FOOD FOR THOUGHT. Alfred W. Bailey, M. D., Atlantic City, N. J. 15 25.00 10.00 25.00 12.00 HOMOEOPATHIC BANQUETS AND BALLS. November 23 the Columbus, Ohio, Clinic Club gave its first social meeting and banquet. November 28 the Pittsburg Academy of Medicine gave its third annual banquet. November 28 the ladies of Brooklyn, N. Y., gave a ball for the benefit of the Brooklyn Homœopathic Hospital. The patronesses covered the whole city as the patronesses of a homoopathic hospital entertainment never have before, and the concert ball in no wise proved a "heights affair." The amount raised ran up into the thousands. FOOD FOR THOUGHT. It is alleged that Dean Obetz of Ann Arbor agreed to surrender the homoeopathic department in the university if he could be made professor of anatomy in the regular department. In other words, sell out the homoeopaths. It is publicly stated that Prof. H. N. Lyon, of Hahnemann Medical college of this city, has decided to take a course at an eastern college and then blossom into a regular physician. On dit that Prof. E. H. Pratt, of the Chicago Homœopathic, finds that homoeopathy and orificial work do not go together (and why should they?), and that he intends to organize a new school based on orificial surgery. There are the items floating about the city during the holiday season, with the addition of another, that a lady graduate of Hahnemann is going into the manufacture of a face powder for sale at the World's Fair. Lost. The secretary of the Illinois State Board of Health. The National Homœopathic Medical College of Chicago will pay a reward for his recovery. The applications for rooms at the Great Northern Hotel for the World's Congress May 29, are coming in almost daily. Fifteen hundred only can be accommodated, and rooms are assigned according to the order in which the applications are received. THE FIELD. ARKANSAS.-The ninth annual convention of the Southern Homœopathic Medical Association assembled at Hot Springs, November 23. In the absence of William C. Dake, president of the association, Dr. Eldridge C. Price, of Baltimore, Md., first vice-president of the association, presided as chairman. After the report of the committee on credentials was received the convention proceeded briskly to business. The report of the treasurer was heard, then that of the board of censors, who handed in eight applications for membership. The resignation of Dr. J. H. Coers, of Galveston, was received. The report on public institutions was called for, and Dr. Walker, of Cincinnati, responded. After some discussion of the condition of the branch of the medical profession in various states, the courtesies of the association were extended to Dr. Ellis, who was present, and who briefly responded, touching upon the evil of the drumming system as practiced in Hot Springs. Other members of the convention also adverted to the same subject, and the resident physicians were congratulated that the evil is to be stamped out. Dr. Green moved that the chair appoint a committee to draw up a series of resolutions condemnatory of the drumming system as it exists here, since it affects not only the local practitioners. but every physician in the country who sends patients to this city. The resolution was seconded and passed, and the chair appointed as such committee Drs. Duffield, Green and Crutcher. Chairman Price read the annual address of the president of the association. Their attention was then given to the reading of papers on the practice of medicine. The first paper was a study on "Glonoine in Headache," by Dr. Clara C. Plimpton, of Nashville, Tenn. "Symptoms," by Dr. Wilson A. Smith, was the next paper. Dr. Clapp took the chair while Dr. Price read an essay on "Therapeutic Institutions," an exceedingly interesting psychical treatise, which was listened to with great attention, as was proved by an animated discussion. The subject of clinical medicine was then taken up, and the first paper was read by Dr. Lizzie Gray Guthers, of St. Louis, on "Remittent Fever." This paper also evoked considerable discussion. Dr. A. M. Duffield, of Huntsville, Ala., followed with a paper on "Clinical Experiences with Schussler's Tissue Remedies," which was followed by an animated debate, participated in by nearly every member of the convention. NOVEMBER 24.-The convention of the Southern Homœopathic Medical Association continued in session, notwithstanding it was Thanksgiving. The first order to come before the convention to-day was the report of the committee on the anti-drumming resolution. The report was a strong indorsement of the crusade against the nefarious system of doctor-drumming, and was adopted. The report of the auditing committee was heard. Then followed a series of papers from the bureau of surgery. Dr. McDonald, of Washington, presented a dissertation on surgical anæsthesia and the dangers incident to the administration of anæsthetics. Dr. T. P. Green, of Little Rock, gave an interesting description of how to make a paper jacket for treatment of cases in spinal curvature. Dr. A. M. Duffield, of Huntsville, Ala., then read a very interesting paper on "Traumatic Gangrene," citing a case in point to illustrate. The convention then heard papers from the bureau of orificial surgery. The first was by Dr. J. R. Jones, of Jackson, Miss., whose subject was the "American Association of Orificial Surgeons and their principles." Papers were also read by Drs. Reynolds, Ida J. Brooks, F. P. Green, and W. E. Greene, who illustrated his subject of "Abdominal Hysterectomy" by a series of charts. The best paper, perhaps, was that read by E. H. Pratt, M. D., Chicago. His subject was Orificial Treatment in Delicate Cases." NOVEMBER 25.-The convention adjourned this morning after electing officers for the ensuing year, as follows: President, E. C. Price; first vice-president, Dr. A. M. Duffield; second vicepresident, Dr. Lizzie G. Gutherz; recording secretary, Dr. C. R. Mayer; treasurer, M. T. Englebach. The convention then decided upon Chicago as the place for the next meeting, which will take place the last week in May, 1893. