Dr. Rawlins reported two cases of primiparous patients, in both of which the head of the child was well engaged in the superior strait, but all progress seem stayed. To one he gave ergot, and the child was quickly expelled. The other he treated similarly, and the patient went to sleep. The Doctor asks an explanation of the discrepancy.

Dr. McGavran reported two cases of retarded labor, which were speedily brought to a termination by warm bath.

Dr. Lewis had quit the use of ergot, but gave quinine freely, and if there be irritabilility, he added morphine. He has unbounded confidence in quinine, and thinks it acts on the spinal nervous centers.

Dr. Hobbs has had a remarkable experience in obstetric practice. During nineteen years, with a reasonable share of obstetric practice, he has never lost a single case in child bed or any of its accidents. He uses the powder or a decoction of ergot, and always prepares it in every case, through fear of post partum hemorrhage, but does not always use it.

Dr. Sparks fears hemorrhage, and gives ergot a little before the

birth of the child.

Dr. Hobbs asks if it be the uniform experience of those present, if the labor is more tedious when the cord is around the child's neck; and whether labor is more tedious when the child is "gummy." All who replied, answered in the affirmative.

Dr. Lewis-When the liquor amnii is abundant, the child is not "gummy," and vice versa.

Dr. Hobbs moved that an abstract of the proceedings of this meeting be offered to the Western Journal for publication.

Dr. Rawlins seconded the motion, and it was carried.

On motion, the Society adjourned to meet at the same place, on the first Thursday in April, at one o'clock P. M.

J. H. STUART, Secretary.

JOHN LEWIS, President.

BRAINARD MEDICAL SOCIETY.

Pursuant to adjournment, the Society met in the office of Dr. Kittinger, in Winamac, Indiana, April 7th, 1869.

Minutes of last meetimg read and accepted.

Doctors William Perry, of North Judson, A. R. Thompson, Kewana, and P. H. Leavitt, Winamac, were admitted to membership.

The third annual election of officers was held, which resulted as follows:

President J. W. C. EATON, Pulaski.

Secretary-I. B. WASHBURN, Star City.

Treasurer-J. H. SMITH, Kewana.

Censors-F. B. THOMAS, Winamac, P. H. LEAVITT, Winamac, R. W. JACKSON,

Kewana.

The following were selected as delegates to the State Medical Association: J. H. Smith, L. D. Glazebrook, Wm. Kelsey, J. B. Hoag, and W. S. Cleland.

Dr. Hoag reported a case of abscess of the lung, supposed to have been caused by swallowing a pin.

Doctors F. B. Thomas and A. R. Thompson, reported cases of continued fever, which assumed a typhoid condition and resulting very fatally, five of seven patients having died of hemorrhage of the bowels.

The etiology, semeiology, pathology and treatment, were discussed at length by Doctors Thomas, Hoag, Smith, Eaton, Washburn, Thompson and Reddick.

Brainard Medical Society was organized two years ago. It now numbers twenty-seven members, who are located in Pulaski, Starke, Fulton and Cass counties. I. B. WASHBURN, M. D., Secretary.

ALLEN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

FORT WAYNE, APRIL 6, 1869.

Meeting was called to order by President, Dr. H. P. Ayers. Members present, Doctors Ayers, Sen., S. C. Ayers, Thacker, Smith, Gregg, McCullough, Rosenthal and Fitzsimmons.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read by the secretary, approved by the Society and ordered to be placed on record.

A case of carcinoma was then presented to the Society for examination, by Dr. Richart, of Roanoke, the history of which, as given by the Doctor, was as follows:

Mr. L is forty-five years of age. Eight or ten years ago a small brown spot was noticed in the skin on the left cheek, which attracted but little attention, however, until about two years since, when it was observed that something like a wart was growing out of the brown spot, and was attended by sharp, darting pains. Acting

upon the suggestion of friends, the patient had this wart "plucked out by the roots at the dark of every moon," thinking thus to destroy it. The results, however, were always to the contrary, each successive plucking being followed by an increase in the size of the wart. The patient then sought the aid of several noted cancer doctors, who lavished their skill upon the persistent little wart in vain, for instead of yielding to their treatment, it flourished luxuriously under the stimulus of their caustics and other irritants, which converted it, however, into an extensive ulcerating sore, presenting at present, rather a formidable appearance. The surface of the ulcer is irregularly elevated above the surrounding surface of the cheek; is oval in shape, and measures about two by two and a half inches; the upper margin of the ulcer approaches to within about three-quarters of an inch of the external angle of the eye, in which direction it is rapidly extending; the parotid, thyroid, and other glands in the vicinity, are enlarged, which has been the case, however, only since the application of caustics, and hence it is thought to be sympathetic only.

Upon examination, the members present were agreed as to the malignancy of the disease, and advised excision as the only admissable treatment.

