longer possess the influence and meaning they once had. The people of this country no longer scorn or underrate the products of their own native laboratories and work shops.-The National Druggist.

Homeopathic Medical Society of the County of Kings.-The 228th regular meeting of the Kings County Homoeopathic Medical Society was held May 10th, at the usual time and place. VicePresident Aten opened the meeting.

Reading of papers. Report of the Bureau of Pedology, Dr. F. E. Risley, chairman.

Paper entitled "Barlow's Disease" was read by Dr. H. J. Pierron.

Discussion-Dr. Winchell: The subject of the paper is one of comparatively recent study. Dr. Northrop in 1891, I believe, described the first series of cases. At first, these cases were described as Barlow's diseaese, but in more recent years the writers have dropped that term more and more and adopted that of infantile scurvy or scorbutus.

I have seen four of these cases and in all have seen prompt recovery from a change to proper diet, so that the cases generally recovered in three weeks or more.

The causative influence of sterilized milk is a frequent subject of discussion. It is not definitely determined how much this does affect these cases, but it is known that cases put on raw milk diet improve rapidly. The prolonged use of proprietary foods which have sterilized milk added as an element, is frequently a cause.

At first in describing the treatment of these cases many different remedies were recommended. Gradually, however, the treatment has been limiting itself to the lines of proper diet and this alone seems to cure most of the cases.

The Society then on motion proceeded to the report of the Bureau of Gynææcology, Dr. J. B. Given, chairman.

A paper entitled "Illustration of Electric Hemostatic Forceps, with a New Method of Vaginal Hysterectomy" was read by Dr. Clark Burnham.

Dr. Burnham then presented a patient operated upon three weeks previous, demonstrating the results of the operation. He also showed the instruments employed and the effect on animal tissue.

Discussion-Dr. Blackman: There have been very many different methods employed for vaginal hysterectomy; clamps, ligatures, T forceps, etc. The so-called bloodless operation has been advocated, which requires very close shaving of the uterus and very skillful operating in the dissection of the uterine vessels from the body of the organ. This method described by Dr. Burnham is to my mind the best yet offered and the results certainly justify his claims.

Motion of thanks to Dr. Burnham for his demonstration passed. Dr. O. S. Ritch: I have personally witnessed the six or seven

operations mentioned in this paper and can vouch for all said in favor of this method, which seems to me the best we have to-day. I believe that Dr. Burnham is the second or third surgeon to employ this method, the first homoeopathic surgeon at any rate, and that he should have the credit for such a distinction. His original idea in devising the speculum should also have credit.

The society then returned to the Bureau of Pedology, and a paper entitled "Cases" was read by Dr. E. R. Fiske.

Discussion--Dr. Chapin: At the Five Points Hospital it was our custom to see such cases as described by Dr. Fiske. The first use of chlorate of potash in such cases, I think must be credited to Dr. St. Clair Smith or Dr. Josselin. The method employed there was to dissolve a teaspoonful of chlorate of potash in a glassful of water and use the solution to cleanse the ulcers every two hours, allowing the child to swallow some of it. I have seen similar gangrenous conditions elsewhere, especially on the vulva, following measles, typhoid, and scarlet fever, promptly relieved and cured in a short time by the use of chlorate of potash.

The report of the Bureau of Ophthalmology, Otology, and Laryngology followed. Dr. Alton G. Warner, chairman.

A paper entitled "Adenoids of the Naso-Pharynx," by Dr. H. E. Street, was read by Dr. W. L. Love.

re

Discussion-Dr. Stewart: Among other routine methods sorted to before putting a child to bed, I would advise having the nose thoroughly blown (for children are taught this). This gives a freer breathing space and overcomes any tendency to mouth breathing.

The age at which adenoids are most common is from four to seven. They are at any rate discovered about this time, although I have seen and operated cases from two to forty years. In proportion as we learn to diagnose these growths, their presence in the adult will be less uncommon. In operating I prefer the curette to the forceps. As far as remedies are concerned I cannot say that I have seen the results reported by some in the use of sanguinaria nitrate. For the enlarged turbinateds usually accompanying these cases I have found nitric acid 6th almost a specific.

Dr. Warner: I had hoped to hear Dr. Close discuss this question this evening, so as to learn what the prescribers can do for these conditions. The main question seems to be when and how to operate these cases.

Dr. Philips of New York states that adenoids are the underlying cause of most suppurative otitis of the middle ear, and that to cure these cases of middle ear trouble we must remove the adenoids first.

Dr. Winchell: The subject under discussion is very interesting. I have seen cases at all ages. I have not seen cases of asthma or enuresis due to or relieved by the removal of adenoids.

In operating it is my custom to use the curette. I do not see the advantage of two instruments nor of the delay necessary to make a change. I rarely use an anesthetic, but have the child held in the

position assumed for intubation. Then the parts are easily reached and the operation is completed by two or three sweeps of the curette.

The good effects of the operation are generally seen in a short time, and no doubt exists of the beneficial results in every case. The age at which these conditions are found is variable. One of the worst cases I ever saw was in a young man about thirty years old.

Dr. Jeffrey: Can Dr. Winchell recall the symptoms indicating operation in the young man of thirty?

Dr. Winchell: The indications were that he could not breathe through his nose. The posterior nares was completely occluded.

Dr. Jeffrey: The reason that I speak of these symptoms is that in my experience, I have sent a number of cases to specialists and invariably they have found adenoids. It seems to be a fad at the present time to find these conditions. I must say that I have not seen the results promised by the specialists in these cases; especially where there are nervous conditions associated, which probably are due to diseases of middle and inferior turbinated bones, or either of them, rather than to the adenoids.

