Dr. E. P. Christian, of Wyandotte, then read a paper entitled "Observations upon the Shortness of the Umbilical Cord as a cause of Retarding Labor and of Accident." Referrred, on motion of Dr. Johnson, to the Publication Committee. The Committee on Admissions reported favorably on a number of applications, and adversely on the case of an applicant for membership who had been refused admission into a local society in Detroit. The Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Briggs, said: To the application of Dr. W. S. Wells, who was recommended by my friend Dunster and some one else, which was laid over from the last annual meeting, there have been objections made, but at that time he was under charges before the Society, from which I understand he has been acquitted. Your committee are not fully able to determine the merits of the case. It is stated that he deals in some wonderful secrets; something that we know nothing of. There are those here who are fully acquainted with the facts, and we would be pleased to hear from them. Dr. Brodie moved that the report be accepted and adopted, except so much of it as refers to Dr. Wells, and that that be referred back to the committee. The motion was supported by Dr. Jerome, and was carried. Dr. Brodie announced the presence of Dr. James Jameson, of Sampson, Ont., and moved that he be elected member by invitation, as representing the St. Clair Medical Society, of Canada. Carried. Dr. Geo. K. Johnson, of Grand Rapids, then read a paper entitled "Two Cases of Hodgkins' Disease, or Lymphadenosis," which cases he illustrated by life-size photographs. Dr. Jenks moved that the paper be referred to the Committee on Publication. Dr. Brodie moved that the thanks of the Society be given to Dr. Johnson for the skilful manner in which it was presented to the Society. Dr. Palmer-I wish to say that I heartily approve of its publication, as cases of this kind are of very great interest. I call to mind during the reading of the paper some five or six, perhaps seven or eight cases I have seen of this form of disease. One I would refer to, as brought to my office by Dr. Breakey -I see the Doctor is here-occurring in a young man, and I bring up this case particularly to mention one fact in connection with it: A young man who had previously been in good health, a young laboring man, born in Ireland I believe, though a very respectable young man, who had enlargement of these glands and the usual anæmia which accompanies this enlargement. I saw him and made an unfavorable prognosis of his case. Soon after he had a most profuse hemorrhage from the nose; he bled, it is said, some quarts of blood, and to the astonishment of everybody the glands diminished perhaps two-thirds in the course of a very short period, and the young man thought he was about to get well. He went into the hands of another physician who pronounced a very favorable opinion. I saw him after this hemorrhage occurred, and he appeared better for some weeks, but ultimately, of course, the anæmia increased. He experienced very great difficulty in breathing, while these glands were enlarged-enlarged in the chest, as well as externally about his neck, about his chest and about other parts of his person. He breathed with great difficulty; but he, as well as his physician, had great hopes of his recovery at that time. But ultimately the anæmia continued, the glands did not grow as much afterward, but he sank and died from the anamia. I have seen an examination of the blood from some of these cases, and in all cases that I now remember of particularly, the blood corpuscles were small, shriveled, and irregular in form. I believe that these are blood glands, and although they may not be of the relation of cause and effect, between the enlargement of the glands or disease of the glands and anæmia, which is so sure to follow, yet I believe the diseased glands have their influence in producing imperfect blood corpuscles. This relation of cause and effect seems to extend between the enlargement of the glands and the anæmia which follows, and this opinion has been confirmed by a few reported cases, one, particularly, reported by Prof. Green, of Bowdoin College, who has operated upon some of the glands externally, removing them with great advantage to his patient, in a comparatively early stage, and the patient was still alive and doing well several months after the operation. Whether it will be an ultimate recovery or not I do not know. I understand the German surgeons are very much in favor of an operation at an early period. Dr. Andrews is here and I would be very glad to hear from him on the subject. The proceedings were rather abruptly brought to a close by the announcement that the time for the excursion on the river had arrived. The motion to refer to the Publishing Committee was carried, and the Society adjourned to take the boat that was in waiting to carry its members to the establishlishment of Park, Davis & Co. and to the Detroit Water Works. Second Day-Morning Session. 