"The attention of the medical world has, only for a comparatively short time, been directed to the consideration of this phenomenon, so that the notes of many of the cases are necessarily incomplete. In attempting to account for the few instances, at first reported, the discharge was attributed to habit. It was, and indeed is now, argued, that the catamenia, being established through the agency of ovulation, continued to appear, after the removal of the ovaries, from a habit of the economy. This argument might be worthy of consideration in reference to the earlier and incomplete cases, where the flux appeared but once or

twice; but it hardly seems rational to attribute to such an agency as habit, a regular, periodical discharge continuing through nine or ten years. Moreover, were the continuance of the menses due to habit alone, we should justly expect that, as the exciting cause became the more remote, gradually the effect would become less and less marked. Is this the fact in the cases recorded? Apparently not so. Indeed, Dr. Battey states that the metrostaxis was 'more profuse and hemorrhagic' than ordinary menstruation. Under these circumstances, therefore, habit seems insufficient to account for the phenomenon presented. What then remains? Can we fail to admit, with our present knowledge, that menstruation does take place when the ovaries are wanting?

Attacks have been made upon the ovular theory from various quarters, and none of these assaults have been able to overthrow it. Yet, among its strong defences was ranked the invariable cessation of menstruation upon the removal of the ovaries, but this defence seems hardly tenable, under our present information. ture investigations will lead into new trains of thought, and prove or disprove all previous theories; but from the facts presented, and arguments entered into, it seems but right to admit that ovulation cannot be the sole cause of menstruation.

Fu

ILLINOIS STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY. -The Annual Session of this Society convened in this city on Tuesday, May 19th. There was a large attendance of members and delegates from all parts of the State, and an unusual degree of interest was maintained throughout the meeting.

On Wednesday evening the guests from abroad were entertained by the Profession of the city at a banquet at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

The dinner was served in the most elegant and elaborate style of this truly grand and magnificent hotel, and the evening proved a most happy and enjoyable one to all present.

The first toast to Our Guests was very happily and appropriately responded to by Prof. J. Adams Allen, and was followed by a reply from Dr. T. F. Worrell, of Bloomington, exPresident of the Society. Sentiments were also briefly responded to, on behalf of the Chicago Medical Society, by Dr. W. E. Quine; on behalf of the Chicago Society of Physicians and Surgeons, by Dr. John Bartlett, and on behalf of the Legal Profession, by Judge H. Booth.

The farewell good night sentiment was replied to by Prof. N. S. Davis.

As the artificially enlivening and stimulating influences of the ruby wine

or the sparkling champagne were not called into requisition, the universally pervading spirit of mirth and jollity, progressively increasing to an uproarious pitch at the close, could only be explained on the supposition that over-eating, as well as an excess in drinking, may be capable of overpowering or intoxicating the intellectual faculties.

On Thursday afternoon the members visited, by invitation, the Rush Medical College and Cook County Hospital, and the Chicago Medical College and Mercy Hospital. At the former institution an experiment in the transfusion of blood in a dog was exhibited by Prof. J. W. Freer, and a practical exhibition of the use of the aspirator given by Prof. E. Powell.

The officers elected by the Society for the ensuing year were:

President-Prof. J. H. Hollister.
Treasurer-Dr. W. E. Quine.
Permanent Secretary-Dr. T. D.

Fitch.

The next place of meeting to be held at Jacksonville.

We had hoped to be able to give a detailed account of the proceedings of the Society, the discussions, etc., in this number of THE EXAMINER, but are obliged to defer it until our next issue.

IN a recent number of the Berlin Klin., Wochensch, Dr. Fr. Schultze calls attention to a few cases of tetanus that are highly interesting in an etiological point of view. These

three cases very strangely supervene upon severe febrile attacks, though the Dr. does not state the exact period

in the course of the disease at which the symptoms of tetanus commenced to appear. In the first case it was evolved from an attack of small-pox without any other known predisposing cause, while in the other two cases it was from typhoid fever. F. J. H.

AT

Dr. N. S. Davis, April 21st, 1874, composed of physicians representing the general profession, and the various colleges and hospitals in the city, Dr. Alex. Fisher was called to the Chair, and Dr. J. N. Hyde to act as Secretary.

On motion of Dr. Hay, seconded by Dr. Jackson, it was voted that a committee of five be appointed by the Chair, who should be empowered to draft the Constitution of an organization for the purpose of collecting and preserving the archives of the profession, and of registering the names. and addresses of its legitimate members.

The Chair appointed as members of the Committee Drs. T. D. Fitch, Bridge, N. S. Davis, Bevan, and Hay.

At a subsequent meeting, held April 28th, 1874, in the Club Rooms. of the Tremont House, the Committee submitted their report. After due deliberation, the following was declared to be the

CONSTITUTION OF THE SOCIETY.

ART. I.-This Association shall be called "THE CHICAGO MEDICO-HISTORICAL SOCIETY."

ART. II.-Its objects shall be to discover, procure and preserve, whatever may relate to the medical history of Chicago and vicinity, and the publication of such information as may

upon.

first, not less than twenty-five members. Candidates for membership shall be nominated by the Committee on Publication, at a regular or special meeting; and at a subsequent meeting they may, on ballot, be elected by a three-fourths vote of all members present; provided, the first election of members shall be by the general meeting of the profession at which this organization is effected.

ART. III.-It shall consist of, at

ART. IV.-Members may be suspended or expelled on charges of negligence of duty or other misconduct, preferred at a stated meeting, and being within five days thereafter communicated to the accused by the Secretary, at a subsequent stated meeting, by a two-thirds vote.

