half an hour and know that the temperature is the same. Dr. Colby: I have but little to say upon this subject and but little to do with it save that my difficulty in making blood films has been exasperating, and it occurred to me that if we had a narrow neck with parallel sides we might have a uniform boiling point. You apply heat for ten minutes and think everything is all right, because you have established a boiling point, and put on your cover close at that line and bake them five to fifteen minutes; at the end of the time it occurs to you to see if the boiling point is right, and find that it has changed in five minutes and you don't know where you are. Dr. Watters has put in a parallel radiating surface of radiation and the films can be left twenty to forty-five minutes with a feeling of security that the temperature is all right.

REPORT OF THE SECTION OF MATERIA MEDICA.

Chas, H. Thomas, M.D., Chairman; Mary R. Mulliner, M.D., Secretary; Hovey L. Shepherd, M.D., Treasurer.

The President appointed Drs. Wells, Piper and Hinson a committee to nominate sectional officers for the ensuing year. The Committee reported as follows: Chairman, Nelson M. Wood, M.D.; Secretary, Lillian B. Neale, M.D.; Treasurer, Frank A. Hodgdon, M.D., who were duly elected.

PROGRAMME.

1. "A Proving of Anacardium" Chas. H. Thomas, M.D. Discussion opened by Walter Wesselhoeft, M.D.

2. "Materia Medica of Today.' Frank E. Allard, M.D. Discussion opened by F. B. Percy, M.D.

3. "The Homœopathic Materia Medica." John P. Sutherland, M.D.

Discussion opened by Conrad Wesselhoeft, M.D., H. E. Spalding, M.D, Hovey L. Shepherd, M.D.

4. "The Boston University School of Medicine in the State Examinations." S. H. Calderwood, M.D.

Discussion opened by N. R. Perkins, M.D.

DISCUSSION.

Dr. F. B. Percy gave the following account of an accidental proving of Anacardium: "Some years ago I had been, on two different occasions, severely poisoned by rhus, and since then each year, during the late spring or early summer and particularly after exercising, a vesicular eruption appears on the dorsal surface of both hands, the eruption being accompanied by much itching and discomfort. I took Anacardium hoping to relieve the condition described. Amount taken: Monday night one drop of tincture-one-tenth. During Tuesday one drop of 2x dilution every hour. First symptoms appeared during the latter part of Tuesday afternoon.

First symptoms. Almost intolerable itching of the prepuce and between fingers, about anus; swelling of the prepuce.

Later. Severe itching over entire body and extremities. Fine vesicles between fingers, on back of hands and in groins. Vesicles later appeared on palms of hands and on the palmar surface of fingers.

Vesicles on back of hands and between fingers coalesced, some few becoming pustular; fingers and toes swollen, the fingers so swollen that the hand could be clinched only with difficulty, when clinched forcibly the vesicles became filled with a thin bloody fluid. When hands were bathed with cold water or alcohol and water, or placed in cold water for some few minutes, the eruption would seem to be very much less. The same was true when hands were elevated. In either case when hands were lowered suspended or any little object lifted almost instantly the fingers would become swollen, the vesicles distended, seemingly more than before.

The palmar surface of the wrists and forearms presented a very much reddened appearance, being somewhat swollen, vesiculation more on wrists than on forearms.

The skin on the groin and inner half of both thighs became highly inflamed and somewhat swollen, no general vesiculation, but in patches, irregularly rounded in outline, varying in size from that of a ten cent piece to that of a silver dollar, fine vesicles appeared presenting an appearance as if the skin had been lightly seared with acid or a hot iron.

The face was but little affected, the lids being slightly swollen, upper more than lower, a small, more or less circumscribed, reddened patch appearing on one, and several similar areas on other parts of the face. The lips at the junction of the mucous membrane with the skin were moist and oozing; roof of the mouth swollen and sore, vesicles on the roof of the mouth.

After the acute symptoms subsided and the vesicles practically disappeared, the skin on the front and inner aspect of the thighs remained a deep red, almost purplish color, for eight or ten days, the color then gradually faded. Desquamation of fine bran-like scales all over body. During the trouble the appetite remained good; I think it was not affected, but there was an entire absence of thirst. No perspiration.

