THE NORTHWESTERN OHIO HOMEO

PATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this active organization was held Dec. 9th, 1902, in the assembly room of the Boody House, Toledo, President E. M. Goodwin in the chair. About seventy-five members and guests were in attendance, among them being many from neighboring cities. All were royally entertained by the local members, whose committe on arrangements, Drs. L. K. Maxwell, W. A. Humphrey and J. H. McVay, are deserving of the highest praise. President Goodwin's opening address was well received and its sentiments heartily applauded.

The first paper, by Dr. A. T. Barnum, treated of Blood Analysis, and was a masterly exposition of this interesting subject.

A paper on "Dipsomania" was read by Dr. T. G. Barnhill, of Findlay, Ohio. He said in part: "Dipsomania is a diseased condition of the constitution of man caused by excessive alcoholic drinks and other deleterious substances. When we look at the American nation and see her people with all the finer qualities of the physical and spiritual man blunted through some form of dyscrasia, such as the drinking of whiskey and beer, the use of opium in some of its various forms and smoking of cigarettes we are appalled. I ask each of my hearers to stop and think how many of their friends they can count who are free and clean from some one of these habits. I feel it is difficult for the innocent young man to grow up here in this land of the free into moral and mental goodness, when I see teachers and those who govern society and operate civic government smoking cigarettes and developing some of the various forms of dipsomania. It is in observing such things that I realize that there are two paths across the worldthe path of right and the path of wrong; the path of right fitting a man for a philosopher, and the path of wrong fitting him for a fool. Dipsomania caused by the cup, opiates in the different forms, and the cigarette habit is more destructive than cannon and musket combined. The thousands and millions who died at the command of Xerxes or Cæsar, or at the bidding of Napoleon, or in the late Civil War, died that we might have freedom and equal rights and universal brotherhood for all time. But these deaths are as nothing as compared with the innocent lives destroyed from some form of dipsomania, especially the cigarette.

"Make a study of the cigarette fiend and you will find that he is a man of mature years with this habit strongly within him. He will be sallow, his nerves shattered, brain abnormal and inactive, and sooner or later a creeping paralysis of the muscles will follow, and he dies bereft of reason and intellect. What is the cause of all this degeneration? Doctors often cause a morphine habit, even our own school. Many a socalled homeopath resorts to the hypodermic needle for every little ache or pain his patient may have, instead of studying the materia medica and physiology in order that he may know the exact disturbance and deviation from normal health, and thus find and know the right remedy. One cause of the growth of the cigarette habit is that manufacturers make the cigarettes out of castaway chews, cigar stubs, and sometimes corn-silk, into which is incorporated such deadly drugs as opium, cocaine and mixtures of Belladonna and Hyoscyamus. The vapors of these drugs are inhaled into the lungs, and soon the drug habit is fixed upon the individual.

"What can be done for the dipsomaniacs of the country? Lock up the periodical drinker and treat him homeopathically. The legislature should pass a law compelling the habitual drunkard and morphine and cigarette fiends to be confined in some institution, such as an asylum for the insane, where they could be treated with gentleness, and if they are not too far gone, in seven years they may grow out of their diseased conditions and become useful citizens. Why cannot this Society be the means of creating a law preventing the sale and manufacture of cigarettes?

Among the best remedies adapted for the relief and cure of dipsomania are Baptisia, Belladonna, Nux Vomica, Strychnia, Avena sativa, Plantago and Eupatorium, and the best results are obtained by giving them hypodermically.”

Dr. Parmelee opened the discussion and said that he wished to enter a protest against the ideas set forth in the paper. In his experience of thirty years he had seen a great many degenerates-both boys and girls-and never in a single instance was their degeneracy due to the smoking of cigarettes. The mistake made by the reader of the paper was that of putting the cart before the horse. "Boys will become degenerates, their nervous systems shattered from habits other than the smoking of cigarettes.