9 o'clock A. M. The meeting was called to order by the President. The President requested the Vice Presidents to come forward to the platform. Roll called. On motion, the reading of the minutes was dispensed with. The Chairman of the Committee on Membership, Dr. Briggs, made a partial report. Dr. Brodie moved that it be accepted and adopted. Carried. The Secretary stated that he had a charge made by Dr. Eugene Smith against a member of the Society, which he moved be referred to the Judicial Council. Dr. Topping supported the motion, which was carried. Dr. Breakey, Chairman of the Committee on Necrology, read his report in full, prefacing the same by the following remarks: "Your Committee on Necrology are very happy to report but a few members as having died within the past year. They have the names of J. H. Beach, of Coldwater; Dwight Nims, of Jackson; and Z. E. Bliss, of Grand Rapids, who died three or four years ago, whose name has never been reported. The facts for a biographical sketch of Dr. Bliss' life were not furnished to the committee in time last year to report. "I have also the name of Dr. Nathan Mitchell, of Coldwater. Dr. Mitchell was a member of the Society, but at present his name is not upon the roll. Dr. Twiss, who furnishes the facts in the case of Dr. Mitchell, reports that he was only prevented by age from attendance for the last year or two; and in view of the fact of his being a pioneer in the profession in Michigan, and a very worthy man, the committee have reported his name, leaving it for the Society to determine whether it shall go upon the roll or not. The facts in the case are reported by Dr. Twiss, and the facts in the case of Dr. Beech by the Doctor, together with Mrs. Beech; and Dr. Bliss by his wife, Mrs. Bliss; and in the case of Dr. Nims, by Dr. Cyrus Smith, of Jackson, a member of the committee, and by Dr. Nim's family. After the reading of the obituary of Dr. Beech, Dr. Jerome, of Saginaw City, moved that it be accepted and adopted, with thanks. Carried. After reading the memoriam of Dr. Nims, Dr. Topping moved that the report of the committee be accepted and referred to the Committee on Publications. Carried. After reading of report of the life and death of Dr. Bliss, Dr. Topping moved that it be accepted and referred to the Committee on Publications. Carried. Dr. Breakey then read the report of Dr. Nathan Mitchell. Dr. Topping moved its acceptance and reference to the Committee on Publication. Carried. Dr. Ranney announced that Dr. Baker, Secretary of the State Board of Health, was unable to be present, but he had sent his annual report here for distribution to the members, in charge of a gentleman from Lansing, and they could be had by calling on him at the other end of the room. Dr. Pratt, Chairman of the Finance Committee, made the following report: To the Michigan State Medical Society: Your Standing Committee on Finance, having examined the reports of your Secretary and Treasurer, and their books and vouchers, beg leave to report that, as shown by the report of the Secretary, the resources of the Society during the year last past have been as follows: His disbursements, as shown by his report, and verified by vouchers have been... $463 10 Leaving a balance in his hands belonging to the So ciety of.. $182 12 $644 22 From the $181 12 (reported by the Treasurer as deposited to the credit of this Society in the Central Michigan Savings Bank at Lansing), if we deduct $10 50, reported to be due the Secretary, the available money on hand at the close of the year and belonging to the Society is $170 62. All of which is respectfully submitted. FOSTER PRATT. On motion of Dr. Brodie, the report of the Finance Committee was accepted and adopted. The next in order was a paper by Dr. Hitchcock, entitled "A case of Fracture of the Acetabulum, with Dislocation of the Femur." Dr. Brodie moved that the regular order be suspended, and that the next paper in order be taken up, as Dr. Dunster, who was to read Dr. Hitchcock's paper, had not arrived. Carried. The Secretary stated that Dr. Wyman had a voluntary paper on the "Dangers of the Introduction of Air into the Veins by the use of the Aspirator." On motion, the paper was received. The next in order was a paper by Dr. J. S. Calkins, entitled "Hour-Glass Contraction of the Uterus." Dr. Caulkins said that in consequence of his experience as a listener, he was satisfied that he could not be heard in the room, and therefore declined to read his paper himself, but said his friend and neighbor, Dr. McCall, of Lapeer, would read for him. The paper was then read by Dr. Calkins. Dr. Topping moved that the paper be received and referred to the Publishing Committee. Carried. Dr. Bennett, of Coldwater, said: That question is a very interesting one, and as it is a fact that I have happened to discover a few cases of hour-glass contraction of the uterus, I have a few words to say on that subject. The speaker was here interrupted by Dr. Brodie, who said: "There is in the room Dr. Leonard Chase, who graduated in the year 1821, from Vermont; I move that he be invited to a seat on the platform." Motion carried, and the visitor escorted to a seat amid applause. The President introduced him formally to the members of the Society as a practicing physician of 58 years' experience. |