Societies

SIXTY-SECOND SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HOMEOPATHIC

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF EASTERN OHIO.

Promptly at ten o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, October 19th, 1904, President H. W. Carter, of Cuyahoga Falls, called the Society to work. As is customary with this Society, the fall meeting is devoted entirely to scientific papers, there being no business transacted, and the officers holding over until the following spring meeting. The president, however, in consideration of the importance of the subject, called for a report from the committee on re-organization. This committee was appointed for the purpose of taking into consideration the organization into societies of the homeopathic physicians throughout the State. It is the intention of the committee where they find even a small number of physicians in a locality to make an effort to organize them into a club, society, or similar body, feeling that in this way the interests of homeopathy can be best advanced and the strength of the school increased. The secretary reported that the committee were at work and some correspondence had been had which would in the future bring about definite results. The situation was discussed in a vigorous manner by Dr. Biggar, Dr. Baxter, Dr. Brooks, Dr. Palmer, Dr. Catlin, and others. Considerable interest was evinced in the situation and it was felt by all that active measures should be instituted. Upon motion, the treasurer was ordered to purchase two hundred and fifty copies of the Medical Century prize essays on "Why Students of Medicine Should Select the Homeopathic School," these to be distributed where they would do the most good.

On motion also, Dr. Newman T. B. Nobles, of Cleveland, was appointed a member of the committee on re-organization, vice Dr. Eggleston, whose health was reported not to be good.

The report of the treasurer showed that the society technically had in its treasury $43.34, but as this was deposited in the Akron Savings Bank, and the Akron Savings Bank had failed, the actual assets were reduced to $20.45.

"Potentized Remedies Illustrated by Facts," was the title of the paper read by Dr. W. H. Kirkland, of Massillon, which paper we present in this number of the REPORTER.

Dr. W. B. Hinsdale, of Ann Arbor, Mich., presented a paper on "Dilatation of the Stomach." This was discussed by Dr. Nobles and others. This paper also appears in this number.

The Society at this point adjourned to the Clinical amphitheatre for the clinic to be held by Prof. James C. Wood.

Prof. Wood presented for operation a colored woman, aet. 42, who had a multiple myofibroma of the uterus weighing eight or ten pounds. He did not presume upon the intelligence of his audience by going into an extensive discussion of the etiology, pathology and symptoms of uterine myofibroma. He remarked that the one suspicious symptom of malignancy which characterized the case was marked and somewhat rapid emaciation. Dr. Wood emphasized the fact that whenever he met with a case of uterine fibroid characterized by striking emaciation, it always made him suspicious of malignancy. An exploratory incision, however, in this case revealed no evidences of malignancy and the tumor was quickly and almost bloodlessly removed. Dr. Wood's technique was simple in the extreme. The ligaments were caught in small catch forceps and beginning with the left side, the broad ligaments were separated down to the uterine artery. This artery was then caught in a forceps, the bladder was then separated from the uterus and the cervix cut across from left to right. The right uterine artery was next caught in forceps, as well as the ovarian artery, after which section was made on this side from below upwards. All bleeding points were then secured by catgut and all raw surfaces nicely covered with peritoneum. The abdomen was then closed with separate layers of catgut, silkwormgut tension sutures and the operator's new suture for approximating the skin. This consists simply of a continuous mattress suture passed one-eighth of an inch from the skin border in such a way as to approximate at least one-eighth of an inch of a raw surface instead of an edge to edge approximation; the object being to prevent the spreading of the skin, which so often takes place when a subcuticular stitch is used, especially in long wounds.

The entire operation, the details of each step of which were explained as the operator proceeded with his work, required less than thirty minutes for its performance.

The Surgical Clinic by Prof. Wm. T. Miller was composed of the following cases:

Case I.-Carcinoma of breast. The patient, a woman of about sixty years of age, was a large and extremely fleshy person. She presented for examination a tumor of the left breast, of considerable size, centrally located, very tender and painful, and of rapid growth. There was characteristic retraction of the nipple and some discoloration of the skin surface.

On account of the large amount of adipose tissue, demonstration, previous to the operation, of enlarged glands in the axillary region was not very satisfactory, but after incision a large number of such glands were found, buried deep in the muscular and adipose tissue.

The operation consisted in the removal of the entire breast and as careful a dissection of all enlarged glands as was possible under the circumstances, large deposites of fat making such operations very difficult.

Nitrous oxide was used to put the patient to sleep, ether being substituted for it at the commencement of the operation.

By means of the Nitrous oxide, the patient was quickly and quietly brought under the influence of the anesthetic and the time of the operation shortened by at least ten minutes.

Case II.-Amputation of the foot for the relief of deformity caused by a fracture of the ankle.

The ankle was fractured some time ago and the foot could not be used on account of the deformity, which caused great pain when the patient tried to walk.

Necrosis of the bone was also present, extending above the ankleand necessitating curettement.

The anesthetic used was Nitrous oxide.

Contractions of the foot.

took place during the operation, but these were involuntary, and not. due to sensibility of the parts, as the patient was not conscious of suffering.

Case III.-Cauterization of the knee.

This patient had suffered from the effects of a sprain of the knee for a long time. Nothing relieved it and no external manifestation could be found to account for pain which was just below the joint. The actual cautery was used for its relief, applying it directly to the periosteum.