They will not commence to smoke cigarettes until they are fifteen or sixteen years old, and long before that age they will be fiends almost from masturbation. When a case is reported as that of a cigarette fiend, the cause of the wrong action is attributed to cigarette smoking, all the other factors in the case being overlooked. Every cigarette fiend that I have known has shown a history of other causes which have been etiological factors in his condition. If we are to pass a resolution, then let us make the point strongly that it is something else before and prior to the smoking of cigarettes that has ruined the patient, and if the history of these cases were examined carefully it would be found that in almost every case masturbation is the primary cause leading to degeneracy and insanity. A great many boys and men smoke cigarettes and never have a particle of harm result from it."

Dr. Butman.-"I wish to say a few words in favor of Dr. Barnhill's paper. I have examined many boys in the schools, and I have found that many of the cases of degeneracy among them are due to the use of cigarettes and tobacco."

Dr. A. B. Schneider presented a paper on "Small Pox." He said in part:

"The popular belief that the infection of smallpox is more virulent in cold weather is fallacious, and the greater prevalence of the disease then is doubtless due to greater crowding and diminished ventilation and bathing.

"The contagion is resident in the exhalations and the skin, and there is not much danger of infection previous to vesiculation. Infection in the early stages probably occurs through the medium of the exhalations. After desquamation begins it is doubtless conveyed by the thinute crust particles, and these may be carried hundreds of yards by the air-currents."

A careful resume was given of the symptomatology and differential diagnosis, particularly as exemplified in the manifestations of the present epidemic.

Under the head of prognosis it was stated that of the twenty-six cases of true black or purpuric smallpox occurring in Cleveland during the present epidemic every one proved fatal. Also that many cases of varioloid proved abortive during the vesicular and some even in the papular stage, and that there were apparently well authenticated cases of infection in protected individuals which did not develop beyond the pre-ruptive stage.

The speaker cited figures showing that there were in Cleveland during the first eleven months of 1902, cases of smallpox as follows :

"Effective measures for the control of smallpox epidemics are, in the order of their importance, vaccination, quarantine and disinfection. Quarantine should be rigidly enforced and extended safely beyond the incubation period of the disease.

Formaldehyde is the most effective agent in disinfection, and in the hands of trained operators, with properly constructed generators is productive of excellent results.

Adjuvant treatment is directed toward the control of high temperature, conservation of the patient's strength and neutralization of the contagion. The first and third purposes are well served by 1-1000 bichloride of mercury baths. Alkaline sprays are useful for the nose and throat and boric acid solution for the eyes. Baths in normal salt solution are employed to assist desquamation. Before the patient is discharged from quarantine he should be thoroughly scrubbed, with a brush, in 1-5000 bichloride of mercury solution and all subcuticular pocks evacuated.

Scarring apparently depends upon the severity of the suppurative process, and red light, face masks, drainage of pocks, ointments and pastes seem to have little influence.

Homeopathic medication, if exhibited as indicated from the beginning of the disease, undoubtedly mitigates the process in all its stages. The remedies most often useful are Aconite, Belladonna, Tartar emetic, Rhus Tox, Sulphur, Hepar Sulphur, Mercurius and Arsenicum. Variolinum and Melandrinum are credited with good results by some. Any one of a large number of our well-known remedies would doubtless find its similimum in one of the varied expressions of this dread disease."

"Vaccination.”—This paper was read by Dr. Henry E. Beebe, Sidney, Ohio, and was an exhaustive presentation of the facts which show the efficacy of vaccination. He said that by reason of the mild type of smallpox prevalent in this country many will not submit to vaccination, fearing the results of vaccination more

