PHILADELPHIA LETTER. The Jubilee Meeting of the A. M. A.-Echoes from the Convention Hall-An [SPECIAL CORrespondence oF THE MEDICAL FORTNIGHTLY.] "The visiting medicoes have come and went," and Philadelphians are once more wrapped in their distinctive soberness. It was a festive week; dinners and luncheons and receptions, theatre parties and lawn parties and seashore excursions. More than any one man could attend, and I suppose the only lamentable thing about the whole performance was the fact that so much time was given to public entertainments that so little was left for the individual. We all wanted to know our visitors, to meet them in our homes and have private chats with them, but it was simply impossible. After all, does the really scientific work of such a large convention pay? I mean, is it worth the effort? A paper is carefully prepared and read in a hurry, it is discussed in a hurry and digested in a hurry. Of course what is valuable in it is published and extracts are made of it, and it reaches the medical profession, when they can quietly masticate it, but then what is the sense of reading it? and what is the sense of listening to it? It were better, it seems to me, if the convention met to transact business, if papers were read by title, committees reported work done, and the rest of the time were given over to social enjoyment entirely. The medical man does not often have the time to take a vacation or get a change of scene, and the annual meeting should give him the opportunity. Of course this was Jubilee Meeting and perhaps the members were more inclined to make merry than usual, therefore one noticed a certain restlessness in the section meetings, especially when long papers were read, and a disinclination for serious discussion, The association gained a great many members from among the local physicians, who joined in order to take part in the celebration; perhaps a number of these will allow their membership to lapse, but no doubt the majority will remain and be a real gain to the A. M. A. I believe the most impressive scene of the whole celebration occurred on Jubilee Day, when the venerable Dr. N. S. Davis walked down the stage of the Academy of Music through the line of officials of various state. medical societies to make his address. The large hall was filled with men and women and they arose to greet the old survivor of '47. In a voice distinctly audible over the whole building, he read for nearly an hour the description of the founding of the organization. It was an able document. Dr. John B. Roberts, in introducing Dr. Davis, called him "this young man;" happy he who can remain "80 years young" like so many of our men. To think that of the 200 and more delegates assembled in our city, 50 years ago, but four or five should be alive today, and of these only one, Dr. Davis, able to travel and to speak before his fellows. Dr. Stillé, though residing but a stone's throw from the assembled convention, finds himself too feeble to attend or to communicate in any way his thoughts. Dr. Davis living miles away, comes to us with all the vigor of youth and reads a long paper without the least sign of fatigue. The marked contrast of this was the paper of Dr. Johnson, of Va., who followed Dr. Davis. He is a strong, young, robust-looking individual, yet his words could hardly be heard further than a few feet from the stage. Hospitals no longer aim to serve the needs of their patients only, but they strive to attract attention by showy buildings and costly novelties, an operating room for instance, with elaborate fittings made for show, is of more consequence to them than roomy wards and comfortable beds. Of course such clinical amphitheatres seem to draw students, and thus pay as an advertisement, but very often the state is obliged to stand the cost, the staff lobbying for money in the halls of legislation, just like the lobbies of other corporations. The Pennsylvania Hospital's fine clinical operating room has been outdone by that of the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital, which was formally opened a few weeks ago. A handsome booklet describing this addition has been sent out to the profession. It is profusely illustrated and contains pictures of the faculty and the president of the board of trustees and, no doubt, it cost considerable to publish, but then printers' ink is not to be despised in the make-up of ye modern hospital. It has become an open secret that cheating at the state board examinations is not uncommon. This year it was even rumored that an effort would be made to steal the questions beforehand and supply the candidates for examination with them. The plan, however, was forestalled and a few individuals who were caught, were promptly prevented from taking the examination, and two or three who had passed were disqualified. Cheating is often practiced in colleges and all sorts of devices are used to aid the student in answering questions. It will no doubt have a salutary effect on those who come up for future examinations if the guilty ones are rigorously dealt with. Summer is upon us, and the doctor who can transfer his office to the neighboring seashore is mortal to be envied, but the poor doctor who is obliged to treat rickety and choleric babies in upper stories of slum shanties, or in alley "mansions," is a mortal to be pitied, and yet when he sees the miseries of those he comes in contact with, he thanks his stars that his lot is not as theirs. And the little brats whose lives he saves are perhaps more grateful in their way than the people who can afford to go to the seashore and mountain resort. The homopaths had a bill before the legislature of this state to establish an insane asylum under their control. The senate failed to pass it, but had it done so, the governor no doubt, would have vetoed it, as he is not in sympathy with such things. The penitentiary investigation in regard to insane criminals which involved a lot of medical experts, resulted in a complete victory for the penitentiary officials, that is, in as far as the state legislature is concerned. The judge who started the complaints was soundly rebuked by the committee for his inter-meddling, but he is not to be sat down upon lightly, and his reply is awaited with interest. The judge is undoubtedly right in his main declarations, namely that insane prisoners are not cared for properly, are even severely beaten and punished, and that the prison management is loth to recognize as insanity what the medical man undoubtedly does. He contended that the prison was no place for such convicts and that it was the duty of the inspectors to have them removed, The legislative investigating committee does not deny these charges, but takes cognizance chiefly of what has become a sensational and personal quarrel, and which grew out of and was not the origin of the trouble. Medical experts are often too ready to testify "extempore" as to the physical condition