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.

The Homoeopathic Medical Society of the State of New York Semi-Annual Meeting.-The forty-seventh semi-annual meeting of the New York State Homœopathic Medical Society was held in Syracuse, N. Y., on Thursday and Friday, September 22-23, 1898.

Dr. George W. McDowell, of New York, called the meeting to order and introduced the president, Dr. Arthur B. Norton, of New York. The Rev. Herbert G. Coddington then offered prayer. Dr. E. Elmer Keeler, president of the Onondaga County Medical Society, delivered the address of welcome.

The president, Dr. A. B. Norton, then made a few remarks referring to "medical charities." He spoke of the defeat of the Sullivan free dispensary bill in the State Legislature, and said that it was formulated by the allopathic physicians of New York City. He said that it passed the Senate and was killed in the Assembly, mainly because of the objections of the homoeopathic physicians. "I voice the sentiment, I believe," he said, "of the Homoeopathic profession when I say that the present system of free dispensaries is a great evil." He recommended that a committee be appointed at the meeting to confer with committees from other organizations regarding legislation about free dispensaries.

After the minutes of the last meeting had been read the following physicians were elected to membership: Clayton E. Spire, of Cylde; George Stewart G. Ogden, of Brooklyn; R. L. Macfarland, of Jamaica; F. Barrett Livezly, of Brooklyn; Gordon W. Hoyt, of Syracuse; Charles W. Haywood, of Fairfield; Emily C. Charles, of New York; Bruno W. Bierbauer, of Brooklyn, and George F. Adams, of Gowanda, Erie County.

At 10:30 A. M. the programme was begun, with the opening of the Bureau of Ophthalmology and Otology by Dr. G. W. McDowell. He announced that the first paper would be by Dr. E. E. Keeler on "Conservative Treatment of Wounds of the Eyeball." Dr. Keeler said that the physician and surgeon, besides knowing a whole lot of other things, must know when to and when not to operate. He said to "first give the eye a chance," and to make haste slowly. He stated cases where for fear of sympathetic ophthalmia operations had been made and the eye lost, whereas other cases, seemingly helpless, had been treated otherwise with better result. The discussion on the paper was lead by Dr. Allon G. Warner, of Brooklyn.

Secretary John L. Moffat, of Brooklyn, read an extract from former President Eugene H. Porter's address, delivered last year, giving the definition of a homoeopathist. It was "a homoeopathic physician is one who adds to his knowledge of medicine a special knowledge of homoeopathic therapeutics.' It was received with applause and ordered published.

The Bureau of Public Health was opened at 11:25 A..M. by Dr. F. Park Lewis, of Buffalo, in the absence of Dr. W. B. Gifford, of Attica. Although Dr. Lewis had a paper first on the programme it was postponed by himself, and Dr. J. W. Le Seur, of Batavia, read a paper on "Quarantine." Owing to the increase in our possessions as a country, he said, more rigid quarantine laws were necessary. He thought the States should unite in appointing a national board to look after the sanitary conditions of cities, and to act in case of contagion from disease. He said: "It is a terrible fact that while only 300 men had been killed in battle about five times that number, or 1,500 men, had died from diseases. I do not know whether it was imperfect education, imperfect appliances, inexperience or carelessness on the part of the soldiers. I do know that suitable care was not taken of the army, and the disease will be spread throughout the States unless great care is exercised."

The present quarantine laws are not properly understood, he continued, and therefore cannot be properly enforced. It should be part of the duty of volunteers, he said, to study and be instructed in sanitary affairs. He did not believe should there be an epidemic of yellow fever in this country that the health officers would know how to handle it. At the present time, he stated, it is absolutely necessary to observe the strictest rules along the coasts and railroads.

Dr. W. L. Hartman, of this city, led the discussion, and said: "The highest officers are to blame for the condition in the army. Politics entered too much into it, and friends, incompetent, were given positions. Men who knew no more about selecting camps than a ten-year-old child did it. The camps were placed where there was no pure water, while they might just as well have been situated where there was plenty of water."

Secretary Moffat believed that the newspapers had exaggerated the condition of the camps. Dr. Le Seur thought the fly responsi ble for the spread of disease.

Dr. F. P. Lewis read a paper on "The Physician in Public Af fairs," and said that more attention should be given to physical edu cation and the condition of scholars. Dr. George F. Shears, of Chicago, then entered and was received with hearty applause. He was given a seat beside the president.

