H. W. Strong, Byron.
Herman H. Schoberg, Kalmazoo.
Erastus Spaulding, Gr'd Rapids.
W. N. Smart, Grand Haven.
Jas. M. Sligh, Grand Rapids.
Perry Schultz, Gr'd Rapids.
*J. M. Sutherland, Caledonia.
A. L. Van Horn, Dowling.
Dan'l J. Wallace, Sparta Centre.
Ezra Walling, Berlin.

Wyllys S. Walker, Spring Lake.
Albert W. Weston, Grandville.

There were other members in attendance, as follows:

The following preamble and resolutions were offered by Dr. J. H. Bennett of Coldwater:

WHEREAS, The State Public School at Coldwater is the only great institution in the West favorable for studying the diseases of childhood, and should be the proper location for the collection of statistics in the diseases of childhood;

AND WHEREAS, Several epidemic diseases, and also several zymotic diseases have prevailed among the inmates of that institution; therefore

Resolved, That it is the judgment of this Association, that the medical and surgical management of said school should be placed in the care of competent and careful medical men, and that careful and proper clinical records should be preserved, which would furnish statistics and data for the investigation and study of the diseases of infancy and childhood; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chair appoint a committee of three to lay a copy of these resolutions before the Board of Control of said School, and urge the adoption of the measures set forth in these resolutions.

Adopted.

Dr. Maclean, of Ann Arbor, read a paper on "Clinical Observations and Practical Deductions," and illustrated it with several specimens and instruments used in his practice in the Clinic of the Medical School of the State University. It was, on motion, referred to the Committee on Publication and ordered published.

All other papers reported to the Society at this meeting but not read, were, on motion of Dr. Pratt, referred to the Committee on Publication, with discretion to publish them or not, in the proceedings of the Society, as may be deemed wise.

Dr. Cox, of Battle Creek, offered a resolution expressing the thanks of the Society to Dr. and Mrs. Johnson, and to Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Gilbert for the splendid entertainment given to the Association on the previous evening.

The motion was adopted by a rising vote and many demonstrations of hearty endorsement of all the resolution implied. Dr. Brodie presented a resolution, which was adopted, thanking Judge Holmes for the use of the court-room; also thanking such railroads as had made reductions to members attending the meeting; to the press of the city for the interest it showed in the meeting and the full reports given of the session; and to the presiding officer and other officers of the Society for the faithful manner in which they had performed their duties.

Dr. Parmenter moved that when the Society adjourns, that it does so to meet on the second Wednesday of June, 1881, and that the President be authorized to appoint delegates to the American Medical Association for 1881, as that body would probably meet in the South during the May preceding the next annual meeting of this Society.

Carried.

A motion was then made to adjourn.

President G. K. Johnson said, that before putting that motion, he wished to thank the members of the Society for the kind and civil manner with which they had treated him during his term of office, and said he believed the meeting had been a general success, and that much good would accrue to all concerned.

The motion to adjourn was then put and carried.
GEO. E. RANNEY, M D.,
Recording Secretary.

INHALATION IN THE TREATMENT OF

DISEASES OF THE RESPIRA-
TORY TRACT.

BY E. L. SHURLY, M. D., DETROIT.

Having had considerable opportunity during the past few years of testing this method in the treatment of the various acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, I beg leave to present, as briefly as possible, some of the results of my experience, more with the desire of exciting discussion than seeking acquiescence in the views expressed. I cannot accord with the many glowing accounts in print now-a-days of the very general triumph achieved by this method; but believe, that like every other therapeutic measure, its success depends upon very careful discrimination, both as regards the patient selected and the particular form and agent used for inhalation. There are certain classes of cases, undoubtedly, greatly benefited by inhalations, and there are others more or less injured thereby, and just what rules to lay down for a wise discrimination I do not know; suffice it to say, that I believe careful experiment and close observation are our only guides.

It is often forgotten that the effect of a given inhalation depends upon the temperature, moisture, and amount of exercise required, as much as upon the drug or gas used to medicate the inspired air. When we remember that the respiratory tract is intended to receive only ordinary air, we cannot be astonished at the ill-effects which often follow our best directed efforts to medicate in this way.

In many acute affections of the bronchial tubes and lungs the heat and moisture with which the inspired air is loadedfrom an ordinary so-called "vapor inhalation"—will cause such a degree of swelling and irritation of the mucous membrane, on account of the absorption of the moisture by the

ciliæ of the mucous membrane, as to greatly aggravate the diseased condition, notwithstanding that the drugs employed are of the mildest character; while in other cases the muscular effort required to perform the act is productive of mischievous exhaustion or "febrile action."

There are four different methods of inhalation at present in use, viz. Atomization; medicated vapor; dry medicated air, including fumes, compressed air, and gases; and insufflation of powders.

The atomization of the medicated fluid is accomplished either by steam or compressed air. By this means any substance which is soluble may be projected into the throat or nose in a nebula or cloud. On account of admixture with steam it is obvious that a nebula from a steam apparatus is much more dilute than from a compressed air apparatus,—the difference being at least one-third. But, on the other hand, it is thought that the penetration of the former-steam-is very much greater owing to the temperature. That this is, undoubtedly, true, may be proved by the greater facility with which the systemic effect of a drug can be obtained by the former, when the inhalation is properly conducted.

The mooted question, of the penetration of atomized liquids into the smaller bronchi and pulmonary cells, may be looked upon as definitely settled if we will allow for differences of anatomical conformation and skill in the art of inhaling, upon which all the bitter controversy heretofore existing may be justly considered to have depended. This sort of medication, however, is most useful in the affections of the pharynx, larynx, trachea, and nasal passages,-the steam being preferable for affections of the larynx, trachea, and nose, except in office practice, when the compressed air is not so objectionable because under our immediate direction. In acute and subacute pharyngitis, nothing is more grateful than the projection of an atomized solution of ac. carb., or ac. carb. et alum., every two or three hours; also in the earlier stages of tonsillitis. In cases, however, where the mucous membrane is greatly relaxed and sodden this plan is not so well borne. In some cases of acute as well as chronic laryngitis, the atomization of a solution of either ammon. mur., ac. carb., tr. opii, f. ext. conium, or hammamelis, are productive of great relief; while in others, characterized by excessive swelling, this procedure causes increased distress; and we are obliged to resort to the direct projection upon the parts of plain or carbolized vaseline, or petrolina,-carbolic acid being, according to the experiments of Dr. Glasgow and others, one of the best anal