 
which  would  be  either  legitimate  or  laudable  He  cannot  de- 
pend upon  the  fraternity,  as  can  the  oculist,  for  in  the  present 
state  of  affaire,  any  physician  who  should  refer  the  children, 
or  iufants  merely,  to  another  practitioner,  would  be  supposed 
to  advertise  his  own  incompetency,  and  would  cut  the 
nerve  of  his  own  reputation.  In  short,  there  is  no  method 
open,  giving  reasonable  promise  of  success,  by  which  my 
friend  may  honorably  take  up  his  preferred  work. 

Here,  then,  is  the  second  proposition.  There  is  no  legi- 
timate business  method  by  which  the  young  doctor  may 
establieh  himself  in  general  practice,  or  in  most  departments 
of  special  work,  which  will  bear  an  ordinary  business  test  as 
to  risk,  probabilities,  possibilities,  and  time  demanded  in 
establishing  on  a  paying  basis.  Now  let  us  couple  with  this 
the  first  proposition,  namely :  that  the  successful  doctors  are 
greatly  dissatisfied  with  the  practice  of  medicine.  These  are 
very  grave  propositions.  Even  if  we  do  not  admit  their 
whole  truth  as  they  stand,  I  believe  we  see  enough  of  truth 
about  them  to  make  them  very  serious  statements  of  an 
unfortunate  condition  of  affairs  in  the  direction  named, 
which  ought  not  so  to  be. 

What,  then  is  the  matter?  And  what  are  you  going  to 
do  about  it?  These  are  the  questions  at  the  solution  of 
which  I  do  not  assume  to  have  arrived.  These  are  the  ques- 
tions I  would  propose  for  discussion.  But  as  you  may  pos- 
sibly expect  the  first  suggestion  of  a  remedy  from  the  one 
who  is  first  to  make  suggestion  of  disease,  I  will  outline  for 
you  my  thought  in  this  matter,  prefacing  only  that  I  do  not 
conceive  that  I  have  made  a  great  discovery  of  the  universal 
panacea.  I  would  only  offer  a  few  sentences  regarding  that 
which  commends  itself  to  me  as  one  way  of  abating  the  un- 


CHARLES  WOODHULL  EATON,  M.  P.  W7 

fortunate  conditiona,  to  which  attentioa  has  been  drawn, 
surrounding  the  practice  of  medicine. 

It  is  doubtleBB  true  that  these  conditionE  are  of  Compar- 
atively recent  growth,  and  are  Elill  growing  and  to  grow. 
There  were  centuries  in  which  medicine  and  law  and 
theology  were  veritable  dictatorships.  Tbey  were  looked  up 
to  as  super-hunian.  Their  dictum  unquestioned,  their 
authority  unchallenged,  their  attainment  possible  to  but  few, 
they  were  subject  to  no  such  external  pressure  of  Jealousy 
lest  they  assume  too  much,  and  of  skepticism  ae  to  their 
wisdom  and  power  to  accomplish  the  best  for  their  clients, 
bom  of  the  diffusion  of  technical  knowledge;  nor  internal 
pressure  from  the  armies  of  young  men  who  now  crowd  into 
the  professions  as  the  goat  of  their  ambition,  thus  making 
competition  sharp.  Look  at  the  New  England  clergy  of  a 
century  ago,  and  of  to-day.  As  the  progress  of  the  human 
race  gives  us  reason  for  believing,  they  are  broader,  as  a 
class,  and  deeper,  and  worthier  to-day  than  they  were  a  cen- 
n  ago;  yet  possess  but  a  modicum  of  their  former  author- 

I  A   New  England   clergyman   of  eminence,  whom  all 

%  delight  la  honor*  has  recently  called  attention,  in  one 
^iir  prominent  Reviews,  to  this  decline  of  authority.  Not 
,  to  be  deplored,  hut  welcomed, — not  as  showing  the  decline  of 
the  clergy,  but  of  their  authority  only,  which  but  marks  the 
rise  of  the  whole  people.  Is  not  this  true  of  law  ?  Is  not 
this  more  than  equally  true  of  medicine?  And  are  we  not 
surrounded  by  altered  circumstances,  and  confronted  with 
the  call  for  altered  methods  of  conducting  our  work? 

Notice  again,  the  tendency  of  the  world,  in  all  tlie 
varied  departments  of  its  work  toward  firganization.  Per- 
sona are  everywhere  giving  away  to  institutions.  The  law  of 
the  division  of  labor  is  projecting  its  lines  of  separation 
among  all  men,  like  the  reaching  out  of  Ihe  spears  of  ice  on 
a  freezing  pond  or  frosty  window  pane.  The  government  of 
the  MassachuBelts  Bay  Colony  has  divided  into  the  sharply 


•Pfjt.  Goo,;e,,Fislier. 


a  Divlnltjr  Stboul. 


348  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE  AS  A  BUSINESS, 

defined  departments  of  the  legislative,  executive,  judicial. 
The  tutorship  of  youth  has  been  taken  from  the  preacher 
and  given  to  schools,  colleges,  universities.  The  monied 
man  of  the  town  has  given  way  to  the  bank.  The  spinning 
wheel  has  been  silenced  in  the  hum  of  thousands  of  armed 
and  cunning  fingered  factories.  We  no  longer  kill  our  own 
beef,  or  build  our  own  houses,  or  bury  our  own  dead.  Even 
our  wives  and  mothers  no  longer  make  our  shirts,  our  hair  is 
simply  clipped  by  a  curious  mechanism,  and  doubtless  the 
very  youngster  of  succeeding  generations  will  be  spanked 
by  machinery. 

Theology  has  organized  and  subdivided  into  Boards  of 
Mission,  home  and  foreign,  Boards  of  Publication,  Boards  of 
this  and  Boards  of  that,  Sunday  schools,  choirs,  schools  of 
learning,  almost  without  end.  Law  has  done  the  same. 
Witness  its  many  courts,  from  the  justice's,  to  the  United 
States  Supreme.  Medicine  has  done  the  same  in  the  matter 
of  the  education  of  its  men  only,  with  the  addition  of  a  cer- 
tain degree  of  specialization  among  its  teachers,  which  the 
necessities  of  college  work  have  compelled.  With  the  vast 
majority  of  the  working  men  in  medicine,  and  in  all  com- 
munities, with  exceptions  insignificant,  there  is  no  organiza- 
tion, no  division  of  labor.  The  whole  work  of  medicine  is 
piled  in  one  heterogenious  and  chaotic  heap.  Any  doctor 
may  drop  in  any  town,  and  with  all  the  other  doctors  there, 
on  an  equal  footing,  go  in  for  anything  and  everything  that 
may  be  gotten  hold  of, — belter  skelter,  pell  mell,  pushing, 
crowding,  snatching,  backbiting,  inhuman,  every  man  for 
himself  and  the  devil  take  the  hindmost.  Come  on  young 
man.  We  invite  you  to  glory  and  honor.  Join  this  intensely 
jealous,  intensely  selfish,  jostling  set,  and  taste  the  dignity  of 
the  profession  of  medicine.  Come  join  this  tribe  of  Ishmael, 
where  every  man  suspects  every  man's  hand  to  be  against 
him,  where  each  one  supposes  each  other  one  would  be  glad 
to  tear  him  down  that  he  might  climb  by  his  spoliation; 
come  join  the  clan  so  ordering  its  work  that  it  makes  a  bid 
for  every  influence  that  tends  to  degrade  the  character  of  its 


I 


CHARLES  WOODBULL  EATON,  M.  D.  S49 

individual  members,  and  see  what  u  glorious  and  noble  and 
philanthropic  a  thing  is  the  practice  of  medicine.  What  of 
theology?  Why  its  clientage  is  organized  into  churches  who 
call  their  men.  Law?  It  has  its  court  aod  judges  in  the 
most  insignificant  hamlet.  It  is  left  to  medicine  to  take  pos- 
sessioD  of  the  country  in  true  gorilla  style.  It  enjoys  that 
distinction  alone. 

Is  it  not  time  for  us  to  be  ashamed  of  ourselves  and 
learn  to  do  better?  Is  it  not  time  that  we  learn  the  lesson 
which  all  the  rest  of  the  world  has  already  learned?  Is  it 
not  time  that  we  understand  that  the  countersign  of  success 
is  to-day  not  competition  but  combination  ?  Is  it  not  time 
that  we  devise  methods  which  shall  cement  rather  than 
sunder  us  ?  That  shall  gather  together  clinical  experience, 
rather  than  scatter  it  to  the  winds?  That  shall  hinder, 
rather  than  help,  the  incompetent  and  vicious ?  "In  union 
there  is  strength." 

We  can  have  before  our  eyes  continually  the  benefits 
derived  by  the  staff  of  a  medical  school  from  the  organiza- 
tion and  division  of  labor  which  the  neccessities  of  teaching 
compel,  and  never  see  that  we  might  enjoy  the  same  benefits, 
carried  beyond  the  rudimentary,  which  is  an  incident  of 
school  work,  towards  the  complete,  in  every  town  of  any 
size,  without  incurring  the  necessity  of  establishing  a 
medical  school.  The  advantages  which  they  so  reap  we  see 
on  every  hand.  Each  may  work  in  his  chosen  department 
and  is  thus  enabled  to  be  at  tlie  head  in  one  thing,  rather 
than  good  on  an  average  in  many  things.  The  reputation  of 
the  individual  is  the  sum  of  their  combined  reputations, 
and  as  all  are  experts,  the  resultant  reputation  is  the  best 
possible  basis  for  helping  on  the  progress  of  medical  science. 
Instead  of  that  fateful  and  wellnigh  fatal  isolation  which 
enwraps  the  rank  and  file,  their  close  association  ensures 
that  interchange  of  experience,  tliat  friction  of  mind  on 
mind  which  makes  keen  for  insight  and  apprehension. 

Why  may  not  the  same  advantages  be  secured  in  every 
town  large  enough  to  really  demand  the  services  of  three  <rr 


360 


PRACTICE  OP  MEDICJNS  AS  A  BVS1N£SS. 


more  doctors?  Let  them  join  their  forcee  as  a  firm 
under  any  arrangement  of  detail  which  seems  best,  Call 
themselves  a  Medical  Institute  if  they  think  proper.  Or  a 
college  if  they  prefer.  For  the  primary  meaning  of  that 
term  is  a  society  of  men  engaged  in  common  pm'euits,  as  for 
instance  the  electoral  collegea  of  our  system  of  president 
choosing.  Let  each  man  have  his  department  of  work.  Let 
them  have  a  building  devoted  to  their  business,  thus  creat- 
inga  medical  center,  and  at  the  same  time  lessening  business 
expenses.  I  lay  great  stress  upon  the  creation  of  a  medical 
center,  a  place,  the  place  where  the  medical  work  is  done. 
When  a  man  wants  to  stay  a  day  or  two  in  a  town,  he  goes 
to  a  hotel.  When  you  want"  to  boy  exchange  you  go  to  a. 
bank.  When  there  is  need  of  the  establishment  of  equity 
wc  turn  to  the  courts.  There  should  be  a  place,  or  places. 
par  excellence,  to  which  should  turn  the  thoughts  of  those 
needing  medical  service,  as  a  matter  of  course  in  the  same 
sense  as  when  under  other  circumstances  they  turn  to  the 
hotel,  the  baak,  and  the  courts.  In  such  a  firm,  mch  one 
may  delight  in  the  growing  reputation  of  all  the  others,  and 
do  for  their  up-building  what  he  could  not  iio  for  his  own, — 
what  they  in  turn  will  do  for  his.  In  a  very  large  sense,  thi; 
reputation  of  the  individual  will  be  the  sum  of  their  com- 
bined reputations.  In  doubt  there  is  an  abundance  of 
counsel,  and  no  fear  of  conflicting  interests.  The  gynie- 
cologist  will  not  be  worn  out  with  worry  about  an  eye  he 
doe«  not  understand,  the  children's  doctor  will  not  be  com- 
pelled to  turn  from  cholera  infantum  to  a  gunshot  wound. 
Standing  shoulder  to  shoulder,  they  pursue  their  work  bear- 
ing each  others  burdens.  With  butone  department  of  work 
resting  upon  the  individual,  with  abundant  counsel  in  their 
own  household,  with  yoke  fellows  holding  up  the  reputation 
of  cjich  in  those  times  which  try  it,  with  the  mental  disci- 
pline of  association,  with  its  warmth  instead  of  isolation's 
chill  they  are  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  for 
discharging  a  doctor's  duty  in  the  most  Euccessful,  most 
manly  way,  and  without  that  working   care  which  make^ 


CHARLES  WOODffULL  EATON.  Jf.  />, 


Sfil 


men  gray  and  breaks  them  down.    It  frees  them  from  temp- 
tation to  deceitful  ways  and  petty  meannesses. 

It  puts  the  medical  work  into  organized  business  channels, 
and  young  men  will  either  enter  the  work  with  reasonable 
assurance  of  success,  as  in  ent«riii}t  other  business  houaes, 
or  keep  out  altogether.  In  other  words,  it  eliminates  the 
haphazard  element  in  the  matter  of  location  and  estalilish- 
ment  of  business.  Even  advertising  would  be  possible, 
though  I  should  say  unnecessary  and  undersirable.  For 
quacks  fight  shy  of  each  other.  They  have  the  seeds  of 
disintegrHtion  within  themselveB,  and  could  not  maintain 
such  organizations.  So  every  such  association  would  by  it* 
existence  be  a  guarantee  of  the  standing  of  each  of  its  mem- 
bers. In  classified  experience,  each  town  of  two  or  three 
thousand  inhabitants  would  thus  become  of  equal  worth 
with  the  present  value  of  a  large  city  hospital.  It  would  tell 
immensely  in  the  taking  of  towns  for  homiEopathy,  One  of 
oar  men  who  is  all  alone  in  an  Iowa  town  which  the  census 
of  '80  put  at  3,500  inhabitant*,  said  to  me  the  other  day, 
"Had  I  had  a  competent  colleague  when  I  broke  down  under 
a  practice  of  one  thousand  dollars  per  month  for  three siiccea- 
aive  months,  the  old  school  would  never  again  have  had  a 
smell  of  practice  in  this  town."  Living  and  starving,  all  told, 
they  now  have  thirteen  "regulars"  in  that  town.  Suppose  they 
had  had  a  working  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  of  four  mem- 
bers, say,  in  that  town.     What  think  you? 

Think,  too,  what  advantages  such  an  organization  would 
afford  for  the  training  of  the  medical  student.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  take  the  time  to  point  out  how  great  the 
improvement  would  be  over  the  present  system  of  precep- 
tombip.  The  mere  mention  of  the  matter  secures  its  reoog- 
nition  in  all  our  minds,  Understand,  I  do  not  hold  up  to 
your  vision  a  medical  miilenium.  I  have  not  yet  to 
leurn  that  tirms  have  their  rnisunderstandinge  and  quarrels. 
And  large  towns  would  have  rival  cullrges.  I  can  see  rea- 
aoos  for  apprehending  Irtctions  here  and  there-  But  these 
I  greatly  tu  be  preferred  to  the  individual  frictions  and 


J'B.iCTJCE  OF  MEDICINE  A8  A  BUSWESS. 

integral  rivalries  which  now  obtain  as  the  result  of  the  pres- 
ent methods  of  medical  practice. 

But  I  forbear.  I  shall  weary  you.  To  you  I  leave 
further  suggestions,  pro  and  con,  as  to  this  or  other  plans.  I 
believe  that  there  is  a  call  for  a  change  in  our  methods 
which  is  thrust  upon  us  by  the  very  progress  of  civilization. 
I  may  have  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  direction  in  which  that 
change  ia  tu  come,  and  I  may  not.  It  will  do  us  good  to 
consult  regarding  it,  at  any  rate.  One  word  of  criticism  on 
the  plan  suggested,  and  I  will  yield  the  floor.  It  is  this. 
It  is  Utopian.  I  regard  this  criticism,  however,  as  construc- 
tive, not  destructive, — as  for  and  not  against.  I  should  be 
sorry  to  offer  you  any  plan  which  would  not  be  Utopian.  It 
was  a  Utopian  idea  of  HahAemann's  that  lie  could  recon- 
struct and  regenerate  medical  practice  on  the  one  law  of 
similia;  a  law  which  was  not  new,  and  had  been  repeatedly 
recognized  before  his  day.  Yet  now  we  are,  at  least,  in  par- 
tial possession  of  this  promised  land.  We  have  entered  upon 
the  borders  of  this  utopia.  It  was  a  Utopian  idea  of 
Professor  Morse's  that  he  could  write  messages  afar  off  by 
the  aid  of  lightning.  We  now  dwell  in  the  midst  of  that 
Utopia.  It  was  Utopian  in  the  extreme,  that  conception  of 
the  possibility  of  transporting  the  human  voice,  preserving 
ila  individuality  and  indentity,  many  miles.  But  the  daily 
possession  of  that  Utopia  has  ceased  to  be  a  surprise.  It 
may  be  Utopian  to  suppose  it  possible  that  the  grand  multi- 
tude of  devoted  men  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
will  ever  be  organized  into  any  thiug  like  a  compact  army,  by 
its  combined  strength  conquering  and  to  conquer.  But  it  is 
the  unexpected  that  happens,  and  in  all  other  departments 
of  the  world's  work  we  are  continually  marching  into  and 
taking  possession  of  Utopias  apparently  more  distant. 

To  disband  the  ranks  and  discharge  the  practitioners  of 
medicine,  of  Horaceopathy,  would  be  to  cause  the  sending  up 
from  every  household  a  cry  of  despair.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  world  needs  and  must  have  its  doctors,  for 
whom,  after  all,  it  baa  a  warm  and  kindly  place  in  its  big 


MASTITIS  AND  MA  MM  A  RY  BA  NDA  GES.  :i53 

heart.  The  service  must  not  be  deserted.  And  if  in  our  day 
the  practice  of  medicine  be  found  to  have  drifted,  in  its 
daily  practical  expression,  into  such  position  as  that  the  best 
men  find  it  hardly  tenable  or  endurable,  then  the  duty  rest- 
ing upon  our  shoulders  is  not  desertion,  nor  honorable  self- 
discharge,  but  the  removal  of  those  rocks  of  offense  which 
wear  out  and  exasperate  the  veteran,  and  perplex  and  dis- 
tress the  raw  recruit. 


MASTITIS  AND  MAMMARY  BANDAGES. 


BY  PHIL  PORTER,  M.  D.,  DETROIT. 


We  have  often  been  amused,  from  time  to  time,  by  read- 
ing the  many  theories  put  forth  by  our  professional  brethren, 
of  the  proper  treatment  of"  mammary  abscess,"  and  the  reme- 
dies advocated  were  almost  as  numerous  as  the  cases  to  be 
met  with.  While  not  attempting  to  give  anything  better  than 
has  already  been  published,  we  do  desire  to  present  some 
of  the  methods  of  bandaging  this  part  of  the  body,  which  to 
many,  is  a  source  of  great  perplexity  and  annoyance. 

The  first  we  give,  is  a  very  simple  method  of  treating 
mastitis^  one  employed  in  England,  and  in  our  hands,  has 
given  good  satisfaction. 

First,  with  this  bandage,  we  use  freely,  warm  olive  oil, 
as  an  emollient  and  also,  for  the  purpose  of  creating  external 
stimulation  of  the  breast,  we  cut  a  piece  of  lint,  the  size  of 
each  breast,  allowing  it  to  come  well  under  the  axilla,  leav- 
« ing  a  hole  for  the  nipple  to  pass  through  for  the  infant  to 
nurse,  and  saturate  the  lint  thoroughly  with  the  best  olive 
oil  and  envelope  the  breast;  next  cut  a  piece  of  oiled  silk, 
the  shape  and  size  of  the  lint,  and  cover  this  over  the  breast, 
so  as  to  prevent  the  oil  from  soiling  the  clothing.  In  all 
cases  this  should  be  applied  at  the  first  sensation  of  pain  or 
swelling  in  the  breast.  As  the  lint — or  two  thicknesses  of  old 
linen  cloth  that  is  soft,  will  do — becomes  dry,  moisten  with 
more  olive  oil.     This  must  be  persisted  in  if  necessary.    The 


:^54  AfA  STI TIS  A  ND  MA  MM  A  RY  BA  NDA  GE8. 

action  of  the  oil  not  only  prevents  the  obstruction  of  the 
milk-ducts,  by  its  heating  and  emollient  properties,  stimu- 
lating the  capillaries  around  the  base  of  the  gland,  but  it  also 
causes  the  milk  to  flow  from  the  excretory  ducts  (tubuli  lacti- 
fen)  involuntarily,  or  what  is  better  understood  in  the  phra- 
seology of  nurses  and  "old  ladies," causing  the  breast  to  run. 
If  the  breasts  become  very  painful,  we  apply  the  ordinary 
supporter  of  adhesive  strap,  passing  from  one  shoulder  to  the 
other  and  under  the  breast.  In  width,  at  the  breast,  two 
inches,  this,  to  many,  is  all  the  support  necessary. 

When  any  other  bandage  is  required  we  resort  to  one  of 
the  different  forms  given  in  Dr.  C.  H.  Leonard's  book  on  ban- 
daging.* 

The  first  cut  is  to  represent  bandaging  the  left  breast  and 
is  indeed,  a  comfortable  bandage  for  a  woman  just  up  from  the 
parturient  bed.  It  not  only  gives  support  to  the  breast  but 
also  to  the  body,  and  if  applied  as  directed,  will  remain  in 
place,  an  important  feature  in  all  dressings. 

The  directions  for  making  and  applying  some  of  the  dif- 
ferent forms  of  mammary  bandages  we  give  from  Dr.  Leonard's 
work.  Bandages  of  all  sizes  should  be  kept  on  hand  in  every 
physician's  oflSce  as  much  as  any  other  necessary  pa.Tt  of  a 
practitioner's  outfit. 

We  know  it  requires  some  extra  effort,  on  the  part  of  a 
physician  to  study  and  make  him  or  herself,  familiar  with 
these  bandages,  but  when  once  mastered,  what  a  satisfaction 
it  is. 

THE  CROSS  OF  ONE  MAMMA. 

Description, — The  bandage  is  made  from  a  roller,  eight  * 
yards  in  length  by  two  inches  in  width. 


*A  manual  of  t>andaging,  adapted  for  self-instruction,  Sl.60. 


/■////,  vtinrF.R,  M  D. 

AppticiiHon.  —  Place  tlie 
initiut  ci\it  of  the  bandage, 

1,  below  the  (lisensed  gtnnd 
the  left  fur  example,  mid 
confine  by  »  horizontal  cir- 
culiir  luni  nbout  the  body, 

2.  Cominneoii  iiround  the 
body  till  you  come  to  ii 
point    below   the    diseaeeil 

I  mamma,  when  you  ascend 
I  obliquely  across  the  chest 
I  to  the  opposite  shoulder 
I  (Ihe  right  in  this  case)  thus 
I  finishing  course  3.  Course 
3  a  horizontal  circular 
turn  about  the  body,  in  line  of  courses  l|and  2;  whilst  course 
5  is  similar  to  that  of  course  3,  Continue  on  in  the  same 
manner  till  the  bandage  is  exhausted  when  you  L-on6ne  it  by 
pinning,  as  unual. 

Uses. — As  a  "sling"  or  support  for  an  inflamed  breast : 
and  also  for  exercising  a  compression  upon  the  gland,  when 
occasion  may  demand  it. 

TRIANGt-E  OF  THE  MAMMA. 

De'"'rij)tton.. — This  should  be  made  from  u  triangle  hav- 
ing n  base  i.me  y.ir  1  in  Iciitb  and  a  heighth  of  eighteen  in- 
ches. 

Application. — Placing    the 

I  base  of  the  triangle,  a,  at  the 

xiphoid  ciirtiliige,  carry  one 

end  obliquely  up  over  the  op- 

I  jjoeite   shoulder,  b,  and   the 

I  other  end  n,  below  the  axilla 

I  of  the  diseased  side,  and  tie 

I  them'  together  at   the  back. 

I  The  apex  of  the  triangle,  c,  in 

then   to  h>!  carried   upwards 


conliiieil  to  tlie 


r  the  slioukler  of  the  diseused  sirle,  ■■ 
extremities  of  the  triangli'.  at  the  back. 

Ueen. — Similar  to  the  preceding;  but  it  is  more  cs^iecinlly 
adapted  than  it,  for  retaining  cataplasms  and  oilier  dressings 
to  the  gland,  and  the  region  about  it.  l^  more  easily  applied 
than  thi;  above,  and  makes  an  excellent  susjiensory  imndajie 
for  the  mamma. 

BOUBSn   IIF   THE   MAMMA. 

[h^rrii>iii!ii. — A  piecf  of  lint,  ten  inches  in  length  and 
lit  inches  in  width  when  folded  at  the 
lie.     Cut  then  the  folded  .'otners  a 
I  II  off  by  the  dotted  lines  o-n,  and  or; 
'■!(.  then,  tlie  whole  together  from  a  to 
vi/.,,  (;-o-D-i;-F.     This  done,  to  each  of 
I  wo  corners  at  o,  and  the  two  at  H, 
I  -litrh  a  narrow  strip  sufficiently  long  to 
and  tie,  vvith  its  fellow,  (the  two  in- 
■)    about   [be  body,   and   (the  two 

ApitUcation. —  Introduce  the 
iUeased  gUnd  into  the  bourse  a, 
■iirry  the  two  ends,  h  un<l  ti, 
ironnd  the  neck,  thi.-  one  on  one 
'i'le,  and  the  other  upon  the 
illiir,  and  confine  tbetu  by  tyiug_ 
oiiiUict,  now,  the  two  inferior 
■\i<y,  i:.  c,  horizontally  about  the 
:hest,  and  tie  either  there,  or 
Fio,  67.-Buuf>i-ofiHfMnrama.  after  crossing  them,  bring  for- 
wards and  tie  in  front. 

Unes. — As  a  supensory  of  the  gland  in  cases  of  hyper- 
tropby,  or  extreme  Hacoidity  of  the  thoracic  walls,  or  dis- 
ease. Also  useful  in  confining  cataplasms,  or  other  dres- 
sings. 

I.ROS^   OF   THF.   TWO  MAMM.IC. 

DifCi-iijluju.— This  bandage  should  be  madf  from  a  roller, 
twelve  yards  in  length  by  two  inches  in  width. 


PHIL  PORTER,  M.  D.  35r 

Applieiition. — I'lace  the  ini- 
I  tiitl  end  midway  between  the 
I  low  extremity  of  the  xiphoid 
oiirtilage  and  the  umbilicus, 
iind,  going  from  right  to  left, 
I  cooGne  it  by  a  aiaglc  horizon- 
I  till  turn,  2.  Continue  on  in 
I  the  same  course,  till  you  come 
I  to  tlie  right  side  of  the  chest 
I  when  you  mount  obliquely 
o  Mamma,  upwitrdp  acroBS  the  chest  to  the 
left  shoulder,  thus  finishing  course  3,  Course  4  is  a  horizon- 
tal turn  about  the  chest.  Continue  on  about  the  body,  hori- 
zontally, till  you  get  to  the  left  scapular  region,  when  you 
mount  obliquely  upwards  across  the  back,  to  the  right  side 
of  the  neck,  and  then  descend  obliquely  downwards  across 
the  front  of  the  chest,  below  the  left  mamma,  thus  finishing 
course  5.  Course  6  is  made  similarly  to  course  3;  course  7, 
to  course  4;  course  8,  to  course  5;  course  9,  to  course  6; 
course  10,  to  course?;  course  11,  to  course  8;  course  12,  to 
course  9,  and  so  on  until  the  roller  is  exhausted,  when  you 
confine  as  usual. 

Uses. — In  case  of  disease  of  both  breasts  where  suspen- 
sion is  required ;  also  for  compression,  and. for  the  retaining  of 
dressings.  Il  is  not  a  very  stable  bandage,  besides  being  open 
to  the  objection  of  cording  the  neck  somewhat.  For  retain- 
ing topical  dressings,  or  for  suspension,  the  triangular  mam- 
mary caps,  see  figure  65,  would  be  preferable. 

NoTB. — Mayor's  system  may  he  used  in  making  this 
bimammary  bandage  by  simply  applying  the  Triangular 
Caps  of  the  Mammce,  one  to  each  gland;  the  two  apices  being 
confined  as  described  upon  page  78,  or  else  tied  or  pinned 
together.  This  would  then  be  known  as  The  Bimammary 
TriangU. 

Two  Bourses  may  also  be  employed;  each  being  made 
and  applied  similarly  to  that  one  described  above  (see 
Fig.  67). 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  8VRQE0N8. 

I  PROCEEDINGS  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SUR- 
GEONS OF  MICHIGAN. 


".  KOVEMBKR  M.1883. 

Under  "Miscellaneous  Business"  Dr.  Gilchrist  offered 
I  the  following: 

Rftoivtd,  That  this  prenmble  and  reaoliitionB  be  signed  by  tb« 
I  preeiHent  and  recorder  of  tbe  College  of  Phyaiciane  and  Surgeons, 
I  Of  Michigan,  and  sealed  with  tbe  seal, and,  together  with  encb  sddi- 
1  tional  matter  as  tbey  may  see  fit,  be  sent  to  the  board  of  auditors  of 
I  Wayne  county,  Ihia  state,  without  delay. 

Whkkkas,  The  Homeopathic  physicians  oftbiscity  and  county 
entirely  without  representation  iu  the  dty  and  county;  and 
WnsRBAB,  We  are  informed  that  a  county  pbysiciao  is  soon  to 
I  be  appointed  by  the  board  of  audilors  of  Wayne  county;  and 

WHBaEAs.  Tbe  patronage  of  Homeopathic  physicians  is  estt- 
I  mated  to  represent  at  least  one  third  of  the  taxation  of  this  city 
and  county  and  is  therefore  justly  entitled  to  representation  in  city 
and  county  appointments  ;  therefore 

Reiolved,  That  the  president  and  recorder  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  Michigan,  a  medical  society  composed 
.  of  Homeopathic  phyaiolana  in  the  city  of  Detroit,  and  county  of 
Wayne,  be  instructed  to  requ^t  the  board  of  auditors,  of  Wayne 
'  county,  Michigan,  to  appoint  some  nominee  of  this  association, 
county  physician,  to  fill  the  vacancy  soon  to  occur  by  the  termina- 
tion of  the  present  incumbent's  term  of  office,  as  an  act  of  justice  to 
a  large  portion  of  the  tax-paying  interests  of  this  city  and  county. 
Dr.  Porter  moved  as  a  substitute,  that  this  society  nom- 
inate Dr.  Bailey,  for  the  position  of  county  physician,  and 
that  the  chair  appoint  a  committee  of  four  including  him- 
self to  visit  the  Board  of  Auditors  in  the  interests  of  our 
nominee.  The  substitute  was  accepted  by  Dr.  Gilchrist 
and  carried  unanimously.  The  president  then  named  Dre. 
Gilchrist,  Porter  and  Gaylord  to  form  said  committee.  Dr. 
Porter,  the  lecturer  for  the  evening,  wished  to  be  excused 
from  reading  his  paper,  as,  on  account  of  press  of  business 
he  had  not  been  able  to  finish  it  in  a  manner  which  the  sub- 
ject merila.  On  motion  of  Dr.  Gaylord  he  was  excused ;  and 
the  society  opened  under  the  head  of  "gUmcoI  reports." 

Dr.  Bailey  related  an  obscure  case  of  "venereal  sore'' 


COLLEOE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SUROEONS. 


369 


which  he  could  not  fully  diagnose.  From  the  description 
given  by  him  it  is  supposed  to  be  either  an  "  herpes  progen- 
itali8''or  a  chancroid.  The  consideration  of  this  case,  gave 
rise  to  quite  a  lively  iliscusaion  as  to  the  proper  treatment  of 
chancroid,  some  of  the  gentlemen  advocatingthe  use  of  caus- 
tics, others  condemning  it;  but  all  a^ree  that  if  used  at  all 
they  should  be  employed  with  care  as  much  trouble  may 
result  from  too  frequent  applications. 

Dr.  Gay  lord  reported  the  following:  An  elderly  Jfidy 
while  crossing  a  strefit  tripped  and  fell,  striking  upon  her 
nose;  was  taken  to  ber  home,  complaining  meanwhile  of 
great  pain  in  back  of  head  and  neck.  This  happened  on 
Sunday.  To-day  (Monday)  there  is  complete  anaesthesia  of 
8ca!p  covering  vertex  and  occiput,  and  also  of  back  of  neck. 
Dimness  of  vision  in  right  eye  and  constant  humming  or 
buzzing  noise  in  bead.  The  pain  and  humming  are  increased 
by  lying  on  the  back.  Dr.  Gilchrist  pronounces  it  a  case  of 
concussion  and  thinks  it  will  prove  troublesome. 

Dr.  Porter  reports  two  cases  of  interest.  The  first  was 
sent  to  him  by  Dr.  Olin  and  presenting  the  following  condi- 
tion: Canadian  French,  27  years  of  age,  had  been  mar- 
ried ;  two  years  ago  she  had,  what  the  attending  physi- 
cian pronounced  chronic  diarrhoea,  which  had  continued 
off  and  on  until  the  present  time. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  diarrhoea  she  bad  suppres- 
sion of  the  menses,  which  condition  still  exists.  She  pre- 
sented a  healthy  appearance,  no  cachexia  or  scorbutic  indi- 
cations were  visible,  but  on  making  an  eicamination  he  found 
the  perineum  entirely  gone,  down  to  the  sphincter  ani,  a 
recto-v^inal  fistula  about  two  inches  above  the  outlet,  and  a 
stricture  of  the  lower  portion  of  the  sigmoid  flexure,  in 
extent  about  one  inch,  which  would  admit  of  the  passage  of 
a  uterine  sound  only.  The  uterus  was  fixed  in  position,  but 
HO  cellular  infiltration  was  detected.  No  history  could  be 
obtained  that  would  indicate  {)elviG  cellulitis,  or  syphilis. 
The  patient  had  never  missed  a  days  work  and  could  not 
remember   having  had  any  discharge  or   ulcer  about  the 


360         COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURi^EONS. 

< 

vagina.  The  doctor  proposes  to  operate  on  the  stricture  first, 
after  which  he  will  operate  for  the  relief  of  the  fistula  and 
for  the  restoration  of  the  perineum. 

The  second  case  was  one  which  he  said  was  outside  his 
usual  line  of  practice  but  will  relate  it  on  account  of  its  inter- 
est to  the  general  practitioner. 

A  boy  five  years  of  age,  was  run  over  by  a  public  wagon, 
sustaining  fracture  of  upper  third  of  femur  and  some  internal 
injuries.  About  three  weeks  after  the  accident  the  doctor 
noticed  a  swelling  over  the  region  of  the  greater  curvature  of 
the  stomach,  painful  to  the  touch,  elastic  and  resisting.  The 
child  vomited  stercoraceous  matter  for  two  or  three  days. 
Bowels  usually  move  regularly,  but  occasionally  has  an 
attack  of  diarrhoea  lasting  for  about  twenty-four  hours. 
Ordered  emollients  which  was  followed  for  a  week.  At 
present  no  tenderness  or  pain.  On  pressure  tumor  did  not 
recede  much,  does  not  feel  like  a  hernia,  cannot  detect  any 
separation  of  recti  muscles.  The  child  is  restless  from  weight 
(5  lbs,)  attached  to  leg,  but  not  from  the  tumor.  Urine 
mixed  with  blood,  and  associated  with  tenesmus  vesica}.  Is 
greatly  emaciated.  It  is  now  six  weeks  since  accident;  shall 
remove  dressings  from  leg  to-morrow.  Would  like  to  ask 
members  what  they  would  pronounce  the  tumor,  and  if  they 
ever  saw  a  similar  case?  Dr.  Gaylord  thinks  it  is  a  hernia. 
Dr.  Gilchrist  was  of  the  same  opinion  at  first,  but  has 
changed  his  mind.  It  is  rather  large  for  a  rupture,  and  yet 
the  stercoraceous  vomiting  and  history  would  seem  to  indi- 
cate that  form  of  difficulty.  Dr.  Porter  thinks  one  point 
should  not  be  lost  sight  of,  namely,  that  the  tumor  did  not 
make  its  appearance  until  three  weeks  after  the  injury,  and 
the  swelling  came  on  by  degrees,  and  was  painful  to  the 
touch.  The  doctor  stated  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  have 
Dr.  Gilchrist  see  this  case  with  him  to-morrow. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  moved  that  the  Recorder  be  instructed  to 
send  the  transactions  of  this  society  to  some  medical  journal 
for  publication.     This  was  carried  unanimously. 

On  motion  adjourned.  J.  M.  Griffin,  Recorder. 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS,         361 

DETROIT,  DECEMBER  3,  1883. 

Meeting  called  to  order  by  the  Vice-President. 

Dr.  Wm.  R.  McLaren,  was  elected  lecturer  for  March, 
1884. 

Dr.  Phil  Porter,  the  lecturer  for  the  month,  read  a  paper 
(his  second  and  last)  on  ^^Peri  Uterine  Cellulitis.^^  The  lec- 
ture being  an  interesting  one  and  exciting  considerable  dis- 
cussion. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  stated  that  while  he  was  greatly  interested 
in  the  paper  as  read,  he  could  not  fully  endorse  all  that  the 
author  said  regarding  the  classification  nor  treatment.  He 
thinks  that  much  confusion  would  be  avoided  if  onlv  two 

ft* 

divisions  ot  this  disease  were  made ;  has  seen  many  cases, 
and  in  his  opinion  absolute  rest  should  be  enjoined,  and  such  , 
means-  used  as  will  hasten  the  formation  of  pus  in  the  acute 
and  retard  it  in  the  chronic  cases.  Hot  water  should  be 
used  guardedly,  and  if  used  at  all  should  be  employed  in  the 
early  stages  before  supuration  had  obtained.  CaL  carb,  has 
served  him  well  as  a  prophylactic,  preventing  the  formation 
of  pus.     Silicea  is  indicated  in  secondary  formations. 

The  Doctor  spoke  of  a  peculiar  pain  in  the  epigastrium, 
produced  by  this  drug  (Silicea )  when  given  frequently,  would 
like  to  know  if  any  of  the  gentlemen  present  had  observed 
this  peculiarity,  and  also  if  they  can  tell  him  what  will 
relieve  it? 

Dr.  Craig  is  of  the  opinion  that  most  cases  of  Peri  Uterine 
Cellulitis  will  recover  if  proper  remedies  are  employed;  has 
used  a  mixture  composed  of  Aconite  and  Hamamelis,  locally, 
with  good  results.  He  thinks  that  many  puerperal  inflam- 
mations  are  produced  by  a  clot  of  blood  or  shred  of  mem- 
brane remaining  in  the  uterus.  Apis  mel,  has  served  him  well 
in  many  case.s,  and  he  thinks  that  we  would  obtain  better 
results  from  this  drug  if  more  attention  was  given  to  the 
proper  preparation  of  it. 

Dr.  Porter,  is  sorry  these  two  gentlemen  wore  not  present 
at  his  last  lecture,  as  in  it  he  referred  to  some  points  that 
they  have  mentioned,  and   making  the  two  divisions  sug- 


/ 


362         COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS. 

gested  by  Dr.  Gilchrist.  Thinks  the  gentlemen  misinterpreted 
him,  as  he  is  speaking  of  Peri  Uterine  Cellvlitia  and  not  of 
Pelvic  OellulitiSy  and  he  maintains  that  there  is  a  vast  differ- 
ence between  the  two  diseases. 

Dr.  Lasse  does  not  think  hot  water  should  be  considered 
as  a  poultice,  nor  as  producing  the  same  effect.  He  thinks 
the  idea  is  to  get  the  contraction  produced  by  extreme  heat. 

Dr.  McLaren,  reported  a  case  of  Peri  Uterine  Cellulitis 
which  he  cured,  notwithstanding  a  number  of  physicians 
gave  an  unfavorable  prognosis  in  the  case.  Pus  had  formed 
and  was  escaping.  He  introduced  a  speculum  and  injected 
Iodine  1x50,  into  the  opening  from  which  the  pus  was  seen 
to  escape.  Also  used  the  Iodine  externally  bathing  the 
,  abdomen  with  it,  and  gave  the  same  remedy  internally.  A 
speedy  recovery  was  the  result. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  adds,  that  in  the  above  case,  which  he  saw 
with  Dr.  McLaren,  the  Iodine  was  prescribed  on  strictly 
Homoeopathic  indications. 

Dr.  Porter  wishes  it  understood  that  he  does  not  lay  down 
any  set  form  of  treatment  for  these  cases,  but  that  each  one 
must  be  carefully  studied  and  the  proper  homoeopathic  remedy 
selected.  He  can  not  see  why  Dr.  Craig  should  use  the  Acon- 
ite and  Hamamelis  together;  does  not  think  it  the  prope 
thing  to  do. 

Clinical  Reports. —Dr.  McLaren  presented  the  following 
case  for  counsel:  Woman,  married,  always  enjoyed  good 
health,  but  for  the  last  few  years  has  suffered  with  mem- 
branous dysmenorrhoea;  can  discover  nothing  abnormal 
about  the  uterus,  either  as  regards  its  size,  appearance,  shape, 
or  position.  Never  had  leucorrhoea.  The  Doctor  stated  that 
he  had  used  every  remedy  he  could  think  of  as  having  any 
bearing  on  the  case,  but  with  negative  results.  At  last  he 
decided  to  dilate,  which  was  done  by  using  a  sea-tangle  tentf 
giving  his  patient  relief  for  three  (3)  months,  after  which  the 
trouble  returned,  and  during  the  last  attack  the  uterus 
expelled  the  membrane  exhibited  here  to-night.  Among  the 
remedies  given  were.  Bromine,  Borax,  Cauloph,  Helon. 


7S£  TRAINED  NUS8E  AS  A  TEAGHEB.  S63 

Dr.  Porter  thinks  that  Dr.  McLaren  is  asking  ua  to 
prescribe  for  a  name  which  we  as  homteopaths  will  not,  and 
can  not  consiBtently,  do.  He,  for  one  could  not  prescribe  un- 
less he  could  have  more  symptoms. 

Dr.  McLaren  then  stated  that  the  woman  seems  to  be  in 
perfect  health,  aside  from  this  trouble  and  preBents  no  more 
symptoms  than  he  has  given. 

Dr.  Craig,  "If  a  given  remedy  will  remove  a  false  mem- 
brane from  one  mucous  surface,  why  will  it  not  from  another? 
Why  will  not  Kali  Bich  or  any  remedy  used  in  membran- 
ous croup  relieve  such  a  condition  as  we  find  in  membranous 
dysm  on  orrbcea  ?" 

Dr.  Gilchrist,  "because  this  is  not  a  false  membrane." 
On  motion  adjourned.  J.  M.  Griffin,  Recorder. 


THE  TRAINED  NURSE  AS  A  TEACHER. 

May  I  tell  you  what  a  good  trainefl  nurse  may  teach, 
and  can  tsach?  How  to  recognise  a  fever,  how  to  compare 
the  local  temperature  of  the  several  parts  of  the  body,  and 
how  to  equaline  them  ;  she  knows  that  ever  bo  many  feeble 
children  might  have  been  saved,  if  but  the  feet  and  legs  had 
not  been  allowed  to  get  cold;  how  to  bathe,  when,  and  when 
to  stop ;  how  to  regulate  the  position  of  the  head — I  remem- 
ber quite  well  the  case  of  inflammatory  delirium  which 
would  always  be  relieved  by  propping  up  the  head — how  to 
treat  intelligently  an  attack  of  fainting ;  how  to  render  cow's 
milk  digestible  by  repeated  boiling,  or  lime-water,  or  table,  or 
farinaceous  admixtures;  how  to  feed  in  case  of  diarrhoea: 
how  to  refuse  food  iu  case  of  vomiting ;  how  to  apply  and 
when  to  remove  cold  to  the  bead  ;  how  to  ventilate  a  room 
without  draught ;  and  a  thousa'nd  other  things.  She  will  also 
use  her  knowledge  and  influence  in  weaning  the  public  of 
the  use  of  nostrums,  concerning  which  hardly  anything  is 
known  except  what  you  have  to  pay  for  the  promises  of  the 
label.  She  will  break  the  public  of  the  indiscriminate  use 
«f  quinia,  with  its  dangen  possibly  for  life ;  cure  you  of  the 


364  ALLOPATHIC  POVERTY. 

tendency  of  making  the  diagnosis  of  malaria  the  scapegoat 
of  every  unfinished  or  impossible  diagnosis ;  she  will  teach 
you  that  the  frequent  and  reckless  domestic  use  of  chlorate 
of  potassium  leads  to  many  a  case  of  ailment,  to  chronic 
poisoning  possibly  in  tfie  shape  of  Bright's  disease,  or  to- 
acute  poisoning  with  unavoidably  death.  These  are  but 
very  few  of  the  things  she  can  do,  and  but  a  little  of  thfr 
knowledge  she  can  best  distribute.  With  the  aid  of  the  class 
of  women  who  frequent  our  training-schools,  the  public  at 
large  must  and  will  gain,  in  a  short  time.  Let  the  number 
of  the  schools  be  increased,  and  increase  the  number  of 
pupils,  and  every  one  of  them  will  be  a  teacher  and  an 
apostle  of  sound  information  on  sanitary  and  hygienic  sub- 
jects. And  let  nobody  leave  this  place  to-night  without 
intending  to  aid  an  institution  as  helpful  as  this. — Popular 
Science  Monthly. 


I  <■» 


ALLOPATHIC  POVERTY. 


BY  A.   MACNEIL,  M.   D. 


There  are  a  few  individuals  that  have  been  associating- 
themselves  with  us  who  are  very  energetic  in  their  eflforts  to- 
form  a  union  with  the  dominant  school  of  medicine.-  It 
occurs  to  many  of  us  that  we  have  no  objections  whatever  to* 
those  persons  forming  that  union  for  themselves.  The  only 
difficulty  is  in  getting  in  to  that  body,  afe  we  are  not  awar& 
that  the  school  is  eager  to  receive  them.  In  order  that  such 
persons  may  go  in  a  state  becoming  to  them  I  have  no* 
doubt  that  a  brass  band,  even  one  as  expensive  as  that  of  the 
New  York  Seventh  Regiment,  will  be  hired  and  paid  for  by 
the  homoeopathic  school  to  escort  them  over  to  the  allopathic 
camp.  It  is  well  that  we  should  know  what  is  the  repast  to 
which  we  are  invited  to  participate,  not  by  the  host,  but  by 
the  would-be  guests.  I  therefore  translate  an  article  from 
the  "Allg.  Wiener  Medizinische  Zeitung"  of  February  20^ 
1883.  It  being  a  report  from  the  clinic  of  Prof.  Nothnagel 
of  the  University   of  Vienna,   one   of  the  greatest  author- 


A,  MACNEIL,  M,  Z>.  365 

ities  in  medical  therapeutics,  of  which  our  allopathic  col- 
leagues can  boast. 

The  Professor  in  lecturing  on  pleuro  -  pneumonia 
says:  "In  my  opinion  we  can  only  speak  of  therapeutics 
of  acute  infectious  diseases,  when  we  have  specific  reme- 
dies, and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  medicine  (regular)  will 
in  the  course  of  time  reach  to  that  degree  of  perfection.  Such 
specific  remedies  we  possess  in  Quinine  in  malaria,  Salicy- 
late of  soda  in  acute  rheumatism  of  the  joints  and  lod.  kalium 
in  syphilis.  As  we  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  croupous 
pneumonia  is  in  many  cases  an  acute  infectious  disease,  so 
we*  must  therefore  seek  for  a  specific  remedy  for  it.  The 
indicatio  causalis  cannot  be  overvalued,  and  we  now  turn  to 
the  symptomatic  indications.  Digitalis  and  Veratrin  are 
administered  to  reduce  the  temperature.  But,  however,  Digi- 
talis does  not  reduce  the  temperature,  except  as  it  reduces 
the  frequency  of  the  pulse,  and  is  therefore  unnecessary  in 
pneumonia.  Traube  has  pnly  introduced  it  experimentally. 
Veratrin  causes  a  rapid  fall  of  the  temperature,  but  it  fre- 
quently results  in  collapse,  and  consequently  T  emphatically 
warn  you  against  its  methodical  use  in  pneumonia.  We 
must  not  do  anything  against  the  fever  except  when  it 
reaches  a  dangerous  length  or  height,  for  in  many  cases  the 
fatal  result  arises  from  a  failure  of  the  activity  of  the  heart. 
Anything  which  depresses  its  activity  must  therefore  be 
avoided,  and  in  very  many  cases  the  high  temperature  does 
it.  This  we  can  control  only  by  the  anti-pyretic  process. 
But  it  does  not  follow  that  we  must  stimulate  in  every  case 
of  pneumonia.  We  must  individualize,  not  treat  routinely. 
We  should  stimulate  onlv  when  we  see  that  we  have  a  each- 
ectic  patient  or  when  in  the  course  of  the  disease  a  failure  of 
the  heart  is  discovered.  F/ately  the  Iodide  of  potash  has  been 
administered  on  the  first  and  second  days,  but  I  cannot  dis- 
cover any  favorable  effect  of  it.  The  symptomatic  treatment 
must  only  be  directed  against  the  irritation  to  cough,  the 
pleuritic  stiches,  etc.  We  have  in  our  cases  no  reason  to 
depress  the  temj)erature  or  to  stimulate,  we  must  therefore 


366  A LLOPA  TBIC  PO VERTY. 

treat  them  expectorily.  I  deny  that  the  expectant  treat- 
ment of  pneumonia  is  general,  only  it  is  applicable  in  the 
individual  cases  also." 

Prof.  Nothnagel  speaks  very  confidently  of  Quinine  as  a 
specific  in  malaria  and  Iodine  salt  in  syphilis.  But  we  should 
remember  that  by  other  illustrious  authorities  of  his  own 
school,  that  their  drugs  have  been  pronounced  as  of  doubt- 
ful value.  I  can  quote  well  known  names,  showing  that 
Quinine  produces  deafness,  blindness,  insanity  and  death. 
And  Prof.  Zeissl  of  the  chair  of  syphilis  of  the  same  univer- 
sity recommends  expectant  treatment  in  syphilis,  {vide  his 
work  "Syphilis"  Band  II.  page  354,)  Prof.  Kaposi,  also  pro- 
fessor of  Dermatology  and  Syphilis,  in  Vienna  University 
says.  Hebra  and  Kaposi  Haut  Krankheiten,  Band  II,  page 
526,  "Although  their  ulcers  (chancres)  owe  their  origin  to  a 
specific  virus,  yet  we  are  still  in  our  complete  ignorance  of 
the  physical  and  chemical  nature  of  this  virus  and  as  all 
empiricism  has  left  us  so  far  in  the  lurch,  we  are  not  able  to 
offer  a  specific  remedy  for  chancre."  He  therefore  prescribes 
same  treatment  as  in  ulcers  of  the  legs,  viz.,  a  palliative  one. 

It  is  for  such  as  this  that  homoeopaths  are  asked  to  give 
up  their  tried  remedies  that  fail  only  in  unfavorable  cases 
because  we  are  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  them.  Ask 
the  homoeopath  that  knows  that  he  can  cut  a  case  of  pneu- 
monia short  off*  in  any  stage,  to  give  up  his  treatment  and 
adopt  the  treatment  of  those  who  openly  acknowledge  that 
no  treatment  at  all  is  better  than  theirs.  Ask  him  to  give  up 
his  treatment  of  intermittents,  which  he  has  proven  reliable 
in  a  thousand  cases  for  a  treatment,  that  those  who  are  best 
acquainted  with  it,  viz.  its  professors  acknowledge  is  danger- 
ous to  sight,  hearing,  reason  and  life.  Ask  him  to  give  up 
the  specific  remedies  for  syphilis,  in  which  he  has  a  time  hon- 
ored confidence,  for  that  which  their  most  illustrious  profes- 
sors whom  I  have  quoted  prefer  no  treatment  to.  Verily  1  I 
recommend  veteran  lightening  rod  peddlers  to  go  to  those 
men  to  get  their  soft  cheeks  indurated  up  to  the  mongrel 
standard. 


CLINICAL  REFLECTIONS.  367 

CLINICAL  REFLECTIONS. 


BY  AD.  LIPPE    M.  D.,  PHILADELPHIA. 


NOSEBLEED,   CASE   I. 

A  child  (girl),  six  years  of  age,  was  brought  to  me  some 
four  years  ago  with  violent  nosebleed.  Her  mother  stated 
that  the  child  has  had  repeated,  and  now  more  frequently 
returning  generally  nightly  recurring  attacks  of  nosebleed  for 
which  both  Schools  of  Medicine  had  been  consulted,  and  the 
child  had  had  therefore  a  variety  of  treatments.  For  the 
purpose  oi fully  taking  in  the  situation  the  nose  was  examined^ 
and  there  we  found  in  the  right  nostril  a  very  large  polypus. 
Merc,  corros.  subl.  was  administered  in  a  High  Potency, 
and  the  nosebleed  ceased;  it  did  nevertheless  return  les& 
violently  at  much  longer  intervals,  always  worse  at  ni^ht,and 
the  remedy  was  again  administered  on  these  occasions,  till 
finally  there  was  no  more  nosebleed,  and  the  polypus  was 
also  no  more.  About  18  months  later  the  bleeding  began 
again,  now  from  the  left  nostril,  worse  at  night,  a  very  small 
polypus  had  made  its  appearance,  but  after  the  nosebleed 
was  again  checked  by  Merc,  corros.  subl.  the  polypus  also  dis- 
appeared, and  the  rapidly  growing  little  girl  enjoys  perfect 
health. 

Comments, — Hahnemann  taught  us  how  to  apply  the  law 
of  the  similars  for  the  cure  of  the  sick,  how  to  ascertain  the 
sick-making  properties  of  drugs,  how  to  examine  the  sick  and 
obtain  a  correct  description  of  each  individual  case  and 
thereby  find  ourselves  enabled  to  find  the  similar  remedy 
among  the  proved  remedies  constituting  a  reliable  Materia 
Medica  of  his  own  creation,  to  which  were  added  such  drug 
provings  as  were  made  at  later  periods ;  he  also  advised  us 
how  to  administer  the  similar  remedy  in  appropriate  doses. 
Guided  by  these  simple  methods  we  could  not  fail  to  see  at 
once  the  similarity  of  Merc.  corro«.  to  the  case,  and  we  there- 
fore cured  this  individual  case  of  nosebleed ing.  In  our  days 
we  find  a  professed  Homoeopath,  a  member  of  the  Interna- 
tional Hahnemannian  Association — which  was  founded  over 


368  CLINICAL  REFLECTIONS, 

t 

three  years  ago  for  the  avowed  purpose  to  protect  our  healing 
art  from  growing  departures— contending  that  he  has  found  a 
^ecificj  for  nosebleed,  which  will  cure  it  under  all  circumstan- 
ces. The  day  has  long  passed  by  when  medical  men  were 
found  bold  enough  to  declare  that  they  had  found  a  specific 
for  the  cure  of  a  disease  or  for  a  single  symptom  of  a  dis- 
eased condition;  medical  men  of  all  schools  have  found  by 
the  only  reliable  test,  the  clinical  experiment,  that  such 
claims  as  spedfies  in  the  sense  above  mentioned  are  *'  Chim- 
^flw."  Nevertheless  the  Gothamite  with  his  highly  poten- 
.  tised  nostrum,  a  specific  for  nosebleed,  is  not  only  permitted 
to  remain  a  member  of  the  I.  H.  A.,  but  the  absurd  claim  is 
sustained  and  defended  by  members  of  the  I.  H.  A.  to  the 
detriment  of  the  claims  of  the  infallibility  of  the  methods  of 
our  healing  art  called  by  its  founder  ^'Homoeopathy." 

NOSEBLEED,   CASE   II. 

A  lady  over  50  years  old  had  suffered  for  many  years 
from  hypertrophy  of  the  heart;  she  had  been  much  relieved 
by  the  homoeopathic  remedies  administered  to  her.  On  the 
14th  of  February,  1882,  she  called  at  my  house  at  noon  to 
await  my  return  to  the  office  at  2  p.  m.  She  had  scarcely 
arrived  before  she  was  for  the  first  time  attacked  by  a  violent 
nosebleed.  When  I  arrived  at  2  p.  m.  I  found  her,  having 
lost  a  very  large  quantity  of  blood  which  was  rapidly  flowing 
from  her  nose,  in  a  fainting  condition.  We  took  in  the  aitiui' 
lion  and  concluded  that  this  now  very  dangerous  nosebleed 
must  be  controlled  at  once,  her  heart's  condition  led  us  to 
administer  at  once  a  remedy  controling  a  variety  of  hsemorr- 
hages,  Cactus  grandiflorm.  We  put  a  few  pellets  of  Cact.  gr.  C. 
M.  (Fincke)  on  her  tongue.  In  less  than  five  minutes  she 
was  enabled  to  lay  down  in  a  very  exhausted  condition,  the 
nosebleed  had  ceased.  We  provided  her  with  a  small  bottle 
of  this  remedy  with  the  request  to  again  take  a  few  pellets 
should  this  alarming  nosebleed  return.  Three  months  later 
it  returned,  but  was  promptly  checked  at  once  by  taking  the 
remedy;  since  then  she  had  no  return  of  it  and  her  heart- 
disease  is  at  present  much  better  than  for  many  yaars. 


AD,  LIPPE,  M.  D.  369 

CommerUs,  The  specific  for  nosebleed  was  not  known 
then,  and  if  it  had  been  known  it  would  not  have  been 
administered  on  the  vague  assertion  of  a  professing  homoeo- 
path that  this  specific  would  cure  all  cased  of  nosebleed.  The 
prompt  action  of  Cactus  grandiflorus  in  this  grave  and 
alarming  case  might  have  induced  us,  were  we  not  a  consis- 
tent homoeopath  to  proclaim  it  "a  specific  for  nosebleed." 
But  as  one  of  the  great  requirements  of  our  healing  art  is  to 
^^individtudize^^  we  are  fully  impressed  with  the  correctness 
of  Hahnemann's  methods  and  shall  in  the  future  as  in  the 
past  continue  to  individualize.  In  this  case  we  find  in  the 
provings  of  Dr.  Rocco  Rubini,  of  Cactus  gr.  symptom  33 
*^ profuse  epistaxis  which  ceases  in  a  short  time."  The  many 
heart  and  chest 'symptoms  of  Cactus  gr.  are  so  well  known 
And  so  well  rendered  by  its  prover  that  it  has  become  an 
indispensable  remedy  in  many  heart  diseases,  but  it  would 
be  preposterous  to  declare  Cactus  gr.  a  specific  for  hyper- 
trophy or  any  other  disease  of  the  heart.  The  true  healer 
will  carefully  discover  the  similar,  but  still  diflfering  sym- 
toms,  for  instance,  between  the  heart  constrictions  peculiar  to 
Oactus  gr.  and  Lachesis,  here  we  find  the  repeatedly  con- 
firmed dififerences.  Cactus  gr.  has  the  painful  sensation 
as  if  the  heart  was  held  and  clutched  by  an  iron  hand 
^Symptom  64,  "sensation  of  constriction  in  the  heart,  as  if  an 
iron  hand  prevented  its  normal  movement").  This  symptom 
was  confirmed  first  by  Dr.  Dunham,  Homoeopathic  Monthly 
I.  4.  Lachesis  has  "constriction  of  the  heart  as  from  an  iron 
band."  If  we  desire  to  develop  Homoeopathy  it  behooves  us 
to  keep  on  "individuaKzing;"  if  we  desire  to  make  it  a  fail- 
ure, if  we  progress  backwards  without  reflection,  we  return  to 
the  old,  but  easier  method  of  prescribing  by  generalizing. 
Prescribe  for  pathological  conditions,  for  names  of  diseases, 
and  if  we  progress  backwards  into  the  last  century  without 
reflection  of  course  we  talk  about  specifics,  or  introduce  old 
exploded  notions  in  therapeutics.  The  above  cases  are  only 
given  to  prove  the  infallibility  of  Hahnemann's  methods 
which  were  the  result  of  his  "inductive  philosophy."  Hahne- 


WATURAL  APPETITES. 

maun  invesiigaUd  first,  and  then  under  iiia  inductive  method, 
now  adopted  by  all  truly  scientific  men,  he  " proffreseed." 
Other  men  of  a  different  sort,  only  seeking  "labor  saving 
methods  "  progress  and  want  others  to  also  progress  witfwut 
method  on  reflection,  and  by  and  by  prove  by  their  own 
actions  that  they  are  "  false  prophets."  Liber  Genesis,  Caput 
III,  19.     In  sudore  imllua  tut  vesceru  pane. 

NATURAI-  APPETITES. 


In  order  to  distinguish  a  poison-stimulant  from  a  barm- 
less  and  nutritive  substance,  Nature  has  thus  furnished  us 
three  infallible  teats : 

1.  The  first  taste  of  every  poison  is  either  insipid  or  re- 
pulsive. 

2.  The  persistent  obtrusion  of  the  noxious  substance 
changes  that  aversion  into  a  specific  craving. 

3.  The  more  or  less  pleasurable  excitement  produced  by 
a  gratification  of  that  craving  is  always  followed  by  a  depres- 
sing reaction. 

The  first  drop  of  a  wholesome  beverage  (milk,  cold  water, 
cider  fresh  from  the  press,  etc.)  is  quite  as  pleasant  as  the 
last;  the  indulgence  in  such  pleasures  is  not  followed  by  re- 
pentance, and  never  b^eta  a  specific  craving.  Pancakes  and 
honey  we  may  eat  with  great  relish  whenever  we  can  get 
them,  but,  if  we  can't,  we  won't  miss  thera  as  long  as  we  can 
satisfy  our  hunger  with  bread  and  butter.  In  mid-winter, 
when  apples  advance  to  six  dollars  a  barrel,  it  needs  no  lec- 
tures and  midnight  prayers  to  substitute  rice-pudding  for 
apple-pie.  A  Turk  may  breakfast  for  thirty  years  on  figs 
and  roasted  chestnuts,  and  j-et  be  quite  as  comfortable  in 
Switzerland,  where  they  treat  him  to  milk  and  bread.  Not 
so  the  dram-drinker:  his  "thirst"  can  not  be  assuaged  with 
water  or  milk,  his  enslaved  appetite  craves  the  wonted  tipple 
— or  else  a  stronger  stimulant.  Natural  food  "has  no  effect  on 
the  poison-hunger ;  Nature  has  nothing  to  do  with  such  appe- 
tites.— Popular  Science  Monthly. 


HOW  TO  TREAT  HARD  CHANCRE.  371 

HOW  DO  YOU  TREAT  HARD  CHANCRE? 


Manayunk  Nov.  1883. 

Dear  Doctor — Iain  collecting  statistics  of  the  resultsof  Homoso- 
pathic\  treatment  in  Venereal  Diseases.  Will  you  aid  me  by 
answering  the  following  questions : 

How  do  you  treat  hard  chancre?  Remedies  most  frequently 
.used,  indications,  potency?  Do  you  use  local  treatment,  if  so, 
what?  Are  you  able  to  prevent  secondary  symptoi^is?  How  do 
you  treat  secondary  manifestations?  What  I'emedies  in  skin  affec- 
tions? What  in  affections  of  mucous  membranes  ?  State  potency 
and  dose.  Same  for  tertiary  syphilis.  How  long  do  you  keep  a 
patient  under  treatment?  What  is  average  duration  of  your  cases  ? 
Hereditary  syphilis.  How  many  cases,  forms  of  the  disease,  treat- 
ment, results?  Yours  fraternally, 

W.  B.  TRITES,  M.  D., 
Lecturer  on  Venereal  Diseases.  Hahnamann  Medical  College,  Philadelphia. 

If  Dr.  Trites  is  in  search  of  statistics  of  the  homoeo- 
pathic.  treatment  of  venereal  diseases,  we  fear  he  will  be 
unsuccessful.  "A  rose  under  any  other  name  would  smell  as 
sweet;"  but  a  chancre  cauterized  by  a  man  receiving  his 
degree  from  a  homoeopathic  college,would  not  necessarily  con- 
stitute it  homoeopathic  treatment.  The  homoeopathic  phy- 
sician can  suppress  syphilis  by  the  cautery  as  well  as  any 
other  physician.  The  treatment  of  Ricord  will  not  materi- 
ally diflTer  in  results  because  applied  by  a  professed  Homoeo- 
path. We  were  taught  at  college,  that  the  treatment  of 
syphilis  was  one  of  the  exceptions  of  the  law  of  cure;  and 
for  years  we  faithfully  followed  our  instructions.  We  are 
convinced  that  under  that  treatment,  secondary  and  consti- 
tutional symptoms  are,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  unavoidable; 
hence  we  have  abandoned  it  for  the  safer,  milder,  more 
scientific  (because  more  homoeopathic)  method  of  Hahne- 
mann and  Dunham.  Under  this  treatment  we  do  not  inter- 
fere With  the  "blossom" — the  local  chancre  or  bubo— hence 
there  is  no  secondary,  tertiary,  or  hereditary  syphilis  to 
treat,  or  would  not  be  if  all  cases  were  treated  in  this  way.  If 
our  law  of  cure  be  able  when  rightly  administered,  to  rob 

cholera,  croup  and  yellow  fever  of  their  terrors,  why  is  it  not 
3 


372  HOW  TO  TREA T  HA RD  CHANCRE, 

able  to  cope  with*  ague,  gonorrhoea  and  syphilis?  Hahne- 
mann says  it  is ;  and  Dunham  and  Hering  and  every  other 
homoeopathic  physician  who  has  faithfully  followed  his 
instructions,  corroborate  his  statements.  And  yet  many  of 
our  homoeopathic  practitioners,  who  rarely  find  it  necessary 
to  resort  to  palliative  measures  in  croup,  diphtheria,  pneu- 
monia, or  cholera,  do  not  hesitate  to  suppress  ague  with 
quinine,  gonorrhoea  with  astringent  injections,  or  treat  hard 
chancre  with  caustics.  Below  we  give  the  treatment  of  Hah- 
nemann and  Dunham  to  which  we  respectfully  refer  Dr. 
Trites  for  facts  if  not  for  statistics.  It  is  our  homoeopathic 
treatment.  H.  C.  A. 

"The  syphilitic  miasm  is  much  more  general  than  the 
miasm  of  sycosis.  For  the  last  four  centuries,  it  has  given 
origin  to  a  vast  number  of  chronic  affections. 

The  treatment  of  syphilis  is  only  difficult  when  there  is 
a  complication  with  the  psoric  miasm,  after  it  has  broke 
forth  from  its  latent  condition.  Sometimes,  but  rarely, 
eyphUis  is  complicated  with  sycosis;  whenever  this  complica- 
tion exists,  it  never  exists  without  the  additional  complica- 
tion of  psora. 

In  the  treatment  of  syphilis,  three  diflferent  conditions 
may  occur.  First,  the  syphilitic  disease  may  exist  in  its 
genuine  form,  together  with  the  chancre,  or,  in  case  the 
chancre  should  have  been  removed  by  external  applications, 
it  may  exist  with  the  bubo,  which  must  then  be  considered 
as  the  representative  of  the  chancre  ;•  secondly,  it  may  exist 
without  being  complicated  with  another  miasm,  though 
both  the  chancre  and  the  bubo  may  have  been  removed ; 
and  thirdly,  it  may  exist  in  a  state  of  complication  with 
another  chronic  miasm,  either  with  the  chancre  or  bubo,  or 
after  their  removal  by  local  applications. 

The  chancre  generally  appears  between  the  seventh  and 
fourteenth  day  after  the  infection  has  taken  place  j  it  rarely 

*In  rare  cases,  the  bubo  is  the  first  and  immediate  result  of  impure  coition, 
without  any  preTious  chancre;  generally,  however,  it  is  consequent  upon  the 
removal  of  the  chancre  by  local  applications,  and  is,  in  this  case,  a  troublesome 
representative  of  the  latter. 


appears  either  sooner  or  later,  and  generally  affects  the  partB 
which  have  been  first  tainted  with  the  virus.  The  chancre 
first  appears  in  the  form  of  a  little  vesicle,  which  is  soon 
changed  to  a  painfully  stinging  ulcer,  with  an  elevated  bor- 
der. This  ulcer  may  remain  upon  the  same  spot  during  the 
life  time  of  the  patient,  and,  although  it  may  become  en- 
larged, yet  the  secondary  symptoms  of  syphilis  will  never 
mahc  their  appearance  aa  long  as  the  chancre  remains. 

The  allopathic  physician,  not  knowing  that  the  entire 
organism  haa  become  infected  with  the  syphilitic  miasm, 
even  before  the  appearance  of  the  chancre  and  immediately 
after  the  impure  coition  has  been  accomplished,  looks  upon 
the  chancre  as  a  simply  local  ulcer  which  ought  to  be 
removed  by  the  external  application  of  desiccating  and  cauter- 
izing substances,  and  which  will  remain  quite  harmless,  pro- 
vided it  is  not  left  too  long  on  the  skin ;  for,  in  this  case,  the 
absorbing  vessels  might  carry  the  poison  into  the  internal 
organism,  and,  in  this  way,  produce  a  general  syphilitic 
affection,  wliereas  these  evil  consequences  might  he  avoided 
by  a  speedy  removal  of  the  chancre.  This  is  both  the  doc- 
trine and  the  practice.  By  this  practice,  the  physician 
deprives  the  internal  disease  of  its  vicarious  symptom,  the 
chancre;  and,  by  the  removal  of  the  chancre,  he  forces  the 
disease  to  embody  itself  externally  in  the  more  troublesome 
and  speedily  suppurating  bubo.  And  after  this  too  has  been 
removed,  as  is  foolishly  done,  by  external  treatment  the 
disease  is  forced  to  manifest  itself  throughout  the  organisni 
with  all  the  secondary  symptoms  of  a  tiilly  developed 
ayphUw.  Thia 'unavoidaile  development  of  the  internal  syp- 
hilitic disease  generally  takes  place  after  the  lapse  of  two  or 
three  months.  So  far  from  relieving  the  patient,  the  physi- 
cian positively  injures  him. 

John  Hunter  asserts:*  "Not  one  patient  in  fifteen  will 
escape  syphilis,  when  the  chancre  is  removed  merely  by  local 
treatment;"  and  in  another  part  of  his  work,  (p.  551—553) 
he  assures  us :  "that  the  local  removal  of  the  chancre,  should 

•TtmUec  on  the  Venemi  DlMa«e.  Ulpilc,  1787.  p.  5!1. 


874 


HOW  TO  TREAT  HARD  CHANCRE. 


it  even  have  been  accomplished  ever  so  speedily,  was  o^uaj 
followed  by  nn  outbreak  of  the  internal  syphilitic  disease.' 

"  The  same  doctrine  is  eoaphaticaily  taught  by  Fabre,  who 
says  'that  the  local  removal  of  the  chancre  is  always  fol- 
lowed by  nyyih'dh;  that  Petit  had  cut  off  a  ptirtion  of  the 
labia  of  the  genitial  organs  of  a  woman,  which  had  been 
affected,  for  some  days,  with  veneral  chancre;  that  the 
wound  indeed  healed,  but  that  the  syphilitic  disease  nevt 
thelesB  broke  out.' 

It  is  incredible  that  physiciaus,  in  spite  of  the  ezpe-j 
rience  and  emphatic  statements  of  such  great  observers, 
should  have  shut  their  eyes  to  the  fact,  that  the  veneral 
disease  existed  already  in  its  fulness  in  the  organism  before- 
the  chancre  had  made  its  appearance,  and  that  it  was 
unpardonable  mistake  to  remove  the  chancre  by  exteri 
applications,  and  to  consider  this  local  removal  of  the  ch( 
ere  a  complete  cure  of  the  disease.  On  the  contrary, 
this  local  removal  of  the  chancre,  the  syphilitic  disease  wf 
not  only  forced  to  ramify  into  its  secondary  symptoms,  but' 
the  physician  deprived  himself  of  a  sure  and  infallible 
indication  of  the  thorough  and  permanent  cure  of  the  inter- 
nal disease,  As  long  as  the  chancre  existed,  the  organism 
was  yet  tainted  with  the  syphilic  virus ;  whereas  the  disap- 
pearance of  the  chancre  consequent  upon  the  internal  admin- 
istration of  appropriate  remedies,  was  a  sure  sign  of  the  inter- 
nal disease  having  been  completely  and  permanently  cured. 

"In  my  practice  of  fifty  years'  duration,  I  have  never 
seen  syphilis  breaking  out  in  the  system  whenever  the  chan- 
cre was  cured  by  internal  remedies,  without  having  been 
mismanaged  by  external  treatment ;  it  mattered  not  whether 
the  chancre  had  been  left  standing  for  years,  increasing  all 
the  while,  as  every  vicarious  symptom  of  any  other  chronic 
miasm  will  do,  for  the  simple  reason  that  the  internal  dis- 
ease is  progressing  all  the  time,  and  induces  a  consequent 
development  of  the  external  symptom. 

"As  soon  as  the  chancre  is  removed  by  external  remedies,, 
the  syphilitic  disease  which   is   engrafted   upon   the  who! 


jeen 
the      - 

xpe-^H 
rers, ^ 
leral 

jfore  ^^ 
IS  ai^^l 

shao^^l 

'.  b:M 

!  wai^H 
I.  bufr^* 


I 


now  TO  TREAT  HARD  CHANCRE, 

'  organism  as  soon  as  the  infection  has  taken  place 
its  series  of  secondary  symptoms. 


"Hence  it  is  that  the  internal  disease  is  most  efficiently 

'   and  most  permnantly  cured  while  the  chancre  or  the  bubo 

I  «re  yet  in  existuace  as  its  vicarious  types,     OF  tbis  genuine 

and  unadulerated  syphilis  it  may  be  said,  thai  there  n  no 

chronic  miasm,  nor  a  disease,  produced  by  a  chronic  miaem,  which 

ia  more  easily  cured  than  syphiOs. 

"  In  that  stage  of  the  syphilitic  disease  where  the  chancre 
or  the  bubo  are  yet  existing,  one  single  minute  dose  of  th« 
,  best  mercurial  preparation  is  sufficient  to  effect  a  permanent 
[  -cure  of  the  internal  disease,  together  with  the  chancre,  in 
I  the  space  of  a  fortnight     Of  course  such  a  cure  can  only  be 
■  'effected  when  the  syphilitic  disease  is  not  complicated  by 
j  Bome  paoric  affection ;  it  is  especially  in  young  persons  of  a 
cheerful  temper   that  a  speedy  cure   may  be  anticipated; 
I  paora  being  in  a  latent  condition  in  such  persons,  neither 
1  syphilis  nor  sycosis  can  become  adulterated  by  that  miasm. 
A  few  days  after  the  medicine  has  been  taken,  and  without  the 
'  use  of  external  application,  the  chancre  is  changed  to  a  pure 
ulcer  with  a  little  quantity  of  laudable  pus,  which  hea!s  of 
itaelf  without  leaving  the  sligbest  cicatrix,  or  even  spot,  the 
color  of  which  is  different  from  that  of  the  sound  skin.    This 
ia  a  convincing  proof  that  the  internal  disease  has  been 
completely  annihilated.     Inasmuch   as  the  chancre  is  tho 
external  indication  of  the  internal  disease,  this  disease  can- 
not be  considered  cured  as  long  as  the  internal  remedy  has 
not  acted  sufHciently  to  remove  even  the  slightest  trace  of 
chancre  from   the  skin."  —  Hahiumann^s  Ckr.   Dig.   Vol.   I 
p.  116. 

"Touching  this  disease  I  desire  to  say,  that  in  so  far  aa 
my  experience  in  the  treatment  of  it  is  concerned,  I  have 
not  found  it  less  amenable  to  treatment  than  other  constitu- 
tional maladies.  The  patient,  otherwise  in  vigorous  health, 
.  who  presents  himsolf  for  treatment,  without  having  previ- 
-Aualy  saturated  his  system  with  ilrugs,  and  without  having 


876 


HOW  10  TREAT  HARD  CHANCRE. 


undertaken  to  eradicate  the  morbific  poiaoii  by  caustic  appli- 
cations to  its  primary  local  manifestation,  the  chancre — such 
a  patient,  if  Mercury  be  indicated  by  his  symptona,  will  be 
cured  ae  readily  and  by  as  small  doses  as  though  his  disease 
were  something  of  a  totally  different  character.  (A  preju- 
dice to  the  contrary  exists,)  And  my  professional  experience 
satisfies  mc,  that  in  these,  as  in  other  cases,  the  high  potencies, 
and  infrequent  doses,  produce  a  more  speedy  and  effectual 
cure  than  low  potencies  and  frequent  doses  do.  But  inas- 
much as  I  do  not  regard  the  chancre  as  the  "fons  et  origo 
mali."  but  rather  as  the  blossom  and  product  of  a  constitu- 
tional infection  which  already  prevados  the  system,  I  am  not 
in  80  great  haste  as  some  are  to  destroy  the  chancre,  well 
satisfied  if,  under  internal  treatment,  I  perceive  it  gradually 
heal  by  healthy  granulations,  no  other  symptoms  meantime 
appearing.  Above  all,  I  dread  the  local  treatment  by  caustic, 
the  much-vaunted  method  of  Ricord.  For  observation  has 
satisfied  me  that  even  a  majority  of  his  patients,  discharged 
as  cured  through  the  local  cauterization,  present,  after  the 
lapse  of  from  one  to  eight  weeks,  all  the  signs  of  secondary 
ayphilis,  and  become  candidates  for,  and  victims  of,  the  'con- 
si  itutional  treatment.' 

It  is  not  every  case,  however,  of  so-called  chancre,  for 
which  Mercury  is  indicated. 

That  which  is  now  denominated  chancroid,  and  which, 
being  a  shallow  and  flat  bottom  ulceration,  shows  a  ten- 
dency to  spread  irregularly  and  indefinitely,  having  never 
well-defined  outlines  nor  a  lardaceous  bottom;  but  exud- 
ing a  thin,  serous  discharge,  and  which  is  probably  not  at  all 
syphilitic  in  its  origin,  does  not  call  for  Mercury,  and  is  not 
benefitted  by  it ;  indeed  is  rather  aggravated.  I  have  found 
the  totality  of  the  symptoms  to  indicate  Nux  vomica  more 
frequently  than  any  other  drug,  and  under  this  a  speedy 
cure  to  follow. 

The  form  of  chancre  in  which  Mercurius  ie  indicated  is 
the  regular  indurated  Hunterian  chancre,  with  the  lardace- 
ous base."— Z>anftam'B  Mat.  Med.,  Vol.  II.  p.  225. 


ALCOHOL  AS  A  REMEDY,  a77 

ALCOHOL  AS  A  REMEDY. 


I  do  not  intend  to  deny  that  the  use  of  mild  alcoholic 
tonics,  as  a  substitute  for  the  frightful  remedies  of  the  medise- 
val  Sangrados,  is  a  decided  improvement,  but,  still,  it  is  only 
a  lesser  evil,  a  first  step  of  a  progressive  reform.  Alcohol 
lingers  in  our  hospitals  as  slavery  lingers  in  the  West  Indies, 
as  the  witchcraft  delusion  lingers  in  Southern  Europe.  Has 
alcohol  any  remedial  value  whatever?  Let  us  consider  the 
matter  from  a  purely  empirical  stand-point.  Does  alcohol 
protect  from  malarial  fevers?  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that 
the  human  organism  can  not  support  two  diseases  at  the 
same  time.  Rheumatism  can  be  temporarily  relieved  by 
producing  an  artificial  inflammation;  a  headache  yields  to  a 
severe  toothache.  For  the  same  reason  the  alcohol  fever 
affords  a  temporary  protection  from  other  febrile  symptoms 
— i.  e.,  a  man  might  fortify  his  system  against  chills  and  ague 
by  keeping  himself  constantly  under  the  stimulating  influ- 
ence of  alcohol.  But  sooner  or  later  stimulation  is  followed 
by  depression,  and  during  that  reaction  the  other  fever  gets  a 
chance,  and  rarely  misses  it.  The  history  of  epidemics  proves 
that  pyretic  diseases  are  from  eight  to  twelve  times  more 
destructive  among  dram-drinkers  than  among  the  temperate 
classes;  rich  or  poor,  young  or  old,  abstainers  are  only  cen- 
tesimated  by  diseases  that  decimate  drunkards.  On  no  other 
point  is  the  testimony  of  physicians  of  all  schools,  all  times, 
and  all  countries,  more  consistent  and  unanimous. 

Is  alcohol  a  peptic  stimulant?  No  more  than  Glauber's- 
salt  or  castor-oil.  The  system  hastens  to  rid  itself  of  the 
noxious  substance,  the  bowels  are  thrown  into  a  state  of 
morbid  activity  only  to  relapse  into  a  morbid  inactivity. 
The  effect  of  every  laxative  is  followed  by  a  stringent  reac- 
tion, and  the  habitual  use  of  peptic  stimulants  leads  to  a 
chronic  constipation  which  yields  only  to  purgatives  of  the 
most  virulent  kind. 

Does  alcohol  impart  strength?  Does  it  benefit  the  ex- 
hausted system?     If  a  worn-out  horse  drops  on  the  highway, 


378  CLINICAL  N0T£S. 

we  can  rouse  it  by  sticking  a  knife  into  its  ribs,  but,  after 
staggering  ahead  for  a  couple  of  minutes,  it  will  drop  again, 
and  the  second  deliquium  will  be  worse  than  the  first  by  just 
as  much  as  the  brutal  stimulus  has  still  further  exhausted 
the  little  remaining  strength.  In  the  same  way  precisely 
alcohol  rallies  the  exhausted  energies  of  the  human  body. 
The  prostrate  vitality  rises  against  the  foe,  and  labors  with 
restless  energy  till  the  poison  is  expelled.  Then  comes  the 
reaction,  and,  before  the  patient  can  recover,  his  organism 
has  to  do  double  work.  Nature  has  to  overcome  both  the 
original  cause  of  the  disease  and  the  effect  of  the  stimulant. 
— Popular  Science  Monthly. 


-4»^- 


CLINICAL  NOTES. 


J.  T.  KENT,  M.  D.,  ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


Case  I. — W.  B.  says  he  has  had  several  chills  and  that 
they  are  increasing  in  severity.  The  first  he  noticed  of  his 
departure  from  health  was  a  peculiar  burning  of  his  skin, 
his  face  swelled  and  looked  red,  especially  about  the  eyes. 
He  thought  it  was  erysipelas.  The  burning  and  itching 
were  intense.  It  felt  so  badly  that  he  could  not  resist  pinch- 
ing and  scratching.  His  eyes  closed  from  the  rapid  swelhng 
and  his  neck  got  too  big  for  his  collar;  over  the  chest  the 
itching  and  burning  were  almost  maddening.  He  applied 
cold  water  to  his  face  which  gave  him  comfort  and  reduced 
the  swelling  so  he  could  open  his  eyes.  In  spite  of  the  itch- 
ing and  burning  he  must  keep  in  a  warm  room.  In  spite  of 
the  local  relief  from  cold  the  general  state  was  made  worse 
from  cold.  The  urticaria  went  back  and  the  chills  came  on 
beginning  in  the  hands  and  feet.  Chill  12  to  1  for  several 
days,  then  10.30  a.  m.  every  other  day.  Chills  begin  by  a 
dry  cough  which  lasts  until  fever  is  marked.  He  climbed 
upon  the  heater  and  piled  clothing  over  him  during  the 
chill  and  did  not  become  even  comfortably  warm  until  the 
fever  warmed  him.  Thirst  only  during  chill,  for  large 
quantities   of  water.     Bones   ache  during   chill   and   fevet. 


I 


J.  T.  KENT.  M.  D. 

Fingers  cold  and  dead  duriog  chili  and  the  numbness  weaiB 
off  daring  the  fever.  Gushing  diarrhcea  during  chill.  Fever 
is  not  very  marked  and  there  is  no  sweat.  During  apyrexia, 
be  must  weur  heavy  clothing  to  keep  warm;  he  is  much 
affected  by  weather  changes.  Great  restlessneaa  day  and 
night.  Tlie  amelioration  front  warmth  is  a  marked  feature  of 
his  whole  case.  Rhus  tox  1  M.  cured.  No  more  chills, 
1  The  beginner  might  think  of  Aijia  in  the  above  case  on 
account  of  the  urticaria  and  the  thirst  during  the  chill,  but 
there  was  no  suffocation  attending  the  eruption,  and  the 
amelioration  frora  warmth  must  exclude  Apie,  Rhus  has 
no  characteristic  place  for  a  chill  to  begin,  nor  special  tinje, 
but  the  gushing  diarrhcea  and  aggravation  from  cold  gener- 
ally and  more  especially  the  chill  beginning  with  a  dry 
cough  muBt  point  to  RKua  as  the  most  appropriate  remedy. 

Where  there  is  a  gushing  diarrhcea  during  chill  or  fever, 
and  urticaria,  Klaterium  should  be  consulted.  Ii  is  charac- 
teristic of  Hepar  to  iiavo  urticaria  during  the  chill,  of  Rhus 
Ignatia,  and  Apis  during  the  fever,  Rhus,  Hepar,  and  Apia  , 
during  apyrexia,  of  Elaterium  after  the  chills  have  been  sup- 
pressed. But  I  have  never  seen  the  urticaria  crop  out 
incompletely  during  the  apyrexia  and  seem  to  get  relief  by 
a  guBbing  diarrhoea,  in  cases  cured  by  Elaterium.  It  has 
been  only  a  clinical  observation. 

Case  II. — Mr.  T ,  aged  35,  a   travelling  man,  with 

Byphilitic  hiatory,  came  back  from  one  of  his  western  trips, 
with  the  following  symptoms.  Numbness  in  lingers  and 
soles  of  feet,  with  much  awkwardness  of  all  bis  motions. 
The  staggering  was  marked  and  he  walked  on  a  wide  base. 
He  could  not  distinguish  between  small  objects  with  his  fin- 
gers. His  manual  movements  were  irregular  and  would  miss 
his  purpose.  His  movements  thus  far  were  not  more  irreg- 
ular by  closing  the  eyes.  His  staggering  Wiia  no  worse  when 
walking  with  his  eyes  closed.  The  reflexes,  tendon  patcllse 
and  ankle  joint  were  abolished,  and  he  had  to  wait  a  long 
time  for  his  urine  to  start.  Fulgurating  pains  coursed  through 
hia  limbs  and  back  anil  he  was  in  a  general  way  going  down 


CLINICAL  NOTES. 

ID  bodily  health.  He  says  he  has  had  these  symptoms  three 
months  and  they  have  grown  stronger  every  day.  His  vie- 
val  apparatus  has  been  defective  a  long  time  but  there  are 
no  new  symptoms  traceable  to  the  probable  nervous  state. 
Every  seven  days  he  got  one  powder  dry  on  the  tongue — 
Alumina  met.  20(J  of  Lehrmunn,  no  other  medicine,  A. 
change  for  the  better  took  place  after  the  second  dose.  He 
took  four  doses  in  all.  Every  homtBopathist  conversant 
with  our  literature  must  see  a  resemblance  between  this  case 
and  the  one  cured  by  Bfioninghausen,  While  the  symp- 
toms in  both  cases  are  unalogoas  to  signs  of  sclerosis  of  pos- 
terior root-zones,  yet,  the  essential  features  are  wanting. 
But  the  action  of  the  remedy,  as  applied  for  a  purpose,  is 
just  as  demonstrative.  While  it,  id  my  Judgment,  is  evident 
there  was  no  sclerosis,  it  is  highly  probable  that  a  disturbing 
factor  was  at  work  in  the  tracks  of  co-ordination,  the  poster- 
ior lateral  columns;  and  in  time  a  grave  pathological  change 
would  have  been  established. 

Case  IH. — Uheumatiam,  aching  and  soreness  in  muscles 
and  joints,  compelling  him  to  move  atler  a  few  minutes  and 
fmd  »  new  place  in  which  he  seems  more  quiet.  Rhus  I  M. 
Next  day  no  improvement  and  no  change  in  symptoms, 
except  growing  worse  generally.  The  pain  in  the  ankle 
joint  feels  as  if  sprained,  joints  and  muscles  sore  to  touch. 
He  says,  "I  move  all  the  time ;  when  I  get  into  a  new  place  I 
feel  better  but  very  soon  the  bed  in  the  new  place  feels  like  iron 
and  I  must  move.  The  moving  I  am  compelled  to  do  not  from 
an  innate  restless  pain  but  from  the  hardness  of  the  bed  as  it 
seems  to  me."  It  must  be  observed  that  Rhus  tox  could  not 
curethis  case,  yet  at  my  first  visit  the  language  was  calculated 
to  deceive.  Arn.  must  be  the  most  appropriate  remedy.  The 
soreness  which  gradually  grows  worse  by  the  pressure  of  the 
bed  and  the  peculiar  pain  and  soreness  as  of  a  sprain  pre- 
cluded any  other  remedy.  Arn.  1  M.  was  given  in  water. 
The  pain  and  soreness  were  gone  at  the  end  of  three  days. 
Sulph  6  M.,  one  dose  fmished  the  cure.  He  was  out  of  the 
house  on  the  eighth  day. 


KALI  BICHROMICUM  IN  HEAD  A  CHE.  381 

Case  IV. — Mrs.  P.,  aged  35,  rhuematism  many  months 
in  lower  extremities,  after  failure  to  cure  with  strong  reme- 
dies, Quinia,  Salicylic  acid,  Colch.  and  Iodide  potassium, 
concluded  to  try  linament.  Strong  applications  were  made^ 
with  relief  to  the  lower  extremities.  I  was  sent  for,  the 
messenger  saying  Mrs.  P.  was  dying.  I  found  her  sitting^ 
upright  in  bed  with  great  pain  in  the  .cardiac  region,  quick, 
sharp,  irregular  pulse,  smothering  breathing,  clothing  all 
removed  from  neck  and  breast,  choking  and  gasping— 
covered  with  perspiration  and  very  palid.  She  got  Lachesis 
41  M.  (Pincke)  in  water.  Immediate  relief  followed,  and 
she  was  able  to  lie  down;  although  she  was  relieved  of 
the  more  distressing  symptoms,  it  was  evident  that  she 
was  in  great  danger  as  the  pain  in  the  heart  remained 
only  slightly  abated.  The  danger  in  these  cases  need  not  be 
mentioned  here,  and  I  will  only  say,  it  appeared  to  be  as 
^sual  a  dangerous  case  of  rheumatic  endocarditis  from  met- 
tastasis.  She  took  Abrotanum  6th  and  12th.  Recovery  was 
gradual  from  the  beginning  with  the  remedy  and  finally 
complete.  She  says  that  she  now  enjoys  better  health  than 
ever. 


KALI  BICHROMICUM  IN  HEADACHE. 


T.  L.  UAZARD.  M.  D.,  SALAMANCA,  N.   Y. 


Was  called  Aug.  25th,  1883,  at  1  a.  m.,  to  see  Mrs.  G — , 
37,  but  having  a  case  of  labor  on  hand  did  not  reach  her 
until  5  A.  M.,  when  she  was  much  better.  She  had  been  hav- 
ing a  severe  attack  of  headache,  to  which  she  had  been  sub- 
ject all  her  life.  It  is  evidently  hereditary,  as  her  mother 
has  always  been  subject  to  sick  and  nervous  headaches,  and 
a  sister  has  suflfered  for  years  in  the  same  way.  These 
attacks  came  on  every  few  days  and  for  months  had  been 
continually  growing  more  frequent  and  more  severe.  The 
pain  was  located  chiefly  in  the  forehead,  just  above  the  eyes; 
but  there  was  likewise  some  in  the  occiput.     It  was  so  severe 


KALI  BtCHROHICVM  IN  HEADACHE. 

OS  to  compel  her  to  go  to  bed  iind  remain  perfectly  quiet; 
E  somewhat  relieved  by  pressure  and  lying  down.  Alwayg 
before  the  attack  xke  became  blind.  The  blindness  lasted  but  a 
abort  time,  and  aa  it  passed  off  the  headache  began  with  ter- 
rible violence.  If  the  pain  did  not  immediately  appear,  she 
would  continue  to  have  repeated  attacks  of  blindnesa  until 
the  headaclie  came  on.  The  menstrual  period  is  prema- 
ture, and  is  always  preceded  for  three  or  four  days  by  one 
■of  these  headaches.  Has  always  been  exceedingly  nervous. - 
Four  years  a^o  she  lost  her  liusband  and  only  child,  since 
which  time  she  has  been  more  nervous  than  ever. 

From  the  relief  from  "keeping  perfectly  still, '  Bry.  was 
given  with  but  slight  iraprovemenl.  Gele.  did  no  better.  On 
the  evening  of  Aug.  27  I  was  again  called  and  found  the 
original  condition  greatly  aggravated.  Evitlently  the  simil- 
limum  had  not  yet  been  found.  The  most  peculiar  symp- 
tom, and  evidently  the  most  important  one  for  selecting  the 
remedy,  was  the  amaurosis  whicli  always  preceded  the  head- 
ache and  passed  away  as  the  headache  appeared.  I  gave 
Kali  bi.  3x.  In  an  hour  and  a  half  the  pain  hud  nearly 
ceased.  She  slept  well  that  night  and  had  no  return  of  the 
headache  for  nearly  a  month,  when  an  attack  was  caused  by 
walking  four  miles  during  her  menstruid  period.  Since 
tliat  attack,  with  the  aid  of  an  occasional  dose  of  Ignatia, 
she  has  continued  to  steadily  improve  in  heulth  and  strength, 
having  had  hut  one  attack,  and  that  a  comparatively  light 
one,  in  four  months,  and  in  neither  of  the  two  attacks  since 
August  27  has  she  had  amaurosis.  Her  last  two  menstrual 
periods  have  been  regular.  She  eats  well,  sleeps  well,  is  less 
nervous,  leels  better  in  every  way,  and  enjoys  life  more  than 
fihe  has  for  years.  And  all  this  in  spite  of  the  fact,  that  an 
Allopath  had  told  her  six  months  ago  that  she  need  expect 
no  relief  until  after  the  menapause.  This  case  veriKes  our 
Materia  Medica  teaching  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  viz : 
That  the  selection  of  the  reme<iy  is  of  the  first  importance, 
the  vital  question:  the  attenuation  a  matter  of  personal 
experience,  n  seconihtry  nS-.nr  altogether. 


PULSATILLA  IN  MALPOSITION  OF  FCETUS'         38$ 
PULSATILLA  IN  MALPOSITION  OF  THE  F(ETUS. 


CHARLES  B.  OILBEBT,  M.  D.,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


In  the  Institute  transactions  for  1868,  Dr.  H.  N.  Guern- 
sey requests,  in  his  report  on  Obstetrics,  that  observa- 
tions in  regard  to  the  action  of  Puis,  on  malpositions  be 
recorded. 

Mrs.  S.  29  years  old,  medium  size,  dark  brown  hair  and 
eyes,  pleasant  disposition,  came  under  my  care  April  12th, 
1863,  pregnant  since  the  last  of  November,  and  apparently 
with  dropsy  of  the  amnion.  She  had  been  very  miserable 
from  the  first,  though  very  well  at  the  time  of  conception. 
The  child  lay  exactly  across  her  with  the  head  on  the  left 
side.  I  prescribed  for  her  from  time  to  time,  as  her  symp- 
toms seemed  to  indicate,  but  though  much  better  in  many 
ways  the  position  was  the  same.  But  on  June  12th  she  had 
depression  of  spirits,  but  becoming  cheerful  when  a  friend 
came  in  to  cheer  her  up ;  abdomen  aUematdy  hard  and  soft  ; 
swollen  feet  and  ankles.  Now  she  got  Puis.  200,  (Lehrman) 
a  dose  morning  and  evening,  and  in  thirty-six  hours  the 
foetus  had  dropped  its  head  into  the  pelvis  and  kicked  its 
heels  up  into  the  liver  which  got  many  a  hard  dig  after  that, 
though  the  motions  when  becoming  severe  were  much  con- 
trolled by  diflferent  remedies;  her  mood  became  cheerful, 
and  she  felt  better  in  every  way.  See  also  Investigator  VI.- 
139,  British  Journal  XXXIX-422. 

There  are  some,  I  presume,  who  will  deny  that  Puis. 
200  can  regulate  the  muscles  of  the  uterus  while  they  would 
be  willing  to  acknowledge  it  from  the  tr.  To  such  I  wish  to 
quote  from  Croserio  in  regard  to  the  use  of  Puis,  in  cases  of 
post-partum  hemorrhage : — 

"  Dr.  KoUenbach,  of  Berlin,  affirms  that  he  has  never 
obtained  any  efiect  from  the  employment  of  Puis,  or  even  of 
SecaUy  when  he  has  administered  them  to  excite  the  expul- 
sive contractions  of  the  uterus  during  labor ;  this  positive 


^84  PULSATILLA  JN  MALPOSITION  OF  FCETUS. 

assertion  on  the  part  of  an  honorable  colleague  would  have 
made  me  doubt  myself,  and,  notwithstanding  my  fifteen 
years*  experience,  always  followed  by  the  same  result,  I 
should  have  hesitated  to  recommend  so  decidedly  this 
remedy  under  these  circumstances,  and  should  have  feared 
that  I  had  not  well  observed  my  cases,  and  awaited  new 
>experiences ;  but  seeing  the  doses  used  by  this  practitioner, 
I  am  no  longer  astonished  at  the  difference  in  our  results. 
Dr.  K.  commonly  used  the  tr.  and  never  above  the  third  dilu- 
tion, from  three  to  five  drops  at  a  time ;  he  has  given  five 
•drops  of  the  tr.  of  Pule,  to  a  woman  in  labor ;  the  woman 
^experienced  nothing  but  great  uneasiness  without  any  in- 
>crease  of  the  pains  I  This  effect  of  a  dose  truly  poisonous, 
will  cause  no  astonishment,  if  we  consider  the  excessive  sus- 
■ceptibility  of  the  woman  at  this  time,  and  that  the  augmen- 
tation of  the  expulsive  pains  is  a  reactive  effect  of  nature ; 
how,  then,  shall  this  reaction  take  place  from  the  effects  of 
so  enormous  a  dose  upon  a  vital  force,  exhausted,  so  to  speak, 
through  the  pains  and  other  circumstances  of  labor  ?  Nature 
outraged,  confined  by  this  mass  of  poison,  can  no  longer  re- 
act regularly;  besides,  the  crude  drugs  exercise  a  violent 
general  action  upon  the  whole  organism,  which  hinders  it, 
so  to  speak,  from  perceiving  the  particular  affinities  with  the 
different  organs. 

In  this  manner  the  observations  of  the  Berlin  physician 
and  their  contradiction  to  my  own  are  explained :  and  this 
contradiction  furnishes  a  new  proof  of  the  necessity  for 
employing  the  high  dynamizations  in  the  circumstances 
under  consideration :  for  if  I  have  only  proposed  the  num- 
bers under  thirty,  it  is  that  I  may  not  shock  the  ideas  gener- 
ally accepted  by  the  Homoeopathic  public,  for  I  am  con- 
vinced that  the  200th  and  above  would  be  much  more  in 
their  place  than  the  dilutions  ordinarily  recommended  in 
this  work,  committed,  as  they  were  in  great  part,  to  writing 
before  I  had  recognized  the  advantages  of  the  high  prepara- 
tions." 


PERSlSTEIfCB  OF  FORMS  OF  DISEASE. 
PERSISTENCE  OF  FORMS  OF  DISEASE. 


A  disease  remains  tbe  atime  in  essence,  no  matter  whom 
it  uttacks  or  what  its  severity  be  in  the  individual  case.  Each 
contagious  diseaae  breeds  only  its  own  kind,  and  no  other. 
When  we  espeiiraent  with  an  isolated,  disease-producing 
germ  it  causes  always  one  and  the  same  affection,  if  it  takes 
hold  &t  all. 

But  evidence  is  beginning  to  accumulate  that,  though 

we  can  not  change  one  species  into  another,  we  can  modify 

the  power  and  activity,  in  short,  the  virulence,  of  parasites, 

Pasteur  has  shown  that  when  the  bacteria  of  chicken  cholera 

are  kept  in  an  open  vessel,  exposed  to  the  air  for  many 

months,  their  power  to  struggle  with  the  animal   cells  is 

gradually  enfeebled.  Taken  at  any  stage  during  their  decline 

«f  virulence,  and   placed  in  a  fresh  soil  in  which  they  can' 

grow,  be  it  in  the  hotly  of  an  animal  or  outside,  they  multi- 

l  ply  as  before.     But  the  new  breed  has  only  the  modified 

virulence  of  its  parents,  and  transmits  the  same  to  its  pro- 

I  geny.     Though  the  form  of  the  parasite  has  been  unaltered, 

its  physiological  activity  has  been  modified:  it  produces  no 

longer  the  fatal  form  of  chicken-cholera,  but  only  a  light 

atttick,  from  which  the  animal  recovers.  By  further  enfeeble- 

ment  of  the  parasite,  the  disease  it  gives  to  its  host  can  be 

reduced   in   severity   lo   almost  any  extent.      These   mild 

attacks,  however,  protect  the  animal  agaimt  repetUioiis.     By 

passing  through  the  modified  disease,  the  chicken  obtains 

I  immunity  from  the  fatal  form.     In  the  words   of  Pasteur, 

\  the  parasite  can  be  transformed  into  a  "  vaccine  virus  "  by 

I  cultivation  under  conditions  which  enfeeble  its  power.     The 

I  splendid  view  is  thus  opened  to  ua  of  vaccinating,  some  day, 

ft^gainst  all  diseases — in  which  one  attack  grants  iinmnnity 

Kjkgainst  anotlier.     Pasteur  has  succeeded  in  the  same  way  in 

lanother  disease  of  much  greater  importance,  namely,  splenic 

\  fever.      The  parasite  of  this  affection  has  also  been  modifieil 

I  by  him,  by  special  modes  of  cultivation,  so  as  to  produce  a 

wild  attack,  protecting  against  the  gmverform  of  the  disease. 


386  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE, 

Pasteur's  own  accounts  of  his  results,  in  vaccinating,  against 
anthrax,  the  stock  on  French  farms,  are  dazzling.  Bat  a 
repetition  of  his  experiments  in  other  countries,  by  his  own 
assistants,  has  been  less  conclusive.  In  Hungary  the  immu- 
nity obtained  by  vaccination  was  not  absolute,  while  the 
protective  vaccination  itself  destroyed  some  fourteen  percent, 
of  the  herds. 

Yet,  though  much  of  the  enthusiasm  generated  by  Pas- 
teur's researches  may  proceed  further  than  the  facts  warrant, 
he  has  at  least  opened  a  new  path  which  promises  to  lead  to 
results  of  the  highest  importance  to  mankind. — PopiUar 
Science  Monthly. 


AMERICAN  INSTITUTE. 


The  next  session  of  the  American  Institute  will  be  at 
Deer  Park.  Md.,  a  delightful  summer  resort  on  the  line  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  R.  R.  The  location  is  central  and  of 
easy  access  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  north,  east,  south 
and  west.  There  are  three  express  trains,  daily,  each  way, 
and  you  are  landed  at  the  foot  of  the  hotel  lawn,  about  three 
hundred  yards  away,  thus  avoiding  the  annoyance  and  incon- 
venience of  cabs  and  omnibus  lines.  The  hotel  is  one  of  a 
number  owned  by  the  B.  &  0.  R.  R.  Co.,  and  under  the  effi- 
cient management  of  W.  J.  Walker,  Esq.,  Supt.  of  the  hotels 
of  the  company.  It  can  accommodate  about  six  hundred 
guests.  The  dining  room  will  seat  five  hundred.  The  table 
is  bountiful,  all  that  could  be  desired,  and  well  served.  We 
dined  there  on  Sunday,  the  16th  of  September,  the  last  din- 
ner served  in  the  hotel  for  the  season,  and  even  during  the 
confusion  of  closing  he  must  be  extremely  fastidious,  who 
could  find  fault  with  such  a  table  or  such  a  service.  The 
rooms  are  large,  well  ventilated,  well  carpeted,  well  furnished. 
The  halls  are  spacious  and  from  the  broad  verandas,  the 
view  of  the  valley  and  surrounding  mountains  is  charming. 
The  dancing-hall  in  which  the  sessions  of  the  Institute  will 
be  held,  will  only  accommodate  about  two  hundred.     It  is 


A  PROVING  OF  EPlPHilQUS  VIROINIANA.  387 

scarcely  as  large  as  the  parlors  of  the  International  in  which 
we  met  last  year,  bnt  there  was  always  room  and  some  vacant 
seats  to  spare.  To  accommodate  the  Institute  the  house  will 
be  opened  one  week  earlier  than  usual.  We  will  have  it  all 
to  ourselves.  There  will  be  no  other  societies  to  occupy  en- 
gaged rooms,  as  did  a  Dental  Society  last  year  at  Niagara^ 
Deer  Park  is  situated  on  thecrest  of  the  Alleghanies  about  three 
thousand  feet  above  sea  level.  The  mountain  air  is  bracing 
the  scenery  delightful,  the  roads  excellent,  and  the  oppor- 
tunities for  walking,  riding  or  driving  unsurpassed;  the 
drive  to  Oakland,  six  miles  west,  being  highly  spoken  of. 
But  the  fine  trout  fishing  and  splendid  shooting  should  be 
taken  cum  grano  'scdis.  The  stream  just  in  front  of  the  hotels 
in  the  valley,  is  said  to  contain  fine  trout,  but  it  is  owned  by 
ex-Senator  Davis  of  West  Va.,  and  public  fishing  is  prohi- 
bited. Besides,  members  of  the  Institute  do  not  go  to  these 
annual  gatherings  to  angle  for  game  of  this  kind.  They  have 
"  other  fish  to  fry,"  other  work  to  do.  On  the  whole  we  thmk 
the  selection  a  fortunate  one,  and  the  Institute  under  many 
obligations  to  the  efficient  chairman  of  the  R.  R.  Commit^ 
tee,  Dr.  Cowperthwaite,  of  Iowa  City*  h.  c.  a. 


-4»^ 


A  PROVING  OF  EPIPH^GUS  VIRGINIANA. 


READ   BEFORE  THE   OHIO  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL   SOCIETY. 


BY  RALPH  MORDEN,  M.  D.,  GROVEPORT. 


Orobanche  virginiana  (Linn).  Beech  Drops.  Cancer  RooL 
Earihclvb,     (Xapwort, 

Nat  Ord.,  Orohanchaceoe^  Broom-Rape  Family. 

E.  virginiana. — Stems  slender  and  bushy-branching,  with 
small  and  scattered  scales  and  two  sorts  of  flowers,  scattered 
in  loose  spikes  or  racemes,  with  minute  bracts.  Upper  flow- 
ers conspicuous,  but  seldom  ripening  fruit,  with  tubular  four- 
toothed  corolla,  and  long  filaments  and  style;  lower  flowers 
small  and  short,  seldom  opening,  but  fertilized  in  the  bud. — 

Gray.   * 
4 


388  A  PROVING  OF  EPIPHJ^OUS  VIRGINIAN  A, 

1. — 1882. — April  Ist,  5:30  p.  m.,  took  one  drachm  of  tine. 
6  p.  M.,  some  pain  in  right  temple,  also  a  very  slight  pain  in 
left  temple.    Lasted  until  going  to  bed. 

2. — May  15th,  took  half  a  drachm  of  tine.  No  marked 
symptoms  for  an  hour ;  then  took  half  a  drachm  more.  In 
fifteen  minutes  marked  pain  in  right  temple,  with  slight  pain 
in  left,  which  lasted  for  three  hours,  and  then  left  a  dull, 
heavy  pain  in  temporal  regions,  worse  in  right  side. 

Also  viscid  saliva,  and  almost  constant  desire  to  spit. 

No  marked  change  in  pulse. 

3.— June  23d,  took  60  drops  of  tine.  No  symptoms  for 
an  hour;  then  repeated  this  dose.  Almost  immediately  felt 
Blight  pain  in  left  temple,  sensation  of  fullness  in  fore  part  of 
head,  peculiar,  sticky,  viscid  taste  in  the  mouth. 

3:30  p.  M.,  marked  pain  in  both  temples  as  if  from  pres- 
sure of  the  finger-ends  in  the  temporal  fossae;  worse  in  left 
side,  and  lasting  until  evening. 

4. — 1883. — February  1st,  1:30  p.  m.,  took  one  drachm  of 
the  Ix.  In  twenty  minutes  slight  pain  in  left  temporal 
Tegion ;  viscid  taste  and  saliva. 

2:30,  repeated  the  dose.  In  fifteen  minutes  sensation  of 
fulness  in  the  head,  scalp  felt  tight,  could  not  read  because 
the  words  seemed  to  be  blurred;  and  when  I  went  to  write 
could  not  make  the  letters  I  wished  to;  also  found  myself 
using  the  wrong  words.  Occasional  piercing  pain  in  right 
temple. 

By  8  p.  m.,  had  taken  two  more  doses  as  above.  Head- 
ache in  right  temple,  full  feeling  in  fore  part  of  head,  eyes 
smarting,  saliva  viscid. 

Had  headache  in  left  temple  during  the  night,  in  bed, 
especially  on  raising  up. 

February  2d. — Morning:  Felt  better;  no  pain  in  head, 
but  a  sensation  as  though  something  was  wrong  there,  espe- 
cially in  the  fore  part;  very  bitter  taste  in  the  mouth. 

11  A.  M.,  took  half  a  drachm  of  Ix.  2:30  p.  m.,  severe 
pain  in  middle  of  forehead  which  came  suddenly  and  lasted 
only  a  few  minutes. 


RALPH  MORDEN,  M.  D.  389 

2:45  p.  M.,  took  half  a  drachm  more.  From  that  time 
until  retiring  had  severe  headache  in  fore  part  of  head,  worse 
in  right  temple. 

5. — February  7th,  feel  as  well  as  usual  and  free  from 
pain.  At  8:40  a.  m.,  took  half  a  drachm  of  tine.  In  five 
minutes  had  severe  pain  in  middle  of  forehead.  At  9  a.  m. 
it  was  severest  in  the  right  temple.  Working  in  the  open  air 
makes  it  worse. 

9:45  A.  M.,  took  another  dose  as  above. 

10:30,  severe,  continuous  pain  in  right  temple. 

11  A.  M.,  same  pain  still  severe,  some  nausea,  general 
languid  feeling. 

February  8th. — Headache  occurred  occasionally  all  day, 
with  pain  in  left  shoulder  and  knee. 

Felt,  for  several  days,  uneasy  feeling  in  fore  part  of  head, 
also  had  difficulty  in  passing  stool,  although  the  faeces  were 
soft. 

6. — 1  induced  a  young  friend  of  mine  to  take  some  of 
the  drug,  but  as  soon  as  the  head  pained  he  desisted,  and 
could  not  be  induced  to  go  on  with  the  proving.  He  de- 
scribed his  head  pain  as  a  pressing  in  the  temples  from  with- 
out inwards;  none  on  the  leftside.  He  also  had  the  peculiar 
condition  of  the  saliva  which  I  have  endeavored  to  describe. 

I  find  the  Ix  dilution  produces  more  marked  and  lasting 
symptoms  than  the  mother  tincture. 

