Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-15
Vermont Medical Society.

ninth annual session in the Village Hall ON
Wednesday and Thursday VI last week. Dr.
/ II D. llolton, VI Bnttleboro, called the soci.
cty to order, and the proceedings Of the june
session were read by Dr. t. C. Butler, Of Es.
scx, Secretary.
DR. W. W. Porter, Of Syracuse, n Y, was
presented ~ delegate from the State Medical
Siciety Of New York
Dr. Goldsmith, Of Rutland. one Of me com.
missionor- for Vermont, for the national cele.
hraion at Philadelphia, July 4. 1870. spoke Of
the proposed international Medical Congress
to he held at the semo time and place. for
which arrangements are now in progress, and
mentioned A. among the subjects which would
be nsidcrcd, the unifcatiJn of our Pharma.
c1puIa. Tho Doctor suggested that the soci
ety should take some action in relation to the
subject and he represented in that Congress.
Dr. II. 5. Brown, of st. Johnsbury, pre-.
scntcd n report on the subject Of the so-called
Gastric Fcrr, which has been prevalent in
Caledonia and Orleans counties. The Doctor
declared himself "yct unconyinced Of the ex-
stencc Of any malady IN our midst to which a
sound pathology will justify US in applying the
term Castro Fercr"
To the same purport was the more elaborate
report Of DR.. A. J. Hyde. Of the same place
A paper on the AHafne Sulpljies and
Bisuplhes, in which the history, nature and
therapeutic uses of these remedies were pre-
senied, and strongly commended tn the consid-
Grafton of the society, by Marshal Calkins, VI.
D Of Springfield. Mass, wac read by the sec.
rotary, in the absence Of Dr. Calkins, and re-
ierred to the committee Of publication
Dr. G. NJ. Chandler, from the Board #
Councillors, recommended the following per-
sons Tor membership in the society, and they
were duly elected Drs. A. b. Somers, Of
Jericho Center Albert Mott. Of Jericho V.
G. Goodrich Of Brookfeld and Jos. Draper
Superintendent Of the Vermont Asylum for the
Insane nc Bnt,ehoro
Discussion upon the subject of typhoid fever
followed, and was participated in by almost
every member of the society present.
DR.. Goldsmith opened the discussion with q
clear md intensely interesting exposition Of the
new theory he entertains upon the m,iology Of
the disease His view We understand to he
briefly os follows, and yet nothing but full
report of biz lecture would do justice to the
imr1rfarccof the subject
Typh ID fever is specific disorder The
malaria which produces It produces that disease
only Whatever the circumstances under
which it exists, It follows the law Of continu
Gus succession As smallpox virus produces
nothing hut smallpox, 80 the virus of typhoid
fever produces only that fever. This malaria
j. capable Of Independent production The ex
creu may ic passed into large reservoir, yet
if Carried away from that will produce the
disease. The medium of this malaria is in the
focal matter, mot demonstrated by the micro
SC pc, but Will still infect, and is only produced
To- human excrejn. The carnations from the
sewers of large city inevitably produce the
disease in families coming under it's influence
The menria of yellow fever or cholera added
to human cxcreta has the cnpahlity Of convert
ing the whole mass 20 the poison Of choera
and ycli0w fever These views are sustained
ly the hest medical authority, which the Doc
tor 4lnfol How does it get into the system
/ By drinking il, as in schools where the fever
has broken out by breathing it, and 50 in
iec'ing the blood. This is the common opin-
/ on Does it enter into the air-cells? Tyndoll
says as tn floating bodies in the air or suspended
animal matter, the mir in the air cells is cherni-
cally pure. We may swallow it with the
saliva and il may enter the system in that way
and 10 is not domlnsirabe that it enters in any
o'hor way. Hos any one seen any Of this fer
mont in the blood? Has it, existence there
ever been demonstrated Hospital gangrene
was once supposed to be constitutional
disease, but the local application Of bromine to
gangrenous sores in the army, exploded the
idea, and zymosis disappeared with the cure
When We aborted the local, we aborted also
{ e constitutional disease.
The alterations of Peyer's glands, always
present in typhoid fever, are the result Of n
specific poison introduced from without. The
disease begins with disturbance Of the bowels,
generally in the lower part Of the small and the
upper part Of the large intestines, extends in
the line Of the fnres and the liberation begins
when the lpcal matter is the most perfect.
The iebrie state has no relation TO the intensity
Of the liberation but isindependent Of it. 1t
is not the yoast plant itself that produces in
toxicition. Ne plant for that matter may be
swallowed with mpunity and carried along the
alimentary canal II is the educt of the yeast
plant that produces the mischief So it is the
eduot Of this fcrment along the intcstincs that
produces typhoid fever. To abort the disease
we want q remedy that will do in the ntestineS
what il will do for the ipcal matter 10 the stool.
It's operation will he that Of a disiniectant.
The discussion was continued by Drs Car
penter Bradford Stiles, Butler, IIolton, Put
nam and Others by whom the zymotic character
OF the disease or that Of a specific virus acting
upon the blood and producing fomites. was
very ably sJntei and defended
On motion Of Dr.. Goldsmith, a committee
was appointed to prepare a series of specific
questions upon this subject to be referred to
each physician Of the State for special inquiry
md reply. Drs Goldsmith, Bradford and
Batter were appointed that committee
On Wednesday evening the society listened
10 very able and interesting address from
President II D. II1lton. Among SUBJECTS IN
iroducei hy the speaker was that Of State
Board Of Health.
Drs Putnam. IIolton and Butler were APP
pointed committee to carry out the RECON-
mendation If the president relative 70 State
Board If Health.
Dr. Geo. Dunsmore. of St. Adams, gave nm
interesting lecture on the Ophthalmuscope
illustrating his remarks by diagrams and hy
the use Of the instrument itself. after which
the society partook Of collation. at Bishop :
Hotel, prepared for them by the fraternity Of
Montpelier
Two holrs were spent in an enjoyable way
around the tables, in short speeches. abound
ing in wit and pleasant humnr. The president
PLAYED the part nf master Of ceremnnies and
amply demonstrated his capacity ~ I, as mas
ter. The entertainment, which was entirely
informal developed fine social element, which
was regarded rs an Indication Of what may he
reasonably anticipated at the next semi-annual
meeting at Newport.
On Thursday morning the committee on nom.
nations made their report Ms follows, and the
persons named therein were unanimously elect
ed tn the several offices designated President
l. G. Batter, Essex; Vice President. II. S
Brown. St. Johnshury Secretary, r. 5. Peck
/ Burlington; Assistant Secretary. 5. 5. Clark
st. Alhans Treasurer, ID. G. Kemp. Mont
peier; Auditor, Z. NJ. Chandler, Montpelier
The committee also recommended Newpor
: A. the place for holding the semi-annua meet
/ ing, and on motion the Secretary was instruct
ed to invite the New Hampshire Society ant
the Vermont Pharmaceutical Association 4
I meet with us on that occasion.