SOCIETY REPORTS.

WORCESTER COUNTY SOCIETY.

The Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Worcester County Homoeopathic Medical Society was held at Worcester, Nov. 14, 1900, at the Y. W. C. A. Rooms, Chatham St. The meeting was called to order promptly at 10 A. M. by the President, Dr. Amanda C. Bray. The records of the previous meeting were read and accepted; the annual report of the treasurer was read and ordered placed upon the records of the society. The following applications for membership were presented, and by vote of the society, referred to the board of censors: Albert E. Cross and Edwin Roy Leib, of Worcester; George Van Deusen, of Lowell; David P. Butler, of Rutland, and David W. Wells, of Boston.

The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Dr. J. F. Luscombe, Fitchburg; Vice-President, A. J. Atwood, Townsend; 2nd Vice-President, Dr. G. H. Wilkins, Palmer; Secretary and Treasurer, F. R. Warren, Worcester; Librarian, A. E. P. Rockwell, Worcester; Censors, E. A. Fisher, Worcester; Amanda C. Bray, Worcester, and Dr. R. G. Reed, Woonsocket, R. I.

The business session concluded, the meeting was placed in charge of the Bureau of Clinical Medicine and Pathology, Dr. Carl Crisand presiding. The first paper was read by Dr. H. A. Gibbs, and was entitled, "What shall we do with the Drunkard?" The writer believed that institutional treatment, especially for the confirmed inebriate, was essential for a complete cure. He also believed most thoroughly in mental suggestion in treating these cases; in restoration of the bodily functions and in the promotion of sleep and entire rest of the nervous system. For remedies he would suggest nitrate of strychnia and the salt of sodium and gold chloride. He uses apomorphia in doses of from 1-30 to 1-10

of a grain, for its physiological effect and also for its relaxing effect upon the nervous and circulatory system.

Dr. G. G. Shelton, of New York, was unable to be present and his paper, "Typhoid Fever, its dietetic and therapeutic treatment," was read by title. This subject, however, was the topic for a very interesting discussion, opened by Dr. Frederick B. Percy, of Brookline. Dr. Percy spoke of the different methods of feeding in typhoid, These methods embraced 1, an abstemious diet; 2, a modified milk diet; 3, a diet of meat broths, with or without the addition of barley, sago, etc.; 4, a liberal diet, such as rice, eggs, farina, arrowroot, cocoa, etc. His method is to use the modified milk diet in most cases; in some cases, however, he believes a more liberal diet can safely be allowed, and that it often shortens convalescence. He mentioned the different therapeutic methods employed in typhoid, including the Brandt method, the antiseptic treatment of Woodbridge and Homœopathic medication. He believes fully in the hydro-therapeutic measures. For remedies, he has used with most success, Bapt. Tinc., Mer. Dulc., and Cupras Arsen 2x.

Dr. C. L. Nichols believes in milk diet, and at the end of second week usually gives some beef preparation and whiskey, in addition to the milk.

Dr. De Witt G. Wilcox believes that that most dread complication of typhoid-intestinal perforation, with resulting hemorrhage and inflammation, should be treated by surgical

means.

Dr. E. A. Fisher reported a fatal case of typhoid fever, in which, at the autopsy, large and numerous perforations were present, yet there had been no evidence of blood in the stools.

The next paper on the program was by Dr. Wm. Morris Butler, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and entitled "Puerperal Insanity and its Homoeopathic Treatment." This paper dealt with the etiology symptoms and homoeopathic medication of this form of mental derangement. He believes that a large per cent. of the mental troubles of women arise from mental

derangement during the puerperal state.

In the treatment

of this condition, the writer mentioned as essential, a competent nurse, pleasant and well-ventilated apartments, plenty of healthy exercise and bathing. For remedies he advises the use of belladonna, hyoscyamus, platina, strychnia, stramonium, ignatia, etc.

Dr. Frank C. Richardson, of Boston, in opening the discussion, said that he believed the cause of the trouble must be removed before a cure could be expected. An examination of the blood or of the gastric secretion often revealed a cause of trouble which must be corrected before the patient could improve. Dr. De Ette Brownell had in some prolonged cases, where the tendency was toward dementia, used, with good success, Thyroid Extract. It seemed to exert a beneficial influence upon the mental condition of the patient.

