SOCIETIES.

BOSTON HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The regular meeting of the society was held at the Boston University School of Medicine, Thursday evening, February 1, 1900, at 7.50 o'clock, the President, Frederick W. Halsey, M.D., in the chair.

The records of the adjourned meeting, held January 18, were read and accepted.

The resignation of S. Elizabeth Slagle, M.D., of Easton, Pa., was read and accepted.

REPORT OF THE SECTION OF MENTAL AND NERVOUS

DISEASES.

CLARA E. GARY, M.D., Chairman;

DUNCAN MACDOUGALL, M.D., Secretary;

JOHN H. URICH, M.D., Treasurer.

The President appointed Drs. Hornby, Strong, and Lewis a committee to nominate sectional officers for the ensuing year. They reported as follows: Chairman, W. N. Emery, M.D.; Secretary, Martha G. Champlin, M.D.; Treasurer, Daniel J. Hanlon, M.D.

PROGRAM.

1. The Power of a Will versus Medical Expert Testimony. Ellen L. Keith, M.D. Discussion opened by N. Emmons Paine, M.D.

2. Auto-intoxication as an Etiological Factor in the Production of Mental Disturbances. S. C. Fuller, M.D. Discussion opened by Henry I. Klopp, M.D.

3. The Extract of Thyroid in Puerperal Mania. E. H. Wiswall, M.D. Discussion opened by George H. Earl, M.D. 4. Suggestions in Electro-therapeutics. E. P. Colby,

M.D. Discussion opened by G. R. Southwick, M.D.

5. Two Cases of Graves' Disease Treated in the Nervous Department of the Dispensary. Ellen Hutchinson Gay, M.D. Discussion opened by F. C. Richardson, M.D.

1. Dr. Keith's paper was an interesting report of a case

which had been under her care. According to the best expert medical testimony the patient was of unsound mind and incapable of making a will, but in spite of this fact the judge threw aside this testimony and allowed the will to stand.

Dr. N. Emmons Paine was present at the trial referred to and heard the decision, and there was no question in his mind but that the patient was of unsound mind and unable to make a will. In the early stages of her invalidism and throughout her illness there were symptoms of acute mania, and during that time she was incapable of making a will. The testimony brought out the fact of great weakness of mind for two years. She made a will giving part to her husband and part to her family. She obtained her money from her own family, and in a natural way it would be proper for her to remember the source from which the money came. Giving half to her husband and half to her family would be the natural way of disposing of the property, but when one is considering the mental condition of a patient, it is not a question as to whether the disposition is right, but as to her capability. Whether she was aware how much money she had, where it was invested, whether she had duties to her family, would come in for consideration. She showed lack

of

memory and judgment in the way she treated persons and in deviation from facts. These incapacities for making a will were clearly shown in her case. The question of capacity to make a will has gone through various stages in the courts, as you are probably aware. In the early trials the persons were judged by the court as individuals, whether as individuals they were capable of making a will; later the question of non compos mentis came in; now the propriety of each individual to make a will is admitted. A person might be in his full senses and yet, perhaps, not normal, and if that person shall give his money in dying the same way as he would in life it would be valid. Wills are frequently made in hospitals by persons of unsound mind. Persons with melancholia are fit persons to make wills. It is not uncommon for a person of unsound mind to make a will which cannot be broken. I feel that while the money in this case

went naturally, it was not in accordance with the testatrix's judgment.

2. Dr. Fuller's paper was an instructive discussion of the most recent theories of auto-intoxication and its manifest results on the nervous system. It showed marked ability and commendable original research.

As Dr. Klopp was unable to be present, the chairman called upon Dr. Richardson, who said he had nothing to add to the paper. He considered it a very clear and distinct statement of the present situation of the subject, which, he regretted to say, was altogether too brief and summary for our wishes. There is no question at all but that investigation will be carried on still further, and the action of different toxines on the nervous system will be decided in the future.