than the disease itself. The mild character of the present epidemic offers three-fold difficulties to health officers-first, that due to delay in diagnosis; second, the difficulty in carrying out thorough isolation, and third, opposition to the practice of vaccination. The latter is the most troublesome feature of the three. Experience in epidemics has always shown that infectious diseases cannot long continue without assuming their characteristic virulence. There are accidents, abuses, and mistakes made in the practice of vaccination, and these go far in influencing the laity against the practice. The anti-vaccinationist claims that sanitation, disinfection and quarantine are essential substitutes for vaccination, but these methods have not reduced the mortality rates of other infectious diseases. Mortality from them has increased, while that from smallpox has markedly decreased. One of the greatest mistakes made by the laity is in considering vaccination a trifling procedure, and often some of the profession so consider it. It is a delicate, important surgical operation and should be performed with the utmost care and caution in every particular. One of the first considerations of safety is the quality of the virus itself. The lymph is not always the same, and on account of this fact some advocate the return to the humanized virus, believing it to be safer. I am ready to return to this former method, believing that with due care great danger is averted. If the same precautions are taken in securing humanized virus as are taken in securing the virus now used no danger would result. In Mexico humanized virus is used altogether and there is not an example in Mexico of physicians who have been vaccinated in infancy who have contracted the disease.

The discussion was opened by Dr. Spafford. He said, "Dr. Beebe takes the only ground that I could possibly take on the subject. Vaccination has done more to relieve the sorrows of the people than any other discovery or combination of discoveries that have ever been introduced into the practice of medicine. In England prior to vaccination the death rate from smallpox alone was 13,000 to every million, which in proportion to the population of the present day would amount to 100,000 deaths a year. Most of the odium that is experienced with the practice is due to the cases which are followed by evil results. The laity never think of blaming the doctor or the propagator of the virus. In my experience, covering hundreds of vaccinations, I have never had bad results, and the reason for this is, I think, that I consider and treat vaccination as a surgical procedure. Not only should

every precaution be taken to secure surgical cleanliness in the operation, but we should see to it that the vaccine used is prepared by persons whom we know to be careful. One of the sources of infection of vaccination is the failure to apply a dressing which will remain in place, and I have a little scheme which I employ which I think of more efficacious than the shield. I use plain sterilized gauze applied directly to the vaccination wound and held in place with adhesive plaster.

Dr. P. M. Johnson, Wauseon.-We are taught to use an absolutely pure virus of some reputable manufacture, but the question which has arisen in my mind is how is one to know which virus is pure. The Ohio State Bulletin after reviewing the Cleveland situation, stated that a committee was appointed to investigate the various forms of virus on the market and decide which fulfilled the requirements as to purity. This committee reported that the vaccine of two manufactures was found satisfactory, but for trade reasons did not give the names. I would like to ask Dr. Schneider what the names of these firms were.

Dr. Schneider. I can see no reason for not stating the brands of virus used in Cleveland. Some 300,000 points were given out and presumably as many vaccinations made. Stearns' vaccine was first employed and chiefly employed, but at times when Stearns' was not to be had Mulford's was substituted. There were only two brands furnished by the Board of Health of our city. It is possible that in the later stage of the vaccination crusade Parke-Davis & Co. furnished some virus, but of this I have no direct knowledge.

Dr. C. A. Mills:-We have just passed through a rather severe epidemic-59 cases and 8 deaths at Norwalk, Ohio, a city of 7,000 inhabitants. We had a peculiarly fertile soil for smallpox from the fact that one of the old and most successful practitioners in the city had for years taught his patients that vaccination was not only harmful, but useless, and as a result of that teaching a large number of the population had neglected vaccination. Immediately upon the breaking out of smallpox the large factories of the city and some of the stores made it compulsory that their employes be vaccinated. This was followed by an action of the Council ordering compulsory vaccination and re-vaccination. As a result of this over 6,000 persons were vaccinated and the result was that there was only one outbreak of smallpox. From the time of the first case to the beginning of the last one seventeen days existed, which is a remarkable evidence of the protective power of vaccination. There were only two cases

of the disease which occurred in persons who had been previously vaccinated and these had the disease in a mild form. Although the whole community was filled with anti-vaccinationists at the beginning of the epidemic I doubt if you can find a person in Norwalk to-day who does not believe thoroughly in it. There were as many as thirty people acting as nurses in attendance upon smallpox patients who were vaccinated immediately and not one of them contracted the disease.