Clinical  applications  of  Epiph^gus : 

1.  Mrs.  S.,  8Bt.  about  26:  Nervous  temperament.  Slight 
figure;  dark  hair  and  eyes.  For  a  long  time  has  been  sub- 
ject to  headache  whenever  she  went  from  home  "  a-visiting," 
or  was  subjected  to  any  excitement  or  from  any  extra  physi- 
cal exertion.  The  pain  was  through  the  temples,  and  all  over 
the  head ;  it  was  always  accompanied  by  great  nausea  and 
vomiting,  which  did  not  relieve. 

Gave  Epiph^gus  3x,  5  gtt.,  in  water,  twice  a  day  between 
the  attacks ;  and  when  she  felt  the  paroxysm  coming  on  I 
directed  her  to  take  the  above  dose  every  twenty  or  thirty 
minutes. 


890  A  PROVING  OF  EPJPH^OUS  VIRGINIAN  A. 

She  complained  that  the  medicine  gave  her  palpitation 
and  made  her  feel  very  weak.  Said  she  thought  it  would 
have  killed  her.  I  then  reduced  the  dose.  Result:  entire 
relief,  and  for  a  long  time  she  would  always  carry  her 
"head-ache  medicine"  with  her  when  she  went  visiting, 
which  she  can  now  do  with  *an  immunity  before  unknown 
to  her. 

This  case  occurred  over  a  year  ago,  and  only  once  has 
she  had  an  attack,  and  then  it  was  in  a  mild  degree. 

2.  Mrs.  D.,  aet  35  or  40,  consulted  me  last  fall.  Said  she 
had  been  subject  to  "sick  headache"  from  her  girlhood 
whenever  she  went  away  from  home,  or  underwent  any  unu- 
sual exertion.  She  had  never  found  any  relief  until  she  had 
a  night's  rest. 

Prescribed  as  in  Case  1,  and  did  not  hear  from  her  for 
several  months,  when  she  said  she  was  very  much  better,  but 
had  not  continued  with  the  medicine  "for  fear  it  would  in- 
jure her  health."  Has  since,  under  direction,  continued  the 
remedy,  and  is  now  entirely  exempt  from  her  headaches. 

3.  Mr.  N.  came  in  the  night  for  medicine  for  his  wife. 
Said  she  had  come  from  town  with  a  terrible  headache. 
Could  give  no  symptoms.  Prescribed  Epiph^gus  3x,  which 
entirely  relieved  after  the  third  dose. 

4.  Mr.  K.,  set.  38,  had  been  complaining  of  headache  for 
some  time.  I  had  given  Nux  vom.,  on  account  of  gastric  dis- 
turbances, with  only  temporary  relief.  Epiph^gus  3x  cured 
permanently  after  the  second  dose. 

"  I  have  treated  a  number  of  other  cases  with  marked 
benefit,  and  have  not  failed  in  any  case  where  the  headache 
was  induced  by  going  from  home,  or  from  exertion.  Have 
tried  it  in  cases  of  headache  coming  on  at  the  menstrual 
period,  but  have  failed  to  obtain  any  results." 

The  late  Dr.  E.  C.  Beckwith  was  the  first  to  direct  my 
attention  to  Epiph^gus. — [Dr.  Morden  has  made  a  very  good 
beginning.  Provings  with  the  attenuations,  should  now  be 
made  so  as  to  bring  out  some  of  the  finer  characteristics  of 
the  remedy. — h.  c.  a.] 


THE  VILLAGE  DOCTOR,  391 

* 

THE  VILLAGE  DOCTOR. 


It  may  be  that  your  finely-educated  and  well-informed 
city  physicians  know  better  what  a  sick  man  needs,  but  they 
do  not  begin  to  know  as  well  as  the  old  village  doctor  what 
that  sick  man  wishes.  It  may  be  that  your  beloved  and  well- 
brushed  M.  D.  cures  more  diseases,  but  he  has  never  learned 
how  to  make  his  patient  forget  the  disease  he  cannot  cure. 
Your  city  physician  is  a  business  man.  He  is  always  in  a 
hurry.  He  yanks  your  door-bell,  startling  you  from  a  re- 
freshing nap.  He  brushes  by  the  servant  who  opens  the 
door  to  him,  and  comes  into  your  bed-chamber  with  the  air 
of  a  constable  whose  duty  it  is  to  throw  you  and  your  family 
out  into  the  street — a  constable  who  enjoys  doing  his  duty 
because  "business  is  business."  He  strides  to  your  bedside 
and  jerks  your  hand  from  under  the  coverings,  as  if  it  held 
something  that  had  been  stolen  from  him.  You  are  afraid 
of  him,  and  wish  he  would  get  through  and  go  away.  He 
orders  you  to  put  out  your  tongue  much  as  a  Prosecuting 
Attorney  would  if  he  expected  to  find  some  evidence  of 
crime  upon  it.  He  fiips  out  a  massive  gold  watch  that 
marks  the  quarter  seconds,  counts  your  pulse,  says  you  are  a 
very  sick  man,  and  coldly  tells  you  that  if  you  have  any 
business  matters  to  settle  you  would  better  be  about  them. 
He  orders  your  terrified  wife  to  bring  a  spoon  and  a  glass  of 
water  while  he  is  directing  a  Latin  prescription  to  his  friend 
the  druggist,  who  charges  him  no  profit  on  personal  pur- 
chases. He  doesn't  want  the  spoon  and  water;  he  only 
wishes  to  order  somebody  to  do  something. 

If  you  want  a  physician  to  cure  your  ills,  the  city  M.  D. 
will  do.  But  if  you  want  somebody  whose  warm  sympathy 
will  make  you  forget  that  you  are  sick,  come  here  and  try 
the  old  village  doctor.  He  never  rings  a  bell.  Why  should 
he,  since  he  knows  ever);  nook  and  corner  in  every  house  in 
the  village?  He  is,  so  to  speak,  a  member  of  every  family  in 
the  village,  and  a  most  heartily  welcome  member,  too.  With 
his  little  leather  medicflne-case,  containing  a  few  staple  drugs. 


392  THE  VILLAGE  DOCTOR. 

not  forgetting  plenty  of  calomel  and  the  necessary  instru- 
ments for  cupping,  he  enters  at  the  back  door  as  gently  as 
the  perfumed  breath  of  a  bright  May  morning.  The  figure  may 
not  be  just  the  thing,  for  the  doctor  grooms  his  own  horse, 
and  his  perfume  is  of  the  stable ;  yet  there  is  something  kind 
and  sympathetic  in  his  manner  that  seems  to  smell  sweet  to 
the  soul.  After  his  brief  chat  with  the  housewife  in  the 
kitchen  he  finds  his  own  way  to  the  little  front  bedroom,  the 
wife  following,  wiping  her  hands  and  bare  arms  on  the  wrong 
side  of  her  long  calico  apron.  If  his  patient  be  asleep  he 
stealthily  tip-toes  back  to  the  kitchen  and  says  h  e  will  wait. 
Seated  on  the  door-step  just  outside  the  open  door,  he 
whittles,  and  talks  in  low  tones  with  the  wife  as  she  goes  on 
washing  the  breakfast  dishes.  Piece  by  piece  he  learns  every 
symptom,  every  little  particular  of  his  patients  last  night; 
and  then,  when  the  conversation  ceases  and  the  wife  goes 
quietly  up  the  narrow  back  stairs  to  make  the  children's  lit- 
tle bed,  the  old  doctor  sits  and  peels  long  curly  shavings  oflF 
the  yellow  pine  stick,  softly  hums  a  good  old  Methodist 
hymn,  and  thinks  and  thinks  what  he  should  do  next  for  his 
sick  man. 

Half  the  forenoon  is  gone  when  the  good  wife  comes  to 
the  door  and  says,  in  the  same  old  subdued  tone  to  which 
she  has  habituated  herself:  '* Doctor,  he  is  awake  now." 
The  old  doctor  slowly  lifts  himself,  unkinks  his  stiffened 
joints,  kicks  his  legs  out  to  straighten  down  his  trousers, 
shuts  his  big  bone-handled  knife,  brushes  the  shavings  from 
his  shiny  clothes,  and  goes  to  the  bed-room.  The  sick  man 
slowly  turns  his  head  toward  the  doorway,  smiles  sadly,  puts 
out  his  long,  white,  bony  hand  to  him  and  whispers  hoarsely: 
"Well,  doctor?  "  which  is  a  sick  man's  favorite  form  of  ask- 
ing how  his  doctor  thinks  he  is  getting  along.  The  old 
doctor  raises  the  blue  paper  curtain  and  slowly  draws  a 
chair  close  to  the  bed.  "Oh,  you're  looking  ever  so  much 
better  to-day.  We'll  have  you  out  hoeing  potatoes  in  a  day 
or  two."  The  old  doctor  knows  this  is  false ;  knows  that  no 
human  power  can  prolong  the  man's  life  a  month,  but  he  is 


THE  VILLAGE  DOCTOR.  395 

one  of  these  great  good  men  who  live  above  the  necessity  of 
telling  the  truth  on  all  occasions.  "You're  getting  on 
nicely.  Don't  you  see  you've  got  more  color  in  your  hands  ? 
And  your  eye  looks  brighter  than  it  has  for  a  month.  A 
very  sick  man  couldn't  sleep  as  you  did  this  morning.  Why, 
I've  been  here  two  hours  and  you've  been  sound  asleep  and 
.  snoring  every  minute  o'  the  time ;  ain't  he,  Mrs.  Sandford  ?  '^ 
The  poor  wife  is  almost  afraid  the  doctor  exaggerates,  but 
there  is  something  so  wholesome  in  the  old  doctor's  manner 
and  so  encouraging  in  his  words  that  she  quite  forgets  her 
troubles,  and  becomes  even  chirper  in  her  efforts  ta  assure 
her  husband  that  the  doctor  is  right.  While  the  little 
woman  moves  softly  about,  gently  dusting  this  and  that 
piece  of  furniture,  turning  the  shutters  so  that  the  sunbeam& 
creeping  toward  the  bed  may  not  climb  up  and  get  into  the 
eyes  of  the  sick  man,  the  old  doctor  urges  on  the  conversa- 
tion, adroitly  turning  the  subject  from  sickness  and  trouble,^ 
and  even  from  health  and  prosperity,  with  which  the  sick 
man  might  make  painful  comparisons.  Soon  the  room  is 
changed  from  a  chamber  of  death  and  despair  to  a  panorama 
of  scenes  pictured  by  the  doctor  in  his  relation  of  his  recol- 
lections and  experiences.  The  sick  man  turns  his  head  to 
catch  every  word.  He  is  an  interested  listener  while  the  old 
doctor  sits  there  and  relates  as  actual  personal  history  a  hun- 
dred and  one  things  that  never  happened  to  any  body.  Why 
should  he  stop  to  ask  himself  whether  truth  is  mighty  so  long 
as  he  can  see  that  falsehood  is  prevailing  over  his  patient's 
despair,  and  causing  him  to  forget  whether  he  is  sick  or  well? 
A  writhing  of  the  sick  man's  face  and  the  placing  of  his 
thin,  clammy  hand  upon  the  breast  tells  of  a  sharp  pain. 
Quick,  the'opiate?  There,  he  sleeps  I  Now  all  is  well.  Ah, 
yes,^he  sleeps.  He  will  not  wake  again.  Death  came  to  him 
as  in  a  pleasant  dream.  He  knew  it  not,  and  hence  he  died 
but  once.  Kind-hearted,  warm  old  doctor!  Dear  old  cow- 
ard, who  never  fights  disease,  but  surrenders  at  its  first  ap- 
proach, and  labors  lovingly  to  smooth  the  way  to  death  X 
Blessed  old  bungler,  who  gives  no  dying  man  the  warning 


394  VERATUM,  ALB.  AND  ARNICA  M. 

that  would  turn  his  latest  hours  to  business  cares  and  save 
liis  heirs  a  world  of  worriment  and  loss!  Who  does  not  love 
this  doctor? 

VERIFICATIONS,  VERATRUM  ALB.  AND  ARNICA  M. 


J.  N.  LOWE,  M.  D.,  MILFORD.  N.  J. 


Case  I.  Mins  F.,  aet.  19  yrs.,  was  suddenly  prostrated 
"with  symptoms  of  acute  indigestion,  nervous  prostration, 
and  headache;  evidencing  the  following  concise  phenomena: 
Vital  depression;  coldness  of  the  cutaneous  surface;  a  vaso- 
motor congestive  tendency,  with  a  corresponding  impair- 
ment of  the  normal  functions  of  innervation,  circulation  and 
digestion;  without  thirst  and  sweat. 

Veratrum  alb.  200,  one  dose  dry.  Decided  reaction 
(vital)  in  from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes.  Improvement  con- 
tinued to  complete  restoration  without  repetition  of  the  dose^ 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  "  red  letter "  symptom,  (cold 
«weat,)  was  absent  in  this  instance ;  nevertheless  Veratrum  alb. 
200,  acted  illustriously — and  gave  us  the  quick,  sharp,  and 
decisive  result,  which  we  desired.  If  we  had  assayed  pallia- 
tion or  substitution,  we  should  have  widely  missed  our 
mark,  and  perhaps  kept  an  innocent  patient  invalided,  for 
an  indefinite  period  of  time. 

Case  II.  Arnica  M.  in  Cardialgia.  Mrs.  A.,  aet.  35  yrs. 
Symptoms. — Sore  all  over  ;  pressive  cutting  pains  in  epigas- 
trium; nausea  and  retching ;  precordial  pressure;  oppression 
of  chest;  spasmodic  griping  in  stomach;  offensive  eructations 
Gave  Arnica  mont.  20c.  Continued  until  three  powders  were 
taken.     Result :  a  prompt  dismissal  of  the  complaint. 

When  the  *  Law  of  the  Similars'  is  challenged — thrown 
into  the  crucible,  and  tried  in  the  court  of  material  agnos- 
ticism— these  plain  cases,  with  plainer  characteristics,  are 
always  true  in  furnishing  strong  testimony  to  the  truth ;  and 
without  the  vaunted  material  molecule,  are  able  with 
** naught"  to  confound  that  '*  which  is."  Mahomet,  " must 
go"  to  the  mountain. 


CORRESPONDENCE,  395 

CORRESPONDENCE. 

Medical  Advance : 

In  your  December  number,  page  336,  "A  Senior  "  desires 
to  know  the  reason  an  ansesthetic  was  given  to  the  boy  who 
was  ahready  in  a  comatose  and  unconscious  condition.  Doubt- 
less the  physician  who  reported  the  case  will  be  quite  ready 
with  an  answer.  1,  of  course,  know  nothing  about  this  case 
only  what  appears  in  these  pages,  but  say  that  the  important 
disideratum  generally  during  a  surgical  operation,  is  to  keep 
the  patient  quiet — immovable.  This  lad,  though  comatose 
and  unconscious,  may  have  been  thrashing  about  violently 
and  this  the  anaesthetic  eflfectuailly  controlled.  Therefore,  it 
appears  that  the  proceedings  may  not  have  been  justly  de- 
serving the  pointed  criticism  of  "A  Senior." 

Wm.  D.  Foster. 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Medical  Advance: 

In  the  last  number  of  The  Advance,  there  are  some  admir- 
able rules  of  practice  laid  down  by  W.  J.  Guernsey,  M.  D. 
"  Rvle  3.  If  found  necessary  to  repeat  a  medicine  already 
prescribed,  give  several  doses  of  the  same  potency  in  water, 
or  of  a  different  potency  dry."  Now,  for  the  benefit  of  one 
reader,  at  least,  will  Dr.  Guernsey  please  explain  the  differ- 
ence between  a  dose  in  water  and  a  dose  dry  on  the  tongue? 
Can  a  few  pellets  of  any  potency,  prepared  in  water,  and  re- 
peated at  intervals  of  one,  two  or  three  hours,  be  considered 
a  single  dose  ?  Or  what  are  we  to  infer  from  rules  three  and 
nine  ?  A. 


Medical  Advance : 

I  am  somewhat  surprised  that  Dr.  Rollin  R.  Gregg  should 
find  it  necessary  to  construct  a  fibrin  theory  to  account  for 
bacteria.  The  compositions  of  the  substances  discussed, 
(bacteria  and  fibrin)  are  in  no  way  similar.  Fibrin  is  a 
nitrogenous  body,  muscle  forming,  destitute  of  cellulose, 
whereas,    bacteria  is   mostly  composed    of   cellulose,  and 


396  BOOK  NOTICES. 

destitute  of  fibrin.  The  former  (fibrin)  is  soluble  in  the 
alkalies,  the  latter  is  not.  There  is  nothing  more  clear,  chem- 
ically and  botanically,  than  that  bacteria  belongs  to  the  veg- 
etable kingdom,  and  nothing  more  certain  than  that  fibrin  is 
an  animal  product.  Since  these  facts  are  indisputable  there 
can  be  no  foundation  for  his  theory. 

Thomas  Taylor,  M.  D., 

Microscopist  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 


<»» 


BOOK  NOTICES. 


NATURE  OF  MALARIA,  and  its  peculiarities  of  origin  as  to  place.    By  J.  W.  Dow- 
UNG,  M.  D.    A  reprint  from  the  transactions. 

The  author  has  evidently  bestowed  much  thought  on  this  sub- 
ject and  it  will  well  repay  a  careful  peru<sal. 


THERAPEUTIC  HAND  BOOK  OF  THE  U.  S.  PHARMACOPCEIA.    By  R.  T.  Edeb, 
M.  D.    Wm.  WOOD,  &Co.,  N.Y. 

This  very  convenient  concise  and  practical  reference  book  is 
well  arranged  for  the  busy  practitioner  (of  tjie  other  school).  It  is 
printed  in  the  excellent  workmanship  of  Wm.  Wood  &  Co., 

PHYSICIANS  SPECIAL  RATE  CHECKS.    By  W.  J.  GUERNSEY,  M.  D.,  Philadelphia 

This  is  a  very  ingenious  device,  by  means  of  coupon  tickets,  to 
cut  off  the  doubtful  patrons.  "A  delicate  way  to  insist  upon  pay- 
ment from  suspicious  persons.''  It  ought  to  save  many  times  its 
cost  every  week. 


PHYSICIANS  ERASABLE  TABLET  CALL  BOOK. 

Dr.  Leonard  has  also,  from  his  practical  brain,  presented  the 
profession  with  a  very  convenient  erasable  tablet  call  book,  to  be 
used  until  filled  and  then  the  names  drawn  off  into  a  day-book  or 
the  old  fashion  ledger.  This  tablet  will  accommodate  sixty  names 
and  is  made  in  the  form  of  any  ordinary  memoranda  book  with  a 
pocket  on  the  inside  for  papers.  It  is  not  thicker  than  a  letter  and 
consequently  does  not  take  up  much  room  in  the  pocket. 


MANUAL  OF  GENERAL  TECHNOLOGY,   including  prescription   writing.     By 
Edward  Curtis  M.  D.    New  York :  Wm.  Wood  &  Co. 

This  is  one  of  ''  Woods  Pocket  Manuals  "  and  is  devoted  to  the 
Pharmacology  of  the  Old  School.  It  could  not  fail  to  be  of  interest  to 
a  physician  of  that  practice.    The  best  method  of  prescribing  Alio- 


BOOK  NOTICES. 

I  pathic  drugB  is  well  set  forth.  The  dangers  as  well  aa  the  follies  to 
which  their  methods  are  liable  are  clearly  described,  but  the  one 

[  great  folly  of  combining  drugs  is  elaborately  explained  and  enforced  ' 
la  thongh  it  had  not  been  demonstrated  a  thousand  timeH  to  be  both 
useless  and  uaeclentiflc  Still  here  is  a  book  worth  reading,  for  if 
e  oureelvea  don't  do  it,  we  lilce  to  see  how  others  do  it. 

)R  MOTHERS  AKD  DADOHTER.S.  A  Muiu&l  of  Bygloue  lot  Women  ami  tbe  House- 
bo\t..  lUustratccl.  By  Sits.  E.G.  Cook,  M,  D,  lamo.eitra  doth.il.M.  New 
York^  HygleDlc  PublliihlagCa.,  B11  Bro&dway. 

This  i^  a  senttib  te,  motherly,  aiEterly  book,  written  in  a  clear, 
[  plain,  yet  delicate  style;  a  book  which  ought  to  be  iu  the  hands  of 

all  women,  and  girls  old  enough  to  need  its  counsel.    It  treats  of 

topics  on  which  hinge  more  of  the  world's  woe  than  it  bae  an  idea 
I  of,  because  so  mnch  of  silent  suffering  finds  no  voice  except  tbe 
I  sigh;  no  record  except  io  pale  cheeks  and  broken  constitutions. 
,  Men  can  do  no  better  thing  for  their  own  comfort  snd  prosperity 
I  than  to  promote  whatever  \a  calculated  to  bring  health  and  happi- 
)  woman,  for  that  will  bring  joy  to  the  household.    What  can 

more  sadden,  discourage,  and  hinder  a  man  than  ttte  chronic  ill- 

I  health  of  his  wife  and  daughters?  We  fancy  if  husbands  and  fathers 

>uld  appreciate  the  worth,  to  them  and  Iheir  families,  of  the  con- 

tenlB  of  this  book,  thousands  of  copies  would  find  their  way  to  the 

hands  of  wives,  and  would  constitute  a  present  more  valuable  than 

silks,  f\irs,  or  diamonds. 

The  work  opens  with  a  chapter  on  the  importance  of  physical 
w  cultare,  which  is  followed  by  chapters  on  the  bones  and  muscles; 

the  brain  and  nervous  system;  the  structure  and  care  of  tbe  skin; 
f  hygiene  and  ventilation;  intemperance;  a  chapter  devoted  tu  bread 

ind  butter,  in  which  there  is  a  careful  analysis  of  tbe  processes  of 
I  digestion,  in  which  this  matter  is  made  plain  and  practical.  A  large 
,  portion  of  the  book  is  devoted  to  tbe  subject  of  displacements  and 
I  other  diseases  to  which  women  are  subject.  Tbe  feeding  of  chil- 
\  dren;  the  rights  of  children;  tbe  question  of  education,  etc.,  are  all 
1  discusaed,  and  the  work  is  fully  illustrated  by  a  number  of  fine  en- 
1  gravings.  It  is  a  handsome  volume  of  over  ^00  pa^es.  beautifully 
'  bound,  and  would  be  a  most  acceptable  present  to  either  wife  or 
I  daughter. 


Hksrv  Mijito(i.  a.  M  ,  M.  D,    j 
PubHihlng  Co.    New  York  M88I. 

On  the  title  page  we  find  the  following:  "I  hold  every  man  a 
I  debtor  to  his  profession,  from  the  which,  as  men  of  course  do  seek 
>untenance  and  profit,  so  ought  they  of  duty  to  endeavor 


898 


EDITORS  TABLE. 


themBeWes  by  way  of  amenda  to  be  a  help  and  orDament  there- 
anta. — Bacon."  This,  we  take  it,  is  intended  as  an  apoli^y  to  the 
profeesion,  for  forcing  upon  them  another  literary  effort;  and,  no 
wonder  the  author  feels  a  certain  amount  ot  timidity,  wlien  he 
realiKes  how  some  works  have  been  received,  et>pecial1y  from  a 
gynecolO);ical  standpoint.  Yet,  this  work,  so  different  frum  others 
of  our  school,  requires  neither  apology  nor  explanation.  It  speaks 
for  itself,  and  is  competent  to  stand  on  its  merits. 

After  a  careful  examination  of  its  paifes,  we  feel  like  saying,  as 
did  Solomon,  "the  end  of  a  feast  is  better  than  the  beeinningof  a 
fray."  Yes,  indeed,  from  the  first  page  to  the  last  is  this  work 
worthy  of  every  practitioner's  praise.  It  is  a  "dish  for  the  Gods,'' 
seasoned  with  pure  homeopathy  and  garnished  with  veriHed  symp- 
toms— a,  rich  boon  to  us  all. 

It  is  a  work  for  which  there  was  the  most  urgent  need,  and 
while  we  recognize  that  a  treatise  of  this  nature  ai.d  character  must, 
to  a  ureater  or  iess  extent,  be  one  of  compilation,  still  it  contains 
such  a  complete  review  of  the  symptoms  of  uterine  disorders,  with 
their  treatment,  that  we  are  compelled  to  acknowledge  oar  deepest 
and  most  profound  gratitude  to  its  author, 

The  geoeral  arrangement  is  modeled  after  "Belt  on  Diarrhcea" 
or  "Allen  on  Intermittents,"  and  he  could  have  selected  no  better 
plan.  The  be 
brief  enough 
esting  to  any 
work,  as  the  i 
through  it, 


written  in  a  clear,  concise  manner,  and  yet  not 
e  or  confuse  the  reader,  and  is  intensely  inler- 
ho  has  given  gynecology  spei;ial  attention.  The 
iudidates,  is  one  of  therapeutics,  and  as  we  pass 
.  many  familiar  cuts  and  plates,  aiivays  employed 
in  gynecological  works,  to  attract  the  eye  or  demonstrate  some  pet 
theory — the  use  of  an  instrument  or  operation — not  to  mention 
sections  of  frozen  anatomical  subjects,  with  the  poor  uterus  so 
changed  in  its  appearance  that  we  almost  fail  to  recognize  the 
organ.  These  omissions,  however,  only  enhance  the  value  ot  the 
work  in  our  estimation. 

This  work  requires  no  recommendation  at  our  hands — only 
praise — and  we,  therefore,  desire  simply  to  express  our  sincere 
thanks  to  Dr.  Mihton  for  this  book.  Chatterton  is  making  his 
mark  as  a  publisher.  Phil  Forteh, 

EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

Married.— Dr.  H  W.  Hoby  and  Miss  Sarah  Collier,  of  Topeka, 
Kansas,  December,  1883.  The  doctors  of  Topeka  made  the  happy 
couple  a  handsome  wedding  gift.    We  send  greetings. 


EDITORS  TABLE,  399 

Dr.  Rufus  J.  Hyde  and  Miss  Laura  Caldwell,  at  the  residence  of 
the  bride's  parents,  Eaton  Rapids,  Dec.  5th,  1883. 

Miss  Anna  L.  Laub,  M.  D.,  (U.  of  M.,  class  of  '83,)  to  G.  F.  Bar- 
tholomew, Esq.,  and  now  resides  at  Valparaiso,  Ind. 

M.  P.  Austin,  M.  D.,  (U.  of  M.  '81)  and  Miss  Mary  E.  McDonald, 
all  of  Minneapolis,  Dec.  25, 1883.  A  happy  New  Year  to  the  happy 
pair. 

Died.— Sept.  25, 1883.  John  W.  Byrkett,  M.  D.,  in  Chihuahua, 
Mexico,  where  he  had  gone  in  search  of  health. 

Removals. — E.  D.  Bottorff,  M.  D.,  from  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  to  Ash- 
tabula, Ohio ;  C.  C.  Pillsbury,  M,  D.,  from  Atkinson,  111.,  to  St.  Clair, 
Mich. ;  J.  G.  Gundlach,  M.  D.,  from  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  to  Ottawa,  111. ; 
C.  P.  Ailing,  M.  D.  has  located  at  112  E.  Swan  street,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.; 
W.  A.  Hubbard,  M.  D.  succeeds  the  late  Dr.  Hurlburt  at  Marion,  la. 

Dr.  J.  F.  Edgar  has  removed  his  Pharmacy  to  23  East  Short 
Street,  Lexington,  Ky.    The  doctor  can  fill  all  orders. 

M.  M.  Eaton,  M.  D.,  and  wife  have  gone  to  Jacksonville,  Florida 
for  the  winter. 

Db.  F.  J.  Dickey  locates  in  Shreveport,  La. 

The  present  number  contains  sixty-four  well  filled  pages. 

Db.  Herinq  used  to  say  :  "Some  people  will  persist  in  being 
animals,  and  using  only  the  five  senses.  They  do  not  believe  it  and 
therefore  it  is  not  so." 

Sidney  Smith  is  quoted  as  saying :  "  Never  try  to  reason  the 
prejudice  out  of  a  man.  It  wasn't  reasoned  into  him  and  it  cannot 
be  reasoned  out  of  him." 

The  Popular  Science  Monthly  still  holds  front  rank.  It  is  as 
good  as  a  large  library  every  year,  and  costs  only  $5.00.  If  you  do 
not  read  it  take  our  advice  and  do  so. 

The  Physician's  Memorandum  Book,  by  J.  A.  Miner,  Ann  Arbor, 
Mich,  is  a  convenient  visiting  book.  Its  clinical  columns  are  often 
very  useful  at  the  bedside.    We  use  it. 

The  Physician's  Diary,  for  1884.  The  Medical  Record  visiting 
list  of  Wm.  Wood  &  Co.,  is  up  to  the  usual  standard  of  excellence; 
handsome,  concise,  compact,  well  arranged. 

Correction.— In  our  last  issue  Dr.  J.  F.  Brown's  article  on 
Auto-Kleptomania  was  incorrectly  given  as  Anto-Kleptomania. 
This  is  chargeable  to — well,  charge  it  to  the  devil. 

A  Western  paper  says:  "Sam  Weldom  was  shot  last  night  in 
the  rotunda  by  Harry  Parsons."  Next  to  the  heart,  the  rotunda  is 
about  the  worst  place  in  which  a  man  could  be  shot. 

Physicians  Visiting  List,  for  1884.    P.  Blackston  &  Son,  &  Co., 


400  EDITORS  TABLE. 

Philadelphia.  A  most  valuable  and  complete  pocket  companion  for 
the  busy  doctor  to  just  put  it  right'  down  so  it  will  not  be  forgotten. 
Price  $1.00. 

Dr.  M.  H.  Parhbleb  writes  to  the  Toledo  Bee  a  very  interesting 
and  valuable  article  on  "The  Old  and  The  New  Code.''  It  discusses 
the  historical  side  of  the  question  with  great  clearness.  It  should 
be  offered  to  the  profession  in  pamphlet  form. 

Pbacticb  For  Salb. — In  one  of  the  best  towns  in  Southern  Ohio, 
county  seat,  population  3,500,  two  railroads,  one  just  graded,  will  be 
in  operation  by  June  1, 1884,  good  country  and  free  pike  roads.  For 
particulars  address,  Medicus,  care  Medical  Advance  Publishing  Co., 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

Dr.  Gillard's  Sanitarium,  at  Sandusky,  was  full  the  entire  sea- 
son. It  will  be  enlarged  for  1884.  The  doctor  has  all  the  modem 
appliances  for  using  electricity  in  chronic  diseases,  and  apparently 
is  doing  good  work.  Physicians  who  do  not  make  a  specialty  of 
chronic  diseases  would  do  well  to  consult  him. 

A  New  Insane  Asylum  is  to  be  established  at  Westbro,  Mass., 
and  the  Legislative  Committee  have  agreed  to  recommend  the 
placing  of  it  into  homoeopathic  hands.  To  this  the  Allopathic  School 
has  offered  no  objection,  and  it  is  likely  the  Legislature  will 
so  order.  We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Talbot  for  the  above  informa- 
tion. 

Transactions  of  the  Homosopathic  Medical  Society  of  Pa., 
1883.  This  is  a  well  presented  volume  of  382  pages  and  out  promptly 
on  time.  There  are  a  large  number  of  valuable  and  exceedingly 
practical  articles,  of  which  the  members  may  justly  be  proud.  Such 
a  volume  should  spur  other  state  societies  to  renewed  efforts. 

The  33d  Annual  Meeting  of  the  HomcBopathic  Medical  Society 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  will  be  held  in  the  C»)mmon  Council 
Room,  City  Hall,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday, 
February  12th  and  13th,  1884.  The  session  will  open  at  10  a.  m«,  on 
Tuesday.  The  Annual  Address  will  be  delivered  by  the  President, 
Dr.  Everitt  Hasbrouck,  of  Brooklyn,  on  Tuesday  at  8  p.  m. 

A.  P.  Hollett,  Secretary. 

"  It  is  reported  that  all  the  anatomical  material  which  a  medi- 
cal school  (a  regular  (?)  medical  school  too)  in  a  neighboring  state, 
has  been  able  to  "raise'*  thus  far  this  season,  is  limited  to  a  nine- 
months  old  babe.  This  innocent  little  infant  has  been  doing  duty 
for  the  entire  class.  Cadavers  seem  to  be  scarce  in  that  neighbor- 
hood, but  just  wait  until  those  students  get  their  degrees!" — Medi- 
cal Age, 


EDITORS  TA  BLE.  401 

Edith,  the  only  daughter  of  Dr.  Moses  T.  Runnels,  who  died  of 
laryngeal  diphtheria  on  Wednesday  morning  was  an  unusually 
bright  and  loveable  child  of  about  four  years,  who  had  endeared 
herself  to  all  who  knew  her.  She  was  sick  a  week,  and  the  moat 
careful  nursing  and  skillful  treatment  were  powerless  to  arrest  the 
course  of  the  disease.  She  was  buried  at  Crown  Hill,  yesterday  af- 
ternoon. Her  parents  have  the  sympathy  of  all  who  knew  her 
— Indianapolis  paper. 

Butter  Test. — Physicians  are  often  called  upon  to  display 
their  knowledge  of  chemistry  in  various  ways,  and  to  assist  them 
we  give  the  following,  as  taken  from  the  Sanitarian,  "Sulphuric 
Acid  is  said  to  be  a  simple,  but  certain  test  for  adulterated  butt«r. 
Fresh,  pure  yellow  butter,  by  the  slightest  contact  with  Sulphuric 
Acid,  turns  almost  a  pure  white,  while  butterine  made  from  ani- 
mal fat,  changes  to  a  deep  crimson.  When  lard  or  other  oils  are 
used,  the  colors  are  diversified — showing  all  the  tints  of  the  rain- 
bow. 

For  Sale. — Adams*  Electropathic  Institute,  corner  High  and 
Spring  Sts.,  Columbus,  O.  This  is  a  rare  chance  for  any  physician 
who  makes  or  desires  to  make  a  specialty  in  the  use  of  electricity. 
Bath  tubs  with  hot  and  cold  water  for  electric  baths.  The  most 
complete  stock  of  apparatus  and  batteries  for  therapeutic  purposes 
in  the  state.  Good  business,  well  established,  reputation  widely 
known,  location  the  very  best  in  the  city.  Will  sell  for  a  very  little 
more  than  the  fixtures  will  invoice.  Good  reasons  given  for  desir- 
ing to  sell.    Address,  F.  S.  Adams,  M.  D.,  Columbus,  0. 

Sanitary. — Dr.  John  Honeyman,  in  the  Sanitarian,  claims  that 
houses  built  with  low  ceilings  are  healthier  to  live  in,  and  more 
economical.  In  a  long  paper,  on  the  subject,  he  demonstrates  the 
fact  that  high  ceilings  are  pernicious  to  health.  He  states  I  can 
*' prove  that,  other  things  being  equal— that  is,  that,  giving  two 
rooms  of  difl'erent  heights,  but  of  the  same  capacity,  having  the 
same  size  of  chimney  opening,  the  same  area  of  window,  door,  and 
opening,  the  lowest  will  be  the  cheaper,  the  more  commodious, 
the  more  comfortable,  and  the  healthier  dwelling  of  the  two." 

A  Live  Medical  Society. — The  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, of  Michigan,  a  report  of  the  transactions  of  which  appears 
in  this  number,  is  the  only  Homoeopathic  society  with  which  we 
are  acquainted  that  has  weekly  meetings.  Its  members  are  active 
and  enthusiastic,  and  are  doing  good  work,  both  for  themselves 
and  the  profession.  Officers  elected  for  1884  were  Phil.  Porter,  M. 
D.,  President ;  E.  P.  Qaylord,  M.  D.,  Vice-President;  J.  M.  Griffin, 


402  BOOK  NOTICES. 

M.  D.,  Recorder;  J.  G.  Gilchrist,  M.  D.,  Corresponding  Secretary  ; 
R.  C.  Olin,  M.  D.,  Treasurer.  Any  Homoeopathic  practitioner  in  the 
State  is  invited  to  attend  the  meetings  and  participate  in  the  dis* 
cuBsions.    Every  large  city  should  contain  such  a  society. 

Absorbent  Cotton  as  a  Dressing  for  the  Umbilical  Cord. 
Fros^  the  American  Journal  op  Obstetrics. — We  give  an  extract  of 
a  letter  written  by  Dr.  Babcock,  of  Evansville,  Ind.,  on  the  above 
subject,  which  for  simplicitv  and  convenience  of  application,  is  in-^ 
deed  worthy  of  consideration.  There  are  few  physicians,  who  cannot 
carry. with  them,  in  their  buggy  or  otherwise,  a  quantity  of  the  ab  - 
sorbent  cotton.  The  experience  of  Dr.  Babcock,  is,  that  the  cord 
came  off  perfectly  clean,  and  left  no  "smell  nor  irritation,"  and  one 
— ^the  first — dressing  was  all  that  was  necessary.  The  cord  must  be 
enveloped  in  quite  a  pad  of  cotton,  no  grees  or  oil  applied,  and  left 
alone  until  the  cord  drops  off,  which  is,  in  about  four  or  five  days. 
The  Doctor  thinks  this  method  will  diminish  umbilical  hernia, 
and  keep  the  child  sweet  and  clean,  and  is,  we  think,  an  improve- 
ment over  the  "rag"  usually  employed  for  a  dressing.  While  the 
cotton  dressing  is  nothing  new,  to  many  of  our  practitioners,  we 
consider  it  of  enough  importance,  to  again  be  presented. 

P.P. 

Premature  Sexual  Development. — The  following  cases  are 
taken  from  the  American  Journal  of  Obstetrics  as  of  more  than  ordin- 
ary interest.  The  first  case  is  a  child  of  two  years  and  seven  months 
old,  who  began  menstruating,  when  only  four  months  old.  Her 
periods  are  regular  and  last  from  four  to  five  days.  She  now  weighs 
forty-nine  pounds.  Her  form  and  features  are  of  those  of  a  girl 
twelve  years  old.  The  mammary  glands  are  well  developed,  about 
the  size  of  small  oranges.  The  mons  veneris  is  covered  with  a  full 
growth  of  hair  and  is  quite  prominent  The  external  labia  is  simi- 
lar to  a  well  developed  woman.  The  child  has  never  shown  any  dis- 
position to  handle  herself,  and  is  quite  modest  with  her  mother  and 
especially  so  with  her  father.  Her  likes  and  dislikes  are  of  a  child 
much  older.  Parents  not  related.  Family  history  perfect.  The 
only  case  of  the  kind  known  in  their  family.  The  future  of  this 
child,  particularly  the  sexual  history  will  be  extremely  interesting. 
In  a  Brooklyn  Museum  they  have,  what  they  call  a  "  Baby  Venna  " 
on  exhibition.  She  is  only  three  years  old,  and  weighs  sixty-five 
pounds.  Her  features  are  of  a  young  lady,  and  the  mammary 
glands  are  fully  developed.  The  vulva  has  changed  and  the  pelvis 
widened  to  the  size  of  a  girl  of  eighteen,  but  she  has  never  men- 
struated. P.  P. 


.ifB^^sf!^;^  ?  -^^^^iin*"  ^ 


'isf_ 


PHII.  POSTER,  n 


Ann  ARBOB,  FEBRirAItY,  1 


All  subsctipttona  and  busineee  oomirni  ntoatlons  should 
be  addressed  to  MUDIOAL  ADVANOE  FUBIilSHIHO-  CO., 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.    Subscription,  $2.00  per  annum. 

H.  O.  ALLEN,  M.  D.,  Busiaess  Uanaser. 

"ormr  merit  you  Touraeltmnst  jndge 
All  !■  I  doni  drlDk  no  sp«rel. 
Ad  I  halntelgned  do  plodge." 

We  are  honored  with  a  copy  of  an  "Introductory  Ad* 
dresB,  delivered  before  the  Medical  Class  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lie," by  Louis  Elsbei^,'  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Professor,  etc. 
Among  the  many  things  it  contains  we  find  the  following  as 
worthy  of  notice. 

"I  counsel  you  to  beware,  from  the  very  beginning  of  your 
Studiea,  and  throvgk  liff,  of  all  'one  idea'-ism,  all  lams  and  all 
pathiesi  Exclusive  sectanHuism,  whether  in  the  ordinary  every- 
day occupations,  whether  in  politics,  in  religion  or  in  medicine, 
leads  not  to  the  tnie,  and  not  to  the  good.  Evil  is  its  only  fruit.  In 
the  State,  fanning  the  blaze  of  unscrupulous  pari y- warfare ;  in  the 
Church,  instituting  persecution  for  conscience'  sake;  in  the  Healing 
Art,  sacrificing  thousands  Buffering  with  remediable  ills,  it  wraps 
the  cloak  of  self-sufficiency  around  its  hideous  nakedness  and  with 
charlatan  effrontery  proclaims  aloud:  'Within  ray  circle  is  the 
truth  and  there  is  no  truth  outside.'  I  beg  you  to  avoid  its  narrow 
platform  1    From  to-day  on,  keep  ever  present  before  your  mind  the 


404  EDITORIAL, 

proper  estimate  of  a  Physician.  Etymologically,  the  word  implies 
a  student  of  nature,  nature's  scholar.  A  Physician  is  a  man  who, 
free  from  the  influence  of  exchisive  systems,'  makes  use  of  every 
means— medicinal  and  surgical,  physical  and  psychical — that  has 
been  discovered  or  invented,  that  is  capable  of  curing  the  sick  or  al- 
leviating their  suff'ering.  He  accepts  no  unproved  theory  and  re- 
jects no  proved  remedy  from  any  source.  He  utilizes  for  the  benefit 
of  his  patients  ascertained  truths,  whether  derived  from  scientists 
or  quacks.  From  the  air  above  and  the  water-s  below;  from  the 
artificial  chemical  laboratories  and  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  he 
draws  his  weapons.  His  surgical  appliances  embrace  nearly  every 
material  under  the  sun.  Creation  yields  him  its  minerals,  its  herbs 
and  animal  substances;  its  light,  its  heat  and  electricity.  The  vary- 
ing seasons  and  the  diff'erent  climates;  the  various  occupations  of 
men  and  their  very  thoughts  and  feelings, — all  he  employs  as  his 
legitimate  tools!  Accord  to  no  man  the  name  of  Physician  who 
bases  his  medical  practice  upon  any  exclusive  system;  keep  your- 
selves free  from  everything  that  would  make  you  deserve  to  be 
called,  and  never  allow  yourselves  to  be  called,  by  any  sectarian 
designation.  Gentlemen,  I  beg  each  one  of  you  to  resolve  to  be- 
come no  *allopath,'  no  'homoeopath,'  no  'hydropath,'  no  *elec- 
tropath,'  nor  any  other  *ath;'  but  to  resolve  to  become  a  physi- 
cian !" 

If  this  were  not  oflfered  as  serious  advice  it  would 
excite  our  laughter.  It  is  quite  on  a  par  with  Lowell's 
character,  who  puts  forth  his  claims  for  excellence  in 
the  lines  we  have  above  quoted.  These  words  should 
have  been  placed  on  the  title  page  of  the  Address,  and 
they  might  well  be  chosen  as  the  motto  of  the  "most 
modern "  of  the  allopathic  school.  This  is  the  latest 
fashion  out.  But  this  address  is  a  curious  example  of  the 
contradictory  states  of  mind  an  allopathic  professor  will 
get  into.  The  author  throughout  dogmatically  states  his 
views  upon  a  variety  of  subjects.  Upon  Pathology  and 
Chemistry  and  Physiology  he  gives  his  views  with  great 
freedom.  He  even  gives  us  figures,  which  represent  his  ideas 
of  health  and  disease,  and  he  dogmatically  states  to  his 
hearers  without  any  apology,  the  truth  as  he  understands  it, 
upon  a  score  of  important  points.  He  is  very  brave  and 
wise  and  communicative,  until  he  touches  the  question  of 


A  RINGING  APPEAL.  405 

therapeutics,  and  all  at  once  he  is  as  limp  as  a  Medusa  out 
of  its  element.  As  to  "the  modus  operandi  of  drugs,"  having 
no  opinion  of  his  own,  he  outlines  the  views  of  others, 
including  those  of  Hahnemann,  and  then  magisterially  lays 
them  all  aside  as  "too  confined;"  "too  limited  to  embrace 
within  their  scope  the  whole  range  of  nature" — as  though 
"the  whole  range  of  nature"  had  to  be  embraced  in  the  law 
of  therapeutics.  No  wonder  he  cannot  find  the  simple  truth 
when  he  is  ranging  the  stellar  universe  for  that  which  lies 
before  his  feet.  But  he  makes  bold  to  assert  that,  "the 
right  course  to  follow,  diverges  from  all  these  one-sided 
generalizations."  What  a  comfort  it  must  be  to  his  students 
to  find  out  that  positive  knowledge  of  the  healing  art  is  an 
ignis  fatuus  and  that  all  there  is  to  it  is  an  attempted  reductio 
ad  absurdum.  The  point  of  absurdity  is  certainly  reached 
when  his  students  spend  their  money  and  time,  hoping  to 
learn  something  positive .  about  the  healing  art,  and  are 
finally  turned  loose  upon  the  commons  to  browse  as  best 
they  may  along  the  high  ways,  and  by  ways  of  the  world  to 
become  no  "ath"  and  follow  no  path.  All  such  poor  vic- 
tims, together  with  their  so-called  teachers  should  be  safely 
housed  within  the  protecting  walls  of  an  institution  for  "The 
Feeble  Minded "  where  they  would  be  "  free  from  every- 
thing" that  would  make  them  liable  to  being  charged  with 
knowing  anything  about  the  art  of  curing  disease. 

A  RINGING  APPEAL. 


INTRODUCTORY    ADDRESS    DELIVERED    AT    THE   LONDON    HOMCEO- 

PATHIC  HOSPITAL,  OCTOBER  5,  1883. 


BY  J.  COMPTON  BURNETT,  M.  D. 


In  medicine,  as  at  present  known  to  the  world,  the  only 
really  catholic  practitioner  of  medicine  is  the  broad-minded 
scientific  homoeopath.  He  alone  is  not  sectarian,  but  pro- 
gressive and  universal.  As  we  go  on,  if  you  will  do  me  the 
honor  of  listening  to  me,  I  shall  hope  to  show  you  that  we 


406  A  RINGING  APPEAL. 

practice  homoeopathically,  not,  as  our  calumniators  tell  you, 
because  we  are  narrow  sectarians  and  desirous  of  holding  a 
distinctive  position  by  ourselves,  but  because  we  have  gone 
over  the  entire  field  of  drug  therapeutics,  and  tried  all  sys- 
tems and  methods.  Mark  you  what  I  say,  because  this  is 
very  important.  We  have  gone  over  all  systems  and  methods 
of  the  drug  treatment  of  disease;  we  have  studied  their  va- 
rious merits  and  demerits,  and  this  in  a  genuinely  catholic, 
non-sectarian  spirit,  and  having  thus  covered  the  whole 
ground,  we  find  Homoeopathy  the  best.  Let  your  minds 
dwell  upon  this  point  a  little,  for  it  alone  explains  the  seem- 
ing paradox  of  our  position.  At  the  first  blush  it  seems  per- 
fectly obvious  that  a  medical  man  who  adopts  a  peculiar" 
mode  of  practice  must  necessarily  be  a  sectarian.  We,  as 
homffiopaths,  are  bitterly  reproached  with  this.  Many  of 
the  best  of  the  profession  say  to  us,  "  Drop  your  name  and 
all  will  be  well,  and  the  breach  will  be  healed.  We  have  no 
objection  to  you,  but  to  your  name."  Then  why  not  drop 
the  name?  I  will  tell  you.  We  cannot  drop  it,  because  Hom- 
oeopalhy  is  practically  unknown  to  the  bulk  of  the  profession  and 
exists  as  a  separate  thing.  It  is  really  not  we  who  keep  the 
name  alive,  but  the  ignorance  of  the  profession  of  the  sub- 
ject. When  the  entirfe  profession  advances  up  to  the  present 
standpoint  of  Homoeopathy,  then  the  word  medicine  will 
include  it ;  and  having  no  separate  existence,  it  could  not,  in 
the  nature  of  things,  have  a  name  to  go  by,  except  as  the 
heading  of  a  chapter  in  history.  What  Homoeopathy  now 
means  is  the  most  advanced  point  in  therapeutics,  and  this 
extreme  van  cannot  be  given  up  till  the  entire  profession 
have  reached  it.  When  we  say  we  are  homoeopaths,  we  do 
not  mean  that  there  is  in  medicine  nothing  else  but  Homoeo- 
pathy, but  we  mean  that  in  the  curation  of  disease  by  medi- 
cines we  have  found  the  law  of  similars  our  best  guide.  We 
have  arrived  at  this  extreme  point,  not  by  springs  and 
bounds,  or  in  a  hurry,  but  after  going  over  all  the  rest  of  the 
field  and  leaving  that  as  less  advantageous.  Hence  our  be- 
ing homoeopaths  is  not  the  outcome  of  narrow  sectarianism 


/.  COMPTON  BURNETT,  M.  D:  407 

or  love  of  a  distinctive  name  from  any  motive  whatsoever, 
but  the  result  of  a  broad,  eclectic,  catholic  survey  of  the 
entire  field  of  therapeutics.  We  do  not  say  there  is  nothing 
but  our  homoeopathic  advance  point;  by  sHying  we  ate  hom- 
oeopaths we  indicate  our  position  in  the  great  field  of  drug 
therapeutics,  and  in  indicating  our  own  we  characterize  the 
position  of  others.  And  our  characterization  signifies  that 
all  other  modes  of  using  drugs  are  Jar  behind  us.  We  do 
not  say  the  others  have  no  existence;  no,  we  merely  say  they 
are /ar  behind  us,  and  hence  do  not  exist  for  us,  just  because 
we  have  something  better — so  much  better  that  we  wnx 
warm  in  our  zeal,  we  become  enthusiastic,  and  beckon  to  our 
allopathic  friends  in  the  rear  to  come  on,  to  press  forward  to 
where  we  are.  Now,  our  orthodox  friends  in  the  rear  have 
no  knowledge  of  the  topography  of  the  region  occupied  by 
our  army  in  the  van;  they  remain  behind,  where  we  used  to 
be  lang  syney  and  steadfastly  refuse  to  believe  we  are  any- 
where at  all.  We  shout  back  to  them  that  we  are  in  a  glori- 
ous country  with  immense  resources,  and  ask  them  to  join 
us  and  help  us  to  occupy  it  and  cultivate  it  for  the  advan- 
tage of  humanity,  and  therefore  of  us  and  of  them.  But 
they  will  not*  believe* us.  So,  remember  that  if  any  of  you 
medical  students  aspire  to  be  in  the  very  van  of  therapeutic 
science,  you  mu^it  find  yourselves  with  us.  You  cannot  help 
it.  Of  course,  you  may  abjure  the  birthright  of  a  free  man- 
hood, and  join  the  crypto-homoeopaths.  Well,  they  serve  a 
purpose.  So  did  Judas.  And  to  whom,  think  you,  comes 
the  serene  satisfaction  of  duty  done?  Not  to  the  crypto- 
homoeopaths,  who  merely  serve  as  a  kind  of  co-operative 
asses'  bridge;  they  are  what  schoolboys  call  sneaks,  and  a 
sneak's  reward  is  theirs.  1  envy  them  not.  They  will  do 
nothing  great;  they  will  never  feel  great,  they  will  never  feel 
nohle^  they  will  never  6e great;  for  no  sneak  ever  yet  became 
great.  That  divine  afHatus  which  makes  a  noble  heart 
bound  on  to  greatness  of  aim  comes  not  to  the  sneaky  crypto- 
homoeopath  If  we  aim  high  we  may  mount  to  goodness  and 
greatness  of  soul  and  deed,  but  the  sneak   is  a  miserable 


* 

A 


408  .      A  RJNOINO  APPEAL. 

groveller  even  when  at  the  highest.    Some  of  you  may  not 
share  these  sentiments.    Well,  I  am  content  to  hold  them 
with  the  choice  few ;  or,  if  need  be,  alone.     Now,  if  the  pro- 
fession at  present,  for  the  reasons  given,  cannot  be  our  judges, 
and  if  only  medical  men  can  be  admitted  judges  of  medical 
questions,  how  are  the  ckims  of  Homoeopathy  to  be  settled? 
How  is  the  world — i.  e.,  our  fellow  human  beings — to  know 
whether  our  opponents  or  we  are  right?    The  only  way  at 
present  open  to  us  is  to  show  that  Homoeopathy  cures  better 
than  other  systems  of  drug  treatment.    Gentlemen,  there  is 
no  other  way  open  to  us;  either  we  must  be  false  to  thera- 
peutic truth  and  to  our  common  humanity,  or  we  must  fol- 
low this  course  till  better  times  dafirn,  till  the  general  profes- 
sion advance  to  within  speaking  distance  of  us.     What,  do 
you  say  you  would  recommend  an  appeal  ad  popidumf    Did 
you   not  yourself  admit  that  onl^  medical  men  can  ade- 
quately grasp  the  subject?    Yes,  I  do  admit  that;  but  we 
must  do  our  best,  and  our  best  at  present  is  to  convince  the 
people,  and  so  compel  the  profession  to  listen  to  us  and  give 
us  fair  play.     But  an  appeal  ad  populum  is  beneath  our  dig- 
nity, and  is  unprofessional.    Well,  if  so,  then  that  dignity  is 
a  false  sheen  and  no  reality,  and  the  profession  is  an  enemy 
of  mankind.     As  for  me,  I  will  prefer  the  mens  conscia  rectiy 
and  will  do  my  duty.     You  may  hiss  these  sentiments  if  you 
like,  but  I  hold  them,  and  I  will  express  them,  and  am  pre- 
pared to  stand  or  fall  by  them.     What  I  do  you  tell  me  that 
I  can  hold  that  our  Homoeopathy  is  a  great  life-saving  truth, 
and  yet  I  dare  not  proclaim  it?    What!     do  you  mean  to 
tell  me   that  Homoeopathy  cures  disease   better  than  any 
other  known  mode  of  drug  healing,  and  yet  I  must  hush  it 
up  because  an  interested,  prejudiced  editor  calls  it  a  **fad"? 
Do  I  read  that  Homeopathy  minimizes  the  hideous  ravages 
of  small-pox  and  robs  cholera  of  its  terrors,  and  yet  I  may 
not  make  it  known  ?     It  is  known  to  me — thanks  to  the  im- 
mortal Hahnemann — thanks  also  to  my  honored  master  and 
predecessor  in  this  chair.  Dr.  Hughes — it  is  known  to  me 
that  Aconite  will  jugulate  a  simple  fever,  and  shall  I  seek  to 


/.  MARION  SIMS,  M.  D.  409 

hide  this  knowledge,  of  which  I  and  mine  have  the  immense 
advantage,  and  thus,  hiding  knowledge,  put  myself  on  the 
level  of  a  common  nostrummonger?  Why  should  you  and 
I  have  the  boon  of  such  knowledge  and  not  others  too?  Are 
we  priests  of  the  Dark  Ages,  that  we  should  band  ourselves 
together  to  shut  up  the  knowledge  of  the  curative  action  of 
drugs,  and  our  mode  of  finding  it  out,  within  our  own  magic 
Druidic  circle  that  we  call  the  profession?  Do  those  of  j'ou 
who  are  such  strong  professionalists  really  mean  that?  If 
you  do,  then  you  are  at  liberty  to  burn  my  doctor's  diploma, 
or  throw  it  into  the  nearest  gutter;  for  if  that  is  the  spirit  of 
the  profession  of  medicine,  I  would  rather  be  outside  it.  If 
that  is  really  the  aim  of  the  medical  profession,  it  becomes  in 
the  aggregate  merely  a  huge  co-operative  association  of  nos- 
trumsellers;  and  then  to  be  professional  must  mean  not  to 
impart  any  knowledge  of  outsiders,  to  the  end  that  profits 
may  never  grow  less. 


■    4«» 


J.  MARION  SIMS,  M.  D. 

Dr.  James  Marion  Sims,  although  not  of  our  school,  was 
indeed  a  benefactor  to  his  race,  and  in  recognition  of  his  de- 
voted service  to  mankind,  we  feel  called  upon  to  pay  more 
than  a  passing  notice  to  his  memory. 

To  us,  it  is  doubly  a  sad  duty,  to  record  Dr.  Sims  death, 
as  we  were  personally  acquainted,  and  under  obligations  to 
him  for  past  kindnesses.  We  met  him  at  Paris  in  1880,  and 
had  several  conversations  on  matters  pertaining  to  gyneco- 
logy, and  when  we  left  for  Vienna  and  other  places  of  inter- 
est, on  the  Continent,  he  gave  us  letters  of  introduction, 
which  were  like  talismanic  signs,  admitting  us  to  opportuni- 
ties, without  which,  we  could  not  have  obtained  the  benefits 
we  did.  This  obituary  is,  therefore,  l^ut  a  slight  testimonial 
of  our  appreciation  of  his  kindness,  when  he  knew  we  were 
of  the  homoeopathic  school,  and  his  words  of  advice,  relative 
to  special  practice,  made  an  impression,  never  to  be  forgot- 
ten. How  little  did  that  man  fancy,  by  his  few  words,  he 
was  shaping  the  destiny  of  another ! 


410  J.  MARION  SINS,  M,  D. 

Dr.  Sims  was  nearly  seventy-one  years  of  age.  In  1835, 
he  entered  into  general  practice  at  Montgomery,  Ala.  It  was 
in  this  city  that  the  light  of  his  genius  first  shed  its  rays  and 
Marion  Sims  name  became  prominently  associated  with 
medical  science. 

Energetic  and  assiduous  as  a  practitioner,  he  at  once 
gained  the  confidence  of  his  patients  and  of  those  who  met 
him  in  consultation.  Having  always  the  higher  objects  of  the 
profession  in  view,  he  never  descended  to  those  lower  arts  of 
attracting  business,  by  which  the  practice  of  some  physicians 
has  been  disgraced. 

His  indefatigable  and  persistant  labor,  in  the  mechani- 
cal branch  of  medicine,  soon  gave  him  notoriety.  By  a  mere 
accident,  as  it  were,  he  was  led  to  conceive  the  idea  of  a 
perineal  retractor,  which  was  called  Sims  speculum,  and  is 
known  the  world  over.  While  at  Montgomery  he  established 
a  woman's  hospital,  where  he  revived  the  operation  for  the 
relief  of  genito-urinary  fistuUi,  with  success,  which  gave  him 
reputiition  all  over  the  United  States.  His  mechanical 
ingeniousness  displayed  in  making  gynecological  instru- 
ments, at  once  pointed  him  out  as  a  rival  of  the  celebrated 
Sir.  J.  Y.  Simpson,  of  Edinburgh.  T'is  true  some  have  ques- 
tioned his  priority,  in  claiming  his  speculum  as  original,  as 
an  instrument  similar  in  construction  was  disintered  from 
the  ruins  at  Pompeii,  and  described  nearly  a  century  ago, 
yet,  even  if  this  be  true,  to  Dr.  Sims  must  be  given  the  honor 
and  credit  of  reproducing  the  lost  speculum.  He  moved  to 
New  York  in  1850.  Here  he  devoted  his  entire  time  to  his 
speciality,  and  soon  became  celebrated  throughout  the  world, 
from  his  bold  writings  and  innovations  upon  surgical  grounds. 

The  great  success  of  Dr.  Sims,  both  as  a  writer  and  a 
practitioner,  lay,  we  believe,  in  the  practical  character  of  his 
work.  He  was  a  man  who  thoroughly  went  into  and  was 
fully  acquainted  with  all  the  minutia)  of  the  treatment  of 
diseases  peculiar  to  women,  down  even  to  the  details  of  nurs- 
ing, and  the  preparation  of  the  patients  food.  Evidence  of 
this  will  be  found  all  through  his  writings. 


\ 


THERAPEUTIC  VALUE  OF  MOTION.  411 

In  1860  he  went  to  Paris,  where  he  published  a  work  on 
gynecology,  which  is  now  one  of  our  standard  text  books. 

During  his  stay  in  Europe  he  performed  several  opera- 
tions, which  were  original  with  himself,  at  Vienna,  London, 
Paris  and  many  other  places,  receiving  the  highest  enconium 
and  decorations  from  the  French,  Italian,  Belgian,  Portu- 
guese and  Spanish  governments.  France  conferred  on  him 
the  Order  of  Knight  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  the  Belgian 
government  the  Order  of  Leopold  I.  He  was  elected  an 
honorary  member  of  almost  every  scientific  society  in 
Europe. 

In  1868,  he  returned  to  New  York,  but  remained  only 
for  a  short  time,  returning  to  Paris  in  1870,  and  became  an 
interested  organizer  of  the  famous  American  Ambulance 
corps,  in  the  Franco-Prusian  war.  Unfortunately  he  be- 
came late,  in  life,  involved  in  a  quarrel,  or  misunderstanding, 
with  some  of  his  New  York  colleagues,  Drs.  Emmet  and 
Thomas,  over  some  matters  pertaining  to  the  management  of 
the  Thomas  Hospital,  which  so  embittered  his  life,  that  he 
never  became  reconciled  to  his  own  home  and  practice  again. 

He  was  honored  by  the  profession,  who  elected  him  to 
the  highest  position  of  their  gift.  President  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  and  the  Fellows  of  the  American  Gyne- 
cological Society  also  paid  him  a  compliment  by  electing 
him  chief  executive  officer  of  their  organization. 

Phil  Porter. 


THE  THERAPEUTIC  VALUE  OP  MOTION. 


BY  G.   11.  PATCHES  M.   D.,  BURLIN<iTOS.   IOWA.. 


So  much  has  been  written  about  the  value  of  rest  in  the 
treatment  of  many  forms  of  disease  that  its  therapeutical 
importance  is  generally  understood  and  appreciated.  But 
the  fact  that  motion^  in  an  active  or  passive  form,  possesses  an 
equal  if  not  greater  therapeutical  value,  is  scarcely  compre- 
hended by  a  large  majority  of  the  profession,  and  even  if 
comprehended,   the  principles  governing  the  details  of  its 


412  THERAPEUTIC  VALUE  OF  MOTION, 

application  are  so  little  understood  as  to  render  it  of  very 
little,  if  any,  practical  value. 

It  seems  diflScult  to  account  for  this  lack  of  definite 
knowledge  when  we  consider  that  many  years  ago,  Ling,  the 
celebrated  Sweedish  physician,  devised  a  complete  system  of 
therapeutics  consisting  only  of  active  and  passive  move- 
ments based  upon  a  most  thorough  and  perfect  knowledge  of 
physiological  and  anatomical  laws. 

Ling's  methods  have  been  in  operation  for  more  than 
forty  years  with  the  most  satisfactory  results,  frequently  cur- 
ing forms  of  disease  that  drugs  alone  were  not  able  to  over- 
come. They  are  especially  adapted  for  the  treatment  of  a 
large  class  of  chronic  diseases  for  which,  by  the  use  of  drugs 
alone,  there  seems,  often,  to  be  so  little  help. 

Rest  and  motion  are,  in  reality,  onl}'  relative  terms. 
Absolute  rest  of  the  entire  body  is  almost  a  practicable  im- 
possibility, and,  were  it  possible,  it  would  in  a  short  time 
prove  a  dangerous  remedy.  Motion,  in  some  form  or  degree, 
is  an  absolute  necessity  to  the  perfection  of  those  physiolog- 
ical and  chemical  changes  upon  which  health  depends. 

Rest  causes  stagnation  of  vital  process  and  diminished 
vigor  of  general  vital  function,  and,  while  it  may  be  neces- 
sar}',  temporarily,  for  the  repair  of  an  injured  part,  or  on 
account  of  an  highly  inflamed  condition  of  certain  organs, 
the  restoration  thus  brought  about  is  always  at  the  expense 
of  the  general  vitality. 

In  the  presentation  of  cases  for  treatment  it  is  often  an 
important  question  to  decide  whether  motion  or  rest  should 
be  employed. 

As  a  general  rule  it  may  be  safely  stated  that  rest  should 
be  made  use  of  in  the  treatment  of  all  acute  conditions  of 
disease,  where  the  normal  activities  are  in  excess,  while  mo- 
tion, in  some  definite  form  or  degree,  should  be  employed  in 
all  chronic  conditions  of  disease,  where  the  normal  activities 
are  deficient.  But  the  line  separating  these  distinct  princi- 
ples can  not  be  too  rigidly  drawn.  There  are  many  condi- 
tions, both  in  acute  and  chronic  forms  of  disease,  where  rest 


Q,  H,  PA  TCHEN,  M.  D.  413- 

of  a  part  can  be  most  judiciously  combined  with  motion  of 
other  portions  of  the  body. 

From  a  remedial  standpoint  there  are  various  kinds  of 
motion,  each  producing  distinct  eflTects ;  but  they  all  may 
be  considered  under  the  general  heads  or  classes — active  and 
passive. 

Active  motion  comprehends  all  movements  that  originate 
in  the  will  of  the  patient  and  are  executed  by  the  patient 
himself  without  assistance.  This  definition  would,  of  course 
include  all  kinds  of  voluntary  exercise,  even  that  pertaining 
to  labor.  But  it  is  not  our  purpose  to  consider  the  merits  of 
general  exercise  as  a  remedial  measure  (although  without 
doubt  it  has  many),  as  its  effects  are  not  definite  or  specific 
enough  to  enable  them  to  be  successfully  employed  for  thera- 
peutic purposes. 

Active  movements  promote  nutrition  and  increase  the 
strength  and  endurance  of  the  muscles  brought  into  use,  and 
the  afflux  of  arterial  blood  towards  them.  Thus  by  judi- 
cious use  of  them  the  nutrition  and  consequent  functional 
activities,  of  any  portion  of  the  bod}',  where  muscle  exists, 
can  be  increased.  Another,  no  less  important  result  of  the 
proper  employment  of  active  movements  is  the  derivative 
effect  that  can  be  induced  by  directing  the  afflux  of  blood 
from  any  part  to  a  group  of  muscles  more  or  less  remote. 
Thus  a  congestive  headache  can  be  relieved  by  making  use 
of  such  movements  as  will  direct  a  flow  of  blood  to  the  feet 
and  legs. 

Chronic  cases  of  congestive  headache,  that  are  caused  by 
constipation  and  torpor  of  digestive  organs,  can  be  cured  by 
the  use  of  such  movements  as  will  cause  a  flow  of  blood  to 
the  abdominal  region,  and,  at  the  same  time,  strengthen  the 
digestive  functions  and  increase  the  peristaltic  action  of  the 
intestinal  tract. 

Passive  motion  comprises  all  movements  by  which  the 
whole,  or  any  designated  portion,  of  the  body  is  moved  by 
some  external  source  of  power  and  independently  of  the  will 
of  the  person  operated  upon.    There  are  many  varieties  of 


414  THERAPEUTIC  VALVE  OF  MOTION. 

passive  motion,  each  having  more  or  less  distinct  effects. 
Massage,  which  includes  several  distinct  forms,  such  as  rub- 
bing, clapping,  knocking,  pulling,  stretching,  etc.,  is,  perhaps, 
the  most  familiar.  Vibratory  motion  is  another  valuable 
form.  Its  special  province  and  effects  will  be  considered 
further  on. 

Passive  movements  promote  secretion  and  excretion. 
Continued  pressure  upon  a  part  (which,  perhaps,  might  be 
called  a  paradoxical  form  of  passive  motion)  as  every  one 
knows,  will  cause  absorption  or  wasting  away  of  the  part  to 
which  it  is  applied.  "  It  is  a  fact,  confirmed  by  the  experi- 
rience  of  many  years  with  the  movement  cure,  that  all  pas- 
sive movements,  as  pressure,  vibration,  stroking,  etc.,  done 
either  by  the  hand  or  with  instruments,  increase  the  absorp- 
tion of  the  diseased  organic  parts,  which  may  be  vascular 
glands,  or  other  natural  parts  of  the  body." 

The  fact  that  motion,  in  some  form  or  degree,  is  abso- 
lutely essential  to  the  perfection  of  all  the  various  vital  pro- 
cesses that  are  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  life  and 
health,  is  too  little  appreciated.  But  a  studious  investiga- 
tion of  what  is  constantly  taking  place  within  the  body,  will 
make  it  very  plain  and  demonstrate  its  importance.  We 
shall  find  that,  at  least,  three  distinct  forms  of  motion  con- 
tribute to  the  proper  action  of  all  the  various  physiological 
changes.  First  we  notice  the  motion  that  accompanies  all 
the  chemico-vital  changes  incident  to  nutrition.  This  in- 
cludes all  those  complex  phenomena  associated  with  the  di- 
gestion and  assimilation  of  food,  the  oxidation  of  the  blood, 
and  the  reduction  of  waste  matters  to  their  simplest  forms 
in  order  to  insure  their  speedy  exit  from  tlie  body.  Vital 
chemistry,  in  its  physical  aspects,  does  not  differ  from  any 
other,  and  motion  to  some  extent — at  least  a  change  of  form 
and  place — is  necessary  to  all  chemical  changes  whether  oc- 
curring outside  or  inside  of  the  body. 

The  next  form  is  that  of  involuntary  muscular  action. 
This  motion  is  widely  distributed  and  subserves  a  most  use- 
ful purpose.     To  this  class  belong  all  of  the  rythmic  move- 


O.  H,  PA  TCHEN,  M,  D,  415 

ments  of  the  various  organs  and  regions  of  the  body,  such  as 
those  of  the  chest,  heart,  arteries,  diaphragm,  abdominal  mus- 
cles, alimentary  canal,  &c.  These  movements  are  associated 
with  organs  and  regions  that  maintain  and  control  the  most 
important  vital  functions.  By  a  most  beneficent  and  wise 
arrangement,  their  action  is,  to  a  very  great  degree,  inde- 
pendent of  the  will  or  of  voluntary  control  and  is  in  con- 
stant operation.  They  assist  to  a  great  extent  the  move- 
ments of  the'first  class,  and,  although  limited  in  degree,  yet, 
by  means  of  their  continuous  action,  their  aggregate  effect  is 
considerable. 

Movements  of  the  third  class  are  derived  from  the  action 
of  the  voluntary  muscles.  This  includes  every  variety  oiF 
muscular  exertion  and  is  very  comprehensive  in  its  effects. 
While,  undoubtedly,  life  might  be  indefinitely  prolonged  by 
the  combined  assistance  rendered  by  the  first  and  second 
classes  of  motion,  it  is  very  certain,  that,  unaided,  they  are 
not  sufficient  to  maintain  life  aod  health  in  their  most  vig- 
orous perfection.  No  matter  how  strong  the  constitution,  it 
soon  becomes  enfeebled  unless  frequently  reinforced  and  in- 
vigorated by  voluntary  exercise.  Again,  in  this  relation  there 
is  a  very  important  physiological  fact  very  little  understood, 
which  is.  that  muscular  action  is  the  natural  counterpoise  to 
nervous  action,  and,  for  this  purpose  alone,  it  should  be  in 
daily  use.  Foster  calls  the  muscles  "  Master  tissues  of  the 
body,"  and  truer  words  were  never  spoken.  From  this  fact 
the  observing  physician  can  derive  therapeutic  hints  of  in- 
estimable value. 

Voluntary  muscular  exercise  contributes,  in  many  ways, 
to  the  perfection  of  physiological  processes.  It  directly  ac- 
celerates the  circulation  and  oxidation  of  the  blood ;  in- 
creases the  functional  activities  of  the  liver  and  intestinal 
canal;  promotes  the  absorption  of  ingested  fluids;  hardens 
muscle,  and  increases  its  growth  and  strength;  promotes  the 
nutrition  of  all  portions  of  the  body;  overcomes  the  action 
of  gravitation  which  would  cause  stagnation  of  the  blood 
and    other  fluids  and  consequent  congestion   and  inflam- 


416  THERAPEUTIC  VALUE  OF  MOTION. 

mation  in  various  organs  and,  in  many  other  ways,  shows 
itself  to  be  an  indispensable  factor  in  the  problem  of  life 
and  health. 

•This  hasty  review  of  physiological  processes,  enables  us 
to  see  to  what  extent  vital  phenomena  depend  upon  mechan- 
ical agencies  and  how  readily  they  may  be, affected  by  them 

If,  as  is  undoubtedly  the  case,  disease  is  nothing  more 
or  less  than  modified  vitality,  occasioned  by  some  imperfect 
or  diminished  action  of  the  mechanical  part  of  vital  activi- 
ties, might  it  not  be  reasonable  to  infer  that  it  can  be  re- 
moved and  health  re-established  by  such  mechanical  pro- 
cesses as  will  restore  the  deficient  physiological  action  in 
those  parts  in  which  it  is  lacking.       ' 

The  inference  is  both  logical  and  practicable  and  embod- 
ies the  fundamental  principles  of  the  movement  cure.  Move- 
ments, in  some  of  the  forms  previously  mentioned,  can  be  so 
applied  as  to  affect  any  organ  or  organs  of  the  body,  increas- 
ing vital  action  where  it  is  deficient  and  decreasing  it  where 
it  is  in  excess,  thus  restoring  that  harmonious  equilibrium 
of  the  different  organs  upon  which  health  depends.  When 
the  patient  possesses  a  considerable  degree  of  strength,  the 
single  or  active  movements  may  be  used.  When  the  debility 
is  great  and  nervous  action  excessive,  the  passive  and  passive- 
active  or  duplicated  movements  are  most  eff*ective.  Dupli- 
cated movements  are  those  made  by  the  patient  with  assist- 
ance. They  are  of  two  kinds.  In  one  the  power  to  make 
the  movement  is  partially  supplied  by  the  operator.  In  the 
other  the  movement  is  made  entirely  by  the  patient,  but  the 
quality^  amount  and  duration  of  the  movement  is  entirely  un- 
der the  control  of  the  operator.  Duplicated  movements  are 
the  most  important,  in  a  therapeutic  sense,  of  all  others. 
"  They  may  be  confined  mainly  to  any  particular  anatomical 
division  or  physiological  function,  to  the  nerves,  to  the  mus- 
cles, or  may  influence  all  together.  They  are  adapted  to  the 
most  feeble  invalid,  or  to  the  strongest  persons,  and  need 
never  produce  effects  beyond  the  requirements  of  the  invalid 
or  the  intention  of  the  operator." 


O.  H,  PA  TCHEN,  M,  D,  417 

There  is  one  form  of  passive  motion  of  great  value  in 
"the  treatment  of  many  of  the  severer  forms  of  chronic  dis- 
-ease  which  seems  to  be  but  little  known  by  the  profession, 
but  I  am  sure  it  will  grow  in  favor,  as  a  therapeutic  measure, 
when  its  virtues  are  better  understood.  I  refer  to  vibratory 
motion  already  spoken  of.  Its  nearest  analogue  is  massage, 
but  it  is  much  more  important  and  effective,  producing  re- 
sults that  the  latter  can  never  hope  to  obtain. 

Its  proper  administration  requires  the  use  of  mechani- 
cal, rather  than  manual  power,  because,  in  order  to  secure 
the  best  results,  the  vibrations  must  be  given  with  a  rapidity 
that  would  exhaust  the  strength  of  the  most  willing  hands. 
Motion  at  the  rate  of  1,000  or  1,600  vibrations  per  minute, 
continued  for  five  or  ten  minutes  at  one  application,  is  neces- 
sary in  many  cases. 

Many  machines  have,  at  different  times,  been  devised  for 
this  purpose,  but,  undoubtedly,  the  most  ingenious  and  suc- 
cessful, are  those  invented  by  Dr.  Geo.  H.  Taylor,  of  New 
York.  For  convenience  of  application  and  effectiveness  of 
purpose,  they  leave  nothing  to  be  desired.  They  can  be  ap- 
plied to  any  part  of  the  body ;  their  application  causes  no 
pain  and  they  are  capable  of  giving  vibrations  at  any  de- 
sired rate  of  speed. 

In  a  therapeutic  sense,  vibratory  motion  means  a  great 
deal  and  has  a  wide  range  of  application. 

When  a  disease  becomes  chronic,  it  is  because  the  vital 
powers  are  so  enfeebled  that  4hey  are  no  longer  able  to  main- 
tain, to  a  sufficient  degree,  some  of  the  three  forms  of  activ- 
ities that  we  have  found  necessary  to  health,  and  there  is, 
consequently,  stagnation  or  obstruction,  some  where,  that 
needs  to  be  removed.  If  the  chemico-vital  processes  are, 
from  any  cause,  insufficient,  the  obstruction  will  be  the  result 
of  improper  oxidation,  or  imperfect  reduction  of  waste  mat- 
ter, and  an  important  vital  part  may,  in  this  way,  become 
affected.  If  the  motions  of  the  second  or  third  class  become 
deficient,  there  will  occur  inactivity  or  congestion  of  different 
organs,  which  will  result  in  serious  disease.     In  either  case 


418  THERAPEUTIC  VALUE  OF  MOTION, 

there  will  be  deficient  heat,   deficient  respiration  and  slug- 
gish capillary  circulation. 

As  we  have  shown  these  conditions  to  be  greatly  influ- 
enced and  controlled  by  movements  subject  to  mechanical 
laws,  it  follows,  in  accordance  with  the  law  of  the  correlation 
of  forces,  that  vibratory  motion  may  become  a  sovereign 
remedy  for  any  and  all  states  which  these  conditions  may 
induce. 

What  are  some  of  the  effects  of  vibratory  motion  ?  If 
we  subject  a  portion  of  the  body,  say  the  leg,  to  its  action  for 
a  time,  what  is  the  result?  The  entire  mass  is  in  a  state  of 
rapid  vibration,,  ^ay  at  the  rate  of  1,000  vibrations  per  min- 
ute. The  first  effect  experienced  will  be  a  sensation  of  heat. 
The  sensation  is  real.  The  foot  and  entire  limb  become 
warmer;  the  skin  is  red  and  itching.  There  is  evidently 
more  blood  there  than  before,  and  it  is  in  a  more  active  state 
of  circulation.  The  limb  feels  much  as  it  does  after  a  brisk 
race  except  there  is  no  feeling  of  exhaustion  or  fatigue,  be- . 
cause  no  demand  has  been  made  upon  the  nerves  or  will 
power  for  support  of  voluntary  exertion  of  any  kind.  Where 
does  the  heat  come  from  ?  From  several  sources.  In  accord- 
ance with  the  correlation  of  force  just  mentioned  a  part  of 
the  motion  to  which  the  limb  has  been  subjected  has  been 
transformed  into  heat  and  a  considerable  degree  of  heat  has 
been  also  developed  by  the  friction  of  the  fluid  and  semi- 
solids of  the  leg  against  each  other.  Although  unaware  of 
it,  by  any  immediate  sensible  effect,  other  important  changes, 
in  addition  to  the  production  of  heat,  have  been  effected. 
A  portion  of  the  motion  has  been  transformed  into  chemical 
energy,  and  all  the  chemico-vital  activities  have  been  stimu- 
lated and  quickened.  The  oxygen,  held  in  solution  by  the 
blood,  comes  into  more  vigorous  and  immediate  contact  with 
oxidizable  material  and  a  more  perfect  oxidation  and  elimi- 
nation of  waste  material  is  the  result. 

That  oxidation  and  elimination  of  waste  material  is  in- 
creased by  the  action  of  vibratory  motion,  is  proven  in  several 
ways.    First  and  mainly  by  the  appearance  ot  eliminated 


G,  U  PA  TCHEN,  M.  D,  419 

matter.  The  urine  soon  becomes  greatly  increased  in  quan- 
tity, and  is  of  a  clearer  color.  There  is  more  urea  and  less 
uric  acid.  The  skin  becomes  softer  and  more  moist,  showing 
increased  elimination  of  insensible  pei*spiration.  Tongue  be- 
comes less  coated,  and  the  sallow  complexion  assumes  a  more, 
natural  color,  all  of  which  effects  are  ample  evidence  of  more 
perfect  reduction  and  elimination  of  obstructing  material. 
Absorption  is  increased.  Swellings  and  even  scrofulous  en- 
largements become  less,  and  gradually  disappear.  Rheum- 
atism vanishes.  Pains  and  inflammations  of  parts  contigu- 
ous to  the  point  of  aj)pli cation,  are  lessened  and  healthful 
action  gradually  restored.  The  capillary  circulation  is  ac- 
celerated. The  frequency  of  the  pulse  is  often  lessenexl 
from  five  to  fifteen  beats  pei  minute  for  some  time  after  a 
treatment,  showing  less  obstruction  in  the  circulation.  Tlie 
nutrition  of  the  muscles  is  promoted  and  conversely  nervous 
activities  are  soothed  and  diminished.  The  appetite  is  in- 
creased, and  tlie  sleep  becomes  more  prolonged  and  tntnquil. 
There  is  soon  noticed  an  exalted  feeling  of  strength  and 
vigor,  and,  in  ahnost  every  way.  there  apj)ear  signs  of  im- 
provement, which,  witl)  proper  management,  will  continue 
until  health  is  fullv  restored.  There  are  other  verv  import- 
ant  eflects  to  be  derived  from  the  proper  use  of  vil)ratory 
motion,  and  as  its  power,  to  cure  many  kinds  of  deformities, 
paralysis,  neuralgia  and  other  nervous  affections,  but  a  con- 
sideration of  these  subjects  must  be  left  to  some  future  occa- 
sion. The  objec't  of  the  paper  is  to  sliow  the  j)0ssibilities  of 
motion,  in  its  various  forms,  as  a  therapeutic  agent,  and,  to 
encourage  study  and  investigation  of  its  merits  nnd  methods. 
It  will  amply  repay  investigation.  Did  space  permit  cases 
illustrating  the  diflerent  eflects  and  methods  of  aj)plication 
could  be  furnished  in  abundance.  In  order  to  use  motion,  as 
a  theraj)eutic  agent,  with  the  greatest  success,  its  effects  and 
best  methods  of  application  must  be  most  thoroughly  under- 
stood. This  requires  an  immense  amount  of  study  and  ex- 
periment. But  happily  this  arduous  task  has  been  so  greatly 
lightened  by  such  eminent  and  enthusiastic  exp\oTVi\^  \\\  N\\\^ 


420  NER  VO US  PREGNANCY. 

line  of  medical  thought  and  practice,  that  we  shall  do  well 
enough  to  accept  as  true  the  results  of  their  experience,  and 
endeavor  to  properly  apply  them  to  cases  in  hand. 

Like  other  powerful  remedies,  its  misuse  will  be  followed 
by  harmful  results.  Until  individual  experience  with  it,  in 
a  variety  of  cases,  has  either  confirmed  or  corrected  theoret- 
icjil  knowledge  of  its  application,  it  should  be  cautiously 
used  and  the  effect  of  each  administration  closely  observed^ 
Properly  administered  it  cannot  fail  to  do  good. 

NERVOUS  PREGNANCY. 


BY  J.  M.  FACKLER,  M.  1).,  PLYMOUTH,  U. 


I  was  called  in  the  night  of  July  16th,  to  a  case  of  sup- 
posed pregnancy.  On  arriving  at  the  house,  I  found  two 
women  that  had  borne  a  large  family  very  much  excited  over 
the  case.  They  had  everything  arranged  in  due  order  for 
the  expected  baby.  I  wjis  introduced  to  the  patient  who 
gave  me  the  following  history:  "I  am  the  mother  of  six 
children  and  am  sixty-five  years  of  age.  I  ceased  menstru- 
ating at  forty-five."  She  said  her  time  had  come;  and  that 
she  had  been  in  pain  all  night.  Was  certain  that  she  had 
felt  motion  at  four  and  a  half  months  and  had  frequently 
felt  great  motion  of  the  child  ever  since.  During  the  first 
months  had  sickness  at  the  stomach  as  she  had  with  her 
other  children.  Her  abdomen  had  gradually  enlarged  and 
she  was  positive  that  she  would  have  a  baby  and  that  very 
soon.  I  watched  her  pams  carefully  for  some  time.  They 
had  all  the  appearance  of  being  genuine  labor  pains  and 
everything  appeared  all  right  except  her  age.  I  placed  ray 
hand  upon  her  abdomen  during  a  pain.  I  could  distinctly 
feel  a  using  of  the  abdominal  muscles.  Her  abdomen  was 
full  and  large  enough  to  be  pregnant  at  full  term.  I  made  a 
careful  digital  examination,  and  discovered  not  only  the  ab- 
sence of  any  presentation,  but  a  normal  cervix,  resembling 
that  of  an  unimpregnated  uterus.     I  informed  her  that  she 


CURES  BY  DR.  KUNKEL.  421 

was  not  pregnTint.  It  almost  created  a  panic  in  the  house- 
hold. Some  of  the  parties  present  denounced  me  as  a  quack, 
and  were  for  sending  for  another  doctor.  I  took  the  field 
against  all  of  them  and  gave  them  to  understand  that  I 
knew  what  I  was  doing.  I  ascertained  that  her  bowels  had 
not  moved  for  three  days.  I  informed  her  that  I  would  give 
Tier  a  cathartic,  and  call  again  in  three  or  four  hours.  She, 
still  persisted  with  her  belief  of  pregnancy  and  also  with  her 
pains.  The  two  lady  attendants  said  that  if  I  left  they  would 
have  the  baby  before  I  returned ;  and  that  I  had  better  not 
go.  I  gave  her  a  good  dose  of  Podophyllin  and  on  my  return 
I  found  that  her  bowels  had  moved  three  or  four  times 
freely.  Her  pains  had  been  regular  all  the  time  during  my 
absence.  I  made  another  careful  examination,  and  then  ex- 
plained the  whole  case  to  her  and  she  gave  it  up.  I  gave 
her  some  medicine  and  told  her  to  get  up  and  when  it  was 
bed  time  to  go  to  bed  and  sleep  all  night.  I  informed  the 
lady  attendants  to  put  up  the  little  clothes  that  they  had  out 
airing  and  go  home.  My  patient  went  to  bed  and  slept 
soundly  all  night  and  when  I  called  in  the  morning  she  said 
that  she  felt  like  a  new  woman. 


^•^ 


CURES  BY  DR.  KUNKEL. 


J  ROM   THE  ALLEG.    HOM.   ZEITUNG. 


BY  A.  M'NEIL,  M.  D..  JEFFERSON VILLE,  IND. 


I  received  a  letter  December  26,  1882,  from  Schwerin, 
saying  that  Frau  St.  has  been  sick  for  five  and  a  half  years 
and  confined  to  her  bed.  She  is  45  years  old.  Different 
diagnoses  have  been  given  by  her  attending  physicians.  One 
said  she  was  senemic,  another  that  her  blood  was  too  thick. 
The  cause  of  her  sufferings  is  fright  frojp  a  thunder  storm  at 
night.  On  the  following  day  she  could  not  speak.  There  is 
paralysis  of  the  lower  extremities,  but  whether  it  set  in  im- 
mediately after  the  fright  or  followed  later  is  not  cl^^x  itoxxi 


422  CURES  BY  DR,  KVNKEL. 

the  letter.  However,  there  is  paralysis  now.  She  is  sleep- 
less, has  internal  anguish,  violent  pressure  in  the  pit  of  the 
stomach,  as  from  a  stone,  accompanied  by  difficulty  of 
breathing  and  attacks  of  suffocation.  Hot  internally,  and 
externally  freezing;  internally  constant  restlessness  and 
anguish.  I  sent  Cuprum  lOx,  six  doses,  a  powder  every 
evening. 

On  tlie  31st  of  the  following  Marcli  I  received  the  follow- 
ing letter.  "I  communicate  the  joyful  news  that  my  wife 
has  been  well  now  for  six  weeks.  She  can  now  do  her  own 
housework.  The  night  after  taking  the  last  powder  she  was 
very  sick.  She  also  passed  the  next  night  very  badly  and 
vomited  a  bowl-full  of  green  bile.  After  that  she  became 
better  every  day.  I  would  have  WTitten  you  sooner,  but  I 
wanted  to  see  if  the  cure  would  be  permanent." 

CardiaUjia.  June  24, 1881.  N — A  waiter,  ait.  2(),  has  suffered 
from  stomach  troubles  as  far  back  as  he  can  remember,  but  he 
first  had  a  violent  attack  of  cramj)  in  the  stomach  when 
twelve  years  old.  His  mother  suffers  in  the  same  way,  but 
not  so  intensely.  He  has  constant  })ressure  in  the  pit  of  the 
stomach,  but  particularly  after  eating  heavy  food,  and  vio- 
lent pain  which  he  hfays  is  constricion.  In  such  an  attack  he 
rolls  on  the  ground  in  agony.  It  very  frequently  continues 
ten  to  twelve  hours,  and  at  times  even  longer.  In  lying 
down  there  is  some  ameliorati(m  of  the  pains.  Sometimes 
immediately  after  dressing  himself  in  the  morning,  and  while 
yet  fasting,  has  the  "most  fearful"  j)ains.  During  the 
attacks  the  pit  of  the  stomach  is  swollen  and  hard.  At  night 
he  is  on  the  whole  mor^  free.  Stools,  hard  like  stones,  often 
very  scanty,  knotty,  and  difficult  to  discharge.  Eructations 
relieve.  At  times  sweetish  taste.  Plumbum  lOx,  six  doses, 
one  every  seventh  evening. 

July  5. — Essential  improvement.  The  pressure  on 
awakening  in  the  morning  has  entirely  disaj)peared.  The 
pressure  in  the  stomach  has  not  been  noticed  much  only  two 
days.  No  more  violent  attacks.  Stood  still  hard.  Continued 
the  prescription.     After  the  use  of  the  last  six  powders  the 


A,  M'NEIT,  M  D.  423 

patient  has  been  free  from  his  sufferings  and  since  then  they 
have  not  returned. 

Procidentia  Uteri.  Frau  Z. — set.  44,  consulted  me  on 
the  29th  of  April,  1882.  She  had  suffered  in  1868  from 
rheumatism  of  the  joints.  •  She  had  three  and  a  half  years 
ago  a  difficult  delivery  with  hernia  umbilicalis  and  fal- 
ling of  the  womb.  She  also  had  hemorrhoids  during  her 
lying-in.  The  uterus  came  out  on  every  slight  exertion 
and  she  must  then  go  to  bed.  She  also  complained  of  pal- 
pitation on  walking,  depression  of  spirits,  disposition  to 
weep,  at  times  paralytic  weakness  of  the  legs,  and  vertigo  on 
rising  from  a  seat.  In  the  Spring  there  is  always  an  aggra- 
vation of  all  her  symptoms  and  great  weakness.  The  spleen 
is  sensitive  on  pressure  and  enlarged.  Natrum  mur  lOx,  six 
doses,  one  every  seventh  evening. 

I  first  heard  from  heron  the  1st  of  July.  She  feels  con- 
siderably better,  perceives  no  falling  of  the  womb.  Same 
prescription. 

September  11. — There  was  continual  improvement,  but 
now  she  is  not  so  well.  The  uterus  comes  down  and  threat- 
ens to  protrude,  headache  particularly  when  sitting,  and  in 
the  mornin^r  on  awakening,  restless  when  sitting,  heat  going 
upwards  to  shoulders,  coldness  between  the  scapulae. 
Sensation  of  going  to  sleep  of  the  left  leg  when  sitting,  pas- 
sing off  when  moving.  Sepia  lOx,  six  powders,  one  every 
seventh  evening. 

December  13. — Essential  improvement,  or  rather  no 
morbid  phenomena  remain.  She  has  danced  vigorously 
without  any  ill  effects.  The  eyes  which  I  forgot  to  mention, 
felt  burning,  became  red,  etc.,  *are  essentially  better.  Pres- 
cription continued. 

February  13, 1883. — She  sent  word  she  was  perfectly  well 

(To  many  this  case  may  appear  incredible,  but  as  I  have 
cured  one  of  not  so  long  continuance,  it  is  to  me  perfectly 
credible.     A.  McN.) 

Eczema.  M. — iet.  28,  has  suffered  for  years  from  an  eczema 
of  the  right  cheek,  which  itched  but  little  and  is  painless.  At 


424  PROGRESS  AND  REFLECT. 

tirnei}  it  disappeare  spontaneously.  Then  his  general  health 
suflfers,  the  tongue  becomes  coated,  bitter  taste,  etc.  He  is 
full  blooded,  has  suffered  what  was  probably  pneumonia. 
Ahnr>st  every  year  he  has  had  shorter  or  longer  periods  of 
nr>«o-blceding.  Usually  he  is  quite  well,  however.  When  he 
looks  downwards  he  has  tearing  in  the  head.  June  23, 1881, 
one  dose  Calcarea  carb  2(J0,  but  as  this  was  unavailing  only 
increasing  the  suppuration,  I  gave  him  Antimon,  crud  200, 
one  dose. 

August  24. — The  cheek  has  improved  considerably,  less 
pus,  more  for  last  three  days ;  Sac.  lac. 

September  23. — I  saw  him  and  the  eczema  had  entirely 
disappeared  and  no  gastric  troubles  had  ensued. 

(I  ask  every  reader  to  decide  in  his  own  mind  if  these 
are  mren  or  not.     A.  McN.) 


PROGRESS  AND  REFLECT. 


By  Ad.  J.ippk,  M.  D. 


Tlie  Medical  World  has  of  late  been  treated  to  a  series  of 
new  discoveries,  made  by  a  prominent  member  of  the  Interna- 
tional Ilahnemannian  A8Sociation,and  as  this  Association  was 
originally  created  to  help  eliminate  from  the  American  Insti- 
tute, erroneous  de[)arture8  from  time  to  time  offered  by  some 
of  its  members  and  not  combatted  or  rectified  by  the  Insti- 
tutt'  itself,  it  is  the  strangest  sight  in  all  medical  history  that 
the  I.  H.  A.  is  now  standing  sponsor  to  a  heresy  never  before 
thought  of  6arno8tly.  It  is  true  that  Law  half  a  century  ago 
offorinl  to  amend  our  universal  law  of  cure,  but  the  heresy 
died  out  very  soon.  And  this  Internationalist  publishes  a 
now  manifesto  in  the  November  number  of  the  Homceopathic 
rhyiiicimu  page  3r>7.  The  oliniciil  notes  are  ostensibly  an 
offset  \^not  an  answer)  to  a  paper  on  epistaxis,  published  in 
the  August  number  of  the  Homotopathic  Phy^cian,  page 
23l\  and  tlio  questions  asked  the  discoverer  of  new  laws  and 
metliods  are  answoriHl  in  a  very  singular  manner.  The  dis- 
covery of  the  new  law  was,  **that  morbific  products  of  a  dis- 


AD,  LIPPE,  M,  D.  425 

ease  highly  potentized  will  cure  the  disease  itself,"  and  we 
were  then  and  there  puzzled  to  know  how  to  treat  epistaxis 
under  that  newly  discovered  law;  puzzled,  because  if  it  were 
a  law  it  had  to  be  universally  applicable.  The  discoverer,  and 
Gotham  is  overflowing  with  them,  now  goes  back  on  his  own 
newly  discovered  law,  and  tries  to  foist  on  the  profession, 
*^  specifics  for  fipecidc  diseases,^'  An  unproved  remedy  is  de- 
clared to  have  been  discovered,  and  honioeopathised  by  a 
Gothamite,  and  he  oflfers  it,  not  to  the  profession  at  large,  not 
a  bit  of  it,  he  offers  it  to  the  few  select  doctors  (not  healers) 
who  are  not  afraid,  have  not  been  afraid  "  to  progress  and  re- 
flect afterwards,"  to  progress  into  the  dark  ages  long  before 
Hahnemann's  days,  really  out  of  sight  even  of  a  regenerated 
Allopathic  School.  Tlie  newly  discovered  specifics  will  regu- 
late the  "circulation"  either  way;  stop  the  floV  of  blood,  or 
start  it  like  the  spigot  to  the  homoeopathising  apparatus. 
No  matter  what  causes  epistaxis,  no  matter  what  the  char- 
acter of  the  discharge  is.  Here  we  have  it.  Epistaxis  of  all 
sorts  is  always  and  invariably  cured  forever  by  a  nostrum 
homoeopath ised  by  a  new  discoverer  in  Gotham,  the  name  of 
said  nostrum  only  to  be  divulged  to  the  few  pathologiciana 
who  will  progress  backwards,  labeled  I.  H.  A.  into  the  last  cen- 
tury of  darkness.  As  the  discoverer  of  all  sorts  of  new  laws^ 
methods  and  nostrums  seems  to  be  utterly  and  totally  ignor- 
ant of  homoeopathy  and  its  history,  we  shall  for  the  last  time 
attempt  to  say  a  few  words  to  this  new  prophet,  although  he 
is  labeled  I.  H.  A.  The  conmion  tribe  of  physicians  claimed 
in  the  last  centunj  that  Peruvian  bark  was  a  specific  for  inter- 
mittent fever.  A  tliinking  allopatliist  by  the  name  of  Dr. 
Cullen,  who  investigated  before  he  advanced,  asked  the  ques- 
tion in  his  then  very  celebrated  work  on  Materia  Medica,, 
and  says,  whereas,  Peruvian  bark  does  cure  some  cases  of  in- 
termittent fever,  but  does  not  cure  others,  we  must  investigate 
under  what  circumstances  it  will  aire  that  disease.  Samuel 
Hahnemann  solved  this  question  by  proving  the  tinctnre  of 
Peruvian  bark  on  himself.  It  then  became  an  established  fact 
that  the  law  of  the  similars  was  the  only  law  of  cure,  and  on 


426  SEWERAGE, 

reflection  Halinemann  progressed  and  proved  more  drugs 
and  left  us  his  gigantic  master  work  his  Materia  Medica,  and 
in  his  Organon  he  left  us  the  key  for  the  application  of  the 
unerring  law  of  the  similars  for  the  cure  of  the  sick.  It  is 
evident  that  the  proving  of  drugs  was  the  first  step  taken  to 
demonstrate  the  possibility  of  applying  any  law  of  cure;  it  is 
also  evident  that  this  had  to  lead  to  ''Individualization." 
The  above  mentioned  discoverer,  has,  if  he  ever  knew  any- 
thing about  the  history  of  homoeopathy,  undertaken  to  pro- 
mulgate new  laws,  new  methods,  not  in  harmony  with,  but 
entirely  antagonistic  to  Hahnemann's  teachings.  This  modern 
prophet  wants  the  lazy  physicians  jto  progress  and  accept 
specifics  and  the  homneopathisation  of  medicine  by  means  of 
potentization.  The  plain  tact  is  that  a  member  of  the  I.  H. 
A.  offers  a  new  system  of  practice,  a  caricature  never  before 
heard  of  and  asks  to  have  this  caricature  acknowledged  by 
the  I.  H.  A.,  and  the  medical  world  in  general  as  ''Homoeo- 
pathy.*' Whatever  the  merits  of  these  new  discoveries  and 
methods  mav  be.  it  is  certainlv  evident  that  homoeopathv 
can  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  and  no  thinking  member  of 
the  medical  profession,  with  just  a  little  logic  within  his 
grasp  will  progress  and  then  invesMgate  this  latest  of  all  cari- 
catures of  a  medical  svstem. 

SE\VERA(iE. 


The  following  remarks  were  made  at  the  late  sanitary 
convention  in  Ionia,  by  Dr.  T.  P.  Wilson,  of  Ann  Arbor,  in 
reply  to  Dr.  Lyster,  of  Detroit,  on  sewerage: 

Dr.  Wilson :  ''  I  suppose  a  man  might  as  well  be  out  of 
the  world  as  out  of  fashion.  It  will  not  add  to  my  reputa- 
tion to  say  that  I  am  opposed  to  the  principles  and  practices 
of  the  sewerage  system.  It  does  not  seem  to  me  to  be  based 
upon  science  or  common  sense.  Let  us  for  a  moment  look 
into  the  necessities  of  the  case.  Upon  a  given  area  upon 
which  a  city  stands,  it  is  necessary  that  the  rainfall — some- 
times abundant — must  be  disposed  of.  This  can  sometimes 
be  done  best  by  open  gutters,  and  so  conduce  to  the  cleanli- 


SEWERAGE.  427 

ness  of  the  city.  There  can  be  no  serious  objection  to  con- 
ducting this  water  through  properly  constructed  pipes  placed 
in  the  ground. 

"In  addition  to  this,  we  have  the  slop  waters  of  the 
kitchens,  dish  water  and  wash  water  from  the  laundry.  This 
water  contains  soap,  grease,  dirt,  and  a  small  amount  of  ani- 
mal and  vegetable  substance,  and  without  any  special  risk 
all  this  might  be  thrown  into  the  gutter,  or  underground 
pipes,  and  along  with  the  rainfall  conducted  into  a  flowing 
stream,  without  detriment  to  the  river. 

"Besides  these,  we  have  to  deal  with  animal  and  human 
excreta,  which  must  be  disposed  of  by  removal.  The  pro- 
ducts of  the  stable  we  wisely  gather  up  and  use  for  fertiliz- 
ing the  land.  Why  should  we  not  connect  our  stables  with 
the  sewerage  and  thrust  the  offal  down  the  pipes,  and  have 
it  all  discharged  into  the  river?  Every  one  knows  that  that 
would  be  expensive  and  wasteful.  But  in  disposing  of  hu- 
man excreta,  we  act  more  unwisely  still.  To  extravagance  and 
cost  we  add  untold  danger.  Stop  and  think  a  moment  why 
it  is  that  the  sewerage  of  the  city  is  so  dangerous ;  breeding 
disease  and  destroying  life.  Is  it  the  rainfall?  Is  it  the 
slops  from  the  kitchen  or  laundries?  No,  it  is  the  human 
excreta  that  makes  the  sewage  and  the  "sewer  gas"  so  pois- 
onous. Deliberately  we  connect  our  water  closet  with  the 
sewers,  and  contaminate  the  whole  system;  and  send  into 
the  adjacent  river  a  Hood  of  corruption  that  makes  that  river, 
for  miles,  a  breeder  of  pestilence.  We  spoil  its  fair  waters 
for  fish  and  beast  flnd  man.  And  we  boast  of  it  all,  as  tlie 
perfection  of  sanitary  science. 

"I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  this  is  all  wrong.  It  might 
be  endured  if  there  were  no  other  way  of  disposing  of  human 
•  excreta.  We  know,  however,  there  is  a  better  way.  Earth- 
closets  have  abundantly  demonstrated  their  utility.  If  our 
sanitary  engineers  would  stop  a  little  while  in  their  work  on 
sewers  and  perfect  tlie  method  of  removing  the  excreta  of  the 
closets  in  a  dry  form,  we  would  save  a  large  amount  of  mon- 
ey, we  would  greatly  increase  the  amount  of  our  fertilizing 


428  SEWERAGE. 

material,  and  we  would  almost  certainly  escape  the  contam- 
inating and  disease  producing  effects  which  are  due  to  our 
sewers.  This  city  (Ionia)  is  facing  this  question  to-day.  It 
is  proposed  that  she  shall  have  a  system  of  modern  sewersy 
with  water  closet  attachments.  Her  streets  are  to  be  dug  up 
and  pipes  laid  down  that  shall  carry  their  contents  into  yon- 
der beautiful  river,  making  the  water  inexpressibly  foul  along 
the  banks  of  the  valuable  farms  for  miles  below  your  city. 
This  will  be  an  expensive  way  of  depreciating  much  valua- 
ble property ;  and  it  will  amount  to  placing  under  your  fair 
city  a  prolific  breeder  of  disease  and  death,  for  which  you 
will  pay  large  taxes  and  still  larger  doctors'  bills.  All  this 
can  be  avoided  in  the  manner  described ;  and  I  counsel  you 
to  the  wiser  course.  , 

**Dr.  Lyster's  paper  needs  no  words  of  commendations. 
It  is  an  admirable  statement  of  a  bad  thing,  and  could  not 
be  better,  unless  after  describing  so  well  the  sewer  system  at 
present  in  vogue,  he  advised  you  to  discard  it." 

Apropos  to  the  same  subject  we  publish  the  following 
from  the  Springfield  (Mass.)  Republican: 

"The  public  generally  will  watch  with  interest  Boston's 
experiment  of  leading  its  sewage  into  deep  tide  water.  The 
entire  cost  has  been  $4,544,282,  and  the  building  of  the  sew- 
erage is  spoken  of  as  "one  of  the  greatest  engineering  feats  of 
the  age."  It  may  seem  a  little  hypercritical  to  express  a  re- 
gret on  this  inaugural  day  of  great  enterprise  that  Boston  did 
not  see  fit  to  include  in  its  plans  all  the  possibilities  in  the 
case.  London  has  taught  the  world  that  a  nuisance  can  be 
turned  into  a  profitable  product  available  for  agriculture. 
The  market  gardeners  about  the  city  eagerly  take  up  all  the 
sewage  fertilizers  turned  out  at  the  London  works,  and  find 
them  even  better  than  what  they  buy  in  the  market.  At 
Pullman,  the  infant  city  of  Illinois  also,  the  revenue  derived 
from  the  sale  of  the  manipulated  sewage  is  a  good  and  fair 
interest  upon  the  money  invested  in  the  works,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  incalculable  benefit  to  the  community  in  the  solu- 
tion of  a  serious  difficulty. 


A NTISEPTIC  SUROER  Y.  429 

THE  PRESENT  STATUS  OF  ANTISEPTIC  SURGERY  * 


BY  WM.  TOD    HELMUTH,  M.  D. 


CALENDULA    OFFICINALIS. 

I  must  say,  as  far  as  I  have  observed,  by  actual  results 
in  the  treatment  of  wounded  surfaces — for  I  have  never 
given  any  microscopical  trial  to  ascertain  its  value  as  a  ger- 
micide—that the  calendula  officinalia  has  given  me  equal,  if 
not  better,  results  than  carbolic  acid,  and  while  I  acknowl- 
edge the  fact  that  since  the  "  bacteria  craze,"  and  the  "  car- 
bolic excitement,"  I  have  yielded  to  the  popular  cry  and 
used  carbolic  add  in  different  proportions  and  in  different  so- 
lutions, yet  I  am  convinced,  other  things  being  equal,  that 
calendxda,  from  its  peculiar  action  on  suppurating  surfaces,  i& 
a  medicine  that  sooner  or  later  must  receive  the  attention 
which  its  virtues  deserve.  I  am  quite  aware  of  the  follow- 
ing facts,  that  in  the  past  five  years,  when  I  have  been  em- 
ploying carbolic  acid  preparations  upon  wounded  surfaces  that 
have  not  appeared  to  be  progressing  as  favorably  as  I  thought 
they  should,  I  have  substituted  calendula  with  surprising  re- 
sults. In  many  cases  of  breast  amputations  and  large 
wounds,  I  have  employed  merely  cleanliness  and  the  solu- 
tion of  calendula,  one  part  to  four  of  water,  with  a  most  sat- 
isfactorv  termination  of  the  cases. 

LISTERINE. 

Before  closing,  I  wish  to  say  a  word  regarding  a  prepa- 
ration called  listerine,  which  has  answered  my  expectations^ 
as  vulnerary,  in  some  instances  better  than  carbolic  add,  and, 
in  others  Cijually  as  well  as  calendula.  This  substance  is 
composed  of  thyme,  eucalyptus,  baptida,  gaultheria,  and  mentha 
arvensia,  benzo-boradc  add.  I  have  never  used  it  internally, 
but  have  employed  it  quite  extensively  in  general  and  hos- 
pital practice,  as  a  safe  and  most  agreeable  disinfectant  and 


♦  Being  the  conclusion  of  a  paper  presented  to  the  American  Institute  of  Ho- 
moeopathy. Jjine,  1883. 


430  A  NTISEPTJC  S  UROER  F. 

healer.  I  placed  a  quantity  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Ward, 
of  the  Hahnemann  Hospital,  and  desired  him  to  note  its  use- 
fulness in  operations,  and  to  give  me  a  record  thereof.  His 
communication  reads  as  follows : 

**  I  write  this  letter  for  a  double  purpose,  not  only  to  ten- 
der thanks,  but  to  afford  you  an  idea  of  our  estimation  of 
the  efficacy  of  listerine  as  a  disinfectant.  It  has  been  used 
in  quite  a  variety  of  surgical  cases  with  marked  benefit. 

"  A  case  of  resection  of  the  entire  ulna  and  a  portion  of 
the  radius,  by  yourself,  was  afterward  treated  at  each  dress- 
ing by  syringing  the  wound  with  a  '  solution  of  listerine.^  In 
another  case  of  yours — a  '  carcinoma  of  Douglas'  cul-de-sac 
of  the  vagina,'  lifeless  in  its  nature,  and  considered  by  you  a 
oase  in  which  operative  procedures  were  out  of  the  question, 
accompanied,  however,  by  its  characteristic  malignant  odor — 
at  your  suggestion,  listerine  was  used  with  complete  success,  in 
the  abolition  of  the  odor  entirely,  so  that  the  room  of  the 
patient  was  made  pleasant  for  the  victim  of  the  disease,  and 
more  agreeable  to  the  physicians  and  friends. 

''In  a  case  of  tracheotomy,* by  Dr.  J.  M.  Schley,  listerine 
was  used  as  a  dressing  with  the  best  of  success.  Dr.  L.  L. 
Dan  forth  after  excision  of  the  coccyx,  which  recovered 
speedily — listerine  promoting  the  granulating  process,  and  act- 
ing as  an  agent  of  importance  in  the  cleansingof  the  wound. 
From  observation  of  its  practical  value  in  these  and  other 
cases,  I  can  recommend  it  as  a  most  valuable  disinfectant, 
and  wcn-thy  the  careful  attention  of  an  operator  as  a  promo- 
ter of  the  healing  process,  and  in  securing  proper  disinfec- 
tion of  the  wound.  I  attribute  much  of  its  worth  to  the  fact 
of  its  being  a  compound,  and  one  that  contains  a  number  of 
the  most  valuable  agents  of  disinfection,  and  aids  to  the  heal- 
ing of  wounds. 

"  It  cannot  but  be  regretted  that  its  expensiveness  will, 
to  a  certain  degree  limit  its  usage,  and  surgeons  thus  be  de- 
prived of  its  medicinal  (lualities.  Could  this  be  overcome, 
its  reputation  will  rapidly  extend,  and  its  introduction  be 
largely  increased." 


DYNAMICS  OF  SANITARY  SCIENCE.  431 

In  addition  to  this  I  have  employed  the  liaterine  in  the 
case  of  septicsemia  following  injury  to  a  large  and  pendulous 
fatty  tumor,  in  the  dressing  of  ovariotomies ;  as  injection, 
into  old  sinuses  ;  and  also  in  the  preparation  and  preserva- 
tion of  wet  specimens.  In  a  remarkable  specimen  of  re- 
moval of  a  parovarian  cyst,  showing  the  expansion  of  the 
broad  ligament,  the  ovary  and  the  Fallopian  tube,  I  packed 
the  cyst  with  absorbent  cotton,  saturated  with  lister Ine  (one 
to  four),  and  found  it  not  only  perfectly  preserved,  but  flex- 
ible and  soft  (not  hard  and  shrunken  as  we  find  in  most  pre- 
served specimens)  after  several  months.  The  cost  of  the  ar 
tide  is  rather  against  its  general  use  in  large  hospitals,  but 
in  the  smaller  institutions  and  in  private  ))ractice,  it  is  worthy 
of  general  introduction. 


THE  DYNAMICS  OF  SANITARY  SCIENCE. 


OK  THE    RELATIONS  OK   THK    NATURAL  FORCKS    TO   TIIK  P:TI0L0GY 

01    KPIDKMICS. 


KY    K.   K.    EcJGLtyTUN',  M.  1).,  MT.   VEItNoN,    O. 


