DISCUSSION.

Dr. N. Emmons Paine thinks that the most frequent manifestation of nervous syphilis is general paresis. Considers that at least three-fifths of the cases of general paresis occurring in the male are of syphilitic origin, and probably every case in the female. Where a patient came into the epileptic state after thirty years of age he, with other observers, had come to regard the case as surely of specific origin. Wished to mention a peculiar form of mental disorder which seemed almost pathognomonic of syphilis. Illustrative of this was the case of a woman who was admitted to the hospital with all the symptoms of acute mania, but suddenly became quiet, childish, then in a week or two developed total loss of memory, lasting for a long time; she had kali iod, and made a good recovery. A man with the same general excitement at first soon developed the same indescribable forgetfulness, absolute amnesia, but under the iodides made a rapid recovery. Both these cases were known to be of syphilitic origin; they were not cases of general paresis, and the lesion was, in all probility, cortical.

Dr. J. L. Coffin thinks that exclusive of these cases depending upon new growths, syphilitic neuroses are among the most difficult conditions to diagnose. Speaking of syphilitic headache, he thought that severe pain is most likely to occur from syphilitic meningitis, and he has seen these cases cured by gelsemium, cimicifuga, etc., as well as by the iodides and mercurials.

Dr. N. Emmons Paine, speaking of the difficulty of making a differential diagnosis between cerebral tumors, said that he had in one case sent sections of the same tumor, made as closely together as possible, to two eminent pathologists. One called it a glioma, the other a gumma.

Dr. N. W. Rand reported a case diagnosed syphilitic tumor, presenting marked cerebral symptoms which had developed. while the patient was under the iodide treatment. After trying various methods of treatment he finally prescribed merc. cor., gr. 1-100 t. d., and from that time the man began to improve, and the cerebral symptoms have now entirely disappeared.

The following committee was appointed by the Chair to take into consideration the recommendation of the executive committee, that the Society adopt the Australian ballot system: Drs. E. P. Colby, I. T. Talbot, Alonzo Boothby, F. B. Percy, F. P. Glazier.

Adjourned at five o'clock.

FRANK C. RICHARDSON, Recording Secretary.

BOSTON HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The regular monthly meeting of the Boston Homœopathic Medical Society was held at the Women's Industrial Union, 264 Boylston street, Thursday, February 4, 1892. President Henry A. Spalding in the chair.

The records of the last meeting were read and approved. John H. Bennett, M.D., was elected to membership, and the name of A. D. Bowman, M.D., was proposed for membership. Dr. Emily A. Bruce exhibited an orange-seed that had remained in the bronchial tubes six weeks, and was expelled in a paroxysm of coughing.

Dr. Martha Mann presented an irregular P-shaped piece of calcareous deposit that had been expelled during coughing.

Dr. Talbot opened the discussion with a few suggestions upon the removal of foreign bodies from the air passages. He said parents and friends usually complicated matters by interfering unnecessarily. First find out by delicate probing where the substance is, and what it is.

The blunt movable hook was a very serviceable instrument, but the probang or expanding brush usually removed the mucous membrane rather than the substance sought.

Several cases had occurred in his practice where different substances had been swallowed.

One child swallowed a glass stopper. formed, but the stopper was not found.

Tracheotomy was per-
After eight months the

child had a fall, which started it out of the trachea.

A second case was of a child that swallowed a watermellonseed and died on the third day of pneumonia.

A third case swallowed a bean. Tracheotomy was performed and the child recovered.

Dr. Packard reported several cases of foreign bodies in the air passages.

Dr. Spalding followed with cases occurring in his practice. Drs. Sherman, Powers, Hines and Batchelder also reported

cases.

The meeting adjourned at 10 o'clock.

M. E. MANN, M.D., Secretary.

MEDICAL ATTENDANCE IN THE JURY-ROOM. — The sanctity of a jury-room appears to be so well guarded that, even in case of sudden sickness, a physician may not enter except after due process of law. In the Foss will case, tried recently in Boston, the jury were deliberating when, late in the evening, one of them was suddenly attacked with what proved to be a stroke of apoplexy. The officer in charge notified the deputy-sheriff, who, not having authority to let any one into the jury room, drove across the city and informed the sheriff, but even this official was not high enough to act, and another expedition started in search of the judge. As the latter happened to be at home, the requisite order was obtained to summon a doctor. Ex.

REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS.

A PRIMER OF MATERIA MEDICA FOR PRACTITIONERS OF HOMOEOPATHY. By Timothy Field Allen, M.D. Philadelphia:

Boericke & Tafel.

This "Primer" is destined to be a "joy forever" to the overworked student, oppressed by anticipations of examination in materia medica; for it contains the "characteristic features or the "gist" of the pathogeneses of 266 drugs, so condensed as to cover only about 400 pages. "Clinical symptoms," which form so surprisingly large a factor in most of our works of this sort, are, by a fortunate arrangement, here given in a different type from that of the body of the text. We can thus, at a glance, distinguish between the drug symptoms obtained by the methods of Hahnemann and homoeopathy and those obtained by the purely empirical methods which many homoeopathists who only rely on these "clinical symptoms" in prescribing are voluble in condemning in old-school usage. One would suppose that the least conscientious of homoeopathists might be brought to pause and reflection by the evidence here offered that hypericum, for example, boasts no other indications for its use than clinical, i. e., empirical ones. The book is concise, practical and useful, and offers another evidence of the indefatigable capacity for work which the profession has so often had occasion to wonder at in its famous author.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE FOURTH QUINQUENNIAL SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOMEOPATHIC CONGRESS, AND OF THE FORTY-FOURTH SESSION OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHY.

