The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-05-16

MEETING OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY.-Ine
Medical Society of Hartford county met in the
parlor of the Changers Hotel, Bel Air, on Tues
day, May 10. There were present, the President,
Dr. W. w. Hopkins, the Secretary, DR.. II. G.
Whiteford, and Drs. r. d. Lee, w. Stump For
wood, w. W. Virdin ID. Preston Wysong Silas
B. Silver, VIM. P. Taylor and j. R. Nelson.
DIR. Wysong reported case ofsome obscurity,
in which the patient, young man thirty years
of age, was oppressed by difficult respiration,
though without organic trouble. 1t was the
opinion of some of the members that il was q
case ofhystera. That Protean malady, IIystcra
was afterwards discussed generally.
general interchange of views on the subject
of "Sick Headache" then cnsucd.
DR.. Virdin reported an interesting case of hip
joint disease, of two years duration, the limb
having shortened ~ inches After srspcnding
the limb by the use of Prof. Smiths anterior
splint rapid improvement took place, and in
five weeks the limb had increased in length three
quarters Of an inch. hcsplint was followed by
the use Of the appliance of Prof Hutchinson,
Chief of the OrthopGdic Hospital, of New York.
This consists of n shoe, similar to an ordinary
and was placed on the sound limb. It's use
causes a constant extension of the diseased
member, without pain, and tends to restore it to
its normal length.
Officers for the ensuing year were elected, us
follows President, DR.. j. II. Cochran; Vice Pres
ident, DR.. VIM. 2. Taylor; Treasurer, Dr. h. ID.
Lee; Secretary, DR.. w. Stump Forwood
A votn nf thanks uas thnn pnSsnl to IA. roth,
ing President and Secretary.
DIR. w. w. Hopkins, the retiring President,
delivered an interesting suggestive and practi-
cal address, in which he urged more regular
attendance of the members at the meetings of
the society," and spoke Of the advantages to be
gained by the experienced as well as the ineXpe-
rienced physician from the discussions of the So
ty. DR., Hopkins adverted to the Importance of
public hygiene, and the duty of physicians TO ac-
quaint themselves with all the known causes Of
disease, so as to be able to tell suffering human
ty how onc-half of human sickness and misery
may be prevented.
He then gave some of the essentials to q sick
room and the requirements ofthe patient besides
his medical treatment. The room should be of
an uniform temperature Of from Is to 70 degrees
This can be ascertaincd only by the thcrmomc-
ter. The room for the sick should be as far
removed as possible from those commonly occu-
pied by the rest of the family, in order that the
patient may not be disturbed by the noise of the
family. 1t should be large, airy and well lighted
and better lift has sunny exposure.
The floor of sick room should not be carpet
ed hard wood floor, oiled or vanished, being
preferable Upon such Il floor you can spread
US many rugs and pieces of carpcting as NAV be
necessary to prevent noise in walking. Each
morning they can he Slid along the floor, taken
out and shook. The floor can be wiped up if
required, and when dry, your rugs can be re-
placed. All unnecessary furniture should be re-
moved, particularly bed and window hangings,
for they are so many convenient places for the
Judgement for the germs Of disease.
Cleanliness should be scrupulously observed
in the sick room and about your patient and if
the room is not covered with carpet, it is much
more easily observed whether in that respect or
not it is in q proper condition. Your patients
linen should be changed frequently. In many
cases changing the bed linen once or twice a
week is not sufficient in febric diseases. One
sheet should be changed every day, using the
upper one to-day for the lower one tomorrow
The pillow cases should be changed quite as Of
ten, ifyour patient is suffering from scarlatina
typhoid or from diseases. When there is septic in
fuences we can readily see that the close obscrv-
ing of these rules will be of much benefit
1t is further required that you should not neg
lect to see that your sick room is properly
ventilated, or at least as well as its construction
will admit of. Note well if there is any odor
perceptible when entering sick room. If so
improvement in ventilation is called for.
Dr. Hopkins deprecated the rapid increase in
the number of medical graduates, as tending to
lower the standard of the profession and work
harm to the community.
The society then adjourned to meet at IIavrc dc
Grace on the second Tuesday of November.