several cases the ingesta were mostly vomited, emesis being a troublesome and persistent symptom. In the cases of the two children mentioned, one, four and a half, the other six years of age, the amount discharged would appear inconsistent with the idea of its being all derived from the ingesta. Again, as to the suggestion of Bernard, that it is in connection with chronic and not acute diseases of the pancreas, that these discharges must occur, an examination of the table will develop inconsistent facts. In the first place, the very brief duration of the phenomenon, in some instances from one day to three weeks, would indicate, if any disease of the pancreas at all, one of very ephemeral duration and minor consequence, forbidding the idea of chronicity or severity. Again, the complete re-establishment of health, with the entire disappearance of the oily discharge in several instances, would seem also to militate against the "chronic" judgment, especially if under that designation the disorder must be supposed to be malignant and incurable. Further, the occurrence of several cases of disordered pancreas, unattended with the oily or fatty discharge, and the presence of it in several cases in which no disease of that organ existed (which occurred to Dr. Bright, who at first maintained the connection of this symptom with disease in that locality) would seem sufficient to dispel, emphatically, the idea of a necessary connection between the disease and the symptom. Without pursuing this line of reflection further, it may be remarked that the attendant symptom most common in these cases is, deficiency of bile. Either jaundice or clay-colored stools, or both, appear in a majority of instances. As the sum of the matter, derived from the consideration of the reported cases, diarrhoea adiposa appears to be associated with a great variety of conditions of body, differing considerably from each other, and it sometimes appears to be unconnected with any other very marked evidence of disorder of the general system, or of any of its parts. In the last case reported, the interesting fact of the amount of oil evacuated being controlled by the exhibition of a moderate amount of alcoholic stimulus, would seem to indicate that the producing lesion was somewhere in the assimilating function; but, admitting this, the question is still unanswered, as to the precise organ or part of the function involved. The marked ability evinced by the author of the original essay on Cholesterine,' in the American Journal of Medical Sciences for October, 1862, which itself places American reputation for physiological knowledge, and ingenuity, and skill in research on a par with any held abroad, affords an earnest hope that the arcana of the digestive functions will not much longer remain such. The specimen of the oily discharge herewith exhibited, presents under the microscope, pure oil globules, without any appearance of cholesterine or other animal products. Its combustibility is demonstrated by the burning of the taper made of it, and its saponifiable property by the small cake of soap prepared with it. Respectfully submitted, JOHN H. GRISCOM. Austin Flint Jr., M. D. REPORT ON AMERICAN MEDICAL NECROLOGY. THE unfortunate national events which gave rise to a suspension. of the annual sessions of the American Medical Association, also materially interrupted the labors of the Committee on Necrology. The meeting at Chicago found little accomplished in the form of a report, and hence none was offered. It was determined, however, that the chairman should collate such biographical memoranda as might be available for publication in the Transactions of '63; and to assist in this object, one medical gentleman from each State represented, was appointed to co-operate in the preparation of the report. It is to be regretted that only a few of the members of the Committee have responded to the earnest appeal for information in reference to deceased physicians in their respective localities. To Dr. E. S. F. Arnold, of New York; Dr. S. G. Hubbard, of Connecticut; Dr. W. Pierson, Jr., of New Jersey; Dr. William Mayburry, of Pennsylvania; Dr. James Cooper, of Delaware; Dr. W. B. Fletcher, of Indiana; Dr. John C. Huff, of Virginia; Dr. Prince, of Illinois; Dr. C. A. Logan, of Kansas; Surgeon General Hammond, of the Army, and Dr. Horwitz, of the Naval Bureau, acknowledgments are due for the prompt and satisfactory manner in which they have furnished aid to the Committee. From many of the States represented in the Association, in which deaths of eminent men have doubtless occurred since the New Haven meeting, we have been able to glean nothing for this essay, while all sources of information in that large part of the country in arms against the government have been of course sealed from observation. CONNECTICUT. ELI IVES, M. D., was born in New Haven, Ct., on February 7th, 1779, and was the son of Levi Ives, himself a physician of VOL. XIV.-13 |