As is well known, the annual session of the American Institute of Homœopathy was omitted in '91, except for the transaction of routine and necessary business, its scientific session being merged into the International Homœopathic Congress. In this volume of over eleven hundred pages one finds the complete transactions of the national and international organizations. As a frontispiece is found an admirable portrait of the President of the Congress, I. T. Talbot, M.D., of Boston. The first part of the volume and an appendix are devoted to the business proceedings of the Institute; by far the greater part, however, is given up to the Congress; to a report of the minutes of the session; to the addresses and essays delivered, with their discussions, and to reports on the history and progress of homoeopathy in various countries. Many of these addresses and essays have appeared in our periodicals, and from

the large number presented it is impossible to select any for special commendation. They are, as a whole, representative of the highest ideals, the soundest thought, and best judgment of the most advanced and scientific workers in our profession. The discussions they gave rise to are earnest, animated, and instructive, and are quite fully reported. The variety of subjects treated is coincident with the wide interests of homeopathy, practical and theoretical.

The volume is a treasure-house of suggestion and information, and its prompt appearance and excellent arrangement reflect great credit on its indefatigable editor.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE CALIFORNIA HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

These records of the meeting held in San Francisco last May by the State Society give evidence of much wide-awake work by our brethren of the Pacific Coast. Therapeutics, gynecology, surgery, midwifery, and such-like branches of the healing art are touched upon in brief, readable papers; and the discussions, as reported, are frank, animated and suggestive. An especially noteworthy paper is that on "Morbus Brightii: Is it caused by a Bacillus?" by Dr. J. M. Selfridge, of Oakland.

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THE YEAR-BOOK OF TREATMENT FOR 1892. — (Phila. : Lea Bros. & Co.) offers, after its wont, a great number of interesting articles by distinguished contributors. Among them may be noted the review of progress made in the treatment of lung diseases, by E. Markham Skerritt; in midwifery, by M. Handfield Jones; in diseases of children, by Edmund Owen. A valuable feature of this little book is the list it offers of new books published during the year, new editions and translations. The practical usefulness of such a concise yet exhaustive review of the medical year, as is furnished by the year-book, is annually better appreciated by the profession it aims to serve.

The May CENTURY, in addition to the serials now running, contains complete stories by Thomas Nelson Page and Wolcott Balestier, and a humorous skit by Harry Stillwell Edwards, author of "Two Runaways." The instalment given in this issue of the famous "Nanlanka" is of thrilling interest. York: The Century Co.

New

Among the articles of unique interest in the POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY for May, are: "Herbert Spencer and the Synthetic Philosophy," by William H. Hudson; "Evolution in Folk Lore. An Old Story in a New Form," by David D. Wells; "Anthropological Work in Europe," by Prof. F. Starr. (Illustrated.) "The Limitations of the Healing Art," by Dr.

H. Nothnagel; and "Bad Air and Bad Health," by H. Wager and A. Herbert. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

The "complete novel" in LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE for May is the "Golden Fleece," a mystical tale in the Rider Haggard manner, of transmigration and treasure-finding; by Julian Hawthorne. There are several interesting reminiscences of Walt Whitman. The poetry of the number is more than usually notable, being contributed by Anne Aldrich, Louise Chandler Moulton, and others as well known. Phila.: J. B. Lippincott Co. Overcrowded pages prevent the appearance of other reviews and notices of books.

PERSONAL AND NEWS ITEMS.

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THE Homœopathic Medical Society of Tennessee will hold its annual meeting at Knoxville, May 25.

THE first meeting of the Utah Homeopathic Medical Association was held at Salt Lake City, May 3rd.

THE seventh annual meeting of the Kentucky Homœopathic Medical Society will be held at Georgetown, May 17 and 18.

FREDERICK W. ELLIOTT, M.D., has removed from 232 Dudley St. to 107 Warren Street, Boston Highlands. Office hours, 8 to 9 A. M.; 1 to 3 and 6.30 to 7.30 P. M. Telephone, Roxbury 35.

DR. LAMSON ALLEN has sold his practice in Stockbridge, Mass., to Dr. F. W. Edwards, of Meriden, N. H., and has bought the practice of Dr. Edward L. Mellus, 20 Elm Street, Worcester, Mass., where he will now reside.

ANY woman physician, (homœopathist) in search of a location, is asked to communicate with Dr. Elva Coulter, Dubuque, Iowa, who is desirous to dispose of her practice. Dr. Coulter's address is Cor. Eighth and Locust Sts., Dubuque.

THE officers of the Homeopathic Medical society of Western Massachusetts for the ensuing year, are: President, A. J. Bond, M.D.; 1st Vice-President, P. R. Watts, M.D.; 2nd Vice-President, G. F. A. Spencer, M.D.; Secretary and Treasurer, H. L. Clarke, M.D.; Censors, N. W. Rand, M.D., O. W. Roberts, M.D., G. F. Forbes, M.D.

THE retiring Board of Ed tors of the Medical Student are sincerely to be congratulated on the pluck, the energy, the admirable esprit de corps which have inspired their successful efforts to raise the very considerable debt with which the bright little journal was burdened, and pass it on, as a "freehold," to their successors. Several dramatic entertainments of much cleverness and merit have been given in aid of this good cause. Such a spirit as that of the student-editors in question, keeps the air of any college invigorating and wholesome.

EVERY physicain and surgeon, in the course of his practice, has a case now and then which he would like to record by a photograph of the personal appearance of his patient, as well as by his minutes of temperature, etc. He can do this easily before and after with the aid of a Kodak, for he can use this camera without the bother of setting up a tripod, and can often take the photograph without the knowledge of the patient, at least without disturbing him. Besides this use of the Kodak, the doctor can obtain considerable pleasure from it by taking it along on his trips or vacation if he has any. Is just the camera for his home use, and, in fact, for all-around work, it is so simple and compact that we can recommend the Kodak to all.