MEDICAL ITEMS. Dr. A. Conan Doyle, physician and novelist, is in this country. Chicago has 22 general and 16 special hospitals, with 3409 beds. Spring Grove Asylum is provided with a model sewerage system. Dr. Joseph Gichner was married to Miss Pauline Ash last Thursday. Dr. Lewis Dyer of Du Quoin, Illinois, is the oldest practicing physician in this country. London has sixty ambulance stations for the six thousand accidents that occur on her streets each year. By the will of the late Mr. Charles J. Baker of Baltimore, the Union Protestant Infirmary will receive $3000. There are so far about forty new students enrolled at the Johns Hopkins Medical School; of these, ten are women. Dr. E. E. Montgomery has resigned the position of Obstetrician to the Philadelphia Hospital, after fifteen years of service. The bronze statue to the memory of Dr. J. Marion Sims will be unveiled today at three o'clock in Bryant Park, New York City. The First Meeting of The American Academy of Railway Surgeons will be held in Chicago, Ill., on November 9 and 10, 1894. Dr. Rudolph Matas will succeed the late Dr. A. B. Miles as Professor of Surgery in the Medical Department of Tulane University in New Orleans. The Czar of Russia seems to have a variety of ailments, not the least of which is despondency or possibly remorse at the treatment of some of his subjects. Illinois has shown a worthy example to other States by driving out all itinerant nostrum vendors which annually fleece the people out of large sums of money. The Chicago Health Board has adopted the New York plan of supplying culture-tubes and making microscopic examinations in cases of suspected diphtheria. The New York State Medical Association held its Eleventh Annual Meeting last week. Many paper were read and much attention was given to tuberculosis in all its aspects. The Johns Hopkins University announces the publication of a number of physiological papers by Dr. H. Newell Martin, former professor of biology in that institution. The American Medical Publishers' Associa tion will meet at the Eutaw House, Baltimore, next May. The Publishers of the MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL are the committee in charge. Medical Director A. L. Gihon of the United States Marine Hospital Service represented the Navy Department at the recent meeting of the American Public Health Association, at Montreal. About two hundred students have entered at the University of Maryland Medical School and about the same number at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, while about four hundred have already been enrolled at the Baltimore Medical College. Students are still matriculating at all the schools. At a meeting of the Medical Journal Club held last Tuesday night, the following officers were elected: President, Dr. J. M. T. Finney; Vice-President, Dr. J. M. Hundley; Recording Secretary, Dr. J. Williams Lord; Corresponding Secretary, Dr. J. Whitridge Williams; Executive Committee, Drs. Herbert Harlan, L. E. Neale and J. Whitridge Williams. The Semi-Annual Meeting of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland will be held in Cumberland on the third Tuesday and Wednesday of November (20 and 21). Members who desire to read papers, or present cases at this meeting, are requested to send the titles of the same as soon as possible to Dr. T. A. Ashby, 1125 Madison Avenue, Baltimore, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, that they may appear on the programme. St. Agnes' Hospital has large wards for pay patients, also many free beds for the deserving poor, a hundred private rooms and the following staff of physicians: Attending Physicians, Dr. Wm. F. Lockwood, Dr. H. C. Ohle, Dr. W. D. Booker. Attending Surgeon, Dr. J. Holmes Smith. Gynecologist, Dr. L. Ernest Neale. Ophthalmologist, Dr. Hiram Woods. Consulting Physicians, Dr. F. E. Chatard, Dr. S. C. Chew. Consulting Surgeons, Dr. Alan P. Smith, Dr. L. McL. Tiffany. Resident Physician, Dr. F. E. Brown. BOOK REVIEWS. A TEXT-BOOK OF PRACTICAL THERAPEUTICS; with Especial Reference to the Application of Remedial Measures to Disease and their Employment upon a Rational Basis. By Hobart Amory Hare, M. D., B. Sc., Professor of Therapeutics and Materia Medica in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, etc. Fourth edition, enlarged and thoroughly revised. Philadelphia: Lea Brothers & Co., 1894. Pp. 11-17 to 740. A book that runs through one edition a year at once proves its popularity and merit. In the fourth edition of this work not only has a complete revision been made but the newest remedies receive the consideration which they deserve. In addition to this the use of the mineral springs and the selection of a proper climate are fully discussed. The treatment of individual diseases has been inserted and the work has been reviewed to conform to the new United States Pharmacopeia. This book is justly called a practical work, for it is replete with suggestions to the practicing physician and is also a great help to the student. SYLLABUS OF LECTURES ON HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY: An Introduction to the Study of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For Medical Students and Practitioners. With a Glossary of Embryological Terms. By Walter Porter Manton, M. D., Professor of Clinical Gynecology and Lecturer on Obstetrics in the Detroit College of Medicine, etc. Illustrated with 70 Outline Drawings and PhotoEngravings. 