Dr. Lowe: In a clinic at the Eye and Ear Hospital, New York, the surgeon, Dr. W. K. Simpson, whom I assisted last summer, told me while he does not use an anesthetic in the dispensary, he generally does so in private practice.

Dr. Hopper: Speaking of the nervous symptoms of adenoids, I have seen a case of a young man of sixteen relieved entirely of asthma by the removal of the adenoids. It has now been eight months and no return of the disease.

Dr. Chapin: I believe that Dr. Stewart's suggestion of teaching the child to blow its nose, a valuable means of prevention. I have failed to see the good results of operation in many of these cases. The adenoids tend to atrophy and by the age of twenty have generally disappeared. I cannot see, then, why so many of these cases are operated, when such is the fact. It seems to be the habit of specialists to perform this operation at every opportunity, but to my mind very few cases show absolute necessity for operation.

Dr. Winchell: I do not see how a child can be taught to blow its. nose when the nose is stopped up by post-nasal growths. As regards the tendency to atrophy, I have seen adenoids in cases past twenty many times and rarely do the effects of adenoids entirely disappear. The operation is a simple one and a man does not have to be a specialist to perform it. The beneficial effects are, aside from free nasal respiration, principally those exercised on the mental abilities of the patient, transforming a dull stupid child into a bright interested individual.

Dr. Stewart: The suggestion offered of teaching the child to blow its nose was not to cure these conditions, but to prevent the formation of adenoids by rendering nose breathing easy and overcoming the tendency to mouth breathing which undoubtedly acts as an irritant to the mucous membrane.

Report of the Bureau of Gynæcology, Dr. J. B. Given, chairman.

A paper entitled "A Case of Fungus in the Uterus" was read by Dr. Olive F. McCune.

Discussion-Dr. Jenks: Will Dr. McCune state what kind of electricity was used and the kind of ointment?

Dr. McCune: The electricity used was the Faradic current of weak strength, long continued. The ointment was one used at the Clifton Springs Sanitarium.

Dr. W. B. Pierson then offered the following resolution which was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That in view of the present condition of warfare exist ing between the United States and Spain, and the patriotic response of the members of the National Guard of the State of New York to the call of the President, we, the members of the Homoeopathic Medical Society of the County of Kings, do hereby offer our professional services without charge to the families of those citizens of Brooklyn who have been called away in the performance of their duties to the State and to the Nation."

Motion to adjourn carried.

Germantown Medical Society. The regular monthly meeting of the Homœopathic Medical Society of Germantown was held at "The Mosbach Casino," Girard avenue and Thirteenth street, on Monday evening, June 20, 1898. The committee in charge decided not to present a paper for discussion at this meeting, but instead the topics which at the present time are of so much interest to the profession, viz., "Army and Navy," "Philadelphia Hospital," "American Institute Meeting," etc., were informally considered.

West Virginia Homeopathic Medical Society. The first regular meeting of the society was held in Wheeling, May 17th, at which the following officers were elected: Dr. M. L. Casselberry, of Morgantown, president; Dr. C. M. Boger, of Parkersburg, first vicepresident; Dr. J. M. Fawcett, of Wheeling, second vice-president: Dr. A. A. Roberts, of Wheeling, secretary; Dr. E. H. Wilsey, of Parkersburg, treasurer; Dr. J. W. Morris, of Wheeling, necrologist. Our next meeting will be at Sistersville, October 11, 1898.

CONDUCTED BY

Societies.

WILLIAM S. PEARSALL, M.D.

Readers of the JOURNAL are cordially requested to send personals, removals, deaths and all items of general news to Dr. William S. Pearsall, 128 West 78th Street, New York City.

Secretaries of societies and institutions are invited to contribute reports of their proceedings, and as it is intended to make this department crisp and • newsy reports should be complete but concise.

American Institute of Homoeopathy. The fifty-fourth annual session of the American Institute of Homoeopathy was called to order by the president, Dr. A. R. Wright, of Buffalo, on Thursday evening, June 23, at Omaha, Neb.

Addresses were made by Dr. O. S. Wood, chairman of the local committee on arrangements; Frank E. Moore, mayor of the exposition city; and Governor Silas A. Holcomb, after an invocation by Rev. Dr. Frank A. Warfield, pastor of the church and an organ solo by Mrs. Frances M. Ford.

In his address Dr. Wood made a happy comparison between the unattractive Omaha of the past and the beautiful, comfortable and safe Omaha of the present. All this marvel of modern progress had been accomplished in a few short years. Dr. Wood welcomed the visitors on behalf of the profession both in Nebraska and Iowa.

Mayor Moore said a number of laughable things. His address was on behalf of the city. He complimented the medical profession generally, and congratulated the homoeopathic school in particular for the "progress it had made despite the formidable opposition of the old schools." A happy allusion to Governor Holcomb, as Nebraska's war governor, accompanied the turning over of the gilded "keys" of the city to the visitors. The said keys were fittingly draped with the national colors.

Governor Holcomb's speech was, of course, on behalf of the State. He seemed to catch some of the humor of the mayor and Dr. Wood, and had a few pleasant things to say about the mayor's "keys." Then he said:

"On behalf of the State of Nebraska I bid you a hearty welcome and hope you will enjoy your visit. You will find our exposition a marvel—an education in itself. You will find in it demonstrated the resources of the farm, factory and mine, and it will give you a true impression of the condition, strength, progress and advancement of this country of ours."

A letter from Governor Leslie M. Shaw, regretting his inability to be present, was read. Then the song by Dr. Charles Gatchell, of Chicago, "We'll Not Forget," was sung by Miss Laura Van Kuran.

Dr. Wright, the president of the institute, made an appropriate

response.