For some little time after I was going about again, there was a sensation of weakness in the rectum. The sensation, as near as I can describe it, was as if the rectum was partially loosened from its support, being especially noticeable while urinating. There was also some slight feeling of fullness within the anus.

Dr. Percy also spoke of the similarity between rhus tox. and Anacardium and in cases of poisoning better effects were obtained by the use of Anacardium. He then described the

worst case of poisoning that he had ever seen. A young man, who in the fall went gunning, picked up leaves and twigs and chewed them. His mouth felt badly, very uncomfortable, his tongue and lips were most horribly swollen. Anacardium gave remarkable relief and I depended upon it from the beginning until within forty-eight hours, when the symptoms practically disappeared. With Anacardium the cerebral symptoms are most intelligible, and the symptoms relating to the nervous system in both provings read here are wanting. Years. ago Anacardium was considered the best indicated remedy for weak memory. No remedy is so sure to produce weak memory and loss of faculty, and in connection with the statement Dr. Thomas has made we should bear in mind that no disease is so correspondingly similar to Anacardium poisoning as dermatitis herpetiformis.

Dr. Sutherland: I would like to add my testimony to the power of Anacardium. In two instances the symptoms produced were not quite as severe as those already mentioned, in neither case had desquamation taken place. In one there was itching, in the other none. There is a marked difference between the work Anacardium will do internally and when applied externally. From the internal use of rhus tox. I never have been injured in any way, no eruption nor itching. I think the drug acts locally. Anacardium is different in this respect, administered internally will produce vesicles.

Dr. Percy Do you doubt the desquamating property?

Dr. Sutherland: I have seen some pretty severe cases where the scrotum was affected, the result of infection from other parts of the body. I supposed it was by contact.

Dr. Percy: In this case I know it is impossible and there is no doubt of the accuracy, and that makes his statement absolutely reliable.

Dr. Sutherland: I am very susceptible to the drug, but never felt any ill effects when it was taken internally.

Dr. Thomas called attention to a circular sent out in the spring by Dr. George B. Rice (Chairman) and Dr. H. P. Bellows, who represent Massachusetts on a committee appointed by the American Institute to solicit funds for the proving of drugs. New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit are also represented on this committee. The circular was sent to the members of the Boston Homœopathic Medical Society, Massachusetts Homoeopathic Society and the Gynecological and Surgical Society, in all numbering 400; responses have been received from only fifty-nine. The amount of money received about $165 to $170. To make this movement a success it is absolutely necessary to have more money.

Dr. Bellows: In other states the work is being undertaken better than in Massachusetts. We do not want to be in the second rank, and for that reason I think it is very opportune that you have called the attention of the members of this So ciety to the disappointing response which has been made to

the circular. The movement is heartily endorsed by the American Institute, which will coöperate with the members from other societies, and has donated $300 from the treasury. Fifty dollars has been received from another source. The money is coming in from various places and from different parts of the country.

Dr. Colby I hardly see how anything that I can say can add to the importance of what has already been said. The object is the establishment of the proving of drugs upon a scientific basis in various parts of the country, and is only carrying out in detail what our predecessors did, and did with willingness and enthusiasm. We seem to be perfectly willing to rise upon the results of their labors with only the slightest expenditure of time and labor ourselves. This is not fair, I submit, and tends, more than anything else, to the decadence of the Homœopathic scheme founded upon the proving of drugs. The movement is endorsed by the best men of the country, and requires a certain amount of material aid in the way of funds that it may materialize in the manner which will benefit every one of you. It is not only the ones who are interested, who by their names appear in connection with the bureau, who will be benefitted, but every one, if it succeeds, will benefit by it. You cannot expect a few men to do all the work and shoulder all the expense, and Drs. Bellows and Rice have asked different members to contribute and fifty-seven have responded out of four hundred. The circular called for $2, or whatever amount you can afford to give. Now, I do most heartily beseech you not to let it fall to the ground, it will not fall to the ground, because other states will carry on the work.

A subscription paper, started by Dr. H. E. Spalding, was circulated during the evening and $82 was secured, for which amount Dr. Bellows, in behalf of the committee, expressed his gratification.

2. "Materia Medica of Today." Dr. Allard made an earnest plea for a higher standard of Materia Medica for the Boston University School of Medicine, stating that to make the school preeminently the school of the future the Materia Med