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claimed less than 20,000 victims, was universally shuddered at as one of the most terrible scourges that has ever visited our land. We believe that much more can be done than has ever yet been done in the way of preventing and curing consumption. Let us bend our energies to this subject with a will.

THE STUDENT'S POCKET MEDICAL LEXICON. By Elias Longley. Philadelphia Lindsay & Blakiston. Boston: N. R. Campbell & Co. 1879. pp. 303.

Every student and physician too, for that matter, ought to own a medical dictionary and use it too. It is perfectly horrible to hear some physicians, who ought to know better, absolutely murder some of the commonest medical terms in everyday use. If any one objects to being confined too closely by stereotyped pronunciations, he can oscillate within legitimate limits, as, e. g., in the case of such words as bronchitis; but when he calls scybala “ sky-ball" (as we once heard a Harvard student innocently pronounce it), it may be entertaining to bystanders, but it is hardly creditable to the pronouncer. If you cannot afford Dunglison or Thomas, buy this little book for $1.

LEONARD'S REFERENCE AND Dose Book. Detroit, Mich. C. Henri Leonard, M. D. 1879.

A small vest-pocket book of about one hundred pages, with allopathic doses of over 2,500 preparations, especially of out-of-the-way remedies, which are little used. At the end come many condensed instructions as to what to do in emergencies, poisoning, obstetric cases, etc., and also fee tables, weights and measures, visceral measurements, etc. One of the regular multum in parvo books.

HALL'S METRIC DOSE BOOK. By Edward D. Hall, M. D. Boston: N. R. Campbell & Co.

By all

Another small pamphlet pocket book, with the same laudable aim as Whitney & Clark's, which we spoke of in our last issue. means, let us adopt the metric system as soon as possible.

SOCIETIES

AND JNSTITUTIONS.

MASSACHUSETTS HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

REPORTED BY N. R. MORSE, M. D., REC. SECRETARY.

THE semi-annual meeting of the society was held in New Era Hall, 176 Tremont Street, Boston, Oct. 8, 1879.

The meeting was called to order by the president, T. S. Scales, M. D., of Woburn, at 10.10 A. M., who requested the Rev. W. J. Pomfret, of Woburn, to invoke the divine blessing.

The reading of the records of the last Annual Meeting was on

motion omitted, as they were in print and in the hands of the members present.

The records of the Executive Committee were read by the secretary and on motion approved.

The president then opened the meeting with a few brief remarks, congratulating the society on the spirit of harmony which prevailed in its ranks, that we had assembled to-day in the same spirit to compare notes and give from our varied experience such facts as may be of interest and profit to us all. He would bespeak for this day a harmonious and profitable session, that many papers may be read and discussed, much to our advantage and instruction.

The society now proceeded to the election of candidates for membership, and the following physicians, having been duly reported by the Board of Censors, and approved by the Executive Committee, were unanimously elected to membership:

Charles B. Hall, M. D., Rockport; Eliza Ladd Campbell, M. D., Attleboro'; Laura W. Copp, M D., Chelsea; John H. Payne, M. D., Boston; Charles R. Brown, M. D., Lynn; F. L. Babcock, M. D., East Dedham ; George W. Wild, Jr., M. D., Ipswich; W. C. Day, M. D., Allston; Benjamin T. Church, M. D., and Adaline B. Church, M. D., Winchester.

The semi annual report of the treasurer, H. C. Clapp, M. D., was read and accepted, as follows:

Dr.

To dues collected of members during last six months

$550 00

Cr.

By cash paid for printing, collation, rent of hall, etc.
By cash due the treasurer on last year's account

$174 96

157 87

$332 83

Balance in hands of treasurer, Oct. 8, 1879

$222 17

H. C. CLAPP, M. D., Treasurer.

The chairman of the Committee on Climatology, Dr. Jones, of Taunton, remarked that he was sorry to say that the reports which were to have been presented, by Dr. Woodbury on "Colorado as a Sanatarium," and by Dr. Macfarland on "The Malaria of the Connecticut Valley," had not been received in time, as expected, for this meeting, and he should ask that they might be presented at the annual meeting in April next. The paper by Dr. Woodbury was expected to be quite exhaustive on the "Climatology of Colorado," and would give us much valuable information in regard to that climate and its effects in certain diseases.

