Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-06
LOUISVILLE.
Second Day of the American
Medical Association
Interesting Papers Presented
DIR. Gross FaVOrS Blood
Letting.

LOUISVILLE, May 5.-The American
Medical Association recOnvened at the Pub
lie Library hall this morning.
A large number ofdelegates arrived since
Yesterdays report. A portion of the pro-
ceedings of the Canadian Medical AssOci
alton was read, embracing the resolution
declaring it to be the unanimous opinion Of
that Society, that an an international con-
vention of American and Canadian AssO-
Citations would be of benefit to both AssO-
Citations.
A resolution requesting Congress to take
steps in granting to physicians and surgeons
connected with the army and navy, titles
proposed to be bestowed on them, was
adopted.
The following paper from DR.. Sequin, Of
New York, relating to the international
Convention TO be held at Brussels, was
read:
To the American Medical Association
Mr.. President and gentlemen: You have
twice sent delegates to the British Medical
Association and kindred European sOcie-
ties, to invite them to concert a plan of
uniformity Of methods, scales and records
for clinical observation. This proposition
has become more OppOrtune since the
meeting in Paris Of the convention for the
adoption of uniform weights and measures
by all nations, in which convention PrOfs.
Henry and Helgen represented the United
states, but in which the special wants Of
unity Of measures Of our profession are
not requested. 1t was advocated by Sir VIM.
Jenner, WIn. Reynolds, Gibson, Stewart,
Ringer, Wilson and Libeny Fox in Eng
land; on the Continent, by NJ. NJ. MOrer,
Charcot, LOrain, Lipine and Ollier, all
ready to open a commission in Paris, and
Sub-cOmmissiOu in Lyons, in order to con-
cur in your plan of uniform observation.
This plan embraces the unity of clerical
Thermometers and Of thermOnstic scales,
charts, ETC.; uniform graduation Of the
sphyogTaph, nyOgTaph, spyrograph, olsthesli-
ameteT, mOmOmeier, glObulImeter, Ophthal
mOSeOpe, thermOscOpe, and other instrU-
ments of precision used in diagnosis; a
uniform method of measuring and register
ing the hearing, the velocity of other sensory
impressions, the regularity Of coordinate
movement, as the walk, and a uniform
registration of all clinical cases according
to kind of this plan. The International
Medical Congress meeting at Brussels on
the 10Th Of September prOX., proposes to
carry out only one part of the uniform
nations. II is therefore important that the
American Medical Association be repre-
sented this year at Brussels, in order to rep
resent their original plan Of unifOrmiza-
tiOn of clinical observation inSits integrity
and entirety.
DR.. Seguin then offered the following
resolution:
Therefore the American Medical AssOcia- |
A IL Ill
to again advocate in Europe |
the unity Of clinical observation, and !
charges them to report in brief at the next |
meeting, in 1876.
The report of the Committee on the In |
ternational Medical Association was read, |
and referred to the Committee on Nomina- |
tons. The report recommended the estab- |
Iishment of such an association in this |
country, but at the same time thought it |
advisable to defer the matter for a time, |
sending delegates TO the Convention to as
;emble at Brussels, and thought that the /
most expedient plan to meet the wants felt
Dy the members Of the American AsSOcla- /
ion.
At II O'Clock, DR.. Samuel d. Gross, Of
Philadelphia, came forward to deliver his /
address, and was received with cheers. He
announced his subject to be, "One Of the
Lost Arts: BlOOd-lettiDg Considered as a
Agent" lie spoke at some
length Of the recent discontinuance of this
practice, and dwelt upon its former pOpH-
Iarity, which had continued for 1000 years,
in the face of its once supposed efficiency
in aiding the cure Of certain forms Of dis
eases. He said in substance:
Ii behOOVes Us to inquire whether there
S not some wrong in the discOntinuance
Of the practice, and whether we have not
allen into the opposite error. Extremes
ire always dangerous, and they are espe-
,ially dangerous in the practice Of medi-
,ine. 1t behOOveS US to be on the watch.
f the new way is right, the old was wrong.
The lancet is now an obsolete instrument.
The office of cupping has departed, and
blood letting is emphatically lost art.
He then proceeded to consider the causes
If the loss which were four, viz:
l. The influence or tyranny Of fashion.
?. The indiscriminate use Of the lancet.
5. The requirement Of a more accurate
Of diseases.
+. knowledge Of medicines hitherto un-
Known.
These causes were considered at length.
The Doctor aEerred himself an advocate Of
for many diseases, and es-
,ecially for diseases of an infsmmatOry
haracter, the bleeding 10 be at the begin
ling Of the disease. He predicted that
bleeding would again come to be recognized
S a therapeutic agent, but it would not be
,racticed indisCriminately.
At the conclusion Of his remarks, DR..
Gross was loudly applauded.
In the afternoon DR.. Austin Flint, Of
New York, read paper on the history Of
rhine, in which he discussed the question
whether criminal acts are the natural re-
ults of disease.
Ninety-seyen new delegates were regis
cred to-day, making AS members in at
Tonight the committee on nominations
elected d candidate to present before the
Convention tomorrow for election as Pres
dent, but have not yet made known their
hoice. It is believed DR.. Marion Sims,
f New York. will be presented.