The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-11
ANNIVERSARY or the NEW YORK AcsusM Of MEDICINE.

An anniversary meeting OF the New York Academy
OF Medicine was held last evening at the College,
corner of Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue.
The attendance was moderately large and was
manly composed Of members OF the medical profess
sion. Punctually at eight Dr. A. G. Post, the Presi-
dent OF the Academy, took the chair and introduced
Dr. Austin Flint, who read a very able paper on
''Ehe Past, Present and Future OF Medicine.n
Theexpl0ded theories and errors OF the past hay
ing been glanced at fun Justice was. done to the
medical lights OF other days" Speaking of ana
tony, Dr. Flint said that although Bichart's yolumn-
GUS treatise was now obsolete 1t had given
an impulse and direction to modern re-
morbid changes and processes, and had paved the
way to the recent Developments by the aid OF the
microscope which have added TO general anatomy
the extensive and fruitful territory OF histology.
Astrological researches have carried observations be-
yond the elementary tissue OF Bichart to the lana
tomical elements' into which these tissues are
resoiuble. IL may seem hardly probable, after the
study of the body for several with the present
improved means OF microscopicai observation that
very important anatomical parts remain TO be dis
covered. But SO is IL Is by no means improbable
that the range OF minute observation may be ex-
tended by means which cannot now be foreseen.
Who could have guessed a few years since that sub
stances composing the sun and stars would be
ton \ Yet by means OF the spectrum ANALYSIS
this wonderful result has been accomplished.
~ % inc ecencs
rogating nature by means OF experimental observa-
tons on inferior animals and deriving Information
from the study Of disease, opens to the imagination
illimitabe space for future progress With all
that has been acquired within the last haf century
how limited ID the extent OF our knowledge. The
forces which involved in the circulation OF the
blood independently OF the hearts action, are not
determined. The processes OF assimilation, nutri-
tion secretion and excreon constitute still terra
iacognito. Granting the establishment OF the nypo
thesis which attributes these processes to the action
OF cells the cells ore only the agents or organs. The
mechanism remains mystery. rhe functions OF the
spleen and the other ductless glands are still unde
termined. The purposes OF the various parts
composing the eruphoon are very inper.
fectly known, and the physiological actions,
involved in sensation, volition, reflex movements
and mental observation, ARE beyond our apprehen-
sion. The abolition OF consciousness In sleep and
the condition for its existence in our waking hours
mysteries which we cannot begin TO comprehend.
But Is not necessary go to the more exalted parts
OF the organism. Let the Psychologist undertake
10 explain the functions OF purely vital organ--for
example, the rythmcal action OF the heart-and the
limits OF knowledge not less srikngy Illus
trated what win be the physiology of the future
surmise, but IL ID certain that In this drec-
ton we have hut lust commenced 10 penetrate the
arcana OF nature.
After vote OF thanks to DR.. Flint the meeting ad-