The Committee on Surgery presented their report through W. R. Bartlett, M. D.. of Chicopee, who read the following paper: "Homœopathic Surgery."

Dr. Cushing, of Lynn, said that he had employed a gum elastic catheter covered with a silk handkerchief. to remove cinders which have lodged in the eye. It had proved a very effectual method of operation in his experience.

Dr. N. R. Morse offered the following as a substitute for Article XIX. of the By-Laws: "Every applicant for membership shall deposit with his application in the hands of the secretary the sum of $5, and shall upon his election receive therefor the diploma of the society, signed by the president and secretary. Should any applicant fail of an election for any reason, the money shall be returned to the appli

cant."

The president appointed the following physicians as a committee to consider and report upon the amendment offered by Dr. Morse: namely, Drs. Cushing, Whiting, and N. R. Morse, and upon the amendment offered by Dr. Bennett in April last, Drs. H. C. Clapp, H. L. Chase, and Bennett.

The Committee on Materia Medica reported through its chairman, A. M. Cushing, M. D., of Lynn, and the following papers were presented and read:

I.

"Certainties of Medicine." By A. M. Cushing, M. D., Lynn. 2. "Two Cases treated with Myosotis Lymph." By W. R. Bartlett, M. D., Chicopee.

3. 4.

5.

Boston.

"The Honey Bee Virus." By M. G. Houghton, M. D., Boston.
"Salicylic Acid." By J. H. Sherman. M. D., South Boston
"Homœopathic Materia Medica." By O. S. Sanders, M. D.,

6. "A Rare Case in Practice." By Conrad Wesselhoeft, M. D., Boston.

Dr. Spalding, of Hingham, remarked that the paper on Salicylic Acid reminded him of an old patient, a lady who was in poor health, and had some form of heart disease, together with cancer of the stomach. She had an attack of colic and was successfully treated by Dr. Spalding, who made no remark to her about the cancerous trouble. Subsequently she had another attack, when another physician attended her and told her friends of the cancerous trouble. Later, these colic attacks became frequent, with vomiting of a glairy mucus, and tarry discharge from the bowels. Salicylic acid, in as strong a solution as possible, was prescribed, after which these attacks soon ceased, and three years have since passed, without any return of them. She is well. Now what was the trouble?

Dr. H. L. Chase, of Cambridgeport, said that he had listened to Dr. Sherman's paper on Salicylic Acid with interest. He had made a proving of that remedy, and on first thought considered that it was the remedy in diphtheria in all cases, but he finally got a case that it did not affect in the slightest degree. He did not believe that salicylic acid produced any of the special symptoms of diphtheria, but that it acted only against the septic poisoning. Salicylic acid does not cure diphtheria homoeopathically. He believed in the homœopathic law of cure, but there are other laws of cure as well. In the proving which he made two years ago, he noticed that salicylic acid

affects the belly of the muscles in rheumatism. characteristic symptoms in the third solution.

He did not get the

During the above discussion, Dr. T. C. Duncan, of Chicago, entered the hall, and at this point the secretary took the opportunity and had the pleasure of introducing Dr. Duncan, of Chicago, to the members present.

In response, Dr. Duncan said that he was glad to be present at the meeting of the society. He came as a delegate from the Chicago Society, and also as a delegate from the Illinois Homœopathic Medical Society, which numbers some five hundred members and meets every other year in the city of Chicago. He presented the congratulations of the Illinois Homœopathic Medical Society, and hoped that he might have the pleasure of welcoming from this society some delegates to their own. He could wish that he was a member of so active and important a society as the Massachusetts Homœopathic Medical Society. Dr. Duncan thought the case just reported by Dr. Wesselhoeft one of the most remarkable on record. He thought that the disease in this case commenced in the lymphatics, involving the mesentery and lymphatic glands. It should be borne in mind by us all that fecal matter is produced in the cæcum. Starchy food should be given in all such cases where there is great emaciation.

