Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

follows: "Hydrastis," by Solon Abbott, M.D., of Biddeford; "A Case of Cancer Not Cured by Arsenicum Album," by M. S. Briry, M.D., of Bath; "Cases From Practice," by F. O. Lyford, M.D., of Farmington; a paper in materia medica on Plantago, and Involuntary Provings of Camphor," by J. T. G. Emery, M.D., of South Waterboro; "A Clinical Case General Calcification of the Joints," by Lyman Chase, M.D., of Kennebunkport; "Clinical Medicine," by L. P. Graves, M.D., of Saco; "A Case of Hemorrhage of the Stomach," by H. I. Harvey, M.D., of Newport. For the Surgical Bureau, A. K. R. Harvey, M.D., of Lewiston, presented a paper entitled "A Few of My Failures." For the Bureau of Gynecology, J. W. Whidden, M.D., of Portland, read a paper entitled "Can Women Expect Help?" Anna G. C. Ohler, M.D., of Portland, read a paper on "The Science and Practice of Midwifery."

Free discussion ensued upon a number of these papers.

Drs. A. I. Harvey, J. C. Gannett, H. C. Bradford and W. Scott Hill were appointed delegates to the American Institute of Homoeopathy. Delegates to the several New England Societies were appointed as follows: To New Hampshire, Drs. M. C. Pingree and Charles R. Cole; to Vermont, Drs. F. O. Lyford and M. K. Dwinell; to Massachusetts, Drs. E. F. Vose and Cora M. Johnson; to Rhode Island, Drs. M. S. Holmes and H. P. Heald; to Connecticut, Drs. F. A. Gushee and T. N. Drake. The following were elected officers for the ensuing year, viz. : For President, W. E. Fellows, M.D., Bangor; Vice-Presidents, J. C. Gannett, M.D., Yarmouth, and E. Vose, M.D., Portland; Recording Secretary, J. C. Gannett, M.D., Yarmouth; Corresponding Secretary, R. H. Pulsifer, M.D., Waterville; Treasurer, Solon Abbott, M.D., Biddeford; Censors, Drs. H. C. Bradford, J. M. Prilay, W. V. Hanscom, A. F. Piper, C. S. Philbrick; Committee on Legislation, Drs. W. F. Shepard, A. I. Harvey, C. M. Foss, J. W. Whidden, M. S. Briry.

The second day was given up to a sail by steamboat among the beautiful islands of Portland Harbor and Casco Bay, and a typical shore dinner at the Portland Club House at Great Diamond Island. The day was beautiful, the bay at its prettiest, the company, to the number of about thirty, ripe for enjoying everything, the dinner one of the best for which the club is noted. Following the dinner informal toasts and speech-making were in order.

The matter of a new insane hospital was discussed during the afternoon, and the matter was left in the hands of the general legislative committee.

The Maine Homœopathic Medical Society, with the strength of young manhood in its years and membership, marks out for

itself in the future a higher stand a stronger influence, if possible than in the past.

[ocr errors]

JAMES C. GANNETT, M.D., Recording Secretary.

CONNECTICUT HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The Connecticut Homoeopathic Medical Society held its meeting at Hartford, May 17th.

Dr. Stark, of Norwich, President, read his annual address, his theme being "Homoeopathy: What Is It? What Has It Accomplished?"

Papers were read as follows:

Dr. Emily Pardee, of South Norwalk, "A Report of Three Cases of Scarlet Fever and Measles Appearing Simultaneously as Distinct Diseases."

Dr. E. B. Hooker, of Hartford, "The Health of Hartford." Dr. E. H. Linnell, of Norwich, "An Every-day Case and Some Homely Deductions."

Officers were elected as follows: President, Dr. C. B. Adams, of New Haven; Vice-President, Dr. H. P. Cole, of Bridgeport; Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. E. B. Hooker, of Hartford; Librarian, Dr. G. H. Wilson, of Meriden; Censors, Drs. W. F. Hinckley, of Naugatuck; C. L. Beach, of Hartford; E. A. Wilson, of Meriden; Sophia Penfield, of Danbury; and C. H. Colgrove, of Willimantic.