Dr. Beebe. A year ago we had an epidemic of thirty-five cases in Sidney. My assistant treated all of them and there was but one among the thirty-five who had been vaccinated, but no mark of successful vaccination was found upon him.

Dr. Parmelee.-Dr. Beebe has given a complete resume of the entire subject of vaccination and I am surprised that one of his statements has not already been challenged. He said that he was ready to return to humanized virus. Just think of it, humanized virus! Those of you who have lived and vaccinated only in the times of pure aseptic virus cannot imagine the bad sores, ruined constitutions and deaths that occurred in the days of humanized virus. How does the Doctor propose to do it? He certainly does not propose to practice it in the way we used to do it. If he proposes that manufacturers shall shut up healthy little children in their laboratories and draw virus from them, God help the little children. Such an expression coming from a person of the Doctor's intelligence caused a wave of horror to pass across my soul, because I have seen so many of the evil results of humanized virus.

Dr. Wilson.-I think I began vaccinating about the time of Dr. Parmelee. We used humanized virus and while we had some very bad arms, and no doubt an occasional death, yet with all of our dirty surgery our arms were not as sore as they are to-day from cow-pox virus. I have always found that the humanized virus gave a more lasting protection against smallpox and that if the same care was taken in the operation of vaccination as is now followed, that the former bad results would be avoided. I am a thorough believer in re-vaccination, and I believe that every non-vaccinated person should be vaccinated until it takes and I also believe that a person once vaccinated should be re-vaccinated until it does take. I had one young man who was vaccinated four times in succession, the vaccination taking every time. The fifth time it did not take. If we would re-vaccinate more than we do we would not have the trouble we have in checking smallpox.

Dr. E. M. Goodwin.-My experience in the use of humanized virus has been more satisfactory than with the modern vaccine. Some years ago when we began to use points I kept a record of those whom I had vaccinated. Re-vaccinations in persons who had been vaccinated with humanized virus did not respond to vaccination as those who had not.

"What is the Matter with Hannah?"-Dr. S. A. Jones, Ann Arbor.

The author of this paper said that the Hannah to whom he referred spells her name with an aspirate at both ends and that he did not mean the illustrious, self-sacrificing, single-minded patriot-Mark Hanna. He would not attempt to diagnosticate his case, but he would like to shake hands with one who does so much for the enlightenment of his fellowmen. The Hannah whose case he would attempt to diagnosticate was a more perplexing composite than even the distinguished statesman who did not settle the coal strike.

"I recognize—as far as my limited powers will allow, the difficulties attending such a diagnosis as I am rash enough to attempt to make. The early American converts to homeopathy were graduates of the older school, and scholars whose knowledge won for them positions of honor in their colleges and their skill secured for them the patronage of the best people in the land. The reproach that we have so often heard of their being ignorant, of their not having a medical education is not based upon fact, because they were recognized as the peers of their colleagues in all that pertained to the making of a physician. They were truly homeopathic physicians. Snch were the founders of the American Institute of Homeopathy, which they founded for the promulgation and the advancement of homeopathic medicine. Not even those who framed the constitution of the United States were more firmly convinced in their convictions, more steadfast in their zeal, more solemnly devoted to their high purpose. It is not for me to say whether these words belong to the American Institute of Homeopathy in the year of our Lord 1902. To-day the politician infests that body and the American Institute of Homeopathy presents a striking resemblance to the American political machine. Now a high potency machine demands utter scrupulousness with regard to materials. A political machine cannot make a dignitary from "any old thing," and the Institute has not lagged behind the political machine in its methods. It has kept pace with the spirit of the age.

Notwithstanding all this, Hannah is in a bad

way. It is whispered among some of her friends that she is in a critical condition. May be it is her appendix, for really the Institute has some queer appendages. May be it is simply a change in her diathesis. If a change in her diathesis, is it for the better? This change of diathesis involves some curious consequences.