Here  is  the  difticultv:  On  the  one  hand,  we  have  Boards 
of  Health,  municipal,  state,  and  national;  Bureaus  of  Sani- 
tary Science,  in  local,  state  and  national  Medical  Associa- 
tions; irresponsible  experts;  individuals  with  scientific  pro- 
clivities; the  man  with  a  theory  to  establish; — all  these,  and 
more,  are  clamoring  for  the  public  ear.  And  yet  is  it  not 
true  tliat  their  songs  are  pitched  upon  the  same  or  a  similar 
key?  It  is  uncpiestionably  true,  at  any  rate,  that  a  single 
theme  is  twanged  and  thrummed  into  our  ears  unceasingly 
— Filth!  Filth  in  the  air  we  breathe;  filth  in  the  earth  be- 
neath ;  filth  in  the  lakes  and  seas ;  among  the  fiowers  and 
trees;  in  ocean  waves  and  haunted  caves;  in  swamp  and 
brake,  on  hill  and  moor,  in  city,  town,  village,  hamlet,  every- 
where is  festering  filth.  Sometimes  keen,  frosty,  purifying 
winter  lieaps  up  or  concentrates  the  mortal  miasm;  again  in 


432  D YNAMICS  OF  8AN1TAR  Y  SCIENCE. 

some  mysterious-  fashion  it  bursts  its  bonds,  and,  sweeping 
down  from  bleak  hills  and  hill-sides,  takes  up  its  destructive 
march.  Or,  yet  again,  the  genial,  vivifying  heat  of  summer 
is  but  the  train  which  explodes  the  myriad  magazines  of 
mortal  miseries.  On  the  other  hand  are  the  few  who  are  not 
satisfied  with  these  explanations  as  exclusive  causes  for  the 
outbreak  of  epidemic  disease,  or  for  the  low,  degenerative 
states  of  the  human  economy  which  are  seen  to  prevail  over 
wide  areas,  nor  for  the  excessive  degree  of  susceptibility  to 
disturbing  influences  which  at  times  obtains,  and  they  seek 
in  the  orderly  procession  of  Nature's  methods,  in  which  from 
the  fructification  of  the  germ  at  one  extreme,  to  the  final 
chemical  and  mechanical  dissipation  of  its  result  at  the  other, 
there  is  neither  "variableness  nor  shadow  of  turning,"  a  key 
to  the  momentous  problem  of  public  health. 

Now,  again,  here's  the  difficulty.  Neither  view  offers 
complete  explanations.  It  is  beyond  dispute  that  decom- 
posing vegetable,  animal  and  refuse  matters  are  a  fruitful 
source  of  disease;  but  this  fact  affords  no  explanations  for 
typical  phenomena,  for  virulence  or  malignity.  It  is  true 
that  extraordinary  heat,  excessive  humidity,  prolonged  ex- 
tremes of  heat  or  cold,  or  other  unusual  phenomena  which 
impose  upon  the  human  economy  conditions  unfamiliar,  are 
sources  of  disease;  but  they  represent  more  nearly  individual 
weaknesses  and  proclivities  than  the  phenomenal  degenera- 
tive types  which  fail  of  explanation  in  the  causes  assigned. 
In  another  view  of  the  case  it  must  be  admitted  that  in- 
fluences purely  atmospheric  perturb  the  plane  of  health 
avcnige; — the  seasons  characteristically  disturb;  fluctuations 
disturb;  extremes  disturb;  while  opinions  of  no  mean  weight 
bear  heavily  in  favor  of  disturbing  influences  fro.n  without 
— from  the  varying  interdependent  relations  existing  between 
members  of  the  solar  system.  But  all  this  inadequately  ex- 
])hiins  the  complication.  The  fact  is  that  neither  the  ground 
more  commonly  taken  by  sanitarians,  nor  that  held  by  be- 
lievers in  occult  influences — both  in  the  sense  of  exclusive- 
ness,  to  a  degree,  is  correct,  for  the  claims  of  one  are  neces- 


E,  R.  EQQLESTON,  M.  D.  433 

sary  to  more  completely  substantiate  the  claims  of  the  other. 
Nor  do  both  together  cover  the  ground,  for  there  are  still  the 
factors  known  only  by  aid  of  the  microscope — animalcular 
and  fungoid  germs  and  products,  which  also  belong  to  natural 
conservative  processes,  and  are  found  in  almost  all  atmos- 
pheres, and  in  all  putrefying  decompositions. 

Sanitary  Science  inaugurates  its  investigations  by  col- 
lating certain  facts — disease  phenomena.  Praiseworthy 
effort  is  made  to  trace  the  relations  between  these  phenomena 
and  certain  causative  agents.  I  say  certain  causative  agents, 
because  therein  lies  a  criticism.  It  being  assumed  that  a 
specific  disease  originates  in  a  specified  miasm,  the  efibrt  is 
made  to  prove  the  relationship  without  the  often  determin- 
ing characteristics  of  intervening  phenomena.  When  typ-  ^ 
hoid-fever  is  epidemic,  for  instance,  it  being  assumed  that 
matter  in  a  state  of  putrefying  decomposition  is  the  cause,  it 
is  taken  for  granted  that  such  conditions  exist.  But  it  may 
happen  that  no  such  conditions  can  be  found — then  what? 
It  does  not  satisfactorily  answer  the  question  to  refer  to 
poisonous  germs  wafted  by  the  winds  from  long  distances, 
which  lacks  the  precision  so  essential  in  investigations  of 
this  character.  Again  the  assumed  cause  may  be  found,  and 
in  startling  abundance,  but  there  is  no  typhoid-fever.  Why 
not?  It  is  evident,  in  this  case,  that  like  causes  have  not  pro- 
duced like  efifects.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  emanations  from  de- 
composing ahimal  and  vegetable  substances  are  sources  of 
•disease,  because  the  air  becomes  laden  with  deleterious  sub- 
stances; but  the  sanitarian  must  be  able  to  say  under  what 
peculiar  conditions  the  poison  peculiar  to  typhoid-fever  is 
generated.  He  alludes  to  favoring  atmospheric  states; — 
Avhat  are  tliey,  and  how  do  they  modify  decomposition?  He 
alludes  to  an  epidemic  predisposition; — what  is  that,  and 
what  produces  it?  He  alludes  to  individual  or  class  suscep- 
tibility;— what  influences  determine  the  susceptibility  ?  But 
the  most  puzzling  query  of  all  for  Sanitary  Science  to  answer 
is  this:  What  is  the  cause  of  the  widespread  states  of  low 
vitality,  or  conditions  of  least  resistance  to  disturbin.^  v\v 


434  DYNAMICS  OF  SANITARY  SCIENCE. 

fluences,  which  so  almost  invariably  precede,  or  are  contem- 
poraneous with,  the  march  of  all  destructive  epidemics? 
Scarcely  less  puzzling  than  the  preceding  is  the  query:  Why 
are  the  grand  epidemics  periodic,  or  cyclical?  The  fact  is  ad- 
mitted by  sanitary  scientists  that  cholera  is  endemic  in 
India;  that  it  occurs  sporadically  every  year;  that  it  becomes 
epidemic  and  terribly  destructive  once  in  about  eleven  years. 
May  it  be  that  drainage,  ventilation,  collections  of  decompos- 
•  ing  matter,  or  hygienic  regulations  reach  a  climax  of  badness 
in  about  such  periods,  or  may  it  not  be  that  other  factors 
with  intermitting  i)ower  determine  the  question  of  pestilential 
virulence?  Let  us  see.  Piivsical  science  admits  the  cholera 
cycle  in  India,  but  it  likewise  admits  contemporaneous 
})henomena; — as,  epidemics  of  other  diseases  in  otlier  parts 
of  the  world;  extraordinary  vicissitudes  of  temperature; 
sudden  and  extreme  meteorolDgical  disturbances:  a  disor- 
derly ]>rogression  of  the  seasons;  marked  electrical  and  mag- 
netic variations;  sun-s])0t  activity,  and  tlie  recurring  positions 
of  the  ])ljniets.  Tliese  are  facts,  and  period  after  period  of 
the  same  length  brings  a  recurrence  of  the  same  ])henomena. 
Are  they  l)ut  accidental  coincidences,  or  are  they  the  like 
efiects  from  like  causes  which  the  scientist  must  endorse? 

Without  consuming  more  time  with  what  may  be  termed 
the  mechanical  side  of  th(^  (juestion,  and  presui)i)0sing  that  it 
has  also  its  dynamical  side,  I  ])roceed  to  it  at  once,  and  shall 
attempt  to  show  that  electric,  magnetic,  ozonic,  and  atmos- 
pheric states  are  subject  to  extreme  disturbances,  on  account 
of  an  inherent  unstableness,  as  well  as  on  account  of  influ- 
ences external  to  the  earth  and  its  atmosphere;  that  such 
disturbances  j)redis])ose  to  disease;  that  the  resulting  diseases 
are  typical,  epidemic,  or  endemic,  and  degenerative.  The 
following  preliminary  propositions  are  taken  as  starting 
points : 

I.  Atmospheric,  or  Positive  Electricity,  is  subject  to  ex- 
tremes of  fluctuation — (a)  as  to  present  quantity  ;  (b)  as  to 
locality;  (c)  as  to  intensity ;  (d)  as  to  polarity.  These  fluc- 
tuations exert  an  influence  upon  the  nervous  system  of  ani- 


E.  R,  EQQLESTON,  M.  D.  435 

mal  life,  prejudicial  or  otherwise.     It  tends  to  establish  aa 
equilibrium  with  negative  states. 

II.  Terrestial,  or  Negative  Electricity,  is  subject  to  the 
same  fluctuations,  under  the  same  categories,  and  tends  to 
an  equilibrium  with  positive  states.  Its  varying  intensities 
and  conditions  characteristically  affect  the  vitality  of  animal 
existences  through  the  agency  of  the  nervous  system. 

III.  The  interdependent  relations  existing  between  at- 
mospheric and  terrestrial  electricity  are  subject  to  deviations 
and  perturbations.  While  it  is  true  that  the  positive  and 
negative  reciprocities  are  maintained  more  or  less  perfectly, 
it  is  still  true  that  remarkable  temporary  fluctuations  ob- 
tain, so  great,  indeed,  that  total  change  of  polarity  may  oc- 
cur. Disturbanceu  of  these  relations  which  exceed  the  not 
very  well  defined  boundary  which  marks  individual  toler- 
ance, produce  proportionate  disturbances  in  the  animal  econ- 
omy. 

IV.  Atmospheric  Pressure,  of  itself,  is  in  some  degree 
responsible  for  the  varying  conditions  of  animal  bodies; 
while  if  taken  in  connection  with  the  electrical  and  other 
phenomena  which  invariably  accompany  its  changes,  we  may 
take  for  granted  its  predisposing  power  in  epidemics. 

V.  Ozone,  or  superoxygenated  oxygen,  is  the  product 
of  the  action  of  free  electricity  upon  atmospheric  air.  It» 
presence  in  a  normal  degree  in  the  atmosphere,  conserves 
health ;  if  excessive  or  deficient  in  quantity,  its  effect  is  de- 
structive, at  one  extreme  by  superoxydation,  at  the  other  by 
carbonization.  In  presence  of  epidemic  conditions  one  or 
other  of  these  ozonic  states  prevails. 

VI.  Assuming  that  interdependent  relations  exist  among 
members  of  the  solar  system ;  that  these  relations  are  sub- 
ject to  variations  according  to  the  varying  positions  of  plan- 
etary and  other  bodies;  that  these  may  produce  excessive- 
maximal  or  minimal  states  of  electric  tension  which  tend  ta 
supervitalize  or  devitalize  animal  bodies  ;  and  that  these  con- 
ditions may  operate  through  long  periods  of  time,  and  over 
wide  areas  of  the  earth's  surface,  it  is  claimed  that  electric 

3 


436  D  YNA  MICS  IN  S ANITA  R  Y  SCIENCE 

tension,  so  manifested,  is  a  potent  factor  in  the  causation  of 
epidemic  diseases. 

Electrical  vicissitudes  are  known  as  part  and  parcel  of 
electric  science;  that  they  correspond  with  barometric  fluc- 
tuations, as  well  as  with  other  circumstances,  may  be  safely 
admitted ;  that  extreme  degrees  of  electric  tension,  in  either 
direction,  throws  a  burden  of  resistence  upon  the  powers  of 
all  beings  endowed  with  a  nervous  system,  should  occur  to 
the  careful  observer.  To  substantiate  this  it  is  not  necessary 
to  claim,  as  has  been  done,  that  the  electric  and  nervous 
fluids  are  precisely  the  same  in  kind,  or  that  they  are  eimi- 
lar,  as  claimed  by  others,  but  that  the  relationship  between 
them  is  such  as  to  be  phenomenal.  However  my  own  belief 
may  be,  the  following  authorities  are  cited,  to  the  writings  of 
whom  the  student  is  referred  for  particulars  :  Faraday,  Pre- 
vost,  Dumas,  Meissonier,  Sir.  J.  Herschel,  and  Dr.  Letteby; 
while  to  the  fact  that  electricity  is  evolved  by  animal  bodies, 
and  that  free  electricity  is  present  where  vigorous  life  is  pres- 
ent, I  refer  to  the  works  of  Profs.  Ure,  Jefi'ray,  Pfafi",  Ahrins, 
Zantadeschi,  and  Favio. 

[to  be  continued.  ) 


<•>    I 


The  last  English  census  reveals  the  encouraging  fact 
that  the  proportion  of  the  blind  to  the  population  has  de- 
creased with  each  successive  enumeration  since  1851,  in 
which  year  account  of  them  was  taken  for  the  first  time. 
The  decrease  in  the  decade  ending  in  1881  was  much  greater 
than  in  either  of  the  preceding  decennial  intervals,  the  num- 
ber of  cases  returned  on  this  latter  occasion  being  22,832, 
equal  to  one  blind  person  in  every  1,138.  This  decrease  is 
fairly  attributable  to  the  progressive  improvement  in  surgi- 
cal treatment  of  affections  of  the  eye,  and  to  the  diminished 
prevalence  among  children  of  small-pox. 

A  PEDAGocuE,  complimenting  one  of  his  little  pupils  on 
his  deportment,  observed :  "You  are  a  good  boy ;  your  mother 
must  have  taken  pains  to  raise  you."  "Yes,  it  was  quite 
painful,"  said  the  pupil ;  "she  raised  a  blister  every  time." 


QERM'THEORY  OF  DISEASE.  437 

WHAT  IS  THE  GERM-THEORY  OF  DISEASE? 


Scourges  of  the  human  race  and  diseases  are  attributed 
by  savages  to  the  influence  of  evil  spirits.  Extremes  often 
meet.  What  human  intelligence  cuspected  in  its  first  dawn 
has  been  verified  by  human  intelligence  in  its  highest  devel- 
opment. Again,  we  have  come  to  the  belief  of  evil  spirits  in 
disease,  but  these  destroyers  have  now  assumed  a  tangible 
shape.  Instead  of  the  mere  passive,  unwitting  efibrts  with 
which  we  have  hitherto  resisted  them,  we  now  begin  to  fight 
them  in  their  own  domain  with  all  the  resources  of  our  in- 
tellect. For  they  are  no  longer  invisible  creatures  of  our  own 
imagination,  but  with  that  omnipotent  instrument,  the 
microscope,  we  can  see  and  identify  them  as  living  beings, 
of  dimensions  on  the  present  verge  of  visibility.  The  study 
of  these  minute  foes  constitutes  the  germ-theory. 

This  germ-theory  of  disease  is  rising  to  such  importance 
in  medical  discussions  that  it  can  not  be  ignored  by  that  part 
of  the  laity  who  aspire  to  a  fair  general  information.  For  it 
has  substituted  a  tangible  reality  for  idle  speculation  and 
superstition  so  current  formerly  in  the  branch  of  medical 
science  treating  of  the  causes  of  disease.  Formerly — that  is, 
within  a  period  scarcely  over  now — the  first  cause  invoked  to 
explain  the  origin  of  many  diseases  was  the  vague  and  much- 
abused  bugbear  "cold."  When  that  failed,  obscure  chemical 
changes,  of  which  no  one  knew  anything  definitely,  or  "im- 
purities of  the  blood,"  a  term  of  similar  accuracy  and  con- 
venience, were  accused,  while  with  regard  to  contagious  dis- 
eases medical  ignorance  concealed  itself  by  the  invocation  ot 
a  "genus  epidemicus."  The  germ-theory,  as  far  as  it  is  appli- 
cable, does  away  with  all  these  obscurities.  It  points  out  the 
way  to  investigate  the  causes  of  disease  with  the  same  spirit 
of  inquiry  with  which  we  investigate  all  other  occurrences  in 
nature.  In  the  light  of  the  germ- theory,  disease  is  a  struggle 
for  existence  between  the  parts  of  the  organism  and  some  paras'lte 
invading  it  From  this  point  of  view,  diseases  become  part  of 
the  Darwinian  programme  of  nature. — Popular  Science  Monthly- 


FIBRIN  AND  BACTERIA. 
FIBRIN  AND  BACTERIA. 

A    RErLY   TO    DR.    TAYLOR. 


I  am  somewhat  surprised  that  Dr.  Thomas  Taylor 
should  assume  so  much,  either  under  or  over  the  high  sound- 
ing title  of  "Microacopiet,  Dept.of  Agriculture,  Washington, 
D.  C,"  as  he  did  in  the  January  numher  of  the  Advance; 
and  at  the  aame  time,  in  one  short  paragraph,  give  ao  mach 
evidence  of  knowing  so  little  about  fibrin  as  he  does  therein. 
I  would  respectfully  recommend  him  to  read  up  on  the  sub- 
ject and  learn  of  Liebig's  discovery ;  "  that  the  characteristic 
solid  constituent  of  muscle,  which  has  been  usually  known 
under  the  designation  of  fibrin,  is  in  reality  essentially  con- 
formable In  all  its  chemical  relations  with  coagulated  albu- 
men; and  is  at  any  rate  much  more  nearly  allied  to  it,  than 
it  is  to  the  fibrin  of  the  blood."  Let  him  learn  this  I  repeat, 
then  he  will  not  assert  so  confidently  that  "  fibrin  is  mus- 
cle forming."  And  if  he  will  read  other  authors  he  will  find 
l!iat  fibrin  is  almost  the  only  food  of  the  serous  membranes 
and  their  allied  structures;  while  albumen  is  the  only  food, 
aside  from  a  Utile  of  the  salts  and  fatty  matters  of  the  mus- 
clea  or  muscular  cells. 

Again,  if  Dr.  T.  will  read  that  greatest  of  all  authorities 
on  Physiological  Chemistry.  Professor  C.  G.  Lehmnnn,  and 
find  hin^  saying  that,  "  it  is  a  chemical  fact  that  pure  Sbrio 
is  incapable  of  complete  solution ;"  he  will  be  less  willing  to 
allow  his  pen  to  betray  his  want  of  knowledge  by  saying  that 
"  fibrin  is  soluble  in  the  alkalies."  But  if  he  is  not  satisfied 
withtheforegoinglet  him  rot  blood  for  six  months  under  con- 
stant warmth  of  100°  to  fiO0°,  and  see  its  fibrin  go  through 
all  sorts  of  net-work,  cellular  and  other  formations,  and  the 
fibrin-granules  come  out  at  the  end  of  that  time  unscathed 
in  all  their  whiteness  and  purity.  ■  If  he  watches  this  pro- 
cess closely  too,  he  will  learn  much  of  the  secret  of  cell-de- 
velopment, which  has  already  been  seen  and  another  great 
point  gained.     Or  if  that  is  not  enough  then  let  him  try  the 


ROLLIN  R,  GREQil  M.  D.  439 

destruction  of  fibrin  by  digesting  it  for  months  in  chemi- 
cally  pure  nitric  acid;  or  boil  it  for  weeks,  then  burn  it 
black  and  to  a  crisp,  triturate  that  to  an  impalpable  powder 
and  treat  it  with  the  strongest  nitric  acid,  and  at  the  end  of 
all  that  still  find  its  granules  as  pure  and  fresh  for  further 
work  as  ever.  This  may  open  his  eyes  a  little  more  to  the 
true  nature  of  fibrin  and  what  it  is  capable  of  doing.  While 
doing  that,  moreover,  he  should  not  overlook  the  fact  that 
every  time  he  allows  or  brings  fibrin  back,  no  matter  how, 
from  its  successive  net-work,  cellular,  or  whatever  other  for- 
mations, to  its  primary  granules,  these  ever  and  always  pre- 
sent the  same  size,  the  same  color,  the  same  everythmg,  even 
to  motion  in  many  of  them,  that  he  has  seen  in  disease  and 
called  micrococci ;  if  he  has  ever  seen  the  latter. 

After  Dr.  Taylor  has  familiarized  his  mind  with  the 
truth  of  the  foregoing  statements,  I  would  next  request  him 
to  make  the  following  experiments.  Let  him  stir  some  fibrin 
out  of  fresh  warm  blood,  wash  it  in  water  first  thoroughly 
boiled,  until  the  blood  corpuscles,  salts,  fatty  matters,  every- 
thing in  fact  but  fibrin  is  washed  out  ot  it,  leaving  it  a  pure, 
beautiful  white.  Then  he  will  know  that  he  has  nothing  but 
fibrin  to  deal  with,  and  little  or  nothing  to  mislead  him;  and 
he  may  know  from  the  use  of  -his  microscope,  if  he  does  not 
know  it  already,  that  his  mass  is  made  up  entirely  of  threads 
of  fibrin  interwoven  with  each  other  in  every  direction  to 
make  up  the  mass.  Then  let  him  take  an  ounce  or  more  of 
this,  put  it  into  a  cup  containing  two  or  three  times  its  bulk 
of  distilled  water,  or  water  that  has  been  first  boiled  two  or 
three  hours,  set  the  cup  aside  for  the  fibrin  to  rot,  and  watch 
the  results  daily.  In  twenty-four  hours  he  will  see  that  his 
threads  of  fibrin  are  even  then  breaking  up  a  little  into  rods 
and  spirals,  from  a  quarter  to  half  an  inch  in  length  undera 
•power  of  three  to  four  hundred,  and  already  beginning  to 
show  not  a  little  motion.  In  twenty-four  to  forty-eight  hours 
longer  he  will  find  both  rods  and  spirals  appearing  in  greatly 
increased  numbers  and  showing  the  most  violent  activity; 
the  former  often  darting  and  the  latter  whirling  spimlly  in 


440  FIBRIN  AND  BACTERIA, 

such  rapidity  that  it  is  difficult,  impossible  sometimes,  to  see 
what  they  are  until  they  slow  down  to  a  more  leisurely  move- 
ment. The  rods  come  from  the  straight  threads,  or  straight 
parts  of  the  threads,  of  fibrin,  breaking  iip  into  the  lengths 
named;  and  the  spirals  come  from  the  spiral  threads,  or  spi- 
ral sections  of  fibrin  threads,  breaking  up  in  like  manner; 
and  both  taking  an  independent  motion  characteristic  of  the 
form  they  have.  By  watching  them  still  further  he  will  see 
that,  as  day  by  day  passes,  these  rods  and  spirals  break  up 
into  shorter  and  shorter  pieces,  each  of  which  again  takes  up 
an  independent  motion  of  its  own,  but  spiral  or  fish-like, 
according  to  whether  it  is  crooked  or  straight.  In  the  pro- 
gress of  this  watching  he  will  see  produced  all  the  so-called 
bacilli  and  spirochaetes  of  disease  that  he  has  ever  seen^  in 
hundreds  and  thousands  sometimes  in  a  single  view;  and  all 
in  rods  or  spirals  of  broken  threads  of  fibrin.  Within  a 
month  I  have  seen  in  different  specimens  of  rotting  fibrin, 
hundreds  of  Kock's  bacilli  tuberculosis,  or  such  as  look  pre- 
cisely like  those  in  a  specimen  prepared  in  Ebuth's  labra- 
tory  in  Germany  last  summer,  and  recently  brought  to  this 
city  by  the  physician  who  saw  it  prepared.  I  would  defy 
any  microscopist  in  the  world  to  tell  the  two  forms  apart. 
Following  up  his  observations  many  days  longer  he  will  see 
these  shorter  rods  and  spirals  of  fibrin  breaking  up  still 
more,  until,  finally,  they  break  up  into  millions  of  their  pri- 
mary granules,  each  of  which  again  takes  an  independent 
motion.  I  have  many  times  seen  tens  of  thousands  of  these 
granules  of  fibrin  at  a  single  view,  and  all  under  the  most 
violent  activity. 

There  are  two  or  three  other  points  of  interest  in  this 
connection.  I  have  seen  hundreds  of  rods  of  fibrin  break- 
ing in  two,  or  almost  broken  in  two,  in  the  middle,  (which  is 
the  reason  of  such  being  called  Schizomy cites),  but  still  held 
together  slightly;  and  each  trying  to  establish  a  separate 
motion  of  its  own,  until  they  fully  parted,  and  each  would 
then  go  oft'  independently.  Another  point  is,  that  in  the 
breaking  up  of  the  rods  of  fibrin  they  will  keep  outbreaking 


ROLLIN  R.  OREOO,  M.  D.  441 

until  they  are  reduced  to  what  appears  under  a  fourth  object- 
ive about  the  sixteenth  of  an  inch  in  length ;  aud  remain  at 
that  length  without  further  breaking,  longer  by  several  days, 
than  at, any  other  step  in  their  disintegration  down  to  the 
granular  stage.  And  still  another  point  is,  that  after  the  rot- 
ting process  has  gone  on  a  week  or  ten  days,  these  rods  of 
fibrin  are  softened,  so  they  will  then  begin  to  take  color  into 
them,  but  not  before.  And  this  is  suggested  as  the  reason 
why  Koch  did  not  succeed  in  staining  his  assumed  cholera 
bacilli,  as  it  has  been  said  that  he  did  not,  when  he  went  to 
Egypt  last  summer.  Pure  and  uncomplicated  cholera  is  a 
terribly  rapid  disease  as  all  know,  and  not  a  disease  of  sup- 
puration; hence  it  comes  and  ends  in  death  or  convalescence, 
before  the  rods  of  fibrin  which  may  be  formed  in  its  secre- 
tion, have  had  time  to  soften,  or  the  rotting  by  suppuration 
to  soften  them,  to  enable  them  to  take  coloring  matter.  The 
"  rice  water,"  or  characteristic  discharges  of  cholera,  being 
mostly  nothing  but  serum  from  the  blood,  they  of  course 
contain  more  or  less  fibrin,  which  must  organize,  as  is  its 
great  function  to  do  under  all  favoring  circumstances,  into 
rods  etc.,  and  these  he  found  in  those  discharges  but  not  yet 
softened.  In  all  the  suppurative  diseases  on  the  contrary^ 
where  a  week  to  ten  or  more  days  are  given  to  the  suppura- 
tion, and  especially  in  tuberculosis,  the  fibrin  rods  are  soft- 
ened and  can  then  be  colored,  or  will  take  color. 

Now,  it  will  not  do  the  slightest  good  for  Dr.  Taylor,  or 
any  other  professed  microscopist  or  scientist,  to  pooh  at,  ridi- 
cule or  deny  all  this.  The  experiments  are  too  easy  of  repe- 
tition and  verification.  I  have  repeated  them  all  dozens  of 
times,  and  made  many  hundreds  of  observations  with  essen- 
tially the  same  results  every  time.  If  Dr.  T.  begins  with 
stirring  fibrin  out  of  fresh  blood,  and  washing  it  most  thor- 
oughly, then  sets  it  aside  in  distilled  water  to  rot,  I  repeat 
that  he  will  know  that  he  has  nothing  but  pure  fibrin  to  deal 
with;  and  may  know  that  this  is  made  up  of  an  enormous 
number  of  threads,  both  straight  and  spiral  combined.  VerJ- 
well,  there  is  no  other  possible  way  that  these  threads  are  or 


442  FIBRIN  AND  BACTERIA 

can  be  diBintegrated  by  the  rotting  process,  excepting  by 
their  being  first  broken  up  into  pieces,  or  into  rods  and 
spirals,  and  these  breaking  by  successive  stages  into  shorter 
and  shorter  pieces  down  to  their  ultimate  granules.  And 
there  is  nothing  else  in  the  decomposing  mass  that  stands  for 
or  represents  the  broken  threads  of  fibrin,  excepting  these 
rods  and  spirals  of  the  same,  either  with  or  without  motion. 
The  fibrin  threads  are  not  dissolved,  but  are  broken  up  in 
successive  sections  as  described.  The  broken  pieces  of  the 
threads  of  fibrin  fire  therefore  n-ecesBarily  present  and  must  he 
nccounted  for,  but  I  repeat  there  is  nothing  seen  in  the  whole 
rotting  process  that  does  or  can  account  for  them,  but  said 
rods  and  spirals.  Precisely  the  same  is  to  be  said  when  the 
rods  and  spirals  break  up  finally  into  the  ultimate  granules 
that  constitute  them.  Millions  ot  granules  of  fibrin  then  ap- 
pear, and  as  I  have  already  said,  I  have  seen  tens  of  thous- 
ands of  them  at  a  single  view,  and  all  of  them  in  the  most 
violent  activity.  The  bacterists,  however,  would  call  all 
these  micrococci.  But  what  has  become  of  the  Qbrin-granules 
all  this  time  if  these  falsely  assumed  micrococci  are  not  they  ? 
Remember  that  the  granules  of  fibrin  cannot  be  destroyed.  Rot- 
ting them  six  months  does  not  destroy  them ;  the  most 
powerful  acids  do  not  destroy  them  after  months  cf  immer- 
sion therein;  then  where  are  they,  and  what  are  they  in  our 
rotting  specimen,  if  they  are  not  what  have  been  so  long  sup- 
posed to  be  micrococci?  The  size,  the  form,  the  color,  the 
•demeanor,  the  everything  about  them  is  right  to  show  them 
to  be  fibrin-granules  and  nothing  else.  Besides,  they  corre- 
spond in  every  particular  with  the  free  granules  of  fibrin  to 
be  found  in  fresh  blood,  and  seen  in  every  specimen  of  per- 
fectly fresh  fibrin  that  can  be  prepared.  And  this  they  are 
and  not  micrococci. 

In  conclusion  allow  me  to  further  say  that,  after  Dr. 
Taylor,  **M.  D.  A.  AV.  D.  C."  has  learned  all  these  things  and 
a  hundred  times  more  about  fibrin,  he  will  know  better  than 
to"  rely  upon  his  own  sad  want  of  knowledge,  or  misuse  his 
official  position  and  title  in  attempting  again  to  so  cavalierly 


MEDICAL  JURISPRUDENCE.  443 

set  aside,  or  throw  distrust  upon,  the  results  of  over  twenty 
years  of  study  by  another,  whose  foremost  and  only  thought 
or  care  all  that  time  has  been  to  go  to  the  bottom  of  this 
whole  subject  and  find  the  trvih^  no  matter  whose  theories  it 
might  uphold  or  overturn. 

RoLLiN  R.  Gregg,  M.  D. 
BuFFAi^,  Jan.  30th,  1884. 


i4M> 


AN   INTERESTING  CASE    IN    MEDICAL   JURISPRU- 
DENCE. 


BY  P.  H.  ORME,  M.  D..  ATLANTA,  OA. 


The  case  here  given  is  one  worthy  of  preservation  in  the 
annals  of  medical  jurisprudence — the  facts  having  been  fur- 
nished to  the  writer  by  Col.  H.,  of  the  bar  of  Atlanta,  he  hav- 
ing been  the  counsel  for  the  defendant. 

Miss  A.,  of  T.  county,  was  a  pretty  blonde,  but  with  a 
reputation  for  virtue  that  was  not  above  suspicion.  In  course 
of  time  it  was  observed  without  suspicion  by  her  neighbors, 
that  her  figure  was  undergoing  a  not  uncommon  change — her 
abdomen  becoming  protuberant,  while  her  waist  steadily 
broadened.  The  usual  time  for  this  sort  of  development 
having  passed,  the  young  woman  herself  having  given  no 
indications  to  the  contrary,  a  new  addition  to  the  community 
was  looked  for.  Instead  of  this  ajipearance,  after  a  short  re- 
tirement Miss  A.  was  seen  about  the  neighborhood  with  about 
the  same  proportions  she  had  shown  before  the  above  men- 
tioned enlargement  had  taken  place.  The  altered  condition 
was  not  accounted  for.  No  mention  was  made  of  a  child. 
"Murder"  and  "infanticide"  were  terms  that  were  at  first 
whispered,  and  afterwards  became  open  charges.  Every 
member  of  the  community  was  "  down  on  her,"  no  sym- 
pathy was  shown,  no  friend  attempted  to  defend  her.  The 
evidence  of  her  guilt  accumulated  with  the  putting  of  this 
and  that  together,  a  hue  and  cry  was  raised,  and  a  true  bill 
of  indictment  was  found. 


444  MEDICAL  JURISPRUDENCE, 

When  the  case  was  called  for  trial  the  young  woman  ap- 
peared, without  giving  indication  of  embarrassment.  Upon 
being  questioned  by  the  people,  she  replied  that  she  was 
without  counsel,  and  without  the  means  of  employing  any. 
CJol.  H.  was  appointed  to  defend  her.  He  suggested  to  her 
the  importance  of  his  moving  for  a  delay,  that  he  might  have 
opportunity  for  acquainting  himself  with  the  case,  and  pre- 
paring himself  fot  her  defence.  She  insisted  that  there 
should  be  no  such  motion,  and,  after  a  brief  interview  the 
case  was  put  at  once  upon  its  trial. 

The  testimony  proved  her  questionable  character  for 
chastity,  her  gradual  enlargement,  and  the  general  opinion 
of  all  the  women  of  the  vicinity  that  she  was  pregnant — no 
one  having  expressed  a  doubt  of  it,  and  the  defendant  not 
having  been  heard  to  make  denial.  One  witness  had  seen 
something  suspicious  behind  the  back -log  in  the  chimney 
place;  a  colored  preacher  had  found  a  baby  in  a  bag,  near  a 
creek,  and  had  buried  it,  but  was  not  sure  that  he  could 
point  out  the  place ;  the  little  ten  year  old  brother  of  the  ac- 
cused even,  was  placed  upon  the  stand  to  testify  that  he  had> 
at  a  certain  time,  heard  the  cry  of  an  infant.  The  evidence 
was  all  one  way. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  her  advocate  observed 
that  the  defendant  was  surprisiilgly  calm,  and  approaching 

her,  remarked  that  she  saw  how  the  case  stood,  and  asked  if 

« 

she  had  any  witnesses  with  which  to  rebut  this  mass  of  tes- 
timony. "Yes,"  she  answered,  "I  want  Mr.  Brown,  one  of 
the  jurymen,  put  upon  the  stand;  his  wife  had  a  case  just 
like  mine."  Mr.  Brown,  being  sworn,  testified  that  his  wife 
had  once  gone  through  the  same  course  of  enlargement, 
everybody  supposing,  as  she  and  he  did,  that  slie  was  preg- 
nant, and  at  the  expected  time  she  was  delivered  of  a  shape- 
less, fleshy  mass,  the  result  of  a  false-conception,  a  blighted 
ovum,  or  a  mole,  such  as  has  been  known  to  occur  in  the 
virgin  womb. 

The  testimony  of  the  former  witnesses  when  analyzed  by 
the  skillful  advocate  was  shown  to  amount  to  nothing  more 


DEADLY  WELL  WATER,  44^ 

than  an  impression  that  the  woman  was  with  child,  due  to 
the  augmentation  of  her  size.  The  cry  that  the  little  brother* 
heard,  when  inquired  carefully  into,  as  to  the  time  of  its  oc- 
currence,  was  connected  in  time  with  a  certain  camp-meeting 
time,  which  was  proved  to  have  been  nearly  a  year  before 
the  supposed  birth,  and  possibly  the  whole  story  was  pre- 
pared for  him,  or  imagined,  or  he  may  have  mistaken  the  cry 
of  some  other  animal. 

The  composure  of  the  accused  under  such  a  weight  of 
evidence  was  now  accounted  for  -she  was  conscious  of  her 
innocence,  and  had  an  abiding  confidence  that  she  would 
not  be  Convicted.  An  effective  speech  from  the  counsel 
caused  a  general  revulsion  of  feeling;  the  ill-will  which  had 
been  felt  by  all  was  changed  to  sympathy  for  one  who  had 
been  unjustly  subjected  to  a  cruel  prosecution,  and  a  prompt 
verdict  of  acquittal  was  readily  obtained. 

Lesson:  "Things  are  not  (always)  what  they  seem." 


DEADLY  WELL  WATER. 


A  novel  suit,  which  will  test  the  responsibility  of  the 
Brooklyn  city  authorities  to  allow  water  in  a  pump  well  to 
become  "stagnant,  impure,  poisonous,  unclean  and  danger- 
ous to  human  life  and  health,"  is  pending  trial  in  the 
Supreme  Court  of  that  city.  The  plaintiff  is  John  Danaher, 
a  resident  of  DeKalb  avenue,  who  sues  to  recover  $10,000 
for  the  loss  of  his  sons,  Charles  M.,  aged  six  years,  and 
Thomas  P.  Danaher,  eleven  years,  whose  deaths  were,  it  is 
alleged,  caused  by  drinking  impure  water  from  a  well  near 
the  plaintiff's  residence.  The  complainant  alleges  that  the 
city  has  charge  of  the  wells,  and  therefore  should  prohibit 
nuisances  in  them  and  preserve  the  public  health. 

Health  Commissioner  Raymond  has,  within  the  last  year 
and  a  half,  condemned  as  dangerous  to  health  the  water  of 
fifty  wells,  of  which  thirty  have  been  closed  by  order  of  the 
Common  Council. 


446  SPINA  BIFIDA. 

SPINA  BIFIDA.^ 


READ   BEFORE    THE    HOM(EOPATHIC   MEDICAL    SOCIETY    OF   OHIO. 


BY  ('.  W.  CARROLL,  M.  D.,  SIDNEY. 


One  of  the  most  frequently  seen  of  congenital  malforma- 
tions is  spina  bifida. 

It  is  a  protrusion  of  the  spinal  membranes  and  arach- 
noid fluids  through  an  imperfectly  developed  vertebral 
canal,  hence  it  is  properly  called  a  hernia  of  the  spinal 
tbeca. 

It  is  caused  by  a  lack  of  development  of  the  neural 
arches  of  the  spine;  very  early  in  intra-uterine  existence,  the 
fiub-arachnoid  is  deprived  of  its  natural  support. 

Ranke  considers  the  absence  of  the  lamina  and  spinous 
process  of  the  vertebrte  to  be  due  to  the  non-separation  of  the 
ectodema  from  the  medullary  layer  in  the  lumbar  and  sacral 
region. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  consider  those  mal-formations 
which  are  wholly  incompatible  with  life,  such  as  a  complete 
deficiency  of  all  the  lamina  of  the  spine  or  extensiv^  fissures 
of  the  bodies  of  the  vertebrte.  But  we  desire  to  direct  your 
attention  to  the  character  of  the  tumors.  These  sacs  are  gen- 
•erally  covered  by  healthy  integument,  occasionally  we  find 
it  greatly  modified.  Cates  have  been  seen  in  which  the  skin 
was  hard  and  coriaceous,  sometimes  much  thinned,  but 
rarely  it  is  altogether  wanting.  When  the  skin  is  congenitally 
•deficient  a  fibrous  material  occupies  its  place,  if  this  be 
absent  a  bluish  red  membrane  is  exposed  to  view,  the  spinal 
<lura  mater. 

The  derma  manv  times  is  at  first  normal  in  thickness 
but  owing  to  the  pressure  exerted  from  the  accumulation  of 
fluid  within  the  tumor,  it  l>ecomes  thin  and  membranous. 
Even  the  dura  mater  has  been  wholly  wanting  leaving  only 
the  arachnoid  forming  the  sac  or  tumor.     The  fluids  may 

*:See  frontispiece. 


G.  W,  CARROLL,  M.  D,  447 

ooze  from  the  sac  when  the  coverings  are  thus  deficient, 
even  when  no  aperture  exists,  but  under  these  circumstances 
ulceration  occurs  and  the  sac  finally  bursts. 

The  tumors  contain  only  cerebro  spinal  fluid.  In  figure 
one  at  A  is  represented  the  connection  of  the  internal  arach- 
noid or  cerebro-spinal  fluid.  The  external  heavy  dark  line 
B,  represents  the  sub-arachnoid  fluid  which  is  between  the 
external  and  internal  layers  of  the  external  arachnoid  mem- 
brane, while  the  broad  dark  lines,  C,  passing  through  the 
column  is  the  internal  cerebro-spinal  fluid  and  this  com- 
municates with  the  interior  of  the  sac.  Not  only  is  the 
liquid  of  the  canal  in  direct  communication  with  the  tumor, 
but  often  does  the  spinal  cord,  cauda  equina,  or  some  of  the 
spinal  nerves  attach  themselves  to  the  posterior  wall  of  the 
tumor.  I. believe  you  will  observe  this  intimate  connection 
of  the  cord  with  the  sac  where  the  tumors  are  sessile  more 
often  than  in  the  pedunculated  variety. 

The  symptoms  of  spina  bifida  are  comparatively  few  but 
quite  prominent.  The  tumor  is  always  in  the  median  line 
and  invariably  attached  to  the  bones,  the  aperture  in  the 
canal  can  readily  be  felt  if  the  tumor  be  not  too  well  covered 
or  tense.  When  the  integument  becomes  attenuated  the 
tumor  is  rather  translucent,  rendering  somewhat  visible  the 
Cauda  equina  or  the  spinal  nerves  only. 

The  contents  of  the  sac  can  in  some  instances  be  pressed 
back  into  the  canal  which  also  is  connected  with  the  ventri- 
cles of  the  brain — hence  increasing  the  tension  of  the  fonta- 
nelles  or  the  size  of  the  hydrocephalous.  Other  malforma- 
tians  frequently  accompany  spina  bifida  the  most  common  of 
which  is  club  foot. 

The  violent  symptoms  showing  great  disturbance  of  the 
cerebro-spinal  center  occur  just  before  the  fatal  termination, 
as  the  tension  of  the  tumor  increases  convulsions  or  paral- 
ysis is  produced;  death  usually  occurs  shortly  after  these 
conditions  set  in  and  being  the  result  of  this  functional  dis- 
turbance of  the  cord. 

Although  the  greater  number  of  cases  of  spina  bifida 


448  SPINA  BIFIDA. 

have  a  fatal  ending,  there  are  others  with  favorable  termina- 
tions. Where  such  termination  ocpurs  the  tumors  do  not 
increase  disproportionately  with  the  growth  of  the  child  and 
closure  of  the  orifice  Jiappily  takes  place,  and  indeed  some- 
times, though  rarely,  there  happens  that  an  almost  miraculous 
cure  has  followed  spontaneous  rupture  of  thei  sac.  The  great 
barrier  to  successful  treatment  of  this  malformation  is  the 
imminent  danger  of  exciting  a  diffuse  inflammation  of  the 
ifiembranes  of  the  cord  and  brain.  Even  slight  injury  to  the 
cord  or  spinal  nerves  might  terminate  in  gangrenous  soften- 
ing of  those  parts.  We  therefore  learn  that  much  depends 
upon  a  few  favorable  conditions. 

It  can  truthfully  be  said  that  in  the  greater  number  of 
cases  of  spina  bifida,  it  is  a  most  delicate  question  as  to  what 
course  of  treatment  we  should  pursue.  When  the  child 
otherwise  seems  in  good  health  and  the  sac  free  from  ulcera- 
ation,  slight  pressure  ought  to  be  produced  by  a  well-pro- 
tected shield,  in  hope  at  least  to  arrest  further  progress  of 
the  tumor. 

We  might  be  so  fortunate  as  to  find  the  orifice  between 
the  sac  and  the  canal  obliterated.  When  such  is  the  case 
active  surgical  measures  are  highly  commendable;  ligature 
or  excision  either  are  followed  by  satisfactory  results. 

The  mode  of  treatment  now  in  vogue  is  injection  of  the 
sac  by  an  Iodine  solution;  the  American  method  is  to  with- 
draw a  portion  of  the  fluid  from  the  tumor  before  injecting. 
In  evacuating  the  fluid  care  should  be  taken  to  avoid  any 
injury  to  the  cord,  a  small  trocar  or  aspirating  needle  should 
be  used  and  never  ought  the  operator  enter  the  tumor  in  the 
median  line  but  to  one  side  and  pointing  to  the  center  of  the 
sac  In  case  the  tumor  refills  as  fast  as  the  fluid  is  removed, 
we  must  abandon  the  procedure  for  the  result  could  only  be 
fatal. 

Sir  Astley  Cooper's  method  of  treatment  is  certainly  a 
good  one,  that  of  frequent  tapping  and  the  constant  applica- 
tion of  light  pressure. 

Wishing  to  call  your  attention  to  one  of  the  most  rare 


REMEDIES  DR  Y  OR  IN  SOL  UTION,  449 

and  peculiar  forms  of  spina  bifida,  we  present  a  case  which 
came  under  the  care  of  Prof.  H.  H.  Baxter,  Cleveland.  Child 
twenty-one  months  old ;  spina  bifida  of  the  occiput,  figure  3 
represents  shape  of  head  and  tumor  and  their  corresponding 
proportions.  This  child,  during  the  greater  part  of  life,  took 
nourishment  freely  and  seemed  rather  healthful,  with  this 
exception  and  the  hydrocephalic  condition  that  you  see 
indicated  by  appearance  of  the  head. 

The  sac  was  considerably  pedunculated  and  the  cover- 
ing consisted  of  integument,  cellular  tissue,  dura  mater,  and 
arachnoid  membranes.  The  postmortem  also  revealed  the 
brain  almost  liquid  with  numerous  patches  of  pus,  the  sac 
contained  more  than  two  quarts  of  fluid.  Figure  two  repre- 
sents the  occipital  bone  convex  surface;  A  is  the  deficient 
portion  of  bone  through  which  passed  the  membranes  and 
fluid  extending  within  an  inch  of  foramen  magnum  which  is 
marked  B.  Many  of  the  bones  both  in  face  and  cranium  were 
well-developed.  This  is  one  of  only  six  or  seven  cases  of 
which  we  have  any  knowledge. 


REMEDIES  ADMINISTERED  DRY,  AND  IN  SOLU- 
TION.—THE  DIFFERENCE. 


J.  N.  LOWR,  M.  D.,  MILFORP,  NEW  JKimEY. 


It  haa already  been  well  said  (and  we  accept  the  saying) 
— viz.:  that  the  technique  in  the  preparation  of  homoeo- 
pathic remedies  has  the  aim  to  enable  the  drug  molecules  to 
come  in  the  most  intimate  contact  possible  with  the  tissue 
elements,  especially  with  the  nerve  cells  of  our  organism. 
For  this  reason  the  medical  substance  is  "atomized"  as  it 
were,  i,  e.,  divided  into  the  smallest  constituent  particles;  in 
this  state  then,  brought  in  contact  with  tiie  mucosa  of  the 
oral  cavity,  it  is  able  not  only  to  penetrate  the  tissues  and 
directly  to  act  upon  the  ramifications  of  the  nerve-fibre,  but 
transferred  to  the  blood,  also  to  come  in  contact  and  enter 
into  relations,  according  to  the  laws  of  chemical  and  phye^v 


450  REMEDIES  DRY  OR  IN  SOLUTION, 

ological  affinity,  with  those  tissues  which  possess  the  sus- 
ceptibility to  react  upon  it.  Upon  the  irritation  of  the  drug- 
molecules  as  cause,  a  change  of  function  of  the  respective 
tissue-elements  follows  as  effect  or  reaction.  But,  if  a  func- 
tional change  in  a  tissue-part  is  produced  by  contact  with 
the  drug-molecules,  it  manifests  itself  through  the  entire 
chain  of  subsequent  effects,  even  if  the  drug  irritation  or  the 
impetus  of  all  these  motions  and .  reactional  results  has  not 
become  an  object  of  cognition ;  indeed  the  vegetative  processes 
within  our  body,  even  if  the  attention  is  directed  upon  them,, 
take  place  as  it  is  well-known,  mostly  outside  of  the  sphere 
of  our  consciousness  or,  into  the  region  beyond  conscious- 
ness. All  that  is  perceptil)le  to  us  are  certain  terminal 
results  in  the  chain  of  occurring  effects  which  received  the 
impetus  from  specific  drug-molecules  when  they  come  in 
contact  with  cellular  elements  of  our  organism.  The  deter- 
minant processes  of  motion,  e.  g,,  within  the  domain  of  our 
nervous  system,  are  al  ways  molecular  processes  only,  t.  «., 
they  are  based  solely  upon  vibrations,  or  other  motions  of 
the  minutest  material  particles  within  the  axis-band  of  a 
nerve-fibre,  and  escape  all  perception  and  control,  even  upon 
application  of  the  most  sensitive  instruments,  although  the 
muscular  activities  resulting  therefrom  are  very  conspicuous. 
For  the  reception  of  this  atomized  medicinal  substance,  or 
potence  the  mucosa  of  the  oral  cavity  fully  suffices,  and  it  is 
not  at  all  necessary  that  such  a  drug  preparation  should 
enter  the  stomach,  in  order  to  develop  its  effects.  It  is,  more- 
over, for  this  very  reason  more  reliable  in  its  action,  since 
the  substances  introduced  into  the  stomach  are  altered,  more 
or  less  in  their  nature,  and  liable  to  cliemical  changes  by  the 
digestive  secretion  and  the  process  of  digestion." 

When  a  patient  is  in  a  state  of  delirium,  oris  uncon-* 
scious  and  moribund,  medicine  necessarily  should  be  ad- 
ministered in  solution.  But  in  such  instances,  it  occurs  to 
us,  the  quantity  should  be  simply  large  enough  to  be  read- 
ily absorbed  in  the  oral  mucosa.  However,  we  have  no  dic- 
tum, nor  ex-cathedra  dogmas,  to  impose. 


ARSENICUM  AND  BAPTISM. 


451 


.  A  physician  and  correspondent  of  the  U,  S.  Medical  In- 
vestigator,— a  few  years  since,  stated  that  in  a  case  of  metror- 
rhagia which  he  had  had  in  charge — the  flow  was  promptly 
controlled  when  he  gave  a  certain  remedy  dry  upon  the 
tongue — after  the  same  remedy  had  no  effect,  given  in  s(du- 
tion.  For  the  sake  of  becomming  more  fully  and  decisively^ 
satisfied,  he  again  gave  the  remedy  in  the  same  potence  in 
solution;  the  flow  promptly  recurred — and  again  was  con- 
trolled, and  permanently,  from  a  like  potence  of  the  same 
remedy  administered  dry. 

The  demonstrations  of  our  post  experience  impel  us^ 
to  believe,  that  Dr.  W.  J.  Guernsey's  "Rules,"  embrace  the 
truth.  To  those  who  do  not  pursue  a  strictly  legitimate 
course  of  pure  homoeopathic  principles  and  practice,  they 
are  of  little  worth.  To  profit  by  them  presupposes  quite  an 
accurate  knowledge  of  the  Hom.  Mat.  Medica,  and  an  unde- 
viating  adherence  to  the  "Law  of  Similars."  This  au  fai 
accompli,  can  only  be  acquired  by  much  dilligent  study,  and 
hard  work.  There  is  nothing  "come  easy,"  "slip-shod,'\or 
casual,  concerned  in  the  acquirement  of  a  competent  under- 
standing of  the  philosophy  of  human  existence — the  philos- 
ophy of  homoeopathy-^homoeopathic  therapy,  and  practice- 


ARSENICUM  AND  BAPTISIA. 


A   COMPARISON. 


BY  S.  LILIENTHAL,  M.  D. 


ARSENICUM. 

Asthensia  accompanied  by 
great  restlessness  and  anxiety, 
even  sometimes  by  frantic  des- 
peration. 

Great  tranquility  and  cheerful- 
ness, followed  by  terrible  rest- 
lessness and  anxiety,  worse  after 
midnight ;  dread  of  death  when 
alone. 

4 


BAPTISIA. 

Asthenia  with  excessive  pros- 
tration and  exhaustion  of 
strength.    Mental  fog. 

Mentally  restless,  but  too  life- 
less to  move;  confusion  of  ideas 
as  if  drunk  ;  feels  scattered  about 
and  cannot  get  the  pieces  to- 
gether. 


452  ARSENICUM  AND  BAPTISIA, 

ARSENICUM.  BAPTISIA. 

Tormenting  delusions  and  hal-        Low  muttering  deliriee. 
luci  nations. 

Stupor    broken     by     anxious       Stupor  and  unconsciousness, 
moaning. 


Great  weight  in  head,  which  Dull,  heavy,  pressive  headache, 
feels  confused  as  soon  as  it  is  with  feeling  of  fullness  and  tight - 
moved.    Periodical  headache.         ness  of   the  whole  head,  with 

drowsiness. 
Whirling  vertigo  and  buzzing        Vertigo   and  weak  feeling  of 
before  ears.  entire  system,  especially  of  lower 

limbs  and  knees. 


Swelling  of  the  lids,  pain  on  Eyeballs  feel  sore  and  lame, 

moving  the  lids,  as  if  they  were  with  great  confusion  of  sight, 
dry  and  rubbed  against  the  eye- 
ball. 

Tickling,  itching,  burning  eyes.  Eyes  feel  swollen,  slight  lach- 

Photophobia,  vision  obscured  rymation  with  burning, 

and  weakened.  Partial  paralysis  of  lids,  cannot 

Ophthalmia  in  all  its  different  keep  them  open, 
parts. 


Buzzing,    singing,    roaring    in        Dull  hearing;  roaring  in  ears 
ears,  with  hard  hearing  as  if  the    with  mental  confusion. 
«ara  were  stopped. 

Profuse,    ichorous,    offensive 
otorrhoea. 


Cannot  bear  the  smell  or  sight       Soreness  extends  to  posterior 
of  food.  nares;  when  sneezing  and  blow- 

Stoppage  of  nose  alternating    ing  nose,  epistaxis. 
with  fluent  coryza,  causing  burn- 
ing and  smarting  at  nostrils. 


Sunken,  yellow,    ghastly    fea-        Flushed,  dusky  features,  with 
tures ;  skin  around  mouth  livid,    a  besotted  expression, 
face  cold  and  sunken. 


Swelling  and  inflammation  of       Cracked    lips,    with    bleeding 
the  lips;    bleeding  of  the  lips;    and   ulceration   of   the    bowels; 


S.  LILIENTHAL,  M.  D.  453 

ARSENICUM.  BAFTISIA- 

painful  tumor  in  the  lip,  with    jaw  dropped,  sordes  on  teeth  and 
tearing,    biting,    burning     pain,    lips, 
worse  by  touch,in  the  air,  at  night. 


Swollen,  bleeding  gums;  pain-  Teeth  and  gums  sore, by  press- 

ful  to  touch;  teeth  seem  longer,  ing  with  fingers  large  quantities 

become  loose,  sensitive  to  pres-  of  blood  ooze  out. 
sure. 

Tongue    dry,  as  if  burnt,  de-  Dr}\  parched,  thickly   coated 

prived  of  sensibility,  excoriated  tongue ;    feels   as   if  had    been 

at  the  tip  with  biting,  burning  scraped,  and  sensation  extending 

pain.  to  fauces. 

Great  dryness  of  the  mouth  Mouth  and  tongue  very  dry; 

and  excessive  thirst,  but  drinks  aphthse  and  putrid  ulceration  of 

only  a  little  at  a  time.  the  buccal  cavity,  with  salivation, 

Bad    odor    from    mouth   with  slight  pain ;  foeior  oris, 
malignant  ulceration. 


(Esophagitis,  sore  throat  when  CEsophagus  feels  as  if  con- 
swallowing  as  from  an  internal  stricted  from  above  down  to 
swelling;  spasmodic  constriction,  stomach,  can  only  swallow  water, 
as  if  a  ball  came  up  in  the  throat. 

Gangrenous    inflammation    of  Dark  putrid  ulcers^  in  throat, 

throat.  painless. 

Taste  gone  or  bitter,  sour,  pu-  Filthy   taste ;    foul    or    bitter, 

trid.  nauseous  taste. 

Appetite  abnormal  or  lost,  with  Averse     to     nourishment    or 

cravings  for  acids  or  cofi'ee.         '  stimulants,  but  constant  desire 

for  water. 


Nausea,  periodically  returning,  Feeling  as  if  it  would  be  a  re- 

with  sensation  of  great  weakness,  lief  to  vomit, 
worse  during  rest  and  motion. 

Vomiting  with  great  anguish,  Retching  and  vomiting;  desire 

often  immediately  after  eating  or  to  vomit,  but  without  nausea, 
drinking. 


Epigastric    and    umbilical   re-        Sinking,  gone  feeling  in  stom- 
gion sensitive  to  touch;  constant    ach,  fainting. 


454  ARSENICUM  AND  BAPTISIA. 

ARSENICUM.  BAPTISIA. 

painful   burning    in    region    of  Constant  burning  distress  in 

stomach,  with  great  anguish  and  epigastrium, severe, colicky  pain9 

feeling  of  weakness,  feeling  as  in  umbilical  and  hypogastric  re* 

though    the  stomach  were  dis-  gion,  rumbling  in  bowels, 
tended. 

Burning  pains,  confined  to  sin-  Constant   aching    distress    in 

gie  parts  of  the  abdomen,  or  gen-  stomach    and    abdomen;    right 

eral,  especially  in  hypogastric  re-  iliac  region   sensitive;    pain  in 

gion;  great  thirst  and  restless-  liver    and    gall-blndder,   worse 

ness,  tossing  and  turning.  walking. 

Diarrhoea,stools scanty, though  Fetid    exhausting    diarrhoea 

irritation  is  great,  of  dark  color,  causing  excoriation ;    thin,  wat* 

very  offensive  followed  by  great  ery,  offensive  diarrhcea,  day  and 

prostration.  night;  involuntary  stools,  often 

painless. 


Burning  in  bladder  and  ure-        Urine  very  highly  colored  and 
thra;  urine  scanty;  great  desire,    scanty;  alkaline,  fetid, 
but  imability  to  pass  urine;  urine 
turbid,  cloudy,  mixed  with  pus 
and  blood ;  albuminuria. 


Yellow,  acrid  leucorrhsea;  in-  Menses  too  early  and  too  pro- 
crease  of   menstrual  flow,  even  fuse;  I ochite  acrid,  fetid, 
metrorrhagia  in  feeble  cachectic 
women. 


Constant  tickling  in  trachea.        Aphonia  or  hoarseness;  pain- 
provokes  a  cough,  a  feeling  of    ful  swallowing  or  speaking,  and 
rawness,  soreness  and  burning  in    as  if  she  wanted  to. raise  much, 
chest;  scanty,  tenacious  mucus 
hard  to  dislodge. 

Cough  dry,  fatiguing,  paroxys-/      Tickling  in  throat  f^ovoking 
mal,  worse  at  night,  by  drinking,    cough ;  elongated  uvula, 
motion  and  in  fresh  air. 

Asthmatic  constriction  of  the  Asthmatic  oppression  of  chest, 
chest,  dyspncBa,  whistling  res-  with  frequent  yawning,  worse 
piration,  burning  in  chest,  peri-  from  motion,  better  after  rest  J 
odically  recurring,  worse  at  night.    dyspncBa  with    a  t.ight  cough; 

sharp  pains  in  chest  when  tak- 
ing a  long  breath. 


S  LILIENTHAL,  M,  D.  455 

ABSENIODM.  BAPTISIA. 

Precordial  anguish,  restricting       Throbbing  of  heart,  whose  pul- 
respiration;   irregular,  violent    sations  seem  to  fill  the  eldest, 
palpitation,  worse  when  lying  on 
back. 


Restlessness  of  limbs;  exces-  Aching  in  limbs  from  his  fin- 
sive  weakness  and  exhaustion  of  ger  ends  to  his  toes.  Entire  sys- 
limbs;  cold  limbs.  tern  feels  weak  and  languid. 

Sleep  does  not  refresh;  toss-        Excessive  drowsiness,  restless 
ing,  twitching,  jerking    in  dis-    sleep  with  vivid,  frightful  dreams, 
turbed   sleep;    vivid,    anxious 
dreams. 

Incomplete  intermttent,  fever        General  fevers  more  than  in- 
often  at  night,  thirstW^nly  during    termittents. 
sweat;  sweat  at  the  beginning  of 
sleep. 

Inflammatory  swellings    with        Prostration,  with  disposition  of 
burning, lancinating  pains*;  drop-    fluids  to  decompose;  discharges 
sies;  atrophy;   burning,  corrod-    and  exhalations  fetid, 
ing  discharges. 

Rhus  has  too  much  of  an  eretbistic  character  to  be  comr 
pared  with  Baptisia;  we  find  nowhere  in  the  Sumachs  that 
blood  decomposition  so  characteristic  of  the  latter;  in  the 
secretions  we  find  acridity  instead  of  fetor,  and  notwithstand- 
ing its  paralytic  tendencies,  we  meet  everywhere  ameliora- 
tion from  motion,  a  symptom  which  we  could  not  expect  in 
the  extreme  prostration  of  Baptisia. 

The  number  of  drugs  which  devitalize  and  decompose 
the  blood  is  a  large  one ;  we  need  only  mention  the  snake 
poisons  and  the  Carbons,  and  still  what  a  difference  is  be- 
tween them,  how  each  preserves  its  own  individuality.  Com- 
pare the  putridity  of  the  vegetable  charcoal  with  the  putre- 
facient  power  of  the  rattlesnake,  and  this  again  from  the 
erethistic  Lachesis  and  Naja.  How  the  different  mineral 
acids,  of  such  great  value  in  zymotic  diseases,  show  their 
individuality  and  cannot  be  taken  hap-hazardly  one  for  the 
other.  It  is  just  this  individualization  of  the  drug  which  we 
miss  in  all  our  works  on  Materia  Medica,  and  then  we  need 


456  EVPA  TORI  UM  PERFOLIA  TUM, 

a  comparative  Materia  Medica  to  point  out  their  modalities. 
Such  works  are  far  more  the  need  of  the  day  than  these  con- 
tinual squabbles  on  account  of  high  or  low  potencies;  such 
works  would  convince  everybody  of  the  great  benefit  inherent 
to  Horaoepathy,  and  that  these  can  only  be  available  by 
relying  strictly  on  the  law  of  similarity,  and  by  prescribing 
carefully  according  to  it. — North  American  Journal  for  Febru- 
ary, 


EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM. 


FROM  THE  SECOND  EDITION   OF   THERAPEUTICS  OF  INTERMITTENT 

FEVER. 


BY  II.  0.  ALLEN,  M.  D. 


Characteristic. — Adapted  to  diseases  of  old  people; 
worn  out  constitutions  from  inebriety. 

Pains;  osteocopic,  affecting  the  back,  limbs,  head,  chest, 
particularly  the  wrists  as  if  dislocated,  the  eyeballs;  the 
more  general  and  severe  the  better  adapted.  Like  Bryonia, 
they  are  accompanied  by  headache,  constipation  and  pain  in 
hepatic  region,  but  here  the  similitude  ends. 

In  Bryonia,  the  perspiration  is  profuse,  easily  excited 
by  motion,  and  the  pains  compel  patient  to  lie  still  upon  the 
painful  side. 

Pains  as  if  broken;  come  quickly  and  go  away  as 
quickly  (reverse  of  Stan.). 

Vertigo;  sensation  as  if  falling  to  the  left  (cannot  turn^ 
the  head  to  the  left  for  fear  of  falling,  Col.). 

Followed  well  by  Natrum  mur  and  Sepia. 

Aggravation.     Motion;  drinking;  uncovering. 

Type. — Tertian ;  double  tertian ;  rarely,  double  quartan, 
and  then  only  when  changed  from  original  type  by  Quinine. 
All  types  may  be  cured  by  it.     Anticipating. 

Time. — 7  a.  m.;  7  to  9  a.  m.;  7  to  9  a.  m.  one  day,  lighter 
chill  at  12  m.  next  day;  10  a.  m.;  12  to  2  p.  m.;  5  p.  m.     Will 


H,  a  ALLEN,  M,  D.  457 

cure  without  reference  to  time,  when  totality  of  symptoms 
are  present. 

Prodrome. — Insatiable  thirst,  but  drinking  causes  naiLsea 
and  vomiting^  and  hastens  the  chill.  Sick  stomach  and  thirst 
night  before  paroxysm.  Thirst,  sometimes  for  warm  drinks 
(Case,  Ced.), /ram  one  to  three  hours  before  the  chill;  he  knows 
the  chill  is  coming  because,  "  he  cannot  drink  enough  "  (knows 
chill  is  coming  because  she  is  thirsty,  Caps.,  Cinch.,  Nat* 
m.) ;  yawning,  stretching,  pain  in  cack^  especially  above  right 
illiumy  mnd  the  bones  of  extremities  as  if  In'oken,  Colicky  pain 
in  the  upper  abdomen  (Coo ;  painful  soreness  of  the  eye-baUs, 
must  be  covered,  before  and  during  chill  (covered  during  entire 
paroxysm,  Nux  v.).     Hungry,  (Cina). 

Chill. —  With  intense  thirst;  but  drinking  water  increases 
the  nausea,  and  causes  bitter  vomiting  (drinking  causes  vomiting^ 
Ars. — drinking  increases  the  chill — Caps.).  Chilliness  with 
excessive  trembling  and  nausea  (from  the  least  motion).  Chill" 
iness  in  the  morning,  heat  throughout  the  whole  day^  but  no  per- 
spiration. Chill  may  leave  for  a  few  minutes  and  return 
again,  but  no  heat  in  the  interval  (reverse  of  Are.,  which  has 
alternate  chill  and  heat).  Shivering  increased  by  motion ; 
tense  throbbing  headache;  pain  in  back  and  bones  of  extrem- 
ities; moaning  with  pain;  distressing  pain  in  stomach  and 
spleen.  Yawning  and  stretching ;  more  shivering  than  the 
degree  of  coldness  warrants.  Must  be  warmly  covered  (Nux. 
v.).  Begins  in  or  may  .spread  from  the  ba><k,  m'  run  up  the  backy 
(begins  in  back  between  the  shoulders,  Caps.,  Polyp. — begins 
in  lumbar  region,  Eup.  purj).  Lach.).  At  close  of  chill  nausea 
and  vomiting  of  bitter  fluids  and  bile,  aggravated  by  drinking ^  or 
after  every  draught  vomiting  (Caps. — sour  vomiting  at  el«.^e  of 
chill.  Lye). 

Heat. — Preceded  by  thirst,  whicli  is  often  felt  most  be- 
tween chill  and  heat  (Ars.,  Cinch.),  or  there  may  be  little 
thirst,  when  cephalalgia  and  bone  pains  are  increased ; 
trembling,  faint  from  motion  ;  great  weakness  ;  cannot  raise 
the  head  while  fever  lasts ;  cheeks  mahogany  red  ;  throb- 
bing headache  ;  internal  soreness  from  head  to  foot,  all  over 


458  E  UP  A  TORIUM  PEE  FOLIA  TUM, 

the  body  (Am.)  ;  sleep  with  moaning.  Seldom  any  nausea 
•during  this  stage,  but  bitter  vomiting  (sour  vomiting,  Lye) 
occurs  at  close  of  heat  if  absent. at  close  of  chill.  Heat  and 
lachrymation.  Much  shivering  even  during  heat.  "-4  swaUow 
of  water  will  make  him  shiver''^  (will  make  him  shudder,  CJaps.)- 
Pain  in  scrobiculus  cordis.  Fever  in  the  forenoon,  preceded 
by  thirst  early  in  the  morning,  but  no  chill ;  attended  by 
fatiguing  cough,  and  not  followed  by  perspiration. 

Sweat. — Generally  scanty,  or  absent  altogether,  in  which 
case  the  headache  continues  for  several  hoars  after  the  Jever  is 
^one  (Ars.).  When  there  is  much  perspiration,  it  brings 
relief  of  aU  pains  except  cephalalgia^  which  is  increased  (sweat 
relieves  all  pains,  Nat.  m.).  Coldness  during  nocturnal  sweat 
Perspiration;  at  night  giving  no  relief;  during  sweat  the 
slightest  movement  of  patient,  or  jar  of  bed,  will  cause  tran- 
sient chill  to  run  through  the  frame,  especially  along  theback 
on  uncovering  (Nux.  v.) ;  not  debilitating  if  profuse  (reverse  of 
Cinch,  and  Carb.  v.)  When  chill  is  severe,  sweat  is  light  or 
woanting  and  vise  versa. 

Tongue. — Coated  white  or  yellow.  Taste,  insipid,  bitter; 
tfood  has  no  taste  (Dros.).  Desire  for  ice  cream;  thirst. 
Paleness  of  mucous  membrane  of  mouth  (Fer.).  Cracks  at 
the  commissures  of  the  lips  (Nat.  m.).  Canine  hunger  after 
'Quinine. 

Apyrexia. — Imperfect;  very  little  remission.  Jaundiced 
hue  of  skin  and  conjunctiva^:  loose  cough;  if  any  sweat,  it  is 
attended  with  chilliness  and  worse  from  motion  and  uncov- 
ing.  Bone  pains  are  present  in  every  stage,  and  only  gradually 
disappear  with  disappearance  of  sweat,  feels  worse  morning  of 
one  day,  and  afternoon  of  next.  The  severity  of  vomiting 
has  relation  to  the  time  of  eating  ;  the  nearer  the  meals  the 
surer  to  vomit :  first  of  ingesta,  afterwards  of  bile,  which  is 
usually  bitter.  "  Eupatorium  perf.,  both  by  its  'pathogen- 
esis and  clinical  verification  in  practice,  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  of  the  Materia  Medica  in  the  treatment  of  western 
intermittents."' — J.  S.  DoueLAS. 

To  this  statement  I  would  add  that  its  efficacy  is  not 


H.  a  A  LLEN,  M.  D.  459 

bounded  by  latitude.  Sometimes  it  corresponds  to  the  genua 
epideraicus,  and  will  alone  cure  every  case,  particularly  if 
occurring  in  autumn.  It  vies  with  Arsenicum,  Cinchona  and 
Natrum  mur,  as  one  of  oui  sheet  anchors  in  this  disease ;  its 
symptoms  are  "clear-cut"  and  well  defined;  it*  action 
prompt  and  decisive.  It  has  cured  in  all  potencies  from 
tinct.  to  cm.  "  Bupatorium  has  been  a  favorite  remedy 
with  the  most  successful  practitioners  where  remittent  and 
intermittent  fevers  have  prevailed  epidemically  i/n.  miamnalic 
districts,  along  rivers,  at  jU}ieriee,  on  marshes,  and  their  sev- 
«al  neighborhoods." — C,  J,  Heupel,  S.  C,  I.,  p.  696. 

EUP   PURP.  EUP  PEBF. 

7ype. — Double  tertian.  Type. — Tertian. 

Time. — Different    times  of        TVme. — 7  to  9  a.  u.  one  day ; 


12  M  the  next. 

Prodrome.  —  Thirst    several 


day. 

/Vodrome.— Bone  -pains  in 

arms  and  legs.    Dry,  hacking  hours  before,  with  bone  pain 

cough  in  spells,  and  pains  in  back. 

ChiU.—  No  thirst,   or   thirst  Chill. — Great  thirst  for  cold 

for  lemonade  and  acid  drinks,  water.  Chill,  with  bone  pains, 

Chill    begins  in    lumbar   re-  pains  in  hack, gaping,  stretch- 


gion,    Ihei 
body, 
leaving,  but 


extends  over 
as  the  chill  is 
0  vomiting. 


Heai. — Long-lasting;  thirst, 
bone  pains,  as  the  heat 
ie  passing  off  (Cina.,  Cinch.) 

Sweat. — Chilly,when  chang- 
ing position  eversoUttledur- 
ing  sweat. 

Apyrexia.  — Vertigo,  with 
falling  to  the  lelt. 

Urine  ;  profuse,  urging, 
ecalding. 


ing,  throbbing  headache.  Bit- 
ter vomiting  at  close  of  chill. 
Drinking  hastens  chill  and 
causes  vomiting. 

Heal. — With  sleep;  moan- 
ing, increased  headache.  "  A 
swallow  of  water  will  make 
him  shiver."  '  (CJaps.). 

Sweat. — Bone  pains  disap- 
pear with  disappearance  of 
sweat. 

Apyreria. — Jaundiced  hue: 
great  weakness;  aniemia. 
Light  chill  and  profuse  sweat, 
or  shaking  chill,  and  light  or 
wanting  sweat. 


460  PRACTICAL  NOTES, 

PRACTICAL  NOTES. 


BY  8.  L.,  NEW  YORK. 


1.  G.  S.,  25  years  old,  compositor  and  steady  at  his  work, 
took  it  in  his  head  to  quit  work  and  instead  of  paying  his 
board  to  his  mother,  whom  he  tenderly  loved,  squandered 
his  former  earnings  and  his  savings.  No  entreaties  of  his 
mother  changed  his  mind,  he  was  full  of  grand,  wise  ideas; 
labored  under  the  delusion  that  the  world  is  coming  to  an 
end  and  that  he  isappointed  the  judge  over  mankind.  Dur- 
ing all  these  four  months  he  steadily  lost  flesh,  though  his 
appetite  was  enormously  increased,  quantity  he  wanted,  not 
caring  for  quality.  His  mother  brought  him  before  my 
clinic,  and  on  account  of  the  last  symptom  he  received  lodum, 
200,  three  powders;  one  each  night  and  placebo's.  These  pla- 
cabos,  he  took  for  three  weeks  and  his'  mind  has  fully  re- 
gained its  balance. 

We  find  under  lodum  ill-humor,  aversion  to  work,  fixed, 
Immoveable  thoughts,  but  here  instead  of  the  mental  symp- 
toms; it  WHS  the  physical  symptom ;  voracious  appetite  and 
increasing  emaciation,  which  led  to  selection  of  the  remedy. 

2.  J.  M.,  80  years  old,  has  nearly  every  winter  a  bron- 
chial  catarrh,  easily  relieved  by  the  usual  treatment.  This 
year  it  seemed  more  stubborn  and  failed  to  yield.  The  poor 
old  man  could  not  lie  down;  as  soon  as  his  head  touched  the 
pillow,  a  spasmodic  cough-paroxysm  set  in,  and  after  all  he 
expectorated  only  a  little  phlegm.  After  the  paroxysm  he 
fell  from  sheer  exhaustion  into  a  dose,  his  head  resting  on 
his  hand,  as  leaning  backward  would  also  produce  cough, 
though  less  severe.  During  the  day  he  felt  moderately  com- 
fortable, but  weak  and  feared  his  end  was  close  by.  After 
the  failure  of  many  remedies  the  study  of  our  Materia  Med- 
ica  led  us  to  Croton  tiglivm,  200,  which  has  among  its  symp- 
toms rClotar  Miiller);  cough  much  worse  at  night  when  lying 
in  bed,  compelling  the  patient  to  jump  out  of  the  bed  and 
sleep  in  a  chair  or  to  walk  about  the  room  on  account  of 
sense  of  suffocation. 


DR.  SWAN  REPLIES.  461 

We  find  this  symptom  neither  in  Allen,  Hering  or 
Lippe,  but  we  can  vouch  now  for  the  accuracy,  for  the  first 
night  after  taking  a  powder  of  Croton  father  M.  remained 
the  whole  night  in  bed  and  slept  good,  as  the  few  light 
paroxysms  did  not  disturb  him.  Without  any  other  medi- 
cine he  is  now  fully  recovered  and  enjoys  his  life  again. 


DR.  SWAN  REPLIES. 


Mr.  Editor: — In  the  article  "Clinical  Reflections,"  in 
the  January  number  of  The  Advance,  the  writer  refers  to  a 
"specific  for  nose-bleed,  xohich  it  was  asserted,  would  cure  all 


cases.^^ 


No  such  assertion  was  ever  made.  In  an  article  in  the 
November  number  of  the  Homoeopathic  Physician,  I  referred 
to  a  drug  which  I  had  found  efficacious  in  every  case  of  epi- 
taxis  that  I  had  treated.  There  was  no  claim  for  a  specific, 
for  I  do  not  believe  in  specifics — except  that  a  drug  may  be 
called  a  specific  for  a  case,  in  which  all  the  symptoms  are 
covered  by  the  drug  action.  I  like  honest  criticism,  but  do 
not  think  it  honest  to  put  words  in  the  mouth  of  another, 
that  were  never  expressed,  and  then  attacking  him  on  the 
falsehood.  Of  course  his  statement  will  be  read  by  hun- 
dreds, who  will  never  know  that  it  is  not  true.  The  same 
writer  sometime  since  stated  that  I  claimed  that  the  potenti- 
zation  of  morbific  products  made  them  Homoeopathic  to  any 
disease.  What  I  did  say,  was,  that  it  made  it  Homoeopathic  to 
the  disease  which  produced  it,  and  Hahnemann  is  my  authority 
for  that.  Sam'l  Swan,  New  York. 

BOOK  NOTICES. 


RECEIVED :    UU'rine  Therapeutics.      By  Henry  Miston,  M.  I).,  A.    J..  Chattertoit^ 
Publishing  Co.  Sew  York. 

COUGH  AND  EXPECTORATION:  A  Repertorial  Index  of  these  Symptoms.  Edited 
by  E.  Jknniww  Lee,  M.  D.,  assisted  by  Geo.  H.  Clark,  M.  D.  A.  L.  Chatter- 
ton.  Publishing  Co.,  New  York,  1884. 

A  MATERIA   MEDICA  OF  DIFFERENTIAL  POTENCY.    By  B.  F.   Undkrwood^ 
Ph.  D.,  M,  D.    a.  L.  Chatterton  Publishing  Co ,  New  York. 


462  BOOK  NOTICES. 

m 

A  TREATISE  ON  INTRACRANIAL  DISEASES;  inflammatory,  organic  and  symp- 
tomatic. By  C.  P.  Hart,  M.  D.  Published  by  F.  E.  Boericke,  Hahnemann 
Publishing  House,  Philadelphia. 


AN  OBSTETRIC  MENTOR;  a  handbook  of  homoeopathic  treatment  required  during 
Pregnancy,  Parturition  and  Puerpural  Season.  By  Clarence  M.  Conant.  M. 
D.    A.  L.  Chatterton  Publishing  Co.,  New  York. 


HARVARD  AND  ITS  SURROUNDINGS :    Published  by  Moses  King,  Cambridge. 

This  small  volume  of  100  pages  is  profusely  illustrated,  and 
gives  an  admirable  history  of  this  first  Afnerican  college.    Price,  $1. 

KING'S  DICTIONARY  OF  BOSTON:    With  an  historical  introduction  byGEOROE  E, 
Ellis,  D.  D. 

This  volume  of  518  pages  gives  a  very  complete  history,  both 
past  and  present,  of  Boston  and  its  institutions.  It  is  apparently 
free  from  the  suspicion  of  being  "written  up"  for  the  benefit  of  its 
^advertising  patrons.  We  wish  we  could  say  as  much  of  many  simi- 
lar works  of  other  cities. 


PRESIDENT'S  ADDRESS  MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL  SOCIETY,  NEW  YORK :     By 
Dr.  E.  p.  Fowler,  pp.  34. 

This  address  was  delivered  in  1882,  and  we  nave  lon^  waited 
for  the  opportunity  to  give  it  the  notice  it  deserves.  This  we  can- 
not do  even  now  as  we  have  not  the  requisite  space.  The  abilities 
of  the  author  are  unquestioned  and  he  has  exhibited  them  to  both 
good  and  poor  advantage  in  this  address.  His  labored  attempt  to 
demolish  Homceopathy  oi  at  least  to  prove  the  teachings  of 
the  Organon  fallacious  is  not  likely  to  do  much  injury  with  studi- 
ous and  thinking  minds,  but  this  address  may,  if  read,  mislead 
those  who  depend  upon  others  to  do  their  thinking.  If  all  the 
doctor  says  is  true,  it  simply  leaves  us  in  the  quagmire  pretty  much 
where  Hahnemann  f«»und  medical  science  and  art  when  he  came 
into  the  world.  This  will  not  do  for  we  know  that  the  Organon 
has  done  much  to  lift  us  out  of  the  bog  and  to  place  our  feet  on 
solid  ground. 

fiOMCEOPATHIC  PRACTICE  AND  PRINCIPLES  OF  MEDICINE :  By  W.  H.  Dick- 
enson, M.  D.,  ProseMor  of  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine  in  the  Hora(eopa- 
thlc  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Iowa.    Mills  &  Co.  Des  Moinee. 

Our  examination  of  this  work  has  been  done  w^ith  unusual 
-care.  We  desired  to  be  fully  acquainted  with  it  before  offering  any 
opinion  as  to  its  value.  We  do  so  now,  believing  that  we  are  w^ar- 
ranted  in  giving  it  our  heartiest  commendation.  With  so  much  ez- 
•cel'ent  medical  literature  crowding  the  market,  it  is  no  small  mat- 
ter to  offer  the  public  a  book  so  comprehensive  and  important  as 
this.    The  author,  however,  after  several  years  experience  as  a  med- 


BOOK  NOTICES.  465 

ical  teacher,  is  well  qualified  to  write  upon  mBdical  practice,  and 
we  believe  that  he  has  given  to  the  profession  a  first-class  practical 
treatise.  Its  730  pages  are  well  filled  besides  being  well  printed 
and  substantially  bound.  We  shall  give  it  a  foremost  place  among 
our  text-books  on  practice,  and  have  no  hesitancy  in  commending 
to  our  readers  as  representing  in  the  main  the  best  of  modern  scien- 
tific methods  in  treating  disease.  As  a  work  on  general  practice  we 
have  extant  nothing  better. 

ST.  NICHOLAS.    Edited  by  Mrs.  Mary  Mapbs  Dodge. 

The  New  York  Tribune  once  said:  "In  the  avalanche  of  immoral 
literature  that  threaten's  the  children,  some  strong,  vitally  whole- 
some, and  really  attractive  magazine  is  required  for  them  and  St, 
Nicholas  has  reached  a  higher  platform,  and  commands  for  this  ser- 
vice wider  resources  in  art  and  letters,  than  any  of  its  predecessors 
or  contemporaries."  The  reference  to  the  wide  resources  in  art  and 
letters  commanded  by  St.  Nicholas  was  never  more  fully  illustrated 
than  by  the  extraordinary  list  of  attractions  which  that  magazine 
announces  for  1884.  The  following  will  be  sometof  the  leading  con- 
tributors :  Louisa  M.  Alcott,  Captain  Mayne  Reid,  Maurice  Thomp- 
son, Charles  Dudley  Warner,  Elizabeth  Stuart  Phelps,  Julian  Haw- 
thorne, Mary  Mapes  Dodge,  Rose  Hawthorne  Lathrop,  George  W, 
Cable,  Susan  Fenimore  Cooper,  "H.  H.,"  W.  0.  Stoddard,  J.  T.Trow- 
bridge, Hjalmar  Hjorth  Boyesen,  Frank  R.  Stockton,  Joaquin  Mil- 
ler, Mrs.  A.  D.T.  Whitney,  CeliaThaxter,  Lieut.  Frederick  Schwatka. 
E.  S.  Brooks,  Chas.  G.  Leland,  John  G.  Whittier,  C.  P.  Cranch,  and 
scores  of  other  distinguished  writers.  The  best  artists  and 
engravers  illustrate  the  magazine.  It  has  been  truly  said  that  the 
reading  of  St.  Nicholas  is  "a  liberal  education"  for  the  boys  and  girls 
who  are  fortunate  enough  to  have  it.  In  no  other  book  or  periodi- 
cal is  instruction  so  happily  blended  with  recreation  and  amuse- 
ment.   The  price  is  $3.00  a  year,  or  25  cents  a  number. 

A  DIGEST  OF  MATHRIA  MEDICA  AND  PHARMACY.     By  Albert  Mebrell,  M 
D.    P.  Blakiston,  Son  &  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

In  some  particulars  this  is  the  most  remarkable  work  on  Ma- 
teria Medica,  which  has  appeared  in  years.  The  bold  innovations, 
and  the  advanced  positions  so  frankly  assumed  by  the  author,  will 
make  it  a  ready  target  for  criticism.  If  favorably  received  and  fairly 
tested  they  will  revolutionize  the  therapeutics  of  the  Allopathic 
school.  In  the  preface  the  author  says :  "  Truth  is  the  property  of 
no  one  school  of  medical  philosophy,  and  as  each  possesses  special 
merit,  it  is  the  duty,  as  it  should  be  the  pleasure,  of  progressive  and 
concientions  physicians  to  dispassionately  examine  all  remedies  and 


464  EDITORS  TABLE. 

curative  methods  and  exercise  in  perfect  freedom  the  right  to  adopt 
such  as  commend  themselves  as  useful  for  the  cure,  palliation,  or 
prevention  of  disease.  In  this  spirit  this  work  has  heen  written, 
and  though  not  willing  to  unqualifiedly  indorse  any  single  dogma 
of  existing  schools  it  is  conceded  that  to  fairly  determine  their  re- 
lative merits,  the  special  remedies  and  methods  of  each  should  be 
employed,  whether  what  is  claimed  as  their  fundamental  principle 
is  admitted  or  not."  He  has  also  found  the  common  sense  proposi- 
tion enunciated  by  Hahnemann  about  one  hundred  years  ago,  that 
"a  definite  knowledge  of  their  action  can  only  be  obtained  by  the 
employment  and  study  of  drugs  singly,  i.  e.  not  mixed  with  one 
another  as  in  the  conglomerate  pharmaceutical  compounds  of  the 
day."  He  honorably  gives  Hahnemann  credit  for  the  preparation 
of  remedies  by  trituration  and  recommends  the  decimal  tritura- 
tions from  the  first  to  the  tenth.  This  is,  according  to  many  in  our 
school,  the  limit  of  drug  power,  the  line  at  which  the  microscope 
ceases  to  detect  the  presence  of  the  drug.  But  he  not  only  advo- 
cates the  single  remedy,  but  says,  "it  should  be  administered  in 
«mall  doses,  repeated  until  the  desired  effect  has  been  produced, 
and  then  withdrawn.''  Doctor  Merrell  should  have  taken  one  step 
further  and  advocated  the  proving  of  drugs  on  the  healthy  as  the 
only  rational  basis  for  a  Materia  Medica.  Perhaps  he  will  do  this 
if  a  second  edition  be  called  for.  Now  it  only  remains  to  be  seen 
whether  such  outspoken  (not  unheard  of)  innovations  in  the  practice 
of  ancient  physic  will  be  accepted  and  adopted  by  the  profession,  as 
facts,  on  the  author's  ipse  dixitf  or  whether  he  will  be  disciplined  by 
the  American  Medical  Association  for  his  presumption. 


<» 


EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


Dr.  R.  B.  Rush,  of  Salem,  O.,  made  us  a  brief  visit,  and  looked 
over  the  University,  and  especially  the  HomoBopathic  Department 

J.  P.  Sutherland,  M,  D.,  appears  as  the  new  editor  of  the  New 
England  Medical  Gazette.  If  he  had  not  already  been  there  some 
time  incog,  we  might  extend  congratulations,  as  it  is  we  wish  him 
and  his  Journal  success. 

Dr.  R.  G.  DePuy,  of  Jamestown,  Dakota,  against  whom  a  huge 
black-mailing  scheme  was  set  up,  has  come  out  triumphant  before 
the  courts  and  is  receiving  the  congratulations  of  his  friends.  The 
papers  call  for  the  speedy  punishment  of  the  black  hearted  con- 
spiritors. 

Dr.  Footers  Potentizee.    This  is  a  new  instrument  invented 


EDITORS  TABLE,  466 

by  Dr.  Geo.  W.  Foote,  of  Stamford,  Conn.,  and  is  warranted  to 
make  the  highest  attenuations  on  the  Hahnemann  Centesimal  scale 
with  great  celerity  and  exactness.  The  Doctor  will  tell  you  all 
about  it  if  you  write  him. 

Indiana  Institute  of  Homcbopathy.  This  long  established  and 
model  society,  will  hold  its  Eighteenth  Annual  Session  in  Indian- 
apolis,  on  April  30  and  May  Ist.  Our  readers  will  do  well  to  make 
a  note  of  it,  and  when  the  time  comes  take  it  in  by  all  means.  Our 
Hoosier  brethren  never  miss  fire. 

The  St.  Louis  Periscope,  of  Homoeopathic  Medicine  and  Surg- 
ery a  monthly  journal  edited  by  Prof.  E.  C.  Franklin,  A.  M.,  M.  D. 
.  The  initial  number  first  received  promises  well  for  the  new  venture. 
We  have  no  doubt  the  editor  and  publisher  are  competent  to  give 
their  patrons  their  money's  worth.  We  heartily  wish  them  success. 
The  North  American  Review,  for  February,  maintains  the 
excellent  reputation  of  this  standard  periodical.  It  addresses 
Itself  to  thinking  men  in  every  walk  in  life — to  all  who  would  reach 
well-digested,  non-partisan  conclusions  on  subjects  of  public  inter- 
est, it  is  invaluable.  It  has  the  reputation  of  impartially  presenting 
both  sides  of  the  question,  thus  insuring  the  broadest  view  of  all 
matters  in  controversy,  and  enabling  the  reader  to  judge  under- 
standingly,  on  which  side  in  the  confiict  of  opinion,  the  truth  lies. 

Dr.  McLaren,  of  Detroit,  reports  a  case,  (see  page  362)  of  dys* 
menorrhoea,  in  which  there  are  no  symptoms.  This  case  must  be 
anomalous.  Hahnemann  says :  "It  is  as  impossible  to  conceive  as 
to  demonstrate  by  human  experience  that,  after  the  removal  of 
every  symptom  of  a  disease  embraced  in  the  totality  of  perceptible 
phenomena,  anything  but  health  should,  or  possibly,  could  remain, 
or,  that  after  such  removal  the  morbid  process  of  the  interior  could 
still  continue  to  be  active.  '^  Organon  58.  If  the  Doctor  will  care- 
fully and  prayerfully  study  the  taking  of  the  case"  {Organon  J83 — 
110  inclusive)  and  Dunham's  anamnesis,  he  never  will  see  another 
case  of  disease  wiihoui  symptomf. 

No  Morphine.  In  a  letter  of  recent  date  Dr.  F.  H.  Orme  says :  "I 
believe  you  know  that  my  injuries  were  an  oblique  fracture  at  the 
middle  of  the  right  humerus,  and  an  oblique  and  comminuted 
fracture  at  the  surgical  neck  of  the  left  humerus.  This  latter  was 
exceedingly  painful,  and  difficult  to  manage,  and  required  the  fourth 
setting  before  I  was  satisfied  with  it.  Although  the  sufi'ering  was 
terrific  and  long  continued,  and  although  advised  by  physicians  to 
take  narcotics,  I  determined  to  go  through  without  them,  and  did 
so.  I  made  a  more  satisfactory  recovery  in  consequence,  aud«^NQ\^fe^ 


466  EDITORS  TABLE, 

the  danger  of  the  "opium  habit''  which  is  so  popular.  Am  now  io 
my  usual  health,  with  a  little  increase  in  weight,  and  friends  tell 
me  I  "look  better  than  ever." 

^^The  Century  has  the  effect  of  greater  luxury  in  editing  than 
any  of  the  rival  magazines." — The  N,  Y,  Nation  and  Evening  Post,. 
Dec.  6, 1883.  "From  the  very  start  this  magazine  boldly  took  up  a 
forward  position,  and  it  has  boldly  and  splendidly  maintained  its 
place.  With  each  number  has.  been  clearly  manifested  its  aggres* 
sive  and  intelligent  enterprise,  and  far-reaching  have  been  the 
results.  During  the  past  year.  The  Century  has  outdone  its  former 
work  in  almost  every  one  of  its  departments.  Some  of  its  engrav- 
ings have  been  amazingly  fine ;  several  of  those  in  the  December 
number  are  particularly  so — the  portrait  of  Peter  Cooper  especially. 
And  its  reputation  has  been,  to  our  mind,  as  much  widened  by  its 
improved  excellence  on  the  literary  side  as  on  the  artistic. 

Ambbican  Pharmacy  Abroad. — The  aggressiveness  of  American 
enterprise  received  a  very  striking  illustration  at  the  late  Interna- 
tional Pharmaceutical  Exhibition  held  at  Vienna,  in  the  display  of 
products  from  the  laboratory  of  our  energetic  countrymen,  Messrs^ 
Parke,  Davis  &  Co.,  of  Detroit,  Michigan.  We  notice  in  the  reports 
as  published  in  the  domestic  journals,  and  from  the  special  corres- 
pondence of  foreign  journals,  that  this  display  while  exciting  much 
interest  from  its  scientific  features,  attracted  more  than  ordinary 
notice  from  its  artistic  beauty  and  finish  among  the  non-professional 
visitors.  This  lay  interest  was,  doubtless,  largely  due  to  the  special 
attention  given  the  display  by  the  Emperor  and  the  Archduke  Karl 
Ludwig.  These  royal  visitors  manifested  unusual  interest  in  this 
exhibition  of  American  taste,  and  took  occasion  to  especially  com- 
pliment the  firm,  through  its  representative,  on  its  enterprise  and 
skill.  We  congratulate  Messrs.  Parke,  Davis  &  Co.  on  the  distin- 
guished recognition  of  the  artistic  excellence  of  their  laboratory 
products.  Their  intrinsic  worth  needs  no  commendation  from  us; 
this  has  long  been  conceded  by  the  profession.  The  gold  medal 
awarded  them  by  the  Vienna  Exhibition  is  but  an  endorsement  of 
the  esteem  in  which  this  scientific  commercial  house  is  held  in  this 
country,  where  it  is  best  known. — HaWs  Journal,  The  writer  of  the 
above  might  have  added,  had  he  known  the  firm  as  well  as  we  do 
here  at  home,  that  as  manufacturers  they  are  not  only  enterprising 
but  honest  The  utmost  care  is  taken,  especially  in  the  preparation 
of  their  Normal  Liquids  to  secure  uniformity  of  strength  and  qual- 
ity. The  members  of  the  homoeopathic  profession  who  find  it  nec- 
essary to  use  fluid  extracts,  will  find  these  much  more  reliable. 


F^J^ 


"S^  ^:U 


T.  1».  WII<SOM«  K.  D., 

Editor. 


Otnioolooical  Editob. 


Vol.  XIV. 


.  Ann  Arbor,  March,  1884. 


No.  9. 


All  subsoriptiqns  and  business  oommunioations  should 
be  addressed  to  MBDIOAL  ADVANOB  FUHLISHINa'  OO., 
Ann  Arbor,  Mioh.    Subscription,  $2.00  -per  annum. 

H.  O.  AIjIjBN,  M.  D.,  Business  Manager. 

The  World  Moves. — The  College  of  Phydcians  and  Sur- 
geons,  of  Detroit,  has  decided  to  take  up  the  Organon  for 
consecutive  study.  This  is  a  step  in  the  right  direction.  By 
H  careful  discussion  of  the  principles  of  the  Organon,  and 
the  study  necessary  to  et^able  them  to  discuss  it  understand- 
ingly,  many  of  the  members  may  be  enabled  to  see  new 
therapeutic  light.  And  we  sincerely  trust  that  the  study 
will  enable  them  not  only  to  see  new  light  but  to  practice  it 
also.  There  are  other  homoeopathic  societies  that  might 
with  advantiige  follow  this  example.  If  we  are  to  judge  by 
their  practice,  so  far  as  many  members  are  concerned,  the 
Organon  might  as  well  have  been  written  in  Sanscrit.  It, 
however,  requires  something  more  than  a  simple  reading, 
something  more  than  a  discussion:  it  demands  years  of 
study  ere  it  is  mastered.  A  student  would  be  poorly  pre- 
pared for  an  examination  in  mathematics  who  had  only  read 
Euclid's  Geometry.     It  must  be  studied.     After  fifty  years  of 


468  EDITORIAL. 

hard  and  original  work  by  the  most  careful  observer  the 
medical  world  has  yet  produced,  the  Organon — the  founjJa- 
tion  stone  of  the  science  of  therapeutics — is  given  us  as 
the  result  of  his  experience.  Hering,  Dunham  and  Haynel 
quenched  their  thirst  at  this  fountain.  Guernsey  and  Bayard 
and  Wells  take  counsel  from  its  teachings.  Lippe  says :  "  It 
is  now  over  fifty  years  since  I  first  read  the  Organon,  I  just 
begin  to  comprehend  it." 

And'it  is  possible  that  even  Hahnemann  ''builded  wiser 
than  he  knew,"  when  he  gave  us  its  almost  prophetic  instruc- 
tion. 

Take  for  example  his  masterly  advice  how  to  examine  a 
patient,  which  at  the  time  it  was  written  was  an  unheard  of 
innovation  in  the  history  of  Medicine. 

"In  chronic  diseases  the  investigation  of  all  symptoms 
should  be  conducted  as  carefully  and  circumstantially  as  pos- 
sible, and  made  to  penetrate  the  minutest  details,  because 
they  are  most  peculiar  and  most  unlike  those  of  acute  affec- 
tions, and  also  because  they  can  never  be  too  accurately 
considered  for  the  purpose  of  successful  treatment.  Again, 
chronic  patients  are  so  inured  to  suffering,  that  circumstances 
however  characterisHc  and  decisive  in  the  selection  of  the  remedy^ 
are  rarely  if  at  all,  mentioned  by  them,  but  rather  consid- 
ered as  a  part  of  their  unavoidable  condition.  It  rarely 
occurs  to  them  that  other  small  or  great  deviations  from  the 
healthy  condition,  might  be  connected  with  the  main  disease. 

"A  physician  accustomed  to  exact  observation,  may  approach 
the  true  condition  of  an  epidemic  so  closely  that  he  is  ena- 
bled to  construe  a  characteristic  image  of  the  same,  and  even 
to  discover  the  appropriate  homoeopathic  remedy. 

"By  writing  down  the  symptoms  of  several  cases  of  this 
kind,  the  sketch  of  the  disease  will  gradually  become  more 
complete;  without  being  enlarged  by  additional  phrases,  it 
will  be  more  closely  defined  (more  characteristic),  and  made  to 
embrace  more  of  the  peculiarity  of  such  collective  diseases. 
General  signs,  such  as  want  of  appetite,  sleeplessness,  etc., 
are  specified  and    defined.    More    prominent  and   special 


EDITORIAL.  469 

symptoms  will  be  made  conspicuous  by  proper  notation  and 
constitute  the  characteristics  of  the  epidemic. 

*^  When  all  the  prominent  and  characteristic  symptoms, 
collectively  forming  an  image  of  a  disease,  have  been  care- 
fully committed  to  writing,  the  most  diflficult  part  of  the 
work  will  have  been  done. 

**The  search  for  a  remedy  consists  in  the  coia'parison  of 
the  totality  of  the  symptoms  (of  the  sick),  with  the  symp- 
toms of  our  proved  drugs.  In  making  this  comparison,  the 
mcyre  prominent^  uncommon  and  peculiar  (characteristic)  fea- 
tures of  the  case,  are  especially  and  almost  exclusively  con- 
sidered and  noted ;  for  these  in  particular  should  bear  the  closest 
similitude  to  the  symptoms  of  the  desired  m^dicine^  if  that  is  to 
accomplish  the  cure.  More  general  and  indefinite  symp- 
toms, such  as  want  ot  appetite,  headache,  weakness,  restless 
sleep,  distress,  etc.,  unless  more  clearly  defined,  deserve  but 
little  notice  on  account  of  the  vagueness." 

To  thus  examine  a  patient  and  carefully  record  the 
symptoms  is  the  most  difficult  part  our  work.  To  simply 
write  down  a  train  of  symptoms  is  of  little  use  to  the  phy- 
sician or  patient.  But  the  difficulty  consists  in  selecting  the 
symptoms  which  are  guiding  or  characteristic  of  this  partic- 
ular case.  Dunham  Sitys:  "To  select  the  remedy  after  a 
masterly  examination  and  record  of  the  case  is  comparatively 
an  easy  matter."  But  to  tq^ke  the  case  after  the  method  of 
Hahnemann,  requires  a  greater  knowledge  of  the  natural 
history  of  disease,  of  human  nature  and  of  the  Materia 
Medica,  than  is  possessed  by  most  of  us. 

But  it  has  been  said  that  this  method  is  "  impracticable,'* 
" inconsistant  with  our  modern  business  ideas,"  "would  be 
impossible  to  do  a  large  business  if  we  wrote  down  the  symp- 
toms, etc.,  etc."  Just  here  is  where  Hahnemann  was  right, 
and  we  are  \^rong.  That  it  is  exact  and  scientific,  no  one 
will  deny.  Can  it  be  put  into  successful  practice?  There  is 
the  rub.  Those  who  have  tried  it,  do  a  large  business  and 
pronounce  it  a  success.  It  is  the  first  attempt  to  reduce  the 
practice  to  a  systematic  basis.     Our  Oculists  have  adopted  it 


470  DYNAMICS  OF  SANITARY  SCIENCE. 

in  their  measurements  of  vision.  Our  general  practitioner 
has  established  his  office  Jumrs,  and  to  those  who  will  give 
Hahnemann's  method  a  trial,  we  predict  its  adoption.  It  is 
not  only  the  most  accurate,  most  scientific,  but  by  far  the 
most  expeditious  method  ever  yet  proposed.  It  will  do 
away  with  routine  prescribing.  It  will  be  the  death-knell 
of  alternation.  It  will  kill  the  gigantic  fraud  known  as 
^'dilutionism,"  because  under  this  plan  our  practitioners  will 
learn  Hahnemann's  great  lesson  that  it  is  upon  the  selection 
of  the  remedy,  not  the  dose — the  perfect  simillimum,  not  the 
attenuation — that  the  cure-work  depends.  h.  c.  a. 


THE  DYNAMICS  OP  SANITARY  SCIENCE. 


OR  THE  RELATION  OF  THE  NATURAL  FORCES  TO  THE   ETIOLOGY 

OF  EPIDEMICS. 


RY  K.  K.  BG«LI8T0N,  M.  D.,  XT.  VEBHOP,  O. 


[Ccnduded/rom  the  January  No.] 

Among  the  various  circumstances  which  may  excite  or 
depress  the  evolution  of  electricity  within  the  body,  may  be 
mentioned  the  ingestion,  or  not,  of  proper  quantities  and 
qualities  of  nutriment;  its  perfect  or  mal-digestion  and  ab- 
sorption; its  complete  or  incomplete  assimilation;  the  prompt 
rejection  or  retention  of  waste,  and  the  conservation  of  the 
force  so  generated.  These  are  important  matters  in  view  of 
the  high  or  low  degree  of  resisting  power  which  is  their  im- 
mediate result,  because  the  body  will  well  or  ill  endure  the 
exciting  or  depressing  external  influences  accordingly.  The 
living  body  is  electrically  positive,  and  so  is  the  atmosphere. 
It  may  be  taken  for  granted  that  if  the  evolution  of  positive 
electricity  in  the  animal  body  is  normal  in  degree,  then,  the 
atmosphere  being  electrically  positive  also,  no  antagonism 
exists  between  them.  But  an  electrically  positive  extreme 
imposed  upon  an  already  positive  object  at  a  mean,  must 
impart  to  it  of  its  abundance,  until  no  antagonism  exists ; 


E.  R.  BOOLESTON.  M.  D.  471 

hence  the  object  becomes  positively  charged  to  an  extreme 
degree.  So,  likewise,  if  a  positive  influence  of  low  degree  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  an  object  at  a  mean,  the  influence 
withdraws  force  from  the  object  until  their  antagonism  dis- 
appears, with  the  result  that  both  are  below  a  mean.  The 
inference  is  plain,  that  the  human  body  being  overcharged 
with  positive  electricity  from  an  extremely  positive  atmos- 
phere, or  having  its  norm  degraded  by  an  atmosphere  of  low 
tension,  loses  in  resisting  power  and  falls  an  easy  victim  to 
pestilential  influences.  For,  whatever  may  be  claimed  and 
admitted  as  regards  extreme  conditions  of  the  atmosphere, 
it  is  beyond  question  that  animal  existences  are  conditioned 
to  a  mean. 

In  general,  much  that  is  true  of  positive  atmospheric 
electricity,  is  also  true  of  negative  Terrestrial  Electricity. 
But  in  special  terms  marked  differences  exist,  and  notably 
so  as  regards  the  relations  of  the  latter  with  animal  life. 
Here  there  are  no  antagonisms,  but  there  are  reciprocities. 
In  the  former  case  we  observed  a  struggle,  so  to  speak,  be- 
tween varying  degrees  of  a  positive  force,  a  struggle  for 
equalization ;  but  in  the  latter  we  have  to  deal  with  both 
positive  and  negative  states,  and  the  struggle  is  for  an  equil- 
ibrium. It  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  positive  electricity  of 
a  living  animal  body  at  a  mean  bears  a  close  reciprocal  rela- 
tionship with  the  negative  electricity  of  the  earth  upon 
which  he  stands,  at  its  mean.  As  long  as  the  equilibrium 
prevails,  or  is  modified  only  by  a  wave-like  oscillation  which 
represents  the  inherent  elasticity  of  the  polar  forces,  no 
marked  disturbances  may  occur  on  this  account,  but  once 
the  boundary  of  elasticity  overreached,  and  the  struggle  be- 
gins. The  animal  frame,  evolving  positive  electricity  and 
receiving  in  kind  from  the  atmosphere,  may  evolve  too  little 
or  receive  too  little,  on  account  of  depressing  conditions  in 
both,  to  preserve  an  equilibrium:  or  the  negative  states  may 
be  overpowering,  or  so  small  in  degree  as  to  almost  lose  their 
counterbalancing  power;  in  either  case,  the  loss  of  equi- 
librium is  the  loss  of  the  conservative  element  which  is  the 


472  D YNAMICS  OF  SANITARY  SCIENCE. 

prime  condition  of  a  healthful  animal  existence.  There 
being  given,  then,  such  conditions  of  least  resistance,  on 
which  are  imposed  other  material  or  immaterial  elements  of 
excitement  or  depression,  are  not  the  requirements  of  pesti- 
lental  activity  more  or  less  completely  met? 

In  the  reciprocal  relations  existing  between  the  electric 
states  of  the  earth  and  its  atmosphere  there  are  elements 
which  may  assist  to  a  comprehension  of  this  matter.  In  the 
outset  it  is  fair  to  assume  the  existence  of  an  equilibrium 
between  these  forces.  Having  previously  assumed  the  pos- 
sibility of  a  state  of  equalization  between  a  positively  elec- 
trified animal  body  and  a  positively  electrified  atmosphere; 
and  that  an  equilibrium  may  exist  between  a  positively  elec- 
trified living  animal  body  and  the  negatively  electrified 
earth  upon  which  he  stands;,  and  that  modifications  of  these 
conditions  which  tax  the  powers  of  resistance  beyond  a  cer- 
tain degree  are  prejudicial  to  animal  existances,  we  now  in- 
quire as  to  the  probable  effect  of  fluctuati  n  electrical  recip- 
rocities. A  chief  characteristic  of  electricity  is  its  unstable- 
ness — that  is,  it  is  in  a  state  of  constant  fluctuation,  or  ebb 
and  flow.  Now  if,  as  seems  to  be  the  fact,  it  be  generally  ac- 
cepted that  solar  heat  is  positive  electricity,  then  it  follows 
that  the  earth  in  absorbing  the  heat  rays  become  less  and 
less  negatively  electrified,  while  at  the  same  time  the  objects 
upon  its  surface  become  more  positively  electrified.  Whether 
it  might  be  within  the  range  of  natural  possibilities  that  the 
unbroken  accession  of  positive  electricity  through  the  solar 
heat  rays  would  at  least  neutralize  negative  states,  may  not 
be  a  question  based  upon  strictly  legitimate  premises,  but 
common  observation  gives  the  hint  for  the  extended  idea,  in 
the  arid,  treeless  desert;  in  the  drooping,  stunted,  fruitless 
vegetation  in  times  of  drought;  and  in  the  lassitude,  weak- 
ness and  prostration,  mental  and  physical,  of  all  animal  life, 
which  obtains  in  seasons  of  excessive  drvness.  Whatever 
the  possibilities  may  be,  the  fact  is  that  the  universal  regu- 
lator, moisture  and  its  evaporation,  are  happily  always  pres- 
ent in  some  degree,  so  that  the  tendency  toward  an  equili- 


E.  R.  EQQLESTOK  M.  D.  473 

brium  finds  in  it  a  means  for  its  accomplishment.  The  pos- 
itive heat  rays  are  poured  upon  the  negative  moist  earth, 
but  instead  of  being  absorbed,  a  large  proportion  is  carried 
back  by  the  vaporization  of  water,  the  absorption  of  the  res- 
idue being  within  the  limit  of  excess.  Other  factors  are  at 
hand  as  means  to  preserve  an  equilibrium :  Darkness— or 
the  absence  of  solar  rays;  so  much  of  positive  electricity  as 
has  been  absorbed  during  the  presence  of  heat  rays  is  parted 
with  again  to  the  atmosphere,  to  further  evaporation,  and  to 
the  uses  of  organic  formations ;  vegetable  growth,  vast  quan- 
tities of  electrical  energy  being  exhausted  in  these  processes. 
Students  of  meteorology  are  well  aware  that  during  what  is 
known  as  high  barometer,  or  high  pressure,  when  cooler  puri- 
fied air  is  being  poured  down  upon  the  earth's  surface  from 
the  upper  regions,  that  a  more  highly  positive  condition  of 
the  atmosphere  obtains.  Of  course,  then,  the  upward  cur- 
rents, which  are  displaced,  and  which  are  loaded  with  moist- 
ure and  poisonous  materials,  have  had  their  positive  state 
neutralized,  and  the  more  so  the  longer  the  air  has  remained 
in  contact  with  the  earth's  surfae.  There  being  por- 
tions of  the  earth's  surface  whose  meteorological  state 
is  that  of  perpetual  high  barometer,  others  that  of  per- 
petual low  barometer,  still  others  where  it  is  periodically 
high  or  low,  and  again  others  where  there  is  constant  fluc- 
tuation, it  may  be  appreciated,  by  inference,  at  least,  what  a 
tremendous  tax  is  laid  upon  animal  life,  the  resisting  powers 
of  which  are  conditioned  to  a  mean.  The  animal  whose 
habitat  falls  within  range  of  these  barometrical  variations 
might  become  habituated,  doubtless,  to  the  new  condition 
if  it  were  perpetuated  sufficiently,  but  just  there  is  the  difficul- 
ty, it  does  not  perpetuate  itself;  but  instead,  this  extreme  may 
be  followed  almost  immediately  by  the  other.  Under  such 
conditions  animal  life  necessarily  loses  in  resisting  power. 
There  being  given,  then,  the  struggle  of  animal  life  to  equal- 
ize its  electric  state  with  that  of  a  positive  atmosphere ;  its 
struggle  toward  an  equilibrium  with  the  negative  electric 
earth;  its  struggle  to   maintain  harmoxdoxiLB  TcS^\A»ti'&  ^^K^ 


474  D  YNAM1C8  OF  SANITAR  Y  SCIENCE. 

the  fluctuating  high  and  low  degrees  of  electric  tension 
which  exist  between  the  earth  and  atmosphere ;  then  if  to 
these  conditions  there  be  added  other  elements  which  shall 
prejudicially  excite  or  depress,  are  not  the  predisposing  fac- 
tors for  epidemic  activity  present  in  a  degree  that  shall  de- 
termine an  outbreak  ? 

