may convey typical human blood to the person or clothing of an accused individual, misleading justice.

This important matter is complicated by a variety of circumstances, and on one of these I wish to make a point; viz., that in disease the size of the globules often varies from the standard of health. In acute exacerbation of goitre, and in pernicious anæmia, the globules, according to my observation, are often remarkably small, which would bring them into similarity with those of other mammalia. As it is truth and justice, not the prisoner's interests alone, which lead to expert labors, this fact should be considered when the small size of globules in a blood-stain promises acquittal.

MASSACHUSETTS HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

REPORTED BY HERBERT A. CHASE, M. D., REC. SECRETARY.

THE semi-annual meeting was held in the Meionaon, Tremont Temple, Boston, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1881. It was called to order at 10.30 A. M. by the president, J. T. Harris, M. D., of Boston.

The records of the last meeting and of the meetings of the Executive Committee were read by the secretary and approved.

The following were elected to membership: Frank J. Fesler, M. D., D. D. S., of Lowell, and Annie E. Fisher, M. D., of Boston.

The following amendment was offered by the treasurer, H. C. Clapp, M. D., of Boston: "To Art. XXV. add the following: 'Newly elected members shall not be liable to assessment during the year of their election.'" Referred to Drs. Clapp, Smith, and Whittier, to report on at the next annual meeting.

The Committee on Surgery presented papers as follows: "Hydrocele," by J. H. Sherman, M. D., South Boston; "The Uses and Abuses of the Probe in Surgery," by I. T. Talbot, M. D., Boston; "Incised Wounds," by J. K. Warren, M. D., Palmer.

The Committee on a Homœopathic Insane Hospital reported * through J. Heber Smith, M. D., of Melrose. On motion of N. R. Morse, M. D., Salem, the following resolutions were adopted :

Resolved, That the Massachusetts Homoeopathic Medical Society heartily indorses the report of its Committee on a Homœopathic Insane Hospital, and considers that the time has fully come when the State should furnish to its dependent insane the more efficient as well as more humane treatment of homoopathy.

* See Report on page 339 of our November number.

Resolved, That the Committee be requested to prepare and circulate petitions to the State Legislature, and that the members of this society, homoeopathic physicians generally, and the friends of homoeopathy in Massachusetts be earnestly requested to use their influence with the press, the people, and the Legislature, that this want be provided for at the earliest possible moment.

The Committee on Gynecology presented the subject of Uterine Displacements, embodied in papers as follows: Pathology, S. M. Cate, M. D., Salem; Ætiology and Symptomatology, Laura M. Porter, M. D., Boston; Treatment, H. K. Bennett, M. D., Fitchburg.

F. W. Bradbury, M. D., of Providence, R. I., was present as a delegate from the Rhode Island State Society, and made a brief address.

At I P. M. the society adjourned for lunch.

At 2 P. M. the members reassembled and listened to the annual oration, delivered by John L. Coffin, M. D., of West Medford. It was a very able effort and was heartily applauded. The Committee on Zymotic Diseases presented a paper on the "Use of Water in Typhoid Fever," by W. B. Chamberlain, M. D., Worcester.

The Committee of Arrangements reported that it was impossible to obtain any reduction in the price of the Meionaon, even if it were taken for a term of years. On motion of H. L. Chase, M. D., Cambridgeport, it was voted to hold the annual meeting in Wesleyan Hall, Bromfield Street, Boston.

Obesity" was presented by J. H. Sherman,

A paper on "Obesity

M. D., of South Boston.
Adjourned at 3.30 P. M.

BOSTON HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

REPORTED BY FRED. B. PERCY, M. D., SECRETARY.

THE regular monthly meeting was held at the college building Thursday evening, Dec. 8, when thirty-two members were present. The censors reported favorably on the names of J. R. Boynton, M. D., East Boston, and J. F. Lindsay, M. D., Boston, and they were elected members.

The following were proposed for membership: James H. Utley, M. D., Newton; W. O. Ruggles, M. D., Neponset.

SCIENTIFIC SESSION.

The subject for discussion was Typhoid Fever. Dr. J. H. Payne read a very interesting paper on the history of this disease. Dr. F. D. Stackpole followed with an exhaustive paper on

VOL. XVII. NO. I.

the Etiology. He said that investigation as to the causes had proved somewhat futile. Whether the disease always arises from a specific poison produced by a parent case, and conveyed either by water, air, or in some as yet undiscovered way, from one case to another; or whether it may arise spontaneously, that is, irrespective of contagion or infection, has not yet been decided. Dr. Budd and his followers firmly maintain the former opinion, of a specific poison produced by a previously existing case; while Dr. Murchison believes in spontaneous development. The history of several epidemics was given by Dr. Stackpole, the majority of which went to prove the views of Dr. Murchison to be correct. He quoted from a monograph on typhoid fever by Dr. Waring, and discussed the contagiousness of the disease in extenso, and maintained that it was not contagious. He then considered the three principal modes of propagation :

First. By drinking water made foul by the decomposition of any organic matter, whether animal or vegetable, and especially by the presence in such water of excrementitious matters discharged from the bodies of those suffering from typhoid fever.

Second. Propagated by air contaminated by any form of filth, and especially by water-closets, cesspools, pig-sties, manureheaps, rotten vegetables in cellars, leaky or obstructed drains. Third. Propagated by emanations from the earth, occurring especially in the autumn months and in seasons of drought.

Dr J. E. Kinney read a paper on the Course and Symptoms of typhoid fever.

