The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-19

each local society, who shall use their
personal influence for the Advancement OF the
society. The question of extension of territory
must soon be considered. Originally including
the three States, in few years Cincinnati and
st. Louis were added, which, with Chicago,
Louisville and other cities, gave the association
a large following Delegates from beyond these
confines now sent, and men from other
States ask to join the society. What better
structure, the president SUCCESSFULLY asked,
could be built upon the solid foundation of the
Tri-State Medical Society than the stately walls
of a Western Medical Association;
; added territory and coming years years
at the sessions. In another year it will be neces-
sary to extend the time to four days, or to divide
into sections during some of the sessions. The
latter should Only be considered when 1t becomes
unavoidable If it should be that sections must
be formed, let but the afternoon sessions be so
changed, continuing general sessions both morn
ing and evening. In concluding his remarks, the
president asked a prompt attendance upon the
order OF business. that three days may ne grand
good days for work-an epoch In the history Oh
the society
DR.. A. W. Drayton reported case of "Myelitis
due to arsenical poisoning" The patient had
taken an ounce of arsenic, ordinarily enough TO
have taken the life of sixty men, but still re-
covered, although given no antidotal treatment.
Paralysis ensued, with temporary mental i'm
pairment. The question was raised as to whether
arsenic and lead. which often cause paralysis or
the extremities, do so by affecting the splna!
cord directly, or by changing the structure and
function of the peripheral nerves.
DR.. H. NJ. Post, of St Louis, read paper on
"SyphIlitio InsJerstitial Kerattis."
REsECTIoN AND AMPUTATIoN.
DR.. R. E. Haughton, of this city, read paper
on "Resection and amputation," in which he
discussed at considerable length the relative
value of the two systems. He argued that am
putation is much the better and safer "The
mortality" be said "even under the best meth
DDS Of disinfecton, is not likely to be less than
after amputation, and as the mortality is now
shown TO be seven times more III amputation,
when considering all varieties Of resections, il
must be regarded question of grave considera-
ton to the surgeon, and especially to his pa
tlent, when about to be submitted to an
ordeal which is so much the more dangerous
than amputatiOn is now known to be-" In Civ
ing his conclusions DR.. Houghton said a. no
excision should be made in aged persons: ~ no
excison should be made in very young persons;
(3) no excelsior should be made If there is even
d suspicion, much less evidence of the existence
of phthisis or oJher constitutional diseases; az
no excelsior should be made in acute disease
or injury ~ excelsior may be made in cases
where it is the hand, foot and limb to be saved
and which is of more than common value to the
patient, hence the elbow and knee-i0nts may be
excised under proper considerations; 90 the
shoulder and hipjoints may be eXctsed
when it is greater mutiatiOn and greater
loss to lose the limb by amputatiOn, and the pa
tlent has equally good chances for recovery of
the excision as after amnutation, which is rare
ly possible; C7l eXclslOnS are not to be made In
cases of malignant diseases of the ortieuiar ends
OF bones or other parts of bones; (8) excisiOns
shuold not be made for acute abscess in the
kneejoint, and most likely not in any case of
acute abscess 81 excisions of joints generally
are seven times more fatal than ann
putatiOns under the same cir
eumstances and in the same
class of cases. (10) no surgeon is iustifiabe IN
sublectlng his patient to excelsior, in view of
ali the facts made known, unless there are good
and substantial reasons for assuming the
greater risks by seven times over for his patient;
and the extraneOus clreumsta nces which must
Overhalanee in favor of an excisiOn against it is
q moral and surgical responsibility that is any
thing but conservative. DR.. HauGhton's paper
ELECTED prolonged 'and heated discussion, fol-
lowing which the society adjourned until this
morning