As  preliminary  to  a  study  of  the  eflects  of  electricity 
upon  an  animal  body,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  it  is 
charged  positively  to  its  norm,  and  in  that  state  its  charge  i^ 
not  phenomenal,  becoming  so  only  as  the  charge  is  increased 
or  decreased,  so  that  its  range  is  above  or  below  the  norm. 
Let  it  be  borne  in  mind,  also,  that  it  is  only  positive  elec- 
tricity which  is  appropriated,  the  efiect  of  negative  electricity 
being  of  a  neutralizing  character  exclusively. 

Positive  electricity  has  the  property  of  a  general  stimulant 
Like  other  stimuli,  the  stage  of  excitement,  irom  either  an 
overdose  or  a  too  prolonged  application  of  it,  may  run  over 
into  spasmodic  action,  hyperesthesia,  anaesthesia,  paresis  or 
paralysis.  It  may  be  inferred  that  active  or  hyperasthenic 
inflammatory  aflections  are  made  possible,  because  the  body 
is  electro-positive  in  excess.  On  the  other  hand,  negative 
electricity  has  the  property  of  a  general  depressant.  Under 
its  action,  and  because  of  its  abstracting,  power,  all  of  the 
bodily  functions  are  performed  less  vigorously  in  proportion 
to  the  loss  of  positive  power.  It  is  to  be  inferred,  then,  that 
when  adynamia,  zymosis  and  sepsis  characterize  the  type  of 
prevailing  diseases,  it  is  because  the  conditions  are — not 
electro-negative,  but  of  a  positive  grade  below  the  norm, 
and  that  in  proportion  to  the  abstraction  or  neutralization  of 
positive  electricity. 

In  making  these  distinctions  I  hope  it  is  observed  that 
emphasis  is  laid  upon  this  proposition:  That  no  such  thing 
as  a  negatively-electrified  living  animal  body  exists  or  can 
exist.  It  is  as  well  to  say  that  under  certain  circumstances 
the  absorptive  and  secretory  organs  have  exchanged  their 
functions;  as  well  to  say  that  the  circulatory  fluids  are  inter- 
changeable, as  between  arteries,  veins  and  lymphatics;  or 


E.  R.  EGQLESTON.  M,  D,  475 

that  the  biliary  secretion  may  act  as  a  solvent  of  albumi- 
noids. Such  anomalies  have  no  existence;  then  why  the 
claim  that  so  anomalous  a  phenomenon  may  present  itself 
as  that  of  a  being  which  has  a  prime  condition  of  its  exis- 
tence an  electro-positive  state,  may  under  any  sort  of  cir- 
cumstance, have  its  prime  condition  changed  to  a  diametrical 
opposite? 

The  process  of  abstraction  or  neutralization  of  positive 
electricity  results  in  chemical  changes,  which  are  those  of 
decomposition — dissolution;  hence  they  are  electrolytic,  and 
are  representative  of  diseases  of  degenerative  type.  It  is 
true  that  over-charges  by  positive  electricity  likewise  result 
in  degenerative  changes,  and  the  criticism  might  be  urged 
that  retrograde  metamorphoses  being  characteristic  effects  of 
either  class  of  phenomena,  the  distinction  is  a  practicable 
one,  but  I  think  upon  reference  to  some  other  recognized 
conditions  it  will  appear  to  be  not  well-founded,  for  the  latter 
will  be  seen  to  be  consecutive  to  previous  stages  of  exaltation. 
Defective  nutrition  or  non-use  of  an  organ  eventuates  in 
hyper-sensitiveness,  functional  degradation,  powerlessness, 
and  atrophy,  successively;  over-nutrition  or  over-stimulation 
of  an  organ  eventuates  in  hyper-sensitiveness,  functional 
degradation,  powerlessness,  and  atrophy,  also  successively. 
Why,  then,  is  the  premise  unsound,  that  hyper-excitation 
by  positive  electricity,  and  electro-positive  abstraction  by 
negative  states,  should  each  result  in  annihilation  of  vital- 
ity, and  that  through  a  series  composed  of  the  same  steps, 
but  by  opposite  directions?  Another  good  illustration  of 
the  point  involved  may  be  found  in  the  trophic  changes  in- 
cident to  some  affections  of  the  spinal  cord,  the  same  or  a 
similar  degeneration  resulting  from  either  atrophic  or  hyper- 
trophic diseases.  Now  mark  the  stage  of  these  processes  at 
which  the  peculiar  epidemic  disease  element  finds  its  proper 
nidus  or  the  peculiar  elements  necessary  to  its  development.  In 
conditions  representing  the  abstraction  or  neutralization  of  pos- 
itive by  negative  electricity,  it  is  at  that  point  where  the  vital 
resistance  is  unequal  to  the  onsetting  morbid  fote^\  vci  ^iiyck- 


476  TOTALIl  Y  AND  INDl VID UALITY. 

ditions  representing  electro-poBitive  force  in  excess,  it  is  at 
that  point  where  the  vital  resistance  is  unequal  to  the  onset- 
ting  morbid  force.     They  are  precisely  the  same. 

TOTALITY  AND  INDIVIDUALITY. 


VERIFICATIONS. 


BT  J.  T.  KENT.  M.  D..  ST.  LOUIS,  MISSOURI. 


Cask  L— Thuya:  A  lady  who  suffered  from  sycotic  ex- 
crescences became  reduced  from  repeated  hemorrhages.  When 
she  would  go  for  some  time  without  the  loss  of  much  blood 
her  totality  of  symptoms  was  similar  to  Thuya,  but  an  ex- 
haustive flow  would  add  several  symptoms  to  the  original 
picture  and  mask  the  individuality  of  the  true  chronic  dis- 
order. One  symptom  in  particular  was  a  cold  feeling  in  the 
left  side  of  the  head;  another,  cold  damp  feet.  These  would 
make  a  young  man  most  naturally  tliink  of  Calcarea,  but  a 
closer  study  must  result  in  a  conclusion  that  Calcarea  could 
only  result  in  a  failure  to  cure  until  Thuya  had  removed  the 
sycoctic  nature  of  the  disorder.  The  cold  sensation  is  not 
found  under  Thuya,  but  the  case  made  a  good  recovery,  be- 
cause it  was  similar  to  the  ruling  features  of  the  case.  Now 
because  Thuya  removed  the  individuality  of  a  case  with  the 
cold  left  side  of  the  head,  it  is  no  sign  it  will  even  remove 
that  symptom.  It  only  shows  that  the  individuality  of  a 
disease  must  be  known;  such  information  is  best  acquired  by 
observation  in  the  wilderness  of  s\^mptomatology.  The  path- 
ologist might  score  this  as  a  victory  for  himself,  but  he  only 
has  learned  it  from  a  careful  individualization  of  symptoms. 

When  the  evidence  of  a  chronic  miasm  is  suppressed  by 
acute  symptoms,  the  acute  symptoms  should  be  removed  by 
a  remedy  corresponding  to  the  acute  or  last  appearing  symp- 
toms, after  which  the  individuality  of  the  chronic  miasm  will 
be  manifested  by  its  true  expressions  or  symptoms.  These 
little  things  were  well  known  to  the  great  Hahnemann,  and 
are  taught  in  the  Organon  and  Chronic  diseases. 


J,  T,  KENT,  M.  D.  477 

No  Homoeopathist  can  make  a  truly  homoeopathic  pre- 
scription when  the  individuality  of  a  disease  is  unknown,  or 
only  partly  known.  The  individuality  can  only  be  known 
by  observing  and  knowing  all  the  symptoms.  When  a 
woman  calls  for  treatment  with  a  pesSary  in  her  vagina,  she 
will  most  likely  fail  to  obtain  a  correct  remedy  because  her 
symptoms  are  masked  or  changed  so  that  the  totality  does 
not  express  the  individuality  of  the  disease.  The  pessary 
should  be  removed,  and  the  disease  permitted  to  express  it- 
self in  the  language  so  well  known  to  every  true  Homoeo- 
pathist. After  a  we^k  the  symptoms  will  most  likely  express 
the  individuality,  in  its  totality  of  symptoms,  and  then  an 
appropriate  remedy  can  be  found.  There  is  no  other  way 
known.  These  things  were  all  known  to  the  great  Hahne- 
mann. The  ignorant  pretenders  use  supporters  and  smile  at 
the  Organon,  and  go  on  with  their  failures;  they  seem  to 
glory  in  their  ignorance  of  the  true  heahng  art. 

The  physician  who  does  not  individualize  uses  Morphine 
to  stop  pain  and  reports  his  ignorance  to  the  society,  having 
the  audacity  to  ask  What  remedy  he  should  have  used.  The 
question  asked,  no  less  than  the  failure,  shows  that  he  is  not 
acquainted  with  the  teachings  of  the  Organon,  Each  case 
must  be  studied  with  a  view  of  its  own  individuality.  The 
physician  who  is  not  competent  to  direct  the  appropriate 
remedy  is  not  acquainted  with  the  individuality  of  his  case ; 
and  with  such  ignorance  of  his  case,  how  can  even  a  more 
competent  physician  inform  him  what  an  appropriate  remedy 
might  be?  The  questioner  could  prescribe  for  his  own  case 
as  a  general  thing  if  he  would  individualize  correctly.  These 
are  the  ones  who  are  wise  enough  to  direct  remedies  on  their 
knowledge  of  pathology,  only  to  fail,  and  then  have  the 
audacity  to  jisk  for  the  right  remedy  to  be  pointed  out. 

Case  II. — Murex  Pur:  Mrs.  K — aged  40,  a  midwife. 
She  complained  of  the  abdomen;  she  believed  she  had  a 
tumor.  Severe  knife-cutting  in  region  of  uterus  running  up 
to  left  mamma;  pains,  undefined,  running  up  and  through 
the  pelvis,  worse  lying  down;  aching  in  thesacnuxv^dx^i^Ti*^ 


478  TOTALITY  AND  INDIVIDUALITY. 

down  in  the  uterine  region  as  if  the  uterus  would  escape. 
Empty,  "all-gone"  feeling  in  the  stomach.  Greenish-yellow 
leucorrhoea,  with  itching  in  labia  and  mons  veneris;  intense 
sexual  desire.  The  os  uteri  was  said  to  be  ulcerated  and 
eroded,  and  it  was  sensitive  to  touch.  The  contact  of  the 
finger  with  the  cervix  brought  on  the  sharp  pain  that  she  de- 
scribed as  running  to  the  left  mamma.  The  uterus  was  en- 
larged and  indurated.  She  had  been  the  mother  of  several 
children  ;  had  had  several  abortions,  and  was  accustomed  to 
hard  work.  Slie  had  been  treated  locally  by  a  specialist  of 
acknowledged  ability,  and  she  had  taken  many  remedies  of 
his  selection  as  well  as  from  her  own  medicine  case,  all  very 
low.     Her  catamenia  quite  normal. 

To  take  up  the  important  and  guiding  features  of  this 
case  we  must  compare  several  remedies,  but  principally 
Murex  and  Sepia. 

The  cutting  pain  in  the  uterus  has  been  found  under 
Ourare,  Murex  and  Sepia,  but  Murex  is  the  only  one  pro- 
ducing a  cutting  pain  in  the  uterus  going  to  the  left 
mamma. 

The  "all-gone,"  empty  feeling  in  the  stomach  is  character- 
istic of  both  Murex,  Phos.  and  Sepia. 

Throbbing  in  the  uterus,  belongs  only  to  Murex.  The 
dragging  down  is  common  to  both  Murex  and  Sepia,  but  the 
sexual  teasing  only  to  Murex.  Both  have  a  yellowish  green 
leucorrhoea.  Pain  in  sacrum  is  common  to  Murex,  Sepia  and 
many  others.  "Enlargement  of  bowels"  is  found  in  Allen 
under  Murex,  not  mentioned  in  Minton's  Uterine  Therapeutics. 
The  pains  in  Murex  go  upward  and  through,  worse  while 
lying  down.  In  Sepia  the  patient  is  better  lying  down,  and 
the  pains  go  around. 

Murex  200,  one  dose  was  given.  She  was  much  worse 
for  several  days.  Then  improvement  went  on  for  two  weeks. 
The  remedy  was  again  repeated.  One  year  later  she  com- 
plained of  a  return  of  her  symptoms.  One  dose  was  followed 
by  relief,  since  which  time  she  has  made  no  complaint,  but 
praises  the  individualizing  method. 


/.  T.  KENT,  M.  D.  470 

Case  III. — Silicba  :  Frank  H ,  a  compositor  in  the 

Olobe-DenwcrcU  oflSce,  St.  Louis,  came  to  my  office  to  have  a 
tumor  removed  by  the  knife.  It  had  been  removed  twice 
and  was  called  a  recurrent  fibroid.  It  was  the  size  of  a  hen's 
egg,  and  very  hard,  located  in  the  left  side  of  the  neck,  not 
connected  with  the  parotid,  though  growing  a  little  below  it. 
I  advised  him  to  give  me  time  to  prepare  him  for  removal.  I 
took  his  symptoms  and  found  that  he  was  better  by  wrap- 
ping up  even  the  head.  He  was  timid  in  going  into  a  new 
enterprise,  though  abundantly  able  to  perform  the  task.  He 
l/icked  confidence  in  his  oum  ability^  yet  when  he  had  begun  he 
wovid  do  well. 

He  took  Silicea,  5m.,  April  1, 1883.  Six  weeks  later  he 
called,  and  the  tumor  was  reduced  one  half.  Sil.  72m.  dry, 
one  dose.  Six  weeks  later  almost  gone.  January  23,  1884, 
Sil.  72m.,  one  dose.  The  tumor  has  disappeared.  This  pre- 
scribing has  been  commented  on  by  a  large  number  of  friends, 
who  think  the  one  dose  business  a  mystery.  He  got  no  Sac. 
Ijac,  as  I  had  his  confidence.  I  did  not  prescribe  for  the 
tumor,  but  the  patient.  My  prescription  could  not  have  been 
different  had  the  tumor  not  been  present. 

The  tumor  was  not  included  in  the  totality  of  symptoms 
as  it  was  not  a  symptom ;  it  furnished  no  part  of  the  guide  to 
a  remedy.  The  symptoms  expressive  of  the  whole  state  ex- 
isted prior  to  the  tumor,  and  it  was  the  language  of  this  pre- 
existing state  that  I  must  read,  as  out  of  this  pre-existing 
state  grew  the  tumor.  I  must  interpret  the  language  or  ex- 
pressions of  cause,  not  effect.  The  man  who  is  guided  by  path- 
ology can  use  the  knife.  To  use  the  knife  is  but  to  acknowl- 
edge one's  ignorance  of  a  method,  by  which  he  can  avoid 
cutting. 

Case  IV. — Phosphorus  :   Mrs.  G ,  widow,  42  years  of 

age,  was  afflicted  with  periodical  attacks  of  Choreic  Spasms. 
I  called  at  the  house  one  day  and  removed  a  tumor  from  the 
hand  of  her  mother,  and  the  excitement  brought  on  the  most 
intense  spasmodic  jerking  of  the  whole  body.  Whenever  a 
thunder  stomi  is  raging  she  hcu  these  attacks,  said  her  mother. 


480  TOTALITY  A  ND  INDI VID  UA  LITY. 

They  last  two  or  three  hours.  I  administered  Phos.  5m.  dry, 
one  dose.  Thuoder  does  not  affect  her  now.  She  never  had 
another  attack.  Her  whole  constitution  and  mental  state 
have  changed.  She  considered  herself  an  invalid  and  ex- 
pected no  relief. 

Casp:  V. — Sepia  :   Mrs.  K ,  a  married  woman,  28  years 

old,  came  to  me  from  the  country,  with  what  a  gynecologist 
had  called  a  prolapsus.  She  was  a  tall,  slim  woman,  other- 
wise in  good  health.  She  was  wearing  a  Hodge  pessary.  She 
could  not  walk  or  stand  long  without  her  *'  ring."  She  came 
to  the  office  in  a  carriage.  I  removed  the  ring  and  gave  her 
Sac.  lac.  At  the  end  of  a  week  I  had  noted  the  following 
symptoms : 

The  urine  passed  slowly,  and  she  must  wait  a  long  time 
for  it  to  start.  Sepia.,  Lycop.,  Arn.,  Hepar,  Zinc,  Cann.,  ind. 
She  was  greatly  constipated,  and  always  felt  a  lump  in  the 
rectum,  even  after  stool,  Sepia.  She  complained  of  a  hungry, 
empty  feeling  in  the  stomach,  Sepia,  Murex,  Ign.  Hydrastis 
and  many  others. 

She  always  had  a  bearing  down  in  the  pelvis,  as  if  tho 
uterus  would  issue  from  the  vagina.  Sepia,  Murex,  Lilliuni 
tig,  Nux,  Natr.,  Puis,  etc.  She  must  press  on  the  valva  with 
a  napkin  for  relief.  Sepia,  Murex,  Lillium.  She  often  crosses 
her  limbs  to  prevent  the  uterus  from  escaping,  Sepia.  Tall 
slim  and  sallow.  Sepia.  She  got  Sepia  C.  M.  (Fincke),  one 
dose  dry  and  Sac.  lac.  It  is  three  years  since  this  case  called, 
and  she  has  never  needed  a  physician  since;  she  was  an  in- 
valid before.    The  one  dose  cured  her. 

Case  VI. — Lillium  tig:  The  above  ladv  went  home 
and  sent  me  a  similar  case.  She  called  it  '^a  case  just  like 
mine."  She  was  a  short  stout  woman,  dark  hair  and  eyes. 
She  had  worn  a  Hodge  pessary  for  a  year.  She  was  unable 
to  be  about  at  housework,  without  the  pessary.  I  removed 
the  pessary  and  informed  her  that  she  would  need  to  visit 
my  oflBce  every  day  for  a  week  or  so.  She  was  given  Sac.  lac. 
and  every  day  I  noted  symptoms,  until  at  the  end  of  a  week 
I  believed  I  had  the  symptoms  that  expressed  the  indivi- 


BELLADONNA  IN  TOBACCO  POISONING.  481 

duality  of  the  disease.  The  most  marked  feature  was  her 
mental  state.  The  repiedy  that  would  cure  this  case  must 
have  mental  symptoms  of  prominence  in  its  picture.  She 
complained  of  a  wild  feeling  in  the  head,  and  feared  she 
would  lose  her  reason,  Lillium.  Bearing  down  in  the  pelvis 
as  if  the  uterus  would  protrude,  Sepia,  Lillium,  Murex, 
Natr.,  m.,  Nux.,  v.,  Puis,  Pod,  and  others.  She  must  press 
on  tlie  vulva  with  the  hand  to  prevent  the  parts  from  pro- 
truding, Lillium,  Sepia,  Murex.  There  were  some  flying 
pains  going  through  the  [>elvis  and  down  the  thigh  like  those 
found  in  Lillium.  She  took  Lillium  tig,  30,  for  a  day  in 
water,  and  then  Sac.  one  week.  She  had  then  improved  so 
much  that  she  had  walked  over  the  Zo5logical  garden, 
which  she  had  not  undertaken  even  with  the  pessary  in  situ. 
She  was  sent  home  with  a  few  powders  of  Lillium  200,  to  use 
as  per  instructions,  viz.,  to  be  used  when  she  felt  a  return  of 
the  difficulty.  One  year  later  she  wrote  me  that  she  had 
taken  one  of  the  powders,  and  was  keeping  the  others  with 
great  care.  For  this  last  case  I  was  presented  with  a  check 
of  $50,  over  and  after  the  full  payment  for  my  services.  The 
husband  said  it  was  the  cheapest  doctor  bill  he  had  been 
called  to  pay.  One  g3'n8ecologi8t  had  receipted  a  bill  for 
$2(X),  and  this  was  but  a  small  part  of  the  "«fcA;  expenses,^' 
It  may  not  pay  as  well  to  practice  pure  homoeopathy,  but  it 
is  the  honest  way. 

BELLADONNA  IN  TOBACCO  POISONING. 


The  efficacy  of  Belladonna,  in  bad  effects  from  smoking, 
was  grapliically  demonstrated  to  the  writer  by  the  following 
incident  in  the  army,  he  being  at  the  time  (1862)  hospita- 
steward  of  the  27th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  in  winter  quar- 
ters at  Hunter's  Chapel,  Va. 

One  afternoon  the  orderly  sergeant  of  Company  C  called 
at  the  tent  of  the  assistant  surgeon  of  the  regiment,  the  late 
Dr.  Max  Heller,  almost  beside  himself  with  a  furious  head- 
ache.    He  stated  that  having  made  a  bet  of  being  able  to 


♦82  CLINICAL  VERIFICATIONS. 

pmoke  ten  strong  cigars  within  one  hour,  he  did  smoke  eight 
in  forty-five  minutes,  when  a  furious  headache  compelled  him 
to  desist.  Being  present  at  the  time  in  the  tent,  Dr.  Heller 
turned  around  to  the  writer  remarking:  "See  here,  Adolphus, 
give  him  some  of  your  pellets;  I  cannot  do  anything  for 
him."  I  had  a  pocket  case  of  two  hundredth  potencies  along, 
and  inexperienced  as  I  was  at  the  time,  gave  the  man  six  pel- 
lets of  Belladonna**,  dry  on  the  tongue.  Within  less  than 
fifteen  minutes  the  sergeant  called  again,  and  a  more  aston- 
ished face  I  never  saw  before.  He  protested  that  the  pain 
had  ceased  entirely,  and  wanted  to  know  what  wonderful 
medicine  I  had  given  him.  Since  then  I  have  had  frequently 
occasion  to  administer  Bell,  for  bad  effects  from  smoking,  and 
invariably  with  good  success.       A.  .J.  T.  in  Jan.  BvUetin. 

(CLINICAL  VERIFICATIONS. 


BY    D.    B.    MORROW,  M.    D.,  SHERMAN,  TEX. 


[f  observant  homoeopathic  physicians  would  truthfully 
collect  their  clinical  experiences,  the  virtues  of  homoeopa- 
thic medicine  would  be  so  well  deifined  as  to  make  its  prac- 
tise a  pleasure.  This  they  do  not  do,  but  are  homoeopathic 
quacks.  ''As  much  an  allopath  as  an  homoeopath,  using  the 
most  appropriate  system,  &c,"  read  none,  think  little,  spend 
most  of  their  time  telling  Maunchausen  stories  of  their  won- 
derful cures,  and  never  add  anything  to  the  general  stock  of 
knowledge. 

Case  i. — Variolinum:  During  the  winter  of  1882  and 
1883,  we  had  here  a  little  small-pox  epidemic,  the  allopathic 
city  physician  treated  all  the  cases  (excepting  one  which  oc- 
curred in  the  practice  of  Dr.  H.  C.  Morrow,)  and  mistreated 
that  one,  as  he  probably  did  all  the  others,  since  one-third  of 
all  the  cases  died. 

Georgie  Upton,  a  child  of  five  years,  not  vaccinated,  seized 
with  fever  and  violent  spasms,  for  which  I  prescribed  as  in- 
dicated, small-pox  a  square  away,  but  no  chance  to  take  it. 


D.  B.  MORROW,  M.  D,  483 

The  fifth  day  an  eruption  was  out,  saw  it  with  Dr.  H.  C.  M., 
the  blisters  were  thick  and  confluent  in  many  places,  palms, 
soles,  throat,  and  pallate— fever  subsided,  and  child  comfort- 
able. Only  one  of  the  family  of  five  had  been  vaccinated. 
The  mother  had  a  child  in  arms  ;  were  poor,  living  in  two 
small  rooms;  and  because  of  the  opposition  in  our  clientage  to 
our  visiting  thiem  while  attending  small-pox  patients,  we 
determined  to  turn  the  case  over  to  Dr.  VV.  the  city  physi- 
cian. 

We  had  a  third  trituration  of  Variolinum,  from  Luytie's 
which  had  been  standing  uncorked  in  a  drawer  for  a  year,  of 
this  a  small  portion  was  dissolved  in  aqua  dest.  and  diluted 
in  alcohol,  making  a  fifth  potency ;  of  this  potency  we  gave 
ten  drops  in  a  small  glass  of  water,  and  administered  two 
teaspoonsful  to  every  member  of  the  family,  and  left  a  small 
bottle  of  Swan's  c.  m.  m.  potency  of  Variolinum  with  the  re- 
quest that  tliey  administer  another  doso  before  Dr.  W.  was 
called.  This  they  did  not  do.  And  with  the  further  request 
that  when  Dr.  W.  abandoned  the  cjise,  this  medicine  should 
be  administered,  a  dose  each  hour  until  better.  Then  a  dose 
every  three  or  four  hours  until  recovery  was  assured,  when 
it  was  to  bo  discontinued. 

The  city  Dr.  confirmed  our  diagnosis;  pronounced  it  the 
worst  case  he  had  seen,  and  vaccinated  the  family,  and  they 
said  '*it  took;"  but  of  this  latter  statement  we  are  doubtful, 
because  wo  liave  done  considerable  vaccinating  here  and 
have  vet  to  see  a  health v  vaccine  pox. 

A  time  arrivetl  in  the  progress  of  this  case  when  Dr.  W. 
said,  "all  that  can  be  done  for  tlie  child  is  nursing,"  and  the 
nurse  said  "he  can't  live  until  morning,"  and  went  to  attend 
to  other  cases.  Then  Mr.  Upton  gave  the  Variolinum  as  di- 
rected. He  said  tliat  in  twenty  minutes  after  the  first  dose,  the 
child  was  bettor,  and  in  an  liour  he  considered  him  out  of 
danger;  patient  made  a  good  recovery,  but  was  badly 
marked  about  the  nose  and  mouth.  The  worst  feature  was 
in  the  throat.  There  was  no  bad  odor  about  the  patient  dur- 
ing dessication.     Mr.  U.  had  two  very  small  sores  ou  \x\& 


484  CLINICAL  VERIFICATIONS, 

head,  supposed  to  have  been  varioloid.  None  of  the  other 
members  of  the  family  had  any  disease  whatever,  while  all 
other  vaccinated  parties  who  were  exposed,  had  varioloid. 
The  facts  in  the  case  made  all  the  old  women  in  the  neigh- 
borhood deny  that  it  was  small-pox. 

Case  ii. — Thuya:  Mrs.  George  Piere,  wife,  second  hus- 
band, aged  35,  sanguine,  red  hair,  emaciated,  had  a  severe 
neuralgia  over,  and  in,  and  about  left  eye;  had  suffered  for 
several  weeks  continually.  Her  allopathic  doctors  said  noth- 
ing could  be  done  but  to  take  large  doses  of  Morphine  and 
Quinine,  and  to  keep  on  taking  it.  The  domestic  doctor  of  the 
neighborhood  was  dosing  her  on  Chlorate  of  potassa,  for  a 
sore  throat.  Eye  bandaged,  could  bear  no  light.  Relieved 
the  pain  in  about  five  minutes  by  means  of  magnetic  passes, 
so  that  she  stripped  off  the  bandage  and  looked  straight  into 
the  flame  of  a  kerosene  lamp  without  pain,  and  had  the  first 
good  sleep  that  night  for  weeks.  At  a  subsequent  visit  in 
daylight,  she  said :  "  Now  there  are  my  hands."  The  palms 
were  exfoliated,  hacked,  bleeding  and  sore.  Said  it  must 
have  come  from  vaccine  some  years  before,  when  she  had  a 
very  sore  arm,  and  since  then  had  been  troubled  with  sore 
bunches  about  the  rectum  and  genitalia,  which  one  of  the 
doctors  had  once  removed  with  scissors.  These  were  not 
now  present.  Hands  and  neuralgia  worse  ever  since.  Thuja 
200,  followed  by  Sulph.  200,  and  Arsenic  200,  quite  restored 
her  to  health. 

Case  hi. — Apts-Syphilinum:  Letta  Keam.  This  was  a 
bright  little  girl  of  5  years,  enjoyed  usual  good  health  with 
the  exception  of  enlarged  and  irritable  tonsils.  Had  just 
recovered  from  a  mild  tonsilitis,  when  her  father  who  was 
preaching  in  "  the  Territory,"  obtained  some  good  scab  from 
a  good  Indian  brother,  and  on  his  return  to  the  bosom  of 
his  family  vaccinated  them  all.  There  was  a  snow  fall  and 
the  family  was  exposed  incident  to  packing  for  a  move  to  the 
Territory.  Mr.  K.  called  for  croup  medicine.  Aconite  was 
sent.  Next  day  was  summoned  to  the  case.  Feverish,  a 
croupy  cough,  tongue  indicated  mercury.    Tonsils  much  en- 


/>.  B.  MORRO  W,  M.  D.  485 

larged  and  tender,  rubbed  her  nose,  ground  her  teeth,  Jind 
had  slight  perspirations.  Her  palms  were  in  much  the  same 
condition  as  Mrs.  P's,  only  not  so  sore  (pityriasis  palmaris). 
Mercurins  iod.  and  Bell,  reduced  the  tonsils;  Kali  bich.  Phoa. 
Aconite,  Hepar  sul.  Spongia,  were  of  no  use  and  she  died  of 
asphyxia  after  fresh  cold  caused  by  '*the  old  women  remov- 
ing two  or  three  flannel  wraps  while  she  was  sweaty."  All 
the  family  were  sick  with  their  arms.  Mere.  iod.  relieved 
them,  but  the  other  two  children  still  had  a  croupy  cough. 
At  this  time  my  attention  was  called  to  the  palms  which  were 
just  getting  sore.  It  came  as  a  watery  blister,  and  spread 
until  the  ejndermis  was  thrown  off*.  On  this  indication  I  gave 
Apis  and  followed  with  Arsenicum.  Recovery  was  speedy. 
It  is  probable  a  similar  condition  to  the  palms  existed  in  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  larynx  of  LetUi,  and  that  a  few 
doses  of  Apis  would  have  saved  her  life.  The  family  re- 
turned to  allopathy.  Other  cases  might  be  narrated,  but 
enough  to  show  that  vjiccine  may  be  worse  than  small-pox. ' 
and  that  Variolium  in  any  potency  is  in  my  opinion  a  much 
safer  and  more  certain  ])rophylactic.  There  is  a  form  of 
pemphigus  prevalent  here,  looks  like  a  pock,  is  often  con- 
fluent, and  persistently  reappears.  Treated  a  year  and  lost 
my  reputation  trying  to  cure  a  family  of  five  who  all  had  it, 
with  non-specific  medicine,  becoming  more  disgusted  than 
they.  I  gave  Thuja  200,  all  went,  but  returned.  I  then  gave 
Swan's  Syphilinuin  c.  m.  m.,  a  few  doses,  and  that  pemphigus 
was  cured.  The  family  claims  it  to  be  from  impure  vaccine, 
but  the  large  quantit}'  of  '*  Old  Adam"  inherited  may  be  an 
equally  good  explanation. 

Cask  iv. — Stkangulatkd  Ovary  :  S.  Thomas,  aged  25. 
brunette,  grass  widow,  one  child,  deceased.  Suffered  much 
with  pains  at  the  monthly  nisua.  Lay  crouched  up  like  a 
dog  for  four  or  ^ve  days.  Severe  pains  in  left  side,  which 
extended  to  back  and  chest,  chills  and  a  great  deal  of  nau- 
sea. Ipecac,  relieved  ;  indicated  by  the  nausea  and  a 
wheezy  bronchial  cough.  Not  so  bad  at  next  month,  yet 
painful.     Had  a  hernia  at  the  left  inguinal  rinj^.    Pl^^efc^  wv 


486  CLINICAL  VERIFICATIONS. 

her  back  the  hernia  disappeared,  but  pain  continued.  In- 
troducing my  finger  through  the  ring,  could  feel  at  top  a 
round,  smooth,  firm  little  body,  very  sensitive,  and  made 
the  patient  retch  and  gag  painfully  when  I  pressed  upon  it. 
Diagnosing  this  as  the  left  ovary  caught  in  the  ring.  I  flexed 
the  limb  to  remove  as  much  tension  as  possible  and  reduced 
it.  No  pain  or  nausea  at  any  subsequent  period.  Several 
other  doctors  had  treated  this  case  a  long  time  and  two 
or  three  had  fitted  trusses  on  to  that  ovary,  which,  of  course 
could  not  be  worn.  All  these  cases  live  in  the  city  of  Sher- 
man, Texas. 

Case  v. — Arsenicum:  Mrs.  S.  M.  J.,  aged  65,  a  grand- 
mother. Had  suffered  a  long  time,  some  fifteen  years,  with 
ill  health,  some  trouble  about  the  genitalia.  Had  been  ex- 
amined numerous  times  by  different  doctors  and  operated 
upon  with  only  temporary  relief.  Disgusted  with  doctors, 
had  settled  down  to  be  sick  until  she  died ;  but  through  the 
urgency  of  her  daughter  and  other  friends  in  our  clientage, 
concluded  to  try  me,  but  would  not  be  examined. 

Got  a  good  rehearsal  of  symptoms,  most  remembered 
during  all  those  years.  Dizziness,  in  bud  or  out  wjls  promi- 
nent, sudden  smotherings  in  the  house,  doors  and  windows 
had  to  be  thrown  open.  Had  ague  a  great  deal.  The  trouble 
was  a  small  tumor  with  a  sinus  that  discharged  a  watery 
fluid  all  the  time.  Urine  burned  and  scalded,  and  was  inter- 
mittent, and  parts  looked  blue  to  her.  Gave  Ars.  as  anti- 
dote to  ague,  medicine  and  dyscrasia,  followed  by  Sulph. 
Cornin  and  Silicia.  Steadily  improved,  "  better  than  for 
years"  &c.  Was  treated  by  letter.  A  year  later,  while  visit- 
ing her  daughter,  she  permitted  me  to  examine,  and  I  found 
a  small  polypus  growing  from  the  mouth  of  the  urethra. 
She  said  it  had  grown  much  smaller  under  treatment.  I 
snipped  it  ofi"  with  small  scissors,  and  she  declared  herself 
cured. 

Case  vi. — Maggie  B.,  blonde,  delicate,  small.  Returned 
from  boarding  school  at  St.  Louis,  sick.  Had  always  employed 
a  homceopathic  physician ;  was  now  forty  miles  from  one,  so 


Z).  B,  MORROW,  M.  D.  487 

an  allopath  was  called  by  the  mother,  but  Maggie  refused  to 
take  the  medicine  (very  properly).  So  Dr.  H.  C.  M.  was 
called.  Found  her  suffering  from  a  fever,  with  complete 
stoppage  of  urine,  with  small  ulcers  in  the  labia  and  all  the 
parts  very  sensitive.  He  drew  the  urine  with  a  catheter ; 
administered  what  seemed  necessary  and  returned  to  town. 
He  could  not  leave  other  patients  again  so  I  visited  her. 
Found  her  still  suffering;  could  not  introduce  catheter  be- 
cause of  extreme  sensitiveness  and  a  spasm  of  spincter  that, 
as  the  mother  said,  was  like  pushing  against  a  bone.  Admin- 
istered chloroform,  which  relieved  spasm  of  spincter,  and 
urine  was  all  voided.  She  urined  and  complained;  per- 
spired some.  One  cheek,  hand  and  foot  were  cold,  the  other 
hot.  Puis,  having  these  symptoms,  was  administered  with- 
out relief.  Merc,  and  Ars.  were  no  better.  Caustiem  did  not 
relieve.  Having  to  return  to  town,  was  summoned  back  im- 
mediately. This  time  she  refused  chloroform.  Induced  her 
to  take  a  warm  sitz  bath,  which  was  partially  successful. 
Next  day  I  sat  and  watched  through  the  day.  At  2  p.m.  her 
cheeks  flushed  up  carmine  red,  which  gradually  paled  off 
toward  night.  One  cheek  hot  as  before,  the  other  red  and 
cold.  Tongue  coated  white,  costive,  two  or  three  degrees  of 
fever!  Motion  of  ale.  very  little  if  any  increased.  Admin- 
istered Lycopod.  200  in  water,  and  left  the  room.  In  twenty 
minutes  was  called  by  the  mother.  Maggie  had  voided  the 
urine  naturally,  and  had  a  natural  stool. 

Left  orders  to  give  Lye.  and  Lach.on  alternate  days,  and 
returned  to  town.  Did  not  visit  patient  again.  She  made  a 
good  recovery  in  about  two  weeks.  In  this  case  the  follow- 
ing symptoms  are  confirmed:  Typhoid  fever,  with  consti- 
pation, waking  with  a  peevish  mood,  scolding,  screaming, 
nervous  irritation.  Burning  heat  with  short  breath,  pale  face 
and  starting  while  asleep,  circumscribed  redness  of  face. 
Burning  in  female  urethra  during  micturition,  so  bad  as  to  cause 
her  to  cry  out.  And  the  following  added :  Ulcers  in  labia ; 
liability  to  pass  urine;  one  cheek  cold,  the  other  hot  and  red, 
circumscribed.    Alternating  heat  and   coldness  oC  ^Xx^^^^. 


488  CLINICAL  VERIFICAJIONS. 

One  cold,  the  other  hot.  One  foot  cold  the  other  hot,  the 
patient  not  knowing  it  One  dose  of  Lycopodion  would  have 
probably  cured  the  case  quicker  than  any  more  or  other 
medicine. 

BY   O.  p.  BLATCHLEY,  M.  D.,  PLANO,  ILL. 

Case  I. — Nat.  Muh:  June  30,  1882.  Anthony  O.,  aged 
21.  Ague  18  months  ago  in  Michigan,  was  treated  allopath- 
ically  without  benefit,  changed  climate  three  times,  tried 
many  infallible  cures;  no  relief.  Fever,  tertian,  chill  10  to  11 
a.  m.,  Nat.  niur.  oO.  Complete  cure  as  soon  as  began  the 
remedy;  no  chill  after  first  dose  Sept.,  '83.  Has  had  no  ague 
since. 

Case  II.— Rhus  .Tox  :   Oct.  10, 1882,  Mrs.  L ^  aged  58. 

Five  3' ears  ago  handled  ice;  next  day  could  not  move,  was 
lame;  three  days  later  facial  erysipelas;  three  days  later  ter- 
rible pains  all  over,  and  especially  in  region  of  heart.  Was 
treated  for  about  fi\'t  months  by  the  best  allopath  in  town, 
and  gradually  recovered,  but  never  could  sleep  at  night,  un- 
less under  strong  narcotics.  Must  jump  out  of  bed,  and  walk 
fast  for  a  few  minutes,  from  ten  to  fi^iy  times  each  night; 
worse  in  stormy  weather.  The  woman  hiis  a  wild  restless 
expression.     Rhus  tox,  ox,  three  times  a  day. 

October  20,  no  relief.  Rhus,  tox,  30x,  three  tim^s  a  day. 
Oct.  30,  cured.     Jan.  10,  1884;  no  return  of  trouble. 

Case   III. — Calcarb:     June  29,  1882.      George  C . 

aged  38.  Father  died  of  Phthisis  Jit  47.  Has  been  failing 
three  years.  Treated  in  New  York  City,  Meridan,  Ct.,  and 
Port  Chester,  N.  Y.,  but  failed  all  the  time.  Present  symp- 
toms. Cough  with  enormous  expectoration  of  pus;  colli- 
quative sweats  day  and  night;  loathing  of  food;  jmlse  112, 
temperature  103;  right  lung  gives  loud  mucous  rala  in  upper 
portion;  pad  like  protrusion  over  epigastrium;  cold  feet  and 
hands.     Gave  Cal.  carb  SOx. 

July  27.     Reports  himself  as  perfectly  well. 

September  15.  1883.  Has  not  coughed  or  seen  a  sick  day 
since  treated. 


TRYAL,M.D.  489 

BY  T.  RYAL,  M.  D.,  ASHLAND,  O. 

Case  1. — Little  girl,  aged  five  years.  Nervous  tempera- 
ment. Had  been  under  treatment  by  a  Homoeopathist  eight 
weeks — six  weeks  for  whooping-cough,  and  the  past  two 
weeds  for  the  present  trouble.  On  the  evening  of  October  21 
her  temperature  was  105°,  and  pulse  144.  The  physician  in 
charge  reported  that  the  temperature  and  pulse  had  been  at 
this  rate  in  the  evening  for  four  days,  and  probably  longer, 
as  no  record  had  been  kept;  the  morning  temperature  ranged 
from  104°  to  105°  during  the  same  time,  and  the  morning 
pulse  120  to  130.  Patient  would  start  up  suddenly  every 
half  hour  or  oftener;  pale  and  red  face  alternately;  tongue, 
two  white  stripes  on  the  side  with  a  red  streak  in  the  middle; 
tenderness  ever  the  right  ileo-coecal  region;  abdomen  dis- 
tended; frequent  desire  to  urinate  with  difficulty  in  starting. 
Gave  Bell.  1,000,  two  powders,  the  second  to  follow  two 
hours  after  the  first;  then  placebs.  The  next  morning,  the 
22nd,  temperature,  i02;  pulse,  116.  Evening  temperature, 
103;  pulse,  122.  Bell.  1,000,  three  powders,  one  every  two 
hours,  followed  by  placebs.  On  the  morning  of  the  23rd, 
temperature  101,  pulse  108;  evening,  temperature  104,  pulse 
126.  Thinking  that  the  increased  fever  symptoms  this  even- 
ing arose  from  the  fact  that  the  mother  had  violated  orders 
in  giving  solid  food,  I  gave  Bell.  1,000,  three  powders,  one 
every  three  hours,  followed  by  placebs.  On  the  morning  of 
24th,  temperature  99},  pulse  108;  evening  temperature,  103i, 
pulse  126.  Bell.  1,000,  one  powder  every  three  hours  followed 
by  placebs.  On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  temperature  104, 
pulse  126.  Realizing  that  we  had  an  aggravation  from  the 
medicine,  I  gave  one  powder  of  Hepar  100,000,  to  be  followed 
by  placebo.  Evening  of  the  same  day,  temperature  102}, 
pulse  114;  placebo  continued.  Morning  of  26th,  temperature 
98},  pulse,  100;  evening  temperature,  192},  pulse  126.  On 
the  27th  and  28th  gave  Arsenicum  without  any  benefit.  On 
the  morning  of  the  29th,  I  gave  Gel.  1,000  three  doses,  one 
every  two  hours,  followed  by  placebo.  An  hour  after  taking 
the  Grel.  I  was  sent  for  in  great  haste  to  see  the  child.    TVi«^ 


490  CLINICA  L  VERIFICA  TIONS. 

reported  that  her  pupils  had  dilated  very  much,  also  that 
her  face  had  become  very  red,  which  had  in  a  great  measure 
disappeared  when  I  arrived,  which  was  about  two  hours 
from  my  morning  visit.  I  took  her  temperature  and  found 
it  normal;  her  pulse  103.  As  the  sudden  change  in  the 
child's  appearance  was  evidently  from  the  effects  of  the  Gel.,  ^ 
I  made  no  change  in  the  medicine.  Patient  rapidly  conval- 
esced without  further  medicine  for  eight  days,  when  she  was 
encouraged  to  walk  and  eat  Dutch  cake,  when  I  was  again 
called  and  found  the  temperature  102,  pulse  12G.  Gave  Bell. 
1,000,  two  powders,  followed  by  placebo.  In  24  hours  the 
fever  had  disappeared. 

The  above  case  had  been  eight  weeks  under  treatment 
by  a  low  potency  man  who  gave  Bel.  1  x,  Gel.  1  x,  and  Ars. 
1  X,  as  he  thought  the  symptoms  of  the  case  indicated.  We 
learn  from  this  case  that  high  potencies  relieve  patients  of 
the  bad  effects  of  low  potencies,  and  that  high  potencies  pro- 
du  e  very  marked  changes  in  a  few  hours.  I  think  that  this 
patient  could  not  have  recovered  under  the  use  of  low  pot- 
encies. 

Oase  2. — Arnica. — Mr.  T. ,  aged  48.      Had  jumped 

out  of  a  buggy  and  alighted  on  a  stone  with  the  right  half  of 
his  right  foot  which  produced  a  numb  sensation.  About  the 
middle  of  the  following  night,  which  was  about  ten  hours 
after  the  accident,  I  found  the  patient  in  great  distress;  he 
thought  that  one  of  the  bones  of  the  foot  was  fractured  or 
luxa  I  gave  arnica  1,0(K),  one  powder.  In  a  few  seconds  he 
stated  that  he  was  partly  relieved;  in  about  half  an  hour  he 
was  asleep  and  slept  soundly  till  morning.  He  stated  that 
he  could  walk  on  his  foot  with  very  little  inconvenience  the 
next  day,  and  had  no  further  trouble. 

Case  3. — Hepar. — Little  boy,  aged  6  years,  son  of  a" 
Homoeopathist.  Coughed  during  the  spring  and  summer, 
worse  in  wet  weather,  took  cold  easily,  complained  of  being 
cold  and  chilly,  slight  eruption  on  face.  I  gave  Hepar  100,- 
000,  one  powder  at  bedtime.  He  had  two  or  three  hours  of 
restlessness  during  the  night.      The  next  day  four  or  five 


SEVEN  SURGICAL  FOLLIES.  491 

« 

evacuations,  and  in  the  evening  an  eruption  was  manifest  on 
different  part  of  the  body.  I  saw  him  about  ten  days  after 
taking  the  medicine,  when  he  seemed  to  be  well ;  his  father 
also  stated  that  the  boy  was  well.  How  very  strange  that 
some  HomoBopathists  do  not  believe  in  the  efficiency  of  high 
potencies. 

SEVEN  COMMON  SURGICAL  FOLLIES. 


READ  BEFORE  THE  WEST  CHESTER  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 


BY    JOHIf   B.  ROBERTS,  M.  D. 


In  complying  with  the  request  of  your  committee,  I 
shall  offer,  this  evening,  some  criticisms  on  a  number  of 
prevalent  surgical  methods  and  opinions  which  I  believe  to 
be  fallacious.  If  I  cast  down  and  trample  in  the  dust  any  idols 
dear  to  the  hearts  of  my  hearers,  I  trust  they  will  receive  my 
iconoclastic  doctrines  with  the  thought  that  my  own  folly  has, 
in  many  cases,  been  my  teacher,  and  that  I  do  not  attempt  to 
force  conviction  upon  the  members,  of  this  Society  with  any 
other  weapon  than  words. 

If  any  one  of  you  will  watch  with  careful  scrutiny  any 
series  of  operations  done  for  various  lesions  and  by  various 
surgeons,  you  will  have  frequent  opportunity  of  observing 
the  commission  of  the  seven  follies  that  I  shall  describe. 
Sometimes  you  will  see  a  single  operator  committing  nearly 
every  one  of  them  in  as  many  minutes.  I  call  them  the 
ether  folly,  the  incision  folly,  the  sponge  folly,  the  styptic 
folly,  the  suture  folly, the  adhesive  plaster  folly  and  the  dose 
folly. 

The  ether  follv  is  almost  universal.  Often  have  I  heard 
physicians  say  of  a  patient,  **He  couldn't  be  etherized;  I  had 
to  give  chloroform."  Now,  the  fault  was  not  with  the  patient, 
but  with  the  doctor.  I  doubt  there  being  an  individual  or 
animal  in  the  world  that  cannot  be  anajsthetized  with  ether 
properly  administered.  It  must,  however,  be  given  in  large 
quantity  and  with  little  air.  If  given  in  small  quantity  and 
with  much  air,  as  chloroform  should  be  adminiat.^T^^^'Oci^^i 


492  SEVEN  SURGICAL  FOLLIES 

excitement  stag^  will  only  be  overcome  with  much  difficulty 
and  loss  of  time.  When  the  napkin  saturated  with  ether 
has  once  been  placed  over  the  patient's  nose  and  mouth  it 
should  not  be  removed.  As  it  becomes  necessary  to  replen- 
ish the  anaesthetic,  let  the  etherizer  turn  up  the  corner  of  the 
ether  napkin  and  quickly  dash  upon  it  a  fluid  ounce  of  the 
anaesthetic;  or  let  him  pour  it  on  the  outside  of  the  napkin, 
and  cover  this  with  a  large,  dry  towel.  To  remove  the  nap- 
kin entirely  from  the  face,  while  the  stoppcl  is  being  taken 
from  the  bottle,  and  the  other  slowly  poured  out,  is  too  ridi- 
culous for  credence.  Yet  it  is  the  usual  method.  During 
this  interval  the  patient  takes  two  or  three  inhalations  of 
pure  air,  and  thus  neutralizes  the  efiect  of  most  of  the  ether 
previously  inhaled.  There  is  one  symptom,  however,  that 
demands  removal  of  the  ether  towel  for  a  moment.  It  is  the 
blue  and  congested  face,  due  to  spasm  of  the  respiratory 
muscles,  that  often  occurs  soon  alter  the  commencement  of 
etherization;  when  this  is  seen,  the  patient  should  be  given 
an  opportunity  to  take  one  deep  inspiration  of  air.  The 
towel  should  then  be  immediately  replaced.  A  tendency  to 
retch  does  not  indicate  cessation,  but  continuance,  of  etheri- 
zation, since  a  fully  etherized  patient  never  vomits.  If  food 
actually  comes  up  into  the  fauces,  the  patient  must  be  given 
a  chance  to  expel  it,  lest  a  particle  get  into  the  larynx.  This, 
however,  takes  but  a  moment,  after  which  the  ether  must  be 
quickly  resumed.  If  the  trachea  becomes  full  of  rattling 
mucus,  the  patient  should  be  turned  on  his  abdomen  with 
the  head  dependent  and  the  ether  perhaps  removed  from  his 
face  for  a  moment,  until  the  mucus  has  an  opportunity  to 
escape  from  the  mouth.  I  do  not  advocate  giving  ether  care- 
lessly, but  I  assert  that  it  is  usually  given  inefficiently.  More 
danger  is  to  be  found  in  this  long-continued  inefficient  ether- 
ization, than  in  the  prompt  method  I  describe.  To  gain  the 
patient's  confidence,  I  get  him  to  breathe  deeply  with  his 
face  covered  with  a  dry  towel  for  about  a  minute  before 
pouring  on  the  amesthetic.  Squibb's  ether  is  in  no  way  su- 
perior to  that  of  other  reputable  manufacturers. 


JOHN  B.  ROBERTS,  M.  D.  493 

The  incision  folly  is  not  quite  as  common  as  the  one  just 
discussed.  Still  it  is  often  exhibited  in  both  hospital  and 
private  operating.  It  consists  in  raakinp;  a  cramped  cutane- 
ous incision,  instead  of  one  sufficiently  large  to  fully  display 
the  tissues  needing  examination.  A  cut  of  the  skin  three 
inches  long  is  no  more  dangerous  in  itself  than  one  two 
inches  long.  Indeed,  in  many  cases  it  is  less  so,  because  the 
surgeon,  having  sufficient  room  to  see,  does  not  tear  and 
stretch  the  underlying  tissues,  so  rudely;  hence  less  suppu- 
ration occurs  and  more  rapid  union  is  possible.  In  opening 
abscesses,  as  in  general  operating,  a  free  cut  is  more  satis- 
factory to  the  surgeon  and  more  beneficial  to  the  patient 
than  a  mere  puncture  or  button -hole  incision.  Let  us  keep 
from  this  folly,  then,  by  using  a  keen  edge  and  a  free  hand 
in  making  cutaneous  operation  wounds. 

What  I  term  the  sponge  folly  is  the  habit  of  employing 
sponges  for  absorbing  blood  from  wounds,  when  napkins  or 
towels  are  always  obtainable,  and  are  far  less  liable  to  intro- 
duce septic  material  into  the  wound.  Sponges,  while  too  ex- 
pensive to  be  thrown  away  after  each  operation,  are  cleaned 
with  great  difficulty.  Servants  and  nurses,  therefore,  not  ap- 
preciating the  importance  of  thorough  cleansing  and  disin- 
fection, often  neglect  this  duty.  Hence  I  prefer  towels,  and  if 
I  do  an  operation  at  a  patient's  house,  always  use  clean 
towels  obtained  there.  Thus  I  secun^  an  almost  certain  im- 
munity from  purulent  or  septic  dirt  in  the  articles  used 
for  absorbing  blood.  Perfectly  clean  surgical  spongi^s  are  the 
rule.  At  the  Polyclinic  I  use,  for  this  purpose,  to  a  consid- 
erable extent,  Japanese  ])aper  napkins,  which  are  thrown 
away  after  being  once  used.  Absorbent  cotton  is  too  (expen- 
sive for  sucl)  uses,  except  to  a  limited  extent,  and,  besides, 
has  a  tendency  to  leave  filaments  entangled  in  the  wound. 

The  stypic  folly  is  the  commonest  and  most  ridiculous 
of  the  surgical  traditions  of  the  present  day.  When  occlu- 
sion of  each  bleeding  vessel  by  ligation,  torsion,  or  acupres- 
ure  is  not  required  (and  it  seldom  is  for  arteries  smaller  than 
the  facial),  moderate  direct  pressure  is  all  that  is  demawd^d. 


494  SEVEN  SURGICA  L  FOLLIES. 

Styptics  Bhould  not  be  used,  because  not  needed,  and  be- 
cause, in  many  instances,  they  impede  union  of  the  wound. 
After  an  operation  let  the  surgeon  tie  the  large  vessels,  wipe 
away  the  clots,  put  in  the  sutures,  apply  moderate  equal 
pressure  by  compress  and  bandage,  and  he  will  have  no  need 
of  hot  water,  alum,  tannin,  or  that  vilest  of  all  styptics, 
Monsel's  solution. 

The  objections  to  styptics  are  these: — 

Their  traditional  reputtition  leads  to  their  use  when  liga- 
tion, torsion,  or  acupressure  is  needed.  If  they  fail  to  arrest 
the  bleeding,  valuable  time  has  been  lost,  and  the  pasty 
clots  often  formed  by  their  use  render  isolation  and  liga- 
of  the  tion  vessels  difficult.  Many  styptics,  though  not  all, 
delay  union  by  irritating  the  cut  surfaces  and  inducing  sup- 
puration. 

In  my  hospital  and  college  work,  pressure  and  ligatures 
are  the  only  haemostatic  agents  I  require.  Indeed,  pressure 
will  often  take  the  place  of  many  ligatures.  I  recently  ex- 
cised an  entire  breast,  with  part  of  the  great  pectoral  mus- 
cle, and  only  needed  three  or  four  ligatures.  I  have  often, 
however,  seen  many  unnecessary  ligatures  applied  in  such 
cases.  In  thesadays  of  absorbable  ligatures,  the  practice  is 
not  as  objectionable  as  in  former  years,  when  many  long 
strings,  to  act  ns  setons,  were  left  hanging  out  of  the 
wound. 

The  suture  follv  next  claims  attention.  I  do  not  refer 
to  the  erroneous  opinion,  long  held,  that  sutures  should  not 
be  used  in  the  scalp.  This  tradition  has  been  disproved  so 
often  that  few  surgeons  would  now  hesitate  to  use  sutures  as 
freely  in  the  scalp  as  elsewhere.  What  I  call  the  suture  folly 
is  the  adherence  of  many  to  tlie  theory  that  silver  wire  only 
should  be  employed  for  suturing  purposes.  Nothing  could 
be  more  fallacious.  Do  we  use  silver  hare-lip  or  acupressure 
pins?  Why,  then,  employ  silver  sutures,  when  iron  wire  is 
stronger  and  far  cheaper?  Wlien  large  and  gaping  wounds 
require  the  sutures  to  stand  much  tension,  silver  wire,  if 
used,  must  be  very  thick.     Iron  wire  of  much  smaller  diam- 


JOHN  B.  ROBERTS,  M,  D.  495 

eter,  and  therefore  much  more  flexible,  gives  an  equally 
strong  suture,  and  in  addition  to  being  better  adapted  to  the 
purpose  is  much  cheaper.  I  recollect  that,  in  hospital  prac- 
tice, nearly  eight  years  ago,  I  discarded  silver  wire,  which 
cost  one  dollar  for  each  small  coil,  and  bought,  at  a  hardware 
store,  enough  iron  wire,  for  ten  or  fifteen  cents,  to  last  many 
months.  The  nicest  iron  wire  I  have  seen,  and  which  I  now 
use  for  the  purpose,  because  it  is  strong,  very  flexible,  and 
free  from  elasticity,  can  be  bought  for  five  cents  a  spool.  If 
it  becomes  a  little  rusty,  it  can  be  rubbed  clean  in  a  moment 
should  the  operator  object  to  the  smaller  amount  of  oxide  of 
iron  upon  it. 

The  adhesive  plaster  folly  is  common.  You  all  have 
seen  stumps,  after  amputation,  enveloped  more  or  less  com- 
pletely in  strips  of  adhesive  plaster  placed  between  the  su- 
tures. Of  what  use  are  they?  They  obstruct  free  drainage, 
become  softened  and  loosened  by  the  pus,  if  there  is  much 
discharge,  give  more  or  less  pain  when  removed,  and  do  no 
good.  If  the  flaps  are  properly  made,  the  sutures  correctly 
applied,  and  the  stump  neatly  and  evenly  bandaged,  the  ad- 
hesive plaster  becomes  useless,  and  is  merely  a  disadvantage 
to  the  patient's  comfort  and  recovery.  Adhesive  plaster  has 
little  or  no  value  in  surgery,  except  for  making  extension, 
and  preventing  motion  in  cases  of  fracture. 

I  believe  tiiat  operative  surgery  will  be  greatly  improved 
as  a  scientific  entity,  when  sponges,  styptics,  silver  wire  and 
adhesive  plaster  are  discarded  in  the  dressing  of  wounds.  If 
you  have  these  articles  for  this  purpose,  in  your  offices,  I 
pray  you  to  throw  them  away.  They  are  needless,  worth- 
less, and  detrimental.  It  is  our  natural  adherence  to  what 
is  traditional  that  impedes  progress  in  this  as  in  other 
branches  of  scientific  learning.  We  need,  indeed,  a  Leo  and 
a  Constantino  to  destroy  these  valueless  relics  of  ancient  sur- 
gical worship,  as  we  need  an  Alexandrian  fire  to  consume  the 
thousands  of  worthless  splints  and  instruments  that  are  still 
described  in  surgical  text-books  to  the  confusion  of  the  stu- 
dent and  the  damage  of  the  community. — The  Polyclinic* 


496  INTERESTING  GYNECOLOGICAL  CASE. 

INTERESTING  GYNECOLOGICAL  CASE. 


PUNCTURE  OP  THK  GUAVID  UTERUS  WITH  ESCAPE  OF  THE  INSTRU- 
MENT INTO  THE  ABDOMINAL  CAVITY. 


BY  PHIL  l*ORTER,  M.  D.,  DETROIT. 


Ijiist  July  we  were  called  in  consultation  with  a  physi- 
cian who  desired  our  assistance  in  removing  a  catheter  from 
the  abdominal  cavity. 

The  following  is  the  history  of  the  case:  Mrs.  R — ,  age 
82,  pregnant  throe  months.  Owing  to  the  distressing  symp- 
toms of  nausea  and  vomiting,  attendant  upon  her  gestations 
and  the  alarm  of  the  husband  and  attending  physician,  from 
the  rapid  emaciation  of  the  patient,  the  doctor  was  prompted 
after  a  consultation  with  another  practitioner,  to  produce  an 
abortion.  With  an  ordinary  gum  elastic  catheter,  No.  11,  he 
proceeded  to  introduce  the  instrument  into  the  cavity  of  the 
uterus,  and  althougli  obliged  to  use  some  force,  the  instru- 
ment passed  in  readily  enough  about  four  inches.  Then 
withdrawing  the  stilet  he  curled  the  catheter  up  in  the  vag- 
ina, left  it.  At  the  time  of  the  introduction  of  the  catheter 
the  woman  complained  of  a  good  deal  of  distress  and  sharp 
pain  in  the  hypogastric  region  and  at  once  commenced  vom- 
iting, which  was  kept  up  until  the  physician  returned  two 
hours  later.  On  examination  he  was  horrified  to  find  the 
the  catheter  had  disappeared.  On  placing  his  hand  over 
the  abdominal  wall,  the  parietes  being  very  thin,  he  was 
able  to  detect  the  instrument  as  it  rode  over  the  top  of  the 
intestines.  The  patient  at  once  presented  that  i)eculiar  anx- 
ious expression  that  is  almost  always  present  when  the  peri- 
toneum has  been  wounded.  Tlie  doctor,  becoming  alarmed, 
at  once  sought  our  professional  aid  in  the  matter. 

Judging  from  the  message  sent  that  we  had  a  case  of 
cesarean  section,  we  fortunately  included  some  ovariotomy 
instruments  in  our  gynecological  hand  case,  and  promptly 
responded  to  the  call.    On  arriving  at  the  scene  of  action,  we 


PHIL  PORTER,  M,  D.  497 

found  a  nevo-hysterical  woman,  small  and  very  much  ema- 
ciated, a  cold  and  clammy  surface  with  constant  nausea  and 
vomitinjr;  pulse  130,  temperature  i03.^ 

Realizing  that  the  patient  had  been  suffering  for  twelve 
hours  and  that  her  chances  were  rapidly  being  exhausted 
we  decided  upon  first  cleaning  out  the  entire  uterine  cavity, 
hoping  thereb}'  to  find  the  catheter  curled  up  in  its  interior. 
Twice  before  we  have  been  lead  to  suppose  that  an  instru- 
ment had  escaped  into  the  abdominal  cavity,  through  the 
uterus,  when  it  was  found  in  the  interior  of  that  organ. 

After  placing  the  woman  on  the  table,  an  examination 
revealed  a  case  of  retroversion,  which,  no  doubt,  accounted 
for  the  reflex  nausea  and  vomiting,  which  patient  had  been 
suffering  from.  Had  this  been  corrected  in  the  first  or  sec- 
ond month  no  doubt  the  woman  would  have  escaped  all  this 
mutilation. 

After  forcibly  dilating  the  cervix,  we  succeeded  in  clean- 
ing out  the  contents  of  the  uterus,  except  the  placenta  which 
we  did  not  think  it  wise  to  remove  at  that  time.  Not  meet- 
ing witli  our  anticipation  in  finding  the  catheter,  we  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  open  the  abdomen,  which  was  done  in  the 
usual  manner  for  laparotomy,  and  the  lost  instrument  found 
tucked  in  under  the  lower  and  posterior  border  of  the  liver. 
Performing  the  ()j)eration  as  rapidly  as  possible  owing  to  the 
feeble  condition  of  the  patient,  who  twice  became  cyanosed, 
and  was  with  difficulty  resuscitated.  Closing  the  abdominal 
incision  with  silk- worm  gut  sutures,  we  placed  the  patient 
in  a  bed,  wliich  had  previously  been  warmed  with  some 
bottles  of  hot  water,  and  gave  her  a  hypodermic  injection  of 
whiskey. 

The  recovery  of  this  patient  was  rapid  and  gratifying, 
the  third  week  she  being  able  to  attend  church. 

The  doctor's  mistake  was,  in  not  recognizing  the  i)Osi- 
tion  of  the  uterus  and  passing  the  catheter  up  through  the 
anterior  wall  which  was  at  this  time  (gestJition)  easily  punc- 
tured. 

We  account  for  the  disappearance  of  the  instrument  by 


108  ALCOHOL  AND  LUNG  DISEASE. 

suction,  the  anti-peristaltic  action  of  the  intestines  being 
sufficient  to  draw  the  instrument  up  into  the  abdominal 
cavity. 

Strict  antiseptic  precautions  were  employed — that  is, 
deanlineHH — nothing  else.  Time  consumed  for  the  laparot- 
omy, as  taken  by  one  of  tlie  assisting  physicians,  was  just 
eleven  minutes.  From  the  nature  of  the  case,  we  are  com- 
pelled to  omit  the  name  of  the  physician  who  called  us  and 
the  location. 

A1.C0H0L  AND  LUNG  DISEASE. 


SiK— In  your  valuable  suggestive  notice  of  the  Harveian 
Society's  "Alcohol "  report,  which  I  regret  I  did  not  see  until 
to-day,  you  seem  to  credit  the  committee  with  the  conclusion 
that  alcoliol  rather  antagonizes  lung  disease.  Allow  me  to 
explain  that  this  is  not  so.  Our  inquiry  showed,  I  think 
conclusively  that,  excepting  pneumonia  and  pleurisy,  lung 
diseases  carry  of!"  a  smaller  i)roportion  of  persons  given  to 
excess  in  alcohol  than  of  the  general  population.  But  wo 
go  no  further,  and  I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt,  as  one  of 
the  committee,  that  alcohol  only  *^  protects"  from  death  by 
lung  disease  those  whom  it  carries  oft'  by  other  maladies. 
Section  3G  of  the  report  contains  a  recognition  of  this  dis- 
placement of  tlic  mortality  from  the  more  common  diseases, 
and  in  o[>ening  the  disvussion  upon  the  report  at  the  society 
I  pointed  out  more  fully  that  the  heavy  demands  of  phthi- 
sis, broncliitis,  etc.,  amounting  to  about  3-')  per  cent,  of  the 
whole  adult  mortality,  could  not  be  satisfied  after  alcohol 
had  exacted  its  tax  in  the  shape  of  liver,  kidney  and  brain 
diseases.  Tlie  positive  effect  of  alcohol  in  producing  or  pre- 
disposing to  lung  disease,  as  to  which  I  have  personally  no 
doubt,  can  only  be  brought  out  by  other  methods  of  inquiry, 
which  did  not  come  within  the  scheme  of  the  committee. — 
T.  Morton,  M.  D.,  in  Lancet. 


WOH'  t  ttRCAMB  A  SVROEON.  499 

HOW  I  BECAME  A  SURGEON* 


BY  WILLIAM  TOn  UBLMUTH,  M.  D.,  NEW  YORK. 


Ill  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  tifty-three, 
A  few  months  after  I  took  my  degree 
(Which  styles  me  a  "regular"  H.  M.  D.), 
On  the  Institute  l)ook8  I  enrolled  my  name. 
Being  young  in  years  and  unknown  to  fame, 
(The  inference  there  I  hope  you'll  excuse); 
Well,  I  borrowed  the  money  and  paid  my  dues. 
Which,  as  far  as  my  recollei^tion  can  get, 
I  think  I  have  not  repaid  as  yet. 

Be  th<at  as  it  mav. 

Without  more  delay 
1  went  to  the  Institute  that  very  day, 
To  hear  wliat  the  old  fellows  Jill  had  to  say. 
Williamson,  Ilempel  and  Kirby  and  Gray. 
Bayard  and  Joslin,  McManus  and  Small, 
Dake,  Hering  and  Pulte,  I  heard  them  all. 

Throughout  that  meeting  I  could  not  but  feel, 

That  the  spirit  which  ruh»d  those  men  was— zeal: 

Zeal  for  the  system  and  zeal  for  the"  dose; 

Zeal  for  applying  Himilia  close; 

Zeal  for  the  proving  of  lyedicdne  pure: 

Zeal  in  proclaiming  each  wonderful  cure. 

My  friends,  'twjis  this  zeal,  right  be  it  or  wrong. 
That  laid  the  foundation  so  broiid  and  so  strong 
Of  this  Institute  yoimg  -as  it  wiis  in  those  days 
Xow  crowns  it  with  glory  and  honor  and  praise. 

F]xcuse  the  dign^ssiim,  the  moments  are  tleeting. 
And  let  me  get  back  to  that  Institute  meeting. 

My  nature's  susceptible^  -very,  I  own  it. 

And  years  and  gray  hairs  suffice  not  to  tone  it. 

So  the  zeal  of  the  rest 

Envelopc^l  my  breast; 
And  as  nothing  but  symptoms  and  provings  would  stuuil 
At  the  meetings  in  those  days,  I  too  took  a  hand: 
And  to  show  to  the  members  of  science  my  love. 
I  asked  the  committee  for  something  to  prove. 

*  Read  at  the  Banquet  of  the  American  Iniititute  of  Homoeopathy  at  Nla^T^ 
KallM.     See  fpintinpiece. 

3 


'1^ 


'I^ 


r>iH\  now  1  BKCAMh  A  SVRGKOS. 

After  some  months'  delay. 

On  one  beautiful  day. 
And  if  I  remember  aright  'twas  in  May. 
There  eamc?  to  my  oIHee  a  niee  little  Ijox, 
VVitii  a  nice  little  letter  from  J.  liedman  Coxe. 
"  Dear  Doetor,"  he  wroti?,  "I  enclose  you  a  vial 
Of  wondrous  secn^tion;  pray  give  it  a  trial. 
The  bottle  is  small,  in  unpacking  don't  bnnik  it; 
The  li(]ui<l  is  viscid;  before  you  can  take  it 
ileat  gently,  then  wipe  oft"  the  vial  and  shake  it. 
Then  pour  out  exactly  ten  drops  in  a  spoon. 
Ami  swallow  it  quickly,  and  if  very  soon 
Queer  symptoms  develop — just  write  them  to  mc. 
As  ever  of  old,  your  friend,  J.  K.  C. 
P.  IS. — If  you  knew  all  tlu»  trouble  1  had 
In  p;o<Miring  a  dog  umloubtedly  mad. 
Vou'd  drink  the  solution  with  inlinite  pleasure 
Regarding  each  drop  Jis  a  wonderful  treasure." 

"(Jri»od  gracious! "     I  sai<l  to  uiyself,  then  a  j)ause: 

A  stiiT'ning  sensation  surrounded  my  jaws 

1  seemed  to  be  looking  at  things  in  a  fog 

And  the  atmosi>iiere  round  mc  smelt  strongly  «)f  (h)g. 

.Vnd  just  at  that  moment  1  felt  that  my  zeal 

Was  ebbing  quite  rapidly  out  at  my  heel. 

lUit  1  plucked  Uj)  my  courage  and  worked  at  my  <*hin. 

Its  suppleness  seemeil  as  il  ever  had  been. 

And  the  thought  Hashed  across  me  'twere  better  tliat  I 

Should  ask  a  few  doctors  this  virus  to  try. 

If  bad  opisthotonos  came  with  each  breath. 

To  I'ud  in  <'onvulsions  ami  coma  and  death. 

With  m»*ekness  the  pleasure  to  them  J  would  givi?, 

Enroll  ttum  as  martyrs-  and  /  myself  live. 

The  ditheult  <iuesti(m  was,  wh(>  should  I  ask 

To  enter  upon  such  a  dangi*rous  ttiskV 

Who  would  assit  me  to  prove?  was  the  topic: 

Who,  who  would  engage  in  the  act  philanthro]>i  t 

There  was  Kellogg  and  Talbot  and  Dowling  and  <'ook 

I  earefullv  note<l  these  names  in  mv  book 

And  Angel  and  J^udlam.     1  thought  thty  might  <lo, 

.Vt  leiist,  to  (h'velop  a  symptom  or  two. 

Kach  man  wiLs  ambitious  ami  brim  full  of  knowledgi*. 

All  eager  for  glory  and  just  out  of  etdh^ge. 


WILLIAM  rot)  nELMUTH,  K  t).  501 

Allow  ine  to  mention, 

'Twas  not  my  intention 
To  ciiuso  such  a  terrible  sequel. 

To  tell  it  e'en  now, 

1  truly  avow, 
I  scarcely  can  find  myself  e(iual. 

But  1  made  a  dilution  as  Boerieke  nuikes, 
And  ffave  to  ejich  vial  just  two  hundred  shakes, 
ln(!reasin^  succussion  as,  Jeniehen  did. 
By  poundinj?  the  vials  on  pads  made  of  kid. 
Then  I  sat  down  and  wrote  each  of  my  friends: 
"Dr.  Ilidmuth's  kind  greatinjjs  this  vial  he  sends 
For  a  provinj^,  and  trusts  that  with  inlhiite  care 
Each  prover  will  give  it  a  trial  quite  fair. 
Must  take  it  when  fasting,"  1  finally  wrote, 
"And  as  it  develops  <Mich  new  symptom  note. 
'Tis  slow  in  its  actit)n,  as  often  appears, 
For  th(»  virus  is  known  to  1)(»  latent  for  years, 
But  when  tht*  zvmosis  vou  once  i-an  dete(;t 
Tlie  ])rover  will  never  know  what  to  expect. 
Be  careful  in  using.*'    In  closing  I  said, 
•*  \o  more  is  obtainable- -Doggy  is  dead." 

My  letters  were  poste<l  and  day  after  <lay, 

I  waited  to  liear  what  tlie  provers  would  say. 

Xot  a  line,  not  a  sym]>toui,  however,  api)eared. 

My  reason  was  staggeri'd:  I  really  fean^d 

Tiuit  though  I  was  acting  as  sly  as  a  fox. 

That  1  might  l>e  victimi/.ed  sadly  by  Coxe. 

Tlie  virus  most  (?ertainlv  taken  thev  had. 

But  nobody  yet  seem  inclined  to  go  nuul. 

So  I  musingly  muttered,  "These  provers  won't  <lie. 

They  took  it     I  Jilter  my  uiind    so  will  /;" 

And  immcdiatelv  swallowed  a  <lose  ai  the  same 

.Vs  my  friends  who  were  patiently  waiting  for  fame*. 

Vet  tortures  terrifK*  we  had  to  endure 

Incubation  Wiis  slow  zvmosis  wils  sure. 

Kenu>rse  <'onsumes  my  .soul  to-night. 

When  I,  in  guilt  arrayed. 
Behold,  oh,  dreadful,  dreadful  sight! 

Thos(?  wrecks  that  I  have  made. 

Those  lovclv  vouths,  so  fair  and  true. 


5U2  HOW  I  BECAME:  A  SVROEON, 

m 

Great  gifts  of  promise  had; 
No  matter  how  they  seem  to  you 
They  are  all  raving:  mad. 

The  briny  tears  course  down  uiy  fare; 

The  deed,  indeed  I  rue  it;  . 

And  though  a  melancholy  case. 

I  did  not  mean  to  do  it. 

KKLLO(4r/s  PKOVIX<i. 

Kellogg  took  the  first  dose    he  sits  over  there  - 

He  rolled  in  convulsions  and  lost  all  his  hair; 

By  turns  grew  facetious,  then  solemn,  then  (umiiing. 

And  finally  took  to  atrociously  pimning. 

He  barely  recovered   -an  imperfect  cure; 

Now'  he's  constantly  (Tying:  *^Jnmre  men,  imturef*^ 

Talbot's  PKovixti. 

On  Talbot  it  acted  (juite  strangely,  poor  fellow  I 
My  oldest  companion  grew  dropping  and  yellow. 
He  ran  off  to  Boston  one  night  by  the  boat; 
The  very  next  morning  he  (;ut  a  child's  throat, 
Then  departed  for  Europe,  and  since  he  came  back. 
Has  (continued  at  windpipes  of  children  to  hi\ck. 

lK)WLIXO's  PUOVIXU. 

Ten  drops  at  a  dose  given  twice  to  young  Dowling, 

Gave  symptoms  quite  pathognomonic  an<l  howling; 

Developed  so  quickly  that  I  grew  afraid. 

That  in  dosing  himself  a  mistake  he  had  uuule. 

His  body  began  very  soon  to  expand. 

And  his  heart  grew  the  biggest  in  all  of  the  land. 

The  Institute  knows  it,  so  why  need  I  tell 

What  Lake  (Jeorge  and  New  Brighton  remember  so  well. 

COOKK'S  PROVING. 

The  strangest  developments  came  from  our  ('ooke; 
He  thirty-five  drops  of  the  medicMue  took; 
From  being  loquacious  he  grew  quite  hiconic. 
.Vnd  then  was  overwhelmed  with  a  mania  miisouic. 
Society's  devil,  he  laid  up  in  chains; 
Now  carbolic  acid  for  cancerous  pains 
Is  the  latest  of 'symptoms;  they  all  have  been  queer. 
And  brake  out  quite  suddenly  year  after  year. 


WILLIAM  TOD  HELMVTH,  Af,  D.  .  503 

AN  ANGELL'S  PKOVING, 

Oil  Augrell,  with  whom  many  songs  I  have  sung. 
At  midnight,  by  lamp  light,  while  yet  I  was  young. 
The  virus  but  one  single  symptom  defined: 
'Twas  pity  for  those  who  were  going  it  blind. 
In  his  letter  he  states,  **that  he'll  certainly  trv 

'  mm 

To  put  all  he  knows  into  somebody's  eye. 

Tie  was  writing  u  book  and  its  title  would  be 

Instructions  to  people  to  healthfully  see," 

It  fmallv  came,  as  vou  all  mav  have  seen; 

'Twas  piiblistied  by  Campbell  and  done  up  in  green. 

iatdlam's  puoving. 

When  Ludlam  wius  young  he  was  shy  of  the  girls: 
Would  blush  to  his  evt^  at  a  shake  of  their  curlR. 
If  him  vou  desire<l  to  worrv  and  vex, 
'Twjis  only  incumbent  to  inejUion  the  se.\. 

I  tind  from  my  book. 
In  toto  it  took 
Vive  drops  to  develop  a  genius. 
So  new  and  complete, 
E}ich  woman  heVl  meet 
lie  <leclare<l  was  an  absolute  Venus. 
From  that  time  to  this,  all  he  says  or  he  does 
In  public,  or  j»rivate,  or  lecture-room  "buzz," 
ilsus  (mly  one  object  and  only  one  aim. 
The  attempt  (tho'  'tis  futile)  the  fair  sex  to  tame. 
Me  (tarried  them  round  lik«^  an  autocrat  Turk, 
To  list  to  his  teachings  and  help  in  his  work. 

TlIK  ADTHOK's  I'KOVINU. 

Jiut  listen,  my  friends,  how  it  a(!te<l  on  me: 
I  went  into  lits.  arid  then  went  on  a  spret*. 
And  when  I  recovered  I  scan^ely  could  see: 
From  that  very  moment  my  pretty  left  eye 
<'lose  up  to  the  internal  canthus  did  lie. 
-\nd  there  it  remains  by  day  and  by  night. 
Impairing  my  beauty  and  nuirring  my  sight. 
Strabismus  (tonvergens,  if  but  in  one  eye. 
Is  a  source  of  most  cousUmt  discomfort,  and  I. 
Beholding  the  wreck  of  those  beautiful  hoys. 
Saw  them  losing  their  reason,  deprived  of  the  joys 
Of  exuberant  manhootl.  and  shrieking  with  paviv^ 


504*         COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS. 

Said  "  damn  it."    Excuse  nie;  1  nover  again 
For  friendship,  or  science,  or  money  or  love^ 
Will  ask  your  committee  for  somothinf?  to  prove. 
I  did  my  whole?  duty,  have  hJid  quite  euougli ; 
CJive  somebody  else  all  your  poisonous  stult. 

Then,  tlien  it  was,  fellows,  I  first  saw  the  light. 

And  surgery  beautiful  dawned  on  my  sight. 

E  studied  its  present,  I  delved  in  its  past. 

And  found  what  my  spirit  had  y(;arned  for,  at  bust. 

Found  science  and  art  in  proj)ortion  so  grand, 

The  elYort  of  mind  with  the  dt»xt(»rous  hand. 

Combining  themselves  with  such  exquisite  care. 

And  yielding  results  so  remarkably  fair, 

That  I  bowed  (h)wn  in  silence  and  bended  my  knee. 

And  claimed  th(^  department  belonging  to  me. 

T  saw  what  I  thought  was  my  pathway  in  life. 

Discarded  all  j)rovings  and  stuck  to  the  knife: 

And  though  I've  been  fairly  successful,  'tis  tru»*, 

Tliere's  cmc*  thing  in  cutting  I  n(»ver  can  df>. 

I  nuiy  cut  out  a  b(me  or  extirpate  tumors, 

I  may  amputate  lim])s  and  evacuate  humors, 

Kill  every  bacillus  and  aspirate  sacs. 

Apply  plaster  jackets  to  carious  backs. 

Make  ])eautiful  noses  by  art  rhinophistic. 

Cure  pulsating  tumors  witli  bandage  elastic. 

r  may  stretch  every  nerve,  perform  herniotomy. 

And  fidvocate  still  supra-pubit;  lithotomy, 

L  may  do  all  this  (.'utting  with  ecstacy-])Ut 

I  never  will  dear  old  acquaintances  cut. 

And  I  hope  in  return  that  wherever  I  bt* 

No  dear  old  ac(iuaintance  will  ever  cut  me. 


■  <■» 


COLLEGE    OF     PHYSlcrAXS     AND    SUKGEOXS     OF 

MICHIGAN. 


Detroit,  Doc.  24. 1883. 

On  motion  the  subject  of  miscellaneous  business  wiis 
taken  up.  Under  this  head  Dr.  Porter  brought  up  the  con- 
sideration of  professional  cards,  their  proper  form  and  use, 
as  laid  on  the  table  at  the  kst  meeting.  He  thinks  this 
society  should  take  some  action  in  the  matter,  not  for  the 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEOS\S.         .m^ 

purpose  of  disciplining  those  physicians  whose  cards  were 
presented,  because  as  they  are  not  members  of  this  body  we 
have  no  authority  over  theni,  but  simply  to  lead  in  a  much 
needed  reform;  and  he  hopes  that  each  member  present  will 
place  himself  on  record  in  this  matter.  Tlie  cards  referred 
to,  read  as  follows : 

FNo.  1.^ 

M.  D. 

Surgeon  and  Physician. 
( )bt<tetric»<  uiid  Diseases  of  Women  and  (/hlMreu  a  Specialty. 

Teeth  Kxtracted. 
'  No.  2. 

M.  D. 

The  Doctor  has  been  in  practice  liiirty  yearsi,  and 
tifteen  vears  in  Detroit. 

« 

Dr.  Bailey  thinks  if  a  man  is  in  general  practice,  his 
name,  address,  and  office  hours  are  all  that  are  necessary  in 
his  card ;  but  that  one  devoting  himself  to  a  specialty  has  a 
right,  if  he  wishes,  o(  mentioning  that  fact.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  included  '"  Diseases  of  the  Rectum,"  with  the 
other  matter  on  his  card,  and  did  not  think  he  was  violating 
the  code,  as  he  really  does  })ay  special  attention  to  the  treat- 
ment of  those  diseases.  But  of  late  he  has  not  mentioned 
it.  Considers  it  in  very  poor  tiiste  for  a  physician  to  men- 
tion so  many  specialties,  and  as  to  mentioning  the  number 
of  years  one  has  practiced,  it  is  very  improper. 

Dr.  Olin  most  heartily  despises,  and  discountenances 
anything  that  savors  of  (quackery.  He  has  on  his  card  sim- 
ply his  name,  address  and  hours,  but  thinks  a  specialist,  as 
in  Dr.  McGuire's  case,  should  have  the  privilege  of  mention- 
ing his  specialty,  if  he  wishes  to  do  so. 

Dr.  Grifhn  endorsed  what  had  already  been  said,  and 
stated  that  he  had  a  lot  of  matter  on  liis  first  cards  that  lie 
soon  became  ashamed  of  and  has  since  used  a  plain  card. 

Dr.  Porter  thinks  it  proper  for  a  specialist  to  mention 
his  specialty,  but  insists  that  a  man  who  treats  '*  Diseases  of 
Women  and  Children,"  practices  "Obstetrics,"  and  "Extracts 
Teeth,"  is  not  a  specialist  and  does  wrong  to  fill  his  card  with 
such  a  statement  as'we  find  in  "  No.  1 "  of  the  caxd^  e.i>cv\Nw\V^A\ 


506  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS, 

Dr.  McGuire  says  we  practice  medicine  with  three 
objects  in  view:  First,  for  the  benefit  of  our  patient;  Second, 
for  the  benefit  of  ourselves;  Third,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
profession.  A  specialist  may  mention  his  specially,  because 
by  so  doing  he  invites  to  his  office  just  the  kind  of  work  he 
wants,  and  is  not  apt  to  be  bothered  with  calls  to  do  general 
work.  And  it  is  a  convenience  to  the  patient  requiring  the 
services  of  a  specialist.  He  does  not  confine  himself  to  any 
one  form  of  a  card,  uses  them  both  with  and  without  a  notice 
of  his  specialty. 

The  question  thus  arose  as  to  the  propriety  of  a  special- 
ist doing  general  work,  and  the  unanimous  expression  was 
that  there  were  cases  in  which  it  was  eminently  proper.  As, 
for  instance,  that  of  a  man  consulting  an  occulist  and  while 
under  treatment  for  the  eye  trouble,  some  other .  trouble 
should  develop  and  require  immediate  attention,  it  would 
be  an  injustice  to  the  occulist  to  ask  him  to  discontinue  his 
treatment  while  the  patient  consulted  a  general  practitioner, 
and  an  injustice  to  the  patient,  to  compel  him  to  hunt  up 
another  physician  and  pay  an  extra  fee  for  something  that 
the  occulist  could  as  well  relieve. 

After  traiisacting  some  other  business  relating  to  the 
finances  of  the  society,  an  adjournment  was  had. 

Dec.  31,  1883. — Dr.  Gilchrist,  the  lecturer  for  the  month, 
read  a  paper  on  "  Ery^ipdas^^^  considering,  first,  the  Semio- 
logy; second,  the  Etiology;  third,  the  Pathology;  fourth. 
Prognosis,  and  fifth,  the  Treatment. 

In  speaking  of  the  etiology  of  this  disease,  the  lecturer 
stated  that  there  should  be  no  question  as  to  its  contagious- 
ness, and  while  he  is  not  willing  to  accept  the  theory  of  germ 
implantation,  he  is  at  a  loss  as  to  what  is  the  real  cause.  He 
thinks  the  mean  organisms  may  be  carriers  of  the  disease, 
but  does  not  believe  them  to  be  the  cause.  Imperfect  elim- 
mation  of  the  excretions  of  the  body,  he  mentions,  iis  being 
a  frequent  cause.  All  things  seem  to  point  to  the  material 
character  of  the  poison,  but  the  question  is,  what  is  the 
poison? 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS.         507 

He  thinks  the  proof  of  the  germ  theory  is  purely  pre- 
sumptive, and  while  bacteria  may  be  a  cause,  it  is  not  a  spe- 
cific one. 

As  to  the  semiology,  the  Doctor  spoke  of  the  necessity 
of  recognising  the  disease  early,  and  in  cases  of  traumatisms, 
should  be  apprehensive  when  the  wound  became  dry.  He 
emphasised  the  value  of  the  thermometer  as  a  means  of 
diagnosis  in  this  as  in  other  diseases,  and  in  differentiating 
between  the  allied  affections,  erysipelas,  septicemia  and 
pyaemia. 

Prognosis  is  always  uncertain,  but  under  judicious 
homeopathic  treatment,  is  much  more  favorable  than  under 
the  old  school. 

The  treatment  iy  chiefly  medicinal.  He  does  not  coun- 
tenance  the  use  of  any  medicated  topical  application  what- 
soever, but  spoke  of  non-mediciited  applications,  such  as  dry 
flour,  cotton  batting,  etc.,  as  being  useful  in  some  cases. 

Calendula  was  mentioned  as  being  the  best  antiseptic, 
because  a  vulnerary.  When  the  swelling  is  excessive,  he 
recommended  making  numerous  small  cutaneous  incisions  to 
relieve  the  tension  and  let  out  the  secretions.  When  suppu- 
ration obUiins,  open  freely  and  secure  perfect  drainage.  The 
diet  should  be  non-alcoholic,  nutritious  and  abundant. 

A  number  of  remedies  were  mentioned,  but  the  two  most 
frequently  indicateil  are  Arsenic  and  Rhus  tox. 

Dr.  Younghusband,  being  present,  was  invited  to  partici- 
pate in  the  discussion,  and  spoke  at  some  length,  compli- 
menting the  lecturer  on  the  manner  in  which  he  had  pre- 
sented the  subject,  and  stated  that  he  fully  agreed  with  him, 
in  the  statement  that  erysipelas,  septicaemia,  and  pyajmia 
were  allied  aft'ections,  even  though  each  has  its  characteristic 
peculiarities.  He  considers  these  three  diseases  sisters,  and 
their  mother  is  lymphangitis.  In  fact  he  believes  them  to 
be  lymphangitis,  having  their  origin  in  the  lymphatics.  He 
also  thinks  that  puerperal  peritonitis  should  be  included  in 
the  sister-hood.  He  stated  that  leucocytes  will  not  be  found 
in  the  tissues,  primarily  in  this  disease,  but  that  the  lym\^Vv 


oOK  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS. 

spaces  or  sacks  will  be  found  to  be  packed  full  of  micrococci, 
giving  the  tissues  the  appearance  of  being  injected,  this 
leads  him  to  believe  the  prime  cause  of  these  diseases  to  be 
the  micrococci.  He  thinks  those  who  denounce  the  germ 
theory  are  unfair,  because  they  simply  denounce  the  theory 
and  know  and  acknowledge  their  inability  to  prove  that  it  is 
not  the  true  one. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  thinks  argument  on  tliis  question  is  futile 
as  both  parties  are  well  provided  with  authority.  He  ack- 
nowledges the  value  of  the  teachings  of  some  of  those  who 
advocate  the  germ  theory,  but  thinks  they  should  not  be 
accepted  in  toto.  The  truth  he  believes  to  he  somewhere  be- 
tween the  two  extremes. 

Dr.  Gay  lord  thinks  there  is  not  much  that  he  can  add  to 
whjit  has  already  been  said  on  the  subject,  but  fully  agrees 
with  the  lecturer  that  medicated  topical  applications  are  not 
to  be  used  in  erysipelas;  has  known  many  agents  to  have 
been  used,  hut  rarely,  if  ever,  followed  by  good  results.  Paint- 
ing the  part  with  colloction  has  benefited  some  cases  by 
lessening  the  sensitiveness  and  swelling. 

Doctor  Porter  believes  that  most  authors  agree  that  this 
disease  is  really  lymf)hangitis.  He  understood  the  lecturer 
to  say  that  the  disease  rarely  if  ever  afi'ected  the  chin,  but  he 
(Dr.  Porter.)  has  had  three  attacks  and  all  on  the  chin.  He 
also  agrees  with  the  lecturer  that  the  thermometer  cannot  be 
estimated  too  highly  as  a  means  of  diagnosis,  and  is  surprised 
at  the  ignorance  of  the  value  and  use  of  this  instrument  as 
displayed  by  some  physicians.  The  hour  being  late  Clini- 
cal Reports  were  omitted. 

On  motion  adjourned. 

Jan.  21,  1884. — The  society  convened  at  the  usual  hour 
with  the  President,  Dr.  Phil  Porter,  in  the  chair.  Dr.  J.  G. 
Gilchrist,  the  lecturer  for  the  month,  presented  a  paper  on 
'*  Purpura,"  which  was  listened  to  with  marked  attention  on 
account  of  the  raritv  of  the  disease.  The  lecturer  stated 
that  purpura  was  a  condition  in  which  there  was  a  circum- 
scribed effusion  of  blood  in  the  upper  layers  of  the  skin  and 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS.  jOO 

under  the  epidermis  proper,  usually  occurring  without  any 
special  constitutional  associations,  and  yet  it  may  accompany 
some  disease  during  its  course  and  often  followed  with  hem- 
orrhages from  the  mucous  membranes  or  into  a  serous  cavity. 
The  aetiology  of  this  disease  is  somewhat  obscure.  It  has 
been  known  to  attiick  children  of  tender  age — but  a  few  days 
old — and  again  people  of  all  ages.  Women  seem  to  be  much 
more  susceptible  to  the  hemorrhagic  attacks  than  men.  Not 
infrequently  the  disease  is  associated  with  Bright's  disease 
and  disejises  of  the  heart,  also  with  phthisis,  rheumatism, 
diseases  of  the  liver,  leucocythsemia  and  different  fevers,  and 
in  fact  the  hemorrhages  may  come  on  in  patients  of  the 
most  different  constitution  and  general  condition,  from  that 
of  health  to  the  most  debilitating  disease. 

The  anatomical  character  of  purpura  is  confined,  prin- 
cipally, to  the  capillaries  of  the  skin  and  mucous  membrane. 
The  hemorrhage  is  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  rupture  of  the  capil- 
hiry  blood  vessels  over  a  small  space  and  the  blood  being 
deposited  into  the  connective  tissue,  filling  the  spaces  between 
the  follicles  of  the  hair  and  the  lymphatic  cutaneous  ducts, 
which  are  abundant  in  all  parts  of  the  skin  and  mucous 
membranes.  The  peculiar  color  that  is  seen  from  the  effusion 
of  blood,  and  the  changed  condition  of  the  ha^matin  set  free 
from  the  rod  corpuscle,  of  green,  blue  and  yellow  tints  are 
characteristic  of  this  disease.  From  the  formation  of  hsema- 
toidin  there  is  often  left  permanent  pigmentation  of  the 
skin.  Pofit  mortefUfi  reveal,  in  fatal  cases,  extravasation  into 
the  pericardial,  pleural  and  peritoneal  cavities.  P]xtrava8a- 
tion  into  the  muscles  and  even  into  the  bones  and  periosteum 
mav  occur. 

Pathology  seems  to  settle  upon  three  conditions:  (1,) 
On  an  alteration  in  the  coats  of  the  blood  vessels;  the  deli- 
cate membrane  covering  th«;  capillaries  offering  but  slight 
resistance  to  the  arterial  pressure:  (2)  a  changed  conditicm 
of  the  blood  itself;  the  salts  not  having  their  proper  propor- 
tions, and  (3)  botli  of  these  conditions  combined. 

The  varieties  w(?re  treated  under  their  respective.  u^\w^>^*. 


510  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS 

Purpura  simplex,  purpura  rheu  matica,  purpura  hsemorrhag- 
ica  and  symptomatic  purpura. 

The  prognosis  is  generally  good,  but  frequent  attacks  are 
apt  to  occur. 

A  number  of  remedies  were  mentioned,  those  most  fre- 
quently called  for  being  Arnica,  Carbo.  veg.,  Bell.,  Crocus, 
Ipec,  Cinchona.  Styptics  are  sometimes  called  for  to  control 
the  hemojrhage. 

In  the  discussion  that  followed  Dr.  McGuire  stated  that 
he  had  seen  but  few  cases  of  purpura  hemorrhagica,  and  in 
these  Phos.,  Phos.  acid  and  Cinchona  had  served  him  well. 

Dr.  Walsh  has  seen  a  number  of  cases,  one  in  particular 
being  a  peculiar  one.  It  followed  an  attack  of  scarlet  fever, 
and  the  peculiarity  of  the  case  was  that  even  slight  pressure 
upon  any  part  of  the  body  would  j)roduce  hemorrhage  from 
the  part  There  was  constant  hemorrhage  from  some  part  of 
the  body,  but  the  patient's  appetite  was  insatiable  and  the 
great  amount  of  food  taken,  kept  up  the  strength  until  the 
hemorrhage  could  be  controlled. 

Jan.  28,  1884. — Society  met  at  the  usual  hour  with  Dr. 
Phil  Porter  in  the  chair.  Dr.  Gilchrist,  the  lecturer  for  the 
month,  being  out  of  the  city,  no  paper  was  presented,  and 
the  college  opened  under  the  head  of  '*  Clinical  Reports  from 
Practice.^^  Dr.  Bailey  called  the  attention  of  the  college  to  a 
peculiar  symptom  which  he  had  noticed  in  his  boy,  who  for 
the  last  two  or  three  years,  since  having  the  measles,  has 
been  subject  to  sore  throat.  During  the  hist  few  days  he 
has  had  an  attack  of  tonsilitis  on  right  side;  noticed  noth- 
ing unusual  until  last  night  he  found  the  boy's  fore  arms 
were  covered  with  a  rash  having  the  appearance  of  measles, 
except  that  the  color  was  a  dark  purple.  This  rash  was 
unaccompanied  by  any  itching  or  burning,  and  disappeared 
on  pressure.  Would  like  some  physician  present  to  explain 
the  cause  of  the  eruption. 

Dr.  McLaren  states  that  while  he  is  unable  to  account 
for  the  eruption,  he  should  feel  no  alarm  on  account  of  its 
presence;  has  noticed  an  eruption  of  the  character  described 


COLLEGE  OF  PftYSIflAfJS  A^/tt  SURGEnm.         5i| 

above  on  the  chest,  in  cases  of  follicular  tonsilitis,  but  does 
not  remember  having  seen  it  on  the  arm.  Should  think 
of  Baryta  Garb,  or  Iodine  in  connection  with  the  treat- 
ment. 

Doctor  McGuire  related  a  case  of  retinal  hemorrhage  in 
which  Secale  200  was  used  with  good  results,  controlling  some 
of  the  most  diatreseing  symptoms  in  :i  remarkably  short 
time  after  ila  administration. 

The  patient  presented  for  treatment  and  an  examination 
revealed  loss  of  vision  in  one  eye  and  strong  threats  of  im- 
pairment of  vision  in  the  other.  Lach.  and  Phis,  did  well 
at  that  time  giving  considerable  relief. 

About  two  weeks  ago  the  patient  returned  complaining 
of  violent  headache  in  the  region  of  cere hro -spinal  arxis,  run- 
ning up  into  the  eyes  with  scintillations  before  the  eyes 
denoting  congestion.  Phis,  and  Tjach.  were  given  this  time 
but  with  negative  results.  Verat.  Vir.  would  control  the 
headache  in  a  measure;  Bell,  the  same  but  no  other  efTecl 
would  be  produced  by  these  remedies.  The  headache  wiu* 
aggravated  by  lying  down  and  was  accompanied  by  great 
sensitiveness  of  the  brain  and  cord.  Secale  200th  was  given 
at  thi.s  time  and  complete  relief  obtained  within  twenty-four 
hnus.     Tliere  has  been  no  return  of  the  trouble. 

Doctor  Porter  stated,  while  he  did  not  consider  tliis 
meeting  a  high  potency  convention  or  a  branch  of  the  I.  H. 
A.,  he  felt  called  upon  to  report  a  case  wherein  the  200  of 
Sulphur,  one  dose,  had  relieved  a  chronic  condition  that  had 
existed  seven  years. 

The  patient  had  been  treated  for  morbus  coxae  senilis,  a 
condition  often  occurlng  in  advanced  life  and  associated  with 
a  scrofulous  diathesis;  and  had  just  left  her  bed,  where  she 
had  been  suffering  from  counter  extension  of  a  weight 
attached  to  the  foot. 

On  examination  the  doctor  found  there  was  shortening 
of  the  right  leg,  but  it  was  due  to  a  tilting  of  the  pelvis,  and 
no  symptoms  of  hip  joint  disease  could  be  detected.  The  doc- 


512  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSWIASS  AND  .SURGPJOm. 

of  the  pelvis  was  probiibh^  due  to  a  neurotic  condition  of  the 
lumbar  muscles  of  the  back. 

« 

The  Sulphur  was  prescribed  simply  on  aroount  of  its 
similiarity  to  the  other  symptoms,  such  as  pain,  leucorrhoea, 
f^astric,  aggravation,  amelioration,  etc.,  with  no  regard  to  the 
prominent  complaint  of  the  patient.  The  relief  was  s»» 
marked  and  astonishing  that  the  family  could  liardly  realize 
the  fact.  The  patient  has  returned  home  tind  last  week  a 
letter  was  received,  stating  that  she  was  never  better  in  her 
life. 

Like  Dr.  McGuire,  1  desire  to  report  this  case,  simply  on 
its  merits.  As  a  rule  we  are  both  j>rescribers  of  low  poten- 
cies, but  these  two  cases  we  present  for  what  they  are  worth. 
Please  do  not  understand  me,  however,  as  a])ologizing  for 
administering  a  high  potency,  for  the  best  cures  I  have  ever 
had  in  my  practice,  have  been  through  the  oOths  and  200tlis. 

Doctor  IJailey  would  like  to  know  the  experience  of  the 
gentlemen  present  with  Tarantula  in  spasmodic  conditions. 
The  doctor  meniioned  one  case  that  he  prescril)ed  for  with- 
out seeing  the  patient,  and  tlie  only  synij)t(>ms  he  could 
elicit  was  that  the  patient  would  suddenly  fall  in  a  fit,  and 
was  addicted  to  the  use  of  alcoholic  stimulants.  Gave  Tar- 
antula oO  every  alternate  day  one  dose.  The  patient  has 
had  but  one  attack  since  and  that  one  about  six  months  ago. 

Doctor  Porter  has  used  it  in  tlie  12th  in  one  or  two  cases 
of  epilepsy,  and  has  always  l)een  satisfied  with  the  effect. 
The  symptoms  tluit  leads  him  to  select  this  remedy  is  that 
the  patient  in  falling  always  turn(?d  to  the  left. 

Doctor  McGuire  remembers  the  first  time  he  used  the 
remedy,  from  the  peculiar  results  that  followed  its  use.  The 
case  was  one  of  locomoter  ataxia  and  a  prominent  symptom 
was  cold  feet,  ('ould  not  get  them  warm.  Gave  Tarantula 
30  and  when  next  he  saw  her,  was  told  that  the  feet  were  so 
hot,  she  had  to  keep  them  out  of  bed.  The  reniedy  was  dis- 
continued, and  the  patient  instructed  to  take  a  dose  when- 
ever the  feet  were  cold.  This  w^as  done,  one  dose  being  suf- 
ficient to  keep  the  feet  warm  for  three  weeks. 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SUROEONS.         513 

Dr.  Foster  related  a  case  that  he  treated  without  seeing 
the  patient.  The  man  was  living  in  another  city  and  wrote 
him  that  he  had  had  an  attack  of  mumps  followed  in  two 
months  by  swelling  of  the  testes  and  enlargement  of  the 
spermatic  veins;  had  consulted  a  number  of  physicians  in 
his  own  town  but  was  told  nothing  short  of  an  operation 
would  return  him.  Wished  Dr.  Foster's  opinion.  The  doc- 
tor wrote  him  that  he  could  not  give  one  without  see- 
ing him,  but  sent  some  powders  of  Ars.  30,  which  the  man 
took,  and  reported  that  the  mumps  had  returned  and  swell- 
ing left  the  testes.  The  man  made  a  good  recovery  except 
that  the  spermatic  veins  are  still  enlarged. 

Dr.  Porter  suggests  suspensory  bandage  to  assist  the  var- 
icose condition  of  the  parts  as  the  spermatic  veins  are  not 
supplied  with  valves  and  therefore  slow  to  lessen  their  cali- 
bre, if  not  assisted  by  a  support  or  position.  The  doctor 
begged  the  privilege  of  calling  the  society's  attention  to  Dr. 
Foster's  report,  especially  that  part  which  referred  to  tht* 
Cleveland  physicians,  as  coming  through  the  patient.  We 
should  always  regard  with  suspicion  any  second-hand  re- 
marks relative  to  a  pathological  condition  or  diagnosis,  when 
coming  from  such  a  source.  We  doubt  whether  any  physi- 
cian would  suggest,  or  even  think  of  castration  in  a  case  of 
parotitis. 

Dr.  McGuire  related  an  interesting  cjise  of  "(Traves  Dis- 
ease.'-  The  case  came  to  him  for  treatment  some  time  ago. 
Examination  revealed  paralysis  of  superior  rectus  muscle. 
Came  back  soon  after  with  ptosis  and  immobility  of  the  eye; 
subject  to  severe  headache.  Elicited  the  fact  that  she  ran 
against  clothes  line  and  fell,  striking  the  head  upon  some 
hard  substance;  since  then  had  seen  double.  H.  Arnica, 
followed  by  Coniuni  which  relieved  the  headache  and  vomit- 
ing, but  measurements  since  then  show  protrubrence  of  the 
the  eyes.  Has  tried  Digitalis  in  various  potencies,  also 
Verat  Vir..  Amyl  Nit.,  and  Galvaniasm. 

Under  the  head  of  miscellaneous  business.  Dr.  Porter 
exhibited  a  new  female  catiieter  he  had  constructecl,  which 


514       SIMPLE  DIAGNOSIS  OF  DJ  A  BETES  MELLITUS, 

would,  he  thought,  avoid  producing  cystitis,  when  compelled 
to  resort  frequently  to  catheterization.  The  ohjection  to  the 
old  instrument  was,  first,  the  eyelet  or  clot  was  too  large  and 
lessening  the  calibre  or  diameter  of  tube,  allowed  the  blad- 
der to  contract  more  firmly  around  that  portion  of  the  cath- 
eter and  forcing  the  mucous  membrane  into  the  slot:  com- 
pelling the  operator  to  resort  to  some  force  to  remove  the 
instrument.  This  would  soon  set  up  an  inflammation;  sec- 
ond, the  old  instrument  is  so  short  that  the  patient  is  always 
more  or  less  liable  to  be  soiled  with  urine.  This  catheter 
has  the  same  calibre  its  entire  length,  and  is  perforated  with 
thirty-six  small  holes,  too  small  to  admit  any  portion  of  the 
mucous  membrane,  and  in  addition  has  a  coupling  attach- 
ment of  part  hard  rubber  with  the  balance  soft  rubber  tub- 
ing, to  carry  the  urine  to  a  vessel  along  side  of  the  bed. 

Dr.  Porter  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
accepted:  "That  this  society  shall  take  up  for  consideration, 
at  every  meeting,  under  the  order  of  miscellaneous  business, 
Hahnemann's  organon;  commencing  with  the  first  panigraph 
and  continue  the  subject.''  J.  M.  (trifftn,  Recorder. 

SIMPLE  DIAGNOSIS  OF  DIAHKTKS  MKLLITUS. 


Dr.  Charnaux,  of  Vichy,  after  a  large  number  of  obser- 
vations, writes  as  follows : 

Every  time  that  a  new  patient  presents  liimself  at  my 
office  for  consultation  and  often  passes  his  tongue  over  his 
lips  in  the  course  of  conversation,  I  suspect  him  of  being  a 
diabetic  subject.  AH  diabetic  ]>atients  continuallv  moisten 
their  lips  with  the  tongue  in  conversation. 

It  may  well  be  that  some  people  do  this  for  some  season 
or  other,  out«de  of  the  disease  just  given,  but,  as  a  rule,  it  is 
almost  an  infallible  symptom  of  polyuria  diabetica. 

This  year  I  have  examined  134  diabetic  patients,  each 
one  of  whom  presented  this  peculiarity. 

This  symptom  is,  of  course,  easily  explained  by  the  dry 
ness  of  the  mouth  and  mucous  surfaces  in  this  condition. 


WILLIAM  TOD  HELMUTIL  5|5 

WILLIAM  TOD  HELMUTH.* 


THE   POET  SURGEON. 


William  Tod  Helmuth,  M.  D.,  of  New  York  City,  was 
bom  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  October  30th,  1833.  He  is  the  son 
of  John  H.  Helmuth  of  the  same  city.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation at  St.  Timothy's  College,  Baltimore,  Md.  In  1850,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  and  graduated  in  1853, 
and  immediately  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Philadelphia.  It  was  during  his  early  life  that  He  conceived 
that  taste  for  surgery,  which  has  remained  with  him  trom 
that  time  to  the  present.  In  1854-'55,  he  officiated  as  Dis- 
pensary Physician  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College ;  a 
report  of  his  services,  as  such,  is  to  be  found  in  the  Phila- 
delphia Journal  of  Homoeopathy  for  the  latter  year.  During 
this  period  he  was  also  Prosecutor  of  Surgery  to  Dr.  Jacob 
Beakley.  In  1855,  being  then  22  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
Professor  of  Anatomy  in  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College 
of  Pennsylvania,  and,  in  the  same  year,  he  published  a  work 
entitled  *' Surgery  and  its  Adaptation  to  Homoeopathic  Prac- 
tice," consisting  of  650  pages.  During  this  time  he  was  also 
a  contributor  to  many  literary  periodicals. 

In  1858.  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and,  shortly  after,  be- 
came one  of  those  who  originated  the  Homoeopathic  Medical 
College  of  Missouri,  in  which  institution  he  was  offered  and 
accepted  the  chair  of  Anatomy.  He  was  subsequently  elected 
one  of  the  Surgeons  of  the  Good  Samaritan  Hospital,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  held  till  he  removed  to  New  York  city.  In 
1862,  he  published  a  monograph  on  "  Diphtherfa,"  which 
soon  passed  to  a  second  edition.  In  1866,  he  delivered  the 
annual  address  before  the  American  Institute,  and  in  1867, 
was  elected  President  of  that  body,  then  holding  its  session 
in  New  York  City.  In  1868,  with  a  view  to  perfecting  him- 
self in  surgical  science,  he  made  a  tour  on  the  continent  of 
Europe.    In   1869,   he  organized  the  St.   Louis  College  of 

*  See  FnintlHpIC(!e. 


5ia  WILLIAM  TOD  HELMVTH. 

Homceopathic  Phyeiciana  and  Surgeons,  being  its  Dean  and 
Professor  of  Surgery  until  he  left  the  West,  In  1870,  he  re- 
ceived a  pressing  call  from  his  professional  friends  to  take 
the  chair  of  Surgery  in  the  New  York  Horaceopathic  Medical 
College,  being  also  appointed  Surgeon  to  the  Hiihnemann 
Hospital  and  to  the  New  York  Surgical  Hospital. 

Dr.  Helmuth  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of 
HomoBopatby  (its  President  in  1867),  of  the  N.  Y.  State 
Horn.  Med.  Society,  the  Horn.  Med.  Society  of  the  County  of 
New  York,  of  which  he  has  been  president,  a  fellow  of  the 
Medico-Chirnrgical  Society,  of  which  he  has  been  Vice-Presi- 
dent, and  an  honorary  member  of  the  societies  of  Massachn- 
setta,  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut.  In  a  late  visit  to  Paris 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  "Societi6  M^dicale  Homoeo- 
pathique  de  France." 

Amidst  his  professional  duties  he  has  managed  to  con- 
tribute many  and  valuable  additions  to  homceopathic  and 
other  literature,  both  in  prose  and  verse.  In  1864,  he  started, 
in  connection  with  H.  C.  G.  Luyfies,  Esq.,  the  pharmaceutist, 
Ihe  Western  HovKxapalhic  Observer,  which  he  conducted  dur- 
ing seven  years,  till  he  left  St.  Louis.  He  has  also  given  to 
the  public  a  valuable  monograph  on  "Cleft  Palate;"  also 
two  other  brochures  entitled  "  Interesting  Surgical  Caaea  "  to 
the  New  York  Society,  and  ''  Ten  Cases  in  Surgery,"  beaidee 
many  other  monographs  and  miscellaneous  literary  produc- 
tions, both  in  poetry  and  prose.  In  1870,  he  removed  to 
New  York,  entered  upon  the  professional  duties  of  the  col- 
lege, and  became  associate  editor  of  the  New  England  Medical 
Gazette.  In  1873,  he  joined  Dr.  T.  F.  Allen  in  the  editorehip 
of  the  New  •  York  Journal  of  Homa-opalky,  the  organ  of  the  New 
York  Homceopathic  Medical  College,  conducted  under  the 
supervision  of  its  faculty.  During  the  greater  part  of  this 
time  he  was  busily  engaged  in  the  publication  of  his  greatesi  , 
work,  containing  about  one  thousand  pages,  and  illustrated  i 
with  over  four  hundred  wood-cuts,  entitled  "A  System  of  I 
Surgery,"  which  is  now  in  its  fourth  edition.  His  articles 
have  been  for  the  most  part  surgical ;  and  in  all  tht^  humuK)- 


WILLIAM  TOD  HELMllTH.  517 

pathic  journals  are  to  be  found  his  contributions  to  medical 
science. 

