Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-19
Vermont Medical Society.


Messrs. Editors The Vermont Medical So
ciety convened In annual session Wednesday,
October IL, at eleven o'clock A. NJ, at the Pavilion
hotel. The president DIR. j. H. jackson OF Barre,
in the chair. Prayer was offered by Rev. DIR.
Hill The secretary, Dr. L. G. Butler OF Essex,
read the proceedings Of the semiannual session,
which on motion of Dr. S. W. Thayer was ac-
cepted and adopted. The committee appointed
at the annual session Of 1880 to consider certain
matters between the society and the medical
school of the Vermont University, reported that
they had no Jurisdiction, and at the suggestion
OF the committee, Dr. Thayer moved that the
resolutions heretofore adopted for the purposes
Of securing more intimate relations between the
society and the Vermont Medical College be
hereby repealed, and the society 30 ordered.
Drs. Dewey of East Randolph and Lowell of
Burlington were admitted members Of the society.
The Treasurer reported the society free from
debt and some $40 in the treasury.
Dr. Putnam read paper on the Epidemic Of
Diphtheria which prevailed at Montpelier from
August 18th, 1880, to May 10. 1884, causing six
teen deaths In eight families, and sixteen deaths
in sixteen families. The average age OF these
was six years. The infectious nature Of the dis
ease is strongly shown by the history Of the in
dividual cases, and the following views on this
point are held The greatest care and the most
peremptory action should be taken to prevent
the spread Of the disease Isolation of the af-
fected should be vigorously enforced in all cases.
Dr. Jacob Of New York city who has been in a
position to see more of diphthera than any other
man In the United States says: "Diphtheria is
very contagious. Both the patient and his sur
roundings, dwelling, furniture, towels, ETC., con-
vey the disease" In about every instance with
care and thoughtuness 1t can be traced from place
to place, conveyed mostly by those who have the
disease lightly, or those who move about carrying
the contagion. Nurses carry the disease as be-
lieve and have seen. person stopping but
short time with the affected, does not often carry
the infection But nurse and her clothing and
those affected become saturated with the poison,
and retain it about them as person who
breathes ether retains the smell OF it for several
days about him, it having penetrated to every
cell and fibre of his body All this should be
known, publicly taught and rigidy practiced ac-
cordngly.
In relation to treatment of diphtheria nothing
new was given except the history of two cases OF
great apparent severity, occurring about the first
of May, in two young men, aged fifteen and seven
teen years. These two cases were so violent in
the outset that the ordinary routine treatment
seemed hopeless and the alcoholic treatment was
adopted from the first; viz: two tablespoonfuls
were given every hour OF good whskey in milk
or water until the patient began to sweat and
appear better In one case this amount was not
sufficient and the same amount was repeated for
time every half hour with the most marked
benefit, the pulse going down in twelve hours
from one hundred thirty to one hundred per
minute, and the heat from 1910 to 1920, the
patient having taken in the last twenty-six hours
three pints and one-half gill without the least
appearance of intoxication. Even the smell Of
liquor could not be detected about the patient
The throat, which was already much swollen, SO
that the tongue Of the patient as he lay in a
stupor projected between the lips, cleaned off
fully on the third day, quite thick formations Of
membrane having occurred. In the other case
two pints of whiskey were given the first twenty
four hours with marked improvement, the throat
cleaning in three or four days, but unusual de-
preston of the hearts action called for the free
use of stimulants and tonics for longer time.
Vice-president Sherwin of Woodstock closed
the exercises Of the afternoon by reading his ad-
late Dr. Holland in Scribner's Monthly The doc
tor made good reply, standing up manfully for
the profession, which he made out had no real
grounds for encouragement. During the evening
| session DR.. S. s. Clark led off with very excel
lent paper and illustrations upon Diabetes Mel
| illus" presenting hopeful view for those
attacked after maturity, where they energetcally
| pursue the best methods known at the present
day to observers Of disease formerly considered
| almost uniformly ultimately fatal. After this
paper, according to the programme, DIR. Dunsmore
gave the pathology of Bright's disease in its sew
eral forms and stages Discussions followed by
Drs. Allen, Bingham, Dunsmore and others,
pretty fully showing that there is little or no hope
of cure except possibly in the early stage of forms
preceded by more or less acute Inflammation Of
the kidney.
Thursday, nine o'clock A. NJ, vice-president In
| tho chair. The committee on nominations re-
ported the name of Dr. o. w. Sherwin for presi-
dent for vice-presdent DR.. c. w. B. Kidder. for
secretary DR.. |. S Richmond, for treasurer DR.. s.
Putnam, for auditor DIR. G. M Chandler. They
were unanimously elected Counsellors were
elected also, and delegates to societies and asso-
Citations Voted, at the invitation of DR.. Bipg-
ham, to hold the next semi-annual session at
Burlington, in June next
DIR. Draper of Brattleboro read a very impor-
tant paper on Neurasthena or Nerve Prostitution,
which he thought on the increase, and in many
instances, when neglected, resulting in confirmed
insanity.
DR.. Campbell of Bellows Falls read a paper,
well spoken of, which we did not have the pleas
ure OF hearing. At eleven o'clock President
Jackson's annual address was we'll delivered. as
usual, professionally historical, but interesting.
At one o'clock p. Nj about twenty-five members
sat down to fifty-dolar dinner, which, Judging
from appearances, was highly enjoyed by those
present; doubtless .much better than by those
| members who did not or could not attend the
meeting. The society gave this dinner, and SUI
perb certificate of membership for the purpose of
| inducing larger attendance from the physicians
OF the state, but have to admit that no such re-
| suit has followed, and at the same time to own,
that OF the five hundred physicians in the state,
no more than twenty-five or fifty OF them can be
| persuaded to assemble in annual meeting, com
pare notes, and take counsel together for their
own good and the cause of diseased humanity
| Nevertheless this neglect does not tighten or re-
move the general sense Of obligation and duty to
do so, which every true physician feels resting on
him when he candidly reflects upon the condition
and relations of his profession