ART. V.-The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Diarist, and an Editor. There shall also be a Standing Committee on Publication, to consist of the President and Editor ex officio, and three elected members. These officers (excepting the Editor and Committee on Publication, whose duties are hereinafter designated) shall perform the duties usually appertaining to their respective positions. They (excepting the Editor) shall be elected at the anniversary meeting. The Editor shall hold office indefinitely; but a new election may be ordered by a majority vote, at the anniversary meeting, or at any stated meeting, on the requisition of the Committee on Publication, or of any five regular members of the Society, notice of

such requisition having been given at a previous meeting, and by the Secretary, to each member.

ART. VI.-The Editor, with the advice and assistance of the Committee on Publication, shall prepare and publish "The Chicago Medical Register, etc.," and such other matter as the Society shall from time to time direct, under such regulations as may be recommended by the Committee on Publication and approved by the Society.

ART. VII.-The Committee on Publication, presided over by a Chairman of its own choice, shall assist the editor in the selection and preparation of material for publication, make all the necessary financial arrangements, and exercise such immediate control of the "Register" as it is inconvenient for the Society as a whole to exercise; but shall at no time admit or exclude from the "Register" the name of any practitioner whose claim to admission, or the justice of whose exclusion may be open to any question of doubt, except in obedience to the action of the Society, to which all questions of this nature shall be submitted at its several meetings. It shall attend to the keeping of the books, etc., appertaining to irregular practitioners, discharge the duties of the " Biographical Library," and "Portraiture Committees," and act as a Committee on Nominations. It shall report its proceedings to the Society at such times as the former may deem expedient, or the latter may order, and be in all things subject to the control of the Society.

The election under the Constitution resulted as follows:

Dr. R. C. Hamill, President; Dr. D. B. Trimble, Vice-President; Dr. A. R. Jackson, Editor; Drs. Bevan, Owen and Bridge, Publishing Committee; Dr. Wickersham, Diarist; Dr. Chas. W. Earle, Secretary; Dr. R. G. Bogue, Treasurer.

On motion, it was voted that a committee of three be appointed by

the Chair to propose By-Laws for the Society.

The Chair appointed Drs. E. Ingals, Bartlett, and Dexter.

At a meeting held May 5th, the Committee on By-Laws submitted their report, and the Society, after careful consideration, declared the following to be the

BY-LAWS OF THE SOCIETY.

ART. I.-The Society shall hold stated meetings on the last Tuesdays of January, April, July and October of each year, at 8 o'clock P.M. The annual election of officers shall be at the April meeting; but should there be no quorum for such election, the meeting may be adjourned from time to time, as circumstances may require. Special meetings shall be called by the Secretary, on the requisition of any five members of the Society: and the object of such meetings shall be stated in the notice to members by the Secretary.

ART. II.-The Order of Business shall be, ist, Roll-Call; 2d, Reading of Minutes; 3d, Report of Treasurer; 4th, Report of Diarist; 5th, Report of Cominittee on Publication; 6th, Report of Special Committees; 7th, Unfinished Business; 8th, Miscellaneous Business; 9th, Adjournment.

ART. III. No one shall be admitted to membership in the Society dence of having received a diploma who does not give satisfactory evifrom some respectable medical college; and violations of the code of the American Medical Association shall be cause of rejection or expulsion.

ART. IV. Any member who shall have omitted payment of dues for three months, or who shall have absented himself from three consecutive stated meetings, shall be declared by the President, at the next subsequent stated meeting, to have thereby forfeited his membership; provided, the Secretary shall have given notice to such member of his neglect, and its

consequences, and the penalty is not remitted by vote of the Society. Permanent removal from the city may be decided by vote of the Society as equivalent to resignation.

ART. V.-Any funds necessary for the carrying on of the work of this Society shall be raised by regular and equal assessment of all the members,

said assessment to be made by the Committee on Publications, subject to the approval of the Society.

The Society adjourned, to meet at its stated time, the last Tuesday in July, or subject to call by the Secretary, as provided in Art. I, By-Laws. CHAS. W. EARLE, Secretary.

THE

HE Society met in the parlor of the Grand Pacific Hotel, the President in the Chair.

The Secretary read the minutes of the two preceding meetings.

Drs. G. H. Chapman and Wm. Rofe were then elected to membership.

The Secretary read the annual reports of the Treasurer and Secretary, which, on motion of Dr. Emmons, were accepted. It was also voted to present the report of the Secretary for publication in the Chicago Medical Journal, and the MEDICAL EXAM

INER.

Subjoined is the Report:

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CHICAGO SOCIETY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS FOR THE YEAR ENDING, MAY 11TH, 1874.

Mr. President and Gentlemen :

In the presentation of the Report of the Secretary for the year, which closes with this date, I have thought

it proper to prepare an Abstract of the Proceedings of the Society for the period covered by the Report. A similar Abstract was read to you at the last annual meeting, and at the close of the year 1873, I published an Abstract of Proceedings for that period also. The reasons for this step were based upon the fact, that a large number of medical men habitually renew their subscriptions for medical periodicals at that season, and consider it a fitting occasion for subscribing for new I therefore deemed it advisable to present our claims upon their consideration at that time, by supplying them with information as to the work accomplished during the year then brought to a close. I refer to this now, merely to explain that the subjoined Abstract covers a period from May 12th, 1873, to May 11th, 1874; and differs from the last in the inclusion of Reports from January to May of this year, while those proceedings which ex