Dr. Le Seur, in discussing Dr. Lewis' paper, said: "The fact that large bundles of manuscript have to be prepared by the school chil dren is an injustice and a cruelty. That children are given pen and pencil as soon as they are able to hold one and adjust their eyes at an angle to observe their writing, while at the same time preparing

lessons is one of the rankest injustices that our modern system of education has perpetrated." The Bureau of Ophthalmology and Otology was reopened, and Dr. E. J. Bissel, of Rochester, read a paper on "The Uses of Steam in Diseases of the Cornea." It was illustrated.

The Bureau of Materia Medica was opened at 12:15 P. M. by Dr. J. Willis Candee. Dr. W. T. Laird read a paper on "Kali Phos. in Nervous Dyspepsia," and Dr. G. W. Hoyt, of this city, read another on "Lycopodium." Both were discussed. Dr. Candee also read one on "Echinacea Angustifolia," which was discussed by Dr. Charles Albertson, of Oswego, and others.

The afternoon's programme was carried out as follows:

Bureau of Surgery, W. Louis Hartman, chairman. "Stricture," F. F.Williams; "Economy in Surgery," Shirley R. Snow; discussion opened by L. A. Martin; "Fracture and Dislocation of Hip, with Differential Diagnosis," W. H. Leonard; discussion opened by W. H. Sweeting; "Bone Repair," De Witt G. Wilcox; discussion opened by E. G. Cox; "Pathology of Scirrhus of the Breast," E. G. Ogden; discussion opened by Charles A. Gwynn; "An Unusual Case of Abdominal Hemorrhage," W. B. Van Lennep, of Philadelphia; discussion opened by George T. Moseley; "Ectopic Pregnancy with Clinical Case," George F. Shears, of Chicago; discussion opened by L. L. Danforth; "Fibromata," Nathaniel Emerson, of Boston; discussion opened by De Witt G. Wilcox; "Varicocele," Bukk G. Carleton; discussion opened by N. M. Collins.

Bureau of Neurology, Clara Barrus, chairman: "Nervous Dyspepsia," W. M. Butler, discussion opened by E. E. Snyder; "Neurasthenia," C. Spencer Kinney; discussion opened by J. Willis Candee; "Atrophic Spinal Paralysis," P. Wyckoff Neefus; discussion opened by G. F. Laidlaw; "A Contribution to the Study of the Morphine Habit," Louis D. Hyde; discussion opened by Sue A. White; "Climacteric Insanity," Amos J. Givens; discussion opened by A. Hrdlicka; "Art and Literature in the Mentally Abnormal," Alex. Hrdlicka; discussion opened by W. M. Butler.

Bureau of Clinical Medicine and Pathology, Bukk G. Carleton, chairman. "A Case of Aneurism of the Abdominal Aorta, with Specimen," William Smith Garnesey; discussion opened by E. D. Klots; "A Case of Rapid Pigmentation," T. S. Turner; discussion opened by G. F. Laidlaw; "Cause of Death in Diarrhoea of Children," Edwin G. Ogden; discussion opened by J. W. Sheldon; "Diseases of the Aged," Myra A. Gillette; discussion opened by A. R. Wright; "Tonsilitis," Walter Sands Mills; discussion opened by G. G. Shelton.

EVENING SESSION.

Bureau of obstetrics, F. W. Hamlin, chairman. "A Case of Congenital Atresia Ani, and a Case of Cholelithiasis Complicating Labor," Louise Z. Buchholz.

Bureau of pediatrics-"The Present Status of Artificial Feeding of Infants," F. A. Faust.

The Syracuse Homœopathists gave a banquet to their guests, the members of the New York State Homoeopathic Society, at the Yates. There were 150 physicians present, a few of them accompanied by their wives. Tables seating eight each filled the big dining room, and at each one was a Syracuse physician as host. Outside the profession were these Syracusans: Rev. Herbert C. Coddington, Milton H. Northrup, District-Attorney Jay B. Kline, H. G. Stone, Superintendent A. Burr Blodgett. Among the Syracuse physicians present were: E. E. Keeler, Jay W. Sheldon, J. Willis Candee, W. L. Hartman, E. O. Kinne, A. B. Kinne, H. A. Church, W. C. Dubois, B. W. Sherwood, E. H. Flint, Addie B. Dake, G. W. Hoyt.

