of the Methods of Application." On motion, it was referred to the Section on Practice of Medicine and Obstetrics.

Dr. J. P. GARRISH, of New York, offered a paper on "The Use of Instruments in Obstetrics," which was similarly referred.

Dr. S. B. MERKEL proposed to bring before the Association George Thomas, a native of Brazil, who, although externally well formed, can move his heart about at will; and can also whirl the abdomen like a huge ball, with an undulating motion, around the umbilicus.

On motion, the case was referred to the same Section.

Dr. W. H. MUSSEY, of Ohio, offered a paper on Electrolysis in Cancer, and one entitled "A Case of Vesical Calculus and Polypi of the Prostate Gland." Illustrated with photographs and specimens.

On motion, both were referred to the Section on Surgery and Anatomy.

A paper on the Soft Palate in Health and Disease, by Dr. HARRISON ALLEN, of Pennsylvania; one on Operation of the HipJoint, with a detailed case, by Dr. W. F. PECK, of Iowa, and one entitled "Four Cases of Fracture of the Femur," by Dr. P. R. HOY, of Wisconsin, were offered, and similarly referred.

Dr. P. PINEO, of Massachusetts, presented the Report of the U. S. Marine Hospital Service, which, on motion, was referred to the Section on Practice of Medicine and Obstetrics.

Several disputed credentials, and other papers, having been reported by the Committee of Arrangements, were referred, without comment, to the Committee on Ethics.

Dr. GEO. SUTTON, of Indiana, chairman of the Committee on the Comparative Pathology and the Effects which Diseases of Inferior Animals have upon the Human System, reported, and the committee was continued.

On motion of Dr. A. M. POLLOCK, of Pennsylvania, it was

Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed by the Presi dent to take into consideration the propriety of adopting the sug. gestions of the Committee on Medical Education.

Committee. Drs. A. M. POLLOCK, of Pennsylvania; W. F. WESTMORELAND, of Georgia; A. N. TALLEY, of South Carolina; J. WALKER, of New York; J. D. JACKSON, of Kentucky; J. S. WEATHERLY, of Alabama, and H. MAGUIRE, of Virginia.

Dr. J. M. KELLER, of Kentucky, offered the following:Resolved, That the Committee on Publication have discretionary

power on all papers referred to them, unless instructions to publish. accompany the papers when referred.

Dr. J. G. STETLER, of Pennsylvania, offered the following:Resolved, By the American Medical Association, that no report, paper, etc., referred by it to the various Sections, shall be referred by the latter to the Committee of Publication without first having been examined and approved by two-thirds of the members present at said Section.

Dr. F. G. SMITH, of Pennsylvania, asked if these were not amendments to the constitution, and consequently should lie over?

A motion by Dr. P. C. WILLIAMS, of Maryland, to lay both on the table, was lost-ayes 104, nays 165.

Dr. S. C. GORDON, of Maine, offered as a substitute,

Resolved, That the Committee of Publication have discretionary power as to publishing all papers referred to them by the Society or Sections.

Dr. A. B. PALMER, of Michigan, moved the indefinite postponement of the whole matter.

The President having decided that debate was not in order on such a motion, Dr. J. G. STETLER, of Pennsylvania, appealed from his decision; the question was put, and the Chair sustained.

The indefinite postponement was then agreed to by a large ma jority.

On motion, the Association adjourned, to meet on Thursday at 10 A.M.

THIRD DAY.

THURSDAY, MAY 9.

The President called the Association to order at 10 A.M. On motion, Drs. E. N. ASH, of North Carolina, S. TROUPE MAXWELL, of Florida, and JOHN BERRYMAN, of New Brunswick, were elected members by invitation.

The Permanent Secretary read the following communication:

W. B. ATKINSON, M.D.,

HALL OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS

OF PHILADELPHIA, May 1, 1872.

Permanent Secretary American Medical Association:

DEAR SIR: At a stated meeting of the college, held this evening, the following preamble and resolutions were passed :— "Whereas, Cases of accidental poisoning, and of the internal ad

ministration of medicines intended only for external use, are so frequent, and whereas every possible safeguard should be employed to prevent such accidents; therefore,

"Resolved, That it is recommended to all druggists to place all external remedies in bottles not only colored, so as to appeal to the eye, but also rough upon one side, so that by the sense of touch no mistake shall be possible even in the dark.

"Resolved, That all bottles containing poisons should not only be labeled 'poison,' but also with another label indicating the most efficient and convenient antidote.

"Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the American Medical Association, the College of Pharmacy of Philadelphia, and the American Pharmaceutical Association, and their assistance asked in bringing about so desirable a reform."