Dr. Burpee, of Malden, would speak of a case of diabetes in a lady who had been greatly benefited by the use of salicylic acid. Ringer made mention of three cases of diabetes cured by salicylic acid. In diphtheria he had failed to find it of any value.

Dr. Walker, of Chelsea, inquired if the test for sugar were employed in Dr. Burpee's case.

Dr. Burpee responded in the affirmative.

Dr. Sherman wanted to say that we had no proving of salicylic acid, but we have one of carbolic acid, and as the former remedy resembled the latter, he thought we might use it as a guide in the employment of salicylic acid in the treatment of disease.

The secretary introduced Col. C. G. Fisher, of New Orleans, La., secretary of the Homœopathic Association in that city. In response Col. Fisher briefly remarked that the homoeopathic physicians of New Orleans treated last year not less than 6,000 cases of yellow fever in the city proper, with a loss not exceeding six per cent. The allopathic physicians lost at the same time from eighteen to twenty-five per cent of all cases treated. Our school treated some 2,000 cases outside the city limits, with a slightly heavier loss, but not reaching seven per cent. We have now a member on the State Board of Health, and the gratifying success achieved last season in the treatment of yellow fever has given our school of medicine great prestige among the wealthy and better class of our citizens. He should like to speak at length in regard to the treatment adopted, did time permit. He held in his hand a report of the association, which he thought might be of interest, and which he had been requested to lay before the society to-day.

Dr. Hooker, delegate from the Connecticut Homœopathic Medical Society, on being introduced, remarked that he was here to-day in a double capacity, that of delegate to the Massachusetts Homœopathic

Medical Society, in which he took great pleasure, and also to witness to-night the opening of Boston University School of Medicine, his own alma mater, many of whose graduates he here saw. He said there would be a meeting of the Connecticut Society next month at the home of Dr. Foote, in Stamford, Conn., and he hoped the Massachusetts Society might be represented at that meeting.

Dr. Whittier, delegate from the Massachusetts Surgical and Gynæcological Society, made a brief response, and the society adjourned for lunch at 1 P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The society was called to order by the president at 1.40 P. M.

D. G. Woodvine, M. D., of Boston, then delivered the annual oration, his subject being "Hindrances to Homœopathic Practice."

The address was received with marked attention, and dwelt chiefly on the principles of sanitary science, especially sewerage, the ignorance of which was one of the greatest hindrances to homeopathic practice. On motion it was voted that the thanks of the society be extended to Dr. Woodvine for his able address, and that it be referred to the Committee on Publication.

Dr. Adams, of Webster, offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted by a rising vote:

"Whereas, God in his infinite wisdom and love has seen fit to lay his hand heavily upon our beloved brother and colleague, D. B. Whittier, M. D., and family, in taking from them their only son, and laying a father's fond hopes and the mother's pride in the silent grave; therefore,

66

Resolved, That the Massachusetts Homœopathic Medical Society extend to them its sincere and heartfelt sympathy, and commend them to Him who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, of all earthly existence.

66

Resolved, That the secretary of this society forward a copy of these resolutions to the bereaved family."

The chairman of the Committee on Clinical Medicine, Dr. J. T. Harris, of Boston, said the committee had in their hands a large number of papers to present, and he should ask of each author, if present, to read his own paper; but before doing so, he would like to speak of a case of erysipelas, which came under his own observation in January last. The patient had chills, fever, etc. The inflammation commenced in the arm, and several days had passed since the attack commenced, when he first saw her. It was a bad case of phlegmonous erysipelas and the discharge was simply enormous. The remedies employed were Aconite, Apis, Arsenicum, Belladonna, Hepar Sulphur, Rhus, and Silicea. The patient, however, was sinking, her pulse one hundred and twenty-five and very weak. Then he began to give her Briggs' Phospo-Nutritive. He gave it simply for nourishment, but under its administration her appetite and the ulceration improved. Surgeons who saw the case advised the removal of the arm. The patient has consented to come here to-day that the result of treatment may be seen. After the examination of this interesting case, the following papers were presented and read:

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