MINUTES OF THE SECTION ON STATE MEDICINE. TUESDAY, June 1. THE Section was called to order by the Chairman at 2.15 P. M. The first paper, by Dr. C. R. DRYSDALE, of London, Eng., on the Death Rate of the Rich and the Poor, was read by the Secretary, in the absence of the author. On motion, the paper was accepted and referred to the Association with a request that it be published. The next paper, on the National Board of Health, was read by the author, Dr. J. S. BILLINGS, U. S. A. It was moved and seconded that the paper be accepted and referred to the Association with a request that it be published. Dr. A. N. BELL, New York, moved that a committee of three be appointed by the Chairman to carry out the recommendations contained in Dr. BILLINGS's paper. Dr. T. ANTISELL, of D. C., suggested that the question be divided, and that the motion as to the acceptance of the paper be acted upon first. Dr. A. JACOBI, of New York, suggested that Dr. BILLINGS had recommended that a committee be appointed from the Section to report to the Association. Dr. BILLINGS, in reply, said that he had so recommended. The question on accepting the paper being put, it was so ordered. The motion for the appointment of a committee of three to consider the propositions contained in Dr. Billings's paper was also carried. The next paper, on The Relations of the Medical and Legal Professions to Criminal Abortion, was read by the author, Dr. E. H. PARKER, of New York. The following resolutions were contained in the paper: 1. Abortion should never be brought on by the use of medicinal or instrumental means unless necessary to the safety of the mother in consequence of pathological complications. 2. The destruction of the foetus in utero for any other reasons ranks with other forms of murder. 3. Abortion produced artificially always places the mother's life in jeopardy and thus becomes a double crime. 4. The severest punishment of the operator, when possible, without any probability of executive clemency, is due in justice to the honorable members of the medical profession, and yet more to the community at large. It was moved and seconded that the paper be accepted and referred to the Association, with a request for publication. Dr. W. G. STEVENSON, of New York, suggested that the first resolution should be so modified that abortion would be lawful when it was necessary to save the life of the child. He also said in substance that he did not consider that the resolutions were called for, as the laws were sufficiently explicit in this and other States. Dr. ANTISELL, of D. C., simply reiterated Dr. S.'s statements. Dr. T. O. EDWARDS, of West Virginia, said that the law was substantially the same in his State, and in consequence the resolutions had already been adopted. In West Virginia abortion is considered a felony unless it is performed after consultation of three physicians. He does not think that the law could be any stronger on the subject. Dr. PARKER, in reply, said that he merely offered the resolutions wishing to exert the moral force they would carry with them, and thus strengthen those who were weak-kneed. Dr. STEVENSON again suggested that the first clause should be amended so that it would be lawful to produce abortion when necessary to save the life of the child. Dr. J. M. TONER, of D. C., moved that the resolutions be laid on the table. The motion to accept the paper and refer it to the Association with a request that it be published, was carried. The motion to lay the resolutions on the table was carried by a rising vote. At this stage of the proceedings the Chairman appointed Drs. A. N. BELL, of New York, THOMAS ANTISELL, of D. C., and E. M. MOORE, of New York, a committee to consider the propositions contained in Dr. Billings's paper. The next paper, on Unsanitary Engineering and Architecture, was read by the author, Dr. A. N. BELL, of New York. On motion, it was resolved to accept the paper and refer it to the Association with a request that it be published. Dr. ANTISELL thought it would have been well if the paper had contained a recommendation that it would be considered a penal offence if buildings were not constructed in accordance. with certain specified regulations. Dr. D. B. WHITNEY, of New York, in the course of some remarks, cited a case of defective drainage where a privy and stable. were in the vicinity of a well, and where typhoid fever had not occurred in over twenty-seven years. He deprecated the formation of State Boards of Health as an unnecessary expense, and said that the mortality was less in former years, when there was not so much known as to sanitary science. Dr. MEAD, of Pennsylvania, in reply, said that negative facts proved but little, and that one positive fact was worth fifty negative. He cited a case in which a drug store caught on fire; there were two wells, one in close proximity to the store, the other separated from it by an intervening street and a row of buildings, yet in a very short time the farther well was impregnated with the drugs, although there was no communication between the two. The speaker regretted that he had not brought the notes in reference to the subject with him. Dr. WHITNEY thought that we were at present crowding sanitary matters to too great an extent. Dr. E. M. MOORE, of New York, supported Dr. Bell's views, and spoke of the obstinacy and ignorance of the majority of architects. He also asked Dr. Bell how a cellar should be built in accordance with sanitary principles. Dr. HIBBERD, the Chairman, asked why the carbonic acid gas was prone to circulate in cellars, when it was so much heavier than ordinary air. Dr. STEVENSON asked for information as to why, in some instances, illuminating gas contaminated the air to such an extent in some cases. Was it because of poor plumbing, or deficient sewage? Dr. BELL closed the discussion by deseribing the manner in which cellars should be made. He advocates the use of coal tar |