D. M. GIBSON, M. D. EDITORIAL COMMITTEE J. H. MCCAUGHAN, M.D. GIVE US A LITTLE TIME. In this age of the world we do things- do them in a hurry and then sometimes we wonder just why we did them and wonder again if it were not quite as well we had considered more and acted a little less hastily, a little of this thinking may be done in the matter of the ever present and likely to be discovered disease-appendicitis. We have learned from the books and taken the matter for granted it is the right thing to operate on a case of appendicitis as soon as the diagnosis is made, we need not wait, need not consider if adhesions have formed, if an abscess is present, if the patient is showing any signs of his body caring for the internal disease, need not consider if the unfortunate man has the vitality and strength needed for the resisting of the shock; we need not stop to ascertain if the kidneys are in a reasonably good shape, if the stomach is overloaded with food, or we need not even think it is not necessary to reckon on the age as a factor in the determination as to whether we will wait for a little season, or apply the knife at once. If the appendix is involved, we are to operate, and operate at once, (especially if the patient is rich,) the case then is all the more urgent. The pesky thing must come out, else the patient has no chance at all and in any case his chances for a good recovery (or a quick death) will be increased an hundred fold if he has an appendectom, and say, did it ever strike you how remarkably well the surgeon can tell about these things after the case is ended-how the operation was done just a few minutes before the abscess was ready to rupture, when he operated; Indeed it sometimes puts off the decisive moment to wait for the surgeon's convenience, being goodnatured enough not to rupture until he has opened the belly wall so it can escape. And then how great the operator's judgment in the fatal case, "I was called just one hour or six hours too late, and could do nothing." If you knew this, why did you go to all the trouble and subject the poor man to the pain of the knife? If you knew it was too late why did you urge the patient, his family and the good old family doctor to consent to and favor an operation? Or did you have all confidence in your own skill and the advice of the books and in the frailty of human knowledge do what to your mind seemed best? Did you have a hobby to operate in appendicitis cases and do you operate on every case you meet (that will let you) and did you advise it in all your cases simply as a routine measure, summing things up after this fashion:? We will operate on him and then leave him in the hands of the Lord." 66 The English surgeon has sounded the note of warning; he has pro claimed that all cases do not need the knife and that in those that do the indications are clear and well defined and that not a few patients die as a result of operation and that in not a few cases allowing time for the formation of adhesions and the localization of the trouble has gone a long way toward promoting recovery. Think of it! A man is taken sick and a physician called; within a few hours he is sent home and is operated upon; no time, no delay, no pausing to consider; in a few days he is dead, his fate at all events could not have been worse if he were let alone, the end had not come quicker had the surgeon left his knife in its case and the disease had not killed more quickly had the sufferer had no doctor at all. In this day and age a good many victims of appendicitis are wiser in their generation than the surgeon's advice and will not submit to the knife and a good many of these live to tell their story later on, some after having repeated attacks; not all cases left to themselves die, not by any means. The operation for appendicitis has saved many lives, it has blotted out a good many and when undertaken should have good indications for its execution and a good man to carry out the work. Medication has a place in the treatment of this disease and should be considered. Nature often will do much and may need only a little help. Give her a chance. The twenty-eighth annual session of the Missouri Institute of Homeopathy will be held in St. Louis April 27th, 28th and 29th. It is the wish of the officers to make this one of the best and most profitable meetings ever held in the history of the Missouri Institute, and invite every friend and exponent of Homeopathy, to co-operate in helping to make it so. Every physician meets with interesting cases and experiences; let these serve as a basis for a good, instructive paper, that should be contributed to the benefit of their fellow practitioners. The subject of the paper should be sent to the bureau chairman or the general secretary as soon as possible. The following are the bureau chairmen: Opthalmology, Otology and Laryngology, F. B. Antrobus, M. D., Jefferson City, Mo. Sanitary Science, S. A. Benson, M. D., St. Louis, Mo. Materia Medica and Homeopathic Philosophy, Wm. McClay Lyon, M. D., Kansas City, Mo. Diagnosis, R. Y. Henry, M. D., St. Louis, Mo. Education and Legislation, W. E. Reily, M. D., Fulton, Mo. Any inquiry in regard to the meeting or accommodation will be cheerfully given by, Yours fraternally, LEWIS P. CRUTCHER, M. D., Pres., G. A. MELLIES, M. D., Gen'l Sec'y, 2839 Cass Ave., St. Louis, Mo. Dr. A. L. Boyce continues to take an active interest in military affairs. Dr. Edward Skinner is doing some post graduate work at the St. Louis University. Pneumonia has been quite prevalent in the city during the present season many of the cases being of a fatal type. Enough cases of small pox have been found in this city to keep the health department busy vaccinating the people. Dr. T. G. Comstock is again lecturing to the Senior and Junior students of the Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri. Born on Friday, January 29, to Dr. and Mrs. O. G. Gibson, a son. The young man and his parents have our congratulations. The Phi Alpha Gamma quarterly contains a few notes from Iota and among these it mentions the marriage of "Bro." E. H. Skinner. Dr. J. E. Buchanan is doing some professional work in Webster Groves, having office hours there, as well as his regular consultation hours in the city. Dr. J. L. Dryden, Dr. W. E. Jones and Dr. A. H. Uhlemeyer are to act as the committee of arrangements for the Commencement exercises at the close of the college year. Members of the Homeopathic profession are giving a good deal of support to the Deaconess and Lutheran hospitals and are accorded the best of treatment at both institutions. The annual report of the St. Louis Children's Hospital shows an increase in the number of cases treated and a remarkable percentage of the cases are reported therein as cured; the death rate is correspondingly low. The scope and magnitude of the work has increased wonderfully in the past ten years. The new directory of Homeopathic physicians for the State of Missouri compiled and published by Dr. W. E. Riley of Fulton is before us. It is well gotten up, well printed and withal the most complete directory of its kind that the state has ever had, if you are not a subscriber send a dollar and get a copy as there are still a few of them for sale. Old errors do not die because they are refuted, but because they are neglected.