in cold perspiration, severe pain in right lumbar region, pulse 140, very weak. Gave stimulants freely and chloral. In about two hours she sank into an uneasy slumber. 3d, high fever, pulse 120, hard and sharp, skin hot and dry, tongue moist and dirty brown streak in center, bowels constipated, urine dark, and difficulty in passing it, pain and tenderness extended half across the abdomen which was swollen and trympanitic. The aspect

of the patient gave most unfavorable prognosis. Veratrum was continued with addition of gelseminum, and brandy in as large quantities as could be tolerated. Beef essence no longer being of use on account of sickness induced by it, milk was administered and chlorate potash as antiseptic. R opii. gr. s s, hyd. sub. mur. gr. 4, m. ft. pil. S 1-4 hours. Abdomen bathed freely and frequently with chloral lotion and covered with hot hops. These measures gave great relief, and until the 8th no apparent change, but on this date patient began to improve, and from this time improved steadily. Saline laxatives and diuretics, citrate of iron in wine formed the after treatment. My partner, Dr. Ham, visited the case with me frequently, and I feel indebted to him for many valuable suggestions.

The President then presented his retiring address, which was very interesting, and was loudly applauded by the Society. The President elect took the chair, and after announcing the committees for the ensuing year, the Society adjourned to meet in South Bend, Ind., on the second Tuesday in January, 1877. C. S. PIXLEY, Secretary.

NILES, MICH., June 13, 1876.

IONIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

Pursuant to a call for a meeting of the physicians of Ionia County, to be held at Dr. Romig's office, Ionia, May 30th, a good representation was present and resulted in the organization of a society called the Ionia County Medical Society. Dr. Gundrum was elected chairman, and 'Dr. Romig secretary. A

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committee, consisting of Drs. Barnes, Pray and Spalding, was appointed by the chair to draft a constitution and by-laws. After some discussion the Society adopted the constitution and by-laws as reported by the committee. On motion the chair appointed a committee on credentials, consisting of Drs. Pray, Barnes and Lincoln, who reported favorably on all present. The Society then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing year, and the following were elected: President, Dr. Geo. Pray; Vice-President, Dr. F. Gundrum; Secretary, Dr. S. V. Romig; Treasurer, Dr. W. B. Thomas. The President appointed Drs Barnes, Spalding and Gundrum to act as a board of censors. After making appointments for the next meeting, etc., the Society adjourned to meet at Dr. Gundrum's office, Ionia, July 25, 1876.

DR. S. V. ROMIG, Secretary.

PROCEEDINGS AT THE MEETING OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH OF MICHIGAN, JULY 11, 1876.

There were present Dr. H. O. Hitchcock, President; Dr. R. C. Kedzie, Rev. J. G. Goodman, Dr. A. Hazlewood, and Dr. Henry B. Baker, Secretary.

There was considerable discussion over the present system of oil inspection in the State. Notwithstanding the great saving of life under the new law, the Board is not yet satisfied, but is striving for even better results. A thorough report on the subject was presented by Dr. Kedzie.

Dr. Kedzie presented a paper on "Means of Escape from Public Buildings in case of Fire." It was a strong plea for a law requiring the doors of all public buildings to open outwards; and that there should be some means of escape from each hotel room. In buildings of this character the flames generally follow the stairways and elevator openings.

Dr. Kedzie also read a paper and presented a model illustrat ing his new plan for ventilating railroad cars. By his method

the air is introduced free from all dust and cinders, is evenly distributed through the car in sufficient quantity without sensible draft, and at the same time the foul air is rapidly withdrawn.

By request of the Board and for the information of its members, Dr. Kedzie read a report of the meeting of the American Medical Association at Philadelphia, he having been chairman of the section on public health in that Association.

Dr. Baker presented tables and diagrams showing the deathrate under various conditions of climate, etc.

Dr. Hazlewood read a paper in which he gave facts and figures concerning the advisability and the dangers to be avoided in vaccination for the prevention of small-pox. It contained a complete history of vaccination from its discovery, and presented statistics showing the decrease in the death-rate from small-pox by means of vaccination.

