The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-16
DR. Goldsmith at the Stnte MedicaI
Meeting.

Our townsman Dr. Middleton Goldsmith
was present at the meeting of the Vermont
State Medical Society at Montpelier and
took an active part in its proceedings Civ
ing his views upon several important top
les, which we take from the published pro-
ceedings Of that body as found in the Bur
lington Free Press:
THE CENTESsiAL.
DIR. Goldsmith of Rutland. one of the
commissioners for Vermont, for the nation
al celebration at Philadelphia July 4, 1876,
spoke of the p opposed International Medi-
cal Congress to be held at the same time
and place, for which arrangements are now
in progress, and mentioned as among the
subjects which would be considered, the
unihcation of our Pharmacopeia. The
Doctor suggested that the society should
take some action in relation to the subject
and be represented in that Congress.
TYPHOID FEVER.
Discussion upon the subject of typhoid
fever followed, and was participated in by
almost every member Of the society pres
ent.
DIR. Goldsmith opened the discussion with
clear and intensely interesting exposition
of the new theory he entertans upon the
@tiology of the disease. His view we un-
derstand to be briefly as follows. and yet
nothing but full report of his lecture
would do justice to the Importance of the
subject:
TYPHOID 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
continuous succession, As small pox virus
produces nothing but small pox, so the vi
ius of typhoid fever produces only that fe-
yer. This malaria is capable of inlepen-
dent production. The excreta may be pass
ed into a large reservoir, yet if carried
away from that will produce the disease
The medium Of this malaria is in the tecal
matter, not demonstrated by the micros
cope but will sti infect, and is only pro-
duced in human excreta. The emanations
from the sewers of a large city inevitably
produce the disease in families coming un.
der its influence. The malaria of yellow
fever or cholera added to human cxcrcta
has the capability of converting the whole
mass to the poison of cholera and yellow
fever. These views are sustained by the
best medical authority, which the Doctor
quoted. How does it get into the system
BY drinking il as in the schools where the
fever has broken out? Bv breathing it ant
so injecting the blood? This is the common
opinion. Does it enter into the air-cells
Tyndall says as to floating bodies in the all
or suspended animal matter, the air in the
sir-cells is chemically pure. We may swal-
low it with the saliva and it may enter tn,
system in that way, and it was not demon
strablc that il enters in any other way
tias any one seen any of this ferment in the
blood? Has its existence there ever been
demonstrated Hospital gangrcne was once
supposed Ia be u constitutional disease, but
the local application of bromine TO gan
grenous sores in the army, exploded that
idea, and zymosis disappeared with the
cure. When we aborted the local ",
aborted also the constitutional disease.
The alterations Of Peyer's glands, al.
ways present in typhoid fever, arc the re-
suit of r specific poison introduced from
without. The disease begins with disturb
ance of the bowels, generally in the lower
part of the small and the upper part Of tn,
large inlestines, extends in the line of tn,
faces, and the liberation begins when the
facial matter is the most perfect. The fe-
brilc state has no relation to the intensity
Of the liberation, but is independent of it,
1t is not the yeast plant itself that produces
intoxication. The plant for that matter
may be swallowed with IMMUNITY and car
ried along the aiimcntary canal. 1t is tn,
educt of the yeast plant that produces the
mischief. So il is the educt of the fermeni
along the ntestines that produces typhoid
fever TO abort the disease we want a
remedy that will do in the intestines what
it will do for the faecal matter in the stool.
Its operation will be that of a disinfectant.
The discussion was continued by Drs. Car
penter, Bra, ford, Stiles, Butler, Holton,
Putnam and others, by whom the zymotit
character Of the disease, or that of spec
ifc virus acting upon the blood and pro.
ducing fomites, was very ably stated ard
defended.
On motion Of DIR. Goldsmith, Il commit
tee was appointed to prepare series OF
specific questions upon this subject to be
referred to each physician of the state fol
special inquiry and reply. Drs. Goldsmith
Bradford and Butler were appointed thai
committee.