Since  his  residence  in  New  York  he  has,  besides  lectur- 
ing regularly  and  holding  clinics  at  the  college,  contributed 
to  general  and  surgical  literature.  Essays  upon  "Nerve 
stretching  "  "  Excision  of  the  rectum  "  with  cases,  "  Reports  of 
his  surgical  clinics,"  *'  A  contribution  to  Gynecological  Sur- 
gery" first  ])ublished  in  the  American  Joumcd  of  Obstetrics^ 
and  an  elaborate  treatise  on  "Supra-pubic  lithotomy" — 
which  operation  Dr.  Helmuth  holds  superior  to  all  other  of  the 
cutting  methods  of  removing  stone  from  the  bladder — have 
been  given  to  the  profession,  while  numerous  interesting 
surgical  cases  coming  under  his  observation  and  his  knife 
have  appeared  in  many  of  the  medical  periodicals.  Besides 
these  medical  productions  lie  has  published  a  miscellaneous 
collection  of  prose  and  vei-se,  entitled  "Scratches  of  a  Sur- 
geon "  and  a  little  weels,  *'  A  Steamer  Book  "  designed  for 
light  reading  when  crossing  tlie  Atlantic. 

Many  of  his  poems  are  familiar  to  all,  or  at  least  to 
most  of  the  homoeopathic  profession ;  one  of  the  latest  and 
best  appearing  in  the  present  issue  of  the  Advance.  Since 
the  year  1855,  he  has  lectured  every  year — save  one  year 
during  the  war  when  all  business  was  in  a  state  of  semi- 
dissolution — making  nearly  thirty  years  of  active  service  in 
the  lecture  room. 

It  is  believed  that  the  first  amputation  recorded  in  the 
American  homoeopathic  periodicals  made  by  a  Homoeopathic 
Surgeon  was  reported  by  him. 

He  had  no  capital  to  stjirt  with  in  life,  but  commenced 
unaided,  after  graduation,  without  a  dollar.  He  has  experi- 
enced the  full  meaning  of  hard  work  and  hard  knocks,  hav- 
ing worked  his  way  up  from  the  bottom  to  the  top  of  the 
ladder,  by  the  sheer  force  of  indomitable  energy,  dash,  bril- 
liant talents,  and  extraordinary  skill  in  his  chosen  branch  of 
science. 

In  1859,  he  was  married  to  Miss  l*rit chard,  of  St.  Louis, 
by  whom  he  has  two  children.     Whatever  may  be  the  \ioe.\- 


51 K  SURGICAL  CASES. 

tion  to  which  Dr.  Helmuth  may  attain,  he  can  always  carry 
with  him  the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  he  is  indebted  for  it 
to  none  but  himself.  Without  interest  or  influential  friends 
to  back  him,  having  no  favoritism  extended  to  him,  he 
boldly  grasped  the  difl&culties  of  his  position,  determined  to 
succeed,  and  has  done  so  by  an  uncommon  display  of  ''pluck  " 
in  combinatipn  with  rare  ability.  Although  comparatively 
young,  he  has  probably  done  more  for  surgery  aud  its  litera- 
ture in  the  homoeopathic  school  than  ai\y  other  man  in  the 
country. 

SURGICAL  CASES. 


BY  i  .  i'.   nVYV,  M.  I».  .lAMKSTOWIf,   D.VK. 


(/ASK  I.— H.  C. — Aged  42,  farmer.  Injury  consisted  of  a 
deep,  and  clean  cut  wound  of  the  posterior  part  of  the  leg, 
caused  by  a  mowing  machine.  The  seat  of  injury  was  at  or 
near  the  point  of  muscular  and  tendinous  union  of  the  Tendo 
Achillis.  On  examination  I  found  the  entire  muscular  por- 
tion of  the  parts  involved  cleanly  cut,  to  the  complete  expos- 
ing of  both  bones  of  the  leg;  hemorrhage  had  been  consider- 
able; was  at  the  time  bleeding  profusely,  and  was  only 
checked  by  the  ligation  of  several  small  muscular  arteries. 
Neither  of  the  principal  arteries  were  injured.  After  thor- 
oughly satisfying  myself  that  all  hemorrhage  had  ceased,  I 
allowed  a  short  interval  of  rest,  after  which  I  adapted  the 
edges  of  the  wound,  and  closed  it  with  eight  silk  sutures. 
The  patient  remained  for  a  short  time  in  my  office,  and 
was  then  removed  to  his  home.  After  being  carefully  placed 
in  bed  I  applied  a  carbolized  dressing  of  Olive  Oil  and 
Carbolic  Acid,  and  left  the  patient  comfortable  and  in  good 
spirits. 

On  my  return  home,  I  had  a  plain  splint  made,  which 
when  applied,  would  extend  the  foot  and  cause  relaxation  of 
the  muscles  involved.  This  splint  worked  nicely,  and  the 
wound  healed  very  quickly,  without  a  drop  of  discharge,  and 


a  a  HUFF,  M,  />.  519 

on  the  thirteenth  day  after  the  accident  the  patient  was  able 
to  walk,  and  improved  steadily,  all  traces  of  his  injury  being 
removed. 

Case  II. — M.  B. — Aged  45,  minister.  An  injury  of  the 
left  forearm,  caused  by  the  explosion  of  a  shotgun,  the  pa- 
tient was  shooting  wild  geese  when  the  accident  occurred, 
being  probably  half  a  mile  from  his  house,  reaching  the  same 
in  a  short  time,  unassisted.  I  was  hastily  summoned,  and 
on  arriving  found  the  patient  suflTering  from  a  frightfully 
lacerated  wound  of  the  forearm,  the  skin,  superficial  struc- 
tures, and  anterior  muscles  being  very  severely  torn  and 
burned.  The  longitudinal  portion  of  the  wound  was  seven 
inches,  and  transversely  at  the  widest  part  it  was  three  inches ; 
the  whole  surface  of  the  wound  was  more  or  less  rough  and 
uneven.  At  the  radial  side  of  the  wound  the  artery  could  be 
clearly  seen  pulsating.  There  was  but  little  hemorrhage, 
due  partly  to  the  burning  no  doubt,  and  the  application  of 
moderately  warm  water  soon  checked  that.  I  resolved  to 
save  the  arm  if  possible,  and  did  not  deem  it  justifiable  to 
handle  the  wound  much.  After  cleansing  the  wound  as 
thoroughly  as  I  deemed  it  prudent,  I  dressed  it  with  lint 
saturated  in  carbolized  oil,  placed  the  hand  and  arm  in  a 
posterior  splint,  and  gave  Arn.  3x  internally.  This  treatment 
wjis  kept  up  for  ten  days,  with  occasional  changes  to  Aeon.  3x 
and  Ars.  3x,  as  conditions  presented. 

The  progress  of  the  case  was  slow  ifor  a  week,  then  im- 
provement began  and  steadily  increased,  the  edges  of  the 
wound  gradually  approximating,  except  a  portion  of  the 
Ulnar  side,  which  seemed  to  delay  for  some  reason.  During 
the  operation  of  dressing  one  day  I  discovered  a  small  dark 
spot  underneath  the  tendon  of  Flexor  Carpi  Ulnaris  Muscle. 
In  probing  I  found  a  hard  substance  which  required  consid- 
erable force  to  remove  ;  when  removed  it  proved  to  be  a  piece 
of  the  gun  stock  of  considerable  size,  it  had  entered  the  arm 
at  the  time  of  the  accident  and  penetrated  the  tendon  going 
so  deep  as  to  cause  the  tendon  to  close  over  and  cover  it  en- 
tirely.    The  injury  to  the  tendon  was  such  that  h^toTvi\viw>^ 


52Q  BOOK  NOTICES. 

it  gave  way ;  after  that  the  wound  continued  to  heal  rapidly, 
and  in  fifty  days  from  date  of  injury  the  patient  was  dis- 
charged, cured,  and  at  no  time  was  there  a  great  amount  of 
actual  pain  in  the  wound  proper.  Most  all  his  real  suffering 
came  from  the  Ulnar  side  of  the  hand,  ring  and  little  fingers. 
This  pain  he  described  as  a  drawing,  pulling  sort  of  pain, 
that  seemed  to  draw  the  fingers  up,  yet  they  always  remained 
in  place,  with  their  fellows.  Constant  and  careful  passive 
motion  was  kept  up  during  treatment  and  the  patient  has 
very  little  impaired  motion. 


BOOK  NOTICES. 


LECrrRES  ON  FEVERS.  Delivered  at  the  Chicago  llonnjeopathic  Medic-al  (tollcKC, 
with  a  few  additional  lectures.  IJy  Prof,  J.  R.  Kippax,  M.  D..  LL.  B.,  Professor, 
etc.    Gross  &  Delbridge.    Chicago :  1884. 

We  have  liere  a  fine  volume  of  4()()  pages,  ami  we  are  prepared 
to  give  it  a  hearty  welcome,  for,  in  all  respects,  it  is  a  substantial 
addition  to  our  medical  literature.  It  is  well  written,  elegantly 
printed  and  substantially  bound;  and  we  have  placed  it  among  our 
books  of  ready  reference.  Heretofore  we  have  taken  Loomis  (allo- 
pathic) on  fevers,  and  a  smaller  work  on  continued  fevers,  by  Wil- 
rose,  also  an  allopatliic  w*ork,  as  the  best  of  modern  works  on  the 
subject,  but  on  a  careful  comparison  of  these,  we  find  Kippax's 
work  to  include  all  the  good  points  of  the  other  authors,  with  a- 
large  atiiount  of  important  information  not  known  to  those  authors. 
Dr.  Kippax  is  a  decided  germ-theorist,  and  he  makes  the  fulle.st 
possible  use  of  the  theory  in  his  etiology  of  the  disease  he  is  treating. 
On  this  point  we  take  emphatic  issue  with  the  author.  We  could 
wish  he  had  taken  his  position  upon  the  question  less  dogmatically; 
but,  we  are  not  disposed  to  quarrel  with  him,  nor  to  flatly  deny 
that  he  is  right,  but  we  shall  hold  for  the  present,  and  probably  for 
a  long  future,  that  the  theory  is  unproven.  In  pathology  and  diag- 
nosis the  author  has  left  nothing  to  be  desired.  His  charts  of  the 
various  levers  are  admirable,  and  are  of  immense  service  to  the 
medical  student.  The  indications  for  remedies  are  very  full  and 
well  chosen,  while  the  comparative  drugs  in  brackets  add  a  many- 
fold  value  to  the  indications  given.  This  is  really  a  grand  work, 
and  our  readers  may  buy  it  at  sight,  and  hold  us  responsible  for  all 
damages. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  521 

EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


Died:  T.  W.  Robertson,  M.  D.,  of  Battle  Creek,  of  pneumonia, 
age  36.  The  profession  in  this  State  will  receive  the  announcement 
with  extreme  regret. 

Died:  W.  C.  Leech,  M.  D.,  of  Marion,  Ohio,  died  February  4. 
The  doctor  was  widely  known  as  a  caustic  and  instructive  writer, 
and  leaves  a  large  practice. 

Removed:  H.  L.  Clark,  M.  D.  (U.  of  M.)  has  removed  from 
Grass  Lake,  Michigan,  to  Fremont,  Ohio.  What  is  our  loss  is  Ohio's 
gain.     We  predict  success  for  the  doctor  in  his  new  field  of  labor. 

Removed:  Geo.  B.  Foster,  M.  D.,  from  Detroit  to  Mt.  Clemens 
as  resident  physician  to  the  Mineral  Springs  Bath  Co.  Dr.  Sasse, 
who  has  held  this  position  for  the  last  four  years  goes  to  Germany 
for  special  study. 

A  GOOD,  well-established  practice  in  a  thriving  village  with  a 
fine  farming  country  surrounding  it,  for  sale  cheap.  Will  introduce 
successor.    For  particulars  correspond  with       L.  R.  Daniels, 

Sherwood,  Mich. 

Popular  Science  Monthly  for  March,  1884,  is  unequaled  for 
interest  and  velue.  Its  many  articles  are  brim  full  of  the  best.  The 
highest  standard  of  excellence  is  maintained  by  editor  and  contrib- 
utors and  we  commend  this  journal  to  the  household  as  well  as  to 
the  office.  If  we  can  keep  our  science  popular,  we  can  help  to  bring 
the  world  up  to  the  high  plane  of  general  intelligence  and  we  can 
hold  it  there  if  the  people  will  only  read. 

Transactions  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homcropathy,  188il. 
J.  C.  Burgher,  Secretary.  This  ample  volume  is  the  best  of  evidence 
of  the  growth  of  the  Homoeopathic  School.  It  does  not  in  all 
respects  meet  onr  ideal  of  what  work  in  the  Institute  should  be, 
but  we  find  in  it  so  much  to  admire  that  with  all  its  faults  we  hold 
it  in  high  estimation,  and  we  regard  the  book  as  a  full  return  for 
the  expense  of  membership.  Tliis  consideration  alone  should 
induce  thousands  who  are  not  members  to  send  in  their  names 
without  fail  to  the  next  meeting  at  Deer  Park.  Don't  forget  it  good 
reader. 

Annual  Address  Before  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  February  12,  '84.  By  Evart  H.  Hasbrouck, 
M.  D.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  We  confess  to  an  inborn  fear  of  addresses 
coming  from  the  above  quarter.  We  have  seen  some  such  that 
gave  us  far  more  pain  than  pleasure.  President  Hasbrouck  has, 
however,  given  us  something  worth  reading.   It  is  a  genulu^VN  >yi«^^ 


522  EDITORS  TABLE. 

thing.  It  takes  us  back  to  former  times  when  men  in  high  places 
talked  sensibly  about  Homoeopathy.  Not  for  a  long  time  have  we 
found  a  better  campaign  document  than  this.  It  ought  to  be  scat- 
tered broadcast  for  it  is  candid,  clear  and  convincing. 

North  Amprican  Review. — Whether  the  United  States  are  to 
regain  their  former  pre-eminent  rank  as  a  commercial  and  naval 
power  on  the  seas,  is  a  question  that  no  American  can  contemplate 
with  indifference.  The  subject  is  discussed  with  marked  ability  in 
the  North  American  Review  for  April,  by  the  Hon.  Nelson  Dingley, 
M.  C,  who  opposes  the  nroiect  of  admitting  foreign  built  ships  to 
American  Register,  and  by  Capt.  John  Codman,  who  is  well  known 
as  a  zealous  advocate  of  that  measure.  Judge  J.  A.  Jameson  in  the 
same  number  of  the  Review,  discusses  the  question,  "Shall  Our  Civ- 
ilization be  Preserved,''  pointing  out  the  means  that  are  at  hand 
for  withstanding  the  various  agencies,  physical,  moral  and  intellect- 
ual, which  threaten  to  overturn  our  existing  civil  and  soc^ial  institu- 
tions. Dr.  Felix  L.  Oswald  writes  of  ''Changes  in  the  Climate  of 
North  America,"  with  special  reference  to  the  increasing  frequency 
of  disastrous  floods."    An  interesting  number. 

Our  Colleges: — Several  colleges  have  held  their  commence- 
ments this  month.    Up  to  date  the  following  have  reported : 

Hahnemann,  of  Chicago,  heads  the  list  in  point  of  numbers 
with  127  graduates,  eight  of  whom  are  ad  eundem — one  in  16.  Prof. 
Ludlam  says  in  his  annual  report:  "No  feature  of  the  college  work 
is  more  gratifying  than  the  fact  that  this  institution  is  now  recog- 
nized as  of  the  superior  kind,  to  which  pupils  who  have  taken  their 
first  and  second  terms  in  a  preparatory  or  a  provincial  medical 
school  may  come  for  their  final  instruction."  "Provincial  medical 
school"  is  good.  The  dean  must  have  been  in  his  happiest  ironical 
mood  when  he  wrote  it,  particularly  "that  superior  kind." 

New  York  comes  next  with  52  graduates,  six  of  whom  are  ad 
eundem — one  in  nine.  Among  the  latter  we  notice  the  name  H.  W. 
Hartwell,  M.  D.,  fU.  of  M.,  '83)  Department  of  Medicine  and  Sur- 
gery. 

Chicago f  has  39  graduates  and  the  largest  class  in  the  history  of 
the  college. 

SL  LouiSj  March  6,  fourth  on  the  list  in  point  of  numbers  has 
20.  The  honorary  degree  was  conferred  on  Professor  Edmonds. 
The  class  validictory  was  delivered  by  Alice  B.  McKibben. 

University  of  Iowa ,  March  4,  has  a  graduating  class  of  12.  The 
annual  address  was  delivered  by  Prof.  T.  P.  Wilson,  M.  D.  The 
exercises  were  held  in  the  Opera  House  which  was  filled. 


^. 

T.  P.  WlUSOIf,  H.  D.,  PHIIi  PORTER,  H.  1>., 

Editor.  Gynecological  Editor. 


Vol.  XIV.  Ann  Arbor,  April,  1884.  No.  10. 


All  subsoriptions  and  business  ooniznunioations  should 
be  addressed  to  MEDICAL  ADVANCE  PIJBIilSHING-  CO., 
Ann  Arbor,  Mioh.    Subscription,  $2.00  per  annum. 

H.  C.  ALiLEN,  M.  D.,  Business  Managrer. 


Principles  of  Medicine,  No.  1, — Inirodxiciory,  We  have 
on  all  liands  a  surfeit  of  medical  art.  Each  school  of  prac- 
tice has  its  own  cherished  and  much  venerated  methods  of 
treating  disease.  We  are  supposed  to  have  the  principles 
and  practice  of  medicine  taught  us  l)y  our  writers  of  text 
books;  these  are  sometimes  spoken  of  as  the  Science  and 
Art  of  Medicine;  but  when  we  come  to  open  a  book  which 
treats  of  Therapeutics  wc  fail  to  find  any  principles  laid 
down.  In  several  pretentious  volumes  before  us,  written  by 
different  authors,  the  title  page  of  each  is  "Theory  and  Prac- 
tice of  Medicine,"  but  there  is  nothing  pertaining  to  theory 
in  either  of  the  works.  There  are  also  several  other  works 
entitled  "  Practice  of  Physics,"  "Practice  of  Medicine,"  "Clin- 
ical Medicine,"  etc.,  in  all  of  which  the  art,  the  practice,  the 
method  of  curing  diseases  is  fully  explained,  but  there  is  an 
utter  absence  of  information  of  the  principles  u\\otv  ^\v\Ocv 


524  EDITORIAL. 

the  art  is  supposed  to  rest.  This  seems  to  be  all  wrong; 
at  least  it  is  a  very  unsatisfactory  state  for  medicine  to 
be  in. 

If  we  inquire  into  the  cause  of  this  we  will  find  it  orig- 
inating in  two  things;  first,  the  allopathic  school  is  confess- 
edly without  principles  such  as  its  practitioners  and  teachers 
would  care  to  formulate,  because  such  as  they  have  are  con- 
tradictory, incoherent  and  therefore  unrelated.  The  allo- 
pathic school  can,  in  the  nature  of  things,  have  no  system  of 
principles.  This  accounts  for  the  fact  that  they  have  never 
attempted  to  teach  the  Principles  of  Medicine.  A  well- 
known  author  of  that  school,  Williams,  in  his  "  Principles  of 
Medicine,"  treats  of  nothing  but  General  Pathology  and 
Therapeutics.  In  the  second  place  the  homoeopathic  school 
is  not  without  principles  in  its  teachings,  but  as  these  are 
the  things  most  controverted,  as  they  form  in  fact  the  great 
bone  of  contention  over  which  the  various  factions  have 
warred  so  many  years,  the  authors  of  text-books  in  the  Hom- 
oeopathic school — those  who  have  written  upon  Theory  and 
Practice — have  been  almost  as  reticent  upon  the  question  of 
Principles  as  their  Allopathic  confri^res.  By  way  of  special 
treatises  upon  Medical  Principles,  Hahnemann's  Organon 
must  take  precedence.  It  is,  and  always  will  be,  a  masterly 
exposition  of  Medicine,  so  far  as  the  principles  of  Therapeu- 
tics are  concerned.  Dunham's  fragmentary  writings,  the 
works  of  Joslin,  Ran  and  Hem  pel  have  each  in  their  way 
treated  of  Medical  Principles,  and  are  all  worthy  of  careful 
study.  But  none  of  those,  in  matter  of  comprehensiveness, 
meets  the  wants  of  the  modern  student.  Investigation  to-day 
takes  a  much  wider  range  than  in  former  years.  The  Prin- 
ciples of  Medicine  must  bu  discussed  from  the  stand-point  of 
modern  science.  Not  piiilosophy  alone  but  chemistry  and 
physics  have  important  light  to  contribute  and  it  cannot  be 
otherwise  than  a  mark  of  wisdom  to  admit  these  important 
factors  into  the  discussion.  If  the  readers  of  the  Advance 
will  patiently  follow  us  from  month  to  month  we  will  en- 
deavor to  outline  this  subject  and  so  suggest  how  it  might 


EDlTOniAL,  525 

be  amplified  so  as  to  place  the  art  of  healing  en  rapport  with 

modern  thought. 

—        w» 

Dear  Pellet: — Your  arrival  at  our  sanctum  brings 
much  pleasure.  You  represent  the  Ohio  Hospital  for 
Women  and  Children,  for  the  benefit  of  which  you  inform  us 
a  fair  is  to  be  held — at  least  some  flowers,  and  a  luncheon 
are  to  be  had.  Pleasant  information,  that,  to  a  hungry 
editor  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  away  from  the  seat 
of  war.  More  than  that,  the  exact  locality  of  the  luncheon 
does  not  appear  recorded  on  your  sweet  face.  If  it  be  up 
town,  down  town,  over  the  river  or  on  the  hill- top  is  what  no 
fellow  can  find  out  by  you.  Think  of  it,  gentle  Pellet,  a  man 
with  his  vitals  gnawed  by  the  demon  of  hunger  and  not 
knowing  which  street  car  to  take.  If  fortune  should  place  a 
stray  policeman  in  his  way  and  the  right  route  be  found  ima- 
gine if  you  can  the  mental  condition  of  a  man  who  upon  his 
entrance  is  presented  with  a  menu  of  thirty  distinct  articles 
by  two  hundred  ladies.  Dear,  sweet  Pellet,  your  table  com- 
mittee— Cincinnati's  most  charming  dames  and  damsels — 
could  have  but  one  effect  upon  a  famishing  man,  his  appe- 
tite would  be  forever  lost.  Is  this  your  deep  design  to  feed 
the  multitude  through  their  astonished  eyes?  Would  you — 
could  you  ask  a  man  not  in  the  regular  army  to  face  so  many 
charming  waiters  and  venture  to  take  his  pick?  In  our 
opinion  every  decent  man  would  go  hungry  to  his  grave 
rather  than  discriminate.  Our  devil  says  he  would  have 
gone  through  the  course  with  every  individual  waiter;  but 
then  our  devil  was  born  hungry  and  besides  that  he  is 
wealthy.  At  this  juncture  the  editor's  wife  puts  in  her  oar. 
'*  Don't  you  sec,  my  dear,  the  thing  has  gone  by  two  weeks 
ago?"  Then  alas  there  is  nothing  left  but  to  light  the  col- 
ored fires  and  ring  down  tlie  curtain  with  many  thanks  to 
the  fair  editor  of  Tlie  Pellet  and  many  good  wishes  for  the 
success  of  our  many  friends  in  Cincinnati  who  are  so  ably 
maintaining  their  Hospital  over  whose  dome  you  may  be 
sure  floats  tlie  banner  of  Similia. 


.526  FIBRINE  AND  BACTERIA, 

FIBRINE  AND  BACTERIA. 


REPLY  TO  DK.  GREGG. 


By  thcx*.  tayix)B,  m.  d..  Washington,  d.  r, 


On  page  438  of  your  interesting  monthly  of  February 
last,  I  find  what  is  called  a  reply  to  my  short  paper  on  Dr. 
RoUin  R.  Gregg's  views  relating  to  Fibrine  and  Bacteria.  I 
judge  from  his  reply  that  the  Doctor  rides  a  high  horse  and 
ignores  the  modest  professional  buggy,  but  I  hope  neverthe- 
less to  convert  him  to  more  accurate  views  than  he  at  present 
entertains. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  your  readers  that  I  stated  in 
my  few  remarks  of  Dr.  Greggs'  experiments  that  fibrine  is 
soluble  in  the  alkalies  and  that  cellulose,  the  external  cell- 
covering  of  bacteria,  is  not,  thus  giving  a  test  for  bacteria  as 
distinguished  from  fibrine.  I  also  said  that  "fibrine  is  a 
muscle  forming  substance  and  cellulose  is  not."  Dr.  Gregg 
in  his  answer  denies  that  fibrine  is  soluble  in  the  alkalies  or 
that  it  is  muscle  forming  and  quotes  Liebig  as  saying  that, 
"  fibrine  relates  cliemically  more  to  coagulated  albumen  than 
it  does  to  the  fibrine  of  the  blood."  Suppose  it  does.  Both 
are  soluble  in  the  alkalies.  "Digested  at  the  temperature  of 
the  living  body  in  dilute  solutions  of  ammonia  or  of  potas- 
sium or  sodium-hydrate,  fibrine  dissolves."  Arthur  Gamgee, 
p.  36.    Edition  1880. 

"Coagulated  albumen  is  soluble  in  caustic  potassa."  Dal- 
ton's  i)hysiology,  p.  84.     Edition  1861. 

"  It  is  highly  probable  that  the  animal  organism  possesses 
power  to  transform  albumen  into  fibrine  or  caseine  or  vice 
versa.  *  *  *  The  principal  bulk  of  an  egg  is  albumen 
*  *  *  yet  from  these  are  produced  the  fibrine  in  the 
chick's  muscles,  also  the  horny  tissues  and  feathers.  In 
suckling  a  young  animal,  it  is  evident  that  caseine  must  be 
similarly  transformed,  or  if  we  reverse  the  examination,  the 
parent  gets  her  milk  (so  rich  in  caseine)  from  blood  which 
contains  none."  Symington,  Brown's  Chemistry,  Boston,  1855. 


THOS,  TA  YLOR,  M.  D.  527 

"When  fibrine  is  subject  to  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  pot- 
ash at  a  high  temperature  it  becomes  soluble  and  very  much 
resembles  albumen."  Johnson,  Thurner's  Chemistry,  Re- 
vised Edition. 

"Fibrine  is  soluble  in  a  six  per  cent,  solution  of  potaS' 
sium  nitrate  if  digested  with  it  for  some  time  at  a  tempera* 
ture  of  30°  or  40°.  It  is  similarly  soluble  in  sodium  chloride 
and  in  a  ten  per  cent,  solution  of  magnesium  sulphate." 
"In  water  containing  one  part  hydrochloric  acid  per  1,000, 
fibrine  dissolves  in  a  few  hours  at  a  temperature  of  40°  *  * 
*  and  is  converted  into  acid — albumen."  Physiological 
Chemistry  of  Arthur  Gamgee,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.  Published  by 
McMillan  &  Co.,  London,  1880. 

"Fibrine  *  *  *  sparingly  soluble  in  dilute  acids 
and  alkalies  and  in  neutral  solutions.  *  *"  Fowne's  Man- 
ual of  Chemistry,  1873. 

"  Fibrine  is  soluble  in  water  at  ordinary  temperature, 
piissing  into  solution  only  at  very  high  temperature^  or  after  a 
great  length  of  time^  and  then  becoming  totally  changed  in 
character." 

"  In  dilute  alkalies  it  swells  up  *  *  *  and  is  more  sol* 
able  than  in  dilute  acids.  In  neutral  saline  solutions  *  * 
it  swells  up     *     *     and  gradually  dissolves." 

"Suspended  in  distilled  water  at  70°  it  becomes  more 
opaque  and  loses  its  elasticity.  Its  solubilities  are  thus 
identical  with  those  of  coagulated  albumen." 

"  Fibrine — Gluten. — Fibrine  receives  its  name  from  the 
circumstance  that  it  enters  largely  into  the  composition  of 
the  muscular  fibre  of  the  animal."  "  It  is  best  obtained  by 
whipping  a  quantity  of  fresh  drawn  blood  with  a  bunch  of 
twigs  *  *.  It  is  not  soluble  in  the  acids,  but  dissolves 
readily  in  dilute  solutions  of  the  alkalies.  Fibrine  obtained 
in  tlie  above  manner  from  either  venous  or  arterial  blood 
appears  to  possess  essentially  the  same  properties,  and  when 
turburatod  with  solution  of  nitrate  of  potash  at  a  high  tem- 
perature, it  becomes  soluble  and  very  much  resembles  albu.- 
men."    Fownes  Manual  of  Chemistry,  p,  49V,  1^1^, 


5:^8  FIBRINE  A  ND  BA  CTERIA . 

"  Muscular  fiber  properly  consists  of  a  substance  which 
is  soluble  both  in  potash  and  acetic  acid.  Page  584,  Mulder's 
Physiology,  1849. 

"If  we  dissolve  coagulated  albumen  in  dilute  potash  lye, 
digest  the  solution  some  time  at  60°  to  70°,  and  then  precip- 
itate with  acetic  acid  we  obtain  a  snow-white  precipitate.' 
"  Fibrine  *  *  *  in  coagulated  state  forms  the  principal 
constituent  of  muscle.''  *  *  *  **  In  fresh  condition  it  is 
easily  dissolved  in  acetic  acid  and  in  alkalies."  I^wipr's 
Organic  Chemistry,  1853.     Philadelphia,  A.  Hart,  publisher. 

I  might  quote  Foster  and  fifty  others  but  enough  has 
been  given  to  prove  that  Fibrine  and  coagulated  albumen 
are  soluble  in  the  alkalies  and  are  muscle  forming. 

The  Doctor  sayh^  that  "If  he  will  read  authors  he  will 
find  that  fibrine  is  almost  the  only  food  of  the  serous  mem- 
branes and  their  allied  structures;  wliile  albumen  is  the  only 
food     *     *     ♦     *     of  the  muscles  or  muscular  cells.'" 

"Muscles — *  *  *  Their  structure  is  always  fibrous." 
*  *  *  ''Thechief  substances  contained  in  tliem  are  fibrine, 
albumen  and  gelatine.  The  two  /a/f^r8?i/>."*/a??c^A  are  contained 
chiefly  in  the  memhranes  which  envelo])e  the  fibers.-'  Johns- 
ton, Turner's  Chemistry,  p.  408.  edition  1867.  The  Doctor 
in  writing  of  his  experiments  says:  '*If  lie  watches  fibrine 
of  rotted  blood  go  through  all  sorts  of  net-work,  cellular  and 
other  formations  '^  *  *  he  will  learn  much  of  the  secret 
of  all-development  which  has  already  been  seen  antl  another 
great  point  gained."  Are  we  to  understand  from  this,  that 
Dr.  Gregg  is  the  first  to  make  the  observation,  that  the  sub- 
stance of  livins:  fibrine  conforms  to  a  law  common  to  every 
form  of  protoplasm,  ( there  is  no  dead  protoplasm)?  "  Blood 
rotted  for  six  montlis''  cannot  on  any  known  ])rinciple  pro- 
duce living  cellular  fibrine.  The  forms  therefore  which  he 
observed  in  rotted  blood  are  not  living  cell  formations.  The 
motions  of  fibres  or  granules  is  no  positive  indication  of  life. 
The  openings  he  sees  may  be  simply  holes  such  as  are  com- 
mon to  baker's  bread.  But  the  Doctor  has  discovered  that 
the  granules  of  fibrine  no  matter  how  treated  with  acids  and 


THOS.  TA  YLOR,  M.  D.  521) 

fire  are  always  present,  the  same  size,  tlie  same  color,  tlie 
same  everything,  even  to  motion  in  many  of  them,  and  he 
infers  that  when  I  have  seen  such  granules  in  disease  that  I 
liave  called  them  micrococci.  This  is  the  conclusion  the 
Doctor  arrives  at  after  twenty  years  study  in  his  special 
branch  and  discovery !  Dear  Doctor  T  am  sorry  that  you- 
have  spent  twenty  years  in  your  fibrine  studies.  It  has  nar- 
rowed your  vision,  ruffled  your  temper,  and  prevented  you 
from  reading  up  tlie  most  common  place  experiments  relat- 
ing to  bacterian  culture. 

Did  you  even  try  to  cultivate  fibrine  granules  --your  bac- 
teria— either  before  or  after  you  burnt  them  to  test  their  pow- 
ers of  reproduction  ?  Had  you  done  so,  you  would  have  saved 
your  midnight  gas  and  may  be  an  aching  head.  Since  you 
are  gifted  in  giving  advice,  please  take  a  little  and  read  up 
Mulder's  Pliysiology,  where  you  will  find  your  little  granule 
and  fibre  dejncted,  and  even  tlie  cells  of  fibrine  portrayed  in 
picture  form.  How  different  a  thing  are  bacteria  proper 
from  your  fibres  and  granules.  The  simplest  of  all  the  forms 
of  bacteria — spherical  bacteria,  an  agent  which  from  the 
very  inception  of  life  upon  tlie  earth,  has  continuously  per- 
.  formed  a  function  without  which  the  successive  generations 
of  ])laiits  and  animals  could  not  have  existed;  and  stupen- 
dous as  is  its  work,  it  is  an  agent  so  minute  that  twenty  mil- 
lion individuals  of  its  class  might  be  inclosed  within  a  globe 
small  enough  to  i)ass  through  the  eye  of  a  cambric  needle. 

I^et  us  theoretically  |)ut  the  Doctor's  discovery  to  a  com- 
mon test.  Let  a  portion  of  his  fil)rine  and  granules  be  sub- 
jected to  a  sufficiently  high  t(*mperature  in  water  to  sterilize 
the  mass,  and  place  a  portion  of  his  wigglers  thus  treated  in 
a  ])roperly,  sterilized,  clear,  nutrient  fluid  (after  the  fashion 
of  Pasteur)  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time,  to  give  his  fibres 
and  granules  a  chance  to  reproduce  their  kind.  At  the  same 
time  put  a  drop  of  water  containing  real  bacteria  into  another 
sterilized  fluid  as  above.  It  will  be  found  after  the  lapse  of  a 
few  days,  that  the  fluid  containing  the  Doctor^s  bacteria  will 
not  cloud  the  water  or  liis  bacteria  be  iucTca»v>d  \tv  \vwvc^^:t^i. 


530  BACTERIA   VS,  FIBRINE. 

Whereas  in  the  second  experiment  the  real  bacteria  will  have 
clouded  the  nutrient  fluid  and  the  bacteria  greatly  increased 
in  numbers,  thus  demonstrating  the  erroneous  character  of 
Dr.  Rollin  R.  Gregg's  philosophy.  It  will  he  remembered 
that  the  Doctor's  bacteria  are  not  affected  by  boiling  or  burn- 
ing, or  the  action  of  nitric  acid. 

With  regard  to  cellulose,  a  substance  destitute  of  nitro- 
gen, convertible  by  nature  or  art  into  starch,  dextrine  or  glu- 
cose, a  very  different  substance  from  fibrine,  the  latter  con- 
tains the  elements  of  bacteria,  but  the  former  does  not.  Now 
since  I  have  shown  that  fibrine  is  soluble  even  in  water  under 
the  conditions  stated,  the  soluble  parts  however  small,  would 
supply  sufficient  food  for  the  propagation  of  bacteria,  and 
when  we  take  into  consideration  Dr.  Gregg's  exceedingly 
loose  method  of  conducting  his  experiments,  the  presence  of 
real  bacteria  in  his  solution  is  easilv  accounted  for.  Scien- 
tific  men  who  conduct  bacterian  experiments,  would  not  give 
his  methods  a  moment's  consideration,  well  knowing  that 
any  watery  solution  of  protidcs  would  supply  food  for  bac- 
teria. 

The  Doctor  desires  me  to  test  his  experiments;  such  ex- 
periments generally  considered  are  a  common  place  matter  . 
with  me  but  not  for  the  purpose  of  entering  into  competition 
with  nature  in  creating  living  things.  The  most  we  can  do 
is  to  supply  suitable  food  to  the  ever  present  spores,  and  in 
this  way  fidmit  of  tlie  possibility  of  their  reproduction. 

BACTERIA  VS.  FIBRINE. 


BY   FRANCIS  R.  DAY.    M.   D.  V.WVKt^d. 


Since  April,  1882,  various  journals  have  from  time  to 
time  published  articles  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Rollin  R.  Gregg, 
of  Buffalo,  on  the  "  Science  of  Fibrin,"  in  which  he  boldly 
challenges  the  existence  of  bacteria  or  micro  organisms,  and 
attempts  to  prove  that  all  the  great  workers  in  this  depart- 
ment of  biology  have  been  laboring  under  delusions,  and  have 


FRANCIS  R,  DA  F,  M.  D.  531 

been  investing  little  bits  of  fibrin  e  with  the  most  dread  fill 
powers. 

In  the  January  number  of  the  Medical  Advance,  Dr. 
Taylor,  of  Washington,  tried  to  put  Dr.  Gregg  on  the  right 
track,  but  failed  utterly  in  his  endeavor.  In  fact,  a  fibrinous 
exudation  seems  to  have  covered  Dr.  Gregg's  entire  field  of 
vision  so  as  to  prevent  the  perception  of  truths  established  by 
other  observers. 

In  his  experiments,  made  with  a  view  to  building  up  a 
"Science  of  fibrin  "  he  has  taken  the  most  approved  methods 
for  developing  myriads  of  the  bacteria  of  putrifaction.  No 
more  successful  measure  could  be  adopted  for  that  purpose 
than  to  rot  a  quart  or  two  of  beef's  blood  in  an*  iron  pot  ex- 
posed to  the  air  for  six  months  at  a  constant  warmth  of  100° 
to  200°  F.  Any  microscopist  who  could  not  find  any  quan- 
tity of  micrococci,  bacteria  termo,  and  spirillum,  in  such  an 
infusion  might  as  well  sell  his  instrument  and  go  into  some 
other  business. 

If  Dr.  Gregg  were  to  examine  water  from  a  stagnant  pond, 
or  decomposing  urine  he  would,  no  doubt,  find  the  same  forms 
wliich  he  calls  "granules,  rods  and  spirals  of  fibrin." 

Does  the  doctor  think  that  by  the  microscopical  appear- 
ance alone,  he  can  prove  that  those  forms  are  derived  solely 
from  the  threads  of  fibrine?  Upon  his  observations  alone 
does  he  dare  to  deny  the  existence  of  all  patliogenetic  and 
non-pathogenetic  bacteria? 

He  calls  for  others  to  verify  his  experiments ;  would  it 
not  be  well  for  him  to  verify  the  work  of  others?  Let  him 
cultivate  his  bits  of  fibrine  by  the  gelatine  method  through 
successive  generations,  let  him  inoculate  an  animal  with  the 
youngest  progeny,  and  produce  the  symptoms  of  disease. 

TiOt  him  extimine  the  blood  or  tissues  of  this  animal  and 
find  microscopic  forms  identical  with  those  cultivated.  Be- 
fore he  casts  aside  the  germ  theory  of  disease  in  toto,  let  him 
read  Prof.  (Jradle's  work  on  "Bacteria  and  the  Germ  Theory 

• 

of  Disease,"  or  Section  vii  of  Zeigler's  "  Text  book  of  Patho- 
logical Anatomy,"  or  "  The  Cartwrighl  L»ecXv]LT^\i  ^v:>x  V^ifc*^ 


532  ABNORMAL  CELLS  IN  TRICHINOSIS, 

and  there  learn  a  few  facts  about  bacteria  that  have  been  es- 
tablished on  a  basis  that  he  can  never  shake  with  his  "  Sci- 
ence of  fibrin." 

Will  he  not  believe  these  men?  Has  he  verified  the 
works  of  Koch,  Pasteur,  et  al.  and  found  them  wrong  ? 
Does  he  deny  the  existence  of  the  bacillus  anthrax?  Does 
he  think  that  he  can  work  in  this  department  of  science  with 
a  J  inch  objective?  If  he  answers  these  questions  in  the  af- 
firmative, I  can  only  sigh  sadly  to  myself;  "  alas  I  the  fools 
are  not  all  dead  yet." 

ABNORMAL  CELT^  IN  TRICHINOSIS. 


BY  L.  YOrN<JinrsBANI),  M.  D  ,  LL.  D.,  DKTROIT. 


Two  specimens  of  pork,  supposed  to  be  trichinous,  were 
sent  me  for  microscopical  examination,  one  from  Niles,  and 
the  other  from  Dr.  0.  R.  Long  of  Ionia.  In  the  former  I  found 
several  trichinsr;  in  tlie  latter  only  two  cysts,  after  a  very  long 
and    careful   search.     I  sent  some  of  the  Ionia  meat  to  mv 

mm 

friend,  Dr.  C.  Henri  Leonard,  of  the  Michigan  Medical  Col- 
lege, an  enthusiastic  worker  on  such  cases,  who  made  a  strict 
examination  without  finding  a  single  cyst.  He  found  a  fun- 
goid growth,  the  character  of  which  lead  him  to  believe  the 
animal  had  been  seriously  affected  with  actinomycosis.  I 
saw  the  same  fungus  myself  but  supposed  it  to  have  grown 
on  the  meat  after  death.  Dr.  Leonard  may  be  right  in  his 
views.  At  a  somewhat  later  date,  he  saw  and  carefully  ex- 
amined the  Niles  pork,  but  not  until  his  opinion  of  Ionia 
meat  had  been  published.  He  declared  both  kinds  to  be  ao 
badly  diseased  as  to  be  unfit  for  food,  and  in  tliis  I  think  all 
agree  with  him,  except  Prof.  Stowell  of  Ann  Arbor. 

We  both  found  the  muscles  of  each  kind  very  full  of  pe- 
culiar looking  oval  or  lemon-shaped  cells,  which  we  pronounc- 
ed abnormal  and  pathological.  Several  slides  were  shown  to 
difierent  physicans  in  this  city,  and  all,  as  I  am  informed, 
declared  these  peculiar  cells  to  be  associated  with  some  dis- 
ease. 


L.  YO  UNO  HUSBAND,  M,  D.  533 

A  reporter  of  the  Detroit  Times,  called  upon  Dr.  Leonard 
and  myself  to  get  information  on  the  subject  of  trichinosis 
and  our  views  on  the  diseased  pork. 

The  publication  of  those  interviews  created  a  stir  among 
microscopists  through  the  State.  The  opponents  of  our  views 
had  stated  that  the  only  dangerous  element  in  connection 
with  this  pork  was  the  parasite;  that  the  meat  itself  was  far 
from  being  an  agent  injurious  to  health.  They  brought  Prof. 
Stowell  from  the  University  to  settle  the  matter,  which  he  . 
tried  to  do  in  liis  own  way,  but  made  a  "  bad  mess  of  it."  He 
declared  the  Niles  pork  normal  with  the  exception  of  the 
million  of  parasites  in  it,  and  the  cells  pronounced  peculiar 
and  abnormal  by  the  Detroit  doctors,  were  nothing  more  nor 
less  than  adipose  tissue,  such  as  is  formed  in  very  fat  healthy 
animals.  This  decision  was  supposed  to  be  a  "  settler,"  com- 
ing from  so  distinguished  a  personage,  and  a  timely  hint  for 
certain  ones  to  take  a  back  seat. 

The  Ann  Arbor  professor  with  his  confreres  of  the  Grif-  - 
fith  Club  of  Microscopy  had  this  decision  published  in  one  of 
tlie  daily  papers  us  a  joke,  over  which    they  had  a  hearty 
laugli.     These  gentlemen   evidently   fofgot  the   old    adage, 
"  who  laughs  last,  laughs  best." 

From  the  outset  I  took  the  ground  that  these  cells  were 
abnormal  and  of  degenerative  nature,  produced  by  these  par- 
asites. Since,  I  have  fully  demonstrated  the  truth  of  my  posi- 
tion in  regard  to  them,  it  is  now  well  understood  and  conced- 
ed on  the  part  of  nearly  every  one  having  examined  my  slides, 
that  these  cells  are  abnormal  and  not  healthy  adipose  tissue. 
The  testimony!  produce  is  so  absolutely  true  that  Prof.  Stow- 
ell dares  not  deny  nor  attempt  to  refute  it.  My  large  experi- 
ence in  examining  pork  with  trichinje  in  it  establishes  me  in 
the  opinion  held  by  other  investigators  that  the  muscular  tis- 
sue in  trichinosis  consists  of  an  enormousincreaseof  the  pro- 
toplasm of  the  sarcous  elements,  which  by  conftuence  produce 
globular  masses  of  a  high  degree  of  luster,  apparently  desti- 
tute of  structure  and  in  appearance  greatly  resembling  fat. 

In  microscopy  more  than  in  any  othet  acvexvc^i^  ^^  Vc^- 


534  ABNORMAL  CELLS  IN  TRICHINOSIS. 

quently  meet  with  things  having  great  resemblance  to  each 
other,  when  judged  by  tlie  sense  of  sight  only,  though  greatly 
differing  in  nature  or  essence  which  the  microscope  is  utterly 
unable  to  detect.    What  are  we  to  do  in  such  cases  ?     We 
invariably  have  recourse  to  reagents  or  tests  furnished  us  by 
the  chemist.     Now,  to  the  vision  even  aided  by  the  best  ob- 
•jective  in  the  world,  no  one  could  positively  say- these  pecul- 
iar cells  were  composed  of  fat,  altliough  greatly  resembling 
it.  They  looked  like  adipose  tissue  to  me  as  they  did  to  Prof. 
Stowell.  I  said,  I  will  test  them  on  this  point,  I  therefore  im- 
mersed the  section  iu  turpentine,  an  excellent  solvent  of  fat, 
but  this  agent  could  not  dissolve  them.     I  also'  tried  to  dis- 
solve them  in  the  oil  of  clqves,  a  powerful  solvent  of  adipose 
tissue,  with  like  results.  But  there  are  other  methods  of  test- 
ing for  fat.  I  carefully  washed  these  same  slides  undissolved 
by  turpentine  and  oil  of  cloves,  immersed  them  in  a  certain 
dilution  of  carmine,  and  mounted  them  in  Canada  balsam.   I 
then  examined  the  mounts  under  the  microscope.     The  sight 
Wcis  a  beautiful  one.    Many  of  these  cells,  which  before  treat- 
ment had  a  high  degree  of  luster  resembling  fat  were  stained 
a  beautiful  deep  red.    But  fat  cells  cannot  be  stained  by  car- 
mine as  all  histoloj^ists  know.     It  requires  such  reagents  as 
iodine  and  osniic  acid  to  do  it.     I  notice  in  these  same  slides, 
that  some  of  these  peculiar  looking  cells  are  only  half  stained 
— the  other  half  looking  as  bright  as  ever,  showing  that  a  fatty 
metamorphosis  simultaneously  with  colloid  metamorphosis 
is  also  not  infrequently  found  in  the  same  cell.     Hence  we 
see  that  in  these  peculiar  cells  we  have  two  pathological  de- 
generations, viz.  fatty,  and  colloid,  and  these  conditions  are 
the  outcome  ot  parenchymatous  myositis,  set  up  by  the  action 
of  the  embrvos  of  trichinx.  In  these  slides  I  find  the  colloid 
degeneration    greatly  in  excess  of  the   fatty   degeneration. 
Such  colloid  cells  are  ever  present  in  typhoid  fever,  frequent- 
ly found  in  typhus,  acute  miliary  tuberculosis,  unemia,  small 
pox,  scarlet  fever,  and  from  what  I  have  learned  in  my  ex» 
amination  of  these  and  other  specimens  of  such  pork,  I  am 
sure  they  are  nearly  always  to  be  found  in  trichinosis.    Prof. 


CURES  BY  DR.  KVNKEL.  535 

Stowell's  blunder  consisted  in  not  making  a  careful  examina- 
tion of  the  slides.  The  slides  I  mounted,  were  exhibited  and 
carefully  examined  by  experts  attending  the  Wayne  County 
Medical  Society.  I  am  informed  by  gentlemen  who  were 
present  at  that  meeting,  that  these  slides  sustained  the  posi- 
tion taken  by  Dr.  Leonard  and  myself.  I  am  algo  informed 
that  the  subject  as  discussed  will  be  printed  in  Detroit  Lancet. 


4a>> 


CURES  BY  DR.  KUNKEL. 


VERIFICATION  OP  THUJA. 


[From  the  Allg.  Horn,  Zeiiimg,  of  KeiL] 


The  cases  of  gonorrhoea,  in  which  Thuja  o.  c.  c.  is  the 
remedy,  are  not  frequent,  at  least  they  have  not  occurred 
very  often  in  my  practice,  even  if  not  exactly  seldom.  That 
Dr.  C.  W.  Wolf,  advises  Thuja  in  every  recent  case  is  to  me 
incomprehensible  ;  it  is  routinism.  There  are  no  new  ideas 
against  forms  of  disease.  We  are  not  by  any  means  limited 
to  such  procedure  as  to  experiments.  The  patient  who  has 
a  sycotic gonorrhoea  is  affected  in  his  general  health;  spirits 
depressed,  aching  weakness,  lame  feeling  in  the  lower  ex- 
tremities, sleeplessness,  etc.,  are  the  usual  concomitants  of  a 
sycotic  gonorrhoea.  Thuja  restores  the  general  health  in  an  ' 
extraordinary  short  time,  while  the  local  complaint  goes  off 
gradually.     Next  to  Thuja,  in  these  cases,  is  Phosphoric  acid. 

It  is  otherwise  when  scrofulous  (psoric)  individuals  are 
infected.  The  general  health  is  unaffected,  but  the  affection 
will  not  yield  to  the  usual  treatment  and  the  squirting  doc- 
tors say  it  belongs  to  the  ingeious  cate<rory  of  the  "  obstinate.'* 

Of  course  in  these  cases  the  drugs  must  be  employed 
more  concentrated.  For  awhile  the  suppression  succeeds, 
perhaps,  but  on  every  occasion,  of  cold,  coition,  error  in  diet, 
the  gonorrhoea  returns.  It  is  diagnosed  a  "  new  infection." 
Only  the  antipsorics  can  cure  these  thoroughly.  The  pro- 
cess is  first  increased  discharge,  very  gradually  a  dect^^y&%. 
The  same  thing  prevails  in  malarial  pa\Aew\»  n«\\o  cv:>TvVt^^\» 


536  CURES  BY  DR,  KVNKEL. 

gonorrhcBa.  ^  In  these,  as  in  the  former  cases,  a  transfer  of 
virus  is  not  necessary  to  cause  gonorrhoea.  In  many  cases 
coition  itself  does  it.  On  the  other  hand,  we  cannot  cer- 
tainly believe  in  a  communication  of  "psora"  by  coition. 

Whether  malarial  gonorrhoea  occurs  everywhere,  as  fre- 
quently as  here,  is  doubtful,  as  in  this  place  although  inter- 
mittents  are  not  frequent  yet  malarial  sickness  very  often 
happens.  The  treatment  of  this  (malaria;  most  frequently 
requires  Natrum  mur.  indicated  by  the  following  symptoms  : 
Of  the  first  importance,  cardiac  phenomena;  increased  im- 
pulse,  irregular  ;  also  intermittent  beat  of  the  heart  with  nor- 
mal sounds;  often  great  prostration;  aching  of  the  legs, 
particularly  of  the  knees;  depressed  lachrymose  disposition, 
but  very  changeable;  chlorotic  condition  with  chest:  horripi- 
lations; aggravation  of  the  condition  in  tlie  forenoon  ;  pains 
in  the  loins;  constipation;  sleepiness  in  the  day-time;  weak- 
ness of  digestion;  momentary  relief  of  the  gastric  pains  by 
eating,  etc.,  etc.  These  symptoms  have  often  guided  me  to 
the  right  remedy,  viz.,  Natrum  mur. 

(I  believe  I  am  the  first  to  have  called  attention  to  gon- 
orrhoea, being  frequently  under  the  control  of  the  epidemic 
remedy,  and  I  am  glad  that  the  distinguished  Dr.  Kunkel's 
experience  is  corroborative  of  mine,  for  the  malarial  gonor- 
rhoea bespeaks  of  is  really  saying,  in  different  words,  that  the 
remedy  which  is  curing  intermittents,  etc.,  also  cures  gonor- 
rhoea. A.  McN.) 

GONOKRHCEA. 

K. — Consulted  me  on  April  4,  1881.  He  had  suffered 
for  14  days;  had  used  injections  ineffectually.  His  general 
health  is  affected.  Paralytic  weakness  of  the  legs ;  always 
depressed  and  irritable;  sleeps  badly;  always  restless  and 
tossing  about  in  bed ;  appetite  unchanged.  The  prepuce 
begins  to  be  oedema tous.     Thuja  10,  one  dose. 

April  8. — Improvement  of  the  general  health;  discharge 
less ;  no  oedema ;  Sac.  lac.  After  ten  days  there  is  no  trace 
of  the  complaint,  although  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  ob- 
serve a  proper  regimen. 


CURES  BY  DR.  KUNKEL,  o^T 

W. — A  man  of  33  years  has  had  gonorrhcsa  for  ten  or 
twelve  days,  The  discharge  is  scanty.  On  urinating  the 
pain  extremely  violent,  even  to  fainting.  He  feels  very 
much  affected ;  aching  of  the  legs,  etc.;  six  or  seven  years 
ago  had  an  attack  with  more  copious  discharge,  but  not  by 
any  means  as  painfuh  On  the  20th  of  June,  1882,  he  re- 
ceived Thuja  10,  one  dose. 

July  1. — At  first  the  discharjre  increased,  then  ceased  en- 
tirely; now  there  is  a  slight  secretion;  some  pain  in  urin- 
ating; general  health,  " nothing  at  all  ails  him;"  Sac.  lac. 
In  fourteen  days  the  disease  had  entirely  disappeared. 

Henry  P. — Consulted  me  about  his  two-year  old  daugh- 
ter on  February  1,  1880.  She  has  been  sick  for  a  year.  She 
was  vaccinated  about  a  year  ago,  whether  successfully  or  not 
did  not  learn.  She  is  restless  and  sleepless;  cries  much; 
frequent  urination  often  painful;  vulva  often  red;  canine 
hunger;  abdomen  extremely  swollen  (a  regular  toad's  belly,) 
which  increases  and  is  often  hard.  She  cannot  eat  all  the 
time.     One  dose  of  Thuja  50  (of  my  own  preparation.). 

I  did  not  hear  from  her  till  January  10  of  the  same 
year.  She  was  perfectly  well,  ail  functions  normal,  the 
toad's  belly  had  disappeared. 

OPHTHALMIA   GRANULOSA. 

B. — actor,  25,  has  suffered  for  a  year.  He  was  treated  for 
eight  weeks  in  an  ophthalmic  clinic  where  his  eyes  were 
cauterized,  but  without  any  benefit.  There  was  much  sup- 
puration, particularly,  at  first.  Now  mostly  in  the  morning. 
General  health,  bad;  weak;  aching  of  the  legs;  sleep  bad, 
with  difficulty  of  falling  asleep  and  sleepy  on  awakening  in 
the  morning;  slow  and  difiicut  discarge  of  urine;  spirits  de- 
pressed. I  can  not  learn  the  etiology.  Thuja  10  for  six 
days.  At  first  increiised  suppuration;  general  and  local 
improvement;  sleep  normal;  improved  immediately  and 
refreshed  in  the  morning;  discharge  of  urine  not  much;  sup- 
puration inconsiderable  and  only  in  the  morning.  The 
granulations  and  vascular  injections  as  good  as  disappeared. 

Sch. — A  girl  of  8  years  was  brought  to  tcv^  otv  ^viccvM'ax^ 


b'S8  CORES  BY  DR.  KUNKEL. 

12, 1880.  She  has  suffered  for  four  years  from  itching  of  the 
genitals,  so  that  she  rubs  herself  against  a  chair  at  every 
opportunity.  From  this  scratching  there  occurs  "  spasms  " 
i.  e.  jerking  in  all  the  limbs  with  stiffness.  After  these  jerk- 
ings,  headache.  Bad  smell  from  the  moun ;  restless  sleep ; 
frequent  urination.  She  is  now  suffering  from  varicella, 
coming  in  new  crops  and  leaving  grass-like  vaccination 
marks.    Thuja  10,  for  six  days. 

February  14. — The  itching  has  entirely  disappeared. 
For  the  first  couple  of  days,  "  little  sick."  Now  nothing 
abnormal. 

ASTHMA. 

Paul  B. — actor,  six  and  one-half,  was  vaccinated  the  year 
of  his  birth.  Before  that  well  nourished,  since  then  ema- 
ciated. Through  the  entire  winter  slimy  diarrhoea,  eruption 
on  face  and  scalp.  When  the  eruption  is  temporarily  re- 
moved by  external  applications,  there  is  always  aggravation 
of  the.  diarrhoea  and  the  general  condition. 

In  his  third  year  he  was  attacked  by  measles.  Since 
t)ien  asthma  day  and  night,  whistling,  wheezing,  respiration 
even  in  sleep.  The  attacks  always  occur  from  the  least  cold, 
but  always  when  he  has  not  a  cold.  At  these  times  the  erup- 
tion continues,  but  disappears  spontaneously ;  then  he  is 
always  '*  intensely  "  sick;  repeatedly  alter  such  disappear- 
ance he  has  had  gastric  fever. 

August  2. — Thuja  10,  one  dose. 

September  12. — He  returned.  He  had  no  fever,  neither 
paroxysms.  There  is  nothing  abnormal  observable,  except 
in  the  morning  on  awakening  he  is  somewhat  irritable;  Sac. 
lac. 

December  16. — Until  a  couple  of  da\'S  ago  entirely  well. 
Since  then  some  whistling  respiration,  particularly  at  night ; 
grinding  of  the  teeth,  etc.  Investigation  revealed  undoubted 
helminthiasis,  which  was  removed  by  some  doses,  say  Cina  6. 
He  has  remained  sound  and  well;  as  I  have  repeatedly  con- 
vinced myself  by  observation. 

A.  McNeil. 


DRVQ  PROVING,  '    539 

DRUG  PROVING. 


BY  AD.  LIPPS.  M.  D. 


The  first  object  is  to  procure  the  drug  or  other  matter  to 
be  proved  in  its  purity;  then  to  make  a  full  statement  as  to 
how  and  where  it  was  obtained  and  how  it  was  prepared. 
The  preparation  of  chemical  substances  was  always  given 
in  detail  by  Hahnemann,  so  as  to  insure  the  reproduction 
of  precisely  the  same  chemical  substance  in  the  future. 
Plants  should  be  collected  by  tlie  prover,  if  possible,  at  the 
right  season  and  where  they  grow  on  their  original  soil;  for 
instance,  a  flower  taken  from  the  Cactus  grandiflorus  grow- 
ing in  a  hot-house  will  not  make  a  good  preparation,  either 
for  provings  or  as  a  curative  agent  This  preparation  should 
be  made,  as  it  was  made,  on  the  spot  where  the  Cactus  grows 
wild,  and  at  the  right  time  and  season,  when  the  flower 
opens  at  night  and  fills  the  atmosphere  with  its  fragrance. 

If  the  drug  be  taken  from  the  animal  kingdom,  the  ani- 
mal should,  if  ix)8sible,  l)e  preserved  and  subsequent  sup- 
plies should  come  from  the  same  species,  and  under  similar 
circumstances.  The  few  drops  of  ix)ison  taken  from  the 
Trigonocephalus  Lachesis  by  Dr.  Bering,  in  Surinam,  over 
fifty  year»  ago,  has  suflBiced  so  far  to  supply  all  the 
demand  for  Lachesis.  Wliat  is  more,  the  identical  snake 
from  which  the  i)oison  was  taken  is  still  preserved  in  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadeli)hia.  Prepara- 
tions taken  from  the  same  species  of  snake,  while  confined 
in  cages  in  menageries  or  any  public  instituticms,  cannot 
reasonably  be  ex|)ected  to  have  the  same  medicinal  ix)wer 
as  those  from  the  wild  snake  brought  alive  to  Dr.  Hering 
by  the  Indians  in  the  country  where  it  was  caught. 

THE  DOSE. 

We  know  tliat  one  contact  with  an  infectious  disease,  one 
inhalation  of  malarious  air,  one  sudden  mental  emotion, 
will  cause  a  succession  of  phenomena  and  symptoms,  which 
finally  end  either  in  a  full  rec^)very,  by  what  vv*.  t«t\w^^N^^^ 


540  DRVO  PROVIIfQ, 

crisis  or  throwing  off  of  the  diseased  condition  of  the  or- 
ganism; or  else,  if  the  organism  be  in  too  feeble  a  condi- 
tion to  resist  the  influences,  or  if  the  efforts  of  Nature  to. 
bring  about  this  crisis  have  been  interfered  with  by  violent 
means,  (/.  r.,  energetic  treatment),  the  system  succumbs  to 
the  overpowering  influences,  and  death  is  the  consequence. 

This  observation  of  the  natural  causes  of  natural  dis- 
eases must  serve  us  as  a  guide  in  ascertaining  the  sick- 
making  properties  of  di'ugs.  If  we  wish  to  ascertain  the 
artificially  disejised  condition  drugs  produce  uix)n  the 
healthy,  we  make  our  experiment  by  takmg  one  dose  of 
the  drug ;  and  as  we  do  not  expect  an  immediate  effect 
from  a  contact  with  an  infectious  disease,  experience  teach- 
ing us  that  it  requires  days,  hardly  ever  less  than  three 
days,  before  the  effects  of  such  a  contact  become  percep- 
tibly developed,  so  we  cannot  reasonably  expect  tm  imme- 
dediate  perceptible  development  of  the  sick-mfiking  effects 
of  the  one  dose  of  the  medicine  to  be  proved.  If  there  is  no 
effect  perceptible  after,  say  five  days,  we  will  have  to  pro- 
ceed just  as  we  do  when  we  administer  medicines  for  the  cure 
of  the  sick;  finding  ourselves  not  susceptible  to  the  drug  to 
be  proven,  we  must  take  either  a  lower  or  higher  j^reparaticm ; 
and  when  no  effects  follow  this,  we  may  take  the  potentized 
drug  in  a  watery  soluti(jn  until  an  effect  is  perceptible. 
When  the  question  arises  what  preparati<3n  of  the  di'ug  we 
should  take  in  that  one  first  dose,  we  may  as  well  consult 
Hahnemann,  who  tells  us,  in  paragraph  1'28  of  his  Oryftnon, 
that  substances,  if  proved  in  the  crude  state,  by  no  means 
show  the  richness  and  fullness  of  their  sick-making  powers; 
that  the  dormant  iK)wers  of  the  drug  are  develoi)ed  by 
Ix)tentization;  and  that  we  obtain  a  better  knowledge  of 
the  propei-ties  of  drugs  if  we  take  a  few  pellets  of  the  30th 
potency.  Fifty  years  ago,  the  80th  potency  was  the  highest 
potency  known,  since  then  innumerable  experiments,  both 
on  the  healthy  and  the  sick,  have  fully  established  tlie  fact 
that  a  greater  degree  of  sick-making  power  is  developed 


AD,  LIPPE,  M.  D.  541 

by  much  higher  potentizatioiis.  Wheu  Hahiiemaxui  advised 
a  few  pellets  of  the  30th  potency  as  a  proper  dose  for  test- 
ing the  drug,  knowing  that  its  medicinal  powers  are  devel- 
oped by  potentization,  his  followers  tried  the  experiment, 
and  ascei-tained  that  the  highest  known  potencies  are 
endowed  with  a  proportionately  liigher  medicinal  pro|>erty 
than  the  crude  substances  or  lower  preparations  possess. 
All  depends  uix)n  the  only  reliable  test,  experiment;  who- 
ever will  make  this  experiment  honestly,  will  find  that  a 
single  dose  of  the  liighest  potency  will  cause  a  succession 
of  symptoms  much  more  distinctly  mai'ked,  much  more 
characteristic  than  any  other  preparations  before  used, 
even  in  the  single  dose  or  in  repeated  doses.  We  have, 
for  instance,  this  day,  no  other  provings  of  Theridion  than 
those  made  by  the  30th  potency,  we  have  provings  of  Lach- 
nanthes  made  by  the  highest  potency  than  known  ( 76m. ) 
and  tlie  symptoms  obtained  in  this  manner  have  been  con- 
firmed  by  clinical  experiment 

REGIMEN  DURING  THE  PROVING. 

The  prover  will  do  best  to  c<mtinue  his  usual  diet  and 
habits  in  general,  as  a  deviation  from  them  would  neces- 
sarily cause  some  changes  in  his  condition,  and  these  might 
erroneously  be  attributed  to  the  effects  of  the  drug  he 
proves.  At  the  same  time,  he  should  for  this  same  reason, 
avoid  all  iK)ssible  mental  excitement  and,  above  fill,  any 
exposures  to  the  changes  of  the  weather  or  to  cold.  Such 
exi^osures,  during  the  development  of  the  sick-making  prop- 
erties of  a  drug,  might,  as  we  know  it  did  in  several  deplor- 
able instances,  fix  u|K)n  the  prover  ailments  for  life.  We 
know  that  a  person  suffering  from  an  acute  disease  has  to 
be  very  careful  not  to  exiK)se  himself  to  influences  of  men- 
ttd  distur])ance  or  the  weather,  which  in  his  ordinary  state 
of  health,  would  effect  liim  only  temporarily;  but  which, 
during  an  acute  illness  might,  and  often  does,  leave  their 
marks,  disturbing  liis  health  during  the  rettt  ol  \vYe»\^^. 


642  ONI VER8ITY  OF  10  WA. 

THE  DAY-BOOK. 

The  prover  would  do  well  to  give  first  n  description  of 
himself—  age,  sex,  temperament,  former  ailments  or  dis- 
eases, habits  and  the  influence  which  changes  in  the  weather 
have  on  him.  Next,  a  full  description  of  the  substance  or 
drug  proved,  how  and  where  it  was  obtained  and  how 
it  was  prepared.  Next  mention  the  dose  and  the  time  of 
the  day.  This  self-examination  should  be  as  carefully  cx:)n- 
ducted  as  the  examination  of  a  sick  person.  A  daily  jour- 
nal should  be  kept,  in  which  nothing  is  omitted;  some 
symptoms,  or  groups  of  symptoms,  may  often  real)pear, 
they  should  be  very  distinctly  related  again,  as  these  fre- 
quently recurring  di8turl)ances,  however  long  they  may 
continue,  often  denote  the  most  characteristic  symptoms  of 
the  substance  or  drug  proved.  And,  as  in  the  examination 
of  the  sick,  so  in  pnmng,  the  experimenter  should  describe 
very  minutely  under  what  circumstances  certain  sym])toms 
appear.  Also  state  whether  f<x)d,  changes  in  the  weather, 
exercise  or  rest  in  certain  iK)sition,  (?ause  new,  or  aggravate, 
or  ameliorate  old  symptoms. 

Finally,  let  us  remember  that  the  proving  of  drugs  of  all 
kincLs  and  by  many  persons,  will  not  only  mcrease  our  abil- 
ity to  cure  the  sick,  but  will  also  forever  settle  many,  as  yet, 
disputed  iK)ints,  such  as  the  iH)ssibility  of  finding  a  drug 
which  can  i)roduce  symptoms  forming  the  exact  simihu*  to 
a  known  pathological  condition  —a  disease.  Proving  will 
settle  forever  the  disturbing  posological  question;  provings, 
and  their  practical  utilization,  will  confirm  the  infallibility 
of  the  only  Law  of  cure — Slmilift  sinn'lilnts  cunniiur. 

HOMO^^OPATHIC  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  IOWA. 


Last  evening,  March  4, 1884,  occurred  the  seventh  annual 
commencement  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  Department 
of  the  State  University.     The  opera  hguse  was  packed  to  its 


UNIVERSITY  OF  IOWA.  543 

fullest  capacity.  On  the  stage  were  President  Packard,  Pro- 
fessors Cowperthwaite,  Dickinson  and  Clark  of  the  depart- 
ment, Dr.  Baker,  of  Davenport  and  Dr.  Stillman,  of  Council 
Bluffs,  also  some  members  of  the  Board  .of  Regents.  The 
following  is  the  programme  as  given : 

Music — Overture University  Band 

Invocation Rev.H.  M-  Thompson 

CLASS  VALEDICTORy. 

D.  W.  Dickinson,  Ph.  B Sanitary  Needs 

MU8U'. 

Selections  from  "Bohemian  Girl," Instrumental  Quartette 

Conferring  of  Degrees By  the  President,  J.  L.  Packard,  LL.  D. 

MUSIC 

Selection University  Band  Sextette 

AN^nJAL   ADDRESS. 

Prof.  T.  P.  Wilson,  M.  D.,  U.  of  M The  Old  and  the  New  Prophets 

MUSIC. 

Waltz,  "I'm  Duftigen  Gruen/' Instrumental  Quartette 

BENEDICTION. 

MUSIC.  I 

(jallop University  Band 

Mr.  Dickinson,  the  class  valedictorian  acquitted  himself 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  audience  as  well  as  of  friends. 
Mr.  Dickinson  will  be  remembered  as  a  graduate  of  the  Aca- 
demic department  of  University  with  class  '81.  The  flowers 
were  elegant,  the  ladies  of  the  class,  especially,  receiving  very 
beautiful  baskets.  The  music  of  the  evening  was  splendid, 
t'specially  when  we  take  in  consideration  that  the  members 
of  the  quartette  had  had  scarcely  any  practice.  Dr.  Wilson's 
speech  was  highly  appreciated.  The  following  is  a  short 
synopsis  of  what  he  said: 

The  advent  of  prophets  into  the  world's  arena,  has 
marked  most  of  the  great  epoch's  of  the  world's  history.  A 
thousand  instiinces  might  be  cited,  in  which  their  coming 
has  changed  the  entire  tide  of  human  affairs.  The  time  of 
their  coming  was  always  peculiar.  The  ancient  prophet  was 
sure  to  come  when,  for  a  long  time,  the  current  of  events  had 
remained  unchanged,  or,  when  some  gigantic  wrong  reigned 
supreme.    Then  the  people  cried,  when\v\VV  «u^xo\»^%^»  ^"tvafe^. 


544  UNIVERSITY  OF  IOWA. 

For  they  knew  that,  when  the  prophet  came,  there  would  be 
a  revelation  wide,  deep  and  lasting.  Kings  would  be 
dethroned  and  empires  overturned.  Yet  the  ancient  prophet 
was  seemingly  the  prophet  of  human  forces.  From  whence 
he  came  perhaps  none  knew,  but  his  words  smote  like  a 
hammer,  they  burned  like  fire,  they  rent  in  twain  like  the 
lightning's  flash.  The  ancient  prophet  was  an  iconoclast. 
He  broke  all  laws  and  customs,  and  fearlessly  shattered  every 
sacred  image.  But  they  tell  us  the  race  of  people  is  dead 
and  we  must  henceforth  go  on  in  darkness.  Look  now  at 
this  picture  and  see  if  it  is  so.  The  speaker  then  sketched 
the  office  and  work  of  the  signal  service.  The  chief  officer 
sits  in  his  cushioned  chair  at  the  capital,  and  holds  in  his 
hands  the  iron  reins,  that  are  curb  and  bit  on  the  horses 
which  are  of  fire,  and  they  go  in  and  out  with  all  the  veloc- 
ity of  thought,  and  gather  up  the  facts  of  nature  from  all 
quarters  of  the  land,  and  bringing  them  all  in,  they  lay 
them  at  the  feet  of  this  man,  and  bid  him  prophesy  of  the 
morrow.  And  so  the  events  of  to-morrow  are  known  to  us 
through  scientific  prophecy.  And  if  to-morrow,  why  not 
fifty  or  a  hundred  years  hence?  Already  our  modern  pro- 
phet is  able  to  tell  us  how  many  will  be  bitten  by  mad-dogs 
the  coming  year,  how  many  will  commit  suicide,  be  burned 
up  with  coal  oil,  and  be  disappointed  in  love.  In  the  lap  of 
the  living  present,  lies  the  coming  future.  Religious  systems, 
political  parties  and  governments,  might  forecast  their  future, 
if  their  leaders  were  only  wise.  Heine  in  Germany,  Mira- 
beau  in  France,  and  Garrison  in  America,  were  true  national 
and  modern  prophets — they  had  true  divining  powers.  Their 
prophetic  declarations  were  all  fulfilled.  When  will  our 
teachers  and  leaders  become  wise  enough  to  foresee  what  the 
future  has  in  store  for  us?  What  a  happy  day  will  it  be, 
when  the  nations  of  the  earth  shall  no  longer  bow  down  in 
ignorance,  and  crawl  in  the  dust  of  superstition,  but  rather 
standing  up  in  the  liberty  wherewith  knowledge  shall  make 
them  free,  shall  look  with  perceptive  vision  over  the  universe, 
and  behold  what  lies  in  the  prolific  womb  of  the  future,  as 


OTNECOLOOICAL  INSTRUMENTS.  '     645 

easily  as  we  now  behold  what  lies  entombed  in  the  mighty 
mauseleums  of  the  past. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  grp,duates:  Francis  Keller, 
George  W.  Barr,  Alfred  Thomas,  Will  C.  Meredith,  D.  W. 
Dickinson,  Bessie  E.  Perry,  Mrs.  Carrie  Wilbur,  Charles  W. 
Pyle,  Albert  T.  Huxley,  Fred  A.  Remington,  Mary  A.  Meyers, 
O.  W.  Hartman. 


im 


GYNECOLOGICAL  INSTRUMENTS. 


BY  PHIL.  PORTER,  M.  D. 


NEW  SPECULUM. 

We  trust  the  profession  will  pardon  our  audacity  and 
iissumption  when  we  claim  for  this  instrument  an  improved 
Sims'  speculum  or  perineal  retractor. 

Recognizing  some  faults  in  the  old  time  honored  specu- 
lum that  has  made  for  its  originator  a  name  now  famous  the 
world  over,  we  determined  to  correct  them,  if  possible,  and 
yet  retain  the  superior  points  of  the  old  instrument. 


'^•^^»W^'W>CO»»l*WK 


With  Sims'  retractor  we  found  the  blade  at  a  right  angle 
with  the  handle  which  prevented  its  being  used  in  the  dorsal 
position,  on  an  ordinary  gynecological  chair  or  table,  for 
operations  in  the  vagina,  and  owing  to  the  peculiar  shape  of 
the  speculum,  the  patient's  clothing  must  be  thrown  well 
back  from  the  hips,  exposing  her  person,  which  is  an  objec- 
tionable feature  in  our  American  practice.  We  also  found 
it  necessary,  when  working  in  Sims'  position,  to  construct 
H  flange  or  shield  on  the  upper  side  of  the  blade^to  ^t^- 


546  O  YNECOLOOICA L  INSTR  UMENTS. 

» 

vent  the  overhanging  buttock  from  obstructing  our  view. 
We  then  decided  to  do  without  the  extra  blade — a  super- 
fluous article — and  place  a  handle  at  an  obtuse  angle  with 
the  blade,  which  would  not  only  obviate  the  above  objections 
of  Sims',  but  give  us  an  instrument  much  better  to  manipu- 
late and  not  awkward  to  hold. 

The  advantage  of  this  speculum  over  Sims'  can  be  bet- 
ter appreciated  ¥phen  employed  by  one  familiar  with  the 
old  instrument.. 

UTERINE  DRESSING  FORCEPS. 

We  also  present  to  the  profession  a  pair  of  uterine 
dressing  forceps  which  more  than  meets  our  expectations. 
The  special  advantage  of  this  forceps  over  the  others  is,  its 
pelvic  curve  near  the  points,  which  prevents  the  hand  from 
obstructing  the  operator's  view  when  working  about  the 
cervix. 

The  sliding  clasp  on  the  right  hand  side,  with  the  large 
thumb  piece,  enables  the  physician  to  fasten  or  retain  any 
dressing,  stem,  tent  or  bougie,  without  holding  on  to  the 
instrument. 


>ft!«k^M'*nK--«t»»OOIVMW.<.. 


The  spring  is  made  very  soft,  to  avoid  tiring  the  hand, 
a  fault  that  is  usually  associated  with  all  spring  forceps. 

FEMALE  CATHETER. 

As  before  stated  in  this  journal,  we  have  had  constructed 
a  catheter  for  evacuating  the  female  bladder  of  which  we 
now  present  a  cut. 

The  greatest  objection  to  the  present  form  of  female 
catheters  is  the  large  eyelets  or  slots  at  the  point  of  the  in- 
strument, which  allows  the  bladder  to  contract  firmly  around 
that  portion,  and,  as  the  calibre  of  the  tube  is  less  at  that 


8 ANITA R  Y  NEEDS,  547 

part,  the  mucous  membrane  will  be  forced  into  the  apertures 
and  the  tissue  injured  more  or  less  as  torce  is  used  to  with- 
draw the  catheter.  Let  this  be  repeated  for  several  days  and 
cystitis  follows. 


This  instrument  is  perforated  with  thirty-six  small 
holes  which  provides  plenty  of  space  for  the  escape  of  the 
urine  and  the  size  of  the  tube  is  maintained  its  entire  length, 
not  presenting  any  surface  or  space  for  the  bladder  to  con- 
tract about. 

We  have  also  had  an  attachment  or  coupling  piece 
added  which  permits  the  use  of  small  rubber  tubing,  of  any 
desired  length,  to  convey  the  urine  from  the  bladder  to  a 
vessel  along  side  of  the  bed,  thus  avoiding  soiling  the  pa^ 
tient's  clothing. 

SANITARY  NEEDS. 


I>.  \V.  DICKINSON,  JR..  M.  H. 


How  people  shall  be  bom  and  reared  so  that  they  shall 
attain  the  highest  social  and  physical  development  is  a  vital 
question. 

A  man's  life  is  a  march  from  the  crndle  to  the  grave  and 
each  step  should  mean  an  advance  physically,  mentally, 
morally,  and  death  be  the  result  of  physiological  decay. 
That  we  have  fallen  far  short  of  securing  this  is  patent  to  all, 
so  much  so  that  the  sigh  for  relief  is  heard  upon  all  sides 
and  eyes  are  opening  to  the  enormity  of  man's  deteriora- 
tion. Intelligent  people  are  asking:  How  did  he  become 
so?  What  are  the  causes  which  have  operated  to  pro- 
duce this  result?  and  what  is  still  keeping  him  in  this 
condition  ? 


548  SANITAR  Y  NEEDS. 

Created  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God,  originally  he 
was  perfect ;  nor  can  we  cast  the  blame  entirely  upon  that 
far  away  Adam  of  Eden,  but  must  recognize  that  each  one  is 
in  a  large  degree  the  Adam  for  himself  and  progeny. 

Emerson  says:  "We  are  all  entitled  to  beauty,  should 
have  been  beautiful  if  our  ancestors  had  kept  the  laws ;  as 
every  lily  and  every  rose  is  well.  Because  of  this  our  bodies 
caricature  us  and  satirize  us." 

In  our  greed  for  gain ;  in  cultivating  our  minds  to  cope 
with  great  problems ;  in  drinking  the  cup  of  pleasure  to  its 
dregs,  we  lay  too  great  a  burden  upon  our  bodies.  The  strain 
is  too  much,  and  the  machinery  either  ceases  to  move,  or, 
marred  and  unsightly,  it  goes  creaking  and  groaning  reluc- 
tantly along. 

True  we  know  more  about  rules  of  living  than  formerly, 
and  lay  greater  stress  upon  their  observance.  Our  advance- 
ments in  science  have  furnished  us  weapons  to  skillfully 
combat  the  lurking  miasm  and  destroy  its  effects.  With  all 
our  knowledge  and  resources  we  should  be  a  long  distance 
farther  on  toward  the  millenium  of  correct  living;  but  we 
have  allowed  certain  morbid  influences  to  continue  in  exist- 
ence for  ages,  and  many  others  to  creep  gradually  in.  It  is 
well  that  we  reflect  upon  our  condition  and  see  if  we  cannot 
seize  this  dilemma  by  the  horns  and  work  out  a  radical  cure 
for  ourselves  and  generations  yet  unborn. 

There  is  a  universal  natural  law  called  heredity,  which 
has  exerted  its  power  upon  the  human  race  for  good  ajid  for 
evil  from  all  time.  The  evidence  of  its  influence  is  more 
striking  and  cumulative  in  the  lower  orders  of  animate  nature 
because  increasing  diversity  multiplies  the  factors  which 
modify  each  other  and  obscure  the  relations  between  cause 
and  effect.  In  the  varieties  of  fruit,  the  many  roses,  the 
different  breeds  of  horses  and  cattle,  you  behold  its  action. 
In  man,  look  at  the  family  of  Bach  in  music,  Titian  in  paint- 
ing, Fox  in  diplomacy,  and  see  how  constantly  genius  is 
transmitted  through  successive  generations.  Much  of  our  life 
is  pre-determined.    What  it  shall  be  is  almost  entirely  in 


D,  W,  DICKINSON,  JR.,  M.  D.  54» 

liuman  hands.  The  instinct,  the  impulse,  the  bias  are  pa- 
rental.   Its  power  in  disease  is  equally  great 

See  that  fair  maiden  of  twenty  with  the  hectic  flush 
upon  her  cheeks,  grown  so  thin  that  a  breath  of  air  seems 
suflScient  to  waft  her  away,  with  voice  so  feeble  and  faint 
that  each  word  seems  the  last.  When  were  the  seeds  of  that 
disease  planted  ?     We  say  at  her  birth. 

Behold  that  statesman  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  just 
reaping  the  rewards  of  years  of  toil ;  with  mind  still  vigorous 
to  win  future  renown,  but  with  a  body  that  will  not  bear 
him  on.  There  lurks  within  a  gnawing,  lancinating  pain 
which  will  not  down — a  malady  which  is  slowly  but  surely 
sapping  his  vitality.  When  did  he  receive  the  germs?  We 
say  at  his  birth. 

There  is  a  child  with  face  as  blank  as  the  mind  which 
gives  it  expression,  with  incoherent  speech  and  uncouth 
movements,  an  example  of  heredity. 

While  pre-existing  tendencies  are  the  maintaining  causes, 
there  reside  in  the  air,  food,  water,  and  in  the  manifold 
influences  of  human  society  the  exciting  causes,  which  deter- 
mine the  appearance  and  variety  of  disense.  Pure  atmos- 
phere to  breathe ;  uncontaminated  water  to  drink ;  unadul- 
terated food  to  eat,  and  pure  society  are  essential  to  health. 
From  the  Pontine  mashes  of  Rome  and  the  flats  of  the  Poto- 
mac rise  noxious  vapors;  a  pall  for  the  deaths  they  entail. 
A  pestilence  rides  upon  the  wind  sweeping  down  the  people 
like  grass  before  the  blade.  In  a  hundred  preventable  ways 
we  inhale  the  seeds  of  disease.  Man  has  but  one  companion 
in  his  ominivorous  habit.  He  sends  his  ships  to  every  clime 
to  cull  articles  to  please  his  palate  unmindful  of  their  injur- 
ious effect  on  his  stomach.  "  Hunger  is  physiological,  appe- 
tite is  pathological,"  and  he  becomes  a  gourmand,  a  dyspep- 
tic, and  suff'ers  from  many  dire  complaints  that  he  may  grat- 
ify the  latter.  Are  those  all  ?  Cannot  heredity  with  the  man- 
ifold modifications  his  envirionment  can  cause  be  enough  for 
man  to  encounter  and  subdue?     Yes,  enough  but  not  all. 

For  six  centuries  the  improper  use  of  narcotics  ^\jA 


5o0  SA  NIT  A  R  Y  NEEDS. 

stimulantH  has  exerted  ite  power  among  civilized  nations, 
feeding  and  augmenting  a  depraved  sensual  appetite. 

From  that  day  to  this  they  have  swept  down  the  decades 
like  a  whirlwind  with  ever  increasing  fury  and  force, 
until,  like  a  devil  incarnate,  they  defy  all  restraint  and 
threaten  the  very  bulwarks  of  existence.  First  came  tobacco 
from  the  west,  then  tea  and  coffee  from  the  east  The  fanci- 
ful dreams  of  a  morbid  De  Quincy  gave  opium  a  push  into 
the  stream  of  appetite.  There  is  alcohol  the  king  of  these 
poisons,  wine  hoary  with  age,  and  the  anaesthetics,  chloro- 
form, ether,  and  chloral  hydrate,  which  have  been  added  to 
the  list  within  the  last  half  century.  The  history  of  their 
introduction  and  habitual  consumption  is  replete  with  sad 
but  intense  interest,  (jike  a  kite  against  the  wind  they 
seem  to  flourish  by  opposition.  Under  the  erroneous  name 
of  stimulants  they  become  necessary  to  life,  second  only 
to  food  and  air. 

By  every  device  known  to  ingenuity,  people  have  sought 
to  hide  and  neutralize  the  visible  marks  of  their  ravages. 
They  have  allowed  their  use  with  silence  and  apology  rather 
than  argument.  It  is  not  necessary  to  an  intelligent  body  of 
readers,  to  argue  the  evil  results  of  their  abuse.  Their  very 
mention  pictures  to  the  mind  the  mental  wrecks  they  have 
caused,  the  base  passions  they  have  aroused  and  the  splen- 
did physiques  they  have  marred  and  ruined. 

We  can  not  now  claim  to  have  mentioned  all  the  causes 
of  mental  and  physical  degeneration,  but  only  the  principal 
and  most  preventable  ones.  It  is  inconceivable  that  man, 
having  been  given  an  inquiring  spirit  to  search,  an  intelli- 
gence to  apply,  and  an  inborn  hope  to  use  efficiently  means 
for  counteracting  these  noxious  influences,  should  be  disap- 
pointed and  foiled. 

The  past  has  demonstrated  in  the  use  of  cinchona  in 
fevers  and  vaccination  in  small-pox  what  can  be  done.    The 

• 

last  few  years  have  seen  all  nations  awakening  to  the  fact 
that  proper  sanitation  will  rob  man  of  half  his  ills.  In  the 
past  they  have  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  warnings  of  sanitary 


D.  W,  DICKINSON,  IR,,  M,  D.  551 

science,  but  now  an  interest  is  growing  in  the  investigation 
of  causes,  in  making  efficient  quarantines,  and  in  preventing 
the  spread  of  disease.  The  progress  is  too  slow.  Movements 
are  made  as  though  it  were  a  doubtful  experiment.  The  cit- 
izen does  not  realize  his  duties  to  the  nation,  to  the  profes- 
sion, and  to  himself  in  this  question.  His  first  duty  is  the 
safety  of  the  republic,  then  the  promotion  of  the  six  precepts 
set  forth  in  the  preamble  of  the  constitution.  Inasmuch  as 
public  health  is  essential  to  domestic  tranquility,  to  the  gen- 
eral welfare  and  even  to  justice,  it  is  of  the  highest  import- 
ance that  this  receive  his  attention  and  legislation.  We  have 
progressed  so  far  as  the  formation  of  a  National  Board  of 
Health,  and  some  State  Boards  have  been  created.  In  their 
short  existence  they  have  done  a  grand  work,  but  a  grander 
ifl  in  prospect  when  they  shall  have  received  due  recognition. 
A  law  giving  less  than  plenary  rights  to  a  board  is  but  a 
mockery  of  power  and  will  inevitably  bring  such  a  body 
into  unpleasant  complications  with  citizen,  council  and  gov- 
ernment. When  we  say  they  may  simply  advise  such  and 
such  a  measure ;  when  we  say  they  cannot  put  their  hands  in 
the  public  purse  to  carry  out  projects  of  reform  we  make  of 
them  a  figure  head.  When  statistics  show  one  hundred 
thousand  deaths  and  two  hundred  thousand  cases  of  pro- 
longed sickness  from  neglect  in  one  year ;  when  an  enumer- 
ation of  the  most  preventable  diseases  includes  the  worst 
scourges  of  mankind,  can  we  be  too  prompt  in  instituting 
measures  for  their  eradication  ?  Will  millions  spent  in  main- 
taining a  profession  whose  duty  shall  be  to  enforce  sanitary 
precautions,  overbalance  the  untold  amount  lost  in  the  lives, 
time  and  work  of  these  citizens  ?  If  "  all  a  man  liath  he  will 
give  for  his  life  "  is  true,  the  acts  of  society  are  inconsistent. 
This  is  the  great  mystery  of  humanity,  "  Health  is  na- 
ture's simplest  faith."  While  its  laws  are  fixed,  irrevocable 
and  eternal,  yet  they  are  easily  understood.  If  long  life, 
unalloyed  hapi)ines8,  ecstatic  pleasure  are  the  recompense 
for  simply  walking  in  its  broad  paths,  and  premature  decay, 
pain  and  sorrow  and  ungratified  desire,  the  certalw  ^evx^Vj 


562  SA  NIT  A  R  Y  NEEDS 

for  wandering  in  the  tangled  by-ways  that  stretch  far  away 
from  it  in  unknown  lines,  why  need  anything  be  said  as  to 
wherein  their  interest  lies.  But  the  sanitarian,  while  abashed 
at  the  simplicity  of  his  lessons,  yet  knowing  the  stubborn 
incredulity  of  the  world,  realizes  the  magnitude  of  his  under- 
taking. Ask  the  dying  millionnaire  all  that  he  has  for  a  new 
lease  of  life  and  he  clings  to  his  gold.  Ask  the  legislator 
what  are  the  most  important  considerations  affecting  exist- 
ence and  he  will  reply,  mental  and  physi(5al  health,  yet  he 
scarcely  recognizes  that  this  momentous  question  needs  any 
legislation. 

The  state  appropriates  millions  for,  and  points  with 
pride  to  its  public  works,  many  being  homes  for  the  victims 
of  disease,  but  the  unostentatious  work  which  shall  bring 
moral  and  physical  health  to  its  citizens  is  almost  wholly 
forgotten.  Look  at  the  charity  lists  of  the  legislatures — 
nearly  all  in  the  interest  of  existing  evils  and  but  little 
towards  aborting  or  preventing  them. 

It  is  a  sign  of  advancing  civilization  when  public  atten- 
tion is  directed  in  a  practical  way  to  the  hygiene  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  world  is  beginning  to  see  that  the  introduction  of 
sanitary  science  has  opened  a  new  chapter  in  human  history, 
a  history  which  will  be  read  in  aftertimes  with  admiration 
and  amazement;  admiration  for  the  physician's  wise  endea- 
vor; amazement  at  the  opposition  to  so  beneficent  and  far- 
reaching  a  measure.  We  are  not  looking  forward  to  a  phys- 
ical millenium,  but  to  a  lessened  mortality  and  stronger  life 
for  man.  To  this  end  the  people  must  join  hands  with  the 
physician  in  a  persistent  work.  "Eternal  vigilance  is  the 
price  of  health,"  and  each  working  in  harmony  will  bring 
health  to  the  nation.  It  is  health  "  that  beautifies  the  babe, 
ennobles  the  man,  glorifies  the  woman,  which  no  wealth  can 
purchase,  no  ancient  lineage  or  exalted  station  secure." 
Health  is  the  priceless  talisman  of  beauty ;  health  is  the  pat- 
ent of  nature's  own  nobility ;  health  is  the  crowning  glory  of 
womanhood  and  of  all  humanity,  the  source  of  all  earthly 
happiness,  the  mainspring  of  every  human  pleasure. 


VLCERATtON  Of  THE  INTESTINE.     ,  553 

ULCERATION  AND  PERFORATION  OF  THE  INTES- 
TINE AND  APPENDIX  VERMIFORMIS. 


BY  E.  R.  ILLIS,  M.  D.,  DETROIT,  MICHIGAN. 


It  has  been  my  fortune  to  see  four  cases  of  this  remark- 
able complaint,  and  as  the  symptoms  and  diagnostic  marks 
are  so  uniform  in  all,  I  wish  to  recount  them. 

On  being  first  called  to  a  case  of  this  kind,  the  physician 
may  surmise  that  hie  patient  has  colic,  if  he  see  him  early  in 
the  attack.  At  his  next  call  he  will  find  greater  urgency  of 
all  the  symptoms  and  may  then  suspect  that  there  is  local 
inflammation  of  the  intestines,  or  ])eritoneum,  or  both'.  The 
pain  is  usually  quite  circumscribed  at  first,  and  may  be  felt 
to  proceed  from  a  given  point  not  difficult  to  determine. 
From  this  point  it  will  radiate  or  extend,  more  or  less,  over 
the  entire  abdomen.  There  is  not  much,  if  any,  febrile 
action  manifested  by  heat  of  surface,  although  the  pulse  will 
usually  be  more  frequent  but  small. 

The  ulcerative  process,  before  it  results  in  perforation, 
may  be  going  on,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  for  many  months 
and  even  years,  without  causing  any  alarm  or  even  being 
suspected  by  the  physician  or  patient.  But  when  the  perfor- 
ation is  complete,  and  thereby  the  liquid  contents  of 
the  bowels  allowed  to  escape  into  the  abdominal  cavity,  a 
crisis  immediately  comes  which  can  only  end  in  the  speedy 
death  of  the  victim.  He  goes  into  a  collapse  which  in  some 
respects,  resembles  that  of  cholera,  except  that  there  is  no 
diarrhoea.  There  will  be  a  cold  sweat  on  the  forehead  and 
vomiting  of  blood  or  a  substance  looking  like  tobacco-spittle. 
He  will  be  pulseless,  and  that  with  the  intense  burning  sen- 
sation internally,  may  lead  the  physician  to  inquire  if  the 
patient  may  not  have  taken  Arsenic,  accidentally  or  other- 
wise, although  the  absence  of  diarrhoea  would  contra-indi- 
cate  such  a  conclusion.  But  in  any  event  the  patient  will  be 
a  corpse  in  from  18  to  20  hours  from  the  time  the  perforation 
occurs.  When  this  takes  place  the  physician  in  reviewing 
the  case,  may  rest  assured  that  he  has  had  a  caae  o^  ^^tV^t»c- 


554  VLCERATION  OF  THE  INTESTINE, 

tion  of  the  intestine,  or  appendage,  and  for  his  own  satisfac- 
tion and  the  satisfaction  of  the  friends  of  the  patient  should 
ask  for  a  post-mortem  examination.  Some  18  years  ago  I  was 
asked  to  make  an  autopsy  in  the  case  of  a  boy  of  10  or  12 
years,  the  son  of  a  physician,  who  had  died  in  a  manner  very 
sudden  and  unusual.  On  opening  the  abdominal  cavity  from 
one  to  two  quarts  of  fluid,  of  a  sero-purulent  character, 
poured  out.  In  the  vermiform  appendix  was  found  an  ulcer 
about  the  size  of  a  white  bean  which  completely  perforated 
that  tissue.  In  contact  with  it  was  a  small  fsecal  or  calcar- 
eous substance  which  had  formed,  to  all  appearance,  at  that 
point,  and  which  had  given  rise  to  the  ulcerative  process.  In 
the  month  of  January  of  the  present  year  I  was  called  to  a 
young  man  of  18  years  whose  case  presented  all  the  condi- 
tions above  recounted.  He  died  in  18  hours  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  his  parents,  who  supposed  him  to  be  in  prime  health 
and  strength.  I  explained  the  matter  as  being  undoubtedly 
that  of  perforation  of  the  intestine  or  vermiform  appendix 
and  solicited  an  autopsy.  This  was  granted,  and  next  day  in 
company  with  Dr.  H.  P.  Mera,  of  this  city,  it  was  held,  when 
a  case  of  perforation  of  the  appendix,  precisely  like  that 
above  mentioned,  was  found. 

Twelve  years  ago  I  had  one  of  these  cases  where  the 
perforating  ulcer  was  in  the  small  intestine  near  its  junction 
with  the  colon ;  and  six  years  ago  a  similar  one  in  the  trans- 
verse colon,  both  terminating  fatally  in  18  to  20  hours  from 
the  time  when  the  perforation  was  completed.  I  said  above 
that  this  ulcerative  process  might  have  been  going  on  for 
months,  if  not  for  years.  The  evidence  of  it  is  this:  in  all  of 
these  four  cases  the  ulcers  had  an  ancient  appearance  being 
perfectly  black  like  an  old  tooth  which  has  been  undergoing 
decay  for  years.  In  one  of  the  above  the  patient  had  had 
puerperal  peritonitis  four  years  before,  and  had  never  been 
fully  well  afterwards,  having  at  times  a  sudden  and  severe 
pain  at  the  spot  attended  with  pallor  of  face  and  usually 
temporary  faintness.  Indeed  the  latter  was  present  in  all  the 
cases  recited  above.    Parents  could  recall  having  frequently 


CmCAQO  HOMCEOPATEIC  COLLEGE.  555 

noticed,  for  a  year  or  two,  in  the  lost  children — for  three  of 
the  above  cases  were  children — expressions-  of  pain  in  the 
bowels  with  clapping  their  hands  to  the  abdomen  for  a  mo- 
ment, with  marked  palor  of  countenance  and  faintness.  All 
these  symptoms  and  manifestations  however  are  likely  to  be 
overlooked  until  after  the  death  of  the  patient.  Then  it  may 
be  clearly  seen  from  the  rapid  termination  of  the  case  that  you 
have  not  had  any  natural  disease  to  contend  with,  and  this 
explanation  will  be  quite  sure  to  secure  for  you  a  post-mor- 
tem examination.  This  is  a  part  of  the  transaction  you 
should  not  omit,  for  otherwise  the  friends  of  the  patient  will 
never  be  fully  satisfied  regarding  the  cause  of  death,  as 
nearly  every  doctor  to  whom  they  recount  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  will  give  it  a  different  name. 

In  two  instances  of  sudden  death  in  this  vicinity,  which, 
from  all  the  manifestations  mu8t  have  been  of  the  character 
presented  above,  the  attending  doctors  disagreed  to  such  an 
extent  as  can  only  be  considered  a  discredit  to  our  profes- 
sion. "  Inflammation  of  the  bowels,"  "  Heart  disease,"  "  Dry 
cholera,"  **  Biliousness,"  etc.,  were  the  varying  conclusions 
arrived  at.     An  autopsy  alone  will  convince  all. 


!•► 


CHICAGO  HOMOEOPATHIC  COLLEGE. 


The  eighth  annual  commencement  exercises  of  the  Chi- 
cago Homoeopathic  Medical  College  were  held  at  2  o'clock* 
March  6th,  in  Haverly's  theatre.  President  Foster  gave  his 
annual  report,  speaking  of  the  past  year  as  a  prosperous  one, 
in  the  number  and  quality  of  students  and  in  finances.  As 
many  as  2,400  patients  received  treatment  at  the  college  dis- 
pensary, 900  of  the  cases  being  surgical.  The  County  Hos- 
pital, so  near  at  hand,  gave  unsurpassed  facilities  for  medical 
education.  Thirty-nine  students  composed  the  class  of  1884, 
and  all  had  been  found  worthy  of  diplomas. 

The  faculty  valedictory  was  then  given  by  President  R. 
N.  Foster,  and  although  long,  did  not  flng  in  interest.     He 
spoke  of  the  class  before  him  as  just  born,  Aliv\^Nlv\\.^t\w^- 
3 


OVi  ClftCAGO  HOMOEOPATHIC  COLLEGE. 

ing  cut  the  cord  that  bound  them  to  herself,  and  sent  them 
forth  to  a  more  independent  life.  Only  experience  could 
nurture  them.  The  path  to  success,  was  a  straight  line,  with 
no  deviations  of  quackery.  Medicine  was  a  tact  as  well  as  an 
art,  and  when  the  young  doctor  had  settled  in  a  live  place, 
let  him  attend  to  business  and  his  patients  would  attend  to 
his  reputation.  A  Homoeopathic  doctor  was  never  a  cyclone 
but  a  gentle  and  refreshing  breeze.  Though  pursuing  his 
profession  with  enthusiasm  and  singleness  of  purpose,  he 
should  not  neglect  the  other  relations  and  amenities  of  life. 
After  the  '*Song  of  the  Spinning  Wheel,*'  Dr.  George  Zim- 
merman gave  the  class  valedictory,  a  well-written  and  well- 
delivered  address,  with  touches  of  pathos  and  humor  that 
were  appreciated.  He  emphasized  the  claim  on  the  doctor 
to  be  pure,  a  bringer  of  sunshine  to  the  sick  room.  The  fac- 
ulty had  left  no  stone  untu/ned.  Might  the  noon  day  of  his 
classmates  be  aglow  from  the  sun  of  success  and  songs  of  suf- 
fering relieved  make  happy  the  twilight  of  life.  An  address 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  was  another  enjoyed  feature,  embodi- 
ing  as  it  did  some  laughter-producing  descriptions  of  old- 
time  j)rfictice.  Of  the  three  chief  professsions,  law  was 
unchanging,  a  certain  ([uantity,  while  iis  to  the  doctor  of 
medicine  and  the  doctor  of  divinity,  it  was  sometimes  uncer- 
tain just  where  they  were.  A  man  with  a  bad  lawyer  would 
onlv  lose  a  case,  and  without  a  minister  could  come  to  God 
and  heaven,  but  what  the  suffering  outside  world  wanted 
unanimously  was  to  got  cured  when  ill,  and  the  value  of  a 
skillful  doctor  was  above  price.  A  sacred  and  high  function 
was  that  of  the  physician,  a  helper  of  morals  and  souls  as 
well  as  bodies.  In  conclusion,  Chicago  was  congratulated  on 
its  character  of  a  great  center  for  medical  educati6n.  The 
college  quartette  and  orchestra  again  officiated  pleasurably, 
and  the  exercises  terminated. 

SPEKCHES  AND  VIANDS. 

Concluding  the  literary  exercises  of  the  Chicago  Homce- 
opathie  C-ollege  yesterday  w:ks  the  social  reunion  of  the  grad- 


STRA  WS,  557 

uatiu^  class,  juniors,  alumni,  faculty  and  guesis,  in  a  ban- 
quet at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel  in  the  eveninj^.  About  150 
ladies  and  gentlemen  assembled  in  the  parlor  of  the  hotel  to 
pass  into  the  ladies'  ordinary  about  9  o'clock.  Music  during 
the  supper  and  speeches,  was  furnished  by  nn  attending 
orchestra  and  the  quartette  of  the  graduating  class. 


- — 4»^ 


STRAWS. 


BY  H.  N.  BRODERICK,  M.  D.,  DECATl'R,  MICH. 


[The  rciuedies  appended  arc  merely  suggestive.  | 

Nature  often  points  out  the  articles  of  diet  through  the 
patient's  craving  for  such. 

In  diseases  of  the  nervous  system  there  is  often  an  in- 
crease of  appetite,  Nux.,  Cina.,  Lach. 

In  mental  derangements  craving  is  a  bnd  sign. 

In  exhaustive  diseases,  diarrhoea,  typhoid,  typhus,  and 
some  severe  diseases  of  the  brain,  when  the  patient  after 
complete  loss  of  appetite  for  days,  suddenly  and  eagerly 
swallows  everything  oflered,  an  unfavorable  prognosis  should 
be  given.  Such  a  symptom,  instead  of  being  hailed  with 
delight  by  the  anxious  attendants  should  be  regarded  Jis  an 
extremely  unfavorable  if  not  a  fatal  symptom,  by  the  pliysi- 
cian.     It  should  call  our  attention  to  Hellebore. 

In  phthisis  pulmonalis  the  teeth  are  of  a  ])early  color. 

Grinding  or  gnashing  of  the  teeth  indicates  some  irrita- 
tion of  the  intestines  as  worms;  Cina.,  Merc.:  wiien  in  old 
people,  it  precedes  aploplexy ;  Bell.,  Op. 

Pale  gums  indicate;  chlorosis;  Ferruni:  blue  in  cyanosis 
and  scurvy;  Merc:  brown  or  black  in  typlioid;  Rhus.,  Bry, 
Bapt.,  Arsenicum. 

A  bluish  or  shite  colored  strip  on  the  gums  in  lead  poison- 
ing, Sulph.  arid,  Plat.;  a  pink  line  in  phthisical  persons,  Phos. 

In  diabetes  the  gums  recede  Irom  the  teeth  rendering 
them  loose.  When  they  are  sp4)ngy  looking  and  of  a  bright 
red  color,  soft  and  compressible,  they  indicate  caries;  Merc, 
Aur.  IV.. 


558  BTRAWS, 

A  bright,  dry,  shining  tongue  indicates  irritation  of  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach  and  bowels ;  Ars.,  Bell., 
Ant.  t. 

A  dry,  yellowish,  or  bright  red  tremulous  tongue  is 
found  in  cholera;  Arsen.,  Bry.,  Carbo.,  lod.,  Rhus.,  Verat. 

A  dry,  rough  and  cracked  tongue,  with  elevated  pap- 
illse,  shows  the  abuse  of  njercury ;  Sulph.,  Nit.  acid. 

A  very  bright  red  tongue  in  violent  inflammation  of 
intestines,  or  in  the  second  stage  of  pneumonia;  Ant.  t., 
Sulph.,  Rhus.,  Hyos. 

A  white,  light  coating  in  rheumatism;  Arnica,  Laurocer- 
asus,  Hydrastis. 

In  suppurative  inflammation  of  the  liver  a  curdy  or 
creamy  coating  of  tongue  in  streaks;  if  it  adheres  firmly  the 
disease  is  not  abating,  but  if  it  begins  to  clean  from  the 
edges,  it  indicates  a  speedy  recovery.  If  it  cleans  in  the 
middle  first  and  then  becomes  coated  again  it  is  unfavorable. 

A  dark  brown  or  black,  fissured  or  cracked  tongue  with 
red  edges  is  found  in  typhoid;  Rhus.,  Bry.,  Bapt.,  Are., 
Hyos. 

In  acute  nervous  diseases  a  tremulous  tongue  indicates 
danger;  Hyos.,  Bell.:  but  in  chronic  form  it  is  not  so  unfavor- 
able. 

When  the  patient  in  showing  the  tongue  does  not  return 
it  to  the  mouth,  it  indicates  disease  of  brain;  Hell.  Hyd.,  Ac. 

A  clean  red  tongue  with  papillce  prominent;  Arum, 
Rhus.,  Nux.;  or  a  furred  tongue  with  the  papillae  appearing 
through  the  fur  indicates  scarlatina;  Bell. 

A  reddish  tremulous  tongue  in  mania  a  Potu ;  Bell., 
Hyos. 

A  thick  yellow  fur  on  the  tongue  with  bitter  taste ; 
Cham.,  Pod.,  Merc,  Dul.,  Hydr. 

A  pale,  flabby  tongue  with  large  papilla?,  indicates  gas- 
tric derangement;  Nux.  v.,  Colch.:  also  met  with  in  chlor- 
osis; Sulph.,  Ferr. 

A  sharp  pointed  tongue  is  met  in  irritation  and  inflam- 
mation of  brain.     Stnun. 


H.  M.  BRODERICK,  M.  D.  559 

Ptyalism  is  sometimes  a  symptom  of  pregnancy;  Jabor- 
andi.    It  is  a  favorable  sign  in  confluent  small-pox. 

The  saliva  of  pregnant  or  lying  in  women  is  milky;  is 
frothy  in  hydrophobia,  epilepsy,  apoplexy  or  tetanus.  It  is 
a  blue  color  in  poisoning  by  lead.  It  has  sometimes  been 
observed  to  be  yellowish  in  liver  complaints  and  jaundice. 

Waterbrash  is  a  symptom  of  induration  of  the  pancreas; 
Nux.,  Carbo.,  Merc. 

Salty  eructations  in  hysteria;  Ign. :  in  hrematemesis; 
Puis. 

Sour  eructations  in  cancer  of  the  stomach ;  Carbo.  Nux., 
('on.:  sweetish  precedes  ha»niatemesis ;  Aeon.  Kreos. 

Eructations  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,indicates  that  ucer- 
ation  of  stomach  has  begun,  or  an  abscess  has  opened  into 
it;  Hepar. 

Vomiting:  The  sooner  it  occurs  after  eating,  the  higher 
up  in  the  intestines  is  the  disease  seated. 

In  great  debility  of  the .  stomach,  green  substances  are 
vomited.     Aeon.,  Ant.  t.,  Cham. 

In  contractions  of  the  intestines,  hernia,  peritonitis  there 
is  vomiting  of  fieces..    Opium. 

Rumbling  of  the  bowels  and  emission  of  flatus  are  good 
signs,  in  fevers,  diarrhoeas,  dysentery  and  cholera. 

If  vomiting  ceases  after  eating  small  portions  of  food,  it 
indicates  ulceration  of  the  bowels;  Mur.  ac. 

Constipation  in  old  people  is  conducive  to  health  and 
comfort.  It  occurs  at  the  beginning  of  most  acute  diseases. 
When  it  suddenly  occurs  during  a  disease  instead  of  diar- 
rhoea, it  is  an  unfavorable  symptom.  Irritation,  conjestion, 
or  preiernatural  collection  of  blood  in  the  bowels  produces 
diarrhoea. 

Persons  who  eat  much  and  exercise  but  little,  seldom 
have  alvine  evacuations.     Nux.,  Sulph.,  Bry.,  Pod. 

If  feces  pass  quickly  and  free  from  odor,  it  is  favorable ; 
but  unfavorable  if  delayed  and  foetid  except  in  scrofulous 
phthisis. 

Purging    oc^curs    in    dentition;  Arsen.,    Cham.,    Ipec, 


ryfH)  STRA  WS. 

Rheum.;  in  measles,  Apis.,  Merc,  Scilla;  in  small-pox. 
Amm.  c,  Cainph.,  Ham.;  in  gout,  Nux.  Colch.;  in  childbed 
fevers,  Col.,  Ipec,  Merc;  in  inflammation  of  peyers  and 
mesenteric  glands  and  typhoid  fever;  Bapt.,  Apis.,  Am., 
Carbo.  v.,  Merc,  Mur.  ac;  Rhus. ;  if  it  be  preceded  by  vom- 
iting it  is  a  good  sign. 

If  diarrhcea  occurs  soon  after  eating  it  indicates  inflam- 
mation of  the  mucous  membrane;  China.  Ars. 

If  pain  before  stool,  it  indicates  irritation,  inflammation 
or  ulceration  of  the  rectum  or  colon.  Col.,  Rheum.,  Pod., 
Lep.,  Merc 

Tenesinus  occurs  in  inflammation  of  colon ;  Bell.;  or 
rectum.  Aloes;  hemorrhoides,  Ars.,  Nux.  Sulph.;  worms. 
Aeon.,  Stann.,  Sulph.;  dysentery,  Merc  c,  Mag.  c,  Kali,  b., 
Nux.,  Nit.  ac;  in  abscesses,  Merc.  Sulph.;  in  retroversion 
and  iinprognalion  of  uterus,  Puis.,  Diilc,  Cham.,  Sulph. 

Diarh(pa  is  unfavorable  in  tlie  last  stages  of  consump- 
tion, dropsy  or  cancer  of  the  uterus. 

Long  histing  diarrhoeas  occur  in  chronic  enteritis,  Amm. 
c,  Hyos.,  Pod.;  in  ulceration  and  tubercular  dise^ises  of  the 
bowels;  lod. 

Pain  on  going  to  stool  may  be  occasioned  by  inflation 
of  the  rectum  or  acrid  fevers ;  Pod. 

The  sphincters  act  with  great  force  in  cholera  and 
catarrhal  affections;  Ar.-.,  Merc,  Sulph. 

Involuntary  evacuations  indicate  paralysis  of  the  sphinc- 
ter, and  occur  in  apoplexy;  Am.,  Hyos.:  in  concussion  and 
organic  disease  of  the  brain;  Arn. 

