The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-12
Maine Medical Association.


occurring in his practice.
DR.. o. A. Horn of Lewiston, read a paper
ON plaster of Paris in Surgery" describing
its history and application, with the results to
be obtained by it's general use in fractures,
carries of thigh bone, spinal curvature, etc. He
exhibited the material necessary for the COM
pletion of the bandages. After the discus
sion by Drs. Libby, Donovan, Brickett,
Smith, Meserve, Weeks and HILL DIR. Cor
don exhibited little boy as an illustrative
case of the benefits of the plaster of Paris
jacket.
DIR. j. I. Gilman of this city, in a few elo-
quent remarks upon the character and services
of the late President, Theodore Fl. Jewett, NJ
D., offered series of resolutions Indicative of
the esteem with which he was held by his as
sociates. The resolutions were adopted by a
rising vote.
Dr. G. A. Packard of Bath, delegate to the
Medical School of Maine, made his report,
showing the excellent condition of that insti-
tuition. The lectures are able and scientific,
the classes composed of a better grade of stu
dents, and the clinical advantages good. He
recommends increased rigdity in the prelim-
mary examinations so as to exclude incompe-
| tent persons from entering upon the study of
medicine.
DR.. J. M. Bates, from the committee on the
Presidents address, recommended that the
committee on the State Board of Health be
continued, and that committee of entertain
ment of five members be appointed who shall
provide annually dinner for the society.
A. IL IL o
the following election of officers took place:
President-Dr. Seth c. Gordon, Portland.
Vice Presidents-Drs. j. B. Walker, Thorn
aston; A. X. P. Meserve, Buxton.
Recording Secretary-Dr. Charles o. Hunt,
Portland.
Corresponding Secretary-Dr. E. Hill, Lew
iston.
Board of Censors-Drs. George F. French,
Portland o. A. Horr, Lewiston; l.. Pendle-
ton, Belfast; II. II. Hunt, Gorham; D. l..
Lamson, Fryeburg.
Publishing Committee-Drs Charles O.
Hunt (ex-officio), Portland; w. X. Cakes, Au-
burn; l. T. Dana, Portland; Stanley P. War
rem, Pennington; Thomas A. Foster, Port
| land
Business Committee-Drs. F. H. Gerrish,
Portland; R. X. JONES' Bangor; j. L. Hall,
| Cumberland Mills.
| DIR. VIM. Swasey of Limerick, made a ver-
bal report of a case of Senile Gangrene hay
ing peculiar phenomena
DR.. j. A. Donovan of Lewiston, then read a
paper on "Iritis,' which was discussed at
length by Dr. Spalding, who read short pa
per on Sulphate of Eserine used by himself in
this disease.
The Board of Censors, through its chair
man, DIR. F. III. Gerrish, reported favorably
upon the name of Frederic J. Small of Bath,
and he was elected a member.
DR.. w. w. Greene of this city, exhibited q
patient who had a recurrent morbid growth on
the wrist and DR.. Gerrish submitted micro
scopical report of the character of the dis
ease.
DR.. F. H. Gerrish then gave an account of
the metric system in medicine, and distributed
tracts and leaflets on the subject among the
members.
| DIR. Weeks then presented paper ON the
"Climate and diseases of Japan" written by
DR.. John c. Berry of that country. The doc
tor has been in Japan for the past six years,
and is thoroughly familiar with the subject.
The paper was referred to the committee on
publication, and it was voted to send DIR.
Berry a copy of the transactions of the soci-
ETY..
DIR. j. 0. Webster of Augusta, read paper
on 'Malarial Cachexia." The article was an
able scientific exposition of the subject which
so much interests military practitioners, and is
to be published in the Boston Medical Jour-
| nal.
! DR.. Geo. F. French of the committee on
State Board of Health, reported that they had
done no official work the past year, owing to
the peculiar character of the last legislature
which rendered it useless to present any argu-
ments in behalf of measure that was calcu-
lated to promote the interest of the people s
| health and safety
DR.. G. E. Brickett introduced resolution
which had in view the increase of the annual
| tax from two to three dollars, the extra sum to
be devoted to an annual dinner. The matter
was discussed at length. Drs. Brickett, Bates,
Albee and Hersom favored it, and Drs. Horn
and Small opposed it, the latter in an explo-
sive and excited speech.
A motion to postpone the subject till even
ing was lost. The question then recurring on
the original motion it was defeated, Is to A.
Association met at s o'clock pursuant to ad-
journment.
The President introduced the orator of the
evening, DR.. Charles A. Packard of Bath.
The subject of his discourse was "The physi-
clan as an educator" which was treated in an
eloquent and interesting style. The doctor be-
gan by reference to the early social condition
of the civilized world, and its belief in astrol-
ogy incarnation and supernatural phenomena
as the cause of all the ailments of the human
body. The entrails Of animals and other vile
agents were believed to be potent in the eradi-
cation of disease and the building of temples
equal to staying the ravages of pestilence All
these were the result of ignorance, and educa-
ton was the factor which elevated the world
from its befogged condition. Hypocrates first
! promulgated the doctrine of natural phenom-
ena in opposition to the theories of the super
natural. The medical profession today are the
educators of the people, and in their mission
have to combat epidemic delusions. Spiritual
ism, which was characterized as the sublunary
DOB OF mysticism, scepticism and deception,
may be referred to involuntary cerebral ac-
ton. 1t is entertained only by persons of
weak intellect, with disordered state of the
nervous sy stem. We need not look to ultra
mundane sources for the manifestations of the
clalrvoyant, but can find it easily in the sur
roundings of the cabinets if allowed to probe
thoroughly. Quackery is ano ther foe the ply
sician has to combat. 1t belongs to no coun-
try, but is a universal component of the hui
man mind. Legal enactments or professional
ostracism has failed to eradicate it, but it still
fiourishes on the gullibility and credulity OF
the populace. 1t is too often encouraged by
the clergy who give testimonials to liver pads,
kidney stimulants and lung protectors. The
physician is also the guardian of the public
health and must give education in preventive
medicine. The health of a nation depends on
its sustenance, and ill-cooked and inappropri-
ate food produce affections which the patient
ascribes to the unoffending heart or liver.
Consumption he declared to be preventible
disease and the physician should enunciate
this dogma, backed by the experience of scien.
tific knowledge. He cited statistics to show
that the cost of preventible diseases in ou1
state is more than enough to pay for score Of
health boards. The Grafton was listened to
with marked attention and received merited
applause at its close. 1t was one of the most
| frichad off Loy 1icta pad 10