Dr. Carter, in presenting the next number on the program, which was the president's address, explained that all through the summer he had been ill and had made up his mind that it would not be possible for him to preside at this meeting of the Society. In order that the Society might have an address by the presiding officer, he had notified Dr. G. J. Damon, of Medina, vice-president, of the situation and askeď him to prepare an address, to be presented to the members of the Society. Dr. Damon had done so, but found himself, owing to his own. illness, unable to be present. In the meantime President Carter had so far recovered that he determined to come, although he had no address written for the occasion. He would, however, ask the secretaryto read Dr. Damon's address, which we present in this number of the REPORTER.

In an interesting way President Carter detailed some facts concerning the Society and its history, which were received with much attention by his audience. He recalled the fact that he had already

written for the Society one presidential address, which was delivered in 1874, just thirty years ago. He noted also that the present Society was the result of the union of two others. On the first day of August, 1866, the homeopathic physicians of the Seventeenth Congressional District of Ohio organized what was then known as the Homeopathic Medical Society of that district, so far as we are able to collect information. There were present at this meeting: Drs. R. B. Rush, J. G. Heaton, S. C. Shane, G. Pearson, R. R. Bourn, H. L. Sook, T. J. McCreary, and Nelson. To this, at later dates were added Drs. O. A. Hunter, S. G. Curtis, J. M. Nippert, R. B. Johnson and E. T. Goucher. This Society met once in six months and pursued a very successful course, though its membership was small. Five years after this, that is, in June, 1871, another society, the Homeopathic Medical Association of Summit and Portage Counties, was formed at the office of Dr. H. W. Carter, of Cuyahoga Falls. Dr. O. D. Childs was elected president, Dr. A. B. Clark vice-president, Dr. H. W. Carter secretary and treasurer, and Drs. R. B. Johnson and W. W. Clapp censors. For seven years, or until April 2nd, 1878, this society continued to meet every three months and had very successful sessions. On this last mentioned date the two societies were merged into one, under the name of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Eastern Ohio. The first officers of the Society were: President, Dr. R. B. Johnson, Ravenna; vice-president, Dr. S. C. Shane, Steubenville; secreary and treasurer, Dr. E. T. Goucher, Alliance. From that time until this the Society has been holding two meetings regularly each year.

President Carter then called upon the Board of Censors, who reported the names of Drs. L. G. Griste. Twinsburg, Julia E. Hoover, C. S. Cutter and R. W. Reynolds, Cleveland, A. W. Andersen, Lakewood, and D. H. Patterson, of Collinwood, as applicants for membership. On motion, the applicants were elected to membership.

Dr. A. L. Waltz read a paper entitled "The Materia Medica of Convulsions," which was discussed by Drs. D. H. Beckwith, Lyon and Kirkland. It is published in this number of the REPORTER.

The next paper was by Dr. E. O. Adams, on "Motor Insufficiency of the Stomach." This was discussed by Drs. Jones, Spencer and Nobles, and may be found in the present number of the REPORTER.

The paper of Dr. J. T. Carter, on "A Case of Extremely Low Temperature," was read by title. We take pleasure in presenting it to our readers and bespeak for it a very careful perusal. It is the record of a very remarkable case-fully authenticated-having been under the observation not only of the author of the paper, but of Dr. G. J. Jones, who was called in consultation.

Dr. M. M. Catlin's paper, "Baptisea and Bryonia Compared in Typhoid Fever," was also read by title.

This closed the program for the day. The only criticism we have to offer is the lack of discussions. Otherwise the day was full of profit. Some two hundred were in attendance at various times during the sessions. The visitors took great interest in the College building and in the laboratories, which were open for inspection. In the Physiological laboratory Prof. Spencer and his assistant, Mr. Burritt, were kept busy explaining the apparatus and the methods used in teaching. In the Histological, Pathological and Bacteriological laboratories Prof. Thurston and his assistant, Mr. Schnabel, had a number of specimens mounted and under the microscopes. Prof. George W. Jones and his assistants were in the Anatomical laboratories, while the Chemical laboratory showed careful preparations for teaching.

The Cleveland Homeopathic Medical Society, under the leadership of President H. H. Baxter, were the hosts of the occasion and entertained their guests at luncheon at Hotel Euclid.

It was late in the day when final adjournment was made, votes of thanks having been made with a heartiness which showed great appreciation on the part of all.

The next meeting of the Society occurs in May at Akron.

Books of the
of the Month

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE ROENTGEN RAYS IN THERAPEUTICS AND DIAGNOSIS. By William Allen Pusey, A. M., M. D., Professor of Dermatology in the University of Illinois; and Eugene W. Caldwell, B. S., Director of the Edward N. Gibbs Memorial X-Ray Laboratory of the University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Second Edition, thoroughly revised, and enlarged. Handsome octavo volume of 690 pages, with 195 illustrations, including four colored plates. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders & Co.. 1904. Cloth, $5.00 net; Sheep or Half Morocco, $6.00 net.

It is rather remarkable that a second edition of Pusey's work should be demanded within a year, although as we have once before said, the march of progress of electro-therapeutics is so rapid that the man who depends for his work to-day upon his knowledge of yesterday is not in the running. A practical feature of this particular work is that nearly all the illustrations-and there are many of them-represent actual clinical cases, which show the actual results from the treat