Dr. Thacker expressed the opinion that attachment to the periosteum would be found, but thought excision the only means of saving the eye, for a time, and at least retarding the advance of the dis

ease.

Doctors Ayers, Sen., Gregg, Rosenthal, and others, thought that no attachment had yet been formed.

The patient's father died of cancer located in the epigastric region. Dr. Thacker presented an interesting pathological specimen, being a case of ectropium of the liver, in a male foetus of about seven months, found by workmen on the railroad bridge over the St. Mary's river, near the city. The liver was considerably enlarged, and protruded through an opening in the abdominal walls of about two and a half by three inches, which corresponded to the size of the liver. This organ occupied the umbilical region and was covered by the peritoneum and cuticle only, which had been ruptured, presenting an appearance as though the umbilicus had been forcibly torn away, the umbilical vein and hypogastric arteries being traceable from the center of the tumor.

Upon motion by Dr. Rosenthal, Dr. C. S. Ayers was instructed to procure copies of photograph of Sommers, showing the large tumor

on the occiput, (a case heretofore before the Society,) in numbers sufficient to supply the members.

Proposed amendments to the constitution were then called for, and being read, were adopted. The amendments are as follows:

Section first of article fifth, amended to read

"Any person becoming an active member of this Society, shall be required to sign the constitution and by-laws thereof, pay an annual fee of one dollar, and shall attend not less than four regular meetings during the year.

Section second amended to read

"A member may be suspended or expelled by a two-third vote of all active members, charges and specifications having been preferred one month previous to the time of trial.

After the adoption of the amendments, the members present paid the annual fee of one dollar to the secretary.

The following delegates to the State and American Medical Associations were appointed: State-Doctors H. P. Ayers, S. C. Ayers, Gregg, Thacker and Rosenthal. American-Dr. H. P. Ayers.

Dr. Rosenthal moved that the proceedings of this Society be published in the Western Journal of Medicine. Motion was carried, and the Society adjourned to meet the first Thursday in May.

P. G. KELSEY, Secretary.

CORRESPONDENCE.

DERMATOLOGY IN VIENNA.

VIENNA, MARCH 15, 1869.

However true it may be in the world of politics, as the present Napoleon would assure us, when he introduces his uncle in Cæsar's guise, in his biography of the latter; or, however true, in the realm of poesy and the fine arts, as we are all almost forced to acknowledge, that there does occasionally appear on the stage of life, a genius which, by superior endowments from birth, is able to disregard or neglect the weary labor of preparation, moulding or creating circumstances to its will, by one grand stride to reach success, in the sphere of medicine there is, there can be no such power. The master minds of Europe, as far as we have been able to observe them, have in no

instance presented the brilliant scintillations of unearthly fires as in our fancy we painted them; without hitherto a single exception, they have been none other than simple plodding laborers in the great harvest field; and although in many instances, a quickness of conception and skill in diagnosis, might seem to the uninformed a qualification of almost omniscient character, yet it is always evident to the student, that this knowledge is only the result and the reward yielded to the rich experience in positions attained by unceasing toil. Prof. Hebra offers no exception, either in appearance or address. In person, of short, solid build, hair and heavy mustache already frosted by some fifty odd, face full, round, rather prominent cold gray eye, square, determined chin, duplicated by a fold beneath, character in full accord, sharp, decisive, and perhaps occasionally a little stubborn, certainly a little too severe in his criticisms on his fellow specialists. His clinic is always rendered interesting, aside from its real value, by occasional sallies of wit, with which he spices his lectures and which are always terse and relishable. Were it not for these, when he chuckles all over with a jest which only adds to the general effect, and which forever precludes the idea, he might be regarded, and we mean no irreverence whatever, as a typical personification of a little fat country judge in the dispensation of the law, duly impressed with the responsibilities of his position. Hebra is a man, too, who has not plunged so profoundly into the recesses of science as to have become Newton-like utterly oblivious to corporeal wants; his rotundity alone is evidence enough to the contrary; his jocundity, too, in a measure, and if there should still linger a doubt, it will be dissipated by the purchase of his ticket of admission, which is nearly triple the price of other chairs, still it is cheap enough at that, about twelve dollars currency for a three months course.

The lectures are all delivered in the ward, a half-dozen benches arranged around a small enclosed arena, accommodating the thirty or forty students in attendance. Male patients are stripped perfectly nude and required to stand on a chair or table in the center, while the female are permitted to preserve a portion of their attire. On the wall, at the side, hangs a full length portrait of the professor, painted by subscription from his students. The material is partly out-door, the ambulatorium, partly patients in the house, and as you may well imagine, every variety and form of cutaneous disease are presented. By far, the great majority are scabies, eczema, prurigo and syphilis, though, of course, the varieties are duly exhibited. As you are aware, his classi