Dr. Plumb Brown, of Norfolk, was elected a member of the society.

It was voted to hold a semi-annual meeting of the society, at Meriden, on the third Tuesday in October.

REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS.

:0:

TRANSACTIONS OF THE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION.

Dr.

This substantial and interesting volume offers the record of much thorough, enthusiastic and fruitful work on the part of our Pennsylvania confrères. Every bureau furnishes papers which give food for discussion and for afterthought. Bier's "Cases of Mental Suggestion venture into a field but little known by homœopathists, though already worked, with results of much interest to science, by progressive practitioners of the old school. Dr. M. M. Walker's " Fifty Cases of Typhoid Fever" illustrate the value and interest of carefully studied and tabulated instances of familiar disease. Dr. Cranch's brief notes on Spider Poisons" have the Wellerian merit of making one "vish there vos more." The volume, as a whole, is a richly creditable one.

[ocr errors]

THE POCKET PHARMACY, WITH THERAPEUTIC INDEX. A Resumé of the Clinical Applications of Remedies Adapted to the Pocket-Case, for the Treatment of Emergencies and Acute Diseases. By John Aulde, M.D. New York: D. Appleton & Company. 204 pp.

This may be looked upon as one of the remarkable books of the age. Its advent was referred to in the May issue of the GAZETTE, but it deserves more than the

passing notice there given it. It offers as novelties things that have been known for nearly a century, and on the plea of usefulness recommends drugs, doses, preparations, and indications for their administration, which have attained a clinical reputation through their application in accordance with the rule of similars. Even the arrangement of the text will appear familiar to one accustomed to sectarian" text-books on practice. For instance, the book presents in alphabetical arrangement under each remedy, a “resumé” of the clinical applications (sic!) of twenty-four remedies, which, in tablet-triturates or compressed tablets or granules, can be purchased of a well-known firm, neatly put up in a pocket-case of convenient size. Among the twenty-four remedies are to be found aconite, atropine sulph. [bella. ?], calcium sulphide, bryonia, rhus tox., ipecac, trinitrin [glonoine], and others equally well known; and among the symptoms, or at least in the "resume of clinical applications," may be found many symptoms which may also be found in the pathogenetic records of these drugs. Even small doses are not wanting; in fact, the "brochure is in the nature of a plea for small doses," and the author might have added, for the law of similars, and not been far from the fact.

It is encouraging to read in the "explanatory note" that "physicians who adopt this plan for the first time, will be surprised at the prompt effects secured from medicine, but they will be more astonished at the number of ailments which can be met by this small number of drugs, all because of the more thorough acquaintance with their therapeutic properties." Of course the work is wholly original, for no acknowledgments of any kind are made. The " preface," "introduction," and "explanatory note,' are each of them worth the "price of admission," and they should be read by every physician. Every progressive physician should be acquainted by personal study with the contents of so noteworthy a book. It will be found, especially by intelligent and fair-minded students of the relations between old school and new, to prove much more than it claims to do.

DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. By J. A. Ormerod, M.D., F.R.C.P. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Co. 343 pp.

This admirable little book is intended chiefly for those who, beginning their studies of nervous diseases, are dismayed by the formidable proportions of the work before them. As an introduction to that work it will prove of great value, for it furnishes a solid foundation that will need no rebuilding. It contains only eight chapters, but they cover the ground in outline at least. The first chapter is a concise anatomical and physiological introduction, and no apology need be made for it; for in no branch of medicine is a knowledge of anatomy and physiology of greater service than in this. The second chapter is on the morbid anatomy of the nervous system; the third, on certain general symptoms and methods of investigation. Then are considered "Symptoms referable to the Organs of Special Sense," "Symptoms referable to Special Districts," "Neuritis: Organic Spinal Diseases," Organic Cerebral Diseases," and, finally, "Diseases of which the Organic Basis is not known."

44

As this classification of subjects might indicate, the book is written from the pathological and diagnostic standpoint chiefly. "Treatment" is only hinted at occasionally; but within its scope the book is a practical and useful epitome. DISEASES OF THE URINARY APPARATUS. PHLEGMASIC AFFECTIONS. By John W. S. Gouley, M.D. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 342 pp.

