The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-12-07
Proceedings Of the Medical Society of
Hartford County.

Pursuant to adjournment, the regular meeting
of the Medical Society of Hartford county was
held at the residence of DR.. John II. Cochran,
in Havre dc Grace, on Tuesday, November 18th,
1877
The President, DR.. w. Stump Forwood, was
in the chair. The following members were pres
ent DIR, w. Stump Forwood, President; Dr.
w. Hopkins, Vice Presidents; Drs. John H.
Silver, s. Alice Bockius, W. W. Virdn, IL. Clay
Whiteford, Rev. Ii. b. Martin, NJ. d., Drs. Daniel
w. Hopkins and Il. Ii. Smith. Visitor-Dr.
Alexander Craig, of Columbia, Pa.
The three last named of the members joined
the Society at this meeting.
Under the head of unfinished business" DIR.
II. q. Whiteford gave the society full history
of the case-Spindl COngeStion-as requested by
the Society at the last regular meeting. The
patient had been sick about six months before
coming under his care The treatment during
that time producing little if any apparent bene-
| fit. The patient at this time was unable to walk
without assistance; he could not ascend or de-
scend stairway in the usual manner, but used
| one foot as the pioneer always; he only slept
| about four or five hours in the twenty-four, and
| then only in short maps; lie was always com
| PEELED to sleep on his side or stomach; could not
rest on his back for moment without causing
intense pain in the back and down the lower
| eXtremiles, even to the toes, which had Il swol-
len feeling. He complained of feeling as ifhe had
a bandage around his thighs or legs and at times
around his lcins; occasionally he would have 10
rub the skin in different places, III order to dispe
the peculiar feeling as if a fly was crawling over
| him. Dr. w. put this case on q well-known and
much used drug. None of the members had even
| used it in similar cases.
The discussion among the members was vuri
Gus and interesting I'm its effects ON he economy
The patient wa treated alone with this medicin,
for the period of about six weeks. The result
| was II cure.
Dr. Silver asked the opinion of the member,
as t. the efficacy Of Snlic, late Of Soda in tn,
Treatment OF rheumnism II having quiten repu
| tuiion frr thai painful disease.
DR.. Daniel Hopkins said HAT the faculty %
the University of Maryland had given it /
thorough tIal, aud had COME 10 the conclusion
that it did not deserve The high reputation il hat
gained.
DR.. Silver lheu reported PECULIARLY of h
farmer, VIZ: That when chewing tobacco he wa!
as other men, but if he was without the weed
he acted in II very queer manner; he would run
around with his finger in his mouth, and uctr,
as if he did not have his right mind.
DR.. VIM j. Evans said that tobacco certain,
had very d, cidcd effect on the nervous system
if used in large quantities. Al first it was
stimulus and then sedalive.
Dir. Bockius reported cAse-lhat the paticn
inhaled pint of chlorotorm daily, for eight sue
cessive days, without bringing him thorough,
under its influence, and without any deeterious
effect.
Prof Jackson, Principal of the High School
llavre de Grace, was invited before the Society
to explain the Metric system OF weights ant
measures.
The Professor gave brief but clear lecture
showing the advantages this system has over tho
present system in use.
The Society voted the Professor their thanks
The President, DR.. W. Stump Forwood, said
it was his duty to announce the death of one o
our members, DR.. John c. Polk, who was wei
known throughout the county and enjoyed
high reputation as a physician.
DIR. John Evans said that he had the pleasure
of knowing DIR. Polk. He was a very charitable
man; he was constantly doing work nearly to the
day fhis death for which he knew he would re
ceve no compensation. He will be a great loss
to the community in which he practiced.
Remarks of DR.. Silver:
Mr.. President: had long known DR. Polk as
practitioner of medicine in this county, and have
occasionally met him in consultation. He
seemed to possess very discriminating mind
in the diagnosis of disease, and exhibited pro
found skill and judgment in the treatment. llc
was practical physician not speculative. He
was of the olden school, and did not seem to
think it was his duty strictly 10 observe the
medical ethics of the present age. But it was
his skill, his winning manners and his kindness
of heart that won the confidence and affection
of his patients, and his fellow citizens through
out this county. In his professional kindness
and liberality he seemed almost to forget him.
| self-to forget that "winter was coming when
no man can work" And may feeliGgly say OF
him who is no more-no more our fellow
physician, no more our counsellor, oul
friend, what an able jurist (Ion. Reverdy
johnson, of this State) said of fellow member
of the bar: "lf he had faults, and who of us
have them not, they never touched the kindness
of his heart that remained perfect as it came
! from his God"
The Society after having partaken of a most
| bountiful dinner prepared by our host, DR..
| Cochran, in which canvas-back ducks played a
conspicuous part adjourned to meet at Bel Air,
on the second Tuesday in May, 1878.
II. CLAY WHITEFoRD, NJ. d.,
| Secretary.
| HLl1Li.lninaL IL nul.