Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-20
Vermont Medical Society.


The Vermont Medical Society held It's annual
meeting at the state house, commencing wednes-
day at ten o'clock In the absence Of the president
DR. j. II. jackson Of Barre took the chair The
session was opened with prayer by Rev f.
Wheeock, chaplain Of the senate. DIR. L. c.
Butler secretary, read the proceedings Of the
semi-annual session, which were approved The
board OF counselors presented the names OF Drs.
Ii @. Risdon, Norman Tousey, +. NJ Kent. +.
A. Green, J. NJ. Currier, o. W. sherwin. r. T.
johnson and G. W. Petty for membership in the
society, and they were duly elected Reports Of
cases being called for, DIR. A. T. Bigelow OF Barre
reported case Of ovarian dropsy, in which, dur
ing the space Of twenty-seven years, in two hun
dred and seventy-eight operations, twenty-one
barrels and seven gallons Of fluid had been with
drawn-more than double the quantity reported
In the famous case Of DR.. Hewson. Mr.. Tinkham
presented a pathological specimen Of the lung Of
calf, In which were found parasites In large
numbers The specimen interested the members
Of the society greatly, and committee was ap-
pointed to examine it and report to the society at
this session. The committee consisted Of Drs.
James, Allen, Kidder, Atwater and Fassett DIR.
ii. II. Atwater read paper advocating the use OF
IN sthetics In midwifery DR.. J. H. jackson read
an apprecative obituary notice Of DR.. N w,
Braley OF Barre, paying feeling tribute to his
memory and worth In the evening the hall Of
the house OF representatives was well filled with
an appreciative audience of members OF the legs-
lature, citizens and ladies OF the capital to listen
to an able address by DIR. S W. Thayer, president
Of the society, upon the subject OF State Medi-
cine. The doctor explained the objects Of state
board OF health; enforced it's Importance and the
prevention OF epidemic Diseases and urged the
legislature to pass the bill establishing such a
board in this state.
THURSDAYS SESSION
At the opening OF the session Thursday morn.
ing, DIR. S. W. Thayer, president OF the society,
occupied the chair. The committee on nomna-
tons reported as follows: For president, Dr. j.
II. jackson OF Barre; vice-president, DR.. Orlando
W. Sherwin Of Woodstock; secretary, DIR. L. C.
Butler OF Essex; treasurer, DR. S. Putnam Of
Montpelier; auditor, DIR. d. G. Kemp Of Montpe-
lier. The committee on the pathological specimen
presented Wednesday by Mr. Tinkham reported,
through DIR. James, chairman: after very i'm
perfect examination we find that the lung seems
infected with the parasite known as the strongly
ius micrurus, which Is much larger, though some
what analogous, species with that occasionally,
though very rarely, found in the human bronchi,
the strongyUs br0nchidles Authorities state that
the frst-named species, after being taken into the
stomach OF the calf, bore their way into the blood
vessels and are carried by the circulation to the
lungs, where they become encysted and remain
for time After while, escaping from the
cysts they get into the bronchial tubes, some
times in such large nnmhars M IN cauaa fntarsa
bronchitis pneumonia From the bronchi the
worm and eggs, mingled with the bronchial mu-
Gus. are expelled in the act of coughing The fe-
males which are full Of eggs die but the eggs re-
tain their vitality for an indefinite length of time
even though they may be dropped into water,
frozen or dried. The eggs which are dropped
into water, or upon grass, may he taken into the
stomach Of other animals, to go round similar
to that just described. The committee recognize
the matter as very important that the disease in
question, which threatens so seriously the inter-
ests Of the agricuturalists of the state should
be thoroughly investigated, and the means of
prevention known and understood to the fullest
extent. In consideration Of its importance we
think the subject is the appropriate and legitimate
business Of state board Of health TO which it
should be referred II such board shall be Gre
ated. Obviously one means of prevention in the
disease is the complete isolation OF the afflicted
animals. Whether the use Of remedies will be
Of any avail is a matter which can be tested by
experiment The matter was further referred
to DIR. II. A. Cutting, who will present
mounted specimens Of the affected lung, for
the inspection Of members of the legislature,
under the microscope. The board of councillors
recommended the following persons for member
ship in the society, and they were duly elected
Drs. ]. Fl. Linsley, f. ]. Fish, d. d. Grout and
| Charles Newcomb After the presentation OF nu
merous important and interesting cases in prac-
tice, by Drs. Bingham, Brooks, Corey, and other
members OF the society, and the transaction OF
routine business, the society adjourned, to meet
in semi-annual session in the city Of vergennes in
June, 1881. lsrge number of physicians were
present from all portions of the state, and the
meeting was very interesting and profitable
throughout.