S. Day, of Ann Arbor, presented a plan for a water filter, applicable to filtering water as it enters cisterns. He claimed that the action of his filter was automatic, and that because of the intermittance between storms the charcoal is enabled to renew its purifying power. He also claimed that the character of the water could be modified by the incorporation of certain materials in his filter, whereby iron, lime, etc., could be added if desired, or its freedom secured from all substances which tend to render it hard.

Dr. Baker read a report relative to a portion of the work done in the office of the Secretary since the last meeting of the Board. The report showed general progress in the work of the office. It accounted among other things for this distribution of some 2,600 copies of the Third Annual Report, about half of them to officers of local Boards of Health, and the rest to sanitarians, etc. It also mentioned the performance of a large amount of other routine and special work.

By request of an officer of the State Public School at Coldwater the Secretary, in addition to his office duties, made an examination of the Sanitary conditions of that institution, and

had carefully written out and sent to the Board of Control a detailed report of the conditions, with suggestions and advice in relation to the sanitary management of that institution. The report itself was not submitted at this meeting.

Dr. Baker presented a plan for the registration of diseases similar to that adopted by the State Board of Health of Massachusetts. This plan contemplates asking leading physicians in various parts of the State to report diseases prevailing during stated periods of time on postal card blanks furnished by the Board; also requiring such reports from the health officers of all cities in Michigan. The project was adopted.

A communication from A. A. Day, State Inspector of Illuminating oils, in reference to fees of deputies, etc., was read and placed on file.

A communication from J. T. Elliott, of Grand Rapids, relative to the unhealthfulness of decaying sidewalks, was read and referred to the Committee on Decomposing Organic Matter, etc.

A communication from L. P. Alden, of the State Public School at Coldwater, giving a detailed account of the sickness at that institution, was read and referred to the Committee on Epidemic Diseases, etc.

The Secretary announced coming meetings of prominent associations, as follows: American Science Association at Saratoga, September 5 to 8; International Medical Congress, Philadelphia, September 4 to 9, and American Public Health Association, Boston, October 3 to 6.

A valuable paper by Dr. O. Marshall, of Lansing, giving a detailed account of scarlet fever as it prevailed at North Lansing in 1875-6, was read and ordered published in the annual report. It was an important contribution to the study of this disease, containing many facts bearing upon its restriction and prevention and on the causes tending to render it malignant. It was accompanied by a carefully drawn map.

A communication from J. M. Loop, M. D., of Port Sanilac, giving details of cases of typhoid fever attributed to the use of impure water, was read.

The following were proposed as correspondents to the Board: Drs. J. M. Loop, D. Todd, N. H. Kimball, E. Batwell, O. Marshall, John P. Wilson, and Robert Johnson.

The Board then adjourned.

Chemistry and Pharmacy.

IN CHARGE OF PROF, ALBERT B. PRESCOTT, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.

THE DOINGS OF THE PUBLIC ANALYSTS OF GREAT BRITAIN.

The recent issue of the first volume of the proceedings of the Society of the Public Analysts* gives good occasion to sum up what has been done, in England, toward the municipal suppression of Adulterations in Foods and Drugs. The experience of the elder Anglo-Saxon nation in this matter is full of suggestion to those who undertake the care of the public health in this country.

It is but little over three years since efficient legal measures for the detection and prevention of adulterations went into actual operation in Great Britain. As early as 1860, there was an act of Parliament to punish adulterations of food and drink; a dead letter statute only remembered now because a later act for the same object has become a living power. The first law failed utterly, and why? It provided that competent analysts might be appointed by the local authorities; and in a borough where an analyst had been appointed any purchaser could make complaint before a justice, who should order an analysis if he deemed proper, the fee for the same not to be over ten shillings six pence sterling, and to be paid by the complainant if the complaint should not be sustained. Then, the article being found adulterated, it must be proved that the seller knew the adulteration to be injurious to health, before the case could be made out. This last named provision is sufficient to render any law against adulteration nearly or quite inoperative. It seems to say to the manufacturers and salesmen, "you are not espec

* Proceedings of the Society of Public Analysts, Vol. I, London: 79, Great Tower Street, E.C. 1876.