SIXTIETH QUARTERLY SESSION, HELD AT AKRON, OHIO, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1886.

The president, Dr. J. E. Dougherty, in the chair.

Dr. Bauer, of the Committee on Obituaries, was instructed to prepare a fitting memorial to be read at the next meeting upon the death of Dr. J. C. Ferguson of Mogadore.

Dr. Pierson read a history of a clinical case. The clinical committee, consisting of Drs. Hitchcock, Bauer and Rowe, after examination, reported the case to be one of chronic pleuritis with adhesions and effusion, and recommended alterative treatment.

Dr. Fisher read a report of a case of puerperal convulsions, in which venesection had been resorted to with favorable results.

In the discussion which followed, Dr. Shively said he did not believe in blood-letting, but would rely upon drastic cathartics and anÆsthetics.

Dr. Wright, in a practice of fifty years, had employed blood-letting in a few cases with good results.

Dr. Everhard had seen several cases, and favored the use of anÆsthetics, but objected to the use of morphine on the ground of the supposed urÆmic pathology of puerperal convulsions.

Dr. Howard thought Dr. Fisher’s treatment of the case good, and believed emphatically in blood-letting, and also in the use of arterial sedatives, such as verat., vir., etc.

Dr. T. C. Miller believed in thorough narcosis, giving morphine hypodermically until the effects were noticeable on the respiration. AnÆsthetics are good, but can not be given continuously. The physician giving the anÆsthetic, when the convulsions cease will not crowd the anÆsthetic, and almost before he is aware of it the convulsions will return. We have much to learn about the pathology of puerperal convulsions. The speaker does not believe it to be urÆmic. All of his cases in which he gave narcotics thoroughly from the first recovered; cases in which he used blood-letting died.

Dr. Vance believed that the treatment advised by Dr. Miller would result disastrously in many cases, and spoke at some length, showing that the latest authorities believed the true pathology of the trouble to be urÆmic.

Dr. Pixley asked, after hearing so many opinions from so many distinguished speakers: “What is Dr. Pixley going to do to-night if he meets a case of puerperal convulsions? One speaker swears, if you bleed, your patient will die; another swears, if you don’t bleed, your patient will die; a third says, you must give opium; another says, you must not; another says, you must give anÆsthetics; another veratrum, another cathartics.” Now, after all of this light upon the subject, he would do as he always has done—apply cold to the head, warmth to the extremities, maybe give a little opium, possibly bleed a little, equalize the circulation, and deliver as soon as possible. Some of his patients will live and some will die.

Dr. Howard submitted to the society, for signatures, a petition to the State Legislature in the interests of what is known as the “Sharpe bill,” for the creation of a State Board of Health and a State Board of Medical Examiners.

Adjourned to 1:30 P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

On motion of Dr. Vance it was decided to hold the next meeting in Cleveland, and on motion of Dr. Scott the Cuyahoga County Medical Society was invited to meet with this society.

It was also decided that, because of the session of the American Medical Association occurring in May, the meeting of this association be held on the first Tuesday in April.

Drs. A. R. Baker and W. T. Corlett were appointed a committee on arrangements for the meeting in Cleveland.

An election of officers for the ensuing year was held, with the following result: President, Dr. J. W. Shively of Kent; first vice-president, Dr. A. C. Belden of Akron; second vice-president, Dr. T. C. Miller of Massillon; recording secretary, Dr. L. S. Ebright of Akron; corresponding secretary, Dr. A. K. Fouser of Akron; treasurer, Dr. E. W. Howard of Akron.

Dr. Dougherty at once relinquished the chair to his successor, and in so doing begged to be excused from the customary valedictory address because of his having lately given up the practice of medicine and being now very busily engaged in the duties of a county office.

Dr. Shively, the president-elect, after thanking the members for the honor conferred upon him and commending the society upon its active prosperity and scientific advancement, entered upon the duties of the office.

The recording secretary and treasurer submitted their annual reports, which, on motion, were referred to the finance committee. The committee, after making a thorough examination of the accounts of the secretary and treasurer, reported them as correct, but at the same time recommending a more accurate system of book-keeping in the future, as well as the passage of a resolution providing for an annual due from each member.

Dr. McEbright gave notice of his intention to introduce such a resolution at the next meeting.

Dr. Loughead, the appointed essayist, read an interesting paper upon the Metric System, reviewing the many advantages which might be gained by its adoption by the medical profession.

Dr. D. B. Smith read a report of a case of hysterical blindness (see page 212 of this number), and followed with a verbal report of a very peculiar case of exfoliation of the epidermis.

Remarks on the cases reported were made by Dr. Corlett and others.

Dr. Hitchcock reported a case of malpresentation, in which, by manipulation and the slight aid of forceps, delivery was accomplished with safety to both mother and child.

Dr. Corlett spoke on the method of prescribing the bromide of arsenic. He said the most trustworthy way was the alcoholic solution, which he had been in the habit of diluting it in the strength of one grain to eight ounces of simple elixirs without precipitation. Care must be taken that no water be added before the bromide of arsenic is dissolved in alcohol. Spoke favorably of its use in the class of skin diseases known as nenrose cutanae.

Dr. Ebright reported the case of a man who had swallowed a silver dollar. Dr. Pixley told of a similar disposition of a five franc piece, and Dr. Everhard related a recent attempt by a lady to swallow the gauge of a sewing machine. The three cases terminated favorably, though the last mentioned required the aid of a surgeon.

The chair announced the following as the standing committees for the ensuing year:

Admissions—Drs. D. B. Smith, E. Hitchcock, S. Pixley.

Publication—Drs. B. B. Brashear, T. H. Phillips, H. M. Fisher.

Finance—Drs. T. McEbright, M. M. Bauer, L. P. Proehl.

Ethics—Drs. X. C. Scott, A. M. Sherman, E. Conn.

Obituaries—Drs. W. C. Jacobs, N. S. Everhard, E. K. Nash.

The appointments for the next meeting are as follows: Essayist, Dr. A. C. Brant; alternate, Dr. W. T. Corlett. Lecturer, Dr. E. W. Howard; alternate, Dr. B. B. Loughead. Reports of cases, Drs. McEbright, Phillips, Peck, Vance and Starr. Topic for discussion: “Functions of the Cerebellum,” to be opened by Dr. Brashear.

After tendering a vote of thanks to the city council for the use of the council chamber, and voting two dollars to the janitor of the building, the society adjourned to meet in Cleveland on the sixth of April.