The Portland daily press., 1869-02-25
Medical Canfarence.

biuCc tuc last AncctluS ne udu IcCclNcu a icttck
from DR.. Esterbrook of Rockland, stating that
the physicians of Knox County had formed an
association and were to hold their next meet
ing the first Monday in April, and hoped the
Cumberland County Society would send dele
gates to their association. There are now some
seven or eight counties in this State that have
regularly organized medical associations, all in
good working order; many of them hold month
ly meetings.
After the transaction of some other miscel-
laneous business the subje ct of Fractures and
Dislocations of the Elbow Joint" was intro
duced for discussion.
DIR. Small opened the discussion by report-
ing case of fracture of the external condyle
of the humus with partial dislocation back
wards of both radius and ulna. The bones of
the fore arm were also fractured above the
wrist. The arm was dressed with an anterior
splint and placed in a fiexed position.
Several cases were reported in which the
internal condyle was fractured into the Joint
with partial dislocation of the ulna back
wards All agreed that in these fractures of
the elbow joint the arm should be placed in
that position, which will best secure a coapta-
tlOu Ol Tue pdIlo anu uuiu tuOul Ill G06lr proper
position. The usual position in such injuries
is a flexed or semi -fexed position.
DR.. Sylvester reported case of dislocation
backwards of both ulna and radius, which was
readily reduced by simple hexion aud extern
sion.
DR.. Weeks stated that the reason why the
Business Committee associated fractures and
dislocations of the elbow jeint was because
they almost always occur together. In nearly
all fractures of this joint we have complete or
partial dislocation. He reported case where
the internal condyle was fractured into the
joint, with partial dislocation backward of
both bones of fore arm.
| 1t had been noticed by several present that
in the fracture of either condyle into the joint,
the parts could be kept in position better in
the extended position, and it was maintained
by Drs. French, Foster and Fitch that the arm
should be dressed in that position which best
secured the normal position of the bones, not
withstanding the general rule of dressing such
injuries with the arm fexed.
DR.. French referred to two cases of fracture
of the oecranian process of the ulna. In one
case there was not that separation OF the frag-
| A1CAto uouoAiJ AOuho Ia tAlo Injury. LILO USUAL
dressing was applied,-the anterior straight
splint.
DR.. Foster made some extended and inter-
esting remarks on this class of injuries, in the
course of which he spoke of the separation of
the epiphysis of the radius in children. The
symptoms and results of this injury were much
the same as dislocation of the head of the ra-
! dius in adult life. He had been in the habit
for years of using cooper's shavings applied to
the front of the arm, and firmly secured by a
bandage The shavings being easily bent, it
allowed passive motion, which he believed
should be made daily, commencing a few days
after the injury. He maintained that in all
these cases there would be some deformity, as
widening of the joint and imperfect motion for
long time.
DIR. Fitch was accustomed to dress these in
juries of the joint with Cooper's anterior
splint, containing screws, by which flexions and
extensions could be made at will. 1t usually
commenced passive motion in two weeks from
time of injury.
Quite a discussion followed in regard to the
method of bony union, which was participated
| in by Drs. French, Foster, Fitch and Weeks.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At 8 o'clock the meeting was called to order
by the President, DR.. Bates.
An excellent paper on post-parturient hem
orrhage was read by Dr. e. NJ. Webb of Sac.
carappa.
This paper called out a most animated dis
cussion, participated in by nearly all the mem-
bers.
DIR. Small referred to a case that had recent
ly fallen under his care where there was a rap
id labor, followed by most frightful hemor-
rhage, not yielding to the ordinary means, such
as pressure over the abdomen, application of
cold ergot administered internally, &C., was
arrested very promptly by carrying pealed
lemon into the wound, and forcing out the
juice into its cavity.
DIR. Merrill and Dr. Burbank used the same
course of treatment. DIR. Burbank, in several
cases where there had been profuse hemor-
rhage, had seen the happit st results follow the
use of laudanum. In one case he had given
an ounce Of this drug in the space of three or
four hours with the best results.
DIR. Bates spoke of frequent pulse as a
symptom of secondary hemorrhage.
DIR. Foster spoke at length on this subject,
stating that he did not have nearly as many Of
these accidents now as formerly. He had been
in the habit for years of using q mixture of
ergot and laudanum in the proportion of five
drachms o. the former to three of the latter
He gave this mixture in teaspoonful doses as
often as occasion required In all cases where
hemorrhage was feared, he gave it before the
termination of labor.
Compression Of the abdominal aorta was re-
ferred to as means of arresting hemorrhage
when all other means had failed.
On motion of DIR. Foster, the subject of
Scarlatina was introduced for discussion. The
discussion was participated in by Drs. Foster,
Small, Weeks, Merrill Shannon and others
During the discussion, DIR. Chadwick came
in with dispatch from DIR. Tewksbury, now
at Augusta, stating the Anatomy bill had
passed the Senate. This news was received
with much qualification by all the members, as
it undoubtedly will be by all interested in the
advancement of medical science.
The subjects for the next meeting were then
announced by the President
Infuenzu-By Dr. 7. A. Foster, Portland.
Hemorrhoids-By DR., G. f. French, Port
land.
Aneurism-By DR.. G.. L. Kilgore, Windham.
Therapeutic Effects of Bisulphate of Soda
By DIR. Q. o. Hunt Portland.
Valvular Disease of Heartily DIR. L T.
Dana, Portland. REPORTER.
CONCERTs first of a seras of ,,r;x,ota