The  quantity  and  appearance  differs.  If  it  is  a  whitish 
.>rown,  it  shows  a  deficiency  of  bile;  Pod.,  Merc  Lept.:  it 
may  contain  a  mealy  sediment  which  indicates  irritation  and 
ulceration  of  the  t»owels;  Pod.,  Nit.  ac 

The  meconium  is  brown.  In  the  child  at  the  breast  the 
feces  are  ])ale;  in  adults  small,  soft  and  round;  in  old  age 
hard  and  globular.  In  children  it  is  yellow;  in  adults 
brown,  and  in  oM  dark  brown.  Green  herbs  give  a  green 
color;  black  iniils,  iron  and  tomatoes  give  a  black  color; 


MENORRHAGIA,  oBI 

Rheum  gives  yellow,  and  Sulph.  an  odor  of  sulphuretted 
hydrogen. 

U  it  be  profuse  with  diminuition  of  strength  it  is  callerl 
colliquative;  Amm.  c,  Cal.  c,  Ferrum,  Euphorb.,  Elater- 
ium.  Zanthox. 

If  undigested  food  passes  with  the  feces,  it  indicates 
iiTitation  or  inflammation  of  the  stomach  and  is  called  lient- 
eria ;  ^China.,  Nit.  ac,  Ferr.,  Ars.,  Pod. 

Serum  resembling  clear  water,  sometimes  like  mucus 
and  sometimes  turbid,  is  pjissed  in  irritation  of  the  bowels, 
or  where  there  is  suppressed  secretion  of  some  organ,  or 
from  saline  purgatives  or  mercury;  Bry.,  Puis.,  Opium, 
Jalap. 

Water}'  evacuatioiiH  are  bad  in  chronic  discharge  from 
the  testes.  Pod. ;  nor  do  they  relieve  except  in  dropsy. 

False  membranes,  or  even  parts  of  the  intestines  may 
1)0  passed  and  still  recovery  is  possible;  Puis.,  Canth. 

Pus  is  passed  in  ulceration  of  the  rectum  or  large  intes- 
tines; and  in  abscess  of  any  abdominal  organ  opening  into 
the  tract;  Phos. 

The  stool  is  fatty  in  phthisis,  Cal.;  and  bloody  in  irrita- 
tion, congestion,  inflammation  and  ulceration  of  the  intes- 
tines and  liver.  Ant.  c,  Merc,  c,  Carbo,  Ipec,  Ham., 
Nit.  ac. ;  piles,  cancer  and  fungus  growth,  Ars.,  Ham., 
Hydras.,  Sang,;  if  it  be  clear  and  red  it  is  from  the  lower 
part  of  the  rectum,  Ars.,  Ham.,  Ipec. ;  if  dark  brown  it  is 
from  higher  up.  Ham.,  Aeon.;  if  relief  follows  its  passage  it 
is  favorable. 


MENORRHAGIA. 


F«Y  I-.  M.  RKHARlJcs.  M.  I>.,  STAFFfJRl)  8l»RrN<i>.  (X»NNF/ Tin  T. 


HnmameHs — Nux  vomica. — Jan.  10,  '83,  received  telegram 
to  call  on  Mrs.  E.  On  my  arrival  found  a  ** regular"  in  at- 
tendance; had  been  for  two  days.  It  was  a  case  of  menor- 
rhagia  at  the  climarteric :  had  received  ergot  u\  v\.\\\vc^^\^Jc^'Si 


662  MENORRHAGIA, 

doses;  nearly  all  sorts  of  local  applications;  was  then 
'^  packed  "  and  a  large  stick  of  alum  was  in  the  cervix,  but 
still  the  flow  continued.  Found  I  was  to  act  as  counsel' 
with  the  attending  physician. 

There  was  no  pain,  and  the  character  of  the  flow  could 
hardly  be  ascertained;  recommended  Hamamelis  internally, 
and  if  they  desired,  a  local  application  of  Pond's  Extract  of 
Hamamelis.  It  seems  they  had  not  much  faith  in  my  pre- 
scription, but  soon  sent  for  another  "  regular ; "  and  again 
the  neict  morning  for  still  another  **  regular;"  but  the  pa- 
tient went  on  from  bad  to  worse  for  two  more  days,  when 
the  husband  resolved  to  use  my  prescription,  which  he  did 
with  a  happy  result;  for  in  a  few  hours  afterwards  the  flow 
ceased. 

In  March  she  had  another  attack ;  the  "  regular "  was 
again  called,  and  again  was  she  tamponed,  and  injections 
used.  Even  tincture  of  iodine  thrown  into  the  uterus  with 
no  other  result  but  to  cause  severe  pain.  Again  was  I  tele- 
graphed for.  This  time  I  resolved  to  treat  the  case  or  not 
treat  it.     The  "  regular  "  was  dismissed. 

The  only  symptoms  I  could  find  on  which  to  bjise  a  pre- 
scription were,  ''^awaking  after  2  a.  m.,  with  inability  to  sleep 
again;  and  the  fact  of  her  always  eating  highly  seasoned 
foods.  Gave  a  dose  of  Nux  v.;  left  powders  of  Sac.  lac. 
and  one  popder  of  Nux  v.  to  be  taken  at  9  p.  m.;  all  local 
applications  discontinued.  Called  next  morning;  patient 
had  slept  well  all  night;  first  time  in  several  weeks;  flow 
very  much  lessened.  Left  Sac.  lac.  and  one  powder,  Nux  v, 
for  9  p.  M.,  which  was  probably  a  mistake,  as  she  reported 
next  morning  "  did  not  sleep  quite  as  well  tis  the  night  be- 
fore, but  the  flow  had  entirely  stopped." 

Was  called  again  in  May ;  sent  Sac  lac.  and  one  pow- 
der of  Nux  v;  flow  ceased  in  a  few  hours,  since  which  time 
she  has  been  well,  except  soon  after  the  last  attack  men- 
tioned had  an  uncontrolable  desire  for  sour  things  only, 
fresh  horse-radish  in  vinegar  especially,  which  Nux  v  did 
not  relieve,  but  a  few  powders  of  Hepar  did. 


JOSEPH  HYPPOLYTE  PULTE,  M.  D,  563 

JOSEPH  HYPPOLYTE  PULTE,  M.  D.* 


Dr.  J.  H.  Pulte,  was  born  October  6th,  1811,  at 
Meschede,  in  the  Prussian  Province  of  Westphalia.  His 
father,  Hermann  Joseph  Pulte,  M.  D.,  was  the  medical  direc- 
tor of  the  government  institutions  for  the  education  of  mid- 
wives,  and  as  these  institutions  had  to  be  organized  all  over 
the  newly-acquired  provinces,  he  was  especially  deputed  for 
that  purpose,  besides  presiding  over  the  institution  confided 
to  his  care. 

Completing  a  classical  course  at  the  gymnasium  of  Soest, 
and  a  medical  course  at  the  University  of  Marburg,  he 
accepted  an  invitation  from  his  eldest  brother  to  accompany 
him  to  America,  where  he  intended  to  locate  in  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

In  the  spring  of  1834  he  sailed  for  the  United  States  to 
reach  St.  Louis  via  New  York.  On  his  journey  through 
Pennsylvania,  however,  the  Doctor  was  induced  by  a  personal 
friend  to  stay  in  Cherryville,  Pa.  Here  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Dr.  William  Wesselhoeft,  at  that  time  residing 
at  Bath,  nine  miles  from  Cherryville.  Dr.  Wesselhoeft  was 
the  first  to  induce  him  to  test  the  merits  of  homoeopathy  by 
actual  experiments.  These  trials  were  so  successful  that  Dr. 
Pulte  became  enthusiastic  in  his  devotion  to  the  new  doctrines, 
and  at  once  entered  with  great  zeal  upon  the  study  of  homoe- 
opathy; henceforth  he  did  not  shrink  from  any  hardship  or 
exposure  necessary  to  acquire  a  complete  knowledge  of  the 
same.  It  was  diflBcult  and  expensive  in  that  early  time  (1834) 
to  procure  the  means  of  prosecuting  the  study  of  homoeo- 
pathy. There  were  then  no  text-books;  a  greater  part  of  the 
facts  and  practical  knowledge  existed  only  in  manuscript 
sent  to  America  from  Europe,  and^  circulated  to  be  copied 
and  studied. 

The  first  attempts  at  a  more  systematic  treatment  of 
Asiatic  cholera  were  thus  transmitted  to  the  Northampton 
County  Society  of  Homoeopathic  physicians,  in  manuscript, 
from  Europe,  and  by  its  members  copied  and  studied.     Dr. 

*See  frontiBpiece. 


364  JOSEPH  HYPPOL  YTE  PULTE,  M,  D. 

Pulte  soon  joined  a  society  of  homcBopathic  practitioners  who 
had  united  themselves  for  mutual  advancement  in  knowl- 
edge, under  the  name  of  the  Homoeopathic  Society  of  North- 
ampton County ;  this  was  the  first  one  of  the  kind  on  this 
continent.  It  was  no  doubt  in  these  days  a  diflBcult  task  to 
belong  to  a  society  and  to  do  justice  to  its  requirements.  But 
the  members  were  seldom  found  missing  at  these  friendly 
gatherings;  their  example  being  more  worthy  of  imitation  by 
many  homoeopathic  physicians  to-day.  T)ie  greatest  acces- 
sion to  the  society  was  made  when  Dr.  0.  Hering,  of  Phila- 
delphia, joined  its  number  and  took  up  his  residence  at  Al- 
lentown,  to  preside  over  the  academy,  which  had  been  formed 
by  this  small  band  of  Hahnemann's  disciples.  Dr.  Pulte  re- 
cognized in  Dr.  Hering  the  man  of  genius,  and  submitted 
cheerfully  to  the  moulding  influence  which  such  a  mind 
would  naturallv  have  over  others.  Besides  attending  to  the 
numerous  meetings  Jbr  scientific  and  other  purposes,  frequent 
occasions  would  offer  where  public  addresses  had  to  be  de- 
livered, or  poems  to  be  read.  He  never  shrank  from  any 
work  thus  laid  out  for  hiru. 

Six  years  of  great  activity  of  body  and  mind  were  thus 
passed,  giving  and  receiving  instruction,  healing  the  sick  ; 
but  during  which  he  never  relinquished  the  intention  of 
joining  his  brother  in  St.  Louis  and  bringing  him  into  the 
light  of  the  new  doctrine.  He  did  not,  however,  carry  this 
into  execution  until  the  academy  was  dissolved.  After  the 
closing  of  this  institution,  the  various  physicians  connected 
therewith,  went  to  different  and  larger  fields  of  labor. 

Dr.  Pulte  took  up  his  march  again  westward  to  St.  Louis, 
whither  he  intended  to  go  six  years  previous.  He  travelled 
in  company  with  an  intelligent  Englishman,  Edward  Giles, 
whom  he  made  a  convert  to  homoeopathy  theoretically,  but 
who  wanted  practical  proof. 

He  tarried  in  Cincinnati  to  give  his  friend  Giles  an  op- 
portunity of  witnessing  cures  by  homoeopathic  rerpedies. 
For  that  purpose  he  opened  a  private  dispensary,  where  some 
f>f  the  sick  children  of  the  poorer  classes  congregated  to  get 


JOSEPH  HYPPOLYTE  PVLTE,  M.  D.  5«5    • 

relief.  This  was  during  the  summer,  and  summer-complaints 
prevailed.  Mr.  Giles  was  astonished  at  the  speedy  cures,  and 
it  seems  so  were  also  those  more  nearly  concerned;  the  poorer 
classes  told  the  richer,  and  the  latter  also  soon  sought  the 
doctor's  aid.  In  less  than  six  weeks'  time  Dr.  Pulte  was  in 
full  practice  in  Cincinnati,  and  on  account  of  the  numerous 
engagements  he  had  to  fill,  relinquished  the  idea  of  going  to 
St.  Louis. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  same  year  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Rollins  of  Pittsburgh,  a  lady  who 
soon  shared  his  enthusiasm  for  the  science  of  homoeopathy, 
and  who  ever  atler  rendered  him  valuable  aid  in  preparing 
his  medicines  and  assisting  him  even  in  his  professional  duties. 
Much  of  the  success  of  Dr.  Pulte  in  Cincinnati  was  due  to  the 
sustaining  sympathy  and  strength  of  character  of  Mrs.  Pulte. 

In  1846  he  published  his  work  on  history,  in  German, 
entitled  Organon  of  the  Hiatory  of  the  World.  His  purpose  in 
this  work  was  to  develop  a  philosophy  of  history  and  its 
elevation  to  the  rank  of  one  of  the  natural  sciences.  The 
work  was  regarded  with  favor  by  Humboldt,  Guizot,  Schel- 
zing,  Bryant,  Bunsen  and  Lepsius.  In  1850  he  published  a 
work  on  domestic  practice,  which  had  a  large  sale  in  this 
country,  and  was  reprinted  in  London  and  translated  into 
Spanish.  Its  arrangement  was  entirely  original,  and  the 
book  seems  to  have  pleased  the  public  so  well  that  no  book 
of  similar  size  and  import  in  the  homoeopathic  literature 
has  had  such  a  circulation  throughout  the  world  as  this, 
lie  was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  American  Marjazine  of  Horn- 
ivopathy  and  Hydropathy,  during  the  three  years  it  was  pub- 
lislied,  and  in  1853  lie  published  the  Womcm^H  Medical  Guide, 
This  book  was  also  republished  in  England  and  translated 
into  Spanish.  Dr.  Pulte  was  the  first  to  urge  the  practicabil- 
ity of  girding  the  world  with  the  telegraph.  During  a  visit 
to  Europe  in  1848,  he  brought  the  subject  to  the  attention  of 
several  governments,  and  through  Humboldt  was  in  a  way 
to  secure  important  aid  from  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  whexv 
the  Hungarian  war  broke  out  and  the  pto^eeV.  \NV3k»  ^tw^s^U^XAi^. 


566  JOSEPH  HYPPOLYTE  PULTE,  M.  D. 

A  memorial  upon  the  same  subject,  proposed  by  Dr.  Pulte 
was  presented  to  the  United  States  Senate,  by  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  and  received  attention  from  that  body.  The  doctor's 
plan  was  to  carry  the  wires  across  Behring's  Strait,  and  thence 
across  Asia  to  the  principal  cities  of  Europe.  The  same  idea 
was  afterwards  taken  up  by  Major  Collins,  and  in  another 
way  has  since  been  carried  into  effect.  During  the  preva- 
lence of  cholera  in  Cincinnati,  in  1849,  the  doctor  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  the  homoeopathic  treatment  triumphant 
beyond  any  other.  Homoeopathy,  after  this  trial  of  1849, 
was  firmly  established  in  the  whole  West  and  South,  many 
physicians  of  the  old  system  embracing  this  method  of  prac- 
tice, more  or  less  through  the  agency  and  infiuece  of  Dr.  Pulte. 

In  1852,  Dr.  Pulte  accepted  and  filled  the  chair  of  Clin- 
ical Medicine  in  the  Homoeopathic  College  of  Cleveland,  and 
he  afterward  filled  the  chair  of  Obstetrics  in  the  same  insti- 
tution. In  a  public  address  called  the  ''Science  of  Medi- 
cine," during  this  time,  he  pointed  to  the  cell  as  the  real 
starting  point  of  the  pathological  development;  here  already 
were  indicated  the  principal  features  of  that  pathological 
edifice*  which  Virchow  afterward  erected  into  his  famous 
cellular  theory. 

In  1845,  the  centenary  year  of  Hahnemann's  birth,  he 
was  appointed  to  deliver  the  annual  address  before  the  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Honiiuopathy,  which  met  in  Buffalo,  New 
York.  In  the  same  year  he  was  solicited  to  accept  the  Pro- 
fessorship of  Homoeopathy  in  the  Michigan  University.  Dr. 
Pulte  was  not  only  a  learned  and  thoroughly  practical  ph}'- 
sician,  but  was  also  a  very  intelligent  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen, and  aside  from  his  professional  duties  found  much  time 
to  devote  to  public  affairs. 

He  was  recommeded  to  President  Johnson  for  the  Aus- 
trian mission,  by  the  Hons.  Bellamy  Storer,  Alphonso  Taft, 
A.  F.  Herr  and  others,  and  was  promised  the  support  of  the 
Hons.  Carl  Schurz,  B.  Eggleston,  W.  S.  Groesbeck,  and  other 
prominent  statesmen,  in  case  his  name  should  be  sent  to  the 
Senate. 


MEMBRANOUS  CROUP  AND  DIPHTHERIA.  567 

He  was  the  author  of  numerous  poems,  written  and 
published  chiefly  in  the  German  language. 

In  the  fall  of  1872,  Dr.  Pulte  delivered  his  last  course  of 
lectures  at  Cincinnati,  at  the  college  which  bears  his  name. 
The  writer  had  the  pleasure  and  privilege  of  hearing  these 
lectures,  and  can  bear  testimony  that  they  were  highly 
appreciatisd  by  the  class.  In  1873  a  severe  illness  led  to  his 
withdrawal  from  the  active  practice  of  his  profession.  A 
maxim  of  the  doctor's  was,  that  "the  height  of  all  pleasure 
was  an  increase  of  knowledge;"  and  he  may  be  said  to  have 
spent  his  whole  life  in  the  pursuit  of  this  greatest  pleasure. 

Dr.  Pulte  died  February  24,  1884,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  He  suffered  much  during  his  last  illness, 
which  was  characterized  chiefly  by  inability  to  sleep  and  to 
take  food.  He  remained  conscious,  however,  and  in  full  pos- 
session of  all  his  faculties  until  within  an  hour  of  his 
death,  which  he  awaited  with  a  calm  and  Christian-like 
spirit,  and  which  came  at  last  like  a  slumber.  The 
remains  were  conveyed  to  the  Spring  Grove  Cemetery,  and 
borne  to  the  vault  by  twelve  of  the  profession  of  Cincinnati, 
who  acted  as  pall-bearers.  This  sketch  may  be  fittingly 
closed  by  simply  adding  the  motto  of  Dr.  Pulte's  family: 
*'  Virtute  ad  astra.^^  S.  R.  Geiser,  M.  D. 

^^SUCCESSFUL  TREATMENT  OF  MEMBRANOUS  CROUP 

AND  DIPHTHERIA." 


BY   J.    B.   WOOD.    M.  O  ,  WEST  CHE8TKR,    I' A. 


Under  the  above  caption  Doctor  Falligant,  of  Savannah, 
Georgia,  proceeds  to  give  his  successful  treatment  of  these  two, 
much  to  be  dreaded  diseases,  in  the  March  number  of  the 
Hahanemannian  Monthly.  I  am  pleased  with  the  fact  that 
he  cured  his  cases,  but  with  what  he  cured,  or  the  modus  op- 
erandi of  cure,  I  am  unable  to  learn  anything  that  will  be  of 
service  to  me  in  the  treatment  of  similar  cases.  For  instance 
he  says  that,  '*  his  treatment  consisted  of  Hepar  sulphur  1il> 
Spongia  tinct.  five  drops;  Kali  bich. crude,  \  gtviitv,  vcv«k.\,\x\xv- 


568  MEMBRANOUS  CROUP  AND  DIPHTHERIA. 

bier  of  water — of  these  three  solutions  be  gives — (does  not  say 
how  much)  every  half  hour  day  and  night  incessantly.  In 
addition  I  employed  the  steam  atomizer,  putting  iii  the  sup- 
ply cup  8om^  lime  water,  into  which  I  dropped  some  20  or  30 
drops  of  turpentine  dissolved  in  sulphuric  ether,  which  being 
prepared  with  one  part  turpentine  to  6  or  7  parts  of  ether, 
was  equivalent  to  using  about  4  or  6  drops  of  turpentine  at  a 
time.  The  atomizer  was  used  from  five  to  ten  minutes  every 
hour,  day  and  night,  until  the  case  was  relieved." 

This  he  gives  as  bis  general  treatment  of  all  cases  of  mem- 
branous croup. 

He  says, "  that  in  several  cases  of  diphtheria  I  have  since 
used  the  same  local  treatment  with  the  atomizer,  and  with 
remarkably  satisfactory  results.  In  these  diphtheric  cases  I 
usually  give  belladona  tinct.,  nitric  acid  (5  drops  in  a  tum- 
bler of  water)  in  alternation  every  hour  (and  in  violent  cases 
every  half  hour)  and  I  use  in  the  throat  with  a  brush  or 
atomizer  as  may  be  advisable,  a  solution  of  1  brjindy,  J  wa- 
ter, and  15  grains  of  potassium  chlorate  to  each  ounce  of  the 
liquid ;  I  generally  apply  this  latter  every  hour  to  every  two 
hours  in  light  cases,  and  in  severe  cases  I  use  the  mixture  of 
turpentine  and  alcohol  every  fourth  hour."  This  constitutes 
his  treatment  of  diphtheria. 

Now  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  how  the  homoepathic 
physician  is  to  learn  anything  about  the  action  of  remedies 
by  such  mixtures  of  medicine  as  he  proposes ;  and  to  know 
to  which  one  of  the  series  is  to  be  attributed  the  cure  of  the 
case  or  cases.  It  has  been  my  lot  to  be  called  to  very  bad 
cases  of  membranous  croup,  such  as  the  parents  were  without 
any  hope  of  recovery,  and  I  confess  that  I  saw  nothing  in  the 
case  to  flatter  me  that  I  was  soon  to  fill  the  parents'  hearts 
with  joy  instead  of  sadness.  The  child  was  breathmg  as  in 
the  last  stages  of  membranous  croup,  struggling  and  fighting 
to  get  its  breath.  I  saw  that  something  must  be  done  quickly, 
if  at  all,  accordingly  I  took  a  prei>aration  of  Kali  bichromicum 
1-lOth  and  put  enough  of  it  in  a  tumbler  of  water  to  make  it 
quite  yellow,  and  strong  enough  to  product*  eniesis,  this  I 


CLINICAL  NOTES.  569 

proceeded  to  give  in  teaspoonful  doses  every  five  minutes  un- 
til emesis  was  produced,  then  at  longer  intervals,  after  which 
the  child  was  relieved  and  soon  got  well.  Now  was  it  not  the 
Kali  bichromicum  in  Dr.  Falligant's  prescription  that  cured 
his  case?  Then  why  envelope  the  medicine  that  cures  in  the 
midst  of  a  multitude  of  others  internallv,  and  several  others 
through  the  medium  of  an  atomizer  ? 

His  treatment  of  diphtheria  is  also  objectionable  in  the 
same  sense ;  not  that  he  cures,  but  that  it  is  impossible  for 
him  or  any  one  else  to  say  what  remedy  did  it.  When  I  am 
called  to  a  case  of  Angina  faucium,  I  examine  the  throat  care- 
fully, and  if  I  find  it  not  much  inflamed,  with  fungus  spots 
forming  on  the  tonsils  or  pharynx,!  at  once  give  Kali  bichro- 
micum 1-lOth  as  I  would  in  croup,  and  in  the  course  of  two  or 
three  days  the  deposit  disappears.  The  remedy  is  the 'more 
strongly  indicated  if  it  should  be  accompanied  by  a  stringy 
expectoration.  Belladona  Ix  is  an  excellent  remedy  for  this 
aftection  if  the  throat  be  a  bright  red  color  and  extend  up  on 
to  the  hard  palate,  and  Apis  mel.  Ix,  if  accompanied  by  a 
stinging  pain.  I  trust  the  Doctor,  in  the  further  treatment 
of  cases,  will  individualize  more  carefully,  so  that  we  may 
know  the  remedy  that  cures  ;  but  I  must  confess  that  his  re- 
port of  cases  reminds  me  of  an  old  man  that  6ame  to  my  fa- 
ther's mill  more  than  fifty  years  ago  who  brought  a  mixture 
of  several  kinds  of  grain  to  be  ground  for  feed,  which  he  de- 
nominated a  jumbU  compound, 

CLINICAL  NOTES. 


BY  J.  T.  KENT,  M.  I). 


Eryngium  aquatium  30,  cured  a  lady  who  had  suffered 
with  the  following  urinary  symptoms:  For  two  years  she 
was  compelled  to  pass  urine  about  every  half  hour  night  and 
day  ;  the  urine  was  scalding.  There  was  burning  during  and 
sometime  after  passing  urine.  She  was  greatly  reduced  in 
flesh  from  the  continued  painful  urging  and  loss  of  sleep. 
She  often    lost   her   urine    in  bed  becauftv^   ^W  X^^i^vxww.  >ftK> 


570  COttRESPONDENCM. 

exhausted  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  awake  in  time  to 
accommodate  the  call.  The  urine  was  not  examined  chemi- 
cally  but  was  high  colored  and  strong  smelling. 

After  taking  the  remedy  during  the  day  she  arose  only 
twice  the  following  night,  after  which  she  slept  well  and  rap- 
idly recovered  her  strength  and  flesh.  She  was  upwards  of 
fifty  years  of  age.  No  cause  could  be  discovered  for  the 
irritable  bladder. 

I  have  seen  similar  bladder  symptoms  cured  with  this 
remedy  (Eryngium  aq.)  when  used  in  the  ^,  3x,  6x,  12x,30x, 
in  a  surprising  manner.  T?ie  contintious  teasing^  and  dribbling^ 
drop  by  drop,  smarting  and  burning  night  and  day,  I  have  often 
seen  disappear  under  its  use. 

It  is  uncommon  for  the  exaggerated  sexual  desire  to  be 
present,  unlike  Canth. 

The  patient  is  generally  better  in  a  warm  place,  unlike 
Apis. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 


Medical  Advance : 

The  letter  from  your  correspondent  *'A,"  (January  num- 
ber), escaped  my  notice  until  to-day  or  a  reply  would  have 
been  attempted  at  an  earlier  date. 

1.  "Explain  the  difference  between  a  dose  in  water  and  a 
dose  dry  on  the  tongue."  The  answer  to  this  query  may  be 
found  in  the  Organon,  §  286.  "In  using  a  solution  of 
this  kind,  a  much  greater  surface  supplied  with  sensitive 
nerves,  susceptible  of  medicinal  influence,  is  brought  in  con- 
tact with  the  medicine."  Besides  this  advantage  we  thus 
obtain  a  higher  potency  of  the  medicine;  and,  (a  fact  noted 
by  many  observers),  a  medicine  when  prescribed  the  second 
time  to  the  same  patient  will  act  better  if  given  in  a  different 
manner. 

2.  "Can  a  few  pellets — prepared  in  water,  and  repeated 
— be  considered  a  single  dose."  A  dose  is  "  the  quantity  of 
medicine  given,  or  prescribed  to  be  taken  at  one  time,^^  (Web- 


CORRESPONDENCE,  671 

ster).  If  an  entire  powder  of  pellets,  say  of  two  g-tiins,  be 
taken  at  once  that  is  a  dose;  if  it  is  divided  into  three  equal 
parts  and  but  one  part  taken  at  a  time,  at  certain  intervals, 
each  part  becomes  a  dose;  and  so  if  the  powder  is  dissolved 
in  several  spoonfuls  of  water,  whatever  quantity  is  taken  at 
(me  time  constitutes  a  dose  whether  it  be  a  tea  or  tablespoon* 
ful,  or  the  whole  of  the  solution.  I  have  heard  a  directly 
opposite  definition  given  to  the  word  but  this  has  been  the 
result  of  confounding  the  word  prescription  with  dose.  A 
prescription  is  that  which  is  ordered  for  or  handed  to  the 
patient  after  consultation  to  be  taken  '*  as  directed.''  A  dose 
is  a  fraction  or  the  whole  of  that  according  to  the  manner  in 
which  it  is  taken,  and  each  prescription  may  thus  contain 
many  doses. 

3.  "What  are  we  to  infer  from  rules  three  and  nine?" 
The  former  is  explained  in  the  above.  Rule  nine  reads  "if 
a  relapse  into  the  same  symptoms  follows  an  amelioration 
from  a  single  dose,  that  remedy  must  be  repeated."  If  one 
dose  had  had  a  beneficial  eff'ect  the  choice  of  it  must  have 
been  a  wise  one,  and  after  its  good  effects  cease,  or  if  a  '*  re- 
lapse into  the  same  symptoms"  occurs  what  more  rational 
thing  can  be  suggested  than  to  give  the  patient  more  of  it. 

There  is  no  graver  error  committed  by  us  than  that  of 
yielding  to  the  temptation  to  constantly  administer  medicine. 
I^t  us  carry  smaller  medicine  vials  and  more  Sac.  lac. 

\Vm.  Jefferson  Guernsey, 

4480  Frankfort  Ave.,  Phila. 
February  15.  1S84. 


Medical  Advance  : 

As  Chairman  of  the  Bureau  of  Materia  Medica  for  our 
State  Institute,  I  have  been  exceedingly  troul)led  to  assign 
work  to  my  associates;  and  in  corresponding  with  the  chair- 
men of  the  same  section  of  other  States  to  see  by  what  rule 
they  were  guided,  I  found  that  my  troubles  were  their  troub- 
les also. 
4 


.">72  CORRESPONDENCE. 

In  our  own  State,  and  in  many  others,  it  has  been  the 
custom  to  select  some  drug  for  proving,  thereby  somewhat 
enriching  our  Materia  Medica.  But  really,  what  does  it 
amount  to? 

Most  of  us  chairmen  of  this,  the  most  important  of  liii- 
reaus  which  our  State  or<i:anizations  possess,  have  been  raised 
to  the  position  of  chairman  or  director  of  the  section,  from 
tlie  rank  and  file  of  tlie  profession  by  the  api)ointment  of 
our  local  President,  not  because  of  our  knowledge  of  Materia 
Medica,  but  (perhaps)  for  the  reason  that  our  Bureau  had  not 
made  a  satisfactory  report  in  previous  years,  and  they 
thought  it  had  come  our  turn  to  assume  its  command  tliis 
year  and  see  what  we  could  make  of  it. 

Now,  supposing  this  to  be  the  case,  1  would  respectfully 
ask.  How  fit  arc  we  to  assume  the  local  Directorship  of  thit< 
Bureau?  How  do  we  hiow  what  drug  to  have  our  local 
Bureau  prove?  And  suppose  we  do  prove  a  drug,  what  does 
it  amount  to? 

In  mjmy  cases  our  Bureaus  do  not  conUiin  more  than 
four  to  six  observers;  and  in  the-  matter  of  drug  proving,  what 
does  their  dictum  prove? 

U  their  labors  are  recorded  in  the  Transactions  of  their 
respective  States— which  they  undoubtedly  will  be — there 
must  be  many  individual  symptoms  finding  their  way  into 
the  "proving  "  which  have  occurred  to  but  one  of  the  observ- 
ers, not  to  the  whole  body  (tf  provers,  and  hence  may  be  unre- 
liable as  guides  to  cure  sick  peo[)le,  being  of  value  only  us 
individual  curiosities;  whose  place  belongs  in  an  Encyclo- 
pedia, but  not  in  the  winnowed  and  sifted  Materia  Medica, 
the  hand-book  of  the  every-day  practitioner. 

Now,  if  you  agree  with  me  so  far,  you  will  probably  ask, 
what  are  we  going  to  do  about  it?  And  in  answer  I  propose 
the  following  plan  for  your  careful  consideration: 

In  the  first  place,  our  State  Bureaus  of  Materia  Medica 

are  altogether  too  small  to  have  much  authority  regarding  a 

proving  which  is  to  be  incorporated  into  our  Materia  Medica 

as  established  facts,  and  to  be  taken  from  thence  as  remedies 


CORRESPONDENCE.  57:: 

for  the  cure  of  the  sick.  We  need  more  workers  in  this 
department  of  our  art;  and  not  only  more  workers  but  co-cyp- 
eration  in  their  work. 

We  have  twenty-six  Homoeopathic  State  Societies,  be- 
sides the  American  Institute,  Western  Academy,  American 
Paidological  Society,  and  the  American  Ophth.  and  Otol. 
Society,  which  is  certainly  material  enough  for  us  to  be  ena- 
bled to  make  harmonious  conclusions  concerning  the  value 
of  drugs  if  we  would  only  act  in  unison. 

Assuming  that  each  of  these  societies  has  a  Materia 
Medica  Bureau  in  its  organization  of  only  four  members,  we 
would  have  a  total  working  force  of  one  hundred  and  twenty, 
whose  dictum  on  any  one  drug  would  be  of  such  a  character 
that  the  profession  at  largo  would  per  force  respect,  and  would 
command  confidence. 

Let  this  force,  if  you  please,  be  divided  into  a  northern 
jind  southern  regiment,  and  prove  or  re-prove  those  drugs 
which  are  indigenous  to  their  latitudes,  or  vice  versa;  so  shall 
we  be  enabled  to  determine  definitely  what  acclimatization 
influence,  if  any,  drugs  possess  over  provers  who  live  in 
localities  where  the  plants  I'.rew. 

Let  this  forc(?  be  under  the  control  of  some  of  the  first 
scholars  in  Materia  Medica  in  the  country,  who  w^ill  agree  upon 
:i  plan  of  action,  the  new  drugs  to  be  proven,  or  the  old  ones 
to  be  re-proved,  who  will  also  constitute  the  Board  of  Materia 
}fe(lica  of  the  United  States,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  scrutin- 
ize the  work  done  by  local  or  State  boards.  It  seems  to  me 
that  were  such  a  plan  as  this  pursued,  so  much  more  .good 
could  be  accomplished  by  having  the  work  throughout  the 
whole  country  systematized,  and  under  the  guidance  of  a 
Board  of  Mat.  Med.  Directijrs  composed  of  able  men,  who  are 
wholly  com])etent  to  direct  this  work,  than  is  now  made  pos- 
sible by  the  custom  at  present  pursued,  by  allowing  each  State 
to  proceed  in  a  go-as-you-please  manner;  with  its  local  board 
composed  of  men  who  have  no  special  aptitude  for  this,  the 
most  important  branch  of  medicine. 

C'onsider  also  the  very  great  aclvarvlav?.'^  «w^\\  *a.  's^^XfcTcv 


574  CORRESPONDENCE. 

would  be  to  this  supervising  board.  They  would  be  as  gen- 
erals having  an  army  under  them.  They  could  formulate 
their  plans  with  the  assurance  that  their  Captains  (i.  e.  the 
chairmen  of  the  different  State  Bureaus  of  Mat.  Med.)  would 
carry  them  out;  so  that  necessarily  a  much  more  orderly  and 
systematic  methpd  would  be  the  outcome,  instead  of  the  dis- 
order which  prevails  at  the  present.  It  seems  to  me  also  that 
did  each  State  know  that  it  was  a  part  of  an  integral  U.  S. 
Board,  they  would  have  much  more  enthusiasm  in  their  spe- 
cial work  than  they  have  to-day;  for  men  like  to  be  gov- 
erned, if  they  be  but  governed  well. 

Let  this  Supervising  Board  be  elected  by  the  physicians 
at  large,  or  by  the  members  of  the  American  Institute,  as  you 
see  fit,  and  let  them  not  be  harassed  by  restrictions.  Throw 
upon  them  the  burden  of  formulating  a  plan  of  action — as  is 
thrown  upon  generals  in  the  army — and  we,  their  captains, 
the  Chairmen  of  the  different  States,  will  carry  out  their 
orders.  Then,  and  not  until  then,  will  our  work  amount  to 
something. 

I  beg  of  you,  my  dear  Doctor,  to  give  this  plan  your 
earnest  consideration,  and  to  let  me  know  of  its  imperfec- 
tions, loith  suggestions  for  improvement.  The  plan  was  forced 
upon  me,  as  I  said  before,  by  the  difficulties  of  selecting  a 
subject  for  my  own  local  Bureau  to  work  at,  and  I  find  that 
my  difficulties  are  ncot  mine  alone,  but  are  common  to  other 
Chairmen.  We  are  ripe  for  orders  from  a  Supervising  Board, 
and  ready  to  obey  them,  and  to  carry  out  the  plans  of  those 
who  know  much  more  than  it  is  possible  for  individuals  to 
know:  receiving  from  them  the  answers  which  perplex  us 
to  find  to  the  questions  we  must  put  to  ourselves.  "Shall 
our  local  Bureau  prove  a  new  drug  this  year,  or  re-prove  an 

old  one.     If  so,  what  shall  it  be?" 

Arthur  A.  Camp, 

[The  above  plan  of  Dr.  Camp  meets  our  cordial  ap- 
proval. Instead  of  tearing  down  this  edifice  in  order  to 
perfect  it,  this  would  do  it  after  the  plan  of  the  Austrian 
provers.] 


BOOK  NOTICES.  57.S 

BOOK  NOTICES. 


RECEIVED :    PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NAVAL  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,  containing 
the  annual  addiess  of  the  President,  Dr.  A.  f.  Gihon,  U.  S.  N. 


HISTORY  OF  TREPHINING :    By  W  D.  Foster.  M.  J). 


THE  REASON  OF  THE  FAITH  THAT  IS  IN  ME:    By  Sam'l  Swan.  M.  D. 


DETERIORATION  OF  THE    PURITAN  STOCK  AND  ITS  CAUSES :    By  Jxo.  Ei.- 
U8.  M.  D. 


ANTISEPTIC  SURGERY:    Definition  and  HiKtoric   Mention,  By  .J.  H.  McClkl- 

LAND,  M.   I). 

DO  HOMCEOPATHS     'TRADE    UPON  A  NAME?":      By  F.  H.  Ormk,    M.  I)..  At- 
lanta,  Georgia 

ALIX)PATHIC  OPINIONS  OF  HOMCEOPATHY :    By  F,  A.  Webstkr,  M.  I»..  Nor- 
folk, Virginia. 

THE  NEED  OF  CERTAIN  IMPROVEMENTS  IN  PRESENT  METHODS  OF  CAR- 
ING  FOR  THE  INSANE:    By  H.  R.  Stilm,  A.  M.,  M.  D. 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  GRAND    MEDICAL    EXAMINER,  EMPIRE  ORDER 
MUTUAL  AID.  N.  Y.    By  H.  M.  Dayfoot,  M.  D..  Rochenter,  N.  Y. 


LEONARD'S  PHYSICIAN'S  OFFICE-DAY-BOOK. 

This  isaneatly,  as  well  as  practically  arran<{e(i  form,  for  a  liusy 
practitioner's  day-book.  It  will  accommodate  twenty-five  fresh 
names  every  day  and  is  good  for  four  years.  In  the  back  part  of  the 
book  is  arranged  a  place  to  keep  a  complete  record  of  all  obstetrical 
cases,  which  in  itself  is  worth  the  price  of  the  book.  An  obstetrical 
record,  is  a  valuable  addition  to  any  physician's  library.  The  price 
of  the  day-book  is  $2.50,  postpaid  to  any  address.  r.  p. 

A(X)NITE   FROM  A  PHYSIOLOGICAL  BASIS:    By  Wm.owENs.  M.  D. 

This  m()nograi)h,  the  author  says  is  written,  "  with  an  lioncst 
purpose  and  sincere  desire  to  improve  the  facilities  for  the  therapeu- 
tic application  of  the  Homceopathic  Materia  Medica."  Whatever 
theolject  may  have  been,  or  however  lionest  the  intention,  it  is 
very  doubtful  if  the  schema  bean  improvement  on  that  of  Hahne- 
mann, certainly  not  on  those  of  Dunham  and  Hering.  Far  better  to 
present  the  simple  facts,  and  allow  each  man  to  make  his  own  deduc- 
tions, and  draw  liis  own  conclusions,  in  his  own  way.  The  "  Phys- 
iological Basis"  may  be  a  favorite  one  for  Prof.  Owens,  while  another 
man  equally  honest,  equally  earnest,  may  not  be  able  to  ap\)l^  vV.^\ 
all.  w.vi,  K. 


57(1  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


Removed:  Geo.  M.  Ockford,  M.  D.,  from  Vincenues,  Ind.,  to 
Kevere,  Massachusetts. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Hahnemannian  Monthly  for  the  like- 
ness  and  sketch  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Pulte. 

Dr.  George  11.  Higgins  is  associated  with  Nic^ho.  Francis  Cooke, 
M.  D.,  at  58  State  street,  Chicago. 

Removed  :  W.  K.  Knowles,  M.  D.,  has  removed  to  Bangor  Me., 
and  taken  the  ollice  and  residence  of  the  late  Dr.  Gallupe. 

M.  M.  Eaton,  M.  D.,  has  returned  from  his  annual  winter  hegira 
to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and  resumed  practice  in  Cincinnati. 

The  Central  Homceopathic  Medical  Association  of  Iowa  cele- 
brated the  129th  anniversary  of  Hahnemann's  birth  day  on  the  10th 
of  April.    Thanks  for  a  cordial  invitation. 

The  Governor  of  Kentucky  has  ren.*ntly  appointed  Drs.  Wni. 
L.  Breyfogle,  J.  C.  McReynolds  and  J.  A.  Lucy,  members  of  the 
Stale  Board  of  Health,    liepignations  will  now  be  in  order. 

We  regret  to  learn  of  the  Ferious  illness  of  P.  G.  Valentine,  M. 
I).,  Editor  of  tlie  late  Clinical  Revieiv  of  St.  Louis.  Typho-malarial 
fever  with  brain  complication.  We  trust  he  will  soon  be  at  work 
again. 

Ouio  State  Society.  —The  2()th  annual  session  of  the  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  Society  of  Ohio,  will  be  held  in  Cleveland,  May  l.'ith 
and  14th,  1884.  Every  physician  in  the  State  should  be  present. 
There  will  be  much  business  transacted  of  importance  to  all.  Are 
you  on  a  bureau?  If  so,  send  your  topic  at  once.  If  not  on  a  bu- 
reau, volunteer  papers  will  be  very  acceptable. 

H.  E.  Beebe,  M.  I).  Secretary. 

Mif^iiioAN  State  Society. — The  fifteenth  annual  session  of  our 
State  Society  will  commence  on  Tuesday,  May  20,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m., 
in  Royal  Templar  Hall,  Detroit.  In  behalf  of  the  Society,  I  ear- 
nestly request  you  to  be  at  the  meeting,  and  assist  in  making  our 
society  worthy  of  its  name,  and  securing  for  it  the  position  it  has  a 
right  to  claim  among  sister  societies.  I  am  requested  by  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Michigan  to  call 
your  attention  to  the  fact  that  a  regular  weekly  meeting  of  the  Col- 
lege occurs  on  the  evening  preceding  the  opening  of  the  State 
Society,  May  10,  and  that  all  members  of  the  State  society,  actual 
or  prospective,  will  be  heartily  welcomed  to  the  privileges  of  the 
College.  The  Bureau  of  Microscopy  has  arranged  for  a  soiree,  or 
microscopic  exhibition,  on  Twesda.^  ^N^mii^^^'hen  a  large  number 


I 

I 


EblTOR'S  TABLE.  577 

of  mtcroacopea  will  be  used,  and  a  fiue  diBpUy  of  histological  speci- 
mene  made.  In  view  of  all  these  facts,  it  is  very  sincerely  hoped 
that  Dothint:  of  an  ordlnnry  character  will  prevent  yoiir  attendance. 
The  Corresponding  Secretary,  Dr.  L.  T.  Van  Horn,  of  Homer,  Mich- 
iguD,  ie  prepared  to  furnish  all  who  malce  application  to  him  '«rti- 
hcatea  entitling  the  holder  to  reduoed  fare  over  all  the  roads  in  the 
State,  except  the  Wabash.  In  writing,  pray  Etate  over  which  road 
the  journey  will  be  made.  .T.  G,  Gii/:iibist,  Sec. 

AMEitn;AM  Institutb  of  Homcbopathy. — I  have  the  pleasure  to 
iijially,  that  the  Instllute  will  convene  i[i  its  37th 
annual  session  at  Deer  Park  Hotel,  Md.,  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
railroad,  the  third  Tuesday  (17th  day)  of  June  nesl.  at  10  o'clock,  a, 
M.,  and  continue  in  session  four  days. 

The  Preaidenl,  Secretary  and  Chairman  of  the  ronimittee  on 
railroad  fares  and  hotel  rates  and  acwmmodationa  met  Mr.  W.  J. 
Walker  in  conference  at  Deer  Park,  March  B,  18S4,  to  complete 
arrangementa  for  the  meeting;,  with  the  most  satisfactory  results. 
The  entire  hotel  (which  has  a  capacity  for  accommodating  sis  hun- 
dred guests],  together  with  the  extensive  gronnds,  walks,  drives, 
groves,  etc.,  have  been  secured  for  the  eichifiive  actommodation  of 
the  members  of  the  Institute,  their  families  and  friends  who  may 
accompany  them,  to  the  eicliision  of  uli  other  guests  while  the 
ioatitule  is  in  session.  The  hotel  will  he  In  readiness  to  receive  the 
members  of  the  Institute  Monday,  June  lUtli,  but  will  not  he  reopened 
ita  the  general  public  until  June  L'2.  Hotel  charges  $2.50  per  day,  a 
rebate  of  fi/ly  wh/ji  from  the  regular  rale.  The  annual  banquet,  and  ■ 
music  will  be  furnished  by  the  hotel  management.  The  rooms, 
i-uitine,  menu,  and  attention  to  the  wants  and  comfort  of  the  guests 
are  guaranteed  to  give  entire  satisfaction  to  the  most  exacting.  The 
railroad  fare  over  the  great  trunk  or  main  line  of  the  B.  &  U,  B.  R. 
and  its  branches  will  be  full  fare  one  way  [half  /are):  Efforts  are 
being  made  to  secnre  reduced  rales  od  other  roads. 

The  members  of  the  various  bureaus  are  at  work;  and  their 
respective  chairmen  anticipate  full  reports.  Snfticient  information 
is  already  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary  to  warrant  the  slaiement 
that  the  attendance  will  be  larger  than  nsunl,  and  that  one  of  our 
Trans-Atlantic  colleagues,  (Dr.  Eichard  Hughes,  of  Brigblon,  ICng- 
land],  and  possibly  others  will  be  present.  Full  particulars  of  the 
arrangements  will  be  given  in  the  forthcoming  announcement. 

Blank  applications  for  membership  may  be  obUiined  from  the 
nndereigned  on  application.  J.  C.  BuboubB,  M,  D., 

General  Secretary. 


Ann  Arbor,  May,  1 


All  aubsoriptioiia  and  buslneBa  oommunloations  should 
be  addresBed  to  MBDIOAI.  ADTANOB  PUBUSHmQ  OO., 
Ann  Arbor,  Mloh.    Subsoriptlon,  $3.00  per  g-nnnni 

H.  O.  ALLBN,  M.  D.,  BuBlneaB  Manaser. 

The  Vital  Force. — The  reader  will  remember,  that  Dr. 
Bayard,  of  New  York,  published  some  time  since,  an  able 
exposition  of  Homceopathj  in  the  Popular  Science  Mbnthiy. 
In  that  article  he  attempted  to  commit  the  entire  Homteo- 
pathic ^School  to  the  ancient  and  obsolete  theory  of  "the 
vital  force."  What  ii  exactly  to  be  understood  by  "the  vital 
force,"  was  not  defined  by  Dr.  Bayard,  nor  has  it  since  been 
defined  by  his  friends  and  defenders.  We  have  taken  it, 
however,  aa  synonymous  with  "the  vital  principle;"  and 
thia,  we  are  informed,  means  the  principle  or  force  upon 
which  life  depends — the  cause  of  life,  or  in  other  words,  life 
itself.  To  the  position  assumed  by  Dr.  Bayard,  we  took 
exception  in  a  late  editorial.  Our  criticism  drew  from  Dr.  P. 
P.  Wells— a  gentleman  in  almost  all  respects  the  most  com- 
petent in  the  profession  to  discuss  the  subject — a  masterly 
reply,  published  in  Hie  HoTocepaihic  Phytieian.  To  Dr.  Wells 
we  made  answer,  as  the  readers  of  this  journal  kuow,  reas- 


580  EDITORIAL, 

serting  our  unbelief  in  the  existence  of  such  a  principle,  and 
pointing  out  the  fact  that  scientific  men — especially  physiol- 
ogists— generally  discarded  the  theory.  We  did  not  hesitate 
to  pronounce  the  theory  untenable  and  unscientific,  but  also 
one  entirely  apart  from  all  that  is  understood  as  Homoeo- 
pathy. Imagine  our  surprise,  when,  upon  opening  the  last 
number  of  The  Homoeopathic  Physician,  we  found  another 
Richmond  in  the  field,  and  ourself  confronted  by  a  third 
champion  of  the  vital  force  theory.  Dr.  B.  Fincke  shies  his 
castor  into  the  ring,  and  conies  galhintly  forward  to  defend 
the  vital  force.  Whether  this  means  that  Drs.  Bayard  and 
Wells  have  handed  over  their  gloves  to  their  valiant  con- 
frere and  retired  from  the  ring  or  not,  we  know  not.  In  any 
case  they  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  Dr.  Fincke's 
championship.  If  it  were  a  case  of  life  and  death,  the  cause 
could  not  be  more  vigorously,  offensively  and  defensively 
maintained.  We  have  no  desire  to  meet  Dr.  Fincke  on  the 
ground  he  has  chosen,  for  it  does  not  seem  to  us  likely  to 
throw  any  light  upon  the  question  we  are  considering.  If 
the  existence  of  the  vital  force  is  so  very  "  self-evident"  it 
needs  no  argument  to  support  it,  and  without  much  waste  of 
words,  it  might  be  demonstrated  so  that  we  all  could  see  it. 
Now  will  Dr.  Bayard  or  Dr.  Wells  or  Dr.  Fincke  please  give 
us  the  much  needed  demonstration  ?  *What  oflSce  does  the 
vital  force  perform  in  the  living  structure?  Electricity,  light 
and  heat  we  know  by  their  phenomena.  Leaving  them  out 
of  the  account,  we  cannot  explain  many  things  which  we 
observe.  Scientifically  speaking,  we  know  whence  they  come 
and  whither  they  go.  We  assume  the  existence  of  an  all- 
pervading  ether,  because  it  is  necessitated  in  explaining  a 
vast  group  of  phenomena.  Now,  if  the  vital  force  stand  upon 
the  same  basis,  let  us  have  an  end  of  the  controversy  and  let 
us  have  the  demonstration.  It  may  be  true  as  Dr.  Fincke 
says,  "The  vital  force  is  a  fact  which  every  birth,  every 
death  and  daily  life  can  testify  to;"  but  if  so,  what  is  the 
specific  form  of  that  testimony?  If  the  vital  force  exists  in 
living  structures,  surely  our  physiologists  should  take  some 


EDITORIAL.  581 

cognizance  of  it.  It  could  scarcely  escape  their  recognition. 
In  fact,  if  it  was  "  self-evident,"  they  would  not  be  likely  to 
overlook  it — much  less  would  they  discard  it.  True,  the 
older  physiologists  were  devout  believers  in  this  principle; 
but  this  was  in  consequence  of  their  inability  to  otherwise 
explain  the  phenomena  of  living  structures.  The  later  phys- 
iologists, however,  have  thoroughly  investigated  the  body 
and  find  no  occasion  for  a  vital  force  hypothesis;  least  of  all, 
do  they  find  it  displaying  itself  with  all  the  remarkable  plain- 
ness asserted  by  Dr.  Pincke.  Says  John  William  Draper, 
{Human  Phya.  p.  26) :  "  Such  a  preposterous  doctrine  will  not 
bear  the  touch  of  exact  science  for  a  moment.  It  is  only  a 
relic  of  the  old  metaphysical  system  of  philosophizing,  which 
accepted  a  name  in  lieu  of  an  explanation."  Says  Carpen- 
ter, {Human  Phys,  p.  25) :  "  By  resting  in  the  assumption  of 
a  '  vital  principle '  or  '  organic  agent '  as  affording  a  sufficient 
account  of  all  that  is  mysterious  in  the  nature  of  life,  we 
really  remove  it  from  the  domain  of  scientific  inquiry ;  just 
as  if  the  visitor  to  a  cotton  factory  were  to  give  up  in  despair 
any  attempt  to  acquaint  himself  with  the  meaning  of  the 
several  processes  that  go  on  before  his  eyes,  and  were  to 
regard  it  as  a  sufficient  account  of  the  transformation  of  raw 
cotton  into  woven  calico,  that  it  takes  place  by  the  agency  of 
a  *  calico  making  principle'."  If  now  we  examine  the  well- 
known  writings  of  Dalton,  Kiiss,  Marshall,  Kirkes  and  Fos- 
ter, not  to  mention  the  writings  of  many  others  who  are 
authors  of  modern  text-books  upon  physiology,  we  find  they 
make  no  mention  of  a  vital  force,  for  they  find  none,  and  see 
no  need  of  it  in  the  human  economy.  In  Hahnemann's  day 
the  vital  force  theory  was  everywhere  prevalent.  That  he 
accepted  the  theory  and  assumed  it  in  his  writings  is  true 
enough,  but  should  that  bind  us  to  a  oelief  in  it  after  mod- 
ern physiological  investigation  has  assigned  it  to  the  tomb  of 
the  Gapulets?  Since  Hahnemann's  day  many  scientific 
theories  have  been  exploded  and  many  new  scientifiq  facts 
have  been  discovered,  but  neither  one  nor  the  other  has  dis- 
turbed the  foundations  of  Homoeopathy.    Dr.  Fincke  dares 


682  EDnORIAL. 

US  to  produce  a  philosophy  of  Homoeopathy  founded  upon 
science.  We  hope  to  be  able  to  make  at  least  some  small  con- 
tributions to  that  end.  Let  us  build  it,  if  at  all,  upon  solid 
foundations. 


The  Homceopathic  Department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  is  completing  its  ninth  annual  course  of  lectures, 
under  circumstances,  that  can  not  be  otherwise  than  grati- 
fying to  its  many  friends.  That  its  unquestionable  success 
should  excite  wonder  and  admiration,  is  but  just  and  proper. 
It  cost  twenty-five  years  of  hard  work  and  thousands  of 
dollars  to.place  this  department  upon  the  campus.  When 
the  forth  coming  history  of  that  memorable  struggle  shall  be 
read,  it  will  then  be  seen  what  toil  and  sacrifices  were  necces- 
sary  to  give  Homoeopathy  "a  local  habitation  and  a  name" 
in  the  University.  And  we  are  glad  to  know,  that  most  of 
the  noble  men  who  fought  this  battle  for  justice  and  truth, 
are  yet  alive  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labor.  They  have 
lived  to  see  this  institution  put  upon  a  durable  basis,  with  as 
little  prospect  of  failure,  as  the  University  itself.  It  was 
never  the  fault  of  the  legislature  of  Michigan,  that  Homoeo- 
pathy was  for  so  long  a  time  kept  out  of  the  enjoyment  of 
its  just  rights.  And  when  the  legislature  found  at  last  a  way 
to  have  its  wishes  in  this  respect  obeyed,  it  provided  ample 
means  for  the  maintenance  of  the  school.  It  was  perhaps 
natural  that,  in  the  formative  process,  mistakes  should  be 
made  and  that  among  the  friends  of  the  school,  differences 
should  arise,  and  that  these  should  lead  to  controversies  and 
strife,  so  that  the  impression  became  wide  and  deeply  im- 
pressed upon  the  public  mind  that  war  and  not  education, 
was  the  being  and  end  of  the  Homoeopathic  Department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan.  This  was  untrue  and  hurtful, 
but  it  did  not  prevent  the  idea  from  being  maliciously  kept 
afloat^  There  has  never  been  in  this  institution,  at  any  time, 
any  more  antagonism  than  is  common  to  the  history  of  all 
such  schools.  Nor  has  there  been  for  over  three  years  past^ 
any  serious  disagreement  in  or  about  the  department.     It  is 


EDITORIAL.  583 

time  therefore,  that  this  false  impression  of  strife  in  Michi- 
gan, should  be  laid  aside.  A  "  Higher  Standard  of  Medical 
Education  for  men  and  women,"  has  from  the  first,  been  the 
supreme  object  of  this  school.  Endowed  as  it  is  by  the 
state,  it  is  the  only  medical  college  that  can  afford  to  put  the 
requirements  up  to  the  highest  standard.  This  it  has  done, 
and  maintains  those  requirements,  and  at  a  sacrifice,  of 
which  not  many  men  even  dream.  A  few  of  the  points 
gained  by  our  school  are  worthy  of  notice.  First,  the  prelim- 
inary examination,  though  not  so  high  as  that  of  the 
Boston  school,  is  of  such  a  character,  as  to  ensure  students 
capable  of  pursuing  their  medical]  studies.  It  effectually 
keeps  out  a  class  of  ignorant  persons,  who  should  never  be 
allowed  to  undertake  the  study  of  medicine.  It  has  kept 
many  students  away  from  our  school,  but  that  requirement 
will  nevertheless  stand  as  it  is,  so  long  as  this  department 
continues.  In  the  second  place,  the  practical  work  of  the 
school  is  of  the  highest  importance  to  students.  What  we 
demand,  is  a  large  amount  of  laboring  work.  This  includes 
Chemistry  and  Histology.  The  amount  of  practical  work 
that  is  done  by  our  students  in  Chemistry  alone  would  show 
how  thoroughly  educated  they  must  be  in  elementary  science, 
and  not  one  of  them  is  allowed  to  graduate  who  is  not  com- 
petent, and  has  exhibited  his  skill  in,  analysis  of  urine.  The 
chemical  laboratory  of  the  University,  where  all  this  work 
is  d6ne,  is  not  excelled  in  any  institution  in  this  country. 
The  work  in  Histology  is  in  all  respects  equally  thorough. 
Practical  work  with  the  microscope,  is  here  a  necessity. 
Every  kind  of  tissue,  normal  and  morbid,  is  put  under  the 
strictest  investigation.  Besides  this,  each  student  is  taught 
the  art  of  staining  and  mounting,  so  far  as  to  become  a  ready 
adept  at  the  work.  Of  how  much  value  all  this  is  to  the 
scholar,  one  can  scarcely  estimate.  The  profession  may  rest 
assured,  that  our  students  not  only  do  all  this  work,  but  that 
they  beomein  no  small  degree  enthusiastic  in  the  performance 
of  it.  Let  it  be  remembered,  that  we  have  definitely  taken 
^s  our  motto  "The  Higher  Medical  Education  of  mea  oxA 


684  PATHOLOOICAL  PRESCRIBING. 

women  "  and  we  propose  to  show  how  far  we  can  make  that 
motto  good.  Other  and  more  important  facts  we  must  leave 
for  a  future  number. 

-^4^ 

PATHOLOGICAL    PEESCEIBING:     A    "SCIENCE 

FALSELY  SO-CALLED." 

E.  J.  LEE,  M.  D.,  PHILADELPHIA. 

There  have  been  from  Hahnemann's  day  to  the  present, 
those  in  the  homoeopathic  school,  who  desired  to  base  their 
prescriptions  upon  the  pathological  condition,  presumed  to 
be  present  in  a  case  under  treatment.  These  would-be 
pathologists,  embrace  two  classes — the  one  holding  to  this 
view  from  a  lazy  desire  to  make  homoeopathic  prescribing 
an  easy  routine  affair;  the  other,  from  a  belief  that  pathol- 
ogy is  the  only  true  basis  upon  which  they  could  build  a 
rational  therapeutics.  In  other  words,  one  class  is  lazy  and 
insincere;  the  other,  diligent  and  sincere;  yet  both  are,  as 
we  think,  wrong.  To  the  first  class,  we  have  naught  to  say, 
unless  to  repeat  Hahnemann's  warning,  that  "  in  a  science 
in  which  the  welfare  of  mankind  is  concerned,  any  neglect 
to  make  ourselves  masters  of  it,  is  a  crime;,''  to  the  second, 
we  say:  while  respecting  the  opinions  of  all  sincere  and  dil- 
igent laborers  in  the  medical  vineyard,  we  nevertheless  be- 
lieve the  facts  of  science  are  against  your  views. 

But  a  few  words  as  to  pathology  in  the  Old  School.  It 
has  been  made  much  of  by  the  allopath,  and  why?  because, 
forsooth,  he  has  no  system  of  therapeutics  worthy  to  be 
called  scientific. 

To  cure  disease,  says  he,  we  must  know  its  nature;  we 
must  learn  what  each  disease  is,  its  causes,  its  character- 
istics and  its  conditions;  then,  and  only  then,  can  we  ra- 
tionally combat  ii  "Pathology  dictates  the  maxims  of 
rational  practice,"  says  Aitkin.  This  is,  in  brief  terms,  about 
the  allopathic  idea  of  the  practical  scope  of  pathology;  and 
very  plausibly  it  reads,  but  can  one  act  on  it?    Is  it  true 


E.  J,  LEE,  M.  D,  585 

even  when  judged  by  allopathic  practice?     Do  we  know 
anything  of  the  internal  nature  of  disease? 

If  pathology  is  the  only  rational  basis  for  scientific  thera- 
peutics, and  if  it  be,  at  present,  anjrthing  approaching  an 
exact  science,  then  surely  those  diseases  whose  pathology  is 
considered  best-known,  should  be  most  amenable  to  treat- 
ment; and  conversely,  those  whose  pathology  is  unknown, 
or  especially  dubious,  should  be  but  poorly  handled.  We 
fiJl  know  that  this  relation  between  pathological  knowledge 
and  curative  ability  does  not  exist  in  the  Old  School.  Let 
any  doubting  Thomas  briefly  review  in  his  own  mind  a 
few  diseases  whose  pathology  is  considered  best  known, 
and  see  if  the  curative  power  of  that  school  has  increased 
with  its  boasted  pathological  knowledge.  To  be  fair,  let 
him  take  almost  any  of  the  acute  disejises  these  being  con- 
sidered definite  in  their  coui^se  and  self -limited  as  to  time; 
to  judge  allopathy  upon  its  treatment  of  acute  disease,  is  to 
give  them  an  opportunity  to  show  up  their  best  work;  to 
judge  them  uix)n  their  chronic  cases,  would  be  really  criiel. 
To  any  one  who  thus  briefly  reviews  allopathic  practice  of  to- 
day, judging  them  out  of  their  own  records,  it  must  be  evi- 
dent that  pathology  has  not  advanced  them  to  a  better  cura- 
tive skill. 

If  then,  pathology  does  not  afford  allopathy  the  great 
assistance  in  curing  that  is  claimed  for  it,  it  is  well  for  the 
homoeopath  to  ask,  how  does  it  aid  us,  and  what  is  the  prop- 
er sphere  under  our  law?  No  one  will  deny  that  the  thor- 
oughly equipped  homoeopathic  physician  should  be  well 
educated  in  physiology,  diagnosis  and  pathology,  as  well  as 
in  therapeutics,  though  the  latter  should  be  the  chief  cor- 
ner-stone  of  medical  education;  all  these  to  be  used  under 
and  subject  to  our  law.  He  who  places  any  branch  of  med- 
icine in  an  improper  sphere,  or  to  a  wrong  use,  misuses  and 
perveris  it:  He  who  misuses  pathology  cannot  justly  de- 
cry him  who  neglects  its  use  altogether.  Of  the  two  errors, 
in  our  school,  the  abuse  of  pathology  is  the  greater.   Ever^ 


686  PATHOLOGICAL  PRESCRIBING. 

branch  of  medicine  has  its  proper  sphere  and  use  under  our 
law;  in  that  place  it  does  much  good;  out  of  it,  incalculable 
harm: 

Said  the  late  Prof.  J.  H.  P.  Frost:  "In  its  full  and 
proper  sense,  pathology  includes  all  that  can  be  discovered 
of  the  patient's  deviation  from  the  normal  standard  of 
health;  and  comprehends  alike  aZZ  the  ^sympioms^'  morbid 
condUions,  their  consequences  and  their  causes.  Such  pa- 
thology (which  alone  is  worthy  of  the  name  of  science,) 
becomes  the  perpetual  study,  in  the  living  suhjecty  of  the 
homoeopathician,  and  this  all  the  more  as  he  renders  him- 
self liable  to  be  called  a  *  symptom-coverer.'  This  patho- 
logical condition  does  not  exclude  post-mortem  examina- 
tions; it  may  end  with  them,  but  it  never  begins  with  them. 
It  embraces  alike  the  purely  subjective  or  sensational  symp- 
toms; all  physiological  or  functimud  deviations,  and  all 
objective  or  ecciernal  morbid  changes  in  form  or  color,  in 
structure  and  in  tissue.  And  if  the  practitioner  of  the 
•symptom  method'  overlook  any  of  these  causes,  indica- 
tions, or  consequences  of  disease;  if  he  fail  to  *  render  unto 
Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's,'  and  neglect  to  give  to 
each  class  and  j>(^^'ti(^^dar  evidence  of  pathological  deviation 
i7s  JUST  value,  in  making  his  prescription,  his  diagnosis  and 
his  prognosis,  he  will  come  to  grief,  and  his  patient  with  him. 
Indeed,  we  think  it  cannot  but  be  obvious  to  every  intelli- 
gent and  candid  mind,  that  no  class  of  physicians  more 
anxiously  study  and  weigh  the  just  value  and  due  relative 
importance  of  pathological  conditions,  and  consequently 
that  none  are  more  thorough  students  of  pathology,  prop- 
erly so-called,  than  are  those  of  the  *  symptom-method ' 
persuasion." 

Tliat  learned  and  veteran  homoeopathist,  P.  P.  Wells,  M. 
D.  said: 

"  But  if  the  symptoms  are  the  only  guides  to  the  selec- 
tion of  the  curative,  what  becomes  of  the  vaunted  pathol- 
ogy of  which  we  hear  so  much,  and  so  often,  from  those  who 


E.  J.  LEE,  M.  D.  587 

are  slightly  informed  as  to  its  nature,  place  or  importance 
in  our  practical  duties.  To  guard  against  the  wrong  use  of 
this  vfiJuable  science  was  another  occasion  for  giving  us 
this  eighteenth  section  [of  The  Orgarwn],  To  put  it  [pathol- 
ogy] as  a  teacher  in  the  selection  of  curatives,  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  the  symptoms  from  that  function,  is  to  put  it  where 
it  has  no  place  in  a  rational  system  of  healing,  certainly 
none  under  the  control  of  a  natural  law,  which  discloses  the 
<5urative  relationship  as  existing  in  the  similiarity  between 
the  symptoms  of  the  drug  and  the  disease.  Where,  then,  is 
the  practical  use  of  this  so  highly  prized  science  of  pathol- 
ogy? In  the  duty  of  prescribing  for  the  sick,  its  use  is  lim- 
ited to  aiding  a  right  understanding  of  the  nature  and  value 
of  the  symptoms  revealed  in  the  case  in  hand.  Beyond  this 
it  has  no  function  in  the  process  of  prescribing.  Pathology, 
to  illustrate,  teaches  a  difference  between  inflammations  and 
neuralgias.  Both  are  attended  by  pains  of  the  severest 
kind,  but  this  science  teaches  that  these  have  a  different 
significance  and  often  different  importance,  as  the  case  in 
hand  belongs  to  one  class  or  the  other.  A  knowledge  of 
the  science  of  pathology  will  enable  us  to  relegate  our  case 
to  its  proper  class,  and  there  its  function  ceases.  It  cannot 
go  beyond  this;  and  having  decided  the  case  a  neuralgia, 
say  the  remedy  is  Aconiie  or  Bell,  or  Bry,  or  Colocyn.  or 
Hyos,  or  Lack,  or  Merc,  or  Nnx,  or  Puis,  or  Rhus,  or 
Spig.y  or  either  of  the  many  remedies  which  a  given  case 
may  demand  for  its  cure  under  the  law.  To  attempt  to  give 
to  this  science  this  decision  [/.  f.,  the  choice  of  the  rem- 
edy,] is  to  impose  on  it  a  function  wholly  out  of  the  sphere 
of  its  legitimate  use." 

The  lamented  Carroll  Dunham  wrote: 

"  Physiology  and  pathology  themselves  teach  us  that  the 
science  of  pathology  can  in  no  sense  serve  as  a  basis  or 
foundation  for  the  science  of  therapeutics."  Again:  "But 
these  advances  in  pathology,  great  as  they  have  been,  have 
not  altered  the  relation  which  the  phenomena  of  natural  dis- 


588  PATHOLOGICAL  PRESCRININO. 

ease  bear  to  those  of  drug  disease.  These  phenomena  respect- 
ively, whether  rudely  apprehended,  or  clearly  and  fully  un- 
derstood in  all  their  relations  and  inter-dependencies,  still 
bear  the  same  relation  to  each  other  expressed  by  the  law 
Similia  Similibus  Curantur,  And  we  can  imagine  no  possible 
development  of  the  sciences  of  pathology  and  pathogenesy 
which  could  alter  this  relation." 

Thus  we  see  that  the  pathological  condition  of  any  case 
is  included  in  the  totality  of  the  symptoips  of  that  case.  As 
a  part  of  this  totality,  the  pathological  state  is  known  and 
given  its  full  value;  as  a  something  outside  of,  and  separate 
from  this  totality  it  has  no  place  nor  fimction,  save  to  do 
harm. 

The  real  homoeopath  is  a  student  of  minute  pathology;  the 
allopath  and  his  homoeopathic  imitator  are  students  of 
superficial  pathology.  To  illustrate,  to  the  true  homoeo- 
path every  case  of  the  same  (nosological)  disease  is  a  study, 
to  the  allopath  it  is  not  so.  To  the  real  homoeopath  every 
syphilitic  ulcer  is  a  study;  he  notes  its  size,  color,  rapidity 
and  shape  of  growth,  its  discharges  and  its  general  con- 
comitant symptoms;  to  the  allopath,  and  his  homoeopathic 
imitator,  a  chancre  is  a  chancre,  and  for  it  he  has  his  spe- 
cific. To  the  real  homoeopath  every  case  of  pneumonia  is  a 
separate  study,  though  he  knows  they  are  all  of  inflamma- 
tory nature,  and  in  their  gross  features  very  similar;  but  he 
is  not  satisfied  with  a  superficial  knowledge  of  these  gross 
features;  he  dives  deeper,  and  then  he  discovers  that  each 
case  of  pneumonia  is  different  from  every  other.  These 
minute  differences  are  to  the  true  homoeopath  the  guides  to 
the  selection  of  the  proper  remedy. 

Hypothesis  has  no  part  nor  lot  in  the  homoeopathic  pre- 
scription; the  homoeopath  does  not  attempt  to  translate  the 
simple,  truthful  language  of  the  symptoms  into  the  ever 
changing,  and  always  imintelligible,  jargon  of  pathologicat 
diagnosis.  A  diagnosis  of  the  symptoms  of  any  given  case 
might  indeed  point  to  fatty  degeneration  of  the  heart,  or 


E,  /.  LEE,  M.  D.  5S9 

to  a  cirrhosis  of  the  liver,  or  to  some  other  artificial  classi- 
fication; nevertheless,  the  true  homoepath  adiginisters  the 
remedy  indicated  by  the  totality  of  the  symptoms,  not  stop- 
ping to  ascertain  whether  or  no  that  remedy  has  ever 
caused  fatty  degeneration  or  ciAhosis.  Any  attempt  at  a 
pathological  basis,  for  homoeopathic  prescriptions,  must 
at  once  exclude  mental  and  subjective  symptoms,  and  these 
are  often  our  surest  guide  to  a  proper  selection,  even 
though  they  be  pathologically  insignificant. 

Having  endeavored  to  briefly  outline  the  sphere  and  use 
of  pathology  as  a  part  of  that  totality  of  symptoms,  which 
our  law  alone  recognizes  as  the  true  basis  for  a  correct 
homoepathic  prescription,  let  us  examine  a  few  of  the  argu- 
ments adduced  by  those  homoeopaths  who  believe  that 
pathology  is  the  only  true  basis  for  therapeutics. 

One  of  these  would-be  pathologists,  whom  we  select  as  a 
specimen  of  his  class  (not,  indeed,  because  of  any  especial 
merit  on  his  part),  writes:  ^^  Muriatic  ncidy  the  acknowl- 
edged remedy  for  zymotic  blood-poisoning,  when  debility, 
with  erethism,  prevails,  gives  us  bitter  putrid  eructations, 
gulping  up  of  contents  of  stomach  into  oesophagus,  some- 
times going  down  again;  empty  sensation  in  stomach,  ex- 
tending through  whole  abdomen,  but  no  hunger;  morbid 
longing  for  alcoholic  drinks;  vertigo,  with  nausea;  heaviness 
in  occiput,  with  obscure  sight,  worse  with  effort  to  see — all 
symptoms  hinting  squarely  to  nervous  debility." 

^^  Nitric  (icid:  Liver  and  spleen  enormously  enlarged 
and  deranged  is  the  key-note  to  the  dyspepsia,  curable  by 
Nitric  Acid."  (Then  follow  some  general  dyspeptic  symp- 
toms). 

"  Lactic  acid  is  frequently  prescribed  in  the  Old  School 
in  atonic  dyspepsia,  as  well  as  in  irritative  dyspepsia,  and 
cases  of  acidity  and  heartburn  are  quickly  relieved  if  given 
before  meals."  (Here,  too,  follow  some  dyspeptic  symptoms 
of  a  general  nature). 

Then  continues  this  teacher  of  homceopathy:    "We  see 


:590  PATHOLOGICAL  PRESCRIBING, 

from  such  compaxisons  that  superficial  prescribing  will  not 
do,  and  the  totality  of  the  symptoms  means  the  pathologi- 
<5al  state  which  we  have  before  us,  be  it  a  functional  or  al- 
ready an  abnormal  organic  one.  We  may  be  lost  in  a  wil- 
derness of  symptoms,  if  we  fail  to  consider  the  pathologi- 
•cal  characteristic  which  give  s  us  th^  key-note  to  all  the 
other  symptoms.  Thus,  and  only  thus,  our  Materia  Medica 
must  be  studied,  as  in  no  other  manner  its  study  becomes 
easy,  its  strict  application  more  definite." 

"  Superficial  prescribing  will  not  do,"  says  this  learned 
homoeopath;  and  by  superficial  prescribing,  we  take  it,  he 
means  "symptom  covering,''  Now,  it  has  just  been  shown 
that  the  totality  of  the  symptoms  includes  the  pathologictJ 
condition  of  the  patient;  the  pathological  condition  told  in 
the  simple,  truthful  language*  of  the  symptoms  (felt  and 
seen,)  untrammelled  by  any  hypo  thesis.  How  then  can 
"symptom-covering"  be  "superficial  prescribing;"  is  not 
the  term  more  applicable  to  him  who  prescribes  on  a  patho- 
logical hypothesis? 

Which  is  most  superficial,  to  study  every  case  as  a  new 
and  sep^irate  disease,  giving  due  importance  to  all  symp- 
toms; or  to  treat  all  cftses  of  the  same  (nosological)  disease 
as  similar,  basing  such  treatment  upon  a  few  general  fea- 
tures common  to  all  and  ignoring  the  many  features  wherein 
they  dififer?  What  is  the  practice  of  these  would  be  pathol- 
ogists and  teachers?  They  are  those  who  see  nothing  in  a 
gonorrhoea  or  a  leucorrhoea  or  an  otorrhoea  but  the  discharge; 
this  they  endeavor  to  dry  up,  modelling  their  treatment 
after  the  foolish  ostrich,  who  hides  only  his  head,  hoping 
that  his  body  may  not  be  seen.  It  is  said  that  a  professor 
in  an  homoeopathic  institution  teaches  his  pupils  that  Phos- 
phorus is  the  remedy  for  broncho-pneumonia,  and  Bryonia 
//if^  remedy  for  pluro-pneumonia!  There  is  indeed  a  kind 
of  "superficial  prescribing"  that  will  not  do, — iiorheal! 

"Superficial  prescribing  will  not  do,  and  the  totality  of 
the    symptoms  means   the  pathological  state,"   says  our 


E.  J.  LEE,  M,  D.  591 

teacher.  This,  put  in  plain  Anglo-Saxon  means  that  quinia 
is  pathologically  the  remedy  for  intermittent;  morphia,  for 
neuralgias  and  kindred  pains;  cathartics,  for  constipation. 
Carry  out  this  list  fully,  and  you  have  the  precept  and  prac- 
tice of  the  liberal-minded,  would-be  pathologist  of  to-day, 
who  is  often  wrongly  called  by  the  honorable  name  of  hom- 
oeopathist 

"  Liver  and  spleen  enormously  enlarged  and  deranged,  is 
the  key-note  to  the  dyspepsia  curable  by  Nitric  Acid,'*  says 
our  teacher.  Here  the  hypertrophy  of  liver  and  spleen  is 
the  pathological  key-note,  around  which  what  would  other- 
wise be  a  "  wilderness  of  symptoms,"  to  this  mock-healer, 
are  now  evenly  and  orderly  arranged.  As  Nitric  Acid  has 
never,  so  fax  as  therapeutics  are  aware,  caused  any  hyper- 
trophy, "enormous "  or  otherwise,  of  spleen  or  liver,  it  will 
be  seen  that  our  scientific  friend  bases  his  "pathological 
key-note,"  without  which  he  would  "be  lost  in  a  wilderness 
of  symptoms,  upon  a  clinical  or  empirical  hint"  Truly,  a 
noble  path  to  guide  one  out  of  a  "  wilderness  of  symptoms;" 
it  has  only  been  trodden  for  some  few  thousand  years. 

"  It  is  in  the  nature  of  the  science  of  pathology  that  it 
always  ought  to  be  in  advance  of  one  certain  knowledge 
regarding  the  treatment  of  disease,"  declares  Dr.  Aitkin,  a 
high  authority — for  some.  If  this  be  acknowledged,  then 
the  question  of  the  use  of  pathology  in  homoeopathic  thera- 
peutics is  settled;  for  pathology  is  not  "  in  advance  of  our 
certain  knowledge  regarding  the  treatment  of  disease;  "  nor 
will  it  ever  be  in  that  position,  if  our  law  be  true.  And  those 
who  believe  pathology  is  thus  in  advance,  ccmnot  believe  in 
the  truth  of  our  law. 

The  gentleman,  whose  pathological  vagaries  we  have 
been  noticing,  once  declared  that:*  "  when  men  like  Dr.  Car- 
roll Dunham,  and  Dr. ,  make  an  assertion — men  who 

never  left  anjrthing  undone  in  their  lives,  I  believe  it  Dr. 
Dunham  knew  his  pathology  as  well  as  any  one."  Having 
such  an  high  and  just  opinion  of  Dr.  Dunham,  (who  please 


592  SEWER  O AS  AND  BAD  PLUMBING, 

remember,  "knew  his  pathology  ")  we  hope  this  gentleman 
will  listen  now  to  him,  "  who  being  dead  yet  speaketh," 

Dr.  Dunham  wrote  "And  those  of  our  school  who  insist 
upon  pathology  as  a  bcisis  of  therapeutics,  who  look  upon 
the  single  objective  symptom  and  its  nearest  organic  origin 
as  the  subject  for  treatment,  and  who  deride  the  notion  of 
prescribing  upon  the  totality  of  the  symptoms,  and  claim  to 
be  more  than  mere  symptom  coverers,  in  that  they  discover 
and  aim  to  remove  the  cause  of  the  disease — these  colleagaes 
are  as  false  in  their  pathology,  according  to  the  highest 
old-school  authorities,  as  they  are  faithless  to  the  doctrines, 
and  impotent  as  to  the  successes  of  the  founder  of  the 
homoeopathic  school." 


w> 


SEWER  GAS  AND  BAD  PLUMBING. 


Sewer  Gas  is  not  a  new  thing.  It  was  an  old-time  super- 
stition that  every  cesspool  had  its  familiar  spirit,  which  as- 
sailed the  inmates  of  adjoining  dwellings.  During  the  fif- 
teenth century  the  Paris  sewers  were  said  to  be  infested  by  a 
basilisk,  the  glare  of  whose  demon  eye  struck  dead  all  who 
dared  approach  him.  Even  medical  men  accepted  this  belief, 
and,  though  many  workmen  in  the  sewers  died  from  malaria, 
nothing  was  done  to  protect  them. 

Sewer  gas  may  be  known  by  a  faint,  sickly  odor,  often 
hardly  perceptible,  which  causes  headache  and  nausea,  if 
breathed  for  any  time.  It  is  far  more  dangerous  than  a  foul 
stench,  because  so  little  noticeable.  The  contents  of  drains, 
cesspools,  and  sewers  decompose  and  develop  gases,  which 
being  light  and  expansive  find  their  way  read  ily  into  houses 
especially  at  night  when  doors  and  windows  are  closed  and 
pure  air  carefully  excluded.  Every  inch  of  unventilated 
waste  pipe  in  a  house,  when  lined  with  soap  or  grease  can 
create  this  gas.  If  plumbing  is  badly  done  and  if  there  are 
cracks  or  joints  made  with  putty  instead  of  lead,  or  if  traps 
dry  out  or  are  easily  syphoned,  sewer  gas  can  more  easily 


SEWER  OAS  AND  BAD  PLUMBING,  593 

enter  and  do  mischief.  So  also  where  there  are  fires  or  stoves, 
the  draft  sucks  the  foul  drain  air  into  living  rooms,  even 
through  very  small  openings.  If  the  supply  of  pure  air  is 
abundant  in  a  house,  then  these  foul  gases  will  be  diluted 
and  made  less  potent  in  their  influence.  If,  however,  as  is 
the  rule,  there  is  no  ventilation,  but  skylights  and  windows 
are  closed  tight  and  the  dwelling  is  redolent  with  the  fumes 
of  cooking  and  odors  from  the  cellar,  then  the  sewer  air  is 
intensified  and  its  presence  less  perceptible.  Its  effects  are 
most  felt  by  weak  persons.  Men  who  are  out  of  doors  much 
of  the  time  or  away  from  home,  suffer  less  than  women  and 
children  who  lead  a  more  sedentary  life  and  are  constantly 
subject  to  its  influence.  Yet  in  many  business  offices,  mer- 
chants, lawyers  and  others  are  debilitated  in  consequence  of 
the  proximity  of  foul  plumbing  fixtures. 

Where  sewers  are  small,  well  flushed,  with  a  proper  grade 
and  properly  ventilated,  and  when  not  filled  with  waste 
steam  to  promote  decomposition,  or  with  their  ends  below 
tide  level  to  cause  back  pressure,  there  is  little  risk  of  trouble 
from  foul  gases.  But  these  conditions  are  rarely  found. 
Hence  the  need  of  a  trap  to  disconnect  the  house  from  the 
sewer.  With  such  plumbing  as  is  found  in  most  modern 
houses,  it  is  not  desirable  to  allow  the  sewers  to  "  breathe 
through  house  drains,"  as  some  few  persons  recommend.  It 
is  the  duty  of  the  public  authorities  to  ventilate  the  sewers 
by  perforated  man-holes  at  frequent  intervals.  If  there  are 
enough  of  these  they  will  give  great  relief  to  the  sewer  air, 
without  annoyance. 

All  amateur  schemes  for  ventilating  sewers  by  connect- 
ing the  latter  with  huge  gas  lamps,  furnaces,  factory  fires, 
etc.,  are  futile,  and  have  failed  in  practice.  The  length  of 
the  sewers  is  so  vast — 341  miles  in  New  York — and  there  are 
so  many  openings  at  street  corners,  etc.,  that  devices  of  this 
kind  must  be  multiplied  indefinitely  to  do  any  good,  and 
their  cost  would  be  enormous. 

What  is  the  remedy  for  sewer  gas?  1st.  To  make  sure 
that  the  plumbing  of  a  house  is  well  executed,  of  good  ma- 


594  SEWER  OAS  AND  BAD  PLUMBING. 

terial  and  that  it  is  properly  trapped  and  ventilated.  Lead 
soil  pipes  are  never  to  be  permitted,  nor  if  possible  any  un- 
derground or  concealed  drains.  Tile  and  brick  drains,  such 
as  are  found  in  old  houses  beneath  cellar  floors,  are  almost 
invariably  defective,  and  they  should  be  replaced  by  cast  iron 
pipe  carried  along  the  cellar  wall.  The  soil  pipe— of  full  size, 
with  the  end  left  open — should  be  extended  through  the  roof. 
This  extension  must  be  of  cast  iron  and  not  of  galvanized  iron 
or  tin.  A  trap  should  be  placed  on  the  main  drain  between 
the  house  and  the  sewer  or  cesspool,  with  an  air  inlet  on  the 
house  side,  open  at  the  ground,  so  as  to  flush  the  entire  sys- 
tem of  plumbing  with  pure  air.  Traps  are  to  be  placed  on 
all  fixtures  and  each  should  be  air  piped  to  prevent  syphon- 
age.  No  soil  pipe  or  ventilating  pipe  should  connect  into  a 
chimney  flue  unless  carried  up  through  the  flue  above  the 
top  of  the  chimney.  No  refrigerator  waste  pipe  or  overflow 
from  a  tank  or  cistern  should  connect  directly  with  a  sewer 
or  cesspool.  Pan  water  closets  are  objectionable,  or  any 
closet  without  a  cistern  to  keep  it  well  flushed.  Lastly,  all 
plumbing  work  should  be  periodically  examined,  say  once  a 
year. 

Every  cesspool  should  be  open  at  the  ground  level,  and 
also  ventilated  by  extending  the  soil  pipe,  of  cast  iron  and 
not  galvanized  iron,  above  the  roof  of  the  house,  with  the 
end  wide  open  for  ventilation.  Keeping  such  receptacles 
tight,  as  is  common,  is  putting  a  powder  magazine,  or 
charnel-house,  in  proximity  to  one's  home.  Leaving  them 
wide  open  supplies  positive  protection.  A  cesspool  should 
never  be  placed  under  a  house,  nor  less  than  100  ffeet  from  a 
well,  and  should  be  regularly  cleaned  out  and  disinfected.. 

If  possible,  plumbing  fixtures  should  be  located  apart 
from  living-rooms.  Where  water  closets  are  situated  in  the 
interior  of  dwellings  they  should  have  a  ventilating  shaft  of 
galvanized  iron  carried  to  the  roof  and  kept  heated  by  a  gaa 
jet.  With  such  provisions  and  a  fairamount  of  ventilation  by 
openings  through  sky  lights,  by  open  fire  places,  etc.,  there 
will  be  no  risk  from  sewer  gas.    Even  if  a  leak  occurs  under 


CARE  OF  THE  INSANE,  595 

such  conditions,  the  sewer  air  is  so  diluted  as  to  be  harm- 
less. 

Sewer  gas  cannot  be  cured  by  chemicals.  Disinfection  as 
ordinarily  practiced  is  only  a  sham.  Prof.  Chandler  says  •' 
"  Disinfectants  are  useful  in  sick-rooms,  but  not  for  counter- 
acting sewer  gas.  The  use  of  these  modem  abominations, 
which  pretend  to  kill  the  germs  of  disease,  patent  disinfecting 
machines,  water  closet  purifiers,  etc.,  is  pernicious.  The  man 
who  uses  them  virtually  confesses  that  his  house  is  unclean 
and  that  the  bad  odors  need  to  be  hidden  or  perfumed. 
Pure  air,  and  plenty  of  it,  is  the  best  cure  for  sewer  gas/' 


CARE  OF  THE  INSANE. 


BY  HHBLDON  H.  TAUXHT, 

Superintendent  of  Middletown  Asylum. 


The  insane  are  sick  people,  and  their  sufferings,  while 
some  times  apparently  imaginary,  are,  to  them,  realities  of 
the  most  formidable  nature.  They  think  themselves  the  vic- 
tims of  persecution ;  that  their  friends  have  deserted  them ; 
that  their  fortunes  are  broken ;  that  their  homes  are  ruined  ; 
that  their  prospects  are  blasted;  that  their  bodies  are  full  ot 
incurable  diseases;  that  their  lives  are  useless;  that  their 
souls  are  lost;  that  the  favor  of  both  God  and  man  is  turned 
away;  and  that  they  are  doomed  to  perpetual  torment. 
Surely  such  sufferers  demand  our  warmest  and  most  unre- 
mitting sympathies.  These  persons  are  irresponsible,  and 
seek  to  perform  the  most  horrible  and  shameless  acts.  They 
do  not  hesitate  to  accomplish  suicide  or  homicide,  or  both ; 
and  they  work  with  vigilance,  cunning  and  rastlessness. 

It  is  evident  that  strict  discipline  is  necessary  to  protect 
these  people  against  harming  themselves  and  others.  The 
strong  hand  of  authority  must  be  placed  upon  them,  yet 
that  hand  works  best  and  most  effectually  when  clothed 
with  a  velvet  glove.  The  exercise  of  kindness  toward  the 
patients  in  an  asylum  depends  largely  upon  the  heart  «av\ 
3 


596  CARE  OF  THE  INSANE. 

spirit  of  the  managing  power.  The  ruler  of  an  asylum 
should  have  wisdom,  firmness,  benevolence,  and  these  qual- 
ities must  be  made  manifest  at  all  times.  He  should  per- 
sistently inculcate  in  the  minds  of  subordinates,  the  doc- 
trines in  which  he  believes.  He  must  preach  a  sermon  on 
the  text  of  kindness  every  day  of  his  life,  and  hold  revival 
meetings  in  the  evening,  if  necessary. 

He  must  exercise  profound  watchfulness  over  his  wards, 
to  see  that  his  rule  of  kindness  is  carried  out.  This  is  ac- 
complished by  having,  on  his  staflP,  assistant  physicians  who 
carry  his  messages  in  their  hearts  and  on  their  lips.  The 
supervisors  of  the  wards  must  also  be  familiar  with  the 
physical  wants  of  every  patient,  and  know  of  the  care  be- 
stowed upon  each  and  every  case. 

The  superintendent  must  have  a  grounded  faith  in  the 
efficiency  of  kindness,  and  then  he  must  have  written  re- 
ports of  the  condition  and  actions  of  all  disturbed  patients 
sent  every  night  and  morning  from  the  supervisors  to  the 
superintendent.  Thus  a  full  knowledge  of  each  critical 
case  is  had,  and  a  complete  record  for  reference  is  kept. 

The  attendants  should  be  selected  with  care.  The 
young,  the  bright,  the  cheerful,  the  kind  —  these  alone 
should  be  employed.  When  employed  their  duties  should 
be  clearly  pointed  out,  and  a  solemn  promise  exacted,  that 
under  every  circumstance  and  provocation,  they  will  refrain 
from  striking  or  injuring  a  patient.  It  should  be  clearly 
understood  that  the  slightest  infraction  of  this  promise  will 
be  followed  by  dismissal  and  disgrace. 

When  restraint  is  absolutely  necessary,  however,  let  it 
be  applied  on  a  physician's  order  and  in  the  most  careful 
and  judicious  manner.  Make  the  restraint  as  mild  and  gen- 
tle as  possible.  For  suicidal  and  homicidal  patients,  padded 
mittens  are  the  best,  and  usually  sufficient.  The  wearing 
of  these  mittens  is  in  reality  no  more  "  restraint "  than 
wearing  a  pair  of  boxing  gloves ;  but  they  prevent  patients 
from  killing  themselves  and  others. 

If  a  patient  is  restless  and  is  wearing  out  his  strength 


SHELDON  H,  TALCOTT.  5»7 

and  destroying  his  chances  for  recovery,  and  needs  to  be 
placed  in  bed  for  treatment  and  the  conservation  of  the  life 
forces,  then  a  simple  canvass  bandage  around  the  body,  with 
attachments  to  the  sides  of  the  bed,  will  accomplish  the 
purpose.  These  are  the  mild  and  successful  means  we  have 
employed  for  the  care  of  disturbed  patients,  and  these 
means  must  be  used  gently  and  temporarily.  All  restraint 
must  be  kept  in  reserve  and  only  used  as  a  dernier  re- 
sort. 

Moral  suasion  should  be  the  prime  and  principal  means 
for  quieting  the  excitable.  A  few  words  of  quiet  petition, 
requesting  the  patient  to  exercise  the  virtue  of  self-control 
for  his  own  personal  benefit  will  often  suffice.  The  promise 
of  a  favor  will  often  keep  an  excitable  person  under  good 
self-control.  I  have  had  maniacs  keep  still  for  the  sake  of 
attending  a  promised  dance.  The  insane  may  sometimes  be 
shamed  into  silence  by  telling  them  that  they  are  disturbing 
others.  In  fact,  the  insane  must  be  treated  like  sick  chil- 
dren. They  must  be  made  to  feel  that  they  have  friends  in 
those  who  care  for  them.  Their  fears  must  be  silenced  by 
kindly  words.  Their  hope  and  pride  must  be  stimulated 
by  encouraging  conversation.  Shaking  hands  and  inquiring 
after  their  health,  their  past  experiences,  their  plans  and 
hopes  for  the  future,  will  please  and  stimulate  many  of  the 
cases  of  abject  melancholy. 

The  insane  pine  for  notice  as  much  as  do  children  and 
dogs.  And  they  thoroughly  appreciate  these  kindly  atten- 
tions, though  they  make  no  sign  at  the  time.  It  is  a  pleas- 
ant surprise  to  be  told  by  a  patient  that  their  improvement 
dated  from  a  kind  word  spoken  many  months  before. 

Beautifying  the  wards  with  pictures,  curtains  and  neat 
furniture,  has  an  efiect  on  both  patients  and  attendants. 
Music,  pleasant  games  and  entertainments  have  their  refin- 
ing influences.  A  pretty  dress  given  to  a  patient  who  has 
lost  all  pride,  will  sometimes  afford  marked  happiness.  One 
of  our  most  destructive  lady  patients,  who  tore  her  clothing 
constantly,  was  furnished  a  bright  red  and  white  dt^«&.^\vcv^ 


598  CHRONIC  DIARRHCEA, 

from  that  time  she  was  quiet  and  tore  no  more  clothing. 
Sleigh  riding  or  carriage  riding  is  most  beneficial. 

Thdse  means  mast  be  unremitting,  not  spasmodic.  All 
discouragements  must  be  forgotten  or  swallowed  up  by  a 
swelling  enthusiasm  for  one's  work.  Attendants  must  be 
taught  they  are  missionaries  doing  God's  service  as  well  (or 
better  perhaps),  as  those  who  carry  Gospel  messages  to  the 
heathen  that  sit  in  African  darkness. 

When  I  think  of  what  has  been  and  is  being  done  for 
the  insane,  in  our  American  asylums,  I  feel  like  saying  to 
the  thoughtless  and  ignorant  carper,  who  snarls  and  bites  at 
the  heels  of  the  workers  in  these  institutions,  what  the  gar- 
dener, in  Thompson's  Seasons,  said,  concerning  his  toils  : 

"  Ye  little  know 
The  care,  the  vigilance,  the  labor  and  the  skill 
Which  day  and  night  are  exercised,  and  hang 
Upon  the  ticklish  balance  of  suspense." 

During  the  past  summer,  I  visited  asylums  in  England, 
Scotland,  Ireland,  France,  Switzerland  and  Italy.  Our 
American  asylums  compare  favorably  with  them  all. 


<>» 


CHRONIC  DIARRHEA. 


BY  A.  M'NEIL.  M.  D. 


Dr,  Payton  R.  Mayo,  328  Fulton  Street,  Jeffersonville, 
Ind.,  a  retired  allopathic  physician,  came  to  me  for  treatment 
of  a  diarrhoea  he  had  contracted  in  the  Mexican  war,  in 
which  he  was  a  company  officer,  and  afterwards  surgeon. 
The  Doctor  was  wounded  in  six  places.  He  is  67  years  old, 
and  has  exhausted  the  resources  of  the  old  school,  which  in 
the  37  years  of  his  disease  has  given  him  no  substantial  bene- 
fit When  the  discharges  exhaust  him  he  takes  large  quan- 
tities of  extract  of  logwood,  which  control  them,  but  do  not 
ameliorate  his  condition.  In  a  short  tune  the  attack  retiurns. 
He  does  not  eat  fruit,  or  vegetables,  but  confines  himself  to 
cold  fat  pork  and  Irish  potatoes.    Has  a  great  craving  for 


A.  M'NEIL,  M.  D.  599 

vin^ar,  which  he  uses  immoderately.  Has  great  thirst  for 
water,  but  drinking  it  causes  nausea  and  vomiting.  His 
bowels  are  not  under  his  control,  but  pass  off  involuntarily 
so  that  he  is  compelled  to  wear  a  napkin.  He  is  emaciated  to 
95  pounds  stripped ;  when  he  entered  the  service  he  weighed 
190.  Has  taken  much  calomel,  quinine,  Fowler^s  solution  of 
arsenicy  etc.  Urination  frequent,  copious  and  painful,  has  to 
get  up  three  or  four  times  a  night  The  discharges  from  his 
bowels  are  painless,  but  are  attended  by  prolapsus  ani,  which 
also  comes  when  walking,  and  is  very  painful.  Always 
sleeps  with  his  feet  outside  of  the  bed  clothes  summer  and 
Winter.  The  rectum  when  prolapsed  reveals  many  ulcers 
red  and  elevated  looking,  he  says  like  straw-berries  and  sur- 
rounded by  a  black  base.  Sometimes  has  a  sensation  of 
a  ball  starting  from  rectum  and  going  up  to  the  stomach, 
and  there  causes  vomiting.  Says  there  is  albumen  in  the 
urine. 

After  giving  him  Arsenicum  in  higher  potencies,  ¥rith 
but  little  benefit,  gave  him  on  Sept.  1,  1883,  Arsenic  9x,  six 
pellets  every  two  hours. 

Sept.  21. — Is  very  much  better.    Sac.  lac. 

Oct.  2. — Moved  twice  a  day,  natural  in  character,  but  a 
bad  attack  of  colic  last  night.    Arsenic  30,  one  powder. 

Oct.  5. — Diarrhoea  this  morning  with  frequent  copious 
discharges;  gave  six  powders,  Arsenic  12,  one  every  three 
hours. 

Oct.  8. — Five  passages  to-day;  two  last  night.  Arsenic 
12,  four  pellets  every  three  hours. 

Oct.  31. — Is  better,  appetite  good.  No  vomiting  or 
gastric  troubles.  Arsenic  15,  twelve  powders,  one  every  three 
hours. 

Nov.  6. — Has  three  or  four  painless  movements  a  day. 
Some  prolapsus,  ulcers  healed,  ''eats  like  a  dog."  All  of 
these  potencies  had  been  prepared  by  myself  from  B.  and  T's 
6th.  Gave  him  Arsenic  30,  twelve  powders,  one  every  three 
hours. 

Nov.  20. — Bowels  natural,  drinks  much,  but  watet  x^- 


600  CHR  ONI  C  DJA  RRH  GCA . 

freshes.  Is  getting  strong.  Ran  100  yards  without  exhaust- 
ing himself.    Arsenic  100,  one  powder. 

Nov.  22. — Prolapsus  troubles  him.  Arsenic  100,  six  pel- 
lets every  three  hours. 

Dec.  6. — Night  of  second,  had  a  violent  attack  of  diar- 
rhoea. Arsenic  100,  in  water  every  three  hours  for  a  day  and 
a  half. 

December  7. — Peels  well,  bowels  natural,  prolapsus  with 
every  movement  of  bowels. 

January  3,  1884. — Had  a  bad  attack  Christmas  night, 
which  he  attributes  to  turkey.  Thirst,  nausea  and  vomiting. 
Arsenic  200,  one  powder. 

Jan.  14. — Well,  except  prolapsus  when  bowels  move. 
Says  he  can  outrun  any  man  of  his  age  in  the  county. 

Jan.  29. — Had  diarrhoea  for  ten  days.  Has  an  ulcer  on 
right  great  toe,  lost  the  nail,  painless.  Arsenic  4x,  in  one 
dose. 

February  2. — Bad  attack  this  morning  early.  Arsenic 
100,  in  water  every  two  hours. 

February  29. — Weighs  120.  Says  he  can  eat  at  any  time. 
Still  has  prolapsus  when  his  bowels  move  and  when  he  walks. 
Still  careful  in  his  diet,  not  for  fear  of  diarrhoea,  but  of  pain 
in  stomach,  etc.     Bowels  natural, 

I  have  given  particulars  so  as  to  invite  investigation  for 
there  was  a  time  when  it  would  have  been  diflBiCult  to  con- 
vince me  that  this  report  was  true.  I  ask  anyone  to  show 
that  this  case  is  not  a  cure.  Whether  the  microscope  or 
spectrum  analysis  would  reveal  molecules  of  Arsenic  or  not 
is  immaterial,  but  Dr.  Mayo  was  cured,  and  if  there  is  any- 
one who  thinks  he  was  not  let  him  say  so,  or  forever  after  hold 
his  peace. 

There  was  nothing  in  the  case  demanding  any  special 
skill.  The  indications  for  Arsenic  were  such  that  any  prac- 
titioner calling  himself  a  homoeopath  could  not  mistake.  It 
cured  when  administered  in  the  minimum  dose  and  was 
allowed  to  exhaust  its  action  before  another  dose  was  given 
in  mouth,  so  that  each  administration  proved  its  efficacy. 


MVREX-SEPIA.  601 

MUREX-SEPIA. 


BY  J.  T.  KEMT,  M.  D.,  ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


Editor  Medical  Advance : 

Please  ask  Dr.  Kent,  where  he  got  the  symptom  of  Murex 
p.  478  of  Advance,  "pains  in  Murex  aggravated  while  lying 
down."  If  he  is  right  I  must  rectify  Murex  in  my  Theror 
peuttca,  p.  792,  where  it  reads,  "ameliorated  by  eating  and 
lying  down."  According  to  Dunham,  Horn,  Review^ — /F,  p. 
405 — the  mental  symptoms  are  greater  when  sitting  than 
when  walking;  when  walking  they  cease  and  reappear 
again  when  stting  down.  Page  406,  Bering's  patient  was 
obliged  to  go  to  bed  and  lie  there.  The  excessive  fatigue 
and  debility  in  the  lumbar  region  lead  more  to  relief  from 
lying  down,  and  still  there  is  that  mental  symptom.  Per- 
haps Dr.  Kent  will  kindly  clear  up  the  point  as  it  seems  he 
copied  that  symptom  from  Minton,  p.  227,  "all  pains  come 
while  lying  down,"  and  which  can  only  be  taken  from  Her- 
ring's second  case,  where  she  felt  no  comfort  in  any  position. 
Another  question  is  whether  Sepia  has  relief  from  lying 
down.  Minton  gives  under  Sepia,  amelioration  on  or  after 
rising  from  bed  or  from  a  seat,  which  may  lead  to  aggrava- 
tion during  sitting  and  lying.  In  the  study  of  symptoms 
we  cannot  be  too  critical. 

S.  LlLI£NTHAL. 

The  "empty,  all-gone"  feeling  in  the  stomach  is  relieved 
by  lying  down,  but  that  is  not  in  harmony  with  the  general 
conditions  of  Murex.  In  Sepia  this  symptom  is  relieved  by 
moving  about,  and  aggravated  by  the  smell  of  food. 

The  flushes  of  heat  in  Sepia  are  brought  on  by  motion 
(Hg).  In  most  remedies  we  have  opposite  conditions.  In  Sepia 
some  complaints  disappear  during  violent  exercise,  and 
others  are  better  by  rest,  {Allen  Encydop.  p.  649.  "She  felt 
best  when  at  rest,  and  while  lying.") 

In  Murex  the  flushes  come  on  in  bed,  as  well  as  when 
moving.  The  headache  of  Sepia  is  made  better  in  the  open 
air  if  it  is  pleasant,  and  by  violent  motion. 


602  MUREX-SEPIA. 

Murex. — "A  sensation  as  of  the  creeping  of  a  snake  over 
the  entire  region  of  the  short  ribs,  upon  the  left  side;  great 
depression  of  spirits;  it  seems  to  her  that  she  was  hopelessly 
ill.  She  was  obliged  to  goto  bed  and  lie  th-ere,^^ — Dunham,  Science 
T?ierapt8.,  page  384. 

These  are  not  the  uterine  pains  so  fully  brought  out  and 
cured  by  Murex,  but  a  myalgia  unlike  the  cutting  pains  in 
the  uterus  that  come  on  when  in  bed,  and  are  relieved  b^' 
sitting  and  walking,  until  fatigue  comes  on  when  she  must 
lie  down  for  relief,  and  the  cutting  pains  in  the  uterus  come 
on  again,  going  through  ami  up  diagonally^  compelling  her  to 
get  up  and  walk.  I  have  seen  Murex  200,  produce  this 
state,  and  when  I  find  it  in  practice,  I  am  sure  that  Murex 
and  Murex  only  is  the  remedy. 

With  the  pains  there  is  not  the  restlessness  of  Rhus.  It 
is  the  pain  not  the  restlessness  that  compels  motion  by  walk- 
ing. In  one  of  my  pro  vers:  "The  cutting  pains  in  m}'  lower 
belly  wakens  me  in  the  night  and  compels  me  to  get  up  and 
walk.  When  walking  the  bearing  down  comes  <m  which 
makes  we  want  to  hold  myself  with  my  hand." 

This  prover  would  lie  down  to  get  relief  from  the  sensa- 
tion that  her  uterus  would  issue  from  the  vagina,  and  after 
lying  awhile  her  pains  would  begin  to'  come  on.  This,  I 
have  many  times  verified  in  practice.  But  I  never  saw  it 
expressed  until  I  examined  Minion^  page  227.  In  AUen^  Vol, 
VI,  Murex,  General  Symptoms:  ^^ Pains  worse  when  sitting 
than  when  walking;  and  those  which  I  cease  to  feel  while 
stirring  about  return  almost  immediately  on  sitting  still." 
Under  Inferior  Extremeties, — "  Pains  in  hips  and  loins  *  '** 
*  •  *  but  that  of  hips  still  continues  even  when  not  lying 
down."  I  interpret  that  to  read,  worse  when  lying  down  and 
better  from  walking,  although  not  entirely  relieved  by  walking. 

The  aches  and  pains  of  Sepia: — The  headache  is  worse 
from  shaking  the  head,  but  better  from  violent  exercise.  So 
with  many  of  the  pains  of  the  body,  but  the  distressing  bear- 
ing down  pains  are  better  from  lying  in  bed.  The  dragging 
down  of  Sepia,  which  is  so  much  like  Murex  that  I  am  unable 


/.  T.  KENT,  M.  2>.  6a3 

to  distinguish  between  them,  is  relieved  by  lying  down ; 
comes  on  while  standing,  is  relieved  by  sitting  and  crossing 
the  limbs  and  goes  off  while  lying  down.  Again  Sepia  has 
apparently  the  opposite — page  624,  AUen*8  Bncydop.  near  the 
bottom  of  page. — "At  9  a.  m.  the  dragging  and  pressing  sensa- 
tion in  the  abdomen  returned ;  pressure  as  though  the  corUenttf 
would  issue  through  the  genital  organs.  The  pelvic  distress  was 
noticible  the  whole  night  at  waking  intervals,  and  relief  only 
momentary  by  lying  on  either  side  with  the  legs  flexed  on 
the  thighs  and  the  thighs  on  the  abdomen.  I  waked  this 
morning  without  the  distress,  but  it  returned  on  stirring." 
*****!  cannot  but  conclude  that  generally  Sepia 
is  better  by  Jying  down.  Except  some  of  the  rheumatic, 
aching  pains  whicli  are  first  made  worse  (by  slow  motion) 
but  finally  made  better  by  violent  walking.  Clinically, 
whenever  I  have  been  able  to  observe,  Sepia  cures  the  pro- 
lapsus that  has  the  horrible  bearing  down  as  if  parts  would 
come  out  if  it  is  accompanied  by  the  "  all-gone  "  sensation  in 
the  stomach,  a  lump  in  the  rectum  with  constipation,  the 
patient  wants  to  hold  tlie  vulva  with  a  napkin,  and  the 
dragging  down  is  relieved  by  crossing  the  limbs,  sitting  and 
lying.  These  are  the  symptoms  as  they  are  found,  and 
Sepia  cures  not  once  in  awhile,  but  always,  if  not  given  too 
low. 

See  Dunham's  Science  Therapeutics,  page  365.  "  Whereas 
on  the  other  hand,  the  Sepia  pains  are  worse  from  9  a.  m.  to 
noon,  and  are  relieved  by  repose;  being  aggravated  by  motion 
and  repose."  This  refers  to  the  prolapsus  pains  in  his  (Dun- 
ham's) contrasting  it  with  Lilium,  which  grows  worse  dur- 
ing repose  like  Murex,  page  319.  *'The  pains  are  dull;  pain 
like  paralysis  is  predominant,  amelioration  from  warmth  and 
violent  motion.  Aggravation  by  repose  and  at  night."  This 
shows  that  Dunham  fully  comprehended  the  tWo  kinds  of 
pain  or  distress  produced  and  cured  by  Sepia.  Dunham 
says  that  the  majority  of  pains  produced  by  Sepia  are  aggra- 
vated by  repose,  but  plainly  states  that  the  uterine  suffering 
is  ameliorated  by  repose. 


604  MUREX-8EP1A, 

THE  "  ALL  GONE  SENSATION  "  OF  SEPLAl. 

Some  readers  of  the  Advance  have  asked  why  I  gave 
Sepia  for  the  "  all  gone  feeling  "  in  the  stomach.  In  reply  I 
have  taken  the  trouble  to  copy  from  my  MSS.  repertory  the 
extended  individualization  I  make  in  those  remedies.  It 
may  be  of  use  to  somebody.  I' do  not  offer  it  because  it  is 
better  than  others,  but  because  it  has  served  me  well  in  the 
treatment  of  gastric  complaints.  It  might  be  much  extended, 
but  this  is  as  far  as  I  have  verified.  This  much  I  know : 

Empty, "  all  gone  feeling,"  in  stomach :  Actea,  Agar,  Alum, 
Amb.,  Am.  c,  Ant.  c,  Ant.  t.,  Apoc.  c,  Bap.,  Bar.,  Bry.,  Bufo.j 
Calad,^  Calc.  p.,  Carb.  an.,  Caust.,  Con.,  Croc,  Crot.  t.,  Dig., 
Gels.,  Glon.,  Grat.,  Gamb.,  Hell.,  Hipp..  Hydr.,  Iqn.,  Ipec., 
Kalm.,  Kali,  b.,  Kali.  c„  Kali,  iod.,  Lac.  can.,  Lob.,  Lye,  Mag.  m. 
Meph.,  Mer. iod.,  Mur.ac,  Murex.,  Nate,  Nat. m.,  Nice,  Op. 
Petr.,  Phel.,  Phos,,  Plb.,  Pod.,  Ruta.,  Sang.,  Sen.,  Sep.,  Stan. 
Staph.,  Sulph.,  Trill.,  Teuc.  m.  v.,  Verbas.,  Verat.  a. 

Empty,  with  sensation  of  burning :  Actea.,  Agar.,  Am^  c . 
Phos. J  (Bap.,  Calc.  p.) 

of  sinking,  before  breakfast:  Actea,  Kcdu 

iod. 

ot  sinking,  in  uterine  troubles :  Murex.,  Sep. 

nausea :  Actea.  Calc.  p.,  Lye,  Kali  b.,  Nat.  c, 


Phel. 

pressure :  Am.  c,  Lye.  Petr. 

trembling :  Actea.,  Agar.,  Am.  c.  Lye. 

distension  of  abdomen :  Bry.,  Kali  b..  Kali  c, 

Lye,  Petr.,  Phos.,  Sep.,  Sulph. 

rumbling  in  abdomen :  Mur.  ac.,  Crot.  t.,  PheL, 

Verbas. 

after  eating,  coming  on ;  Carb.  v.,  Olean.,  Sars. 

not  relieved  by  eating :    Carb.  an..  Kali  iod.,   Lye. 