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. -The ladies of the Nordhoff Guild and the ladies of the Washington Homoeopathic Hospital Auxiliary Association gave an authors' carnival the week after Thanksgiving, November 28 to December 3, in the halls of the Builders' Exchange. The popular characters in the works of Shakespeare, Tennyson, Longfellow, Dickens and other favorite authors. were brilliantly illustrated by gifted ladies and gentlemen from the circles of Washington society. At a meeting of the Washington Homoeopathic Medical Society, on December 6, the following officers were elected: H. B. Swormstedt, president; J. B. G. Custis, vice-president; J. B. Babbitt, secretary; William R. King, treasurer; G. W. N. Custis, S. S. Stearns, D. F. Gibbs, Ralph Jenkins, and R. Munson, board of censors; W. F. Corey, J. B. G. Custis, I. L. McDonald, and Edgar Janney, advisory committee. The president reported that the past year had been a very prosperous one to the Society. Six new members had been admitted; the bureau reports had been made at nearly every meeting, which had awakened unusual interest among the members, making the average attendance larger than ever before. KANSAS. The Shawnee County Homœopathic Society, of Topeka, held meetings November 29 and December 5. There was a full attendance of the physicians of the city, and several visitors. Dr. Menninger read a paper on "Spasmodic Cough," and presented a case of fracture of the neck of the radius. This case was thoroughly discussed, and all agreed that it was a genuine case of this rather rare injury and commended the diagnosis and cure of the case. Dr. Sturgis reported a very interesting case of iritis and one of sciatica. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Dr. C. F. Menninger; vice president, Dr. Eva Harding; secretary and treasurer, Dr. M. E. Stewart. The next meeting of the Society will be held the first Monday in January, to which all homoeopathic physicians of adjoining towns and cities are invited. MARYLAND. — There was inaugurated in Baltimore a system for the amelioration of the condition of the masses of the city which appeals strongly to the sympathies of philanthropists and eventually will result in untold good to the poorer classes, as well as redound credit to the projectors. This system is known as the "District Visiting Nurse System," and, as already fully stated in The American, received its conception in the minds of a number of homoeopathic physicians and others who had studied. the plans in vogue in London, England, and several of the larger American cities. In the introduction of the system the first thing to be looked out for was a home for the women who are to devote time, energy and skill in alleviating the condition of the suffering ones among the poor. The property, 321 North Paca street, was rented, and the handsome three-storied building has been elegantly furnished as a home for the corps of nurses who are engaged in this laudable charity. The objects of the association are to furnish nurses to the needy poor without charge. It goes further, however, and furnishes nurses to any one who requires the aid of trained attendants in case of sickness, and, though no charge is made, those who are able to pay can make remuneration by voluntary contributions. Nothing will be demanded. The charity is non-sectarian in every respect, both from a medical as well as a religious standpoint. The nurses obey the instructions of the physician in charge of the case, without regard to the school of practice to which he belongs. The Baltimore ladies interested in the large bazaar for the Homoeopathic Hospital, to come off in February at the Academy, have already sent out invitations to their friends to become patronesses. Mrs. Lennox Birckhead, of North Charles street, is one of the managers. MICHIGAN. There is trouble at Ann Arbor, and some of the doctors want to abolish the homoeopathic department. Dense ignorance marks what these professors say, or homœopathy is not taught at Ann Arbor. Dr. D. Maclean says: "I have glanced over the very limited amount of literature claimed to be the product of the sect; but I am at this moment as utterly in the dark as I ever was, as to what is meant or comprehended under the name and title of homoeopathy. In college addresses and after-dinner speeches it is very common to hear the term, the glorious principles of homoeopathy' referred to; but what these glorious principles are seems to be an utterly unknown and unknowable quantity. The only additional objection, besides the one of extravagance, I feel disposed to urge against the maintenance of a homoeopathic college by the state, is the maintenance thereby of a narrow spirit of bigotry and sectarianism unworthy not only of the great profession of the healing art, but utterly incongruous with the spirit of the age in which we live. 66 'As nearly as I can estimate the actual cost to the state at the present time of each graduate in the homœopathic department is $3,500. The alleged cause of the discontent of that department at Ann Arbor, namely, the lack of proper clinical facilities, applies with nearly, if not quite, equal force to the other medical department. "Dr. G. E. Frothingham said in this connection: 'There were about fifty petitions presented to the state legislature at the last session of that body, which were universally signed, as all saw the justice of cutting off state aid for sectarian purposes. The appropriations for this college amount to $20,000 a year. Previous to 1875 the students of homoeopathic medicine were educated in the department of medicine and surgery on equality with other students, and with no extra expense to the state. They receive the degree of doctor of medicine, which is non-sectarian, and leaves its possessor free to adopt any system of practice he may deem most appropriate for the cure of any case he may have under his care. As well have two schools of political economy in the university as two schools of medicine, or special teachers in literature and history.' The fact of the matter is the classes are growing smaller at Ann Arbor, either on account of the kind of homoeopathy taught |