of men and thus throw the whole science of medicine into disrepute. A story comes to me of a prominent surgeon of this city, who made a "snap" diagnosis last week, mistaking a leucemic enlargement of the spleen for a sarcoma of the omentum, and advising immediate operation. He ventured on the diagnosis without examining the blood or going deeply into the history or taking any ordinary precautions to find out the trouble. Such "snap" diagnostic methods are frequently made by the great men when called into consultation, and mistakes must necessarily result. If the mistakes only stopped with the patient it would not be so so bad, but it places the general practitioner in a bad light, and it puts the whole system of medicine in a false position. A guarded diagnosis and prognosis is seldom out of place, and at least gives room for doubts and differences. DOCTOR, you need a rest during the summer months, and you can find no more invigorating trip than that offered by the L. S. & L. M. Transportation Co. across Lake Michigan to the cool resorts of the north. The palatial steamer Manitou run by this line, is one of the largest on the lakes, and makes frequent trips between Chicago and Mackinac Island, Charlevoix and Harbor City. Write Mr. Joseph Berolzheim, G. P. A., Chicago, for sailing schedule and rates. The Reviewer's Table. Books, pamphlets, instruments, etc., for this department, should be sent to the Managing Editor, Saint Louis. THE author has admirably carried out his object, as mentioned in the preface, i. e., not to write an exhaustive treatise, but a compact hand-book for students, leaving out pathological statements or hypotheses except when necessary to illustrate diseased conditions. The first part (140 pages) is devoted to functional tests and objective methods of investigation. On page 58 the author speaks of Holmgren's well-known wool test as Seebeck's test." While Seebeck deserves great credit for his work on color-blindness, yet to Holmgren do we owe the improved test which bears his name, and which is now universally used throughout the world. DISEASES OF THE EYE AND OPHTHALMOLOGY, a Handbook for Physicians and Students-By Dr. A EUGEN FICK, University of Zurich. Authorized translation by ALBERT B. HALE, A.B., M.D., Chicago, with a Glossary and 158 Illustrations, many of which are printed in colors. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Co. We regret the small amount of space devoted to the subject of skiascopy (the shadow test). The description of the theory is excellent, and the text is illustrated by a very good drawing, but the space devoted to the consideration of the practical application of the text is too small, and only deals with a method now very little practiced, i. e., measuring the variable distance of patient from observer. Part second (325 pages) is devoted to diseases of the eye, with a very good anatomical introduction to each chapter. On page 179, under the head of treatment of blenorrhea of the tear sac, the author recommends an injection of a 10 per cent solution of chloride of zinc in those cases where suppuration will not dry up in spite of the ordinary fluid applications. As this is a text-book for students, we hardly think the recommendation of such a violent caustic justifiable. The appendix contains a very useful list of the terms used in ophthalmology, with the origin and definition of each. We congratulate the translator on his very careful work, and the publisher on the excellent appearance of the volume. There is no question but that Dr. Fick's Handbook will be a useful guide for physicians and students. J. E. J. THOUGH designated as the fractures of the radius, this is really a monograph on one fracture-Colle's. There is no one surgical condition the results of A CLINICAL, PATHOLOGICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL which are more unsatisfactory to the surgeon, or more prolific of dissatisfaction and damage suits on the part of the patient. The thorough analysis, backed by carefully selected typical and atypical cases, commends the work to all medical men, both surgeon and general practitioner. numerous skiagraph cuts, showG. W. T. The illustrations are the very latest, with THIS book is written from the standpoint of the specialist, but is designed as a reference handbook for the student and the general practitioner. It is unique in its scope and in the treatment of the subject. It is a statement of characteristic and pathognomonic eye symptoms which are of great value in the diagnosis of the nature and location of intra-cranial and spinal diseases, and in the elucidation of many obscure constitutional affections. An extensive index renders it of easy reference, and it fills a manifest want in medical literature, which the publishers feel confident will be appreciated by the profession. The author has had an experience of twenty years in general as well as ophthalmic practice, and has devoted much time and careful study to the preparation of the work, aiming to make it of practical value. It should be in the library of every progressive physician who aims to keep abreast of the times, and it is adapted for a text-book in medical colleges. THE EYE AS AN AID IN GENERAL DIAGNOSIS.— H. THE author of these clinical lessons stands at the head of clinical neurology. in this country. A practical, painstaking and thorough observer, he has been one of the builders of the solid superstructure of neurology, not only of America, but of the world. This book, therefore, at once is authority, and takes its place alongside of the other writings of its distinguished author. It is full of the practical, and especially instructive to the general practitioner to whom nervous diseases are a perplexity. It deals with the rarer and more obscure clinical manifestations of hysteria; disorders of sleep; melancholia; sciatica; spurious pregnancy; Raynand's disease, and some remarks on idiocy, etc., etc. The book should be in the hands of all physicians, and especially those interested in neurology, as it is full of the practical results of years of practice in this specialty. The excellent style of presentation, a peculiar gift of the author, together with the accuracy of observation, combine to make this book a valuable addition to the literature of clinical neurology. F. P. N. CLINICAL LESSONS ON NERVOUS DISEASES.-By IN writing this little book the author's aim has been to present a number of observations and suggestions, whose value has been thoroughly tested at SURGICAL HINTS FOR THE SURGEON AND GEN- the bedside and in the operatingroom. A review of its pages will show how much practical information he has conveyed within a small compass, and this he has been able to do by eschewing all superfluous verbage, and by writing clearly and to the point. The material is well arranged, the typography excellent, and the little volume is of convenient size to be carried in the pocket and perused at leisure moments. |