Mur.  ex. 

and  qualmishness :  Kali  iod.,  Mag.  m. 

j^qI  relieved  by  eating:  Mag.  m..  Sang. 

worse  after  eating :  Kali  b..  Lye. 

nnd  coldness  not  relieved  by  warmth  :  Kali  iod. 


CASE  OF  HMM0PTY8IS.  605 

in  the  evening :  Calc.  p.,  Dig.,  Op.,  Pofl. 

at  7  p.  m.:  Calc.  p. 

Emptiness,  sensation  of  in  stomach,  2  p.  m.  with  loss  of 
appetite,  Grat. 

in  the  morning :  Apoc.  c,  Actea,  Hell.,  Kali  b., 

Kal.  c,  Ign.,  Nat.  m. 

at  8  a.  m.:  Kali.  c. 

at  11  a.  m.:  Hydr.  Op.  Sulph. 

at  11  a.  m.,  with  a  dull  pain:  Hydr. 

at  2  a.  m.,  with  tenderness  over  the 

abdomen:  Pod. 

without  hunger,  faint  feeling:  Nicx;., 

Ph08, 

with  gnawing :  Ign.,  Murex.,  Op.,  Sep. 

in  uterine  troubles :  Murex.,  Sep. 

and  sighing :  Ign. 

at  pit  of  stomach,  which  disappears  with  rumbling 

in  left  hypochondrium  :  Verbas. 

with  gnawing  as  if  life  was  becoming  extinct :  Dig. 

throbbing  in  colon :  Ant.  t.,  Calad.,  Kali  c,  Mag. 

m.,  Nat.  c,  Nat.  m.,  Sep.,  Sulph. 

•  before  going  to  sleep  :  Dig. 

extending  into  abdomen  :  Mar. 


<■» 


A  CASE  OF  H^EMOAySIS  COMPLICATING  VALVU- 
LAR DISEASE  OF  THE  HEART. 


BY  J.  W.  DOWLINe,  M.  D., 

Profeasor  of  Physical  Diagnosis  Tand  Diseases  of  the  Heart  and  Longs,  New  York 

HomcBopathic  Medical  College. 


Miss  T.  J — a  remarkably  healthy  looking  and  blooming 
young  woman  was  sent  to  me,  by  her  family  physician  for 
examination  and  diagnosis.  The  history  of  her  case,  which 
is  somewhat  remarkable,  was  as  follows : 

She  was  born  of  healthy  parents — whose  family  history 
on  both  sides  was  good  and  ancestors  long  lived.    ^w»  \v  q\v\^ 


606  CASE  OF  HAEMOPTYSIS, 

she  was  healthy,  passing  through  the  ordinary  diseases  of 
childhood  nicely.  At  the  age  of  eleven,  she  developed  a 
cough,  resulting  from  a  cold,  which  continued,  with  no  ap- 
parent intermission  till  she  was  18  years  of  age.  Many 
{fliysicians  were  consulted  and  various  methods  of  treat- 
ment resorted  to,  but  with  no  relief  whatever.  During 
these  seven  years  she  was  otherwise  in  good  health,  aside 
from  a  slight  dysmenorrhoea  for  the  first  24  hours  of  each 
menstrual  period;  the  menstrual  nisus  first  making  its 
appearance  at  the  age  of  14. 

In  May,  1881,  she  was  suddenly  startled  by  her 
brother  who  grasped  her  neck  from  behind.  She  involun- 
tarily threw  her  head  back.  She  says  there  was  a  sensation 
"as  if  something  has  snapped  here,"  and  placed  her  hand 
over  the  lower  portion  of  the  sternum.  Then  commenced  a 
violent  paroxysm  of  coughing  lasting  about  a  minute.  This 
was  followed  by  quite  a  free  expectoration  of  bright  red 
blood. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  cough  which  had  been  con- 
tinuous for  seven  years  immediately  disappeared.  Two  days 
later  there  was  another  slight  hemorrhage.  Although  much 
alarmed  at  the  "spitting  of  blood"  she  suflfered  no  incon- 
venience from  it,  and  was  quite  surprised  and  delighted  at 
the  disappearance  of  the  cough. 

A  year  later  there  was  a  retiiln  of  the  cough  which 
lasted  for  a  few  days  and  was  accompanied  by  another  haem- 
optysis, which  was  followed  by  a  relief  to  a  feeling  of  chest 
oppression,  from  which  she  had  suffered  during  the  contin- 
uance of  the  cough  as  well  as  by  an  entire  arrest  of  the 
cough  paroxysms.  She  has  had  six  of  these  paroxysms 
from  that  time  to  the  present,  the  last  occurring  quite  recent- 
ly; and  for  these  haemorrhages  I  was  consulted. 

Careful  questioning  developed  the  fact  that  years  ago, 
prior  to  the  onset  of  the  cough,  she  had  a  mild  attack  of 
articular  rheumatism,  which  was  thought  but  little  of,  the 
pains  being  slight,  and  supposed  to  be  "growing  pains." 
Several  years  later  she  had  another  attack,  more  severe  in 


/.  W.  DOW  UNO,  M.  D.  607 

character,  this  occurring  about  one  year  prior  to  the  first 
hsemorrhage. 

Although  very  active  and  inclined  to  run  up-stairs, 
she  acknowledges  a  little  shortness  of  breath  on  extra  exer- 
tion and  after  such  efforts  she  "  can  hear  her  heart  beat.'' 
She  complains  of  a  pain  beneath  the  left  shoulder  blade 
which  extends  around  the  left  side  of  the  thorax  to  the  ster- 
num. Her  appetite  is  good,  bowels  and  menses  regular. 
She  sleeps  well;  is  not  troubled  by  dreams.  Has  had  no 
cough  since  the  last  haemorrhage.  She  is  well  nourished,  of 
full  weight,  and  of  a'  cheerful  and  happy  disposition. 

PHYSICAL  EXAMINATION. 

Inspection  revealed  a  beautifully  rounded  chest,  the 
two  sides  being  perfectly  uniform,  and  a  uniformity  of  the 
respiratory  movements  of  the  two  sides.  The  vital  capacity 
of  the  lungs,  measured  with  Lowne  's  spirometer  was  about 
20  cubic  inches  below  normal,  an  extreme  effort  at  inspiration 
and  expiration  being  made.  The  percussion  and  breathing 
sounds  over  the  entire  lung  area  were  found  to  be  perfectly 
normal.  Liver  and  spleen  dullness,  normal.  The  superficial 
area  of  cardiac  dullness  was  increased  laterally  about  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch,  and  the  apex  of  the  heart  was  in  the  fifth 
intercostal  space,  three  and  a  half  inches  to  the  left  of  the 
middle  line  of  the  sternum.  Over  the  left  border  of  the 
heart  was  distinctly  felt  a  prsesystolic  thrill.  The  impulse 
of  the  heart  was  somewhat  forcible  but  perfectly  regular. 
The  pulse  was  regular  but  slightly  compressible.  Ausculta- 
tion of  the  heart  revealed  quite  a  loud  prsesystolic  murmur 
heard  with  greatest  intensity  at  the  apex,  the  sound  pro- 
duced by  the  closure  of  the  mitral  valves  being  loud  and 
sharp,  followed  by  a  very  feeble  second  sound.  Slightly  to 
the  right  of  the  apex  was  heard  a  soft  systolic  blowing  mur- 
mur. Although  neither  of  these  murmurs  was  conveyed  to 
the  back,  the  heart  sounds  were  distinctly  heard  through 
the  lung  at  the  angle  of  the  scapula.  The  murmurs  were  not 
heard  at  the  base  of  the  heart  and  were  not  cotvn^^^^  \ft 


608  C.4,S'iE;  OF  HEMOPTYSIS. 

the  neck.  The  second  sound  at  the  pulmonary  orifice  was 
intensified,  being  very  much  louder  than  the  second  sound 
at  aortic  orifice. 

DIAGNOSIS. 

Stenosis  of  the  mitral  orifice  with  slight  insufficiency  of 
the  mitral  valve,  with  dilation  of  the  auricles  and  excentric 
hypertrophy  of  the  right  ventricle. 

That  I  might  be  sure  as  to  my  diagnosis,  I  had  the 
patient  exercise  around  my  office  for  a  few  minutes.  The 
result  was  rapid  breathing  and  an  intensification  of  the 
thrill  and  murmurs  and  great  rapidity  of  the  heart's  action. 

COMMENTS. 

The  prsesystolic  thrill  was  undoubtedly  owing  to  the 
passage  of  the  blood  from  the  auricle  to  the  ventricle  through 
a  constricted  mitral  orifice. 

The  prsesystolic  murmur  arose  from  the  same  cause. 
The  systolic  blowing  murmur  was  produced  by  a  return 
blood  current  through  the  mitral  orifice  into  the  auricle 
during  the  systole  of  the  ventricle,  owing  to  incompetence  of 
the  mitral  valves.  The  dilatation  of  the  auricle  and  excentric 
hypertrophy  of  the  right  ventricle  were  owing  to  the  obstruc- 
tion to  the  blood  current  at  the  mitral  orifice.  The  dimin- 
ished vital  capacity  was  owing  to  capillary  and  venous 
engorgement  of  the  lungs,  resulting  from  the  mitral  obstruc- 
tion, the  size  of  the  air  vesicles  being  necessarily  diminished 
by  this  overloading  of  the  capillaries  and  veins. 

How  shall  we  account  for  the  valvular  disease,  the  long 
continued  cough,  the  haemoptysis,  and  the  sudden  subsi- 
dence  of  the  cough  after  the  bleeding?  The  patient  had  a 
history  of  rheumatism  dating  back  prior  to  the  onset  of  the 
cough.  There  was  undoubtedly  an  endocarditis  as  a  com- 
plication. This  resulted  in  chronic  valvulitis  with  deform- 
ity of  the  mitral  valve.  It  is  an  anatomical  fact  that  a  large 
portion  of  the  blood  distributed  to  the  mucous  membrane 
lining  the  bronchioles  finds  its  way  into  the  pulmonary 
veins  [is  not  discharged  through  the  bronchial  veins]  and  is 


MA  ,V,S  UICROSCOPIC  ENEMIES.  fiffJ 

carried  with  the  puhiionary  blood  into  the  left  auricle.  If 
there  is  imperfect  emptying  of  the  left  auricle  from  any 
cause,  in  addition  to  the  resulting  pulmonary  engorgement, 
there  will  be  hyperemia  of  the  mucous  membrane  lining 
the  sniallest  bronchial  tubes.  This  in  itsdf  frequently  gives 
rise  to  Bufficient  irritation  to  produce  quite  an  obstinate 
cough.  If  in  addition  there  is  a  catarrh  resulting  from  other 
causes,  the  cough  is  obstinate  and  continuous.  Our  patient, 
contracted  a  cold  which  resulted  in  a  cough.  This  cough 
continued  without  evidences  of  pulmonary  trouble  for  seven 
years.  Suddenly,  from  a  severe  nerve  shock,  she  was  siezed 
with  a  violent  paroxysm  of  coughing,  and  a  sensation  in  the 
prsecordiftl  region  as  if  something  had  jjiven  way.  This  was 
soon  followed  by  a  hiemoptysia.  The  bronchial  vessels  were 
unloaded  by  the  bleeding,  the  patient  being  young  and  vig- 
orous the  vessels  contracted  and  the  bronchial  hypersemia 
which  had  kept  up  the  cough  subsided,  and  until  the  occa- 
sion of  another  exciting  cause  the  cough  disappeared.  Each 
subsequent  attack  of  coughing  was  relieved  the  same  way. 
I  had  no  hesitancy  in  assuring  the  physician  having  the 
case  in  charge,  that  in  my  opinion  the  haemorrhages,  instead 
of  being  a  cause   for  alarm,  were  really  salutary  in  tlieir 


MAN'S  MICROSCOPIC  ENEMIES. 

Man  has  suffered  long  from  their  ravages  in  person  and 
estate  but  he  has  usually  attributed  his  misfortunes  to  every 
cause  but  the  real  one.  Entrenched  as  these  foes  of  his  are, 
in  the  citidal  of  littleness,  he  has  mostly  overlooked  them, 
and  has  only  of  late  years  begun  to  hunt  out  their  significant 
secrets,  which  are  closely  interwoven  with  famine,  pestilence 
and  paiu.  From  his  beginning  he  has  struggled  on  through 
an  unseen  mist  of  organic  atoms,  wrestling  hard  all  the 
while  with  the  manifold  evils  these  have  wrought,  and  gen- 
erally unwitting  of  the  miasma  that  environed  him  and  that 
was  bringing  woe  on  himself  and  his  household,  and  work- 


(UO  .HOMCEOPA  THY  AND  A LLOPA  TE  Y, 

ing  8ad  havoc  among  his  stock,  crops  and  chattels.  He  can 
face  the  lion  or  the  tiger,  and  may  conquer  with  gun  or 
spear;  but  how  can  he  dislodge  those  infinitely  more  fatal 
foes  from  their  microscopic  lairs;  how  overcome  their  count- 
less multitude. 

The  largest  of  the  wild  beasts  fall  back  before  him  into 
the  thickest  forests  and  dismal  solitudes,  or  their  kind  be- 
comes extinct.  The  mammoth  and  mastodon,  for  instance, 
have  vanished  from  the  face  of  the  earth ;  but  the  small  ver- 
min of  the  world  defy  extirpation.  Rats  and  mice  have  for 
thousands  of  years  feasted  and  sometimes  fattened  at  man's 
expense,  and  yet  he  has  all  along  been  busy  hunting  them 
down,  trapping,  poisoning,  plotting  against  them,  devising 
cunning  schemes,  setting  eager  dogs  after  them,  encouraging 
patient  cats  to  watch  at  holes  and  crevices.  The  insect  phyl- 
loxera is  eating  up  the  vineyards  of  sunny  France  in  spite  of 
the  Academy  of  Science  and  its  money  prizes  ofiered  for  a 
remedy.  In  North  America  the  Colorado  beetle  gets  copious 
doses  of  arsenic  and  other  compounds,  and  yet  it  survives. 
Consider  then,  that  these  small  creatures,  which  man  finds  it 
so  much  harder  to  subdue  than  the  great  beasts  of  the  field 
are  yet  of  gigantic  size  when  contrasted  with  the  microscopic 
plants  that  are  in  league  with  his  implacable  enemies,  famine 
disease  and  death. 


HOMCEOPATHY  AND  ALLOPATHY. 


Dr.  F.  W.  Still  well,  in  the  Rochester  Democrat  and  Chron- 
icle, of  February  29,  1883,  says:  In  the  discussion  between 
the  different  schools  of  medicine,  I  see  but  one  champion  of 
Homoeopathy  in  this  city.  Dr.  Biegler  is  the  only  one  who 
has  a  good  word  for  it.  The  stamp  of  quackery  is  put  upon 
all  the  teachings  of  Hahnemann  and  he  is  the  only  one  of 
his  followers  who  dares  to  deny  the  charge.  A  heroic  dose 
of  courage  administered  by  a  hard  shell  allopath  might 
prove  of  benefit  to  some  of  them.  Counsel  or  no  counsel 
seems  to  be  the  question  which  stays  most  of  the  so-called 


HOMCEOPA  THY  AND  A  LLOPA  THY,  61 1 

"old  code"  gentlemen.  Whether  it's  not  better  to  stick  to 
blisters  and  plasters  and  suffers  the  ills  of  an  empty  pocket 
or  recognize  those  '4ittle  pill  fellows"  who  are  revolutioniz- 
ing the  world.  Suppose  they  do,  what  benefit  is  Homoeop- 
athy going  to  devise?  What  has  brought  about  this  state  of 
brotherly  love?  What  have  they  ever  done  for  the  scholars 
of  Hahnemann  that  they  should  ask  Homoepathic  physi- 
cians to  prop  up  their  tottering  gods  and  fortunes?  Never  • 
has  the  new  school  been  so  strong  and  popular  as  to-day. 
Never  since  the  birth  of  small  doses,  have  they  done  so  much 
good  or  its  workers  been  more  in  earnest,  and  because  of  this 
rapid  progress,  begging  allopathy  wishes  us  to  counsel  with 
them:  They,  who  for  a  life  time,  have  scoffed  and  sneered 
at  the  teachings  of  Homoeopathy.  May  the  ghost  of  Hahne- 
mann forever  haunt  the  physician  who  does.  For  pnemonia 
complicated  with  pericarditis,  whiskey  and  brandy  is  their 
favorite  remedy.  Typhoid  fever,  bronchitis  or  measles  all 
require  the  same  prescription.  Does  Homoeopathy  sanction 
any  such  treatment?  The  action  of  the  "new  code"  gentle- 
men proves  that  brandy  as  an  elixir  vitee  is  sadly  in  need  of 
a  pair  of  new  legs.  As  long  as  new  school  physicians  keep 
quiet  about  the  results  of  their  practice,  all  is  well,  but  let 
them  dare  to  explain  the  principle  such  cures  and  it  is  what 
quackery,  humbuggery,  or  any  other  pet  name  which  ignor- 
ance and  bigotry  choose  to  construct.  It  is  that  which  will 
debar  any  Homoeopathic  physician  from  a  hospital  con- 
trolled by  Allopaths  and  deny  them  professional  courtesy  and 
society.  No  man  lives,  has  lived,  or  ever  will  live  whose 
teachings  have  advanced  so  rapidly  and  found  so  many  fol- 
lowers as  those  of  the  venerated  Samuel  Hahnemann.  The 
allopathic  boast  of  a  superior  knowledge  of  drugs  and  diseases 
is  all  bosh,  and  smacks  more  of  the  almighty  dollar  than  it 
does  of  brains.  Judging  from  an  article  written  by  Dr.  South- 
erland  in  the  February  number  of  the  Medical  Gazette,  coward- 
ice and  fear  are  prominent  symptoms  among  the  paralysed 
ranks  of  Allopathy.  Dr.  Southerland  writes  that  a  short  time 
ago  the  managers  of  St.  Greorge's  hospital^  Lotid^tv/ve^xi^^  ^ 
4 


612  CASE  OF  INTUSSUSCEPTION. 

public  appeal  for  aid,  stating  that  many  of  the  beds  were 
unused  for  the  lack  of  funds  for  their  support.  Major  Mor- 
gan on  learning  this  ofifered  the  managers  nearly  five  thous- 
and a  year  for  five  years  on  the  modest  condition  that  the 
occupants  of  said  beds  should  receive  homoeopathic  treat- 
ment. To  this  honorable  proposition  the  practicians  in 
power  returned  an  unconditional  refusal.  I  think  this  talk 
of  the  "codes"  resembles  that  of  those  managers.  They  want 
homoeopathic  physicians  to  fill  their  pockets  with  gold  by 
calling  them  in  counsel,  but  to  the  dogs  with  their  little  pills. 


-#••- 


A  CASE  OF  INTUSSUSCEPTION. 


BY  J.  W.  BOCKWELL,  M.  D.,  AKBON,  OHIO. 


By  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  N.  E.  0.  M.  S.,  I  send  you 
for  publication  the  report  of  a  case  of  intussusception,  which 
I  reported  to  the  society  at  its  session  held  in  this  place, 
April  19th. 

Case — March  11th,  Charley  B.,  aged  seven  months,  hav- 
ing just  recovered  from  measles,  was  taken  during  the  night 
with  vomiting  and  purging;  stools  thin  and  watery.  I  was 
called  up  about  8  a.  m.,  and  found  the  above  history  of  the 
case  with  the  following  condition,  much  coughing  with  loose 
rattling  of  mucus  in  the  bronchial  tubes ;  child  very  peevish 
with  anxious  look,  refused  the  nurse  but  would  take  a  small 
amount  of  milk.  Was  called  again  at  4  p.  m.,  found  the 
child  passing  pure  blood  of  a  bright  color  and  rather  copious, 
cough  less  and  respiration  more  free  and  easy. 

March  12th,  9  a.  m.,  haemorrhage  very  much  less,  had 
vomited  but  once  or  twice  during  the  night,  respiration  more 
difficult,  takes  but  little  nourishment,  seems  very  thirsty, 
and  somewhat  hoarse.  March  13th,  9  a.  m.,  haemorrhage  has 
entirely  ceased,  stools  consist  of  pinkish  mucus,  accompanied 
by  slight  tenesmus.  Great  hoarseness  could  hardly  make  a 
loud  noise,  much  cough  with  much  rattling  in  throat  and 
lungs,  face  pale  with  anxious  look. 


/.  W,  ROCKWELL,  M,  D.  613 

March  18th,  10  a.  m.,  stools  of  thin  fecal  matter,  no 
mucus,  no  vomiting,  sleeps  better,  takes  more  nourishment 
and  is  better  every  way. 

March  19th,  4  p.  m.,  patient  very  much  better.  Slept 
well  during  the  night,  stools  of  fecal  matter  of  a  creamy 
consistancy,  respiration  free  and  easy,  no  cough,  takes  his 
rations  all  right  and  seems  about  well.  I  left  with  the 
request  that  they  should  let  me  know  if  he  required  any 
further  attention. 

March  21st,  1  p.  m.,  was  called  in  great  haste,  baby  taken 
suddenly  worse.  Had  been  all  right  since  the  last  visit, 
had  had  a  natrual  stool  the  night  before.  The  cause  of 
the  great  alarm  of  the  parents  was  the  protrusion  of  a  large 
tumor  from  the  anus.  I  found  the  child  with  the  same 
old  anxious  look,  great  straining,  with  a  tumor  about  the 
size  of  a  small  walnut,  and  of  a  dark  red  color,  covered  with 
mucus,  protruding  about  one  and  one  half  inches  from  the 
anus.  It  was  very  easily  replaced  and  I  could  pass  the 
finger  in  and  around  it  on  every  side,  showing  that  it  was 
not  adhered  to  the  lower  part  of  the  rectum  but  had  de- 
scended from  higher  up. 

March  22nd,  8  a.  m.,  the  tumor  had  come  down  several 
times  during  the  night,  considerable  mucus  had  passed  the 
bowels,  but  no  fecal  matter.  I  gave  the  tumor  a  thorough 
examination:  it  protuded  about  two  inches,  and  was  of  a 
dark  red  color  with  mucus.  There  were  two  openings  in 
the  tumor  one  upon  each  side,  with  a  firm  septum  divid- 
ing. 

The  one  at  the  left  side  (of  the  patient,)  I  could  pass 
the  finger  to  the  second  joint,  at  which  depth  it  formed  a 
pouch.  Into  the  other  the  finger  could  be  passed  the  full 
length.  I  diagnosed  intussusception  of  the  ileo-cfiecal  valve 
which  had  become  prolapsed  down  through  the  colon  and 
rectum.  The  opening  to  the  left  being  the  csecum,  the  one  to 
the  right  the  ileum. 

While  the  tumor  was  down  the  child  would  worry  and 
cry  almost  continually,  but  was  quite  mo^\.  oi  >X:^^  Mvoift 


614  THERAPEUTIC  USE  OF  HOT  WATER. 

while  it  was  retained  within  the  rectum.    5  p.  m.,  about  the 
same,  abdomen  somewhat  enlarged,  slight  tympanitis. 

March  23d,  10  a.  m..  Dr.  0.  D.  Childs  visited  the  case 
with  me  and  coincided  in  the  diagnosis.  Great  tympanitis 
with  a  strong  tendency  to  peritonitis.  Refuses  all  nourish- 
ment, great  thirst  for  cold  water.  5  p.  m.,  no  material  change 
since  morning,  abdomen  a  little  less  tympanitic,  stools  still 
mucus  with  a  small  amount  of  fecal  matter. 

March  24th,  9  a.  m.,  tympanitis  very  much  less  had 
several  thin  watery  stools  during  the  night,  rested  compara- 
tively well,  less  thirst.  5  p.  m.,  patient  very  restless  with 
anxious  frightened  look,  thin  watery  stool  every  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes,  great  prostration. 

Patient  died  at  11  p.  m.,  from  prostration,  the  thin  watery 
stools  continuing  to  the  very  last.  Thirty -six  hours  after 
death,  I  held  a  post  mortem,  Drs.  Childs,  Murdock,  Wilcox 
and  Jamison  being  present,  which  confirmed  the  diagnosis. 
About  six  or  eight  inches  of  the  ileum  had  become  invagi- 
nated  into  the  colon  and  had  been  forced  down  through 
the  whole  length  of  the  colon  and  rectum.  The  whole  of 
the  colon  was  forced  upon  the  invaginated  portion  of  the 
ileum,  lying  in  folds  which  were  easily  drawn  oflF  during 
the  examination,  there  being  no  adhesions,  and  but  slight 
indications  of  there  having  been  any  inflammatory  condition, 
except  in  the  invaginated  portion  of  the  ileum. 

'  ^»»  ■ 


THE  THERAPEUTIC  USE  OF  HOT  WATER  TAKEN 

INTERNALLY. 


I 

1.  The  water  must  be  hot — not  cold  or  lukewarm.  The 
reasons  for  this  are  principally  that  cold  water  depresses, 
and  that  lukewarm  water  excites  vomiting.  By  hot  water  is 
meant  a  temperature  of  110°  to  160°  Fahrenheit,  such  as  is 
commonly  liked  in  the  use  of  tea  and  coffee. 

2.  As  to  the  quantity  of  water.  The  commencing 
amount  should  not  be  less  than  a  half  a  pint,  which  amount 
must  be  gradually  increased  with  the  capacity  of  the  patienti 


THERAPEUTIC  VSE  OF  SOT  WATER.  615 

until  the  specific  gravity  of  the  urine  stands  at  1,015  to  1,020, 
the  best  standard  of  health.  If  on  eziimination  of  the  urine 
the  specific  gravity  stands  at  I, "30  more  hot  water  should  be 
drunk.  On  the  other  hand,  should  it  fall  to  1,010,  the 
amount  should  be  decreased. 

3.  The  time  for  taking  hot  water  is  an  hour  or  two 
before  each  meal  and  half  an  hour  before  retiring, 

4.  The  water  should  not  be  drunk  too  fast.  It  should 
rather  be  sipped,  bo  that  the  stomach  may  not  be  be  so 
rapidly  distended  as  to  make  it  feel  uncomfortable. 

5.  The  length  of  time  during  which  this  hot  water 
treatment  should  be  continued  is  six  months,  this  time  being 
usually  required  to  thoroughly  wash  out  the  liver  and  the 
intestines. 

6.  The  amount  of  liquid  to  be  drunk  at  a  meal  should 
not  exceed  eight  ounces.  This  amount  should  not  be  exceeded 
in  order  that  the  gastric  juice  may  not  be  unduly  diluted,  or 
the  contents  of  the  stomach  prematurely  washed  out. 

It  is  claimed  that  under  this  treatment  the  feces  became 
black,  the  discolorization  being  due  to  the  washing  of  the 
bile  down  its  normal  channel.  While  this  blackness  may 
last  for  more  than  six  months  the  fetid  odor  of  ordinary 
feces  is  abated  and  the  smell  approximates  that  of  the 
feces  of  healthy  sucking  infants.  The  urine  became  as  clear 
as  champagne,  free  from  deposit  on  cooling  and  free  from 
odor.  The  various  secreting  organs  are  said  to  improve  as  to 
their  functions  and  a  general  feeling  of  well-being  takes 
possession  of  the  hitherto  overladen  and  consequently  inact- 
ive body. 

The  following  is  a  aommary  of  these  general  conclusions 
on  the  therapeutical  drinking  of  hot  water  as  given  by  Dr. 
Cutter:  He  claims  it  to  be  the  foundation  for  all  treatment 
of  chronic  diseases.  It  excites  downward  peristalsis.  It 
relieves  spasm  or  colic  of  the  bowels  by  applying  the  relax- 
ing influence  of  heat  inside  the  alimentary  canal,  just  as  heat 
applied  outside  the  abdomen  relieves.  It  dilutes  the  ropy 
secretions  of  the  whole  body  and  renders  them  less  adhe- 


616  TOTAL  FAILURE  OF  VACCINATION. 

sive,  and  tenacious.    It  is  an  inside  bath.    It  dissolves  the 
abnormal  crystallized  substances  that  may  be  in  the  blood 
and  urine.    It  washes  down  the  bile,  mucus,  yeast  and  waste 
and  thus  leaves  the  stomach  fresh  and  clean  for  the  function 
of  digestion.    It  promotes  elimination  everywhere. 

It  is  necessary  in  conducting  this  treatment  that  the, 
stomach  should  be  rid  of  the  hot  water  before  meals,  and 
this  for  reasons  which  are  too  obvious  to  require  mention. 

While  we  think  it  possible  that  Dr.  Cutter  has  attached 
undue  value  to  this  means  of  cure,  we  can  not  dispute  the 
fact  that  the  number  of  cases  to  which  it  is  applicable  is 
great.  We  should  think  it  peculiarly  applicable  to  the  case 
of  those  who  habitually  gorge  themselves,  and  whose  systems 
are  always  overloaded  with  matter  which  the  emunctory 
organs,  constantly  overtaxed,  are  unable  to  eliminate  from 
the  system.  The  thorough  washing  out  which  copious 
draughts  of  hot  water  would  favor  must  be  very  beneficial  in 
cases  of  this  kind. — Therapeutic  Oaaette. 


M» 


TOTAL  FAILURE  OP  VACCINATION. 


TESTIMONY  OF  THE  REGISTRAR  GENERAL  OF  ENGLAND. 


The  Registrar  General,  in  his  Annual  Summary  for  the 
year  1880,  tabulates  the  Small  Pox  Mortality  of  London  for 
the  last  thirty  years,  as  follows: 

Decades.  Estimated  Mean  Population.  Small  Pox  Deaths. 

1851-60  2,570,489  7,150 

1861-70  3,018,193  8,347 

1871-80  3,466,486  15,551 

It  is  absurd  to  say  in  the  face  of  these  returns,  that 

Vaccination  has  saved  thousands  of  lives,  or  that  the  mor 

tality  would  have  been  greater  but  for  Vaccination,  or  that 

the  deaths  accrue,  as  Dr.  W.  R.  Carpenter  maintains,  firom 

the  '*  unvaccinated  residuum,"  seeing  that  in  the  first  decade, 

when  but  few,  comparatively,  were  Vaccinated,  the  mortality 

was  not  half  as  great  as  in  the  last,  when  over  90  per  cent,  of 


CORRESPONDENCE,  617 

the  infant  population  had  received  the  benefit  of  the  State- 
endowed  prophylactic. 

These  facts,  coupled  with  the  additional  one  that  during 
the  year  1881,  2,371  persons  died  in  London  of  Small  Pox, 
615  of  whom  were  under  five  years  of  age,  show  an  enormous 
increase  of  that  disease,  aje  utterly  subversive  of  the  claims 
of  Vaccination,  and  call  loudly  for  a  repeal  of  the  despotic  law 
by  which  it  is  enforced. 


•4M- 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

t — 

Editor  Medical  Advance : 

I  am  in  receipt  of  a  letter  from  a  young  friend  of  mine 
who  has  recently  finished  his  first  course  in  one  of  our  hom- 
oeopathic Medical  Colleges.  His  previous  studies  and  espe- 
cially his  knowledge  of  genuine  Homoeopathy  enabled  him 
to  judge  of  the  quality  of  the  teaching  he  received  at  the  col- 
lege. The  result  of  his  observations  is  well  indicated  in  the 
following  extract.   "  I  have  attended  one  course  of  lectures  at 

College.    For  God's  sake,  for  the  sake  of  Homoeopathy, 

for  the  sake  of  all  that  is  good,  I  implore  you  to  warn  young 

men  against  going  there.     Prof. is  the  only  homoeopathist 

in  the  College.     Prof. calmly  remarked  to  me  the  other 

day.  '  In  the  future  medicine  must  be  practiced  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Principles  of  Physiology  strictly  and  that 

alone.'   Prof. is  nothing  but  a  beer  bloated  blackguarding 

Allopath.     Prof. laughs  at  our  using  such  remedies  as 

Carbo  veg.  or  Lycopodium,  simply  because  *you  can  eat 
them  with  impunity.'  Dunham  says  the  provings  of  Carbo 
veg.  were  made  with  the  third  centessimal  trituration,  yet 

this  Prof,  refuses  to  credit  its  symptoms.    Profs and 

and take  every  opportunity  to  throw  a  bad  light  upon 

Homoeopathy.    Prof. said   to   me  concerning  a  patient 

'damn  your  Arsenicum,  give  her  20  grains  of  Bromide  of 
Potash  and  some  Morphine.'  This  College  is  doing  Homoeo- 
pathy more  harm  than  any  Allopathic  College  in  this  coun- 
try.   I  like  all  my  Professors  as  men,  but  as  disVvotveeX.'^^tCL- 


618  CORRESPONDENCE. 

oeopaths  I  despise  them."    Now  Mr.  Editor  is  this  a  dream  or 
a  sad  reality  ?    M.  B. 

FIBRIN  AND  BACTERIA. 


Medical  Advance  : 

My  article  in  your  February  number,  on  the  above 
named  subject,  appears  to  have  stirred  up  a  hornet's  nest,  or, 
rather,  a  bacterist's  nest.  But  I  do  not  see  anything  very 
terrible  in  results  thus  far.  Well,  as  Hahnemann  so  forcibly 
said :  **  The  agitation  of  thought  is  the  beginning  of  truth ; " 
and  that  is  what  I  am  after.  I  should  like  to  answer  both  Drs. 
Taylor  and  Ray  in  full  at  this  time,  but  previous  engagements 
for  papers  on  this  and  other  subjects,  to  several  scientific  and 
medical  societies,  render  it  impossible  to  tender  these  critics 
my  full  compliments  short  of  two  or  three  months. 

To  Dr.  Taylor  I  will  say  now,  however,  that  I  ride  a  suf- 
ficiently "  high  horse  "  to  keep  my  head  above  the  borders  of 
the  bacteria  ruts,  so  as  to  see  and  know  a  little  something  as 
to  what  I  am  about,  instead  of  remaining  floundering  therein 
and  learning  nothing,  as  he  seems  to  prefer  to  do.  Also  that 
there  must  be  much  larger  and  more  numerous  "holes" 
within  his  cranium,  where  there  should  be  brains,  than  "  are 
common  to  baker's  bread,"  to  allow  him  to  make  such  foolish 
remarks  as  he  does  on  this  point.  "  Holes  "  consisting  of 
rods  and  spirals,  from  an  eighth  to  half  an  inch  or  more  in 
length,  under  a  fourth  objective,  lying  sidewise  or  at  all  angles 
towards  one,  perfectly  white  in  color  instead  of  transparent, 
and  swimming  or  whirling  along  at  times  with  the  most 
rapid  motion,  then  slowing  down,  but  starting  on  again  soon, 
violently,  is  a  decidedly  rich  suggestion,  the  richest  I  have 
heard  in  a  long  time,  and  could  only  have  come  from  a 
**  clear  gone  "  bacterist.  Don't  talk  any  more  to  me.  Doc- 
tor, about  loose  methods,"  after  such  an  exhibition  of  your 
own  worse  than  "  loose  "  ideas.  By  the  way,  who  told  you 
anything  about  the  "  openings  "  which  you  assert  I  see  and 
call  rods  and  spirals  ?   I  said  nothing  whatever  about  "  open- 


CORRESPONDENCE,  619 

ings  "  of  any  kind,  certainly  not  of  '''openings  "  in  motion, 
and  never  saw  anything  of  the  kind  in  my  life.  Dear  Doc- 
tor, it  you  do  not  know  more  about  microscopy  than  to  talk 
of  "  holes  "  in  a  drop  of  fluid  under  a  cover  glass,  that  show 
active  motion,  I  would  suggest  that  you  stop  "  reading  up 
the  most  common-place  experiments  relating  to  bacterian 
culture,"  and  study  something  else  twice  twenty  years  or 
more,  if  that  will  teach  you  better  than  to  make  such  a  sug- 
gestion to  anymicroscopist,  or  write  such  stuff  to  a  reputable 
medical  journal  that  has  many  intelligent  readers  like  The 
Advance.  And  it  might  not  be  out  of  place  to  suggest  that 
you  resign  your  official  position  for  the  credit  of  our  country, 
until  you  do  learn  better.  Nor  will  it  help  you  out  of  your 
**  holes  "  to  again  misrepresent  me  as  showing  a  "  ruffled 
temper."  That  is  a  favorite  dodge  with  shallow  men  to 
represent  an  opponent  as  out  of  temper,  I  was  in  too  good 
humor  pointing  out  your  "  want  of  knowledge,"  to  be  dis- 
turbed by  other  emotions. 

To  Dr.  Ray  I  will  say  that  I  am  in  no  such  mortal  terror 
of  bacterists  and  their  absurd  theory — near  relative  of  the 
whilom  blue  grass  craze — as  he  seems  to  be;  and  that  I 
**  dare  to  deny  "  the  teachings  of  Koch,  Pasteur,  et  cd,^^  as 
bearing  upon  the  *'  existence  of  all  pathogenetic  and  non- 
pathogentic  bacteria,"  in  the  sense  that  they  teach  their 
existence  and  effects.  But  let  me  be  clearly  understood  on 
this  point.  I  do  not  deny  the  "  existence"  of  the  forma  of  so- 
called  bacteria  as  they  have  described  them ;  nor  do  I  dis- 
pute that  they  have  seen  such  forms  in  cqnntless  numbers, 
as  they  claim  they  have.  Indeed,  on  more  than  one  occa- 
sion have  I  asserted  there  was  no  question  that  they  had 
seen  cerUiin  forms,  under  the  requisite  conditions,  and  had 
described  them  accurately.  The  only  dispute  I  have  with 
them  or  other  bacterists  is  as  to  what  those  forms  are.  I  have 
asserted  a  hundred  times  or  more,  and  now  re-assert  with 
more  emphasis  than  ever  before,  that  all  the  so-called  bac- 
teria by  name  are  nothing  more  nor  less  than  granules,  rods 
and  spirals,  or  other  combinations  of  fibim.     kxi^  ^Yiwcl^ 


620  CORRESPONDENCE. 

get  the  time  to  attend  to  this  matter  again,  I  will  endeavor 
to  make  the  facts  so  plain  And  clear  that  a  "  wayfaring  "  doc- 
tor, "  though  a  fool,  shall  not  err  therein." 

To  both  Drs.  Taylor  and  Ray  I  will  say  that  they  may 
just  as  well  dispense,  first  as  last,  with  their  pretentions  and 
high,  patronizing  airs  and  nonsense  about  setting  other  men 
right  until  they  set  themselves  right.  This  whole  question  is 
going  to  he  settled  upon  a  true  and  far-reaching  scientific  baMSj 
wholly  diflferent  from  what  they  believe ;  and  I  have  not  the 
slightest  fear  of  the  result. 

RoLLiN  R.  Gregg,  M.  D. 

Buffalo,  May  5,  1884. 


AN   INTERVIEW  THROUGH   THE   TELEPHONE 
WITH  DOCTOR  G.  H.  G.  JAHR,  CHEVA- 
LIER, ETC.,  PARIS,  FRANCE. 


From  our  Special  Corresi^ndent,  P.  P. 

While  perusing  the  brief  yet  interesting  note  by  Dr. 
Wm.  JeflFerson  Guernsey,  on  prescribing  we  were  prompted  to 
have  a  little  talk,  and  if  possible  more  light  on  the  subject  of 
prescribing,  through  some  of  our  departed  trans-atlantic 
brothers  who  had  given  more  years  to  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine than  we  had.  Remembering  that  Jahr  commenced  the 
practice  of  Homoeopathy  in  1827,  and  having  liad  an  unusu- 
ally successful  career  we  concluded  to  "  call  him  up  "  for  an 
interview  and  directed  the  central  oflBce  to  connect  us  with 
the  ground  wire. 

In  response  to  our  call  we  soon  received  a  "  letter  "  from 
the  Doctor,  when  we  asked,  if  he  had  read  Dr.  Guernsey's 
article  on  prescribing,  in  the  December  Advance. 

His  reply  was  that  he  had  not,  but  being  acquainted 
with  the  Doctor  he  could  believe,  knowing  of  the  author's 
experience  and  success,  that  their  opinions  would  harmonize. 

"  Will  you  please  give  to  the  readers  |of  The  Advance 
some  of  your  views  regarding  the  proper  manner  of  prescrib- 
ing homoeopathic  remedies  ?  " 


CORRESPONDENCE.  621 

"  This  is  indeed  a  difficult  matter.  You  cannot  expect 
to  dispose  of  such  an  extensive  subject  in  this  manner  when 
it  requires  volumes,  and  even  then  proves  unsatisfactory  ?  " 

"Well,  can  you  give  us  a  few  rules  on  prescribing?" 

*'  I  would  much  prefer  your  consulting  my  klinischen 
anweisungen  (clinical  instructions)  for  advice." 

"  Thanks,  but  we  desire  something  more  brief  for  this 
occasion.  Will  you  tell  us  what  remedy  you  found  most 
useful  in  the  cholera  epidemic  in  1849  ?  " 

'*  I  was  in  the  habit  of  treating  the  well-known  precur- 
sory diarrhoea  with  the  globules  of  Veratrum  album  12,  dis- 
solved in  a  cup  full  of  water,  of  which  solution  a  tea-spoon 
full  was  to  be  taken  after  every  evacuation." 

"  Can  you  give  us  from  your  clinical  record  a  report  of 
some  cases  ?  " 

"  Yes,  one  case  I  remember  well  was  one  who  was  toler- 
ably familiar  with  homoeopathy,  (this  expression  is  applicable 
to  a  great  many  of  the  so-called  homeopathic  physicians,  ed.) 
a  vial  full  of  globules  saturated  with  Veratrum  album  12, 
with  instruction  to  use  it  for  himself  and  his  family  if  occa- 
sion demanded,  this  gentleman  was  the  first  to  make  use  of 
this  remedy ;  for  one  morning,  while  attending  to  his  busi- 
ness in  the  city^  he  was  violently  attacked  by  the  premoni- 
tory diarrhoea.  Not  having  his  vial  with  him  and  being  two 
far  from  his  home,  he  obtained  Veratrum  12,  from  the  nearest 
homoeopathic  pharmacy,  and  immediately  took  two  globules 
dry  on  the  tongue,  with  the  intention  of  repeating  the  dose 
if  another  attack  should  take  place.  The  globules  had 
scarcely  melted  on  his  tongue  when  the  urging  which  he  still 
felt,  abated,  so  that  when  evening  set  in,  he  had  not  only  had 
no  discharge  from  his  bowels,  but  not  even  an  intimation 
that  his  bowels  would  be  moved.  This  gentleman  witnessed 
the  same  result  in  similar  cases  not  only  in  his  own  family, 
but  likewise  among  his  friends,  to  whom,  if  he  chanced  to 
hear  of  their  being  attacked  by  this  ominous  diarrhoea,  he 
gave  two  globules  of  Veratrum  dry  on  the  tongue,  and  after- 
wards learned  from  them  that  to  their  amazjera^xiX.  \!ti^  ^^s^x- 


622  CORRESPONDENCE. 

rhoea  was  soon  controlled.  Another  case  which  illustrates 
the  action  of  the  proper  remedy  when  given,  was  a  poor 
woman  who  had  consulted  me  on  account  of  this  diarrhoea 
and  had  it  arrested  at  once  by  a  few  globules  of  Veratrum  12, 
but  two  days  afterwards  committed  the  indiscretion  of  eating 
a  quantity  of  cucumber  salad,  after  which  she  was  not  only 
attacked  with  a  violent  diarrhoea,  but  likewise  with  even 
vomiting.  Residing  at  some  distance  from  my  office  she 
sent  for  one  of  my  colleagues,  who  gave  her  first  Cuprum  and 
afterwards  Arsenicum,  a  few  drops  of  the  lower  attenuations, 
without  eflFecting  the  least  change  for  the  better.  For  this 
reason  she  again  sent  for  me  in  the  greatest  hurry.  On  my 
arrival  I  found  her  attacked  with  true  cholera  ;  she  had  rice- 
water  evacuations  by  the  rectum  and  mouth,  the  pulse  was 
collapsed  and  she  was  tormented  by  an  inconceivable  nervous 
excitement  which  according  to  her  statement,  set  in  after  she 
took  the  last  medicine  {Araenicum,)  After  examining  all  her 
symytoms  I  made  up  my  mind  that  Veratrum  was  still  indi- 
cated as  the  most  appropriate  remedy.  I  intended  to  give 
her  Veratrum  in  solution,  but  not  being  able  to  obtain  any 
pure  water  in  the  house,  which  was  a  wretched  dwelling,  I 
placed  two  globules  of  this  medicine  dry  upon  her  tongue, 
leaving  at  the  same  time  a  prescription  of  Veratrum  12,  to  be 
dissolved  in  water  by  the  apothecary,  of  which  solution  she 
was  to  take  a  teaspoonful  every  half  hour.  On  my  second 
visit,  four  hours  later,  the  prescription  had  not  yet  been  sent 
to  the  apothecary;  but  nevertheless,  a  remarkable  improve- 
ment had  taken  place  in  her  condition,  the  pulse  had  re- 
turned, the  countenance  had  resumed  a  more  natural  expres- 
sion, the  vomiting  had  ceased,  the  skin  was  warmer  and  the 
rice-water  discharges  had  changed  to  a  brown,  watery  diarr- 
hoea. Having  the  prescription  filled,  I  ordered  a  teaspoonful 
every  two  hours.  Next  morning  her  health  was  fully  restpred." 

"  I  suppose  you  could  relate  many  such  cases  during 
that  fearful  scourge  in  Paris?" 

Yes,  thanks  to  that  opportunity,  however  dreadful,  Hom- 
eopathy gained  its  first  foot-hold  among  the  people  and  en- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  623 

listed  in  its  ranks  men  worthy  to  be  called  homeopathic 
practitioners,  not  pretenders,  but  honest  laborers. 

"Will  you  give  us  some  of  your  methods  of  selecting  the 
appropriate  remedy?" 

"This  comes  from  long  experience  and  hard  study. 
Even  in  cases  where  practitioners,  who  are  the  most  conver- 
sant with  our  Materia  Medica,  sometimes  hesitate  between 
two  or  three  remedies.  The  method  of  prescribing  the  single 
dose  has  the  advantage  in  cases  where  the  remedy  had  been 
improperly  chosen,  but  administered  in  a  single  dose,  of 
enabling  the  physician  to  give  another  remedy  with  much 
less  loss  of  time  and  with  more  certainty  of  success,  than  in 
cases  when  the  former  medicine  having  been  given  in  re- 
peated doses,  must  necessarily  mingle  its  effects  with  the 
action  of  the  new  medicine,  whose  influence  is  thus  greatly 
interfered  with.  From  my  long  practice  I  might  relate  more 
than  a  hundred  of  such  cases  where  one  dose  of  a  singh 
remedy  achieved  a  final  result  in  the  space  of  two  months 
that  twenty  impatiently  administered  drugs  could  not  hs^ve 
done  in  two  or  three  years.  Observation,  however,  has  shown 
to  a  certainty  that  in  chronic  diseases,  where  one  remedy  alone 
is  capable  of  achieving  the  whole  cure,  slight  symptoms  of  an 
incipientimprovementwill,accordingtomyobservations,show 
themselves  in  the  first  week  or  in  the  first  fortnight,  and  if 
these  preliminary  symptoms  do  set  in,  the  physician  cannot 
watch  subsequent  aggravations  with  too  much  care,  unless  he 
means  to  spoil  everything  by  the  premature  exhibition  of 
another  remedy.  On  the  other  hand  it  is  likewise  an  established 
fact  that,  where  even  the  discriminating  eye  of  the  most  careful 
observer  does  not  even  perceive  the  slightest  signs  of  a  begin- 
ning improvement  in  fifteen  or  twenty  days  after  the  exhibi- 
tion of  a  remedy  in  chronic  diseases,  nothing  better  can  be 
expected  of  this  drug,  and  some  other  remedy  will  have  to  be 
chosen." 

"Why  do  not  the  homeopathic  physicians  of  to-day  meet 
with  the  same  results  in  practice  ?  They  at  least  pretend  to 
follow  the  above  rules." 


624  CORRESPONDENCE. 

"I  can  only  answer  that  question  by  stating  that  their 
observations  are  not  made  with  sufficient  correctness,  hence 
the  poor  results.  It  is  much  better  to  adopt  the  advice 
Hahnemann  gave  in  the  commence^lent  of  his  practice,  and 
which  his  first  disciples  followed  without  an  exception  for 
upwards  of  twenty  years,  until  the  advent  of  the  specificists 
in  the  homeopathic  school,  namely,  to  administer  the  remedy 
in  one  dose,  or,  in  chronic  diseases  at  most  in  three  doses, 
which,  being  given  in  rapid  succession,  at  intervals  of  two  or 
four  days,  were  intended  to  represent  one  dose,  and  then  to 
watch  the  result  of  this  treatment;  I  say  it  is  much  better  to 
follow  this  course  than  to  order  several  doses  at  once  to  be 
taken  in  water.  The  best  cures  which  I  ever  performed,  were 
achieved  with  such  doses,  which  I  prefered  to  any  other 
method  of  exhibiting  remedies  in  chronic  diseases  as  well  as 
in  acute,  non-febrile  affections.  Even  in  febrile  inflamma- 
tions of  internal  organs,  after  having  subdued  the  fever  and 
the  intensity  of  the  inflammation  by  means  of  a  watery  solu- 
tion of  Aconite  or  of  some  other  suitable  remedy,  of  which  so- 
lution I  never  gave  more  than  a  teaspoonful  at  a  dose,  which 
sufficed  in  my  hands  to  cure  the  worst  kind  of  inflamma- 
tions. I  prescribed  for  the  remaining  morbid  symptoms,  a 
single  dose  dry  on  the  tongue." 

"Are  not  many  of  our  physicians  now  following  this 
same  practice?" 

"  No !  I  am  sorry  to  say  they  are  not,  and  this  is  the 
stumbling-block  to  their  success.  Our  art  is  and  always  will 
remain  an  art  of  observation^  which  has  for  its  object,  not  only 
to  investigate  the  effects  of  drugs  upon  persons  in  health,  but 
likewise  to  examine  every  individual  case  in  all  its  aspects, 
and,  after  administering  the  proper  remedy,  to  eiamine  him 
again,  in  order  to  find  out  what  further  course  the  disease  will 
take.  For  if  a  physician  is  ever  so  well  acquainted  with  the 
remedies  at  his  command,  all  he  can  do  in  spite  of  his  patient's 
case,  and  of  the  most  careful  selection  of  the  remedy,  is  to 
hope  that  the  right  remedy  has  been  found;  he  cannot  posi- 
tively know  this  till  he  sees  what  effect  the  remedy  produces," 


CORRESPONDENCE.  625 

"How  are  we  to  know  that  we  have  selected  the  proper 
remedy?' 

"There  is  no  more  certain  way,  than  to  give  only  one 
dose  of  the  remedy  by  way  of  trial  and  afterwards  to  observe 
and  watch  the  patient,  in  order  to  satisfy  ourselves  whether 
we  have  entered  upon  a  road  that  we  can  pursue  further 
without  hesitaiion  and  with  perfect  confidence." 

"Yes,  but  Doctor  how  do  you  account  for  the  good  re- 
sults which  follow  the  alternation  of  drugs?" 

"  It  is  true.  I  too  have  seen  excellent  results  obtained  by 
my  colleagues,  when  I  was  in  practice,  by  this  method,  but  I 
have  always  asked  myself  whether  they  would  not  have 
reached  their  object  more  speedily  by  giving  first  the  most 
miilable  remedy  by  itself  and  after  this  remedy  had  exhausted 
its  good  eflecta,  administering  the  other  remedy  for  the  re- 
maining symptoms." 

"How  did  you  treat  cases  of  typhoid  fever?" 

"After  having  subdued  the  fever  and  the  intensity  of  the 
inflammation  by  means  of  Aconite  or  some  other  drug,  I  then 
prescribed  for  the  remaining  morbid  symptoms,  one  dose  dry 
on  the  tongue  of  Mercurius  30,  or  some  other  remedy." 

"  Did  you  not  believe  in  alternating  in  malignant  diph- 
theria?" 

"No  Bir,  And  in  corroboration  of  this  statement,  I  wish 
to  give  you  the  experience  of  my  friend,  Dr.  Kallenbach, 
who  gave  his  diphtheritic  patients  when  the  first  severe  epi- 
demic broke  out  at  tlie  Hague,  Apis  and  Lachesis  in  alterna- 
tion, but  who  afterwards  when  he  wished  to  find  out  which 
of  these  two  remedies  really  aff'ected  the  cure,  saw  those  of 
his  patients  to  whom  he  gave  Apis  alone,  recover  in  three  or 
four  days  instead  of  six  or  eight  under  the  former  prescrip- 
tion, whereas  those  who  hud  received  Lachesis  alone,  did  not 
improve  at  all,  I  could  >;ive  you  any  number  of  instances  if 
they  were  needed,  to  convince  homeopathic  practitioners  who 
really  desire  to  make  progress  in  the  difficult  art  of  always 
selecting  the  right  remedy." 

"Why  is  it  that  our  beginners  in  Homoeopathy  do  not 


626  BOOK  NOTICES. 

appreciate  the  importance  of  the  study  of  Materia  Medica  as 
they  did  in  your  time?" 

"  I  can  only  explain  that  upon  one  theory,  and  that  is 
with  the  present  flood  of  homoeopathic  literature  that  is  forced 
upon  the  profession  from  year  to  year,  makes  the  careful 
study  of  our  pure  Materia  Medica  almost  impossible  to  the 
younger  members.  Overwhelmed  as  they  are  by  the  accum- 
ulated mass  of  drugs  and  clinical  observations  they  scarely 
know  which  way  to  turn  for  at  least  one  ray  of  light  in  the 
chaos  spread  out  before  them  and  instead  of  singling  out  a 
few  remedies  from  Hahnemann's  Materia  Medica  Pura  for 
their  particular  study,  they  prefer  having  recourse  to  some 
clinical  guide  or  repertory  where  they  can  pick  out  what  they 
require  for  the  time  being.  To  the  experienced  prescriber  to 
whom  these  repertories  are  like  sign-posts  in  the  field  of  prac- 
tice, to  the  beginner  they  never  fail  to  confound  simply  be- 
cause he  does  not  know  how  to  distinguish  the  truly  charac- 
teristic and  essential  from  the  accidental  and  non-essential. 

At  this  juncture  the  Central  oflBce  interrupted  our  con- 
versation by  stating  that  Dr.  E.  M.  Hale  had  been  waiting 
some  time  to  hold  a  controversy  with  Dr.  Jahr,  over  his 
(Hale's)  work  on  "New  Remedies,"  and  therefore  we  were 
obliged  to  discontinue  this  interesting  interview. 


<•»• 


BOOK  NOTICES. 


TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  CHIRURGICAL  SOCIETY,  1888.    VoL  IH. 

The  present  number  comes  to  us  well  freighted.  A  matter 
worthy  of  imitation  is  the  printing  of  abstracts  of  papers  and  full 
report  of  discussions.  The  science  and  art  of  surgery  makes  very 
substantial  progress  in  the  energetic  and  skillful  hands  of  our  New 
York  friends.  Their  enterprize  in  the  production  of  this  volume  is 
every  way  commendable. 


ANNALS  OF   THE  BRITISH  HOMCEOPATHIC  SOCIETY  AND  THE  LONDON 
HOMCEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL.    February,  1884. 

The  present  number  is  full  of  valuable  contributions.  They 
treat  respectively  of  Koumiss,  of  some  special  cases  of  Enteric  Fever, 
of  comparisons  in  the  treatment  of  Diphtheria.    Report  of  cases  of 


BOOK  NOTICES,  627 

Skin  Diseases,  some  additional  cases  of  Typhoid  Fever  and  a  case  of 
Aneurism  of  the  Abdominal  Aorta.  These  papers  are  some  of  them 
followed  by  brief  discussions  which  leave  us  to  wish  they  had  been 
reported  more  fully. 

AMERICAN  DRUGS  AND  MEDICINES.  Quarterly,  devoted  to  the  Medical,  Phar- 
maceutical and  Botanical  History  of  American  Drugs,  and  the  Plants  yielding 
them :  By  J.  U.  &  c.  G.  Lloyd,  180  Elm  street,  Cincinnati,  O. 

This  is  an  illustrated  32  page  quarterly.  The  engravings  are 
on  wood,  and  although  very  good,  lack  the  beauty  of  the  colored 
life-like  engravings  of  Millspaugh  (American  Medical  Plants),  now 
running  through  the  press  of  Boericke  &  Tafel.  The  list  of  con- 
tributors promises  well,  and  represents  all  schools  of  medical  prac- 
tice—Hale, Bartholow  and  Scudder — being  an  earnest  of  the  some- 
what cosmopolitan  character  of  the  journal.  The  first  number  con- 
tains engravings  of  "Clematis  vir.,"  "Phalictrum  dio.,"  "Anemone 
patens,"  the  Pulsatilla  Nuttallania,  or  American  Pulsatilla,  and 
othe.s.  It  is  well  printed,  and  the  low  price  of  $1.00  a  year  should 
ensure  many  subscribers.  We  wish  the  publishers  success  in  their 
new  enterprise.  H.  C.  A. 


COUGH  AND  EXPECTORATION.  A  Repertorial  Index  of  Their  Symptoms.  Edi- 
ted by  E.  Jenninos  Lie,  M.  D.,  assisted  by  Geo.  H.  Clakk,  M.  D.  New  York : 
A.  8.  Chatterton  Publishing  Co..  1884. 

This  work  consists  of  Part  I,  which  treats  of  cough  symptoms ; 
of  Part  II,  which  treats  of  expectoration  and  a  supplement  contain- 
ing remedies  omitted  in  the  body  of  the  work,  etc.  That  the  task  of 
arranging  this  has  been  great  is  seen  at  a  glance  and  that  the  work 
has  been  well  done  we  can  well  believe.  There  need  be  no  ques- 
tion as  to  the  value  of  such  a  work.  It  is  almost  indispensible  to 
the  busy  doctor,  for  peculiarities  can  at  once  be  found  in  prescrib- 
ing for  coughs,  that  might  otherwise  baffle  a  long  search  or  not  used 
because  not  readily  found.  Too  much  cannot  be  said  of  the  thor- 
oughly practical  character  of  such  a  repertory.  Give  it  a  place  on 
your  table  and  the  result  will  justify  the  cost  a  thousand  fold. 


BACTERIA  AND  THE  GERM  THEORY  OF  DISEASE.    By  Dr.  H.  Gradle.    W.  T. 
Keener,  Chicago. 

If  one  desires  to  become  thoroughly  posted  on  all  the  latest 
facts  and  theories  relating  to  micro-organisms  he  cannot  find  any- 
thing so  well  fitted  for  study  as  this  little  book.  It  is  truly  multum 
in  parvo.  In  a  clear  and  condensed  manner  the  field  of  modern  re- 
search is  gone  over  and  all  the  most  recent  facts  are  caref^\\\.^  wq\a^. 


628  BOOK  NOTICES. 

Since  so  much  is  being  said  and  written  upon  this  topic  at  present. 
Dr.  Gradle's  work  is  most  opportune,  and  we  would  urge  upon  our 
readers  its  great  value  for  it  is  a  reliable  resum^  and  condensation 
of  every  thing  that  has  appeared  up  to  date,  concerning  the  micro- 
germs  and  their  relation  to  disease.  While  we  have  taken  great 
pleasure  in  reading  this  book  it  has  by  no  means  convinced  us  of 
the  truth  of  the  theory,  which  makes  Bacteria  disease  producing 
agents.    Upon  that  point  we  claim  to  be  medical  agnostics. 


A  TREATISE  ON  SYPHILIS  IN  NEW  BORN  CHILDREN  AND  INFANTS  AT  THE 
BREAST.    By  P.  Diday.    Wm.  Wood  k  Co.,  New  York. 

The  importance  of  the  subject  treated  in  this  book  is  best 
known  by  those  who  have  had  much  to  do  with  hereditary  syphilis 
in  children.  There  are  few  general  practitioners  however,  who  do 
not  have  to  often  deal  with  this  form  of  disease.  It  would  be  diffi- 
cult, no  doubt  to  find  any  who  have  not  seen  cases  of  this  kind  and 
to  all  such  Diday's  work  cannot  fail  of  being  of  permanent  interest 
The  author  discusses  every  possible  phase  of  the  question  or  rather 
questions,  but  in  no  dogmatic  spirit;  but  yet,  with  a  clear  conviction 
of  his  own  opinions.  The  proofs  and  limitations  of  diagnosis  are 
worthy  of  careful  study.  The  conditions  of  transmissibility  are 
faithfully  marked  out  and  practical  illustrations  are  crowded  in  on 
almost  every  page.  When,  however,  we  come  as  inevitably  we  must 
to  the  question  of  all  questions  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  we  ob- 
serve at  once  that  Diday  has  nothing  new  to  offer  us.  It  is  the  old, 
old  story :  Mercury  and  Iodide  of  Potassium.  There  are  the  same 
worn  out  theories  and  the  usual  illustrations  which  are  supposed  to 
prove  the  value  of  this  ancient  "anti -syphilitic  treatment."  How 
long  will  it  be  before  these  learned  gentlemen,  who  like  M.  Diday, 
are  wise  enough  in  some  things,  will  learn  the  simple  truths  of 
therapeutics?  How  vastly  might  they  improve  their  work  if  only 
they  would. 


A  TREATISE  ON  UTERINE  DISPLACEMENTS:  By  S.J.  Donaldson,  M.D.,  New 
York.    Published  by  Otis  Clapp  &  Son,  Boston,  Maes. 

This  work  is  a  small  monograph  of  80  pages,  intended,  we 
should  judge,  from  the  author's  preface,  as  an  offset  for  the  "  hastily 
written  and  consequently  betraying  crudity  and  incompleteness  " 
of  a  previous  effort  of  Dr.  Donaldson's,  ContribviJIxQfM  to  PrcLcHcal 
Gynecology, 

After  a  careful  examination  of  the  work  we  came  to  the  condn- 
Bion  that  this  book,  like  the  former,  was  "  hastily  vnritten,  and  coil« 


BOOK  NOTICES.  B29 

aequeatly  betraying  crudit}'  and  incomplateness,"  and  that  the 
author  was  in  a  tranaitorj'  state  of  either  giving  ap  the  nee  of  pes- 
saries altogether  in  the  treatment  of  uterine  displacements,  or  an 
advocate  of  the  one  pessary  only,  shown  on  page  74.  We  trust  the 
good  Doctor  will  not  inflict  upon  HufTering  women  this  kind  of  an 
instrument  very  long. 

Although  the  title  of  the  work  would  lead  ub  to  expect  some 
therapeutical  treatment  in  addition  to  the  mechanical,  such  ia  not 
the  case.  The  anatomy  and  etiology  of  the  subject  is  simply  a  com- 
pilation up  to  date.  The  author's  criticiam  of  Dr.  T.  Gillard  Thomas 
is  quite  severe,  and  yet  proper,  hot  we  were  amazed  when  we  came 
to  the  treatment  of  his  suhject  to  find  Le  had  likewise  dropped  into 
the  same  error.  From  the  Doctor's  language  and  manner  of  hand- 
ling hisBubjec  ,  we  cannot  but  thinlc  he  will  soon  publish  another 
work,  stating  in  the  preface,  as  in  this  book,  "the  work  had  scarcely 
iefl  the  preps  before  I  regretted  its  publication."  P.  P. 


In  this  volume  of  216  pages  the  author  attempts  to  settle  the 
vexed  question  of  dose,  and  like  many  other  writers  on  the  same 
subject,  his  attempt  ends  in  signal  fsilnre.  He  says  that  ''among 
the  authors  consulted  are  Peri  era,  Wood,  Ringer,  Bartholow, 
Phillips,  Bering,  Hempel,  Hale,  Hughes,  Ruddock,  LlUenthal,  Jahr, 
as  well  as  many  others  of  all  shades  of  opinions."  How  a  writer  on 
homoeopathic  Materia  Medica  could  find  anything  to  aid  him  in  the 
"selectionoftheappropriateremedy,  and  attenuation"  from  Pereira, 
Wood,  Ringer,  Phillips,  etc.,  is  incomprehensible-  And  what,  we 
we  would  like  to  know,  have  Bering,  Bale,  Jahr  or  Lilietithal  done 
that  in  such  a  search  they  should  be  classed  in  such  company?  The 
nuthor  makes  the  somewhat  startling  assertion,  and  quotes  Meyer 
and  Periera  in  proof  of  it,  that  Aconite  ia  not  homceopathic  to  fever. 
He  also  says  that  Aconite,  for  instance,  should  be  used  "in  the  early 
stages  of  eimple  inflammatory  fevers,  imflammation  of  serous  roem- 
branes,pleuritis,  pneumonia,  tonsilitis,  acute  rheumatism,  erysipelas, 
etc.,  in  the  low  or  lower  attenuations,  and  in  the  highermtenuationB 
it  is  a  nervous  stimulant  and  is  adapted  to  the  disturbnuce  of  th« 
brain  and  nervous  system,  dry  cough,  etc."  He  asserts  that  "clinical 
and  empirical  symptoms  agree  or  harmonize  with  the  generic  force 
of  a  drug,hencefar  them  low  potencies  should  be  used."  This  is  the 
only  attempt  to  formulate  a  law  of  dose  or  deduce  a  rule  for  the 
administration  «[  high  or  low  attenuations.     His  ip»f  dixil,  drawn 


630  EDITORS  TABLE. 

from  his  experience,  is  all  he  gives  us.  To  arbitrarily  say  that  such 
a  drug  should  be  given  in  certain  diseases  inhighj  and  in  others  in 
low  attenuations,  is  a  very  easy  and  simple  method  of  settling  a 
vexed  question. 

Dr.  Underwood  evidently  bases  his  classification  of  drugs  as 
to  dose  on  their  peculiar  action  on  the  neryous  system.  This  asser- 
tion is  not  more  absurd  than  that  Aconite  is  not  homoeopathic  to 
fever,  because  some  allopathic  writers  have  been  unable  to  find  the 
products  of  inflammation  in  cases  of  death  from  poisoning  with 
Aconite.  We  have  no  recorded  cases  of  albuminuria  from  poison- 
ings with  Apis,  and  yet  it  has  cured  many  cases  of  albuminuria. 
Spigelia  has  not  developed  organic  valvular  diseases,  but  it  has 
notwithstanding  cured  many  cases  of  organic  disease  of  the  valves. 
We  do  not  think  the  classification  here  ofi'ered  a  practical  one.  We 
would  not  like  to  be  confined  to  the  '*  low  or  lower  "  attenuations  of 
Aconite  and  Bryonia  in  pleuritis,  croup  or  pneumonia,  because  the 
author  thinks  it  is  the  rule  to  follow.  The  author  appears  to  be 
earnest  and  honest  in  his  opinions,  but  like  many  others  on  this 
same  question  we  think  he  is  honestly  mistaken.  It  is  doubtful  if 
this  book  will  aid  much  in  the  settlement  of  the  question  of  attenu- 
tions.    The  publishers  have  done  their  work  well.       H.  C.  A. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


Dr.  W.  W.  Walker  has  removed  to  Port  Sarnia. 

Dr.  E.  F.  Beck  with  has  taken  Dr.  Walker's  practice  at  Muir, 
Mich. 

McGregor,  la.,  is  reported  in  want  of  a  first  class  physician. 
Address  Rev.  A.  S.  Church. 

Married. — Mr.  Theodore  Engelbach  and  Miss  Emily  Maier  of 
New  Orleans,  March  27, 1884. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  beef  tea  was  invented  about  the 
time  Henry  VIII.  dissolved  the  Papal  bull. 

The  Cincinnati  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society  passed  appre- 
ciative resolutions  upon  the  death  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Pulte. 

T.  Engelbach  who  has  been  connected  with  Boericke  &  Tafel's 
pharmaicies  for  the  last  15  years,  now  succeds  them  as  proprietor. 
We  wish  him  success. 

W.  E.  Vananda,  M.  D.,  (U.  of  M.)  has  recently  enjoyed  the 
pleasure  of  a  trial  for  mal  practice,  and  what  is  still  better  he  com- 
pletely defeated  his  enemies.    Congratulations,  doctor. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  631 

Removed  :  C.  C.  Pillsbury,  M.  D.,  locates  at  Ypsilanti  instead  of 
Mt.  Clemens.  Dr.  Folsom,  formerly  of  Minneapolis,  takes  Dr. 
Pillsbury's  place  at  Mt.  Clemens. 

Dr.  Thomas  Young  to  Columbus,  Ohio. 

The  Twentieth  Annual  Session  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical 
Society  of  Ohio  will  be  held  in  Cleveland,  May  13th  and  14th,  1884. 
We  would  like  to  see  every  Homoeopathic  Physician  in  the  State  at 
this  meeting.  H.  E.  Beebe,  Secretary. 

Hahnemann  Medical  Association  of  Iowa,  will  hold  its  15th 
Annual  Session  in  Des  Moines  on  May  28,  29,  30.  R.  F.  Baker,  M. 
D.,  of  Davenport,  President;  S.  E.  Nixon,  M.  D.,  of  Burlington, 
Sec*y.  A  big  rally  is  looked  for. 

The  Minnesota  State  Homoeopathic  Institute  will  hold  its  18th 
Annual  Session  in  Minneapolis,  May  20,  21.  President,  Henry 
Hutchinson,  M.  D.;  Secretary,  Arthur  A.  Camp,  M.  D.  The  bill  of 
fare  is  aopelizing.    Our  Minnesota  doctors  turn  out  well. 

State  Societies. — A  State  Society  for  Texas  was  organized  in 
Austin,  May  1  and  2.    The  bill  of  fare  was  excellent. 
Michigan  State  Society  in  Detroit,  May  20  and  21. 
Wisconsin  State  Society,  in  Milwaukee  June  4  and  5. 

Owing  to  continued  ill  health  Dr.  S.  S.  Lungren,  of  Toledo,  Ohio, 
has  been  compelled  to  give  up  his  practice  and  will  visit  Europe  for 
a  period  of  two  or  three  months,  sailing  on  the  '*  Amamie"  of  the 
Cunard  line  April  30th.  We  wish  the  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Lungren 
bon-voyage, 

Hahnemann's  Birthday^  It  appears  that  our  brethren  of 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  also  kept  in  due  remembrance  the  129th 
birthday  of  the  founder  of  Homoeopathy.  Judging  from  the  card, 
they  had  a  big,  big  time.  Dr.  W.  E.  Leonard  is  our  informant  and 
he  can  be  relied  on. 

A  good  well  established  practice  in  a  live  city  of  5,000  inhabi- 
tants, in  fine  farming  country  well  settled,  together  with  a  fine 
home,  also  office  furniture,  fixtures,  and  medicines,  can  be  had  for 
$3,000,  $2,200  cash,  balance  on  long  time.  For  particulars  address, 
J.  M.  Larrabee,  M.  D.,  Maryville,  Nodaway  Co.  Mo. 

The  compliments  of  Prof.  A.  C.  Cowperthwaite  and  wife  to  the 
members  of  the  American  Institute  and  their  families  Deer  Park, 
Monday  evening,  June  16, 1884.  Assisted  by  the  following  officers 
of  the  B.  &  0.  R.  R.  Co. :  J.  G.  Pangborn  and  wife  ;  G.  H.  Dearborn 
and  wife,  and  W.  J.  Walker  and  wife. 

The  First  Annual  Announcement  of  the  Hahnemann  Medical 
College  of  San  Francisco,  session  1884-85.    Thia  Voo\L^\\>B^^\i^v^vcL^«8^ 


632  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

If  the  early  bird  catches  the  worm  the  early  announcement  like 
this  should  catch  some  students  and  we  sincerely  hope  the  new 
College  may  catch  it  full  of  them,  and  that  there  may  never,  never, 
never  be  a  row  in  the  faculty. 

The  Irving  Library. — Mr.  John  B.  Alden,  of  New  York,  is  pub- 
lishing a  large  amount  of  the  choicest  literature  at  a  price  that  is 
the  wonder  of  the  age.  History,  poetry,  romance,  science  and  relig- 
ion are  included,  and  all  of  the  first  quality,  most  of  it  in  fact  stand- 
ard works.  What  is  often  paid  for  single  books,  will  here  purchase 
a  considerable  library.  Send  Mr.  Alden,  (18  Vesey  street.  New 
York)  your  name  and  see  what  he  can  offer  you. 

At  the  33d  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  So- 
ciety of  the  State  of  New  York,  Feb.  12  and  13  last,  the  following 
officers  were  elected :  President,  Edward  S.  Coburn,  M.  D.,  91  Fourth 
St.,  Troy ;  Vice  Presidents,  Henry  C.  Houghton,  M.  D.,  12  W.  39th 
St.,  New  York;  H.  M.  Day  fort,  M.  D.,  Rochester;  A.  P.  Hollett,  M. 
D.,  Havana;  Secretary,  John  L.  Moffat,  M.  D.,  17  Schermerhorn  St., 
Brooklyn ;  Treasurer,  H.  L.  Waldo,  M.  D.,  West  Troy.  The  next 
semi-annual  meeting  will  be  held  at  Binghamton,  Sept.  9  and  10, 
1884,  and  the  Annual  Meeting  at  Albany  on  the  second  Tuesdav  and 
Wednesday  of  February  next. 
T.  P.  WiuoN,  M.  D.«  Dean  of  the  Homoeopathic  Dept,  Michigan  Univenlty. : 

Dear  Sir — At  their  annual  meeting,  the  Faculty  of  the  New 
York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  carefully  considered  their  posi- 
tion in  regard  to  endorsing  the  diplomas  of  other  colleges,  which, 
you  remember,  was  discussed  in  the  Intercollegiate  Committee  at 
the  last  meeting  of  the  Institute,  and  unanimously  resolved — that, 
hereafter  the  Dean  of  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College 
will  endorse,  without  examination  of  the  applicants,  the  diplomas 
of  all  Colleges  represented  in  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeo- 
pathy. Edgar  V.  Moffat,  Secretary. 

M.  Malherbe,  in  a  recent  Thise  de  Paris,  remarks  that  the  fre- 
quency of  the  pulse  in  this  disease  is  not  always  in  proportion  with 
the  elevation  of  temperature.  The  temperature  often  becomes  very 
high  without  a  corresponding  change  in  the  pulse  and  inversely, 
the  pulse  may  become  very  much  accelerated  without  any  extra 
elevation  of  temperature.  In  any  febrile  affection  where,  with  a 
high  temperature,  the  pulse  remains  almost  normal  in  frequency, 
typhoid  fever  should  be  thought  of.  The  prognosis  is  not  generally 
bad  when  the  pulse  remains  at  80  or  90 beats  per  minute,  even  when 
the  temperature  amounts  to  104°  or  lOS*'.  But  when  the  pulse  is 
very  frequent  in  conjunction  with  this  high  temperature,  then  the 


EDITORS  TABLE,  633 

prognosis  is  grave.  When,  on  the  other  hand,  the  temperature 
suddenly  falls,  while  the  pulse  remains  very  frequent,  the  prognosis 
is  equally  grave.  P.  P. 

Canadian  medical  schools  maintain  a  higher  standard  of  edu- 
cation than  those  of  this  country. — Medical  Era,  The  high  standard 
above  referred  to  belongs  almost  exclusively  to  the  Province  of 
Ontario.  It  is  provincial  not  national,  applies  only  to  Ontario  as 
the  Board  of  Health  laws  apply  only  to  Illinois.  The  matriculation 
examination  is  the  highest  of  any  on  the  continent,  but  in  atten- 
dance on  lectures  the  requirements  are  not  so  high  as  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan.  The  Ontario  law  requires  attendance  upon 
four  courses  of  six  months  each — 24  months — while  the  University 
of  Michigan  requires  three  courses  of  nine  months  each — 27  months. 
The  amount  of  practical  work  demanded  of  the  student  is  much 
greater  in  the  University  of  Michigan  than  in  the  Ontario  colleges. 

One  hundred  and  fifty-eight  students  graduated  from  the  two 
Chicago  colleges  this  spring. — Medical  Era.  Query:  How  many 
would  have  graduated  under  the  requirements  of  Ontario  or  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan? 

Sbo'y  of  Board  op  U.  S.  Examining  Surgeons.  \ 

Coventry,  Vt.,  Jan.  7, 1884.     j 
J.  A.  McArthur,  M.  D.  : 

Having  used  your  valuable  combination  of  Hypophosphites  of 
Lime  and  Soda  for  more  than  a  year,  I  would  like  to  report  to  you 
one  case  in  particular  and  then  ask  a  question. 

In  June  last  I  was  called  to  see  a  young  man  aged  18,  whose 
mother  and  one  brother  had  died  of  phthisis.  I  found  him  suffer- 
ing from  severe  pleuritic  pain,  night  sweats,  severe,  distressing 
cough  and  profuse  expectoration,  characteristic  of  first  stage  in 
phthisis.  Tongue  coated,  pulse  128  to  130,  temperature  105  deg.  at 
night.  Profuse  crepitus  in  lower  half  of  left  lung,  dullness  on  per- 
cussion over  almost  entire  left  side.  Intercostal  depression  marked 
on  left  mam.nary,  extending  backward  into  left  axillary  region.  No 
appetite,  and  general  facial  expression  of  rapid  emaciation,  etc.  I 
begari  the  use  of  your  Syrup  Hypophos.  Comp.,  and  continned  it 
four  months,  using  some  other  means  for  night  sweats  and  such 
other  conditions  as  seemed  to  require  special  attention.  To-day 
the  young  man  is  about  the  farm  doing  light  work.  Appetite 
excellent;  no  cough;  no  night  sweats;  the  wasting  of  lung  sub- 
stance is  arrested,  leaving  dullness  in  left  lower  lung ;  vesicular 
murmur  gone.  The  disease  is  arrested  at  least,  and  he  has 
increased  in  weight  43  pounds.  I  have  used  the  Syrup  in  five  other 
cases  during  1883,  with  the  most  gratifying  results. 


634  EDITORS  TABLE. 

HO  !    FOR  DEER  PARK. 

It  must  be  clearly  apparent  that  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad 
Company  is  determined  to  leave  nothing  undone  to  render  the 
Annual  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  at  Deer  Park,  in  June,  the  most 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  organization.  Not  only  has  the 
week  to  be  spent  in  the  mountains  been  planned  to  insure  the 
greatest  enjoyment,  but  in  the  journey  to  this  lovely  resort  every 
detail  has  been  carefully  looked  to.  At  no  extra  expense  whatever 
to  those  participating,  advantages  have  been  vouchsafed  which 
cannot  but  meet  with  the  heartiest  endorsement.  A  special  train 
of  magnificent  new  cars,  and  with  every  facility  for  the  fullest 
enjoyment,  will  be  run  from  Chicago  to  Deer  Park  for  the  exclusive 
use  of  the  members  and  their  families.  The  train  will  leave  the 
new  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Depot,  on  the  Lake  Front,  foot  of  Madison 
street,  at  four  o'.clock,June  15,  and  will  run  through  on  special  time, 
arriving  at  Grafton  in  good  season  the  following  morning  for  break- 
fast, thence  on  to  Deer  Park.  Stops  for  brief  inspection  will  be 
made  at  the  most  noted  centres  of  picturesque  interest  in  the  Alle- 
ghanies,  and  arrival  at  destination  will  be  before  noon.  It  is  par- 
ticularly important  that  it  be  known  at  the  earliest  possible  date 
the  number  to  be  provided  fot  on  the  special  train.  To  this  end  it 
is  urgently  requested  that  notification  be  sent  to  Prof.  A.  C.  Cow- 
perthwaite,  Iowa  city,  la.,  of  intention  to  go  upon  the  Special,  and 
the  sleeping  car  accommodation  desired.  First  in  will  be  first 
recorded  on  the  sleeping  car  charts.  The  Railroad  Company  will  do 
all  wi'hin  its  power  to  add  to  the  pleasure  and  convenience  of  the 
Association,  and  only  requests  in  return  that  co-operation  which 
will  leave  not  the  slightest  question  as  to  a  successful  result.  A 
general  officer  of  the  Company  will  visit  Chicago  for  the  express 
purpose  of  accompanying  the  party  to  ^he  mountains,  and  through- 
out the  entire  journey  officials  of  the  road  will  pay  every  attention 
to  details,  looking  to  the  fullest  satisfaction  of  all.  The  programme 
for  the  entertainment,  especially  of  the  ladies,  during  the  session  of 
the  Institute  at  Deer  Park,  will  be  announced  hereafter;  and  if,  in 
its  entirety,  the  week  in  the  mountains  is  not  voted  beyond  all 
comparison  the  most  attractive  and  enjoyable  known  of  any  meet- 
ing, it  will  be  by  no  means  the  fault  of  the  Railroad  Company  and 
managament  of  Deer  Park.  Those  who  cannot  arrange  to  go  upon 
the  special  train  can  leave  Chicago  on  the  regular  trains  of  the 
B.  &  0.,  leaving  Chicago  as  follows:  8:10  a.  m.,  daily,  except  Sunday  ; 
5:10  and  11:10  p.  m.  daily.  The  rates  are  exceedingly  low,  one  half 
the  regular  fare  or  one  usual  fare  for  the  round  trip. 


T.  P.  WIIJM>]f ,  ■.  D.. 


Vol.  XIV. 


Ann  Arbor,  Jitne,  1 


No.  12. 


All  subaorlptionB  and  business  oommuntoatloiis  stiould 
be  addressed  to  MBDIOAL  ADYANOB  PUBLISaiNO  OO., 
Ann  Arbor,  Mloh.    Subsoiiption,  83. OO  per  annunL 

H.  O.  ALLEN.  M.  D.,  Buelnesa  Hanaffer. 


Principles  of  Medicine,  No.  2. — That  Medicine  is  a 
Bcience  and  not  simply  an  art  has  been  again  and  again 
denied  by  those  who  were  high  in  authority.  But  to  give 
it  place  in  the  list  of  modem  sciences  it  is  necessary  only 
to  show  that  Medicine  in  all  its  departments  rests  upon 
scientific  principles — that  is  upon  natural  laws.  By  the  slow 
but  sure  processee  of  evolution,  Anatomy,  Physiolt^y  and 
Pathology  have  come  to  a  development  that  entitles  them  to 
be  called  sciences.  They  have  simply  come  out  of  a  condi- 
tion of  chaos  into  a  condition  of  orderly  arranged  facts. 
They  are  sciences  because  we  no  longer  guess  them ;  we  know 
them.  They  each  follow  well-known  laws  in  their  develop- 
ment. If  now  we  can  demonstrate  that  therapeutics  rests 
upon  law,  we  shall  succeed  in  placing  Medicine  un  a  plane 
common  to  all  the  accepted  natural  sciences.  The  desira- 
bility of  this  cannot  be  questioned  by  any  one.  From  Hip- 
pocrates down,  this  has  been  the  dream  of  medical  t&^fx.  %>^ 


636  EDITORIAL, 

finding  and  applying  such  a  law  we  give  exactness  and 
consequent  success  to  therapeutics  it  could  not  otherwise 
have.  But  no  natural  law  can  be  said  to  be  self-evident. 
Every  such  law  is  built  out  of  an  aggregation  of  facts,  and 
these  facts  must  first  be  fully  understood.  A  blind  faith 
may  accept  an  alleged  law  upon  some  irresponsible  ipsi  dixit, 
and  indeed,  this  is  the  general  attitude  assumed  by  most 
minds,  but  the  genuine  student  of  Medicine  demands  knowl- 
edge before  he  is  willing  to  give  his  belief  If,  then,  Medicine 
is  a  science,  its  facts  are  capable  of  demonstration;  and  for 
its  enforcement  it  can  have  no  higher  authority  than  Nature. 
For  over  two  thousand  years  medicax  art  proved  of  little 
avail  because  it  was  hopelessly  entangled  in  the  meshes  of 
elaborately  woven  theories,  any  one  of  which  being  broken, 
only  gave  place  to  other  and  more  intricate  theories  out  of 
which  the  physician  could  find  no  means  of  escape.  It  is 
not  difiicult  to  see,  however,  in  the  past  history  of  Medicine 
a  steady  process  of  evolution  in  which  more  and  more  med- 
ical art  was  working  toward  that  state  of  freedom,  which 
could  be  obtained  only  by  abandoning  the  false  teachings  of 
false  philosophies  and  allying  itself  to  science.  Anatomy 
and  Physiology  broke  the  shackles  of  ignorance  and  super- 
stition with  which  they  were  bound  so  many  centuries  and 
became  realities  when  they  went  to  the  dissecting  room  and 
laboratories  and  proved  the  facts  upon  which  they  are  built. 
It  was  reserved  to  Hahnemann  to  lift  Materia  Medica  out  of 
the  quagmire  of  superstition  and  to  give  it  a  solid  foundation. 
In  the  track  of  these  must  follow  a  scientific  Therapeutics. 
Empericism,  the  legitimate  precursor  of  all  the  sciences 
must  here,  as  elsewhere,  give  way  to  the  reign  of  law.  It  is 
the  province  of  the  Principles  of  Medicine  to  discuss  and 
elucidate  the  laws  which  we  obtain  in  the  cure  of  disease. 


University  of  Michigan,  Homcbopathic  Department. 
— The  tenth  annual  announcement  of  our  school  is  out.  It 
will  repay  those  who  are  interested  in  medical  education  to 
compare  the  oppoilunities  here  ofiered  with  those  of  other 


EDITORIAL.  637 

schools.  No  doubt  each  of  our  medical  colleges  has  its 
strong  points.  There  must  be  something  worthy  of  the 
attention  and  patronage  of  the  profession  in  every  school 
that  hopes  to  obtain  permanency  and  success  among  our  ed- 
ucational institutions.  Of  the  Ann  Arbor  school — for  by  this 
title  is  our  school  most  widely  known — it  is  enough  to  say  that 
it  offers  and  can  secure  a  higher  medical  education  for  men 
AND  WOMEN.  That  "  higher  medical  education  "  includes  far 
more  than  we  have  room  to  even  specify  in  this  brief  article. 
The  University  of  Michigan  undertook  at  an  early  date  to 
practically  solve  the  problem  of  co-education.  It  is  years 
since  its  doors  were  first  fully  opened  to  women.  And  now, 
as  our  worthy  President  remarked,  they  blossom  like  June 
roses  in  all  our  halls  and  recitation  rooms.  In  every  depart- 
ment of  the  University  they  hold  place  and  power.  In  our 
medical  school  they  have  full  rights  and  privileges,  and  we 
can  truthfully  say,  that  their  presence  and  co-operation  in  no 
sense  detracts  from,  but  in  all  respects  enhances  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  others.  This  much  is  settled:  Whatever 
doors  are  closed  against  women,  this  University  will  keep  its 
doors  open  to  all  without  regard  to  sex,  color  or  nationality, 
or  any  other  false  standard  of  requirements.  It  does,  how- 
ever, demand  qualification.  Every  student  must  possess  a  fit- 
ness in  moral  character  and  in  educational  acquirements.  If 
English  is  his  mother  tongue,  he  must  master  it  before 
matriculation.  Once  admitted,  the  student  finds  a  compre- 
hensive curriculum  spread  out  before  him  and  he  will  be 
invited  to  enter  upon  nine  months  of  earnest  labor.  This 
may  seem  a  heavy  task,  but  it  is  not  so.  The  brief  vacations 
scattered  here  and  there  give  needed  rest  and  tend  to  sharpen 
the  zest  for  subsequent  study.  The  collegiate  year  is  divided 
into  semesters,  each  having  its  own  work,  and  at  the  end  of 
which  the  student  makes  his  final  examination  of  that  half 
of  the  year.  Of  the  ability  of  the  faculty  it  would  not  become 
us  to  speak.  As  teachers  of  long  experience  in  other  schools 
before  coming  to  this  University,  the  professors  of  Ui^  ^otcksa- 
opathic  Department  may  justly  claim  tti^  coxAdLfcxiftfe  <A  'Ccift 


638  F.  H.  ORME,  M.  Z>.,  OF  ATLANTA,  OA. 

profession  and  respect  of  the  students.  Of  the  clinical  work 
of  this  school  something  demands  to  be  said.  Because  Ann 
Arbor  is  a  city  of  only  10,000  population  it  is  asserted  that 
we  cannot  give  adequate  clinical  instruction — that  we  have 
not  the  material  in  patients,  etc.,  such  as  may  be  found  in 
our  larger  cities.  To  all  this  we  need  only  reply  that  our 
clinical  hours  are  always  more  than  ftill.  If  we  had  more 
patients  we  could  not  utilize  them.  Our  Hospital  adjacent 
to  and  opening  directly  into  our  amphitheatre,  together  with 
our  out  patients,  give  us  an  abundance  of  diseases  and  oper- 
ations. It  cannot  truthfullv  be  said  of  our  school  that  it 
lacks  in  clinical  advantages.  We  have  repeatedly  been  urged 
to  set  forth  more  fully  than  is  done  in  the  annual  announce- 
ment the  status  of  our  school.  For  years  the  medical  pro- 
fession has  loudly  demanded  a  higher  standard  of  medical 
education.  We  desire  to  have  it  known  that  as  part  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  and  amply  endowed  by  the  State, 
our  school  offers  what  is  so  earnestly  desired,  and  we  tender 
in  good  faith,  with  an  ability  to  make  our  tender  good,  a 

HIGHER  MEDICAL  EDUCATION  FOR  MEN  AND  WOMEN. 


4«»> 


F.  H.  ORME,  M.  D.,  OF  ATLANTA,  GA. 


The  professional  life  of  Dr.  Orme  commenced  with  his 
entrance  as  a  student  into  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Gilbert, 
of  Savannah,  Ga.,  in  April,  1860.  (Dr.  Gilbert  had  been  a 
student  with  the  late  Dr.  John  F.  Gray,  of  New  York,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  to  learn  of  homoeopathy  from  Dr.  Gram, 
the  first  to  prescribe  upon  the  homoeopathic  method  in 
America.  Dr.  Gilbert  had  been  graduated  from  the  Univer- 
sity Medical  College  of  New  York,  and  settled  in  Savannah 
in  1842 — being  the  pioneer  of  homoeopathy  in  Georgia). 

Receiving  his  diploma  from  the  University  Medical  Col- 
lege of  New  York  in  the  spring  of  1854,  Dr.  Orme  at  once 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  preceptor's  successor,  Dr.  Wm. 
H.  Banks,  a  physician  of  large  practice  in  Savannah. 


F.  H.  ORME,  M.  /).,  OF  ATLANTA,  QA.  639 

His  first  year  was  one  of  severe  trial,  being  the  year  in 
which  the  most  violent  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  ever  known 
to  the  city  occurred.  Eight  physicians  and  two  medical 
students,  engaged  in  assisting  their  preceptors,  lost  their 
lives  with  the  fever  during  that  season.  This  was  a  fearful 
mortality  among  physicians  in  a  city  of  about  twenty  thous- 
and people.  But  two  physicians  escaped  the  fever — both 
men  of  advanced  years.  Of  course  Dr.  Orme  suffered  from 
it,  having  a  very  severe  attack,  from  which,  with  careful 
attention,  he  recovered.  (He  also  had  it  again  during  the 
epidemic  of  1868). 

He  was,  during  two  weeks  of  the  worst  of  the  plague, 
the  only  one  of  five  homoeopathic  physicians  in  the  city  who 
was  able  to  attend  to  patients.  This  threw  upon  him  more 
than  he  was  able  to  attend  to — ^but  he  did  nobly,  with  the 
result  of  being  well  established  in  practice  by  the  end  of  the 
season — Homoeopathy  having  made  a  good  record  in  its 
grapple  with  the  disease. 

From  considerations  of  health  and  family,  he  moved  to 
Atlanta  in  1861,  at  which  point  he  has  continued  in  his  pro- 
fession, to  which  he  is  strongly  attached,  doing  much  for 
the  spread  of  Homoeopathy  in  the  south. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Homoeopathic  Yellow  Fever 
Commission,  composed  of  eleven  prominent  physicians 
(four  of  whom  are  ex-presidents  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Homoeopathy)  which  met  at  New  Orleans  in  1878. 

His  membership  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoe- 
opathy having  commenced  in  1859,  he  will  class  with  the 
** seniors"  from  June,  1884.  Since  his  connection  with  the 
Institute,  he  has  furnished  many  valuable  papers  to  different 
bureaus,  and  held  positions  of  honor.  He  takes  much 
interest  in  this  national  organization,  of  which  he  is  one  of 
the  Board  of  Censors,  and  considers  it  a  labor  of  love  to  do 
any  committee  or  bureau  work  assigned  to  him. 

Being  located  at  the  capital  of  his  state,  he  has  been 
instrumental  in  defeating  many  bills  introduced  m\/c^  '^^^ 
Legislature,  which  were  unjust  and  unfaNOT«^A^\ft\iOTas»«V^- 


640      MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATAIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

thy;  at  the  same  time  influential  in  the  passage  of  our  pres- 
ent laws. 

He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Atlanta  Medical  Club, 
and  in  sundry  ways  has  contributed  largely  to  the  spread 
and  respectability  of  Homoeopathy  in  Georgia.  Although 
his  practice  is  such  as  to  occupy  the  most  of  his  time,  his 
contributions  to  medical  literature  are  by  no  means  few. 
This  is  but  a  brief  sketch  of  a  very  able,  influential  man, 
who  by  his  examplary  character,  exceptionally  clear  and 
forcible  writings,  and  devotion  to  his  work,  to  his  family 
and  to  his  friends,  is  a  worthy  representative  of  a  noble 
profession. 

Dr.  Orme's  family  consists  of  his  wife  (who  was  Miss 
Ellen  V.  Woodward,  of  Beaufort  Dist.,  S.  C,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  1867),  a  daughter  of  sixteen,  (Lillie),  and  a  son 
(Frank)  of  thirteen. 

MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY, 


SYNOPSIS  OF  PROCEEDINGS. 


Tuesday  morning.  May  20,  the  fifteenth  annual  session 
of  this  Society  began  in  the  Royal  Templar  hall,  Detroit. 
There  were  about  forty  members  present  when  the  society 
was  called  to  order  by  the  president,  Dr.  R.  B.  House,  of 
Tecumseh.  Dr.  Phil.  Porter,  president  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Michigan,  in  behalf  of  the  pro- 
fession of  Detroit,  extended  a  hearty  welcome  to  the  society. 
He  noticed  the  significant  fact  that  on  this,  the  fifteenth 
annual  session,  the  homoeopathic  profession  in  the  State  were 
fifteen  times  stronger  in  number  and  influence  than  when 
this  society  was  organized  :  and,  with  pardonable  pride, 
pointed  to  the  rapid  extension  of  the  system  of  practice  in 
the  State,  and  especially  to  the  position  it  had  obtained  in 
the  University.  He  thought  much  of  this  progress  was  to 
be  attributed  to  its  medical  societies,  which  should  be  en- 
couraged and  maintained^  not  alone  from  a  scientific  stand- 


MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,     641 

point,  but  for  the  purpose  of  cementing  together  the  mem- 
bers of  the  profession.  He  concluded  a  short  and  practical 
address  by  warmly  thanking  the  members  present  for  attend- 
ance, and  wishing  them  a  pleasant  and  profitable  session. 

Dr.  House,  in  replying  to  the  addreds  of  welcome,  re- 
ferred to  the  many  new  faces  that  had  been  added  to  the 
society  since  the  last  session  in  Detroit,  five  years  ago.  He 
was  sure  that  the  hospitality  of  their  Detroit  brethren  would 
be  thoroughly  enjoyed  as  doctors  only  knew  how. 

Ajfter  the  roll  call,  the  secretary  read  the  minutes  of 
previous  session,  made  up,  he  said,  through  the  courtesy  of 
The  Advance  and  Counselor^  as  he  had  never  been  able  to 
obtain  any  minutes  from  the  former  secretary. 

Dr.  Porter  moved  that  a  committee  of  two  be  appointed 
to  examine  the  minutes  as  prepared  by  the  secretary.  The 
Chair  appointed  Drs.  McGuire  and  Wilson. 

The  report  of  the  secretary  showed  an  expenditure  dur- 
ing the  year  of,  $14.51 ;  while  that  of  the  corresponding 
secretary  was  $11.25.  On  motion,  the  reports  were  accepted 
and  referred  to  the  Auditing  Committee.  On  account  of  ab- 
sence, on  motion,  the  report  of  treasurer  was  deferred  until 
afternoon.  The  president  appointed  Drs.  A.  R.  Wheeler,  of 
St.  Louis,  B.  H.  Lawson,  of  Brighton,  and  L.  M.  Jones,  of 
Brooklyn,  as  auditing  committee. 

Report  of  reception  of  delegates  to  this  society  being  in 
order :  Dr.  E.  P.  Gaylord,  delegate  from  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons,  made  a  brief  verbal  report  of  prosperity, 
and  much  interest  taken  in  the  weekly  meetings  of  their  so- 
ciety. Dr.  J.  G.  Gilchrist  made  a  verbal  report  as  delegate 
from  Iowa  State  University.  Dr.  W.  A.  Phillips  represented 
the  Cleveland  Hospital  College,  and  Dr.  T.  P.  Wilson,  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan.  The  committe  to  examine  the  secretary's 
minutes,  reported  them  correct,  except  such  as  referred  to 
Dr.  Morley,  as  it  does  not  appear  that  he  was  a  member,  and, 
on  motion,  his  name  was  stricken  from  the  minutes  wherever 
it  appears,  after  which,  the  report  of  the  committee  was 
adopted. 


642     MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

On  reports  of  delegates  to  other  societies,  Dr.  Gilchrist 
and  Dr.  Bailey  reported  as  delegates  to  Ohio  State  Society, 
and  Dr.  Gilchrist  as  delegate  to  the  Legislature  to  secure  the 
passage  of  asylum  bill. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Wilson,  the  reading  of  papers  was 
limited  to  fifteen  minutes,  and  the  discussion  thereon  to  five 
minute  speeches. 

BUREAU  OF  SURGERY. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  read  a  paper  on  "  Resection  vs.  Amputa- 
tion," in  which  he  claimed  many  advantages  for  the  former 
over  the  latter.  In  all  cases  in  which  there  was  any  doubt 
as  to  which  operation  should  be  performed,  the  benefit  of 
the  doubt  should  be  given  the  patient.  The  paper  was 
briefly  discussed  by  Dr.  Bailey.  A  member  asked  for  Dr. 
Gilchrist's  method  of  dressing  in  resection  of  shoulder  or  hip, 
to  which  he  replied  that  he  was  not  a  believer  in  or  advocate 
of  the  use  antiseptics.  He  dressed  with  Hypericum  at  first, 
and  later  with  Calendula,  which  was  our  great  vulnerary. 
These  had  given  him  good  results,  and,  under  our  law  of 
cure,  he  thought  we  should  use  them  instead  of  the  fashion- 
able antiseptics  of  the  other  school. 

This  closed  the  Bureau  of  Surgery,  and  the  Bureau  of 
Ophthalmology  was  taken  up  by  a  paper  by  Dr.  T.  P.  Wil- 
son, on  "  The  Relation  of  the  Specialist  to  the  General  Prac- 
titioner in  Eye  Diseases,"  in  which  he  contended  that, 
although  this  department  was  now  so  generally  given  up 
to  the  specialists,  it  was  one  to  which  the  general  practi- 
tioner not  only  could  but  should  successfully  apply  him- 
self. Especially  was  this  true  in  all  the  diseases— the  ma- 
jority of  all  the  afiections  of  the  eye — of  the  external  struc- 
tures, such  as  inflammations  of  the  conjunctiva,  cornea,  iris, 
etc.,  while  the  diseases  of  the  deeper  tissues  and  the  errors 
of  refraction  would  still  be  left,  and  very  properly  left,  to  the 
specialist.  The  study  and  successful  treatment  of  the  latter 
required  special  preparation. 

Discussed  by  Drs.  McGuire,  Phillips,  Gilchrist,  Bailey 
and  Wilson. 


MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,     643 

The  President  called  the  society  to  order  promptly  at 
2  p.  M.,  with  a  report  of  the  Board  of  Censors,  and  Drs. 
Famsworth,  Cleveland,  Cooper,  and  Kasselman  were  elected 
members. 

The  Bureau  of  0.  and  0.  continued  its  report  with  a 
paper  by  Dr.  McGuire  on  "  Jequirity  in  Granular  Lids." 

Dr.  Wilson  asked  the  author  what  he  meant  by  applying 
it  in  a  slovenly  manner? 

Dr.  McGuire  replied,  "  applications  by  means  of  rags, 
etc." 

Dr.  Wilson — But  De  Wecker  recommends  it  to  be  ap- 
plied with  a  linen  rag. 

Dr.  Phillips  had  only  tried  it  in  four  cases,  successful  in 
three,  but  failed  in  one.  In  reply  to  a  question,  Dr.  Philips 
said  he  had  never  succeeded  in  a  single  case  in  curing 
granular  lids  with  internal  remedies  alone.  Had  treated 
some  cases  that  he  could  control  for  a  year  or  a  year  and  a 
half,  and  was  then  compelled  to  resort  to  topical  applica- 
tions.   Bureau  closed. 

Bureau  of  Pathology  had  a  single  paper,  by  Dr.  T.  P. 
Wilson,  "  What  of  The  Baccillus  Tuberculosis,"  which  was 
read  and  referred. 

The  committee  reported  the  following  names  as  chair- 
men of  the  respective  bureaus  for  next  session.  Pathology, 
B.  L.  Cleveland,  East  Saginaw;  Surgery,  H.  L.  Obetz,  Ann 
Arbor;  Ophthalmology  and  Otology,  T.  P.  Wilson,  Ann  Ar- 
bor; Mental  and  Nervous  Diseases,  A.  A.  Allen,  St.  Johns; 
Paedology,  R.  C  Olin,  Detroit ;  Materia  Medica,  C.  C.  Miller, 
Detroit;  Theory  and  Practice,  W.  E.  Clark.  Three  Rivers; 
Gynaecology,  Newton  Baldwin,  Ann  Arbor;  Microscopy,  J, 
O.  Gilchrist,  Detroit;  Registration  and  Statistics,  A.  R. 
Wheeler,  St.  Louis;   Necrologist,  P.  WoodruflF,  Detroit. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  memorialize  the  next  leg- 
islature to  secure  the  passage  of  a  law  providing  for  the  better 
payment  by  the  courts  of  law  for  suitable  expert  medical 
witnesses,  their  payment  being  at  present  left  to  the  discre- 
tion of  the  judges. 


644     MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPA  THIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

THE  president's  ADDRESS. 

The  president,  Dr.  House,  then  delivered  the  annual  ad- 
dress, in  which  he  stated  the  conviction  that  Homeopathy 
had  made  considerable  progress  during  the  past  year,  not 
only  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  but  all  over  the  world,  and 
that  the  present  outlook  was  most  gratifying.  A  brief  glance 
back  over  the  present  century,  at  the  commencement  of 
which  Samuel  Hahnemann  introduced  his  new  system  that 
was  to  revolutionize  the  world  of  medicine,  showed  results  of 
the  most  encouraging  nature.  Hahnemann,  in  common 
with  other  reformers,  had  endured  insult,  misrepresentation 
and  persecution,  but  the  fruition  of  his  labor  was  now  to  be 
seen  in  the  twenty  thousand  practitioners  and  their  twenty 
million  patrons,  who  had  endorsed  his  method.  "  The  com- 
pounding of  forty  or  fifty  drugs  for  a  solitary  prescription," 
said  the  speaker,  ^'  is  no  longer  tolerated  as  a  scientific  pro- 
cedure even  by  the  old  school.  Their  heroic  doses  are  being 
discarded  and  the  divided  dose  is  being  recommended  by 
the  leading  minds  of  that  school."  The  cordiality  of  the 
medical  profession  at  large  toward  Homoeopathy  at  the  pres- 
ent time  was  referred  to  as  an  indication  of  the  gradual  sub- 
stitution of  that  system  for  the  old  one  of  hap-hazard  admix- 
ture of  drugs.    Forty-one  years  ago 

HOMCEOPATHY  WAS  INTRODUCED 

into  Michigan  by  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Perry,  through  whose  instru- 
mentality Drs.  Thomas  Blackwood,  of  Washtenaw  county, 
and  S.  S.  Hall,  of  this  city,  were  converted  to  its  faith  and 
practice.  During  these  forty-one  years  the  single  lay  prac- 
titioner with  his  book  of  domestic  practice  and  a  few  reme- 
dies had  grown  into  a  respectable  array  of  500  physicians, 
many  of  whose  patients  belong  to  the  wealthy  and  cultured 
classes.  The  state  university  with  its  world  wide  reputation 
supported  a  first-class  homoeopathic  department.  The  hom- 
oeopathic hospital  upon  the  campus  afibrded  clinical  privi- 
leges to  students  in  surgery,  ophthalmology,  otology,  gynaecol- 
ogy and  therapeutics ;  the  legislature  has  at  its  last  session 
placed  the  new  asylum  for  the  insane  being  built  at  Traverse 


MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.     645 

City,  under  Homoeopathic  control,  and  successful  medical 
societies  had  been  organized  and  were  doing  their  legitimate 
work  in  the  onward  march,  notably  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  of  Michigan,  of  this  city,  with  its  frequent 
meetings  for  discussion  and  interchange  of  thought  and  ex- 
perience upon  the  various  medical  and  scientific  topics  of 
the  day.  An  epitome  of  the  history  of  the  State  Society 
was  given  showing  steady  progress  and  development  during 
the  past  fifteen  years,  and  a  plea  for  its  future  harmony  and 
success  concluded  an  interesting  address,  which  was  listened 
to  with  marked  attention. 

On  motion,  Drs.  Lawson,  Wilson  and  Olin  were  appoint- 
ed a  Committee  on  the  President's  Address. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  moved  that  the  corresponding  secretary. 
Dr.  Van  Horn,  act  as  treasurer  pro.  tern. 

In  the  evening  a  very  interesting  and  instructive  micro- 
scopic exhibition  was  given  at  Dr.  J.  D.  McGuire's  residence  by 
the  Bureau  of  Microscopy,  assisted  by  a  large  staff  of  volun- 
teers, which  brought  together  between  the  hours  of  seven 
and  eleven  o'clock  most  of  the  members  and  their  friends. 
Some  ten  or  a  dozen  powerful  microscopes  were  available, 
in  which  were  exhibited  multitudes  of  choice  mounts,  mostly 
pathological  specimens.  Dr.  Younghusband  exhibited  a 
fine  colored  specimen  of  the  dreaded  bacteria,  which  looked 
quite  harmless  under  a  one-sixteenth  objective.  One  instru- 
ment was  lighted  by  electricity  from  a  small  battery  stand- 
ing alongside  upon  the  table,  while  each  was  superintended 
by  its  owner  or  some  other  person  competent  to  explain  the 
examples  shown. 

WEDNESDAY  MORNING. 

The  session  opened  at  9  a.  m.  :  Bureau  of  Theory  and 
Practice  with  a  paper  on  '*  Diabetes,"  by  Dr.  Clark,  of  Three 
Rivers.  It  was  discussed  by  Dr.  Reynolds,  of  Grand  Haven, 
who  took  some  exceptions  to  the  treatment  as  given  by  th^ 
author. 

Dr.  J.  C.  Wood  had  had  some  experience  in  the  treat- 
ment of  this  affection,  and  thought  we  should  xsa^  o^vx^s^  ^& 


646     MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPA  THIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

a  palliative  for  the  troublesome  cough,  which  often  occurs  in 
the  later  stages.  The  Allopaths  use  it  successfully  as  a 
palliative,  and  succeed  in  prolonging  life  in  some  cases. 

Dr.  Chase,  of  Caro,  asked  in  what  strength  the  author 
used  Phos.  Acid  ? 

Dr.  Clark  replied,  ten  drops  of  tincture  in  water. 

Dr.  Nottingham  objected  to  the  use  of  opium  or  mor- 
phine in  any  form  as  a  palliative.  It  was  bad  treatment 
and  would  do  more  harm  than  good.  We  had  much  better 
palliatives  in  our  homoeopathic  remedies.  Coccus  cacti  had 
relieved  these  coughs  for  him  in  a  number  of  cases. 

A  motion  was  made  to  appoint  a  committee  to  nomi- 
nate the  officers  of  the  society,  which  was  lost. 

The  Treasurer's  report  was  read,  and  on  motion  referred 
to  the  Auditing  Committee. 

Bureau  of  Pathology  was  now  called.  A  paper  by  Dr. 
Warren  was  read  by  title  and  referred.  Dr.  Amdt  read  a 
paper  on  "Chemical  Thermometry," and  another  on  "Facial 
expression  in  infants,  as  a  symptom  of  disease."  In  the 
discussion  of  the  former  paper.  Dr.  Gilchrist  called  attention 
to  the  importance  of  the  clinical  thermometer  as  an  aid  in 
diagnosis,  and  illustrated  on  the  board  the  differential  diag- 
nosis of  pyaemia,  septicaemia  and  erysipelas  as  given  by  the 
thermometer.  The  papers  were  then  referred.  Dr.  Amdt 
reported  as  delegate  to  the  Western  Academy,  and  gave  as 
the  reason  why  the  Academy  could  not  accept  the  invitation 
to  hold  its  next  session  in  Detroit,  in  connection  with  the 
State  Society,  was  that  there  ^vere  so  few  members  from  this 
State. 

The  Board  ol  Censors  reported  favorably  on  the  appli- 
cation of  Dr.  Sprang,  of  Buchanan,  who  was  elected. 

The  Bureau  of  Nervous  Diseases  reported  with  a  single 
paper  on  "  Hysteria,"  which  was  read  by  the  author,  Dr.  E. 
A.  Bagley.  Among  the  remedies  recommended  by  the 
author,  for  this  hydra-headed  affection,  no  mention  was 
made  of  the  animal  poisons,  especially  Tarantula  and  Th^ 
ridiortj  two  of  the  moat  frequently  indicated  in  the  worst 


MICHIGAN  HOM(EOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.     647 

forms  of  the  disease.    The  paper  was  referred  to  Publishing 
Committee. 

The  Bureau  of  Materia  Medica,  presented  a  proving  of 
"Secafe  Comutum''^  by  H.  C.  Allen,  assisted  by  the  students 
of  the  University,  which  will  be  published  in  the  form  of  a 
monograph.  The  provings  were  made  from  the  attenuations 
of  Boericke  and  Tafel— 2,"  6,"  12,"  30,"  100,"  200,"— and  ver- 
ified  many  of  the  toxicological  and  clinical  symptoms,  of 
which  our  present  symptomatology  is  entirely  composed. 
This  is  the  first  attempt  to  prove  Secede  on  the  healthy,  and 
although  fragmentary,  is  a  very  fair  beginning.  Dr.  Clay- 
pool  took  exceptions  to  provings  made  with  the  higher  atten- 
uations, thought  that  the  attenuations  would  cure  symptoms 
similar  to  those  produced  by  the  crude  drug,  but  they  were 
not  capable  of  producing  reliable  symptoms  on  the  healthy. 

Dr.  McGuire  thought  the  symptoms  were  wholly  subjec- 
tive. In  our  provings  we  wanted  more  objective  indications, 
as  our  Materia  Medica  was  already  too  cumbersome  for  prac- 
tical use.  We  have  too  many  subjective,  too  few  objective 
and  tangible  symptoms  in  our  Materia  Medica  at  present. 

