Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-04-07


Ma, EDuon,--Y esisrday improved the priv,
Ilegs extended to all medical studspta Of II.
tending The Montgomery Medicai Society, and
as there seems 10 be dearth Of local news at
present Il occurred 70 me lhat few notes Of
the proceedings would interest your readers
Ny first impression on entering was that
the Doctors assembled, numbering about 90,
were remarkably fns set Of men. digniiied,
and cordial 10 their intercourse with each 9th.
or. Remembering how distinguished they are
for outside wraugliug I was agrseably surprised
TO see them on such good terms when con,
veued for scientific elaboration.
DR.. Denise, who was the essayisko of the day,
read a paper on Dipht1eria. This IL vs name
Of the new ihrOst dissese that has dosolased
so many families aud excited so much alarm
throughout the couniY during the past year =
The paper treated Of the disease as 1t has ap-
peared In England Il was carefully complied
from the vsrious British suthors that have
written on the subject,
The psper gave Tis4,to an animated discuss
sion which was participated In by nearly all
the members present Those who had allens
dsd eases Of Diphthsria give an aecOunt Of the
diseass as II presented itself 70 them. with
their respective modes Of treatment and the
different results. The number Of facts thus
brought together were highly interesting and
valuable, as they afford far better knowledge
Of the disease than could be obtained by the
observation Of a single practitioner. A full
knowledge Of any disease can only be acquired
BY ascertslning all the facts and phenomena
connected with it, These facts and phenomena
can never be CLEANED from the experience of a
few observers. And hence the scientific and
practical importance Of such organizations as
the Montgomery County Society when each
member brings his experience into the treasury,
and where all the facts pertaining to any dis
ease are sifted, anslyzed, compared and classi-
fed and thus made tributary to the stock of
positive knowledge. The Society was unani-
nous in The opinion that Diphthesia is a spe-
ciHc disease, differing wholly from Scarlet fs-
yer and liberated sore throat and from all other
diseases that have ever prevailed in this cOun-
try. II is believed 70 depend on peculiar
poison introduced from the atmosphere through
lungs into blood, and accompanied in all cases
by the exudation Of 9 tough, leathery mems
brane in the throat
From the statements made Il appeared that
several localities around have been visited by
the disease during the last six months, and
that large number Of cases proved fatal Six
miles from town on the oovington pike, FIVE
deaths occurred in one family; other instances
were mentioned where six, eight ten, aud 10 one.
household as many as thirteen out Of family
Of seventeen were carried of In one epidemic
Of Diphtbesia.
There was some diffsrance Of opinion Tesa
pecting the contagious character Of the disease,
a msiorily believed 1t 70 be contagious.
Towards the close Of the meeting an anu
sing debate sprung up as 10 the feasibility Of
nourishing by eneuTate persons who could not
take food by the mouth. One gentleman who
looked like an EnglIshmRD expressed himself
strongly in opposition to such plan Of nus
trimentation. Such method he sad might
do very we'll for those Dyspeptic Yankees who
never found tlms to eat meal in Christian
fashion, but for him4elf he had 10 say that u
the day should ever come when he would be
unable take his victuals per vias naturaIss, he
hoped his friends would leave him to his fate.
He would rather give up the ghost than have
his life prolonged upon such conditions.
MKnto