12mo, Cloth, 126 pages, interleaved for adding notes and other illustrations, $1.25 net. Philadelphia: The F. A. Davis Co. 1894. Embryology is at present a very important branch of medical study and yet one to which the average medical student pays but little attention. Dr. Manton's syllabus is only useful as an aid to those hearing lectures on this subject. The book itself is so brief and lexicon-like that beginners would likely be confused. As an aid to the lecture or a work of reference, after larger works have been studied, it will answer its purpose. REPRINTS, ETC., RECEIVED. Stomatitis Neurotica Chronica. By A. Ja cobi, M. D. Reprint from the Transactions of the Association of American Physicians. The Relation of Chemistry to Medicine. By Oswald L. Schreiner, Ph. G., Baltimore. Reprint from the Medical and Surgical Reporter. CURRENT EDITORIAL COMMENT. NEGLIGENCE. Medical and Surgical Reporter. THE tests of what a man knows in his professed art or science may not be those of scholastic refinement, but the tests of his practice are chiefly those of the fidelity with which he applies what he knows; the simple tests of professional and moral duty. There is no continuous duty in which one can engage without, at some time or other during its discharge, becoming liable for negligence. By its very limitations, the human mind is incapable of perfect diligence. The chief danger is that diligence may become intermittent. THE DEATH CERTIFICATE. The Medical Examiner. WE have had on several occasions to examine the records of the health office, and considering the difficulties under which the officials labor the records are in excellent shape. No one except by experience can appreciate the amount of work needed to collect and arrange the various data of the office. But the officers are greatly handicapped by the faulty, incomplete and inaccurate death certificates sent them. Of course they expect poor returns from the rag-tag and bobtail medicos of quackerydom-they are often obliged to investigate such certificates; but the regular profession, we are sorry to say, are often careless in writing death certificates. THE PHYSICIAN'S VACATION. Medical News. IT is growing more common for city physicians to take a summer vacation; but it is not so generally felt that the physician of the village and country should do the same. Yet none can need it more, and there are in his case especial reasons for the practice. It has long been recognized that life in the country is likely to lead to monotony and unprogressiveness. The friction of minds in the cities, and mutual ambitions and rivalries, not to say jealousies, keep mental and professional energy at a high pitch. Country physicians might, therefore, with much advantage, uti lize the season of rest and change to form acquaintances and to learn by word of mouth of the work and worth of their distant colleagues. PUBLISHERS' DEPARTMENT. All letters containing business communications, or referring to the publication, subscription, or advertising department of this Journal, should be addressed as undersigned. The safest mode of remittance is by bank check or postal money order, drawn to the order of the Maryland Medical Journal; or by Registered letter. The receipt of all money is immediately acknowledged. Advertisements from reputable firms are respectfully solicited. Advertisements also received from all the leading advertising agents. Copy, to ensure insertion the same week, should be received at this office not later than Monday. Physicians when communicating with advertisers concerning their articles will confer a favor by mentioning this Journal. Address: MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL, 209 Park Avenue, Baltimore, Md. TO PRACTITIONERS OF MEDICINE. The Medical Law as repealed and re-enacted, with additions and amendments, by the Maryland State Legislature, has been printed at this office in neat and convenient form for physicians. Copies may be obtained at the Journal Office or will be forwarded by mail on receipt of 15 cts. in stamps or coin. NOTES. CASTOR oil mixed with malt is palatable. * MERCAURO causes no stomachic disturbance in the treatment of syphilis. THE treatment of chordee will always be assisted by emptying the bowels. * ALUM