E. E. Keeler, president of the Onondaga County, at 11:30 introduced the toastmaster, E. O. Kinne. In his opening address Dr. Keeler gave a brief sketch of the Onondaga Society, mentioning especially the homoeopathic hospital. Before that hospital was started the Homœopathathists' reception at the hospitals of the city "would make a Klondike winter seem tropical," but since it has been established all hospitals have been profuse in their welcome. Dr. Keeler remarked that it is ten years since this society met in Syracuse, at the Leland Hotel. Then Dr. Kinne was introduced as the "orator of the Onondaga County Medical Society." Of the six on the toast list Dr. W. B. Van Lennep and Dr. Št. Clair Smith, of New York, were absent, leaving town in the afternoon. This toast list was given, the first four on the programme prepared, the others impromptu :

The Panacea-One that is able to undo the company of surgeons and college of physicians by making all diseases fly the country. Dr. Nathaniel Emerson, of Boston.

"All diseases have not fled the country," said Dr. Emerson. “Our recent experience does not help out this idea. The Secretary of War and the Surgeon General do not find that diseases easily preventable have been put out of existence altogether. In spite of this, it is undoubtedly true that disease is growing less. Statistics show it. Some say that we are not advancing in medicine, but only finding new names for old things, but this we know is not so.

Calculi-His ready wit like his trenchant blade doth wound us sorely, but wounds us to our benefit.-Dr. G. F. Shears, of the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago.

I am

"Your society is, I believe, the only one in which sessions are held twice a year," said Dr. Shears. "It must be a pretty good society that can hold sessions so often as that and get out such an attendance as this, and such papers as I have heard to-day. away from home, and can't say much of you, so I will speak of Chicago. We have in Chicago 4.000 practitioners, 22 medical colleges, of which five are homoeopathic, with 740 teachers. Chicago can claim the title of the medical centre of the United States.

The Os-sian serenade-Sir, I have a bone to pick with you.— Dr. D. W. G. Wilcox, of Buffalo.

Dr. Wilcox made a few remarks about bones, jawbones, trom

bones, Bonaparte. Taking the theme that was given him as a text, he addressed his "dearly beloved" in a long series of puns and biblical suggestions, which were so to the point and interpolated with such good things that made his little speech the best received of those of the evening.

Gastronomics-This gentleman is happily arrived, my mind presumes for his own good and ours.-Martin Deschere, of New York. Dr. Deschere filled up his time with good stories.

Our guests-Not that we think us worthy such a guest, but that your worth will dignify our feast.-M. H. Northrup, of Syracuse. "You who come here," said Mr. Northrup, "are welcome guests. We are glad to have you come. Had the army been placed in the hands of such men as Van Lennep, Shears, Wilcox and Smith instead of those who were in charge there would not have been the scandals we have had. The disciples of Hahnemann in Syracuse are worthy their fellows in any other city in the land. Their newest monument, the new Homoeopathic Hospital, although young, will bear comparison with the best. We are glad to have you gentlemen. Ours is a beautiful city, even though you rough ride over our dyspepsia expelling streets."

Rev. H. G. Coddington was called upon. He defined the homoopathic physician as he who knows all the allopathic physician knows and a good deal more. Mr. Coddington paid an eloquent tribute to the physician of whatever school who goes on his errand of mercy for the good of humanity, without any consideration of compensation. Mr. Coddington was warmly applauded.

Superintendent A. B. Blodgett, of this city; Dr. Charles E. Jones, of Albany; Dr. Munsey, of Brooklyn, and Jay B. Kline, of this city, also spoke.

Knapps' orchestra furnished music.

FRIDAY MORNING.

President A. B. Norton, of New York, called the morning's session to order promptly at ten o'clock, with a slightly diminished attendance. The Bureau of Laryngology and Rhinology was immediately opened by Dr. "Fred" D. Lewis, of Buffalo. The first paper was read by Dr. George D. Haywood, of Rochester, his subject being: "Hypertrophy of the Lingual Tonsil." The discussion following was opened by Dr. E. E. Keeler, of this city. As Dr. Keeler said, Dr. Haywood's paper was a "careful resumé of nearly every practical point regarding the different peculiar affections of the lingual tonsil." Dr. Keeler said that the growth, unless unduly enlarged, does not interfere with the ordinary use of the voice, unless the person uses his voice in a professional way.

"Spurs of the Nasal Septum" was the subject of a paper read by Dr. H. W. Hoyt. Dr. Hoyt remarked that he "hoped the salt air and his efforts to sing the Star-Spangled Banner last night" would not prevent him from speaking loud enough to be heard. Dr. W. E. Deuel, of Chittenango, not being present, the discussion was general.