The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-11-19
reported for The Agis and MteIigccer.
The Medical Society of Hartford County

The regular meeting of the Hartford County
Medical Society was held at Churchville, at the
hotel OF Mr.. Wakcand, on Tuesday, Nov. 9th,
inst. A respectable number of tie members
were present, and the meeting proved 10 be
both pleasant aud profitable.
DR.. Geo. Ilos. Hays, the newly elected Prcsj.
dent, upon taking the chair thanked the mem
bers in very graceful manner, for the compli.
ment paid him In electing him 10 the position
Of presiding officer. He considered it an honor
to be selected by such respectable body 10 mn
the highest office in their gift-that of presiding
over their deliberations-an office that had been
filled with so much credit to themselves, and TO
the Society," by such men as John X Sappipp-
ton, Thos. &. Hopkins, S. B. Silver and Il. B.
Lee; and he would, to the best of his ability.
with the aid, and with the kind forbcarancc of
the Society, endeavor TO fill the position in n
manner TO erncc his appreciation of the com
plment.
The minutes of the previous meeting were
then read and adopted.
The committee on printing-Drs. Lea and
Forwood reported that they had, in accordance
with instructions received at the last meeting
placed the new Constitution of the Society in
the hands of MIR. Baker, of the gis d. IuteLige,t-
Ger, to be printed at an early date; and, on mo.
tion of DR.. Lee, it was agreed that provision
would be made by special assessment of the
members, at the next meeting, for the payment
of the same.
Upon application, the following named gen.
tlemen were unanimously elected members Of the
Society: DR.. &. f. Iddings, of Darlington. DR.,
II. Clay Whiteford, of Darlington, and DR.. Ken.
needy, of Aberdeen
The subject OF honorary membership which
had been proposed by DR.. Silver ut n previous
meeting, was discussed at some length, and
finally laid upon the table.
DIR. Hays, who had been appointed at the last
meeting to present memoir of the deceased
members, Drs. Elliott and Cooley, asked for fur
ther time, which was granted, without the for
mality of vote,
DR.. w. w. Hopkins read q highly interesting
paper upon the causes of Malarial Fever; adj
vancing theory different from that hitherto
generally recognized by the profession as the
origin of the disease. Dr. Hopkins disclaimcd
originality in the suggestions; but stated that
as recent writers on the subject were claiming
the attention of the profession, he had simply
gathered their views from various sources, and
desired to submit them in concise form for
the consideration of the Society. Dr. Virdin
moved that the thanks of the Society be given to
DR.. Hopkins for the embodiment of this novel
theory in an interesting and instructive form.
and that the Secretary be instructed to submit
Dr. Hopkins paper for publication in the Phila.
delphia Medical and Surgical Reporter. The res
olution was unanimously adopted The mem.
bers not appearing to be prepared for the dis
cussion OF the theory, 1t was agreed to entertain
this subject at the next meeting.
Or: norwood propounded the query: "What
in the course and progress of Typhoid Fever /;
and what measures are the best with which ia
combat them ," The speaker said that we were
all supposed to be familiar with what the hooks
say about Typhoid Fever; and we all know that
great deal has been written on the subject. and
we all know that great deal has been said that
Is of very little practical value at the bedside.
He did not ask, at present. for any gentleman
to offer any theory as TO cause of the disease, or
its general treatment. The object of our meet
ings, as We we'll know, though the general pub.
lie do not appear to fully comprehend it's to
interchange our individual experiences as to the
best means ofpreventing the occurrence of dis
ease; and when this is not possible, to SO bring
our treatment to bear rs to best aid Nature in
conducting the disease to favorable termina-
ton. The speaker said that he had ut the pre-.
sent time some cases of Typhoid Fever under
treatment which occasioned him considerable
anxiety of mind; and he wished to hear from
the members present, what they themselves had
observed, Qor we have all made some individu.
al observations that are not laid down in the
books as Indicating an unfavorable condition
of the patient, and If combatable, what treat
ment had been the most successful In their
hands.
Drs Silver, Scott, Lee, Virdin, Geo. II. Rob-
erts, Hopkins and Finney made some remarks
upon the subject; also q few observations were
made by the President, DR.. Hays; he stated,
however, that the disease but rarely appeared
within the circle of his practice; that Bilious
and Intermittent Fevers prevailed in his vicini-
ty. The remarks made by all of the gentlemen
contained suggestions more or less valuable;
those however, made by DR.. Roberts, who re-
sides in community where the disease very
frequently prevails, were eminently interesting,
full, and practical. DR.. Finney mentioned one
symptom, which we have never seen In print,
and never heard suggested before, which he had
observed to invariably indicate fatal termina-
ton; and, in confirmation of the correctness of
DR.. Finney's observations, the reporter will
here state that one of his cases then under treat
ment, and which had apparently been progress
ing very well, presented the symptom referred
to by the Doctor, on the very next day after the
meeting of the Society, and died within twenty.
four hours.
1t was agreed to further discuss the subject of
Typhoid, or more properly named Enteric Fever,
at the next meeting.
DIR. 3 B. Silver arose and remarked that, be-
fore adjourning he wished to offer the following
preamble and resolution: