and so wisely directed its councils: "In certis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus charitas."

This report was accepted and ordered to be printed.

Attest:

ALFRED K. HILLS, M. D., Rec. Sec.

THE JOINT CONVENTION.

A JOINT Convention of the Western Academy of Homœopathy and the Missouri Institute of Homœopathy was held at the Lindell Hotel, St. Louis, May 7, 8, and 9, and was considered a great success in every way. A rousing welcome was given by the homeopathic representatives of St. Louis, both ladies and gentlemen, both professional and non-professional.

The number of delegates present was eighty-five. Of these, five were lady physicians holding diplomas. These delegates came from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, Michigan, and Missouri.

There will be an official publication of the papers and proceedings of this joint convention, either in book form or in the medical journals, in about three months by the Publication Committee, Drs. A. S. Everett, P. G. Valentine, and Wm. C. Richardson, all of St. Louis.

The first session began by a welcoming address, delivered by Prof. Ambrose S. Everett, president of the St. Louis Society of Homœopathic Physicians and Surgeons, and a happy response by J. Harts Miller, of Abingdon, Ill., the president of the Western Academy of Homœopathy. There was a paper read by Dr. J. T. Boyd of Indianapolis, on Ergot, which created some merriment and provoked some remarks by Drs. A. E. Higbee of Minneapolis, and M. M. Eaton of Cincinnati. Dr. N. A. Pennoyer of Kenosha, Wis., read a long paper on "Rest in Nervous Diseases." Discussed by Dr. T. C. Duncan of Chicago. Dr. J. Martine Kershaw of St. Louis presented two papers which were elaborately illustrated by diagrams. The name of the first was The Differential Diagnosis of Diseases of the Spinal Cord"; the second, "Some Symptoms of a Nervous Character, dependent on Caries of the Vertebræ and their Cure by Mechanical Treatment."

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Discussed by Drs. Duncan, Eaton, Pres. Miller, and Lewis Sherman of Milwaukee, Wis. The Pharmacy Bureau had but two papers, one from Dr. T. D. Williams of Chicago, arraigning the American Institute and the Pharmacies for neglect of duty in the correct preparations of homœopathic remedies, and the other from Dr. W. Jno. Harris of St. Louis, on the Time to gather our Flora.

The Bureau of Materia Medica presented two valuable papers, one by Prof. Adolphe Uhlemeyer of St. Louis, on Lappa Major Provings and Cures, the other by D. T. Abell, of Sedalia, Mo., on Indigenous Remedies. The Bureau of Surgery followed, and Prof. S. B. Parsons, of St. Louis, exhibited a case of hare-lip; he also furnished a paper on Posture of Patients during Surgical Operations and Treatment, and another on the Dangers of Esmarch's Bandage. Dr. W. D. Foster of Hannibal, Mo., read two papers, one on Fibroid Tumor of the Uterus, and the other on Traumatic Stricture of the Male Urethra. Dr. B. Bell Andrews of Astoria, Ill., exhibited a young lad who had anchylosis of the knee-joint, caused by a circular saw. Dr. S. R. Beckwith, of Cincinnati, presented a paper on Strictures of the Æsophagus.

The afternoon session of the second day, Thursday, was devoted to Gynæcology and Pædology. Mrs. M B. Pearman read an article on Dysmenorrhoea, and Dr. T. G. Comstock one on Endometritis. The discussions that followed were carried on spiritedly by Drs. Eggert, Edinonds of St. Louis, Higbee, Petrus Nelson of Minneapolis, and others.

M. M. Eaton then read a paper entitled "Hints on Gynecology." This was discussed by Drs. Richardson and Eggert. Dr. W. A. Edmonds then read a paper on Eczema of the Scalp in Children, claiming Arsenicum to be the simillimum. Discussed by Dr. Boyd, who recommended tar-water to the scalp; Dr. E. M. McAfee of Clinton, Iowa, who cured it with Graphites 200; and T. C. Duncan, who considered the primary cause to be sought in the alimentary canal, and the treatment addressed thereto. Dr. D. T. Abell of Sedalia, Mo., had cured several cases with acetic acid applied to the scalp locally. Dr. Duncan read a paper on Enteritis and Cholera Infantum.

In the forenoon of Friday the Bureau of Ophthalmology and Otology presented three most excellent papers, which were read by their respective authors and illustrated on a blackboard: Dr. C. H. Vilas of Chicago, on Overflow of Tears; Dr. J. A. Campbell of St. Louis, on Foreign Bodies in the Ear; T. P. Wilson of Cincinnati, on Asthenopia. The afternoon of Friday was taken up mainly by the Bureau of Clinical Medicine, and a paper on Sanitary Science in Public Schools, contributed by Dr. J. A. Campbell, a paper by S. B. Parsons on Ven

tilation in Public Schools, a paper by Dr. Kershaw on Some Practical Hints in the Treatment of Nervous Affections, and one by Dr. W. A. Edmonds on Yellow Fever experiences. Dr. Edmonds made a stirring appeal on behalf of little children who ought to be kept away from school till they are ten years of age, and allowed to grow and vegetate naturally in open air and sunshine.

One entire evening session, Wednesday, was assigned to the Bureau of Registration, Legislation, Education, and Statistics, in order to get the homœopathic news from all the cities, States, colleges, societies, hospitals, journals, dispensaries, pharmacies, authors, and publishers. It was a happy thought, and the information gained was truly refreshing. It was learned, with great pride and pleasure, that our cause was gaining ground everywhere, and that high places of trust, honor, and emolument were accorded to physicians of our school in nearly every State and city represented in the convention.