This book contains twelve lectures which have been published in the New York Medical Journal, but which, after revision, are here republished, with an addendum on ** Retention of Urine from Prostatic Obstruction in Elderly Men." The first three chapters are devoted to generalities.-anatomical, physiological and pathological considerations,-the third chapter giving evidence of wide experience, humor and conservatism, and containing a trenchant warning against overdoing in treatment, is exceptionally interesting reading. One reads here, for instance, "It is almost needless to say that diseases are not cured by medicines or by surgical operations. Nature effects the cure." The fourth chapter is devoted to "Interstitial Nephritis, Pyelonephritis, and Perinephritis;" and the remaining chapters to the different forms, complications, consequences, treatment, etc., of cystitis, urethritis, and prostatitis, all of which subjects are treated in a masterly manner. As a whole, the book will well repay careful study, and it may be looked upon as a valuable addition to the literature on these serious disorders."

The author's erudition, however, and his penchant for coining words, not infrequently lead him into what seems like pedantry. For instance: such terms as phallic, auxetic, echmatic, nephrauxe, sychnuresis, ascheturesis, algeinuresis, prostatauxe, aconuresis, etc., though precise and even elegant, are not intelligible to the majority of readers, who would look in vain for many of them even in the largest and best medical dictionaries. In contrast with these tendencies to overniceness of phrase, one may be pardoned a feeling of surprise to note that more than once the participle "practised" is misspelled.

DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. By Jerome K. Bauduy, M.D., LL.D. Second edition. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. 352 pp.

This, although a "second edition,” is practically a new work, since the first edition was published in 1876, and the text has been consistently brought into line with contemporary knowledge in neurology. The subject-matter is presented in the form of lectures, nineteen in number. The first four discuss hyperemia and anæmia of the brain and the cerebral circulation; seven lectures are devoted to considering the different forms of meningitis; and insanity in its various manifestations forms the subject for the remaining lectures. A second volume, devoted to diseases of the spinal cord and functional and peripheral affections of the nervous system, is promised. That the author is a wide and close reader is evidenced by his very numerous quotations, which are usually exceedingly apropos, from more than a score of writers, among whom are Seguin, Spitzka, Hammond, Ranney, Folsom, Allen Starr, Gowers, Clouston, Maudsley, Tuke, Schroeder van der Kolk, Krafft-Ebing, and Charcot, besides many others. While thus to a great extent sinking his own personality, he offers to his readers a valuable critical analysis of the matters dealt with, under the guidance of his extended and observant experience.

INTERNATIONAL CLINICS. Vol. IV. First Series. Vol. I. Second Series. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co. 1892.

The subscriber to "International Clinics," so that he be a thoughtful and intelligent reader, finds himself invited, without expensive and time-wasting journeys, to the Mecca of the ambitious and progressive student of medicine; namely, the clinics held at great cities on both sides of the sea, by the great masters of their craft. Thus the possessor of these two latest volumes of the unique and most valuable series has the privilege of hearing Sir Dyce Duckworth, lecturer on clinical medicine at the great St. Bartholomew's Hospital, discourse on acute pneumonia, giving hints on diet and local treatment, which even the practitioner who looks most askance at his sturdy advocacy of occasional bleeding may follow with profit. He may hear Dr. Solis-Cohen relate an unusual and instructive case of tracheotomy for multiple neoplasms of the larynx, the pathological condition being so clearly described and the operative procedure so minutely detailed as to bring the whole case before the reader in an amazingly graphic fashion. Dr. M. Allen Starr, Professor of Mental and Nervous Diseases in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, presents a case of the successful treatment of sub-conscious pain by hypnotism, which is rich in subtle psychological suggestions both of pathology and of therapeutics. Dr. Gilman Thompson talks of reduction of temperature in typhoid fever by the Brand method of cold baths, and expresses and explains his growing confidence in this method. And thus the list of famous talkers and interesting talks extends itself; while carefully executed illustrations greatly aid the reader's ability to fully grasp the points brought forward. "International Clinics must heartily be classed among the happiest thoughts, medically speaking, of the generation.