Dr.  Nottingham  had  made  some  of  his  best  cures  with 
the  higher  attenuations  of  Secale,  and  was  much  pleased  with 
the  proving. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  thought  many  attached  a  difierent  mean- 
ing to  objective  symptoms  than  he  did.  He  was  always  very 
suspicious  of  subjective  symptoms  either  in  a  proving  or  a 
patient.  He  knew  that  patients  suffering  from  subjective 
symptoms,  as  in  hysteria,  frequently  exaggerated  or  even 
fabricated  symptoms,  hence  he  considered  the  objective 
symptoms,  when  they  could  be  obtained,  as  much  more 
reliable. 

Dr.  Phillips  had  no  confidence  in  provings  made  with 
the  attenuations.  Had  given  five  provers  Gelsemium  lOx 
and  five  others  Placebo,  and  those  taking  the  Placebo  had 
about  as  many  and  as  reliable  symptoms  as  those  taking 
Gelsemium.  In  one  prover  he  had  seen  tlie  characteristic 
action  of  Gelsemium  on  the  eyelids  in  a  vwy  fe^  T£i\xvM\«». 


648     MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

Began  with  a  report  of  the  Board  of  Censors,  recom- 
mending Dr.  Snell,  who  was  elected. 

Bureau  of  Gysencology.  Paper  on  "  Pelvic  cellulitis,"  by 
W.  E.  Clark,  who  recommended  the  indicated  remedy  and 
external  application  of  hot  poultices.  He  also  advocated 
the  use  of  stimulants  in  certain  cases. 

Dr.  Baily  asked  where  he  would  apply  the  poultices? 

Dr.  Clark  replied,  not  to  the  chest  or  shoulders;  would 
apply  on  abdomen. 

Dr.  Baily  also  objected  to  the  use  of  stimulants  as  both 
unnecessary  and  un-homoeopathic.  In  his  experience  they 
were  injurious,  and  always  retarded  convalescence.  Dr. 
Baily  read  a  paper  on  "The  relation  existing  between  dis- 
eases of  uterus  and  rectum." 

Dr.  Porter  presented  a  paper  on  "Ovariotomy,"  and 
exhibited  a  dried  specimen  of  a  multilocular  cyst  which, 
when  first  removed  weighed  42  lbs.  He  entered  very  fully 
into  the  etiology,  histology,  and  differential  diagnosis  of 
ovarian  cysts,  and  from  its  histology  argued  that  it  was  not 
beyond  the  pale  of  possibility  to  remove  them  by  internal 
medication,  and  asked  for  an  expression  of  opinion  on  the 
subject.  Dr.  Allen  said  that  well  authenticated  cases  were 
on  record  cured  by  internal  treatment.  The  late  Dr.  (Jal- 
lu])e  cured  one  case  with  Podophyllum;  Dr.  Dunham  one 
with  Colocynth;  Dr.  Gilchrist  one  with  Colocynth;  Dr. 
Guernsey  one  with  Apis,  after  Dr.  Atlee  had  pronounced  it 
incurable  by  operative  measures,  and  had  actually  made  the 
abdominal  incision,  but  from  the  extensive  adhesions  was 
compelled  to  desist. 

Dr.  Porter  said  that  he  had  tried  internal  treatment  in 
a  number  of  cases,  but  had  never  seen  any  beneficial  results. 
Perhaps  he  did  not  know  how  to  select  the  appropriate 
remedy. 

Dr.  Obetz  considered  the  disease  entirely  beyond  the 
reach  of  internal  treatment  He  had  carefully  looked  through 
the  various  authors,  Bilroth,  Kieth,  Wells,  Atlee,  etc.,  eta, 


MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY      649 

and  they  all  were  unanimous  in  pronouncing  it  incurable  by 
internal  medication. 

Dr.  Nottingham,  objected  to  the  authorities  quoted  by 
Dr.  Obetz.  They  belonged  entirely  to  the  other  school,  and 
we  should  not  expect  to  find  any  cures  by  internal  treat- 
ment recorded  by  their  authorities.  If  the  doctor  expected  to 
find  cures  made  by  constituional  remedies  he  must  look  for 
them  in  the  records  of  our  own  school  of  practice.  The 
other  school  did  not  attempt  to  treat  them  remedially ;  they 
turned  them  all  over  to  the  knife. 

Dr.  Obetz  had  seen  a  number  of  cases,  and  he  had 
searched  in  vain  for  a  single  case  cured  by  the  internal  rem- 
edy. He  declared  emphatically  that  you  might  as  well  pour 
your  medicine  into  the  gutter  as  give  it  to  such  patients.  It 
was  totally  useless.  All  such  reported  cures  were  simply 
mistaken  diagnoses. 

Dr.  Woodrufi"  objected  strongly  to  the  sentiment  ex- 
pressed by  Dr.  Obetz.  He  did  not  think  the  doctor  under- 
stood, or  at  least  did  not  practice,  the  law  of  cure  he  professed 
to  follow.  The  case  cited  by  Dr.  Allen  as  cured  by  Dr.  Dun- 
ham had  been  diagnosed  by  some  of  the  best  known  gyne- 
cologists in  the  old  world  as  well  as  in  New  York.  Besides, 
very  few  men  were  presumptuous  enough  to  dispute  the  diag- 
nosis of  Carroll  Dunham.  It  was  very  evident  to  him  that 
the  doctor  did  not  know  how  to  select  his  remedy,  or  he 
would  not  make  such  a  sweeping  statement.  The  following 
is  the  case  reported  by  Dr.  Dunham : 

**  On  October  10, 1864, 1  was  requested  to  visit  Mrs.  C.  E. 
H.,  aged  about  thirty-eight  years.  She  gave  the  following 
history:  She  had  been  always  in  good  health,  married  ten 
years,  but  never  pregnant.  While  traveling  in  France  in 
1854,  sh»  was  attacked  with  what  was  then  called  acute  per- 
itonitis. She  was  confined  to  her  bed  several  years.  Par- 
tially recovering,  she  consulted  Trousseau,  who  discovered 
the  right  ovary  inflamed  and  somewhat  enlarged.  From 
this  time  she  was  more  or  less  unable  to  walk,  and  sufiTered 
much  from  a  tumor,  which  gradually  develo^^  Va.  MScife  ^^- 


650     MICHIGAN  HOM(EOPA  THIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY, 

vis,  between  the  uterus  and  the  rectum,  and  which  was 
pronounced  by  Trousseau  to  be  an  enlarged  and  prolapsed 
ovary. 

In  1863  she  came  to  New  York,  and  placed  herself  under 
one  of  our  most  experienced  gynecologists,  who  confirmed 
Trousseau's  diagnosis,  pronounced  the  case  incurable,  and 
advised  a  sparing  resort  to  anodynes  to  mitigate  severe  suf- 
fering. I  found  Mrs.  H.  confined  to  her  sofa;  she  had  not 
left  her  room  for  a  year.  A  firm,  elastic  tumor  occupied  the 
space  between  the  uterus  and  vagina  anteriorly,  and  the 
rectum  posteriorly,  completely  occluding  the  vagina,  and 
rendering  defecation  very  difficult.  It  seemed  not  to  be 
adherent  to  the  walls  of  either  passage.  Attempts  at  walk- 
ing induced  paroxysms  of  acute  pain  across  the  hypogas- 
trium,  in  the  sacral  region,  and  around  the  hip-joint;  from 
here  the  pains  extended  down  the  groin  and  along  the 
femoral  nerve.  The  pain  was  relieved  by  flexing  the  thigh 
upon  the  pelvis;  and  always  induced  or  aggravated  by 
extending  the  thigh.  Even  without  the  provocation  of 
motion  there  were  frequent  and  severe  paroxysms  of  pain 
as  above  described.  The  appetite  was  not  good,  and  diges- 
tion feeble;  but  the  general  condition  of  the  patient  was 
good.  Nervous  sensibility  was  very  great.  The  pains  had 
been  ascribed  to  the  pressure  of  the  tumor  upon  the  sacral 
nerves. 

The  patient  had  a  dread  of  taking  opiates,  and  had 
used  them  sparingly.  I  was  requested  to  mitigate  the  pains, 
if  possible, — no  hope  being  entertained  of  a  cure.  With  no 
definite  expectations  of  accomplishing  a  radical  cure,  I  pre- 
scribed Colocynth ;  a  few  pellets  to  be  taken  whenever  a 
paroxysm  of  pain  came  on,  and  to  be  repeated  every  hour 
during  the  paroxysm.  This  prescription  was  based  on  the 
result  of  the  Austrian  proving  of  Colocynth,  which  confirm 
and  amplify  the  provings  of  Hahnemann. 

November  1.  I  learned  that  the  paroxysms  had  been 
less  frequent,  much  shorter,  and  milder;  the  remedy  appear- 
ing to  control  them. 


MICHIGAN  HOMCEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  SOCIETY,     651 

March  1,  1865.  The  patient  wnlked  half  a  mile  to  my 
office  and  reported  that  she  had  had  no  pain  for  a  month. 
She  could  walk  half  a  mile  daily  without  fatigue  or  pain, 
and  had  resumed  the  charge  of  her  household  after  an  inter- 
val of  nine  years.  She  thought  the  tumor  had  become 
somewhat  smaller.  Being  about  to  sail  for  Europe,  she  de- 
sired some  more  Colocynth,  that  she  might  be  provided  in 
case  pain  should  return. 

June  9, 1869.  Mrs.  H.  has  just  arrived  fi*om  Europe.  I 
find  her  perfectly  well.  There  has  been  no  return  of  pain 
since  1865.  The  tumor  disappeared  from  its  position  be- 
tween the  vagina  and  rectum  in  the  autumn  of  1865,  and 
was  plainly  perceptible  in  the  abdomen,  about  as  large  as  a 
Sicily  orange.  It  has  since  disappeared  entirely,  and  noth-* 
ing  of  the  kind  can  now  be  discovered.  Was  this  really  an 
ovarian  tumor?  No  doubt  appeared  to  be  entertained  by 
the  eminent  physicians  who  preceded  me  in  the  case.  Did 
the  Colocynth  cause  its  absorption?  The  patient  has  no 
doubt  on  this  point.  Why  should  it  not  have  done  so? 
Because  we  have  no  record  of  any  action  of  Colocynth,  ex- 
cept on  the  intestinal  mucous  membrane,  and  on  certain 
plexus  of  nerves?  Fortunately,  the  action  of  remedies  is  not 
restricted^to  the  measure  of  our  imperfect  a  priori  knowledge 
of  them. 

A  reviewer  in  the  British  Journal  takes  exception  to  a 
statement  of  mine,  that  a  remedy,  when  indicated  by  a  well- 
marked  group  of  symptoms,  will  often  remove,  not  merely 
those,  but  also  other  groups  apparently  unconnected, — in 
fact,  the  whole  disease.  This  case  is  in  point.  And  yet  I 
can  hardly  doubt  that,  in  such  cases,  a  complete  proving^ 
were  it  possible,  would  show  that  the  remedy  does  produce 
likewise  these  seemingly  unconnected  symptoms, — in  fact,  a 
picture  of  the  whole  disease.  Indeed,  on  examining  the 
Austrian  proving,  we  find  Prelich  reports  two  brief  provings 
on  women,  both  of  which  show  the  action  of  Colocynth  on 
the  ovaries.  Had  we  well-instructed  women-provers,  how 
much  more  we  should  know  of  the  action  of  drugs !" 


652  HOMCEOPA  THIC  HOSPITA  L. 

The  papers  were  referred  to  the  Publishing  Committee 
and  the  bureau  closed. 

East  Saginaw  was  selected  as  the  next  place  of  meeting. 

OflScers  elected  for  the  ensuing  year  were:  Poresident, 
Phil  Porter,  M.  D.,  Detroit;  V.  P.,  B.  H.  Lawson,  M.  D., 
Brighton;  second  V.  P.,  L.  M.  Jones,  M.  D.,  Brooklyn;  Sec- 
retary, J.  G.  Gilchrist,  M.  D.,  Detroit;  Cor.  Sec,  L.  T.  Van 
Horn,  M.  D.,  Homer;  Treasurer,  G.  A.  Robertson,  M.  D., 
Battle  Creek.  Censors:  Drs.  D.  J.  McGuire;  W.E.  Clark;  A. 
R.  Wheeler;  B.  L.  Cleveland;  J.  N.  Reynolds. 

This  closed  one  of  the  most  successful  meetings,  in  the 
history  of  the  society.  There  were  no  "  axes  to  grind,"  no 
"wires  to  pull,"  no  injured  members  to  be  '* vindicated." 
There  were  many  able  papers  presented  and  the  discussions 
were  interesting  and  practical.  The  future  of  the  society  is 
certainly  encouraging. 


■^•^ 


HOMCEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 


The  annual  meeting  of  the  corporation  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Homoeopathic  Hospital  was  held  yesterday  afternoon 
in  the  hospital  building  in  East  Concord  street.  The  annual 
reports  of  the  treasurer,  executive  committee  and  board  of 
trustees  were  submitted.  The  last  mentioned  summarizes 
the  work  of  the  year :  The  following  oflBcers  were  elected 
for  the  ensuing  year:  President,  Charles  R.  Codman;  vice- 
presidents,  Rufus  S.  Frost,  Henry  S.  Russell,  Liverus  Hull, 
Otis  Clapp;  trustees  (in  addition  to  those  of  last  year),  John 
R.  Hall,  David  B.  Flint,  Edward  Whitney,  Mrs.  Edward 
Whitney,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Taggard,  Geo.  H.  Quincey,  Asa  P.  Pot- 
ter; secretary,  Ellen  Frothingham;  treasurer,  Isaac  Fenno; 
assistant  treasurer,  Miss  Hellen  Collamore. 

In  their  annual  report  the  trustees  express  the  hope 
that  within  a  few  months  there  may  be  ready  for  use  a  much 
needed  addition  to  the  surgical  wing  of  the  hospital.  The 
original  $5,000  appropriated  for  a  building  fund  has  been 
increased  to  861,153.56,  of  which  sum  $60,000  is  the  gift  of 


CLINICAL,  653 

a  donor  who  declines  to  make  his  name  public.  To  fully 
carry  out  the  contemplated  improvements  the  building  fund 
should  be  raised  to  $76,000.  Ground  was  broken  for  the 
addition  in  July  last,  and  the  work  is  proceeding  rapidly. 
The  remaining  $15,000  necessary  to  complete  the  work  will 
undoubtedly  be  soon  subscribed.  The  current  expenses  of 
the  hospital  for  the  past  year  were  $11,718.42 — $400  less  than 
the  previous  year.  The  income  of  the  hospital  has  been 
$9,629.29,  leaving  a  deficiency  of  $2,089.13.  The  number  of 
patients  treated  during  the  year  was  277,  of  whom  10  died. 
During  the  seven  years  the  hospital  has  been  established 
1,399  cases  have  been  treated,  with  a  death  rate  of  only  five 
per  cent. 

CLINICAL  CASES. 


BY  BENJAMIN  A.  BRADLEY,  M.  D.,  CINCINNATI,  OHIO. 


Case  I. — Mrs.  M.,  aged  36  years.  Married,  has  five  chil- 
dren, no  miscarriages.  Came  to  me,  complaining  of  pain  in 
the  small  of  the  back  with  a  sense  of  weakness  when  walking 
or  on  her  feet,  has  cramps  in  the  calves  of  her  legs  at  night, 
bowels  inclined  to  be  constipated,  has  had  prolapsus  uteri 
since  last  baby  was  born,  slight  acid  leucorrhoea,  which  is 
worse  after  coition  for  a  day  or  two,  menses  regular,  has  a 
small  nodule  in  left  breast,  the  size  of  a  bean.  Prescribed 
Sepia  3x,  a  powder  twice  a  day  for  a  week,  and  then  report, 
at  the  end  of  that  time  she  came  in  and  reported  that  she 
felt  much  better,  prescribed  Sepia  and  placebo  in  alternation 
for  one  month,  at  the  end  of  that  time  she  came  in^  said  she 
was  once  more  well  again. 

Case  II. — Mr.  T.  P.,  aged  23  years,  single.  Came  to  me 
saying  that  he  had  a  thin,  milky  discharge  from  his  penis 
during  the  day,  and  in  the  morning  the  lips  were  stuck  to- 
gether ;  there  was  no  unusual  sensation  on  micturating.  On 
examination  could  not  find  any  stricture,  discharge  more  pro- 
fuse after  drinking  beer.  Advised  him  to  abstain  from  dtvxsk.- 


654  CLINICAL, 

ing  beer  for  awhile,  and  prescribed  Kali  bich  3x,  a  powder 
three  times  a  day,  for  ten  days,  until  he  came  into  the 
city.  He  then  reported  that  he  was  nearly  all  right  again, 
and  so  I  prescribed  placebo,  a  powder  night  and  morning  for 
a  week,  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  reported  that  after  the  tak- 
ing the  fifth  powder  he  found  himself  cured. 


BY  BENJAMIN  EHRMANN,  M.  D.,  CINCINNATI,  OHIO. 

In  compliance  with  the  request  for  interesting  or  unus- 
ual clinical  cases,  I  offer  the  following : 

Case  I. — A  maiden  lady  aged  60,  suffering  from  a  cold 
and  painful  hemorrhoids,  sent  for  me,  for  which  Nux  vom. 
Sulphur  and  Sac.  lac.  were  successively  prescribed  with 
benefit.  Now  I  learned  that  she  was  continually  annoyed 
by  a  "6ad  smell"  from  her  body  and  clothes,  that  followed 
her  wherever  she  went,  in  spite  of  daily  washing  and 
bathing,  to  her  great  mortification.  This  symptom  had 
existed  for  years  as  well  as  an  inveterate  constipation,  for 
which  she  received  no  benefit  from  any  treatment.  Psori- 
num  ^,  was  prescribed,  one  dose  every  six  hours  for  two 
days,  followed  by  placebo,  until  I  saw  her  again  on  the 
fifth  or  sixth  day,  when  I  learned  that  the  **bad  smell '^ 
had  entirely  disappeared,  and  that  the  bowels  acted  without 
an  injection  every  day  since,  a  thing  which  had  not  occurred 
for  many  years. 

Case  II. — A  peculiar  sick  headache  came  incidentally 
under  my  observation.  While  on  my  way  up  stairs  to  see  a 
patient,  I  was  hailed  by  the  mother  of  the  patient  who  was 
sitting  in  the  parlor  in  a  distressed  condition  and  exclaim- 
ing: "Oh  doctor  I  I  have  my  sick  headache,  my  brain 
feels  bruised-like  all  over  and  as  if  it  were  drawn  down  to 
the  root  of  my  tongue."  Recollecting  this  to  be  a  symptom 
of  Ipecac,  and  without  questioning  her  I  put  a  few  pellets 
of  the  thirtieth  potency  on  her  tongue,  and  then  went  up 
stairs  to  attend  to  the  patient  I  came  to  see.  When  coming 
down  in  about  ten  minutes,  the  mother  met  me  with  a 
cheerful  countenance  and  said  she  was   entirely  relieved. 


BENJAMIN  EHRMANN,  M.  D.  *  655 

Whenever  I  met  this  lady  at  any  time  afterward  for  years, 
she  did  not  fail  to  tell  me  that  she  has  had  no  headache, 
since  I  put  those  pellets  upon  her  tongue. 

Case  III. — Several  months  ago  I  was  consulted  by  a 
merchant  from  Burlington,  Iowa.  Advised  to  do  so  by  his 
wife,  who  many  years  ago  lived  near  Chilicothe,  0.,  and 
knew  of  me,  when  I  practiced  there  about  36  years  ago. 
This  patient  had  been  under  the  treatment  of  several  allo- 
pathic doctors  for  months,  and  was  getting  worse  all  the 
time,  until  I  sent  him  medicine  in  accordance  with  his 
description  of  the  case.  Two  months  afterward  I  received 
a  letter  from  my  patient's  brother-in-law,  and  as  this  is  the 
case  I  herewith  wish  to  present,  I  will  simply  copy  the 
letter.  "  Dear  Sir :  My  brother-in-law,  Mr.  S.,  has  derived 
so  much  benefit  from  your  treatment,  that  I  thought  I  would 
also  consult  you  in  my  case.  I  am  now  57  years  of  age ; 
have  been  engaged  in  active  business  since  a  boy.  The  last 
few  years  I  have  worked  harder  than  ever,  at  selling  goods, 
keeping  books  and  making  out  bills,  etc.,  and  I  presume  I 
have  over-taxed  my  powers.  About  three  months  ago  I 
took  a  dislike  to  my  business  and  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
could  force  myself  to  my  daily  task.  I  am  all  the  time 
thinking  that  something  dreadful  is  going  to  fiappen  to  me; 
can't  sleep,  have  no  appetite,  can't  read,  and,  in  fact,  life 
has  almost  become  a  burden  to  me,  and  I  fear,  if  I  do  not 
get  relief  /  shaU  lose  my  mind.  When  the  spell  of  despon- 
dency comes  upon  me  my  feet  are  icy  cold,  and  my  head 
aches.  I  have  frequent  desire  to  urinate,  and  weakness 
afterward,  etc."  (The  italics  are  mine.)  I  prescribed  Calc. 
and  administered  it  according  to  Hahnemann's  direction 
for  one  month .  When  this  was  all  taken  I  received  the 
gratifying  report,  that  the  medicine  acted  like  a  charm  and 
that  he  was  entirely  restored. 

Case  IV. — More  than  40  years  ago  a  middle  aged,  stout 
built  man  called  on  me  for  relief  of  a  periodic  asthma,  that 
had  troubled  him  about  17  years,  and  for  which  many  doc- 
tors, Allopathic  and  Thompsonic,  were  called  in  vaia,    TVj^Rk 


656  CLINICAL, 

attacks  came  about  every  four  or  five  weeks.  He  felt  as  if 
the  blood  from  the  extremities  was  flowing  to  the  chest 
causing  a  pressure,  as  from  a  great  load,  and  compelling  him 
to  walk  as  fast  as  he  could  for  fear  of  suflfocation.  He  often 
walked  eight  or  nine  miles  before  he  was  relieved.  For  the 
last  three  years  he  was  under  Thompsonic  treatment,  where 
he  received  teaspoonful  doses  of  the  tincture  of  Lobelia, 
with  only  palliative  effect.  I  mention  this  fact  especially 
because  Lobelia,  the  fifteenth  potency,  cured  the  patient 
permanently  in  about  five  or  six  weeks.  A  few  doses  given 
according  to  Hahnemann's  advice  was  all  that  was  neces- 
sary to  cure  this  obstinate  case. 


BY  EDWARD  MAHONEY,  M.  D.,  LIVERPOOL,  ENOIAND. 

February  9, 1880.  Mrs.  H.,  aged  about  50.  Had  pleu- 
risy six  and  a  half  years.  Previously  to  that  considered 
herself  in  good  health,  but  has  been  subject  to  sick  head- 
aches when  menstruating,  ever  since  menses  appeared,  with 
depression  of  spirits  before  and  during  their  flow,  and  since 
menstruation  ceased  has  been  subject  to  headaches  on  wak- 
ing during  the  winter.    Irritable  temper. 

Systolic  murmur  at  heart,  loudest  at  apex.  Bronchitie 
r&les  over  both  lungs  posteriorly;  ascites,  with  extensive 
oedema  of  both  legs  and  thighs,  and  red  inflammatory  blush 
over  greater  part  of  right  thigh.  Great  emaciation  of  chest 
and  upper  limbs.  Tenderness  in  renal  region  with  sediment 
in  urine.    Nat  mur.^^  one  dose. 

February  20.  Took  the  Nat.  mur.  on  the  10th,  and  felt 
very  ill  for  two  or  three  days ;  headaches  disappeared  for 
four  days,  but  there  was  some  return  of  them  two  daya 
since  ;  none  this  morning,  and  she  feels  much  better  in  her- 
self. Has  a  sensation  from  the  back  up  to  the  head,  sudden 
before  micturition,  and  accompanied  by  dread;  cutting 
pains  after  micturition.  One  day  during  the  past  week  she 
passed  black  urine  after  suppression  for  twenty-four  hours 
(took  some  gin).  Has  involuntary  micturition  when  cough- 
ing.   Is  constipated,  and  has  taken  one  or  two  Gregory's 


ED  WA  RD  MAHONE  F,  M.  D,  657 

powders.  The  ascites  is  less  and  the  inflammation  has  dis- 
appeared from  the  right  thigh. 

March  17.  Steady  improvement  until  now,  when  head- 
ache returning,  and  ascites  not  diminishing,  I  gave  another, 
and  the  second  dose  of  Nat.  m.*. 

March  31.  Able  to  get  out  of  bed,  though  she  can't  walk 
on  account  of  the  distension  oT  the  abdomen.  Appetite 
improved;  sleeps  better;  cough  gone;  breathing  much  im- 
proved.   The  skin  has  lost  its  unnatural  hue.    Sac.  lac. 

April  30.  Troubled  much  with  flatulence,  as  above 
stated  great  emaciation  of  chest  and  upper  limbs ;  lower 
limbs  swollen;  ascites.    Lyc.K 

June  26.  Ascites  gone;  anasarca  gone;  able  to  walk 
out,  and  in  fact,  up  to  date  continues  well. 

Remarks. — This  case  appeared  to  me  about  as  simple,  and 
at  the  same  time  profound  an  illustration  of  the  deep  wisdom 
and  practical  bedside  utility  of  the  genius  and  teaching  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Hahnemann  as  one  could  well  wish  to  see.  Truth, 
I  believe,  is  always  profound  and  at  the  same  time  simple, 
and  unless  that  which  is  presented  to  us  has  these  two 
marks,  we  may  well  question  if  it  be  the  truth.  These  two 
marks  (characteristics)  of  truth,  are,  I  believe,  well  brought 
out  in  this  case.  I  may  say  first  of  all  as  to  the  circum- 
stances, not  referred  to  in  the  detailed  report,  they  were  in 
every  sense  discouraging,  disappointing  and  disheartening. 
The  woman  was  a  dispensary  patient,  living  in  the  locality 
and  after  the  style  of  such  persons;  an  acknowledged 
drinker ;  the  reverse  of  obedient ;  in  the  paiUo  post,  of  life, 
when  therefore,  according  to  pathological  teachings  and 
especially  after  such  a  life,  material  changes  in  the  tissues 
would  be  commencing.  The  peculiarity  of  feminine  sexual 
life,  menstration,  was  already  past,  yet  the  symptoms  which 
had  been  connected  with  that  function,  gave  the  key  note  to 
the  simillimum  of  the  case.  She  had  also  had  abundant 
treatment  or  maltreatment,  during  the  previous  six  and  a 
half  years,  allopathic  and  pseudo-homoeopathic,  external  and 
internal    applications,   moral  arguments,  and  had  firvalbs 


658  CLINICAL. 

pretty  well  reached  the  conclusion,  that  for  her,  at  least, 
there  was  no  remedy. 

The  pathological  condition  actually  present,  namely: 
systolic  cardiac  murmur,  bronchitic  r^les  over  both  lungs 
posteriorly ;  ascites  with  extensive  oedema  of  both  legs  and 
thighs  and  red  inflammatory  blush  over  right  thigh ;  great 
emaciation  of  chest  and  Upper  limbs,  was,  I  hope,  sufficient 
to  satisfy  the  hungriest  materialist,  yet,  if  we  look  at  the 
treatment,  one  dose  of  the  30th  potency  (an  entirely  imma- 
terial attenuation)  of  a  substance  taken  in  its  crude  form  by 
most  civilized  (?)  persons  many  times  a  day,  reaches  the 
root  of  a  complicated,  mental  and  physical  condition,  which 
had  for  years  defied  the  combined  assaults  of  both  friends 
and  physicians. 

What,  however,  constituted  the  real  essence  of  the  case 
and  made  it  so  good  an  illustration  of  the  truth  and  power 
of  the  Hahnemannian  doctrine  of  psora,  was  that  the  remedy 
was  selected  on  account  of  subjective  symptoms  existing 
some  thirty  years  belore  she  was  supposed  to  have  any 
disease  whatever,  namel}',  at  the  commencement  of  men- 
strual life,  and  what  confirmed  me  in  the  opinion  that  Nat. 
mur.  was  the  remedy  to  begin  with,  was  the  fact  that  the 
headaches  incidental  to  that  function,  had  continued  since 
the  function  itself  had  ceased.  Here,  then,  I  argued  is  a 
case  of  untreated  psoric  miasm  of  over  thirty  years'  duration 
(for  she  was  now  fifty),  and  whatever  else  may  have  been 
done,  this  has  clearly  been  left  undone.  It  is  the  longest 
of  her  diseases ;  it  is  there ;  it  is  constitutional  in  the  sex- 
ual sense  as  well  as  the  antipsoric;  therefore,  it  must  be 
treated  first ;  and  the  immediate  result  again  confirmed  the 
truth  of  Hahnemann's  teachings,  for  we  find  after  the  one 
dose,  "felt  very  ill  for  two  or  three  days,  and  headaches  dis- 
appeared for  four  days,"  but  there  was  some  return  of  them 
eight  days  later,  then  two  days  later  again ;  we  have  "none 
this  morning  and  she  feels  much  better  in  herself."  Hahne- 
mann's words  in  the  English  translation  read:  "But  when 
the  remedies  whose  action  lasts  for  a  long  time,  have  to  com- 


H,  N.  Q  VERNSE  K,  M,  2>.  659 

bat  a  disease  of  some  duration,  or  one  of  very  long  standing, 
and  consequently  the  dose  ought  to  continue  its  action 
several  days  successively,  then  we  may  see  during  the  first 
six,  eight  or  ten  days,  from  time  to  time,  some  of  those 
apparent  aggravations  of  the  original  malady  which  last 
during  one  or  several  hours,  while  the  general  amendment 
develops  itself  sensibly  in  the  intervals.  When  these  few 
days  are  once  passedj  the  amelioration  produced  by  the 
primitive  effects  of  the  remedy  continue,  without  interrup- 
tion, for  some  days  longer." 

The  sensation  in  the  back,  upwards,  the  dread  and  cut- 
ting pains  after  micturition,  may  safely  be  attribute(l  to  the 
Nat.  mur.  which  has:  *' Drawing  pain  in  the  back  from 
below  upwards."  '* Afraid  of  becoming  mad;  imagines  he 
will  die;  apprehensive  about  the  future,"  and  ** cutting  in 
the  urethra  shortly  after  urinating."  This  one  dose,  too, 
produced  steady  improvement  for  more  than  a  month,  and 
one  more  dose  of  the  same  power  was  all  that  was  required 
for  that  combination  of  symptoms  which  was  traceable  to 
the  psoric  symptoms  which  had  just  manifested  themselves 
at  the  commencement  of  menstrual  life,  and  a  few  doses  of 
Lyc.^^  cured  all  else  except  the  valvular  affection  of  the 
heart,  which  I  cannot  say  was  entirely  gone  when  she 
passed  from  under  observation,  though  she  was  to  all  intents 
and  purposes  well,  and  continued  so  for  twelve  months, 
after  which,  circumstances  necessitated  her  going  into  the 
country. 


BY  H.  N.  GUERNSEY,  M.  D.,  PHILADELPHIA. 

Case  I. — Last  winter  I  was  called  in  consultation  to  a 
case  of  diphtheria.  Its  history  ran  thus:  Doctor  was  called 
about  six  days  previous  to  my  first  visit,  and  thought  he 
had  a  case  of  croup  to  deal  with.  Could  discover  nothing 
wrong  excepting  a  croupy  cough,  high  fever,  restlessness,  and 
much  rattling  in  the  larynx,  until  the  face  and  neck  began  to 
swell,  left  nostril  began  to  bleed,  and  on  examination  of  the 
fauces  again,  found  deposits  of  diphtheritic  membrane  involv- 


660  CLINICAL, 

ing  the  tonsils,  back  part  of  the  uvula  and  all  the  visible 
portions  of  the  throat.  On  ray  first  ^dsit  I  found  the  left 
side  of  the  face  and  neck  considerably  swollen,  of  an  ashy 
gray  color,  left  nostril  discharging,  dark  blood  running  down 
the  cheek,  though  completely  obstructing  the  nose  on  that 
side ;  child  very  weak ;  small,  faint  pulse ;  croupy  cough.  We 
at  once  decided  to  administer  Bromine*'*  in  water  every  three 
hours.  Next  day  bleeding  of  nose  h^d  ceased  and  a  general 
improvement  of  the  child  manifest.  The  next  day  swelling 
of  the  face  and  neck  better,  and  the  child  seemed  to  be  in  a 
safe  condition.  After  a  few  days  the  croupy  cough  not  im- 
proving any  more  and  the  membrane  in  the  throat  remain- 
ing stationary,  Lac.  can.*^*"  was  given,  which  seemed  to  make 
a  clean  sweep  of  what  remained  in  twenty-four  hours  and 
the  child  convalesced  rapidly.  No  adjuvants  were  used  in 
any  form  whatever,  the  child  subsisting  on  ice  and  ice  water 
until  it  had  sufficiently  recovered  to  take  food. 

From  the  above  case  a  hint  is  thrown  out  that  besides 
Bromine  for  diphtheria  beginning  in  the  larynx  and  coming 
upwards,  Lac.  can.  may  be  thought  of.  I  seldom  have  any 
trouble  with  this  formidable  malady  when  no  interference  is 
interposed  to  the  practice  of  pure  and  simple  Homoeopathy. 

Case  II. — Not  long  since  I  was  called  in  consultation  to 
a  case  of  typhus,  and  found  the  following  conditions :  Cere- 
bellum, the  most  suffering  organ,  giving  her  severe  aching 
pain  day  and  night;  very  little  sleep,  and  of  a  disturbed 
character.  Great  sensibility  of  this  organ  so  that  the  slight- 
est noise  increased  her  suflTering  greatly.  Eyes  inflamed  and 
running  water,  causing  an  itching  sensation.  Extreme  pho- 
tophobia, the  least  ray  of  light  causing  great  pain  in  the 
eyes,  and  also  increasing  the  pain  in  the  cerebellum.  Great 
thirst,  dry  mouth  and  dry  lips.  Urine  seldom,  usually  once 
per  day  and  with  very  great  difficulty.  Repugnance  to  all 
kinds  of  nourishment  except  water.  Pulse  very  small  and 
weak,  great  prostration,  face  sunken  and  pale,  and  life  was 
despaired  of  by  all  observers,  among  whom  were  old  and 
experienced  nurses.    We  agreed,  after  much  study,  and  com- 


H,  N.  Q  UERNSEY,  M,  D,  661 

paring  of  remedies,  to  give  Nux  v.***^  in  water  every  three 
hours  until  next  morning,  when  we  found  she  had  had  a  lit- 
tle better  night  in  some  respects.  No  more  medicine  was 
given  for  seven  days,  the  improvement  continued  gradually 
and  on  the  eighth  day  the  critical  urine  and  perspiration  was 
fully  established ;  a  suitable  diet  partaken  of,  quite  sufficient 
for  the  time.    A  grand  recovery  resulted  in  good  time. 

Case  III. — Was  called  to  visit  a  gentleman  with  one  of 
his  periodical  headaches  which  he  has  had  every  few  weeks 
since  a  child.  Symptoms :  The  pain  all  through  the  head  is 
excessively  severe,  and  eve»y  pulsation  of  the  arteries  aggra- 
vates this  suffering  almost  beyond  endurance.  The  only 
partial  relief  he  can  get  is  to  seize  the  neck  with  both  hands 
and  compress  the  carotid  arteries  almost  to  suffocation.  He 
took  one  dose  of  Bell*^.  Soon  went  to  sleep  and  has  had  no 
trouble  since.  Experience  proves  to  me  that  he  will  soon 
lose  the  paroxyms  altogether,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  he  ever 
has  another. 

Case  IV. — Last  winter  a  gentleman  called  on  me  with  a 
diseased  eye.  Symptoms:  Almost  constant  pain  over  the 
left  eye,  of  a  bruised,  sore  nature,  and  an  appearance  as  if  he 
had  cataract  fully  developed.  Of  course  he  was  blind  in  that 
eye.  History :  Had  a  terrible  blow  over  that  eye  some  six 
years  since,  and  it  has  never  been  well  since.  I  at  once  gave 
him  Arn.*^,  and  he  has  had  one  dose  per  week  ever  since- 
To-day  the  pain  is  all  gone,  his  head  and  eye  are  in  a  nat- 
ural state  as  to  sensation,  he  can  see  to  read  with  that  eye, 
and  there  is  only  a  thin  veil  over  the  pupil  instead  of  that 
thick,  heavy  cataract  appearance  as  at  first. 

But  why  take  the  time  and  the  paper  for  the  purpose  of 
multiplying  clinical  cases?  Has  not  the  time  come  to  push 
on  in  the  teaching  and  application  of  our  principles  as  a  law 
of  cure?  It  seems  to  me  we  are  more  at  fault,  in  these  days, 
with  the  application  of  the  Materia  Medica,  than  we  are  in 
its  knowledge.  A  perfect  knowledge  of  the  latter  would  be 
of  no  avail  without  a  proper  knowledge  of  the  former.  By 
those  of  us  who  practice  the  true  scientific  art  of  healings  the 


-662  CLINICAL. 

blind  are  made  to  see,  the  deat  to  hear,  the  lame  to  walk,  the 
insane  to  become  rational  again.  We  dissipate  tumors  of  all 
kinds,  open  occluded  passages  and  remove  all  morbid  and 
material  growths  and  accretions  that  result  from  disordered 
vital  forces.  It  remains  for  us  to  remove  the  bounds  of 
incurable  diseases  and  to  declare  the  possibilities  to  all, 
because  we  are  following  on  in  that  true  stream  of  science 
which  flows  from  the  infinite  to  the  finite. 


BY  AD.  LIPPE,  M.  D.,  PHILADELPHIA. 

It  was  on  a  hot  August  morning,  on  one  of  those  hot 
«ummer  days,  so  very  enjoyable  in  the  City  of  Brotherly 
Love,  in  1853,  that  a  gentleman  summoned  me  to  go  with 
him  and  see  his  very  sick  wife.  While  we  were  walking  to 
the  hotel  where  she  was,  the  husband  informed  me  that  they 
had  left  New  York  in  the  night,  had  intended  to  go  to  Wash- 
ington, that  his  wife  sickened  as  they  approached  Philadel- 
phia, that  he  had  to  take  her  to  the  hotel,  but  that  he  had  to 
take  the  next  train  for  Washington,  as  he  had  to  go  there 
unavoidably  on  very  important  business;  that  he  was,  much 
against  his  wish,  compelled  bo  ask  me  to  attend  his  wife  and 
do  everything  I  found  necessary  to  be  done.  When  I 
reached  the  sick-room  I  found  the  lady  in  spasms,  such  as 
I  had  never  read  of,  or  seen  before  or  since.  When  she 
heard  water  poured  out,  or  when  water  was  offered  her,  or  if 
a  looking-glass  was  presented  to  her  she  suddenly  jumped  to 
her  feet,  the  muscles  of  the  body  were  rigid,  the  spine  was 
rigid  and  stiff,  but  her  arms,  hands  and  facial  muscles  were 
convulsed,  she  groaned  and  upon  being  approached  she 
attempted  to  scratch  and  bite  the  person  coming  near  her; 
the  eyes  were  wide  open,  her  look  was  savage.  The  attacks 
lasted  from  two  to  five  minutes,  then  she  gradually  relaxed 
all  the  muscles  and  assumed  a  horizontal  position.  Upon 
close  interrogation  I  learned  that  her  spasms  were  preceded 
by  an  ineffectual  and  extremely  painful  desire  to  pass  urine 
(strangury).  This  information  made  the  choice  of  the  rem- 
edy very  easy.    Gave  her  a  dose  of  Canthandeff^^  (Jenichen) 


AD,  LIPPE,  M,  D,  66S 

on  her  tongue.  The  spasm  became  less  frequent  and  les& 
severe  all  day,  but  in  the  night  she  became  worse  again;  she 
had  not  passed  any  urine  all  day.  A  second  dose  of  Can' 
tharidef?^  had  the  desired  effect,  she  passed  urine  freely  and 
gradually  fully  recovered  under  careful  nursing.  She  received 
no  more  medicine.  During  her  convalescence  I  learned  the 
cause  of  her  malady.  Preparations  was  made  by  her  and  her 
husband  to  go  to  Washington  and  she  had  walked  that  day 
much  more  than  she  was  in  the  habit  of  doing,  her  feet  were 
swollen  and  intensely  sore  in  the  evening.  By  advice  of  a 
friend  she  applied  oil  of  turpentine  to  her  feet  with  the  results 
here  stated. 

Comments. — Upon  first  seeing  the  patient  it  seemed  pos* 
sible  that  she  suffered  from  hydrophobia,  but  her  husband 
declared  positively  that  she  had  never  been  bitten  by  any 
dog  or  by  any  other  animal,  certainly  never  by  a  mad  dog. 
It  was  only  after  a  patient  and  rigid  examination  that  the 
fact  was  discovered,  that  strangury  preceded  these  strange 
spasms.  If  guided  by  the  materialistic  pathological  school^ 
the  first  step  to  be  taken  would  have  been  the  hasty  intro- 
duction of  the  catheter  to  empty  the  bladder  and  attempt 
thereby  to  obviate  the  possible  return  of  the  strangury. 
After  obtaining  a  full  picture  of  the  disorder,  which  is  the 
first  and  most  difBicult  task  of  the  healer,  the  second  task  of 
selecting  the  truly  homoeopathic  (similar)  remedy  was  a 
comparatively  easy  one.  There  could  be  not  the  slightest 
doubt,  but  that  Cantharides  covered  the  totality  of  the  symp- 
toms. It  was  also  evident  that  after  the  first  dose  of  Can- 
tharides had  exhausted  its  effects  another  dose  had  to  be 
given,  and  the  final  disclosure  that  turpentine  was  the  cause 
of  the  disorder,  accounted  for  the  necessity  of  repeating  the 
dose,  as  no  doubt  some  turpentine  was  still  retained  in  the 
feet.  And  finally,  as  to  the  dose  administered.  The  dose 
dispute  has  again  become  a  burning  question.  In  1846  we 
took  the  liberty  to  call  the  attention  of  the  profession  to  the 
superior  healing  powers  of  the  higher  potencies  in  a  letter 
dated,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  April  7th,  1846,  and  published  v^  \Jc^^ 


«e4 


CVLTIVATION  OF  BACTESIA  AND  FIBRINB, 


Homce&patkic  Emminer,  page  417.  Although  the  succefisful 
experiments  with  these  then  considered  high  potencies,  as 
well  as  by  much  higher  potencies,  later  made,  were  confirmed 
by  such  members  of  the  profession  as  were  versed  in  the 
tenets  and  practices  of  our  healing  art,  we  find  ourselves  at 
thie  date  confronted  by  men  who  boldly  demand  with  the 
late  president  of  the  American  Institute  of  Homceopathy 
that  a  "limil"  should  be  fixed  by  statute  as  to  the  possible 
curative  powers  remaining  active  in  a  certain  potency — says 
the  late  president —the  12th.  Whether  anyone  is  &t  to 
decide  in  this  burning  question,  who  is  capable  and  willing 
to  strike  out  all  the  accumulative  testimony  deposited  in  our 
journals  by  an  increasing  number  of  experts  from  1846  till 
1883,  has  to  be  left  to  the  betber  judgment  of  just  and  honest 
men.  AVe  lay  this  case  before  our  professional  brethren  as 
one  more  ot  the  many  proofs  that  the  only  possible  hope  of 
"a  oirv"  is  in  following  out  explicitly  the  laws  and  methods 
of  that  healing  art  given  to  the  world  by  that  immoital  phil- 
osopher, Samuel  Hahnemann. 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  BACTERU  AND  FIBRIN. 


About  "cultivating"  fibrin,  or  its  rods  and  granules,  as 
they  claim  to  have  done  with  the  various  forms  of  bacteria, 
I  have  not  yet  tried  it  to  any  great  extent.  And  for  the  very 
good  reason,  that  since  I  commenced  my  investigations  in 
treating  both  blood  and  fibrin  in  numerous  otber  ways  in 
which  errors  could  be  avoided,  to  see  what  could  be  thug 
learned,  I  have  been  so  greatly  taxed  with  that  and  my 
professional  duties,  that  I  have  not  dared  to  undertake 
more. 

Besides,  all  the  assumed  "cultivation"  of  bacteria  are 
wholly  vitiated  and  nothing  is  to'  be  learned  by  imitating 
errors.  To  illustrate,  the  so-called  bacteria  are  nowhere  de- 
veloped, either  naturally  or  artificially,  excepting  to  putrid- 


ROLLIN  R,  GREGO,  M.  D.  665 

ity,  or  by  rotting.  Very  well,  putridity  or  rotting  does  not 
go  on  excepting  in  organic  matter;  and  all  organic  matters 
contain  fibrin,  which,  by  rotting,  is  disintegrated  into  every 
form  of  assumed  bacteria.  Pasteur  uses  chicken  soup,  Koch 
and  others  use  beef  or  other  animal  broths  for  their  '*  culti- 
vations," all  of  which,  of  course,  contain  fibrin;  and  from 
which  no  other  forms  showing  life  or  motion  can  be  ob- 
tained under  rotting,  excepting  such  as  are  obtained  in  the 
same  length  of  time  from  rotting  pure  fibrin  in  distilled 
water.  Fibrin,  then,  being  in  all  animal  broths,  and  *'  culti- 
vating" the  so-called  bacteria  in  them  under -warmth  being 
a  rotting  process,  the  fibrin  therein  is  disintegrated  precisely 
as  it  is  in  a  clot  of  blood,  or  pure  fibrin,  in  distilled  water; 
and  precisely  the  same  forms  are  obtained  in  the  one  case  as 
the  other. 

Thus,  you  will  see  that  all  "  cultivations,"  carried  on  in 
any  kind  of  organic  matter,  are  vitiated  from  the  very  begin- 
ing.  You  can  get  the  same  identical  forms,  I  repeat,  and  all 
of  them,  from  disintegrating  the  purest  fibrin  in  the  purest 
water,  and  even  many  of  such  forms  can  be  obtained  from 
fibrin  in  chemically  pure  acids,  like  nitric  acid,  etc.,  as  I 
have  repeatedly  done.  And  ^here  let  me  tell  you,  that  noth- 
ing in  all  my  scientific  reading  and  research  so  astonishes 
me  as  the  fact,  that  scientific  men,  the  world  over,  have,  with- 
out exception,  overlooked  all  these  facts  and  wholly  neglected 
to  consider  the  forms  of  fibrin  that  are  everywhere  and 
inevitably  present  in  every  instance  where  decay  is  car- 
ried on. 

I  see  by  one  of  the  newspapers  sent  me,  that  one  of 
your  members  exhibited  "some  micrococci  from  a  solution 
of  common  turnip."  Well,  he  had  the  granules  of  fibrin  to 
deal  with  even  there.  Kirkes  and  Paget  say,  fibrin  exists 
in  the  juices  of  all  vegetables,  and  I  have  confirmed  this 
assertion  to  a  considerable  extent.  I  found  quite  an  abund- 
ance of  fibrin  in  the  juices  of  the  leaves  of  the  common 
plantain,  in  geranium  leaves,  etc.,  etc.  So  you  see  all  vege- 
table infusions,  in  which  bacteria  are  said  to  have  been 


666  CLINICAL  REFLECTIONS. 

"cultivated,"  contain  fibrin  to  be  broken  up  by  rotting,  pre- 
cisely as  is  the  case  with  the  fibrin  from  the  blood ;  and 
yield  the  so-called  bacteria  in  broken  pieces  of  fibrin.  You 
know  that  infusions  of  hay  have  been  used  for  the  purpose, 
and  here  it  is  the  broken  fibrin  from  the  hay  that  has  been 
perverted  into  proof  that  bacteria  are  vegetable.  In  a  scien- 
tific work  published  only  last  year,  the  title  of  which  now 
escapes  me,  it  is  asserted  that  "eighty  per  cent  of  crude 
gluten  is  fibrin;"  and  that  there  are  no  longer  any  grounds 
to  regard  animal  and  vegetable  fibrin  as  different,  or  words 
to  that  effect.  Lehrmann  says :  "  The  blood  of  herbivorous 
animals  contains  more  fibrin  than  that  of  the  carnivorous,'^ 
which  must  come  wholly,  of  course,  from  their  vegetable 
food.  You  will,  therefore,  understand  that  I  do  not  rely 
upon  guess-work  as  a  basis  for  any  of  my  positions.  And 
you  will  also  see  that  the  whole  question  of  "  cultivation  of 
bacteria,"  as  hitherto  carried  on,  is  a  very  uncertain  matter 
and  of  no  scientific  value  whatever,  because  nothing  has 
been  done  to  eliniinate  the  precisely  similar  forms  of  fibrin, 
in  a  single  instance,  where  bacteria  have  been  "cultivated'^ 
in  either  animal  or  vegetable  solutions. 

From  all  this  and  much  more  I  know  that  fibrin  can  be 
cultivated  or  grown ;  that  is,  made  to  take  many  different 
forms  under  different  conditions.  And  I  am  entirely  confi- 
dent that  the  assumed  cultivation  of  bacteria  in  mineral 
solutions,  that  is,  in  sea-water,  in  solutions  of  salt  with  am- 
monia, etc.,  etc.,  is  or  will  be  fully  explained  by  such  growth 
or  changes  of  form  in  fibrin. 

But  what  is  even  more  than  that,  I  have  little  fear  in  pre- 
dicting that  one  of  the  greatest  fields  for  science  to  work  in 
in  the  future,  is  going  to  be  in  this  very  direction,  of  furnish- 
ing, or  feeding,  fibrin  in  solution,  and  then  watch  the  vari- 
ous other  matter  in  solution,  and  watch  the  various  growths 
that  will  thus  be  produced.  Unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken, 
much  of  the  organic  world  that  is  now  all  mystery  to  us,  is 
thus  going  to  be  opened  up  in  a  way  that  we  have  hitherto 
little  dreamed  of. 


COLLEGE  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS,  667 

PROCEEDINGS  OP  COLLEGE  OP  PHYSICIANS  AND 

SURGEONS. 


Detboit,  Pebruary  18,  1884. 

College  met  at  appointed  hour,  President,  Dr.  Phil.  Por- 
ter in  the  chair. 

Dr.  McGuire,  the  lecturer  for  the  month,  read  an  inter- 
esting paper  on  ^'  Ephipfiora  aa  Symptom.^^  It  was  stated  that 
Lachrymation,  Epiphora,  or  watering  of  the  eye  is  mislead- 
ing to  the  general  practitioner,  often  leading  to  fatal  delays 
in  the  treatment  of  serious  diseases ;  and  for  this  reason  the 
subject  was  chosen.  Attention  was  called  to  the  diseases  of 
this  class  not  frequently  met  with  by  the  general  practitioner. 
The  Dr.  referred  to  the  Lactrymal  apparatus  as  being  simply 
a  hydraulic  system,  and  that  it  was  necessary  in  order  to 
maintain  the  perfect  working  of  the  system,  that  each  part 
should  remain  in  a  physiological  condition;  hence  the 
importance  of  recognizing  anything  abnormal.  The  lecturer 
objects  to  slitting  open  the  canaliculus,  thereby  converting 
it  into  an  open  channel,  on  the  ground  that  the  physiologi- 
cal and  philosophical  function  is  destroyed.  Dacrocys- 
titis  often  results  from  the  early  symptoms  not  being  recog- 
nized. Reference  was  made  to  different  intra-ocular  condi- 
tions, which  give  rise  to  this  symptom  and  which  have  a 
tendency  to  destroy  vision. 

Discussion: — Dr.  Gilchrist  thinks  the  paper  one  of  gen-* 
eral  interest  to  us  as  physicians.  Mentioned  case  of  Dacro- 
cystitis  that  he  treated,  in  which  the  swelling  was  enormous. 
Silicea  seemed  to  be  the  remedy  indicated,  gave  it  in<™ 
and  speedy  relief  was  obtained  by  the  patient,  which^ 
at  that  time  of  his  life  in  practice,  twenty  years  ago,  sur- 
prised him  very  much.  This  was  the  first  high  potency  he 
ever  gave. 

Dr.  McGuire  objected  to  accepting  this  cure,  as  due  to 
the  remedy,  for  often  this  disease  would  make  a  spontane- 
ous recovery.    He  thought  we  should  always  make  great 
allowances  for  diseases  of  this  nature  when  they  make  o. 
3 


668  COLLEGE  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS. 

rapid  change,  either  one  way  or  the  other,  and  not  attribute 
the  cause  to  the  remedy,  he  had  seen  them  alter  in  appear- 
ance in  twenty-four  hours  when  nothing  had  been  given. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  simply  desired  to  state,  that  had  he  not 
often  had  similar  results  since  that  time,  he  would  not  have 
mentioned  this  case.    No  further  discussion  followed. 

February  25,  1884. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  appearing  for  Dr.  D.  J.  McGuire,  read  a 
paper  on  "  Venereal  Contagion "  confining  himself  to  a  con- 
sideration of  the  two  forms  chancroid  and  syphilis.  It  was 
stated  that  contagion  was  dependent  on  three  facts :  1st, 
Exposure.  2nd,  The  poison  must  be  brought  in  contact 
with  an  absorbent  surface.  3d,  A  lack  of  protection  on  the 
part  of  the  person  exposed. 

A  peculiar  and  interestmg  property  of  the  poison  is  its 
potency,  for  the  smallest  quantity  often  being  mixed  with, 
say  an  ounce  of  water,  is  capable  of  producing  the  charac- 
teristic sore. 

The  doctor  spoke  of  there  being  two  parties  among 
pathologists,  one  believing  in  the  dualistic  theory,  that  is 
that  there  are  two  different  poisons ;  the  other  claiming  that 
there  is  but  one.  The  first,  in  his  opinion,  is  right.  Many 
seem  to  think  the  term  syphilis  applies  to  the  initial  sore, 
when  it  should  be  used  only  to  express  the  morbid  condi- 
tion 'producing  the  sore. 

Some  time  was  given  to  a  consideration  of  the  diagnostic 
differences  between  the  two  diseases.  In  this  connection 
the  lecturer  emphasized  the  fact  that  the  multiple  ulcers 
come  on  successively  in  chancroid  and  simultaneously  in  syph- 
ilis. 

The  discharge  from  a  chancroidal  sore  differs  micro- 
scopically from  that  of  a  syphilitic,  the  former  showing  debris 
or  waste  material,  while  the  latter  is  shown  to  contain  build- 
ing up  material.  The  first  property  of  contagion  of  syphilis 
was  said  to  be  bioplastic. 

As  to  the  prognosis  of  syphilis,  the  Doctor  claimed  that 
it  is,  as  a  rule,  incurable.    No  case  can  be  pronounced  abso- 


COLLEGE  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS.  669 

lutely  cured  until  the  grandchildren  have  been  examined  and 
no  traces  of  the  disease  found  in  them. 

But  little  was  said  concerning  the  treatment.  In  chan- 
croid the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  counteract  or  neutralise 
the  poison  by  heat. 

Diacumon : — Dr.  Sasse,  Mi  Clemens,  Mich.,  thinks  the 
best  treatment  for  syphilis  is  by  means  of  the  cold  water 
bath.  That  is,  water  at  about  66°  P.  He  does  not  hesi- 
tate  to  pronounce  the  case  cured  if  the  patient  can  stand  a 
severe  water  course.  Also  thinks  it  may  be  cured  by  nature^ 
the  patient  taking  no  medicine.  The  water  treatment  is 
supposed  to  set  free  the  syphilitic  germ,  and  not  only  it,  but 
the  mercury  as  well,  provided  that  drug  has  been  given. 
Has  never  been  able  to  decide  as  to  whether  there  are  two 
poisons  or  only  one. 

Dr.  Gaylord.  When  we  see  a  child  with  enlarged 
glands  are  we  to  suppose  there  has  been  syphilis  in  the 
family  ? 

Dr.  Gilchrist  Either  that  or  struma,  which  also  may 
result  from  syphilis. 

Dr.  Gaylord.  Knew  a  man,  who,  while  in  the  army, 
was  vaccinated ;  soon  after  syphilis,  or  what  was  thought  to 
be  it,  developed.  Another  gentleman  was  vaccinated  on  the 
same  day,  the  same  virus  being  used,  and  died  from  syph- 
ilis in  a  few  weeks.  Now  the  first  person  is  in  doubt  as  to 
whether  he  has  the  disease*  at  present,  for  all  symptoms  dis- 
appeared long  ago.  How  is  he  to  know?  Can  he  marry 
with  safetv? 

Dr.  Sasse.  If  he  can  stand  a  severe  course  of  water 
treatment  as  now  practiced  in  Germany,  you  may  say  he  is 
well. 

Dr.  D.  J.  McGuire.  Seldom  sees  it  in  its  early  stages. 
The  cases  that  come  to  him  are  usually  tertiary  involving 
the  eye.    Uses  Iodide  of  Merc. 

Dr.  Bailey.  Believes  in  the  dualistic  theory.  In  treat- 
ing chancroid  uses  severe  measures.  If  indurations  appear 
he  endeavors  to  induce  suppuration. 


6?0  COlLJSOE  PHTSlalA^S  AND  SURGEONS. 

Dr.  Porter.  Bumstead  claims  to  core  syphilis  by  what 
he  calls  the  ''continued  treatment."  Sims  also  claims  that 
it  can  be  cured.  When  he  (Porter)  was  in  the  Marine  hos- 
pital service,  he  obtained  good  results  from  Iodide  of  Poia»- 
sivm.  Thinks  Mercury  is  the  specific.  Question.  Does  Dr. 
Gilchrist  know  of  any  remedy  that  has  any  effect  upon  the 
copper  colored  spots  ? 

Dr.  Gilchrist.  Nitric  Add  has  been  used,  but  does  not 
know  of  anything  that  will  remove  them.  Does  not  believe 
in  syphUinum  at  all. 

Adjourned. 

March  19,  1884. 

Dr.  Gaylord  was  elected  lecturer  for  June,  1884. 

Dr.  S.  A.  Jones  of  Ann  Arbor  appearing  for  Dr.  Mc- 
Laren, the  lecturer  for  the  month,  read  a  paper  entitled  *'  A 
Criticism  on  the  Proving  of  Opium,"  in  which  he  stated  thai 
many  symptoms  given  under  that  drug  in  our  text  books 
were  unreliable  and  unworthy  of  consideration.  Quite  a  gen- 
eral discussion  followed,  the  members  all  taking  a  part  in  it. 

Dr.  McLaren  thinks  the  lecturer  should  have  gone  a 
little  farther  and  given  us  the  reliable  symptoms. 

Dr.  Bailey  would  also  like  to  hear  from  Dr.  Jones,  as  to 
the  symptoms  that  he  knows  are  reliable.  Thinks  the  sim- 
ple fact  of  symptoms  having  been  given  by  Hahnemann,  or 
any  other  man,  does  not  prove  that  they  are  true. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  looks  upon  medicine  as  a  progressive 
science,  many  things  that  were  accepted  as  true  years  ago 
have  since  been  rejected  as  false.  No  one  man  has  the  abil- 
ity to  take  up  a  drug  and  say  that  a  certain  set  of  symptoms 
are  true  and  another  false.  Many  symptoms  of  iUegitimaJbe 
origin  have,  by  clinical  experience,  been  proven  irue^  and 
others  that  were  properly  developed  are  found  to  have  no 
clinical  value. 

Dr.  D.  J.  McGuire  does  not  presume  to  discuss  the 
paper  because,  Ist,  "  he  has  not  the  ability,"  and  2nd,  "  we 
all  feel  doubtful  as  to  the  value  of  the  provings  of  our  reme- 
dies."   What  we  want  is  a  way  out  of  the  trouble. 


COLLEGE  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS.  671 

Dr.  Jones  has  been  disappointed  in  many  cases  where 
he  relied  on  the  symptoms  as  given  in  our  books.  No  man 
can  tell  what  to  trust  and  what  not,  in  our  Materia  Medica. 
Will  only  arrive  at  the  truth  after  years  of  labor.  Does  not 
want  anything  that  he  has  said  to-night  to  detract  from 
Hahnemann. 

Dr.  Sasse.  Perhaps  to  the  many  fallacious  symptoms 
revered  under  opium,  is  due  the  number  of  failures  to  cure 
with  that  drug. 

Dr.  Jones.  Hahnemann  says  that  of  all  the  remedies 
in  our  Materia  Medica  it  is  the  one  least  called  for.  With 
reference  to  doae,  he  thinks  it  is  just  as  legitimate  for  a  homeo- 
path to  give  teaspoonful  doses  of  the  mother  tincture  in 
certain  conditions  as  to  give  the  highest  potencies.  Has 
given  Morph.  svlph,  in  certain  cases,  particularly  in  Renal 
Lithiasis.  This  last  remark  led  to  quite  a  discussion  as 
to  the  best  remedies  in  these  cases. 

Dr.  Gay  lord  uses  Santonine  in  one  grain  doses,  with  best 
results. 

Dr.  Bailey  has  been  pleased  with  the  action  of  China  *  * 

Dr.  Gilchrist  has  tried  Laudinum  in  a  number  of  cases, 
but  with  poor  success.  Thinks  more  of  Ars.  Apis,  China^ 
and  Lycap.  Does  not  use  Opium  in  these  cases  because  it 
stops  the  peristaltic  action  of  the  ureters. 

Dr.  Avery  thinks  it  is  a  mechanical  trouble,  and  poten- 
cies useless.    Would  use  morphine. 

Dr.  Porter,  from  the  chair,  endorses  what  Dr.  Avery 
says  with  regard  to  its  being  a  mechanical  trouble,  which, 
when  relieved  by  remedies,  such  as  Apis^  Santonine,  etc.,  is 
brought  about  by  the  mechanical  action  of  an  abundant 
flow  of  urine,  produced  by  these  drugs.  He  does  not  ap- 
prove of  Dr.  Jones'  treatment.   Adjourned. 

March  24,  1884. 

Dr.  McLaren,  the  lecturer  for  the  month,  read  two  short 
papers.  The  first  treating  of  the  value  of  instruments  in 
diagnosing  lung  troubles.  The  second  being  a  description 
of  two  cases  of  persistent  and  long  standing  cough. 


672  COLLEGE  PHYSICIANS  AND  SUR0E0N8, 

III  the  discussion  Dr.  Younghusband  stated  that  while 
he  believes  in  many  cases  the  stethoscope  may  help  us  in 
our  diagnosis,  he  does  not  think  it  is  always  to  be  relied 
upon  as  he  has  known  of  its  misleading  many  physicians  in 
a  number  of  cases.  He  thinks  the  microscope  is  a  more 
certain  means  of  diagnosis. 

Dr.  D.  J.  McGuire  is  glad  to  know  of  a  certain  means 
of  diagnosis  in  these  cases,  for  certainly  many  serious  mis- 
takes are  made  by  those  supposed  to  have  special  skill  in 
auscultation  and  percussion. 

Dr.  Gilchrist  thinks  there  is  a  fine  appreciation  of 
sound  to  which  the  ear  must  be  educated,  in  order  to  detect 
any  little  abnormalities  that  may  exist  in  the  lungs.  As 
for  him  he  makes  no  pretentions  in  that  line. 

Dr.  McLaren  referred  to  a  case  reported  by  one  of  the 

members,  who  had  claimed  a  cure  of  a  chronic  disease  by 

one  dose  of  the  200  of  Suiph.,  when  the  patient  had,  for  years, 

resided  in  a  sulphur  district.    Thought  the  imagination  of 

both  the  doctor  and  patient  had  to  be  largely  drawn  upon 

to    believe  in    the    diagnosis.      The    physician    who   had 

reported  the  case  not  being  present,  no  attention  was  given 

the  remarks  by  Dr.  McLaren,  and  a  motion  to  adjourn  was 

made  and  carried. 

J.  M.  Griffin,  Recorder. 


w» 


A  doctor  dressed  a  boy's  injured  elbow,  and  gave  his 
mother  directions  for  after-treatment.  The  mother  neglected 
the  directions,  and  a  deformed  elbow  was  the  result.  The 
mother  brought  a  suit  for  damages;  and,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  the  doctor  could  prove  the  mother's  n^ligence, 
he  was  advised  by  his  lawyer  to  "settle."  The  ground  for 
this  advice  was,  that  in  Ohio  "A  child  of  tender  years, 
injured  by  the  fault  of  another,  is  not  deprived  of  a  right  of 
action  by  reason  of  contributory  negligence  on  the  part  of 
the  parent  or  guardian."  The  surgeon  must  not  only  give 
the  necessary  directions,  but  see  personally  that  they  are 
carried  out. 


0  VARIOTOMY—RECO  VER  Y,  673 

OVARIOTOMY— RECOVERY. 


BT  PHIL  FOBTBB,  M.  D.,  DETBOIT. 


In  the  fall  of  1883,  Dr.  R.  C.  Olin,  of  this  city,  brought 
Mrs.  K ,  age  37,  to  consult  me  in  regard  to  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  abdomen,  the  Doctor  having  suspected  an  ovar- 
ian tumor.  Placing  the  patient  on  the  table,  under  an  anaes- 
thetic, with  considerable  diflBiculty — as  the  lady  was  very 
fleshy,  weighing  over  two  hundred  pounds. — I  succeeded  in 
diagnosing  a  cyst  of  the  right  ovary. 

After  repeated  efforts  for  relief,  from  internal  remedies, 
an  operation  was  advised,  but  listening  to  the  suggestions  of 
so-called  friends(?)  she  visited  a  quack,  known  here  as  the 
"spit  doctor,"  who  supplied  her  with  powders  composed  of 
lobelia,  capsicum  and  hydrastis,  which  caused  an  excessive 
flow  of  saliva,  which  the  said  "  doctor  "  informed  her,  was 
**  parts  of  the  tumor  being  spit  up  through  the  mouth."  After 
several  months'  trial  of  this  disgusting  treatment,  she  con- 
sulted Dr.  Olin  again  to  see  how  much  the  tumor  had  di- 
minished in  size,  but  to  her  astonishment  and  chagrin,  on 
comparing  her  present  measurement  with  the  former,  which 
I  had  given  her,  she  found  she  had  rapidly  increased  in  size 
Realizing  the  discomforts  of  the  increased  growth,  and  the 
foolishness  of  delaying  the  operation  she  presented  herself 
for  relief  by  surgical  measures. 

Preparing  her  in  the  usual  manner  for  all  laparotomies 
and  examining  her  with  reference  to  adhesions,  I  proceeded 
in  the  usual  manner  for  an  ovariotomy. 

With  the  assistance  of  Drs.  R.  C.  Olin,  C.  C.  Miller  and  H. 
H.  Crippen,  I  removed  a  large  unilocular  ovarian  cyst,  meet- 
ing with  no  obstruction  until  the  pedicle  was  reached;  here 
to  my  utter  amazement  I  found  a  very  short  and  broad  ped- 
icle, in  width,  nearly  five  inches,  and  very  vascular,  as  well 
as  cedematous.  In  treating  the  pedicle  I  departed  from  my 
usual  method.  Seizing  the  pedicle  at  the  base  of  the  cyst  at 
right  angles  to  the  vertical  axis  of  the  pedicle,  with  a  pair  of 


674  OVA  RIO  TOM  Y—KECO  VER  Y. 

long  handled,  lock  clamps,  which  included  half  of  the  width, 
then  on  the  opposite  side,  I  applied  another  pair,  so  that  the 
points  met,  which  included  the  entire  pedicle.  Immediately 
below  these  clamps,  with  well  cleaned  silk  ligatures,  I  ligated 
the  pedicle  in  five  different  sections.  Then  depressing  the 
abdomen  I  applied  Billroth 's  large  pedicle  clamp,  crowding 
the  mass  of  pedicle  in  between  the  jaws  of  the  clamp,  and 
with  a  wet  sponge  placed  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  pedicle, 
I  divided  the  tissue  with  cautery  below  the  first  clamp,  but 
above  the  ligatures,  which  delivered  the  cyst  Then  loosen- 
ing the  handles  of  the  clamp  and  observing  no  haemorrhage, 
I  again  drew  the  tissues  of  the  pedicle  within  the  jaws  of  the 
clamp  and  again  tightened  the  blades.  With  the  cautery 
iron  at  a  dull  red  heat  I  slowly  cooked  all  that  portion  of  the 
pedicle  above  the  large  clamp.  With  the  second  iron  I  then 
burnt  away  that  portion  of  the  pedicle  already  cooked,  and 
with  the  third  iron  I  completed  the  cautery,  down  to  the 
margins  of  the  clamp.  By  this  method,  that  portion  of  the 
pedicle  between  the  blades  of  the  clamp  was  converted  into  a 
glue  like  substance  which  will  never  slough.  Loosening  the 
clamp,  but  still  retaining  a  hold  upon  the  pedicle,  no  bleed- 
ing was  observed. 

With  this  method  no  foreign  bodies  are  left  in  the  abdo- 
minal cavity,  the  ligatures  having  been  removed  with  the 
first  portion  that  was  divided  by  the  cautery. 

Then  cauterizing  the  divided  ends  of  some  large  bands 
of  adhesions,  which  were  quite  vascular,  I  proceeded  to  per- 
form the  toUeite  of  the  peritoneum. 

Inasmuch  as  the  pedicle  was  of  unusual  width,  and  very 
vascular,  I  was  especially  well  pleased  with  the  result  of 
the  cautery  treatment. 

The  closing  of  the  abdominal  incision  was  in  the  usual 
manner  of  ovariotomy,  and  one  of  Keith's  drainage  tubes 
was  left  in  the  lower  angle  of  the  wound. 

Recovery  was  complete  with  no  interruption ;  the  tem- 
perature never  going  above  99i®. 

The  antiseptic  treatment  was  absoluU  cleanliness. 


SUB-CELLU LITIS.  675 

The  after  treatment  consisted  of  the  administration  of 
first,  Hypericum,  followed  several  days  later,  by  Ntuc.  v.  30th. 

The  drainage  tube  was  removed  on  the  fifth  day.  The 
tumor  weighed  forty-two  pounds. 


^a^ 


SUB-CELLULITIS. 


READ    BEFORE     THE    WAYNE   COUNTY     HOMCEOPATHIC    MEDICAL 

SOCIETY. 


BT  O.  P.  BAEB,  M.  D.,  RICHMOND.  IND. 


Permit  me  to  offer  for  your  deliberate  consideration  an 
interesting  case  of  sub-abdominal  abscess,  known  by  the 
many  names  of  sub-cellulitis,  peri-proctitis,  para-metritis, 
pelvic-cellulitis,  peri-uterine-cellulitis,  peri-rectal-cellulitis, 
or,  in  other  words,  an  inflammation  of  the  intermediate 
cellular  or  areolar  tissue,  lying  between  the  uterus  and  rec- 
tum, which  suppurated,  and  discharged  through  the  rectum, 
to  the  extent,  of  at  least,  one-half  gallon,  of  greenish-yellow, 
offensive  pus.  This  case  came  under  my  immediate  treat- 
ment, from  one  of  our  city  allopathic  physicians,  who  had 
been  treating  her  for  a  week  or  more.  The  doctor  did  not 
define  the  case,  for  prudential  reasons.  The  disease  is  not  a 
common  one,  and  often-times  presents  very  different  aspects, 
and  uncertain  characteristics,  so  much  so,  that  the  profound- 
est  medical  expert  may  be  mistaken. 

The  cellular  or  areolar  tissue  is  the  most  common  of  all 
the  tissues  of  the  human  body.  It  fills  all  the  interstices 
between  the  various  organs,  vessels  and  muscles;  gives  form 
to  different  parts,  and  by  its  elasticity,  contractility,  and  in- 
herent fluid  contents  of  its  areolae,  amply  facilitates  organic 
motion.  Pathological,  or  morphological  changes,  such  as 
filling  up  with  fat,  serum  or  adipose  tissue,  or  morbid 
(O^owths,  gatherings  etc.,  may  deprive  the  parts  of  all  motion. 
This  tissue  is  subject  to  every  variety  of  both  external  and 
internal  injuries,  such  as  contusions,  frictions  of  one  section 
upon  another,  falls,  direct  blows  and  continued   pressures. 


676  8UB-CELLULIT18. 

in  consequence  of  the  universality  of  ita  position ;  hence  its 
frequent  liability  to  irritation,  congestion,  inflammation  and 
consequent  suppuration.  It  is  the  great,  if  not  the  only 
lubricator  of  the  human  organism;  hence  the  great  nobility 
of  its  oflSce.  It  allows  of  no  intrusion  without  resentment. 
The  suffering  it  induces,  is  always  commensurate  with  the 
physical  value  of  the  parts  involved.  Oftentimes,  gatherings 
in  this  tissue,  are  very  obscure  and  insidious ;  burrowing 
between,  or  below  some  important  internal  hidden  muscles 
or  organs,  or  even,  the  aponeuroses;  and  in  consequence  of 
the  ambiguity  and  indirectness  of  symptoms,  may  easily 
mislead  the  physician. 

The  case  I  am  now  about  to  describe  to  you,  was  of  this 
uncertain  character.  During  its  inception  and  early  devel- 
opment it  was  under  the  care  of  an  allopathic  physician,  as 
stated  above. 

On  my  introduction  to  the  case,  I  made  inquiry  as  to 
the  history  of  the  attack,  and  found  that  the  patient,  a  lady 
of  good  constitution  and  well-to-do  in  life,  disposed  to  be 
corpulent,  particularly  over  the  abdomen,  had  been  house- 
cleaning,  and  wound  up  with  an  all  night  dance.  Soon 
found  herself  stiff  and  sore,  which  rapidly  increased,  fol- 
lowed by  pains  over  the  entire  body,  fever,  chills,  thirst,  loss 
of  appetite,  general  debility,  nausea,  retching,  vomiting,  con- 
stipation. Urine  hot,  scanty,  cloudy  and  sedimentary;  while 
the  whole  region  immediately  over  both  ovaries  and  uterus 
was  intolerably  sensitive  and  considerably  tumefied. 

On  making  a  digital  examination  per-vaginum,  I  found 
the  parts  dry,  hot,  and  exceedingly  painful,  (vaginismus) 
very  much  shortened  and  narrowed.  Uterus  tightly  pressed 
down  against  the  symphysis  pubis,  and  both  ante- verted  and 
ante-flexed,  discharging  a  thick,  heated,  greenish-yellow 
leucorrhcea.  The  bladder- was  apparently  full  and  pressed 
upward,  while  the  rectum  was  pressed  both  forward  and 
downward.  I  then  introduced  my  second  finger  into  the 
rectum,  which  was  very  much  contracted,  painful  and  throb- 
bing. 


0.  p.  BAER,  M.  D.  677 

Finally  I  placed  my  thumb  in  the  vagina  and  brought 
finger  and  thumb  together,  revealing  unmistakable  evidences 
of  fluctuation.  I  now  explored  the  rectum  as  high  up  as  it 
was  possible  with  my  finger,  and  became  satisfied  that  the 
preponderance  of  weight,  as  well  as  weakness,  was  towards 
the  walls  of  the  rectum,  and  that  the  great  probability  was, 
the  abscess  would  soon  open  into  the  rectum,  about  three 
inches  up.  From  this  examination,  I  had  not  the  least 
hesitancy  in  saying  that  I  had  a  formidable,  pure  case  of 
sub-cellulitis,  involving  both  vagina  and  rectum. 

I  prescribed  Phosphorus  3rd,  every  hour,  to  be  aided 
by  hot  water  injections,  and  fomentations  over  hypogas- 
trium.  I  visited  the  case  twice  every  day,  and  sometimes 
oftener,  until  it  broke,  which  occurred  on  the  fourth  day. 
The  break  resulted  as  was  anticipated,  not  more  than  three 
inches  up  the  anterior  wall  of  the  rectum.  The  discharge 
amounted  to  fully  one-half  gallon  of  greenish-yellow,  offen- 
sive pus. 

The  pain,  which  had  been  of  the  most  aggravating  and 
persisting  character,  both  day  and  night,  caused  transient 
spells  of  despondency,  hysteria,  and  delirium.  This  now  all 
suddenly  disappeared,  and  my  patient  became  as  joyous 
and  happy,  as  though  she  was  the  recipient  of  a  princely 
gift.  I  now  gave  her  Hepar.  sulph.,  with  an  occasional 
intercurrent  remedy,  to  subdue  stray  symptoms,  until  the 
discharge  of  pus  had  entirely  ceased. 

Since  that  time  she  has  been  taking  such  appropriate 
remedies  as  were  indicated  by  different  symptoms  as  they 
presented  themselves. 

For  more  than  a  week  after  the  abscess  broke,  she  was 
almost  free  from  pain;  but  as  the  abnormal  pressure  was 
removed,  and  the  parts  began  to  assume  their  normal  posi- 
tions, more  or  less  nervous  irritability  came,  only  involving 
the  left  ovary  and  thigh,  for  which  I  have  given  her  China, 
Colocynthis,  Pulsatilla  and  Conium  as  they  were  demanded. 
She  is  now  convalescing  rapidly,  rides  out  eack  d».^^^*^^&^ 
sleeps  and  enjoys  herself.    Will  soon  "be  n«^. 


678  CORRESPONDENCE. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 


Editor  Medical  Advance : 

For  once  in  my  life  I  have  spent  some  time  in  attending 
medical  conventions.  Already  this  summer  I  have  taken  in 
several  such  and  to  say  that  I  am  tired  is  to  put  it  mildly. 
It  has  made  me  well  nigh  sick  listening  to  the  papers  which 
have  been  reported  by  the  members  of  the  several  bureaus. 
Now  and  then  I  have  heard  a  bright  and  original  paper  but 
the  most  of  the  papers  reported  have  been  taken  bodily  out 
of  our  text-books.  I  wish  I  could  specify  a  few  of  these 
papers  that  were  filled  with  this  second-hand  material  and 
not  hurt  the  feelings  of  the  men  who  wrote  them.  If  you 
will  look  at  the  proceedings  of  these  societies  you  will  easily 
distinguish  them.  But  what  I  want  to  know  is,  if  this  fool- 
ish waste  of  time  cannot  be  stopped.  Will  it  be  so  next 
year  and  forever,  that  in  order  to  have  a  paper  for  the  con- 
vention a  man  must  give  us  such  stale  stuff?  Do  these 
gentlemen  imagine  their  hearers  are  ignorant  of  first  princi- 
ples, and  need  to  be  taught  their  a  b  c's  ?  Is  it  a  fact,  that 
they  are  incapable  of  writing  an  original  paper?  If  so, 
then  Mr.  Editor  for  the  Lord's  sake,  ask  them  to  write 
nothing.  Please  gentiemen  don't  insult  our  intelligence  and 
waste  our  time  after  this  fashion.  Quit  this  text-book  busi- 
ness or  quit  the  business  altogether.  Friday. 


Editor  Medical  Advance : — In  your  editorial,  "  Principles 
of  Medicine,"  April  number,  you  threaten  to  "  endeavor  to 
so  outline  the  subject,  (Principles  of  Medicine)  and  so  sug- 
gest how  it  might  be  amplified,  as  to  place  the  art  of  healing 
en  rapport  with  modern  thoughts."  Now  Doctor,  please 
donH  do  a.  If  there  is  any  one  thing  that  more  than  another 
has  hindered  the  progress  of  Homoeopathy,  and  over  which 
friend  and  foe  alike  have  stumbled,  it  is  the  attempts,  by 
outlines  and  amplifications,  to  explain  the  unexplainable. 
Such  efforts  in  the  past  have  covered  the  great  truth  with 
such  a  mass  of  i\i\>b\a\i  aa  \/o  eo\si^l^\ftlY  Vvide  it  from  all 


CORRESPONDENCE.  679 

but  the  dilligent.  If  I  had  the  power  and  could  do  the 
cause  of  medical  science  the  greatest  possible  good,  I  would 
wipe  out  of  medical  literature  every  word  that  was  ever 
written,  by  Hahnemann  or  his  followers,  to  explain  the 
principles  of  the  law  of  similars.  It  is  a  great,  simple, 
natural  law.  So  great  and  so  simple  that  efforts  to  explain 
it  only  confuse. 

What  would  be  the  effect  of  writing  article  upon  article, 
and  book  after  book,  to  explain  the  principles  of  the  law  of 
gravitation?  Time  is  better  spent  inventing  perpetual 
motion.  You  have  only  to  let  go  the  apple  under  proper 
conditions  and  it  falls  toward  the  center  of  the  earth,  that  is 
all  there  is  known  about  it,  and  the  more  you  try  to  explain 
the  principles  the  more  you  mystify  the  whole  thing. 

It  is  the  same  with  the  so-called  homoeopathic  law  of 
cure,  You  give  the  pellet,  according  to  that  law,  under 
proper  conditions,  and  the  patient  is  relieved,  and  recovers; 
you  don't  know  how,  nor  why,  and  your  efforts  to  explain, 
or  outline  or  suggest  explanation,  will  not  satisfy  you  nor 
benefit  your  readers,  and  may  result,  as  many  another  effort, 
with  the  best  intention,  and  from  the  purest  motive,  has 
done  before,  viz.:  hide  truth,  divide  friends,  and  confirm 
enemies. 

I  firmly  believe,  were  it  not  for  the  thick  cloud  of  mys- 
ticism which  has  been  thrown  around  this  great  law  by 
efforts  to  explain  it,  the  law  itself  would  no  more  be  con- 
tradicted to-day  than  is  Harvey's  great  discovery  of  the 
arterial  circulation. 

I  would  urge  every  one  to  investigate,  observe,  record, 
and  give  the  profession  the  benefit  of  all  the  facta  and  every 
condition  which  modifies  them,  but  let  every  physician  do 
his  own  guessing  and  theorising. 

Now  next  in  importance  to  wiping  out  what  has  been 
written  is  to  oppose  any  more;  I  therefore  close  by  repeat- 
ing, what  I  began  by  saying,  Dont. 

Chas.  a.  Church,  M.  D. 

Passaic,  N.  J.,  May  1, 1884. 


680  CORRESPONDENCE. 

[Note. — Our  likes  and  dislikes  primarily  depend  upon 
the  shape  of  our  heads.  They  are  decided  before  hand  by 
our  phrenological  development.  The  higher  reasoning  facul- 
ties are  located  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  forehead.  One 
may  have  fine  intellectual  development  without  having  any 
tafite  for  philosophy,  but  such  a  liking  is  possible  only  with 
a  fair  development  of  the  region  of  reflection.  Bearing 
these  facts  in  mind,  we  have  the  key  which  unlocks  the 
troubles  of  our  correspondent.  If  his  ideas  are  any  index 
of  his  cranium  his  head  lacks  relatively  in  the  antero-supe- 
rior  portion.  This  by  no  means  discounts  his  intelligence, 
but  it  explains  his  horror  of  philosophy.  If  Sir  Isaac 
Newton  had  been  of  like  mind  with  our  correspondent  he 
would  have  made  sorry  work  with  his  falling  apple.  He 
did  just  what  Dr.  Church  protests  against :  he  reasoned  and 
wrote,  and  so  placed  the  law  of  gravitation  upon  an  endur- 
ing base.  "The  proper  conditions"  are  the  things  we  are 
after  and  they  cost  thought.  We  must  break  the  shell  if  we 
would  get  at  the  meat;  we  must  crack  the  nut  if  we  would 
find  the  kernel.  It  will  not  do  to  turn  aside  these  vital 
questions,  though  they  be  knotty,  as  the  boy  did  who  being 
asked  how  digestion  was  accomplished,  said,  "01  put  the 
puddin  in  my  mouth  an  it  tslips  down  down  ath  eathy.** 
It  is  to  clear  away  the  "mysticism"  that  we  labor.  If 
similia  is  a  "  natural  law  "  it  can  be  investigated  and  under- 
stood. It  is  demonstrated  as  a  fact,  but  what  is  its  philoso- 
phy ?    That  is  the  question. — Ed.] 


Editor  Medical  Advance  : 

The  Indiana  Institute  of  Homoeopathy  has  just  closed 
its  last  annual  session  in  this  city.  The  attendance  was  not 
near  as  large  as  on  many  former  occasions.  Upon  the  whole 
it  might  be  said,  however,  that  the  deliberations  were  both 
interesting  and  instructive.  But  to  particularize,  it  might 
also  be  claimed  that  many  of  the  papers  read,  including  the 
President's  address,  were  entirely  too  lengthy.  The  busy  and 
enterprising  practiUoivet  caivwoi  v^tiently  listen  very  long  to 


CORRESPONDENCE,  681 

the  reading  of  a  paper  that  deals  with  dead  issues  and  vis- 
ionary theories  that  are  unprofitable  alike  to  himself  and  to 
his  patients.  He  must  have  diet  that  furnishes  mental  nour- 
ishment and  useful  information,  or  else  he  gets  nervous  and 
goes  home  before  adjournment,  perhaps  never  to  return  again. 

As  instances,  I  will  give  you  the  outlines  of  a  few  of  the 
uninteresting  and  unprofitable  papers  read.  In  a  paper  on 
ntna,  the  author  started  out  with  a  prolix  preface,  claiming 
that  this  valuable  agent  had  been  entombed,  but  he  came  to 
ressurrect  it,  by  pointing  out  its  many  uses.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  describe  every  pathological  condition  and  every 
natural  movement  that  has  ever  been  observed  in  a  child, 
and  for  all  these  things^  Cina,  with  bim,  like  Aconit  with  Hem- 
pel,  is  generally  indicated.  But  its  special  indications  are 
convulsions,  resulting  from  an  engorgement  of  the  alimentary 
canal  of  undigested  food,  cherry  seeds,  buttons,  etc.,  etc.  A 
few  doses  of  the  200th  is  all  that  is  needed  to  allay  such 
spasms.  To  the  credit  of  the  society  be  it  said,  that  after 
brief  discussion  the  paper  was  wisely  rejected,  with  the  opin- 
ion preponderating  that  a  dose  of  castor  oil  would  be  more 
efficacious  in  such  cases. 

In  another  paper  read  on  the  "  Mortality  of  Children," 
the  author  put  forth  a  laborious  effort  to  present  a  long  array 
of  hospital  statistics,  supported  by  the  observations  of  emi- 
nent practitioners,  that  mothers'  milk  is  by  far  the  best  food 
for  babies,  and  that  the  milk  of  grass-fed  cows  and  goats  is 
the  next  best  diet  for  them.  While  this  paper  did  not  con- 
tain anything  that  was  ridiculous,  it  nevertheless  presented 
nothing  but  universally  admitted  facts;  its  reading  was 
therefore  a  total  loss  of  time  to  the  society,  and  it  should 
have  shared  the  same  fate  with  the  foregoing  one,  instead  of 
being  referred  to  the  committee  on  printing. 

So  long  as  State  medical  societies  are  measured  by  the 
length  and  number  of  papers  presented  at  their  meetings, 
instead  of  the  merit  of  such  papers,  so  long  will  true  progress 
in  medicine  move  slowly,  and  grand  and  great  objects  be  de- 
ferred.   Nothing  can  be  accomplished  by  pt^^vi\\w%  ^^^<et% 


682  CORRESPONDENCE. 

before  a  State  society  composed  chiefly  of  extracts  from  text 
and  other  books  commonly  read,  filled  in  with  meaningless 
or  unsupported  assertions,  exploded  theories,  weak-minded 
chaff  and  bad  grammar.  But  such  papers  should  always  be 
brief  and  to  the  point,  without  any  effort  at  display,  and 
should  be  the  result  of  our  best  efforts  after  an  exhaustive 
research  of  the  subject  in  hand,  and  a  deliberate  and  mature 
reflection  of  all  its  claims  and  bearings.  And  right  here  it 
might  just  as  well  be  admitted  that  not  every  practitioner, 
although  perhaps  as  successful  as  many  others,  is  capable  of 
preparing  a  paper  of  merit.  All  such  should  attend  the 
meetings  as  listeners  and  not  presume  to  instruct  others  who 
possess  special  ability  in  this  direction.  This  course  has 
been  pursued  by  your  correspondent  for  five  successive  years, 
and  as  an  attentive  listener  only  he  has  no  regrets. 

There  is  another  very  discourteous  practice  indulged  in 
at  our  society  meetings  that  deserves  a  more  severe  stricture 
than  it  has  ever  yet  received,  and  that  is  whenever  a  new 
idea  or  method  is  presented  by  any  of  the  progressive  mem- 
bers, the  fossils  come  at  once  out  of  their  shells  and  tell  you, 
"if  you  would  only  study  Hahnemann's  Organon  thoroughly 
you  need  not  resort  to  any  new  methods."  And  this  they 
say  with  an  air  of  superiority  which  implies  that  no  one,  ex- 
cept the  antideluvians,  had  ever  read  that  valuable  book.  If 
we  were  to  admit  that  Hahnemann  was  the  omega  as  well  as 
the  alpha  of  Homoeopathy  then  this  attempt  at  restriction 
and  uncalled  for  tyranny  might  be  admissable,  and  we 
might  then  just  as  well  as  not  come  to  a  "dead  halt"  at  once. 
Further  progress  and  development  in  our  science  would  not 
only  be  unnecessary  hut  impossible.  But  as  our  school  of 
medicine  is  one  of  progress,  it  would  perhaps  not  be  out  of 
place  here  to  tell  the  aforesaid  fossils,  by  way  of  a  little 
wholesome  retaliation,  that  they  too  shouid  ready  not  only  a 
book,  but  the  history  of  all  the  ages,  and  there  learn  that  all 
the  discoveries  of  new  laws  and  new  truths  have  only  seen 
the  beginning  of  a  work  that  succeeding  generations  have 
carried  on  into  fuller  development.    And  thus  must  it  be 


HOW  TO  LIVE  LONG,  (»3 

with  Homoeopathy,  if  it  is  to  survive  and  prosper.  The 
Alopathic  medical  society  of  Indiana  has  a  committee  of 
enquiry,  or  some  such  a  name,  to  whom  all  papers  are  referred 
before  they  can  be  read  in  open  meeting,  and  by  this  means 
a  vast  mass  of  ignorance  can  be  hidden.  Some  such  a  plan 
should  be  suggested  to  certain  of  our  own  medical  societies. 

D.  Haggart,  M.  D. 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  May  2d,  1884. 


-^•^ 


HOW  TO  LIVE  LONG. 


Old  age  is  of  two  varieties — premature,  and  that  caused 
by  the  lapse  of  time.  Premature  age,  as  engendered  by 
various  mental  and  physical  excesses,  comes  not  within  our 
present  notice.  The  principal  characteristics  of  old  age,  as 
demonstrated  by  anatomical  research,  are  a  deposition  of 
fibrinous,  gelatinous,  and  earthly  deposits  in  the  system. 
Every  organ  in  the  body  during  old  age  is  especially  prone 
to  these  ossific  depositions.  These  earthly  deposits  have 
been  found  to  consist  principally  of  phosphate  and  carbon- 
ate of  lime,  combined  with  other  calcareous  salts,  accord- 
ing to  the  research  of  Dr.  Williams.  "That  man  begins  in  a 
gelatinous  and  terminates  in  an  osseous  (or  bony)  condition," 
has  been  truly  observed  by  a  French  physician.  From  the 
cradle  to  the  grave  a  gradual  process  of  ossification  is  un- 
doubtedly present ;  but,  after  passing  middle  life,  the  ossific 
tendency  becomes  more  markedly  developed,  until  it  finally 
ushers  in  senile  decrepitude.  These  earthly  deposits  in  the 
various  organs  during  old  age  materially  interfere  with  the 
due  performance  of  their  respective  functions. 

Hencewe  find  imperfect  circulation  in  the  aged,  owing  to 
the  heart  becoming  partially  ossified,  and  the  arteries 
blocked  with  calcaerous  matter,  interferring  with  that  free 
passage  of  blood  upon  which  nutrition  depends,  so  the 
repair  of  the  body  naturally  becomes  impared  thereby. 

Both  Bichet  and  Baillie  considered  that  the  great  num- 
ber of  persons  over  60  suffer  motft  ot  Yesa  lxck\«\  ^x\fcTvsJX 
4 


684  HOW  TO  LIVE  tONO. 

ossification.  When  the  heart's  valves  become  cartilaginous 
they  consequently  fail  to  propel  the  blood  to  ita  destinations 
— this  fluid  being  further  obstructed  by  the  ossified  and  con- 
tracted condition  of  the  arteries  themselves. 

In  youth,  on  the  other  hand,  nutrition  is  perfectly 
carried  out,  there  being  no  blockades  to  impede  the  circulat- 
ing system  upon  the  due  perlormance  of  which  physical 
reparation  depends. 

Bearing  the  above  facts  in  mind,  we  plainly  perceive 
that  the  real  change  which  produces  old  age  is,  in  truth, 
nothing  more  or  less  than  a  slow  but  steady  accumulation  of 
calcareous  matter  throughout  the  system. 

Having  arrived  at  the  predisposing  causes  of  senile  de- 
cay, it  yet  remains  for  us  to  go  still  further,  and  seek  out 
their  origin.  The  two  principal  sources  of  old  age  are 
fibrinous  and  gelatinous  substances;  secondly,  calcareous 
depositions.  According  to  the  recent  researches  of  Mr.  de 
Lacy  Evans,  the  origin  of  the  former  may  undoubtedly  be 
traced  to  the  destructive  action  of  atmospheric  oxygen. 
Fibrine  has  been  said  to  contain  1-5  per  cent,  more  oxygen 
than  albumen.  Now,  oxidation  converts  albumen  into  fib- 
rine, fibrine  itself  being  but  an  oxide  of  albumen. 

Although  unquestionably  fibrine  nourishes  the  organs 
of  our  bodies  by  repairing  the  waste,  yet  a  great  deal  of  this 
substance  accumulates  in  course  of  time,  lessening  the  cali- 
bre of  the  blood-vessels,  and  thereby  causing  their  indura- 
tion. 

It  therefore  follows  that,  as  time  goes  on  (old  age), 
fibrinous  and  gelatinous  depositions  become  noticeable.  Con- 
sequently, as  fibrine  is  an  oxide  of  albumen,  so  also  is 
gelatine  an  oxide  of  fibrine,  due  to  the  action  of  oxygen  on 
the  fibrine  deposited  by  the  blood.  A  further  eflfect  of  oxi- 
dation causes  part  of  these  substances  to  be  decomposed,  and 
subsequently  eliminated  through  the  kidneys  as  compounds 
of  ammonia  and  urea.  There  is  always  a  continual  struggle 
progressing  in  our  systems  between  accumulation  and  elim- 
ination. Thus  it  is  thai  iVi^  ^btmoua  and  gelatinous  accumu- 


PASTEUR  CURES  HYDROPHOBIA.  686 

lations  of  old  age  are  chiefly  traceable  to  the  chemical  action 
of  atmospheric  oxygen. 

The  calcareous  deposits  next  claim  our  attention,  being 
proved  by  anatomical  investigation  to  be  peculiarly  a  char- 
acteristic of  old  age. 


mt 


PASTEUR  CURES  HYDROPHOBIA. 


For  some  time  past,  Louis  Pasteur  was  known  to  be  at 
work  on  the  microbes  of  the  rabies  virus,  with  the  expressed 
hope  of  curing  the  terrible  malady.  He  now  announces  that 
he  has  been  successful  in  his  researches,  and  invites  any  one 
bitten  by  a  mad  dog  to  present  himself  at  the  laboratory  of 
the  Ecole  Normal  for  treatment.  The  patient,  Pasteur  prom- 
ises, will  not  only  be  protected  against  the  effects  of  the  previ- 
ous bite,  but  rendered  proof  against  hydrophobia  in  the  future. 

Pasteur's  method  closely  resembles  that  followed  in  his 
previous  investigations  or  virus  microbes,  notably  the  anthrax 
or  charbon  microbe.  Briefly  stated,  his  researches  show  that 
the  rabies  virus  is  chiefly  localized  in  the  brain  of  the  ani- 
mal dying  from  acute  hydrophobia,  and  increases  or  decreas- 
es in  power  according  to  the  kind  of  animal  inoculated  with 
it.  Starting  from  a  rabid  dog,  for  instance,  the  virus  on  be- 
ing transmitted  to  monkeys  loses  its  strength.  The  first 
monkey  dies,  but  if  a  second  be  inoculated  from  the  first,  a 
third  from  the  second,  and  so  on,  the  virus  becomes  so  weak 
as  to  be  almost  harmless.  If,  on  the  contrary,  rabbits  are 
experimented  with,  the  virus  increases  in  power;  so  that 
starting  from  the  almost  inert  virus  from  the  last  monkey, 
and  inoculating  rabbit  after  rabbit,  the  virus  regains  its  max- 
imum power.  In  this  way  Pasteur  obtains  virus  of  various 
degrees  of  attenuation,  as  a  Homoeopathist  would  say,  and 
his  treatment  simply  consists  in  inoculating  the  patient  suc- 
cessively with  three  different  attenuations  of  the  rabbit  virus, 
beginning  with  the  weakest,  and  ending  with  the  strongest. 
After  the  operation  the  patient  is  cured  and  becomes  com- 
pletely insusceptible  to  hydrophobia. 


686  CONTA  010  US  DISEASES. 

REASON  WHY  CONTAGIOUS  DISEASES  ATTACK 

ONLY  ONCE. 


Professor  Tyndall,  viewing  the  question  from  the  mod- 
em standpoint)  thus  explains  the  immunity  obtained 
against  a  second  attack  of  a  contagious  disease :  One  of  the 
most  extraordinary  and  unaccountable  experiences  in  medi- 
cine was  the  immunity  secured  by  a  single  attack  of  a  com- 
municable disease  against  future  attacks  of  the  same 
malady.  Small-pox,  typhoid,  or  scarletina,  for  example, 
was  found  as  a  general  rule  to  occur  only  once  in  a  lifetime 
of  the  individual,  the  successful  passage  through  the  dis- 
order apparently  rendering  the  body  invulnerable.  Reason- 
ing from  analogy,  I  have  ventured  to  express  the  opinion 
that  the  rarity  of  second  attacks  of  communicable  disease 
was  due  to  the  removal  from  the  system,  by  the  first  para- 
sitic crop,  of  some  ingredient  necessary  to  the  growth  and 
prppogation  of  the  parasite. 

The  cultivation  of  micro-organisms  which  is  now  every- 
where carried  on,  enables  us  to  realize  the  smallness  of  the 
change  which  in  many  cases  suflSces  to  convert  a  highly 
nutritive  liquid  into  one  capable  of  supporting  microscopic 
life.  Various  important  essays  bearing  upon  this  subject 
have  been  recently  published  in  the  Rews  Sdentifique.  M. 
Boulsy  there  draws  attention  to  the  results  obtained  by  M. 
Raulin  in  the  cultivation  of  the  microscopic  plant  named 
Aspergillus  niger.  The  omission  of  potash  from  Raulin's 
liquid  suflSces  to  make  the  produce  fall  to  one  twenty-fifth 
of  the  amount  collected  when  Potash  is  present.  The  addi- 
tion of  an  infinitesimal  amount  of  a  substance  inimical  to 
the  life  of  a  plant  is  attended  with  still  more  striking  results. 
For  example,  one  part  in  sixteen  hundred  thousand  of 
nitrate  of  silver  added  to  the  liquid  entirely  stops  the  growth 
of  the  plant.  And  now  we  come  to  the  important  applica- 
tion of  this  fact,  which  has  been  indicated  by  M.  Duclaux. 
Supposing  the  Aspergillus  to  be  a  human  parasite — a  living 
contagium — capable  of  self-multiplication   in  the  human 


BOOK  NOTICES.  687 

blood,  and  of  so  altering  the  constitution  of  that  liquid  as  to 
produce  death,  then  the  introduction  into  the  blood  of  a 
man  weighing  sixty  kilogrammes  of  five  milligrammes  of 
the  nitrate  of  silver  would  insure,  if  not  the  total  effacement 
of  the  contagium,  at  all  events  the  neutralization  of  ita 
power  to  destroy  life.  An  index  finger  here  points  out  to  us 
the  direction  which  physiological  experiment  is  likely  to 
take  in  the  future.  In  anticipation  of  the  assault  of  infec- 
tive organisms,  the  experimenter  will  try  to  introduce  into 
the  body  substances  which,  though  small  in  amount,  shall 
so  affect  the  blood  and  tissues  as  to  render  them  unfit  for  the 
developement  of  the  contagium.  And  subsequent  to  the 
assault  of  the  parasite  he  will  seek  to  introduce  substances 
which  shall  efiectually  stop  its  multiplication.  There  are  the 
strongest  grounds  for  hope  that  in  the  case  of  infective  dis- 
eases generally  such  protective  substance  will  be  found. 

^»» 

BOOK  NOTICES. 


OBSTETRIC  MENTOR.  By  Clarence  M.  Conant,  M.  D.,  A.  L.  Chatterton,  Pub- 
lishing Co.  New  York. 

This  is  just  what  it  pnrports  to  be,  an  obstetric  mentor  for 

pocket  nse  and  ready  reference  at  the  bedside.    It  is  well  arranged, 

well  printed,  on  good  paper;  a  credit  to  both  anthor  and  publisher, 

and  every  homoeopathic  prescriber  should  have  it.     It  will  save 

him  much  time  and  trouble  in  looking  up  a  case. 

HAND  BOOK  OF  ELECTRO  THERAPEUTICS.  By  Db.  William  Eeb,  profeesor  in 
the  University  of  Leipzig.  With  thirty-nine  wood  cuts.  Wm.  Wood  &  Co. 
New  York. 

We  find  in  this  work  beyond  question  a  most  admirable  pre- 
sentation of  the  subject  of  Electro  Therapeutics.  It  is  well  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  the  student  who  desires  the  fullest  and  latest  infor- 
mation on  the  uses  of  electricity  in  the  treatment  of  disease.  The 
directions  are  simple  and  well  illustrated,  and  the  clinical  reports  of 
cases  add  a  practical  value  that  no  mere  desertation  however 
learned  can  equal.  It  will  not  do  to  say  that  electricity  is  a  cure-all, 
but  its  importance  to  the  physician  even  the  general  practitioner 
cannot  be  well  over  estimated.  Erb's  work  may  properly  be  placed 
in  the  front  rank  of  text  books,  and  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  series 
of  Standard  Medical  Authors. 


688  BOOK  NOTICES, 

SOME  OF  THE  DISEASES  OF  THE  RECTUM  AND  THEIR  HOMODOPATHIC 
AND  SURGICAL  TREATMENT.  By  MOBTIMEB  ATEB8,  M.  D.  Chicago: 
Duncan  Bros.,  1884. 

We  are  pleased  to  find  in  this  little  work  much  of  importance. 
It  is  truly  a  valuable  addition  to  our  growing  literature  and  every 
one  who  reads  or  rather  studies  it,  with  care,  will  feel  in  common 
with  us  a  sincere  gratitude  toward  the  author.  There  is  no  doabt 
that  just  this  sort  of  a  book  is  wanted  by  thousands  of  practitioners 
and  they  cannot  better  supply  their  want  or  better  show  their  ap- 
preciation of  the  book  than  by  obtaining  a  copy.  Our  only  criti- 
cism would  concern  the  quantity  and  not  the  quality  of  the  work, 
we  should  be  glad  to  see  the  anatomy  and  physiology  of  the  rectam 
more  fully  discussed  by  the  author. 

VETERINARY  MEDICINE  AND  SURGERY.  AND  DISEASES  AND  INJURIES  OF 
THE  HORSK  By  F.  O.  Kirby  compiler  and  editor.  Wm.  Wood  &  Co.,  New 
York. 

The  editor  and  more  especially  the  publishers  have  done 

excellent  work  in  producing  this  book.    All  lovers  of  the  horse 

will  be  pleased  to  read  it  with  care.    A  knowledge  of  the  diseasee 

of  the  horse  is  so  often  called  into  requisition  that  a  reliable  guide 

like  this  is  of  no  small  importance.    It  would  trive  us  pleasure  to 

commend  Mr.  Kirby 's  book  without  reservation  but  our  knowledge 

of  sick  horses  is  such  from  practical  experience  that  we  must  dissent 

from  the  medical  treatment  the  editor  reccommends.    It  is  without 

warrant  and  as  needless  as  the  heroic  treatment  the  human  race  too 

often  get  at  the  hands  of  doctors.    In  horses  no  less  than  in  man 

it  is  the  will  power  that  cures.    For  our  part  such  drugging  and 

drenching  as  is  here  followed  looks  like  sheer  cruelty  to  animals. 


THE  JUNE  CENTURY. 

Though  there  are  four  profusely  illustrated  papers  in  the  June 
Century,  and  four  full-page  pictures,  this  number  of  the  magazine 
is  perhaps  even  more  notable  foi  its  literary  features  than  for  its 
pictures.  Of  special  interest  is  Miss  Fanny  Stone's  "Diary  of  an 
American  Girl  in  Cairo  during  the  War  of  1882."  It  is  a  vivid  and 
remarkable  narrative  of  the  life  of  General  C  P.  Stone's  family  dur- 
ing the  month  that  mother  and  daughters  were  exposed  in  Cairo 
to  the  greatest  uncertainties  and  dangers,  while  General  Stone  was 
at  his  post  with  the  Khedive,  and  aiding  in  the  English  operations 
against  Arabi.  General  Stone,  in  a  prefatory  letter,  severely  criti- 
cises the  English  attack  upon  Alexandria.  President  Eliot,  of 
Harvard,  discusses  the  question,  "What  is  a  Liberal  Education?" 
in  which  he  claims  that  the  sciences  and  English  should  be  given 
leading  places  in  the  school  and  also  in  the  college  course. 


tjblfOiVS  TABLE,  68» 

(The  North  American  Review  for  June  opens  with  an  article  on 
"JBarboring  Conspiracy,"  by  Prof.  Henry  Wade  Rogers,  who  exam- 
ines, in  the  light  of  international  law,  the  diplomatic  history  of  the 
United  States  and  the  national  constitution,  the  question  as  to  how 
far  our  government  may  and  must  go  in  suppressing  plots  against 
governments  with  which  we  are  at  peace.  Henry  D.  Lloyd,  in  the 
same  number  of  the  RevieWj  shows  how  every  branch  of  production 
is  coming  under  the  control  of  "Lords  of  Industry."  corporations 
and  monopolies.  Elizabeth  Stuart  Phelps  has  an  article  marked 
by  rare  philosophic  force  upon  the  "Struggle  for  Immortality." 
Other  articles  of  not  less  importance  are:  "Sociological  Fallacies," 
by  Prof.  W.  G.  Sumner;  "The  Rise  and  Fall  of  Authority,"  by 
President  J.  C.  Welling;  "Walt  Whitman,"  by  Walker  Kennedy; 
and  symposium  on  "  Expert  Testimony ,"  by  Rossiter  Johnson,  Dr. 
W.  W.  Godding,  T.  O'Connor  Sloane  and  Charles  L.  Dana. 

Vol.  XIV  ends  with  the  current  number.  Vol.  XV  begins 
with  July.  We  do  not  like  to  send  out  bills.  It  looks  like  adunn ; 
and  many  men  do  not  like  to  be  dunned.  We  would  if  possible 
avoid  the  necessity;  and  have  printed  on  the  mailing  address  the 
date  to  which  subscriptions  are  paid.  Subscriptions  are  due  in 
advance;  and  when  paid  in  advance  to  the  Advance, the  publishers 
are  enabled  to  make  better  terms  and  the  printers  do  better  work. 
Small  items  are  easiest  paid,  and  if  our  subscribers  will  note  the 
date  and  remit  promptly,  it  will  enable  us  to  increase  the  quantity 
of  reading  matter  without  increasing  the  price,  and  save  us  the 
necessity  of  sending  a  bill. 

■  ^•»  ' 

EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


C.  B.  Pillsbury  has  removed  to  Ypsilanti,  Mich. 

G.  A.  Hall,  M.  D.,  has  removed  to  2400  Prairie  Ave.,  Chi- 
cago. 

B.A.  Bradley,  M.  D.,  has  removed  to  55  Everett  St.,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio. 

Hahnemann  College,  San  Francisco,  opened  its  first  session 
June  3,  with  a  class  of  "  about  20." 

Wallace  McGeorge,  M.  D.,  has  removed  from  Woodbury,  N.  J. 
to  1921  Chestnut  St,  Philadelphia. 

We  are  pleased  to  learn  that  Drs.  Farnsworth,  of  East  Saginaw, 
are  about  to  issue  a  Directory  of  Michigan.  I^et  some  one  in  each 
county  send  a  list  of  physicians  at  once,  that  we  may  have  a  relia- 
ble work  when  printed. 


890  EDITOR'S  TABLE. 

A  recent  committee  appointed  to  report  saitable  reBolDtioas  on 
the  deuth  of  a  brother  member  apeak  of  him  in  feeling  terms  as 
"our  diseased  associate." 

Drs.  Breyfogle  &  Pierce  have  dissolved  and  Dr.  Chester  A. 


I  partnership  with   Dr.  Breyfogle. 

Q  aceounl. 


.  Pierca 


Mayer  has  formed  a 
has  opened  a 

BuBinees  pressure  has  compelled  Dr.  Giichrist  to  reeign  the 
Doeition  of  secretary  of  ihe  atate  society  to  which  he  waa  recently 
nnanimouBly  elected,  and  the  executive  committee  has  appointed 
Dr.  Grant,  the  late  efficient  secretary  to  the  position, 

We  regret  that  we  were  unuble  to  accept  the  fotlowiug  invitS' 
tion  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Talbot:  "Dr.  and  Mrs.  I.  T.  Talbot  reqneet 
your  presence  at  the  marrisfte  of  their  daughter  Edith,  to  William 
Leavitt  Jackf^on,  Wednesday  evening  May  21,  at  eight  o'clock. 
First  Church,  Marlborough  and  Berkety  sts.,  Boston  Uiua." 

Prof.  W.  A.  Edmonds  M.  D.,has  been  selected  to  fill  the  chair  of 
Practice  in  the  St.  Louis  college,  left  vitcant  by  the  illness  of  Prof. 
Valentine  ;  and  H.  H.  Scbott,  M.  D.,  takes  Ihe  chair  of  Paedology. 
These  are  both  good  appointments  and  will  materially  strengthen 
the  teaching  (ores. 

Electric  Li hht.— Doctors  are  to  be  fiirniched  with  an  ttppa- 
ratus  to  be  attached  to  their  carriages  which  will  give  them  mate- 
rial assistance  in  their  nightly  Journeys  through  the  country.  The 
Suiort  light  is  best  adapted  to  this  purpose.  Quacks  will,  however, 
be  expected  to  uee  the  Duck  light, 

I  have  need  Churchill's  preparation  as  made  by  J.  A.  McAr- 
tbnr  with  the  most  decided  heneSt,  and  am  sattshed  that  a  Eair 
trial  is  all  that  is  required  to  establish  it's  therapeutic  value,  I  have 
at  this  writing  several  cases  in  which  theaynip  is  going  beyond  my 
expectation.  Phiuf  Leioz,  M.  U. 

Philladelphift,  Pa.,  February  6, 1S84. 

The  30th  annual  meeting  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  Society  which  was  hold  in  the  parlors  of  the  Turk 
Hotel,  Newark,  May  6th,  was  largely  attended  aud  particularly  in- 
teresting and  profitable.  Distinguished  medical  gentlemen  and 
ladies  from  abroad  were  present  and  took  part  in  the  disunasion. 
Many  valuable  papi'rs  were  read,  among  others  one  by  the  venet^ 
able  P.  P.  Wells,  of  Brooklyn,  is  deserving  of  special  mention. 
The  usual  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year.  Dr.  Cbnicb.of 
Newark,  was  chosen  president,  and  8,  W.  Clark,  M.  D.,  of  Jersey 
City,  Beuretary.