obtained with my medical cases, and I fail to understand how any observing and thinking physician can still cling to so prejudicial a drug as alcohol when he has within his reach a multitude of valuable, exact and reliable methods for combatting, govern. ing and controlling disease." In addition to this testimony, we have the corroborating and confirming experience of Kassowitz, Woodhead, Davis, Madden, Woodbury, Egbert, Lesser, General of Red Cross in Cuban War, and a host of others. In conclusion I will mention a few of the conditions in which alcohol is extensively used by the profession, in my judgment, to the great detriment of the poor unfortunates upon whom it is used. In cases of protracted disease, like typhoid and other continued fevers, dysentery, pneumonia, enteritis, and all of this class of diseases which are frequently protracted, and the contest between the recuperative powers of nature and the pathological agent seems so equally matched that the smallest influence is sufficient to turn the scale one way or the other; here instead of sustaining and conserving the powers of nature, it is the custom of many physicians to persistently administer this agent hour by hour and day by day, loading the blood further with waste material, and depriving the tissues of the necessary oxygen supply, as above explained, and unless such cases are beyond the reach of homicidal medication, they finally succumb to treatment alone. Another frequent mistake in the administration of this agent is in cases of shock from accident or surgical necessity; in the great majority of these cases a little time only is essential to resuscitation and a little non-meddlesome letting alone would be sufficient; there exists so much reserved vital force that the alcohol so administered, while unnecessary and doing no good, can do no fatal harm, except that the rallying of such cases is accepted as the result of the remedy used. On the other hand, a severe shock, narcotism or heart inertia occurs, where the chances for life hang upon doing the proper thing at the right time; to pour a lot of this paralyzing anæsthetic, or in absence of abillty to swallow, to inject it into the blood, is simply to blot out the little chance left for life; such cases are reported by these gentlemen as seen when beyond the powers of resuscitation by the best directed efforts of the pro fession, while in point of fact the hypodermie use of strychnia, digitalis or nitro-glycerine, with the employment of normal salt solution, or in many instances masterly inaction would have saved the life of the sufferer. Therefore, these premises duly considered, I believe that in the scientific light of the present era alcohol should be classed amongst the anaesthetics and poisons, having a very limited usefuluess when so carefully employed; but owing to its delusive, habit-begetting and uncertain therapy that the human family would be benefited by the substitution of other agents of its class, and its entire exclusion from the field of remedial agents. PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA AND ITS TREATMENT. BY W. F. KING, M.D., JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. Prof. L. B. D'A., æt 32, has always enjoyed good health, except he has had eight or ten attacks of hemorhragica, each lasting from five to eight days. Sometimes for twelve hours or more the bleeding is preceded by gastric disturbances and head. ache, while at other times it comes on without warning or systematic disturbance, On February 8th, 1903, I was called to see the patient and found him suffering with intense headache and nausea, which continued for about twenty-four hours despite all efforts for relief. Blood began to ooze from the gums, tongue and palate, by which I knew his old enemy was upon him, though there had been an interval of about four years since the last attack, and he had began to hope that he had been freed from its toils. My first impulse was to administer Adrenalin, but on returning to my office I found that I had only a few drops on hand, and, on consultation with Dr. D'Armond, father of the patient, who had attended him in most of his previous attacks, we concluded to try the old treatment, ergot, iron and arsenic. In a few hours the oozing had increased to a flow, and the field of hemorrhage had spread to the lips, tonsils and pharynx. By the next day the blood was flowing from the nasal cavities, and the patient was urinating blood by the pint. Petechiæ from the size of a pin head to that of the thumb-nail had appeared up on the legs, arms, neck, face and eyelids, which, when rubbed by the clothing or bedding, ruptured and bled freely. It was now blood, blood, blood; blood to the right of us, blood to the left of us, blood in front of us, trickled and bubbled; still we rode on and poured down the ergot, and iron, and arsenic; our patient drinking blood, sweating blood, and wallowing in blood for three days and nights. Then, like the noble "six hundred," we rode back, for the hemorrhage gradually subsided and the patient slow y recovered and returned to his duties. About six weeks afterwards I was again called to see this patient, who complained of a severe frontal hoadache, with nausea