without sufficient and thorough investigation, of the fallacious doctrine of the minimum dose and the absurd and unphilosophical theory of dynamization. "The theory of the minimum dose, having been proven unsound and irrational, should be discarded, and the theory of the small dose substituted. The theory of the small dose, within the generally accepted limits of material medication, can never be considered extravagant, unreasonable, or unphilosophical; therefore will not impede the acceptance of the homoeopathic principle; but will, on the contrary, favor its adoption and more frequent application in practice by all classes of medical men. "Let us, then, as representatives of that which is rational and conservative in the homoeopathic school, recommend discarding the theory of dynamization and the doctrine of the minimum dose, and substituting for the latter the theory of the small dose. "The following propositions are intended to set forth the reasons why homœopathists should clearly define their position regarding these fundamental errors of practice: "Ist. The suggestions recommended by Dr. Hahnemann having been carried out to the letter, no apparent practical advantage to homœopathy has resulted therefrom. "2d. The inability on the part of Hahnemann and his followers to explain the principles involved, at first enforced a prolonged series of experiments which, having been carefully made, have failed to establish the soundness of the theory of dynamization. 66 '3d. The decided preponderance of evidence in favor of the assumption that the alleged cures are the results of psychological, magnetic, or other occult influences, having no relevancy whatever to homœopathy. "4th. The doctrine of the small dose, a corollary of the law of cure, is essential, and within the limits of material quantity, is reasonable and philosophical, and is a proper subject for investigation from a homœopathic point of view. "5th. The doctrine of the minimum dose, a product of an error of judgment on the part of Dr. Hahnemann, is unsound in principle; evidently non-homœopathic; and being associated with homœopathy, has greatly retarded its progress and prevented its general acceptance and adoption, by affording license for a very extravagant, absurd, and usually unreliable method of treatment. "6th. The adoption of the only prudent, safe, and conservative course, in order thereby to promote and preserve the true interests of homœopathy, by formally disassociating it from the doctrine of the minimum dose and the theory of dynamization." Dr. Paine also offered the following, which was adopted: "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to collect and present at the next meeting of this society such evidence as they may be able to obtain bearing on the laws of potencies, with special reference to the homœopathicity of alleged cures by highly attenuated medicines." Drs. Paine, French, and Hale were appointed such committee. Dr. Paine called attention to a criticism of the resolutions discarding the theory of dynamization, adopted by the society at its last annual meeting, which criticism was written by Dr. Gaillard, of Brussels, who is evidently a strict Hahnemannian. Dr. Burggrave, a homœopathist of the same city, having published a condensed report of the preamble, and the resolution in full, with favorable comments thereon, the truthfulness of his statements was questioned, and the existence of the society doubted by Dr. Gaillard, because he had never observed any report of its proceedings in the numerous homœopathic medica. journals of this country. On motion, the secretary was requested to publish a full report of the proceedings of the society in one or more homoeopathic medical journals. Dr. Paine offered the following, which was adopted : 66 Resolved, That we approve the series of experiments instituted by the Milwaukee Academy of Medicine with a view of determining the scientific qualities of the thirtieth Hahnemannian potency, and hereby recommend that a committee of this society be appointed to coöperate with the committee of the Milwaukee Academy for the purpose of promoting the proposed investigation." Drs. J. A. Pearsall, Shaw, and Slocum were appointed such committee. The society adjourned to meet at Saratoga Springs on the second Tuesday in August, 1880. CONNECTICUT HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY. OFFICERS 1879-80. President, N. D. Anderson, M. D., New Haven. Vice-President, W. B. Dunning, M. D., Hartford. Recording Secretary, H. M. Bishop, M. D., Norwich. Corresponding Secretary, G. P. Swift, M. D., Waterbury. Treasurer, J. D. Johnson, M. D., Hartford. Librarian, G. H. Wilson, M. D., West Meriden. Board of Censors, H. E. Stone, M. D., Fair Haven; C. E. Sanford, M. D., Bridgeport; G. F. Foote, M. D., Stamford, C. J. Mansfield, M. D., Meriden; E. P. Gregory, M. D., Waterbury. REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOks. MANUAL OF OPERATIVE SURGERY. By Stephen Smith, A. M., M. D., Surgeon to Bellevue and St. Vincent Hospitals, New York. Boston: Houghton, Osgood & Co. 1879. Pages 689. $4.00. This book was originally prepared in 1862 for military practice, where it was very popular, and its scope has now been enlarged by including also the general operations of surgery in civil practice. The author has embodied the teachings of recognized authorities on every subject, as gathered from their writings, and in many cases, indeed, he has submitted to those authorities themselves his manuscript for their revision or sanction. To preserve a uniformity of style, however, he has very wisely incorporated the opinions of others into his own smoothly flowing text, giving credit by a single letter, which indicates merely the name of the authority, at the bottom of the page. The book contains a very large number (733) of illustrations, many of which have been made especially for it. They are a very valuable feature. We are really surprised that so much information has been crowded into such a small compass, but the paper, though good, is thin, and the type is