The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-06

More interest was manifested yesterday,
II possible, even than on previous days
in the Slttings Of the American Medical AS
sOciation. The hour of meeting was 10 A..
NJ, but fully an hour before that time dele
gates commenced pouring in accompanied
10y citizens and ladies, and by the time the
hour for business arrived the hall was well
| flied. Prior thereto many studons dele
gates might have been seen gracefully dis.
posed in various comfortable positions
| eagerly engaged in perusIng the daily cd.
| ton OF the Virginia Medical Monthly aud
| the Dispatch, in which occupation they APP
peared 10 take the delight of the student
honestly in pursuit Of knowledge. Tue
sight was both inspiritng and pleasing in 4
rare degree.
At 10 O'Clock President Hodgen intro.
duced Rev. William +. Hatcher. OF the
Grace Street Baptist church, who offered an
eloquent invocation to the Throne OF Grace
asking that wisdom from on high might
guide The every action Of the gentlemen
now assembled from every quarter Of our
/ ell.cX'onded country.
! Or. Cunningham, chairman Of the Com
mittee Of Arrangements, announced ccltaln
| changes IN the programme of the days eX-
erci>eS, which he requested members 10
note.
SECTION on DENTISTRY.
! Professor Gross. OF Philadelphia, moved
/ a suspension Of the rules. and asked present
consideration and determination OF his sug-
/ ceStion 10 amend the bylaws by creating a
section on dentistry. He did not state, but
many members were under the impression,
and so eXprts s,ed tbe em>elveS, that this action
Of the popular and distinguished memb.r
was meant n compliment no less 10 the
Doctor Of The BItOn" than the " Doctor
Of Alcinlara." Professor Gross, in support
Of his motion. slid a similar section was
recognized IN British medical iurispru-
deuce. II added 10 the Doctors means OF
aileviating human suffering. He hoped the
proposition would receive the favorable
judgment of lbe Association, and be made
operative at once.
Or. y. :. Davis. OF Chicago, conceded in
the views OF his distinguished brother, and
with pleasure seconded his motion.
The President was about 10 put the mo-
,ion. when Or. Toner, OF Washington city,
who was ON the stand said he thought the
amendment should take the usual course
viz, lay over one year for consideration.
All new legislation was required to be thus
disposed OF.
! Professor Cross suggestion was adopt
ed. but the matter Will lay over until tho
next annual meeting before being put into
operation.
PATENTS.
! Or. Cunningham presented paper on
patents. which was, on motion, referred to
the Judicial Committee.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
DR.. J. T. Reeve, OF Wisconsin, chairman
of the Section on State Medicine, did not
re.popd TO the Presidents call for his an
polnced address, and DR.. j. 5. Billings
United States army, in IFS stead read pa
Der containing some exceedingly inStruc
, tive and entertaining mortality statistic:
made I'd from returns Of the tenth census
of the United States. The preparation @
this compendium was suggested at TIT
meeting Of the Association held in Atlanta
Ga. in 1879, by the chairman OF the Section
on Hygiene. and DR.. BILLINGS made excel
, Ieat use of il, a. hi, comprehensive and eX
hauStiye application Of the data 10 which h
? had access fully demonstrated.
; A RAILWAY JAUNT PROPOSED.
DIR. Cunningham read an invitation TO th
tenor and effect. If not in the exact words
follovine-to wit: "The Richmond AM
: Allechany Railroad Company extends Il
the American Medical Association the cour
te,ies OF its line, and will place at its dispo
sal special train for such run through tn
Valley of James river rs may be desIg
nated.'
Dr. CUNNINGHAM suggested that the jour
I nov could be taken about 7. NJ. to-day
l AMI would consume about three hours.
II i probable that the members Will EN-
&. brace the opportunity afforded by the abcV
invitation some time TO day-perhapS abou
I the hour indicated by DR.. Cunningham.
i. . PROFESSOR M'GURE's ADDRESS.
DR.. Hunter Mcclure, OF Virginia, chair
. man Of the Section on Surgery, &c, wa
. called on for his annual address. The Doe
, to- rcnaIks were listened TO With signs o
decided interest bv all the members OF tn
Association as well a. the outsiders who hat
, oone through some Of the experiences de
, tailed by the Professor in the matter OF treat
, ino wounds during he l3te unpleasanlneS'
, ri. remarks came home 10 such IN pecu
= Ualiy f0rcibie manner, bat not unpieasahtN
for they had lived 10 laugh at dangers pas
Or. McGuire's deductions were Dlsed OF
operative interference IN gun-ShOt Wouhu
, oi the pcritoneum. He said that III tn
RriiI,h army in the Cfimean war peue
itratipq oun.shot wounds OF the abdomen
. ave q mortality rate Of 81 per cent; an
In inc small number reported as recovered
same a the eases were not unequlVOcal
, The dcath.rate IN the French army durIn!
I ,he same war tbc French were bghlln:
wirh. n)t against, the EOe.i>h them wa
al : per cent. In 3,7l7 cI,es Of penetrating
wounds Of the abdomen during III
late American war the ratio OF NOR
foiifv for The whole number was 81
nor cont. In some Of the instance
nf reuorted rec0veHes, however, after
yioorov. examination. it was doubliu
whether rcDeiratIOn OF tie rerlloneal cav
NV eviStrd. In 1859 eases where Hscer
iniury had taken place J2.2 per cent. dicd
, Reports Of penetrating SUn->hot WOUNDS .
. tho nerjtoncum i'm other wars show rati
, OF mortality IN reduced proportion TO th
: aboye-say about - per cent. aVerage
: Other wounds OF the peIYlS are less i"ta
P than those of the perltoneum. II appear
} according TO Dr. Mcclure, that pchetrat'n'
/ and peri0ratfng wounds OF the skull wer
. even less fatal. He favored change q
. treatment in eases Of this character
. He then sketched the general plan o
treatment in incised, punctured, and gun
: shot wounds Of the peritOneun, Wnos
, majn ingredient was absolute rest and tn
. administration OF opium To arrest perlstal
tie action Of the bowels and encourage IN
lope OF preventing eXtravasta,lon into III
neritoneal cavity. The Doctor then CAV
d4.eriptions Of different sorts OF wound
nroduecd by the aid OF yillaisous gun
noUder. one sort OF which had the effect o
naral,Zlng the muscular coat OF tn
howeIs and another sort OF a NOR
minnie description had the habit
cIosiny the aperture after making al
unau,horIzed iucursOn into the buma'
cornus retiring. as II were, into ~