The next paper was by Dr. De Witt G. Wilcox, of Buffalo, N. Y., entited "Pelvic Inflammation." Dr. Wilcox spoke of the necessity of an early recognition of the causes which may lead to a pelvic inflammation, and of the responsibility of the family physician to whom these cases nearly always come in the beginning. An apparently slight inflammation. of the meatus urinarius or of the vagina, will, if let alone, in an incredibly short time, extend to the uterus, tubes and peritoneum; hence, the quicker the primary cause is corrected and removed, the less damage will result to the general pelvic peritoneum. The treatment must be according to the extent of the disease. If a specific vaginitis only is present, the patient should be given a hot vaginal douche, followed by an application of a 1 per cent. argonine or pro tagol solution. She should then be put to bed and a bi-chloride douche given every three hours.

If the disease has extended a little farther and an endocervicitis is present, the same vigorous treatment must be pursued. The bi-chloride solution must be freely used and the cervical canal thoroughly cleansed. Finally, the canal should be painted with tr. of iodine by means of an applicator. Under no circumstances should a probe be passed through

such a canal, for fear of infecting a healthy uterine mucous membrane. If the disease has progressed still farther and an endometritis is present, we must resort to surgical measures. The patient should be anesthetised, the uterine canal dilated and sterilized. This should be followed by a thorough curretage and intra-uterine douching. If the disease has extended to the pelvic peritoneum, in addition to the treatment of the endometritis present, the writer advised irrigation and drainage of the pelvic cavity through an incision in the posterior cul de sac.

Dr. Solomon C. Fuller presented an interesting paper on "A case of Uretastic Carcinoma of the Liver," illustrating his remarks with macroscopic and microscopic specimens of the growth.

Dr. J. M. Barton presented a clinical report of a case of "Carcinoma of the Lungs," and Dr. E. A. Murdock of a case of "Diphtheritic Paralysis."

A paper entitled "Prevention and Cure of Renal Calculi," by A. M. Cushing, was read by Dr. Crisand, in Dr. Cushing's absence. The author gave his experience with this condition and advocated the use of appocynum andros, which he had found to be almost .04 specific.

This paper closed the scientific session, and the society adjourned to Hotel Newton where fraternal greetings and dinner occupied the members and their guests, to the number of fifty-five, until 2.30 P. M. Dinner over, the toastmaster, Dr. G. Forrest Martin, of Lowell, called for order, and for nearly three hours there was "a feast of reason and a flow of soul," such as the society has seldom been privileged to enjoy.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Martin spoke of a tendency among young graduates of homoeopathic institutions to grow rather ashamed of their chosen school of medicine, seeming to lack reasons for their belief and arguments in defense of it. This tendency is lamentable, and young physicians were urged to stand strong in their faith, knowing well the firm. principles which they advocate.

Dr. Bray, the retiring president, in her address, urged upon physicians the importance of realizing their responsibilities as educators, and cited many cases in which a conscientious physician might have large influence for right solution of many every day problems.

Dr. Wm. M. Butler, of Brooklyn, gave a most interesting address on "The Homoeopathic Institutions in the State of New York," showing the great success which has followed the long years of hard work necessary to found these institutions,

Dr. John L. Coffin, of Boston, compared Homoeopathy of today with its standing thirty years ago, showing the wonderful progress and success of "the new school."

Dr. F. B. Percy gave as an ideal example of "The Family Physician," one with principles of truth, love, patience, honesty of purpose and true living, strong and well-defined.

Dr. Wilcox, of Buffalo, treated his subject, "The Scalpel," with a wit as keen and sharp as that instrument itself, constantly amusing his listeners by his clever puns, bright sallies and apt illustrations. In more serious vein, Dr. Wilcox emphasized the importance of only true-hearted, strong-purposed men using "the scalpel" in difficult surgery - men who thoroughly understand their work, and who operate for the good of mankind rather than for the pleasures of scientific and surgical study.

The topic "Nerves," was of necessity very briefly treated by Dr Richardson, as time had passed rapidly, and he, with other guests from the eastern part of the state, were obliged to leave at this point in the session.

Remarks were made by Dr. Rockwell on "The Micro. scope," and by Dr. Rand on "The Country Doctor." The meeting was adjourned after a unanimous vote of the society that the Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting had been one of the most profitable and enjoyable ever held.

F. R. WARREN, Secretary.