small, though very clear. Embodying, as it does, the results of many years of such experience as Dr. Smith's, we think it cannot fail to be of great service to any surgeon or physician, by reason of its explicitness on all the details of almost every conceivable operation. We heartily commend it. MANUAL OF PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS. By Francis Delafield, M. D., and Charles F. Stillman, M. D. New York: Wm. Wood & Co. 1878. Pages 30. $2.00. Dr Stillman's two drawings, with superimposed plates, are really very fine. We are sorry, however, that we cannot say so much for the rest of the book. Our ideas are so well expressed by the review of this book in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal," that we quote a part of it with our indorsement: "We have no hesitation in saying that this book is unworthy of its distinguished author (Dr. Delafield). Entitled a 'Manual of Physical Diagnosis,' it contains scarcely more than an allusion to other methods of exploration than auscultation and percussion, and as a compend of information desirable from these methods, it is certainly as remarkable for what it omits as for what it contains. It is indeed a skeleton, but one with very many of its bones missing. In conclusion we would say that this book can be of no possible use to one fit to be a teacher, and one which we see no reason to recommend to a student." THE ADVANTAGES AND ACCIDENTS OF ARTIFICIAL ANESTHESIA. By Second The rapid sale of a large edition of this work in one year shows the appreciation which it has met with in the profession. Experiments with hydrobromic acid have been added to the second edition, and also more practical suggestions as to the employment of the anaesthetics which are safe. Dr. Turnbull has now collected three hundred and seventy cases of deaths from chloroform, which have been reported and fully authenticated, in addition to the necessarily large number of deaths unreported, "which, like fatal operations in surgery, never see the light of day, and are therefore of no use to warn the careful observer." Naturally he favors ether. The whole subject of all the different anæsthetics and the different inhalers and methods of administration is fully discussed. PHILLIPS' MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS; VEGETABLE KINGDOM. New York: Wm. Wood & Co.'s Library of Standard Medical Authors. 1879. Pages 323. At the first examination of this book, we were quite pleased to find it, not exactly another Ringer, but certainly, with the long space devoted to the physiological action of each drug, and the manner of treating it, an allopathic Materia Medica with a very strong leaning to homœopathic methods. Since our first examination, our surprise has been somewhat diminished on learning that this Dr. Phillips spent the best part of his life- about thirty years in the practice of homoopathy, in Manchester, England, in which he was very successful, but being desirous of becoming a professor, for which there was no chance in homœopathic ranks in England, he suddenly discovered that he had been in error for these thirty years, and went over to the other side. Moving to London, he was appointed lecturer on Materia Medica in the Westminster School of Medicine, and brought out this book, which met with a flattering reception everywhere from allopaths. In fact, much of this valuable material, new to them, was supplied from his long homœopathic experience. Last December, we are sorry to say, he met with a railroad accident, and sustained severe injuries. He has recovered £7,000. At the trial it was stated that his income for the last three years had averaged £7,000 a year, not including special fees, one of which amounted to £5,000. PRACTICAL MIDWIFERY. By J. H. Marsden, A. M., M. D. New York and Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel. 1879. Pages 315. We are quite pleased with the arrangement of material in this book, as well as with the way in which the different subjects are handled. The author has wisely omitted those preliminary topics which usually take up a good deal of room in books on midwifery, such as the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive organs, embryology, theories of conception, etc., with which the student ought to be already familiar, and thus he gains space to discuss things more practical, without making too bulky a book. Some points here and there we should feel decidedly inclined to criticise, such as Dr. Marsden's instructions always to give chloroform before applying the forceps (page 253), etc., and we are certainly upon the list of those whom the author expects to be "disappointed and surprised at the absence of all pictorial illustrations," not agreeing with him that they always tend to create erroneous views. Still, we have enjoyed looking over his book very much, and are pleased to see that he does not soar to Guernsey's heights, but is willing, when necessary, to avail himself of more rational measures. By Alfred L. Philadelphia: Lindsay & THE STUDENT'S GUIDE TO THE DISEASES OF WOMEN. Another book on this subject, on which this firm has already published more than half a dozen within no great length of time. The author, in order to make a condensed treatise, has omitted such subjects as are usually found in midwifery text-books, such as extra uterine fœtation, retroversion of the pregnant uterus, etc.; also those that may be found in all surgical works, as ruptured perineum and vesico-vaginal fistula. There are sixty-three illustrations, mostly of instruments, and the mode of using them. The style is clear and smooth, and the book undoubtedly makes a very good compend of modern allopathic gynecology. HOMEOPATHIC THERAPEUTICS. Second Edition. By Samuel Lilienthal, M. D. New York and Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel. 1879. Pages 835. "It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good." To the disastrous fire which last spring burnt up so many of the publications of this enterprising firm do we owe the appearance so soon of the second edition |