A TEXT-BOOK OF THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. By R. C. M. Page, M.D. New York: William Wood & Co. 568 pp.

This new candidate for professional approbation deals, as its title indicates, with non-surgical diseases, and is intended to meet the wants of the busy practitioner and student. It covers the field of general practice, and, without going into detail, it gives such practical descriptions of the diseases considered that the diagnosis can in any case be established. Only the essential points in etiology, pathology, prognosis, diagnosis, etc., are given, but the subject of treatment receives rather more

ample consideration than is customary in books of similar scope. Not only are drugs mentioned, but in the majority of instances the prescription is written out and the dose clearly indicated. This may be looked upon as a chief characteristic of the book. Some of the prescriptions are traditional, some are credited to authors or colleagues of the author, and others are presumably original. It may be noticed that on pages not widely separated different formulas are given for "Blaud's pills." The conciseness and practical nature of the work will speedily win for it many friends.

A TEXT-BOOK OF NURSING. By Clara S. Weeks-Shaw. Second edition. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 391 pp.

The six years which have passed since the first appearance of this book have brought much that is new as regards the possibilities of medical and surgical nursing, and have relegated to the obsolete much that was then in vogue. Mrs. Weeks-Shaw has brought her excellent manual closely within touch of the latest ideas and experiences in its chosen field; has enlarged and revised it, and added many illustrative cuts, which render its teachings much more graphic and easily comprehensible. The chapter on "Observation of Symptoms" is especially valuable, and physicians as well as nurses could glean useful hints from it. The work is practical, comprehensive, and full of sound sense and useful information; and its second edition will doubtless rival the popularity of the first.

A GUIDE TO THE CLINICAL EXAMINATION OF THE URINE. By F. H. Whipple A.B. Boston: Damrell & Upham. 206 pp.

This is one of the fascinating little hand-books that are the delight of students, for in its small compass it contains the essentials of the chemical and microscopical examination of urine, systematically arranged and tersely expressed. As a matter of fact, it is an admirably condensed presentation of the subject. A somewhat novel but extremely practical feature is the presence in the appendix of a score or more records of analyses of urine, followed by the inferences to be drawn from them. Though the entire field is far from being covered by these possible cases, a sufficient variety is offered to illustrate methods of reasoning, and also some of the difficulties experienced, in making absolutely definite and correct diagnoses.

A vigorous statement of the scientific principles upon which the treatment of criminals should be based, opens the POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY for August. It is by Prof. Edward S. Morse, who takes as his title "Natural Selection and Crime," "An Ethical Study of Veracity," by Herbert Spencer, is among the contents of the issue. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

LIPPINCOTTS' MAGAZINE for August has, as its "complete novel," the somewhat lurid tale of "Martlet Seal," by Jeanette Walworth. John A. Cockerill prophesies concerning "The Newspaper of the Future." Poems are contributed by Louise Chandler Moulton and others. Phila.: J. B. Lippincott Co.

Among the noteworthy articles in the August CENTURY are: "The Ascent of Fuji the Peerless," by Mable Loomis Todd and David P. Todd; "Sea-Longings," by Thomas Bailey Aldrich; "In Gloucester Harbor," by Reginald Cleveland Coxe; "The Philosophy of Relative Existences," by Frank R. Stockton; and "Architecture at the World's Columbian Exposition," by Henry Van Brunt. The Century Co.

New York:

EVERY day in the year 17 persons are killed, and 72 others are injured, on the railways of the United States. This is the dreadful story told, by taking the daily average of the railway casualties shown in the annual statement by the statistician of the Interstate Commerce Commission. These figures include employés and passengers, and also the many thousands of other persons (numbering in one year 3,584 killed and 4,200 injured) who met their fate at street and road-crossings, or otherwise on railway tracks or trains, being neither passengers nor employés. But, deducting all these and the actual passengers, we still find that, on the average, every day sees almost 7 railway employés killed, and over 61 injured.-Railway Age.

« PředchozíPokračovat »