Respectfully yours,

JOHN H. PACKARD,

Secretary, College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

On motion of Dr. L. A. SAYRE, of New York, these resolutions were unanimously adopted.

Dr. ALEX. W. STEIN, of New York, offered the following, which was adopted :

Whereas, It has long since been recognized that diseases of a dangerous and fatal nature are transmissible from animals to man, and that certain zymotic affections which are common to both man and animals, do very frequently manifest themselves first in the latter and subsequently in man, thus warning us that to be indifferent to the condition of the inferior animals is to introduce and create centres of disease among ourselves;

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to ascertain what measures can be instituted to prevent the extension of such diseases to man, and what sanitary measures can be effected to arrest the progress of such diseases in animals.

The President appointed as the committee, Drs. A. W.STEIN, of New York, GEO. SUTTON, of Indiana, and S. D. GROSS, of Pennsyl vania.

Dr. J. M. KELLER, of Kentucky, presented a circular, which was at once referred to the Committee on Ethics.

Dr. FREDERICK HORNER, JR., of Virginia, offered the following, which was adopted :

Whereas, the abuse of ardent spirits in our country has proved injurious to the health of the community,

Resolved, That the members of this Association do recommend to our medical brethren to discourage the abuse of alcoholic stimuli in their several communities.

Dr. FRANCIS G. SMITH, of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Committee on a Nomenclature of Diseases, reported as follows:

In accordance with instructions given to them by the Association in 1870, the committee have prepared a Nomenclature of Diseases, to be recommended to the medical practitioners of the United States for adoption and observance. It will be remembered that the committee appointed at New Orleans in 1869, to determine what alterations, if any, are necessary, to adapt the Provisional Nomenclature of the Royal College of Physicians of London to general use in the United States, reported at Washington, that the English Nomenclature was not adapted to this end, and recommended the appointment of a new committee to prepare a Nomenclature of their own. This committee are now prepared to submit the results of their labors. The system of Nomenclature offered is based upon that of the Royal College of Physicians of London, with such additions and modifications as in the judgment of the committee were needed. The general divisions of that work have been adopted, although the order of their succession has been materially modified, and the whole is preceded by a general nomenclature of morbid conditions, such as do not constitute special diseases. It must be remembered that the Nomenclature adopted by the Royal College is strictly provisional, and that provision was made for its modification, as necessity might demand. It was expressly set forth, not as possessing absolute scientific accuracy, but as a contrivance for securing the use of the same name for the same disease, and "for perfecting the statistical registration of diseases, with a view to the discovery of the laws which determine their causes, phenomena, and results." The same may be said of that which your committee present; it also is provisional, and must be subject to such alteration and revision as experience may prove desirable.

In selecting Latin equivalents for English names of diseases, the committee have frequently departed from the example of the English Nomenclature, in which, as far as possible, Latin terms of classical authority have been employed. Their reasons for doing so are briefly these:

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1. A large number of diseases now commonly recognized were totally unknown to the ancients.

2. The language of medicine, like that of law, abounds in technical Latin terms of medieval or later origin, and these are the only terms by which the things signified by them are generally known.

3. To express the ideas of modern science in classical Latin often involves the use of periphrases which tend to obscure, instead of making them clearer.

In the Nomenclature of the Royal College of Physicians of London, precedence is given to the Latin over the English names. Your committee have reversed this arrangement, believing that wherever English names exist, they should be preferred, because they are more intelligible to the greater number of practitioners, and because the tendency is every where increasing to use vernacular idioms in naming diseases. Latin synonyms for them are, however, annexed, which have a definite meaning for the medical profession in all civilized nations.

The committee have been engaged for two years in the preparation of its Report, and have held nearly fifty meetings. Whatever defects, therefore, it may present, cannot, they think, be laid to a want of industry or care.

They have to deplore, with many others, the loss by death of a valued member of their body, Dr. SAMUEL HENRY DICKSON, who, by his extensive learning, wide experience, and cultivated intellect, gave great aid to their labors; and, although his failing health prevented his being a constant attendant on the meetings of the committee, his sympathies were always with its work, and his counsel was promptly and cheerfully given. In common with this community in which he lived, and with this Association, we mourn his loss.

In order to expedite and facilitate the work devolving upon them, the committee was early divided into sub-committees of Practical Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics, to each of which was assigned the study of a special department, the results of which were reported to the general committee for approval. By invita tion of the general committee, Dr. J. ASHHURST, JR., was added to the sub-committee on Surgery, and Dr. W. GOODELL to that on Obstetrics. To each of these gentlemen, the committee desire to express their thanks for the valuable assistance which they rendered. In concluding this brief report of their labors, the fruits of which are seen in the printed matter now presented to the