Dr. Colby: What has been said was presented in a very scientific manner, showing research, which is to be commended. The more we progress and study into this disease there is reason for the theory of auto-intoxication. Every month I am convinced that I have neglected this part of the question, where I should have paid attention to it.

3. Dr. Wiswall stated that the title of his paper should have been "The Extract of Thyroid in a Case of Puerperal Mania." The case reported was an interesting one, and it was successfully treated by thyroid extract.

Dr. Southwick: There have been some cases reported somewhat similar to what the doctor has given. In 1896 a case was reported. I am not familiar with the details, only I remember it as a case of puerperal mania cured by thyroid. In 1895 there were sixty-five cases, but none puerperal mania. I think in this report the term puerperal mania was not used. These cases were treated by thyroid at the Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh. In the year following three or four papers reported cases, partly from New York sources, twenty-five or thirty cases in all.

I should be glad if the doctor would tell us why thyroid was used.

Dr. Wiswall: About this time thyroid had come into notice, and as a test case it was thought best to try it.

Dr. Paine: I do not know that I can say anything that will illustrate why this medicine was given. As an experiment it has been given in three or four cases at Westboro and Middletown. The best result is known in myxedema, but it has been used in melancholia and epilepsy. I think it has been regarded favorably in epilepsy, but not in melancholia. There is no guide for its use, but it is a good thing. to try. It is a medicine that works in two ways when it works successfully: first, we get immediate results within a week; second, in other cases it may be given two or three months without any result, and upon stopping it the patient will recover rapidly in a few days. There was one patient at Westboro whom I know very well, who has had melancholia for three years, and it has worked so pleasantly that she speaks of it as a tonic.

Dr. Keith It seems to me to be a specific, and I think it works every time.

4. Dr. Colby's interesting paper was discussed by Dr. Southwick, who said: It is very difficult to discuss a paper of this kind, or add to it. Dr. Colby has stated so clearly that we should use electricity in these cases for the sake of the good we are enabled to do. We give electricity for the direct benefit we are enabled to get from it, and the effect on the patient is entirely secondary. Electricity has been looked upon by the public as a peculiar thing, and that it makes very little difference how it is applied. I can say no more than to agree with Dr. Colby that suggestion is a secondary consideration. I think electricity should always be used under specific indications and in a specific manner, the same way as we use a drug for a special reason and special design.

Dr. Richardson: I have nothing further to say in regard to the subject. I think we all realize the value of electrotherapeutics. We all recognize the suggestive state of it and we all get results from that as well as the other. I should like to emphasize the statement that electricity is not a specific, that its usefulness is limited and its use should be. I think the knowledge of it should be more thorough; that

it is applied too carelessly and too many make use of its suggestive state who are not well enough informed to get results.

Owing to the illness of Dr. Gay the last paper was not read.

Dr. Lucy Appleton asked permission to say a few words about a concert to be given at the Dispensary February 28, at 8 o'clock P.M., in aid of the Hahnemann Fund. The tickets are $1 each and can be obtained at 160 West Brookline Street, Boston.

Dr. Gary, on account of her inability to be present at the June meeting, was given permission to fill her place as Chairman of the Section of Diseases of Children. She appointed Dr. Florella Estes, who signified her willingness to

serve.

Adjourned at 9.20.

EDWARD E. ALLEN, Secretary.

WORCESTER COUNTY HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL

SOCIETY.

The regular quarterly meeting of the Worcester County Homœopathic Medical Society was held at the State Mutual Building, Worcester, Wednesday, February 14. The meeting was called to order at 10.30 A.M. by the President, Dr. Amanda C. Bray. The records of the preceding meeting were read and approved. The name of Dr. George S. Albee was proposed for membership and referred to the Board of Censors.

The Librarian, Dr. Rockwell, reported that he had made arrangements whereby reports and documents from Washington of medical interest would hereafter be received at the library of the society, for the use of its members; also reported that all physicians of Worcester County could have access to the library of the Worcester District Medical Society.

Dr. John P. Rand presented the following resolutions, which were adopted by vote of the society:

Whereas, The Worcester County Homœopathic Medical Society,