applied to the swollen tonsils will relieve a case of follicular tonsillitis. * SALICYD chloroform is said to be a safe and more efficient anesthetic than chloroform. ONE-TENTH of a grain of apomorphia hypodermically will cut short an attack of hysteria. PROLAPSED and inflamed hemorrhoids may be relieved by painting them with the tincture of iodine. INUNCTIONS of mercurial ointment rubbed in once a day are said to be very successful in the treatment of anemia, causing fulness and redness of the lips and cheeks. A VERY valuable reconstructive and highly recommended by Professor Waugh, is wine of cod liver oil with the peptonate of iron. It has no oily or fishy taste and is very palatable. READING NOTICES. : The Antikamnia Chemical Co. Gentlemen :I desire to thank you for samples of the drug, often but poorly imitated, made by your firm and known as "Antikamnia." The adoption of the monogram on the new tablets and the recall of all the old stock from the market will prove of benefit to you and the many physicians who may hereafter desire to afford relief by its use. Yours truly, C. E. Postley, M. D., 1429 11th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C., September 11, 1894. Lapactic Pills, S. & D.-In practice we all have hobbies and in chronic constipation we all have favorite remedies. Many of us use cascara alone or in combination and a large number of the faculty pin their faith to aloin combined with such synergistic agents as strychnine, belladonna and ipecac. One of the most generally useful pills in the treatment of general intestinal atony is that lilliputian granule known as "Lapactic S. & D." Easy to take, perfectly soluble, entirely reliable, "Lapactic Pills S. & D." never gripe, This is a sweeping statement and one which you can easily demonstrate by sending to Sharp & Dohme, Baltimore, for a sample. You will do us a favor if you mention this JOURNAL. MEDICAL JOURNAL A Weekly Journal of Medicine and Surgery. VOL. XXXII.—No. 2. BALTIMORE, OCTOBER 27, 1894. ORIGINAL ARTICLES. WHOLE NO. 709 A FEW PHYSICIANS PROMINENT IN MEDICAL HISTORY. ANNUAL ORATION BEFORE THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, Baltimore. By James Carey Thomas, A. M., M. D. Delivered at the University Buildings, April 18, 1894, and published by request of the Association. MR. PRESIDENT and Gentlemen of the Alumni Association of the University of Maryland, School of Medicine :-I suppose that it is only natural for one, who sees amongst his audience physicians younger than himself, at once to begin to forecast what will be the future of Medicine in their hands and to speculate upon the coming triumphs of research and achievement, when more of the opprobria medicorum shall have passed away, and things impossible today may be possible tomorrow. Be this as it may, I found myself in this mood, when I thought of the ever increasing numbers of men who share the honors of this School and others, and who reasonably may be expected to live until some of the vexed questions, whose solutions now seem just to elude our anxious enquiry, shall have been forced to give up their secrets to better equipped and more successful seekers after truth. Not, however, feeling able to prophesy as to the future, I began to recall what had already been done in the past, and to solace myself with going over in memory the Christian centuries and recalling the names of the few of the men who have given their genius and their days to the ever present problems of disease and its cure; although the small space of time allowed me will only permit the most cursory review of their work and sometimes simply the mention of their names. Before, however, beginning with the Christian Era, we should remember that at that period the influence of Hippocrates, as well as that of Aristotle, who lived nearly a century later than Hippocrates, was strongly felt. It was modified by the teaching of the School at Alexandria, with its enormous library, which gave physicians access to all the learning of the past that was then available in parchments and rolls, collected from far and near. Another great library also was to be found at Pontus. Much work had been done by Aristotle in dissection and he had discovered and described the nerves not distinguished before. The Alexandrian physicians had already divided the study of medicine into that of surgery, dietetics and pharmacy, and had made advances along surgical lines; especially improving the operation for stone in the bladder. Physicians generally had, however, very soon abandoned the safe route of observation under the lead of the school of the Empyrics, fostered by the sceptical philosophy of Pyrrho, which doubted everything, especially the results of the past. The Empyrics had nevertheless benefited the pursuit of the science of medicine by introducing new and fixed rules of observation. |