-Lecky. We read in an exchange that Germany with all its stringent laws and Government supervision of medicine, supports over one hundred thousand Quacks or illegal practicians. The Medical Brief has issued a beautiful little pamphlet containing portraits in lithograph of many of its contributors, among these we see a good many familiar faces and some others we do not know so well. The book is a neat and valuable souvenir, as well a mute but strong testimonial to the enterprise of the management of the Brief. X-RAY PRIZE ESSAYS. Believing that the further development of x-rays is of great importance to surgery and medicine and the human race, and to encourage research and disseminate the knowledge gained, the Illustrated Review of Physiologic Therapeutics offers the sum of fifteen hundred dollars in cash prizes for the best essays on x-rays in medicine and surgery, the first prize being $1,000.00. All surgeons, physicians and hospitals interested in any branch of x-ray work should write. to the Illustrated Review of Physiologic Therapeutics, 19 East 16th St., New York City, for information concerning title, time allowed, conditions, etc. For your information we may say that we give this prize on about the same plan as the recent "Preventive Medicine" prizes. AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMEOPATHY. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. JOHN PRESTON SUTHERLAND, M. D., 295 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE. BOSTON, Feb. 15, 1904. It is time to call the attention of the profession to the annual session of the American Institute of Homeopathy which is to be held at Niagara Falls, New York, June 20th to 25th, next. Already the year 1904 is well advanced. Those having time for retrospection may recall the fact that an exceptionally attractive meeting of the American Institute of Homeopathy was held in Boston, in June, 1903, but when the mind turns to last year's meeting the time itself seems far distant. As a matter of fact over seven months have passed since June 20, 1903, and there remain less than five full months in which to complete preparations for next June's meeting. The date for that meeting was fixed at an unusually large meeting of the Executive Committee, held at Niagara Falls recently. Accommodations for a very full attendance are available. The Local Committee of Arrangements has been organized for months and has its work well in hand. Reports indicative of earnest activity have been received from the chairmen of the various bureaus of the Institute, and from the Presidents of the Sectional Societies. It might seem perhaps on superficial consideration of these pleasant facts that everything necessary had been attended to and there was nothing left to be done, except attend the meeting and participate in an assured success! If so, the object of this circular letter could not be, as it is, twofold: First, this word comes to make the encouraging announcement that a commendable quantity and quality of work has been done by many of those whose immediate responsibilities for the programme of the next meeting are of such a character that the subject is a very vital and ever present one to them, and Second, to earnestly call attention to the necessity for widespread, spontaneous and enthusiastic co-operation in order to ensure for the June meeting of the Institute such success as becomes the dignity and the national importance of the organization. For without such co-operation on the part of the Institute membership any large and worthy success is impossible. What duties are incumbent, then, upon the individual Institute member, as certainly and as weightily, if not as apparently, as their more obvious duties are incumbent upon the Institute's officers? It is impossible to enumerate them in detail, but of them at least a few may be suggested, and are highly worth consideration. 1. Any member who has anything to offer, in the way of original theory, or clinical observation, should embody this in brief and cogent statement, and present it as a "volunteer paper" to the chairman of its appropriate bureau. To do this to rank with those who make the occasion, rather than with those who merely appreciate and enjoy it. 2. Every member must make a matter of course of attending the meeting. No one can be spared; for every vacancy in the ranks, there is a proportionate diminution of verve and enthusiasm in the atmosphere of the meeting. 3. Increase in membership is one of the aids to the Institute's usefulness, which it is in every member's power to help promote. For each member to enlist, annually, one new member from among his neighborhood colleagues not yet enlisted, is an easily possible, obvious and profoundly effectual service to the common cause. 4. Every member should attend as many as possible of the scientific sessions, and alike by concentrated, interested attention, and by pertinent question and suggestion during discussion, promote the hour's usefulness. and success. 5. Every member should bring to the session a personal atmosphere of cordial and fraternal kindliness; honestly and heartily pledging himself to subordinate personal interests, friendships, prejudices and ambitions to the larger common good. Silent earnest kindness, sincerity and unselfishness are no small gifts to bring, even if they be a member's sole possible gift. Let every member pledge himself to these endeavors; and what further need the occasion ask to stand approved as an epoch-making success? CH. GATCHELL, JNO. P. SUTHERLAND, Secretary. President. |