and pain in the stomach. I gave him one-fourth grain of morphine, hypodermatically, which afforded some relief. In about twelve hours his wife called me by telephone, and said her husband was having another bleeding-spell. I called in about an hour, and sure enough, blood was oozing from his gums, tongue and tonsils, while several petechiae had appeared upon the tongue, face, neck and conjunctiva of the left eye. I at once gave him. ten drops of solution Adrenalin Chloride in one-fourth of a glass of water, with instructions that the dose be repeated every two hours. In eight hours all bleeding had ceased, when I ordered the administration of the Adrenalin Chloride to be stopped. In about twenty-four hours blood began again to flow, when I at once ordered the Adrenalin to be given in doses of ten drops every two hours. In ten hours there was no sign of bleeding, and the petechiae had been blanched; but to make certain doubly sure, I, this time, continued to give the Adrenalin every six hours, for four days then every twelve hours, for two days; then once a day for two or three days, when I left it off, and felt quite proud of my achievement, though of course "one swallow does not make a summer." The second attack may never have reached the stage of the one of six weeks previous, but it showed every disposition to do 80. On the other hand, if I had not used the Adrenalin it might have been even worse than the previous attack. However, my patient and I gave the credit to Adrenalin, and, hereafter, I shall always keep a bottle on hand. No other medicine was given, as I wished Adrenalin to have a fair show and a clear track. I had confidence in it, as I have been using it for the last twelve months in eye, nose and throat work with great satisfaction. I have been using it also in intestinal hemorrhage occurring in typhoid, with good results, but as I was administering other astringents I could not be sure of its specific action. I shall continue to use Adrenalin with increased confidence. Becords, Becollections and Beminiscences REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL AT NEW ORLEANS, MAY 19-22, 1903. THIRD DAY-THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1903. The morning hours were devoted to a visit to the Charity Hospital, under the guidance of Dr. Hermann Gessner, Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements, and his assistants, and to registration of new members, or those who had thus, far failed to register with the secretary. During the morning the Queen City Drum and Bugle Corps, of Charlotte, North Carolina, visited the College and gave an exhibition of their skill in forming, marching, drumming and sounding bugle. Later on Mrs. Stonewall Jackson visited the hall, accompanied by Miss Lucille Smith, her New Orleans hostess, and Dr. Summey, her cousin, and remained to luncheon. Mrs. Jackson was warmly greeted by the veterans and given a place of honor at the lunch table. The delegates now having returned from the Charity Hospital, and as it was not quite time for lunch, the Association was called to order for the purpose of reading a few communications received. First was a telegram in response to the one sent to the conven tion of military surgeons of the United States now being held at Washington, D. C. It was as follows: The Association of Medical Officers of the Army and Navy of the Confederacy: DR. DEERING ROBERTS, New Orleans, La.-The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States cordially reciprocate the fraternal greetings of the Association of Medical Officers of the Army and Navy of the Confederacy. While the breadth of a continent intervenes between our sessions, our hearts unite with you in that common aim of alleviating suffering which knows no North, no South, no East, no West, but a united coun. try and an international recognition. ROBERT ALLEN BLOOD, M.D., President. JAMES EVELYN PHILLIPS, M.D., Secretary. The next communication read by the secretary was a telegram from Ex-President Parker, regretting his inability to be present at the session. A letter from Dr. Barnett, of Louisiana, was read, also expressing regrets at his absence and inclosing his annual dues to the Association. These three communications were received and ordered spread upon the minutes of the Association. The Secretary stated that any member of the Association who desired to join the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States could do so upon the required initiation fee-$5.00, which would admit him to full membership in that body and the privilege of a copy of their proceedings, and other literature, quite valuable. Dr. Cowan, of Tennessee: "I rise to a question of personal privilege. I have with me a friend who was a gallant Confederate soldier, and I ask for him a seat in this council. This man rode with that Wizard of the Saddle, General Forrest, rode during the first two years of the war by the side of General Forrest. He was the bugler for General Forrest. I move that he be received by this Association." Dr. Roberts, of Tennessee: "I second the motion. I also amend that motion in that we admit him to registration in this Association. He held the rank of sergeant, and as musicians |