Dr. G. E. Percy read a carefully prepared paper on the Diagnosis and Prognosis.

Dr. H. C. Clapp then spoke without notes on the treatment. This he divided into three parts, - hygienic, dietetic, and medicinal. In regard to the hygienic treatment, he said the most important point was to remove and disinfect the discharges; and for the latter purpose he used various drugs, -Bromo-chloralum, etc. As to the cold-water treatment, which properly comes under this head, he thought it useful. Currie first introduced this treatment, which has been variously modified since. Liebermeister is very enthusiastic over it, and claims that by it the mortality has been reduced from twenty-seven per cent to eight per cent. He described various methods of using cold water.

Considering prostration the essence of typhoid fever, he thought the diet should be nutritious and of a kind to be easily digested. Feed the patient regularly and often. The most valuable article of diet is milk, which should be given freely. Broths of beef, mutton, chicken boiled a long time, and thickened with barley, rice, etc., are also to be used; cold water should be allowed ad libitum.

The remedies of most service are Baptisia, Bryonia, Rhus tox, Arsenicum, Phosphorus, Mercurius, and Iodine.

Baptisia has been both overpraised and too much maligned. We should not expect it to cut short the disease; many cases are abortive in their nature, and if we use any remedy we should remember this. In mild cases Dr. Clapp has had good success with Bapt. and Bry.; in cases with wild delirium he uses Rhus; Arsenicum in cases of extreme prostration; Phosphorus when we have pneumonia as a complication; Mercurius and Iodine for lesions in the intestinal tract.

DISCUSSION.

Dr. Krebs said he had tried cold-water treatment with good results. Gelsemium in first stage of typhoid fever is very valuable. Has treated many cases without remedies, depending upon good nursing, which he considers of paramount importance. For food he gives nothing but thinnest gruel or water, and often continues this diet for twenty-one days. If patient has no appetite, don't give any food. Sponging the patient frequently under the blanket is both grateful and beneficial to patient. Cold pack for an hour or until free perspiration begins, and then wrapping patient in blankets, the process to be repeated if necessary, is often of great service. Dr. Krebs has had only twenty-nine cases in thirty years, and lost but one.

Dr. Clapp said he always tries to give food which is assimilated before reaching Peyer's patches.

Dr. Talbot said that in typhoid fever he had never used cold water for the simple purpose of reducing the temperature. In a case of pneumonia, accompanied by sudden and severe congestion, with rise of temperature to 107° and danger of immediate fatal termination, he immersed the patient in a bath of 100°, which he gradually reduced to 90° by adding cold water. After ten minutes in the bath the patient's temperature was reduced to 100°, and never rose above 104°, with ultimate recovery.

Dr. Talbot has found the wet sheet of great value in the early stage of this disease; but it must be applied carefully and systematically, otherwise it will do more harm than good. The patient must be enveloped in a sheet, not too wet, the air carefully excluded, and then closely wrapped in three or four blankets, great care being taken about the neck and feet. He should remain until profuse diaphoresis ensues, which usually requires from half an hour to an hour. If it does not come on fully he may be unpacked, sponged over with cold water, and repacked. Perspiration will almost always speedily follow. The doctor believes the skin thus eliminates a great deal of the poison from the system. When patient is in wet pack, he gives Acon, and Bry. at short intervals.

He cited a case where the temperature was 105°, which was reduced to 100° in an hour and a half by wet pack. Do not stuff patients; give plenty of cold water, but little food. One remedy which Dr. Talbot has found of much benefit is Phos acid. Wurmb, of Vienna, used it more than any other in typhoid fever.

Dr. Woodvine said he used the wet sheet a great deal, but he always placed a hot-water bottle at the feet while the patient was in the pack.

Dr. Sherman, of South Boston, said his experience was quite different from that of two physicians who had spoken before, as he had treated more cases in single year than they in a lifetime. He believed in a nourishing diet, and milk ad libitum. He uses Phos. acid and Ant. tartaricum frequently. Also in later stage, when fever is excessive, he envelops patient lightly and sprinkles the sheet with cold water, thus reducing temperature by evaporation.

Dr. A. M. Cushing spoke of Secale cornutum as a remedy not to be forgotten.

Dr. Woodvine said he had a patient very sick with this disease, to whom he gave two quarts of milk daily. In fourteen days he was convalescent; but from exposure had a relapse, which proved fatal. In another case, profuse hemorrhage from bowels followed eating a large quantity of grapes.

Dr. Farnsworth gave a brief sketch of an interesting case, in which he allowed the patient a cup of coffee and two slices of toast three times daily, and in fourteen days the fever subsided.

WORCESTER COUNTY HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY. REPORTED BY CHAS. L. NICHOLS, M. D., OF WORCESTER, SECRETARY. THE annual meeting of this society was held on Nov. 9, at Natural History Hall, Dr. Brick being in the chair. Dr. Brick delivered an interesting address upon the progress and changes of the past year, and spoke of the qualities needed by a true physician. After a favorable report from the censors, Dr. Ellen M. Eastman, of Fitchburg, was elected a member of the society. The annual election of officers resulted as follows:

ter.

President S. H. Colburn, of Athol.

Vice-President - N. R. Perkins, Winchendon.

Corresponding Secretary-G. A. Slocomb, Millbury.

Recording Secretary and Treasurer-C. L. Nichols, Worces

Censors-E. L. Mellus, Worcester; O. M. Travers, North Brookfield; and George Porter, Webster.