The late President of the American Institute waxed into homeopathic eloquence as he recounted the reasons why Hannah should not form an alliance with the dominant school. Did the founders of the American Institute need any assurance that such an alliance was iniquitous? Do the latter day members of the Institute need any assurance that such an alliance is iniquitous? Have they forgotten the loins from whence Hannah sprang? Is "a homeopathic physician one who adds to his knowledge of medicine a special knowledge homeopathic therapeutics?"

It would appear then that, besides a changed diathesis, Hannah is having illicit intercourse. Is Hannah a degenerate? One characteristic of the degenerate is an obliteration of the divine faculty which designates between right and wrong, which distinguishes between true and false. Hannah shows these characteristics to a disheartening degree. Look into our text-books. Look into our libraries. Look into our colleges. Look into what is written but not published. Our own medical journals to a large extent are taken up by the whole page and half-page advertisements of those who do not add to their knowledge of medicine a special knowledge of homeopathic therapeutics. Do you deny that Hannah presents these symptoms?

I distinctly and solemnly ask -What are Hannah's chances? I do not propose to make a prognosis, but my concern for Hannah's recovery is such that I make bold to offer suggestions as to treatment. Homeopathic physicians, see to it that you learn what is your inheritance. See to it that you add to a knowledge of medicine a special knowledge of homeopathic therapeutics. Then, knowing at least some of the true meaning of homeopathy you will not see it obscured by unthinkable hypotheses. It is your bounden duty by tradition, by inheritance, by right to toil faithfully and ceaselessly in the boundless domain of homeopathic therapeutics. You are not to be wheedled by the blandishments of those foreign maidens who are so prone to spurious pregnancies that the pathway is lined with false conceptions and premature deliveries. It is the duty of every homeopath to sustain his medical colleges. You can never teach materia medica until you have at least proved one remedy upon your own person. You should let every

operation be a frank acknowledgment of your therapeutic imbecility. If you will do this, in the confirmed opinion of at least one old homeopath, you will be in better repute.

"Suggestions and Plans for the Cure and Treatment of Crippled and Deformed Children." -Dr. C. E. Sawyer, Marion, O. This paper is published in full in this number.

Dr. Wood opened the discussion. He called attention to the fact that Dr. Sawyer has for years given this subject special attention and that there was probably no one in the State who is more capable of bringing the suggestions made therein to a successful issue then he. Calling attention to the urgent need of such an institution as outlined by the author he said, "We all know what can be done with internal medicine. This point has been emphasized over and over again in this meeting and yet at the same time we know that there are cases which demand more than medicine and can only be helped by manual and operative aid. We as homeopaths are not modest in telling what we have done in curing disease by internal medication, and we should also not lose sight of the fact that surgery is a part of our practice and that it is surgery which has largely given us the standing before the eyes of the public. Without doing what we have done in a surgical way we never could have succeeded in reaching the point of recognition that we have to-day. Therefore it seems to me that as a homeopathic school we should take the initiative in this matter. While it is true that the State has not organized any such institutions as suggested in this paper, we have, of course, smaller institutions in cities. We have one in Cleveland which is doing a great deal of good in a small way, but it is entirely impossible for this little institution to take care of anything like the number of crippled children in the city of Cleveland, and therefore it seems to me that it would be entirely proper for this Society to take the initiative in this matter. I would suggest that a committee be appointed by this Society to present the matter to the State Society, and through the State Society to the Legislature. There is no question but that a lot of good could be done by taking such a course. I would suggest that some one who is a member of this Society make such a motion."

A committee consisting of Drs. C. E. Sawyer, H. E. Beebe and L. K. Maxwell was appointed to carry out the ideas suggested.

"Remedies in Temperaments and Diatheses." -W. A. Dewey, M. D., Ann Arbor, Mich. Dr. Dewey said in part:

There is no more interesting and necessary