society then voted to adopt the Constitution and By-Laws as a whole.

A letter was read by the Secretary from Dr. Mary E. Mosher, of Dawson City, Alaska. The society voted that the Secretary reply to the same. The society elected its President, Dr. F. A. Davis, as a delegate to the American Institute of Homœopathy.

Scientific Session.

PROGRAM.

1. Surgical Treatment of Empyema of the Antrum of. Highmore. George B. Rice, M.D. Discussion by T. M. Strong, M.D., and N. H. Houghton, M.D.

2. Some Recent Cases of Surgery of the Hands. Horace Packard, M.D. Discussion by George H. Earl, M.D.1

3. Report of Surgical Service at Massachusetts Homoeopathic Hospital for First Quarter, 1900. Nathaniel W. Emerson, M.D. Discussion by William F. Wesselhoeft, M.D.1 4. Acute Suppurative Appendicitis. J. Emmons Briggs, M.D.

Following the Scientific Session a dinner was served, of which seventy-nine members of the society partook. J. EMMONS BRIGGS, M.D.,

General Secretary.

THE annual meeting of the American Association of Homœopathic Pharmacists was held at the Murray Hill Hotel in New York City on Monday, June 18, 1900. The President, Dr. J. Wilkinson Clapp, read an address in which he called special attention to the duties of pharmacists toward securing a standard of strength for homoeopathic medicines. At the conclusion of the address a discussion ensued, after which the following vote was adopted without a dissenting voice: —

"That this Association does hereby approve of the Pharmacopeia of the American Institute of Homœopathy, and

1 Not present.

recommends its adoption and use by all homoeopathic pharmacists."

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Dr. J. Wilkinson Clapp; Vice-President, Dr. Felix A. Boericke; Secretary, Mr. W. J. Jennings.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE OPHTHALMOLOGICAL, OTOLOGICAL, AND LARYNGOLOGICAL SOCIETY. The Ophthalmological, Otological, and Laryngological Society held its thirteenth annual meeting at "The Shoreham," Washington, D. C., on June 16, 18, and 19. Dr. Bellows, of Boston, presided, and thirty-five papers were read and discussed. Representative specialists from different parts of the country were present in large numbers. The President's address received more than usual attention and consideration. His topic was on the improvement of our materia medica. The opinion was expressed that a new method of proving drugs should be inaugurated and that the specialist should take an important part in the work. Attention was called to the fact that many of the drug symptoms as recorded are, in the light of our present knowledge, vague and entirely misleading.

Illustrations were given which conclusively proved this point. Suggestions were also offered for overcoming these, and other defects, in our system of prescribing drugs. The committee appointed to act on the address recommended that the society begin at once the work of drug proving along the lines laid down. It was advised that the President select a single standard drug, and that committees be appointed from our large cities to take up the work and to report results at the next annual meeting of the society.

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

HIGH TEMPERATURE IN A CASE OF APPENDICITIS. A reputable homoeopathic physician, Dr. F. S. Sampson, of Penn Yan, N. Y., reports a case of chronic appendicitis in which the temperature has risen to 112 degrees or more every day for a period of nearly two months. The following statement was made by Dr. Sampson to representatives of the press :— "Since March 24, 1900, until May 14, I took the temperature of Mary Gregory at least twice daily. The thermometer registered 112 degrees almost continually. A few times it was a degree or two lower.

"A special thermometer was made to register 120 degrees. This was used twice in succession, and the temperature both times was 119 degrees. On using it a second time the instrument was broken.

"During all this time I have had ample opportunity to see that the mercury was not made to rise by contact with hotwater bag or poultice, etc. I am positive that the instrument registered the correct temperature in the last instance, and would have gone higher if the thermometer had permitted in the first.

THE IDEAL WALL CABINET BATTERY. In the production of this cabinet it was aimed to supply a battery which, while answering all the demands of the specialist in electrotherapeutics, should at the same time be so simple in its construction that even a novice could operate it. Special attention has been given to the avoidance of all means of causing short circuits, "grounds," etc., and by the use of a superior cell it is believed that with ordinary care the battery ought not to require any attention, for years, beyond renewing the zincs and excitant occasionally. We have known of these batteries being in constant use for two or three years at a time without renewals or attention, except to fill up the cells

with water to replace that lost by evaporation. The following detailed description calls attention to several unique features, and its inventor believes that both electrically and mechanically he has produced a battery superior to every other upon the market intended for a like purpose.

Description of Cabinet. The direct or galvanic current is obtained from a battery of 50 "Perfection" carbon cells, using the Chlorammonium 1 excitant. A specially prepared porus carbon is used in the construction of these cells which renders them practically non-polarizable for medical work. The materials of which the elements and excitant are composed are selected with reference to their purity, thus securing a battery which is comparatively free from

1 Chlorammonium, a name given to a special branch of sal-ammoniac noted for its purity.

local action on open circuit. Evaporation is prevented to a large extent by the close-fitting carbon top.

The galvanic current is measured by an accurate and sensitive mil-ammeter, so constructed as not to be affected by outside magnetic influence. It is wound with a shunt permitting readings from two different scales for small or large amperage. If the interrupted current is wanted, the meter can be cut out of circuit by means of a switch, thus preventing injury to the needle from its rapid vibration.

The induction apparatus for producing the alternating or faradic current consists of three removable coils wound with different sizes and lengths of wire for transforming the current to any desired tension or intensity.

The low tension coil is wound with a primary of 100 feet of No. 18 wire (B. & S. gauge) and a secondary of 150 feet of No. 16 wire, consisting of about 450 winds or turns of wire.

The primary of the medium tension coil is wound with 150 feet of No. 20 wire, and the secondary with 1,000 feet of No. 26, or about 3,000 turns of wire. This is so arranged that either 500 feet or 1,000 feet of wire can be used, the change being produced by moving a small switch on the end of the coil.

The high tension coil is wound with a primary of 200 feet of No. 22 wire, and a secondary of 4,500 feet of No. 36, or about 13,500 turns. This coil is arranged in a similar manner to the medium tension coil, allowing either 1,500, 3,000, or 4,500 feet of wire to be included in the circuit.

The switch-board of the cabinet is arranged so that one coil can be readily removed and another one substituted at any time.

The tension vibrator consists of a spring held perfectly rigid between two stout metal posts, the tension being regulated by a binding screw, thus allowing a variation in the interruptions of from a few hundred to about 40,000 per minute, the latter frequency being essential when using a high tension coil. The exciting current derived from four "Perfection" carbon cells is controlled by a small rheostat, and is ample to supply all demands.