Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-06-13

| Recording Secretary-Dr. Charles O. Hunt,
Portland.
Corresponding Secretary-Dr. f. Hill,
Lewiston.
Board of Censors-Drs. Geo. +. French
Portland; o. A. Horr Lewiston: l.. Pende-
ton, Belfast: II. H. Hunt, Gorham ID. L.
Lamson, Frycburg.
Publishing Committee-Drs. Chas. o. Hunt
(ex-officio,) Portland w. X. Oakcs, Auburn; :;
|. 7. Dana, Portland Stanley +. Warren,
Pennington Thomas A. Foster, Portland.
Business Committee-Drs. +. H. Gcrrish,
Portland; X. X. Jones, Bangor; J. l.. Hall,
Cumberland Mills.
DIR. VIM. Swasey of Limerick, made a
verbal report of case of Senlc Gangrene
Dr. j. 4. Donovan of Lewiston, then read
"A paper on "lritis, which was discussed at
length by DIR. Spalding, who read short
paper on Sulphate of Eserne used by himself
in this diseasc.
The Board of Ccnsors, through its chair
man. DIR. +. II. Gcrrish, reported favorably
upon the name Of Frederic j. Small of Bath,
and he was elected Il member.
DIR. +. ii. Gerrish 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
DR.. John G.. Berry of that country.
Dr. J. q. Webster of Augusta. read pa
per on 'Malarial Cachexia'' The article
was an able, scientific exposition of the sub
lcct which so much interests military practi-
TONERS. anG is to be published in the Boston
Medical Journal
Dr. Geo. +. French. of the committee on
safe Board of Health, reported that they
had done no official work the past year, ow-
ing to the peculiar character Of the last leg
islature, which rendered ii useless to present
any arguments in behalf mcasurc that was
calculated to promote the interest of the
peoples health and safety.
DIR. Chas. A. Packard of Bath, delivered
an Grafton in the evening. His subject was
''The Physician as an Educator" which was
treated in an eloquent and interesting style.
| The doctor began by reference to the early So
cial condition of the civilized world, and its
belief in astrologv. incarnation and supernatti-
raj phenomena as the cause of all the all
ments of the human body. The entrails of
animals and other vile agents were believed
TO be potent in the eradication of disease and
the building of temples equal to staying the
ravagcs of pcstilcnce. All these were the
result of ignorance, and education was the
factor which elevated the world from its
befoggcd condition. The medical profession
IO-tldN are tnt ttutdtOTs Oh Inc people. anu
in their mission have to combat epidemic de-
lusions. Spiritualism, which was character
izcd as the sublunary bob of mysticism,
>kepticism and deception, may be referred to
involuntary cerebral action. 1t is entertain
ed only by persons of weak intellect, with a
disordered state of the nervous system. We
need not look to ultra mundane sources for
the manifestations of the clairvoyant. but
can find it easily in the surroundings of the
cabinets if allowed to probe thoroughly.
Quackery is another foe'thc physician has to
combat. Legal enactments professional
ostracism has failed to eradicate it, but it still
fourishcs on the gulibiitv and credulity of
the populace. If too often encouraged by
the clergy who give testimonials to liver pads,
kidney stimulants and lung protectors. The
health of a nation depends on its sustenance,
and ill-cooked and inappropriate food pro-
duce affections which the patient ascribcs to
the unoffendng heart or liver. Consumption
he declared to be preventiblc disease, and
the physician should enunciate this dogma,
backed by the experience of scientific
knowledge. He cited statistics to show that
the cost of preventible diseases in our State
is more than enough to pay for a score of
health boards.
Adjourned to Q o'clock Thursday morn
iuu.