At various times during the convention the subject of Yellow Fever came to the front, and three articles were read on the subject; one by M. M. Eaton, one by Walter Bailey, Sr.. of New Orleans, and one by W. H. Edmonds. Drs. Dake of. Nashville, Wilson of Cincinnati, and Cummings of St. Louis, made interesting speeches on the same subject, touching upon the views of the profession regarding quarantine, infection, communicability, prevention, the germ theory (animal or vegetable), and the wonderful success of homoeopathic treatment of this, the most deadly of all diseases of the lower Mississippi and Mexican Gulf.

In regard to the grand reception given at the Lindell Hotel on Thursday night, nothing but a society article in a society paper could do the subject justice. It was managed chiefly by Dr. G. S. Walker, and the ladies he called in to his assistance, and was a pronounced success in every particular, the promenading, banqueting, music, and dancing continuing till two o'clock in the morning.

Minneapolis was chosen as the next place of meeting, in June, 1880. Dr. G. S. Walker, St. Louis, was elected President; C. H. Vilas, Chicago, first Vice President; J. T. Boyd, Indianapolis, second Vice-President; R. L. Hill, Dubuque, Iowa, third Vice President; C. H. Goodman of St. Louis, General Secretary; H. W. Roby, Chicago, Provisional Secretary; and G. W. Foote of Galesburg, Ill., re-elected Treasurer.

Board of Censors. A. E. Higbee, R. F. Baker, P. G. Valentine, J. A. Campbell, and T. P. Wilson.

BOOKS.

REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF

BOOKS RECEIVED.

2 vols.

$8.00.

The

LECTURES ON MATERIA MEDICA. By Carroll Dunham, M. D. New York Francis Hart & Co., 63 Murray St. We have nothing but praise to bestow upon these two volumes. first thing that impresses one as he opens them, is the elegance of their mechanical execution. The heavy, creamy paper, the clear, beautiful, leaded type, and the convenient size of volume, make them the best specimens of the printers' art in the medical line which we have seen for many a day. As a frontispiece to Vol. I. there is a very lifelike steel engraving of Dr. Dunham. He almost speaks to us; more than almost, when we turn over a few pages and read. It requires very little imagination for those of us who have met him, to hear the very tones of his earnest voice, and to see the changes of expression on his intellectual face, as our eyes run over the printed pages. We cannot help feeling deeply our great loss, and the loss of the whole medical world, in his being taken away in the very noonday of life, while he was accomplishing so much; and yet we are very grateful for his noble manhood, for the enthusiasm with which he has inspired so many men in our ranks, for what he has done in many ways to elevate the cause of homoeopathy, and to gain respect for it in circles where it was before unappreciated or despised.

Dr. Kellogg writes a memoir of the author, which is fitly prefixed to the work. Then follow essays on " Materia Medica and Therapeutics," "The Study of Materia Medica," "The Therapeutic Law," and "Preliminary Observations," which, as the old saying is, "are as interesting as a novel." Then come descriptions of individual drugs; not long, dry catalogues of symptoms, but interesting accounts of the history of the drug, its physiological action, its comparison with others, intelligent arrangements of its pathogenetic symptoms, explanations of the reasons of things, where such are possible, not mere authoritative dicta, which must be swallowed, right or wrong, because they come from the master. The sphere of action and pathological effects receive also no little attention, although Dr. Dunham did not believe in pathology as a basis of therapeutics. Indeed, he was by far the ablest opponent of the pathological basis that we know of. If any argument could convince us, certainly his could. Space will not permit us to dwell longer on the subject, although there is much to call attention

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to. The second volume is likewise devoted to an intelligent description of the properties and characters of drugs, and also contains essays on Principles of Homœopathy," "Principles v. Practical Knowledge," the Anamnesis," and "Symptoms, their Study, or How to take the Case." We advise every physician to get this work and read it carefully.

HEARING AND HOW TO KEEP IT. By Chas. Burnett, M. D. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. For sale by A. Williams & Co. 50

cents.

This is the first volume of the American Health Primers, which is a series of small volumes on subjects pertaining to "Sanitary Science and the Preservation of Health," written by American authors of established reputation, selected with reference to their special knowledge of the subject from previous study or as private and public teachers. They are written from an American standpoint, with particular reference to our climate and modes of life. The subjects selected are of vital and practical importance, and are treated in as popular a style as is consistent with their nature, technicalities of language being avoided. Each volume will be illustrated by engravings, when the text can thus be more fully explained to those not heretofore familiar with the structure or functions of the body.

"Hearing" resembles in size and appearance Houghton, Osgood & Co.'s well-known vest-pocket series. It gives a great deal of information to laymen in a plain manner, and is well illustrated by wood-cuts. It serves the same purpose with regard to the ear that Dr. Angell's little book does with regard to the eye. It does not attempt to interfere with the province of the physician, but on the contrary, must be a great aid to him in teaching the general public many things which they ought to know but do not.

LONG LIFE, AND HOW TO REACH IT, by Joseph G. Richardson, M. D., is the second volume of the American Health Primers. Of course the narrow limits of the volume do not allow of much thoroughness; still the author chats in an interesting way about the causes of disease and how to avoid them; heat and cold as causes of disease; contagion, and how to escape it; clothing, pure air, pure water, baths, the house, food, exercise, sleep, mental power, parasites, and finally old age, and how to meet it.

Other volumes in the series, which will soon appear, are announced as follows: :

III. Sea Air and Sea Bathing. By William S. Forbes, M. D. IV.