The Portland daily press., 1883-06-14
MAINE MEDICAL, ASSOCIATION.
Proceedings of the Second Day.

The session opened yesterday morning at 8
o'clock.
The report OF the committee to visit the Med
ical School OF Maine, was presented by DR.. 0
A. Horr of Lewiston. The school still main
tains ii high standard and reputation. A de-
served compliment was paid the Professors In
the several departments. The new State ana
tomical law is beginning to operate for the BEN
eft OF the school and students. The report was
In all respects highly favorable to the gentle
men In charge.
DIR. E, e. Holt OF Portland read paper on
Diseases OF the Mastoid. subject of special
interest to all physicians called upon to treat
diseases Of the ear. The paper treated Of the
symptoms and treatment OF the various forms
OF Inflammation occurring in the cells.in that
hard portion of the temporal bone behind and
below the ear. Interesting cases were report
ed The disease occurring oftener on the right
side, and more frequent in males. Among fire.
quent causes were scarlet fever and iDiudi-
cious attempts at removing wax from the ear.
Various interesting methods Of treatment
were pointed out involving the use OF deple-
ton, hot or cold water douches and opiated ap-
plications. The deep formation of pus may
require incision or perhaps perforation. An
tiseptic precautions should be employed
throughout Specimens of diseased bone were
exhibited and instruments in use by Iaural sur
geons. Paper accepted and referred to the
committee on publication
The board of censors read the names of GER
tain applicants for membership not upon the
printed list
The committee appointed 10 consider the re-
vision Of the Bylaws requested to be dscharg
ed and the revision Of the Bylaws referred TO
the committee on publication.
DIR. Burbank Of Yarmouth, read a most in
teresting paper on the Induction of Premature
Labor in cases where the life Of mother or child
is threatened by pelvic deformities. By this
operation, the lives of many children have
been saved which must have been lost had
pregnancy been allowed to progress TO its uld
mate period. Methods of operative procedure
original with DR.. Burbank were minutely do
tailed. Discussed by Drs. Dana, Gordon and
Mitchell citing typical cases; and referred to
the committee on publication
The following gentlemen were elected mem
bers:
Morrill,, West Buxton; b. 4. Neal Belgrade;
Henry III. Smith, Machias; Samuel B. Thombs
Knightyie: Almon ". THOMPSON, Standish;
Samuel O. Thayer, Waterville; Gregory Mar
tin, China; N. M. Marshall South Windham;
Charles r. Crandall, Portland; A. Z. Farm
ham, East Madison; Nj. II. Ferguson, Phips-
burg; Z. A. Porter, Liberty; Alton jackson,
jefferson; G. j. Nelson, China; @. w. Tag
e, a. McCollister, Gray: r. III. Garter, Port
land; g. w. johnson, East Machias; f. II.
Wheeler, Brewer Village.
DIR. Dana presented verbally same facts rela-
tive to the several forms Of Bright's disease. 1t
was developed that those .milder forms some
times following scarlet fever or diphtheria al
most always progress to a favorable termina-
tion and that of late years the severer chronic
forms are by no means hopeless, and recovery
under persistent and proper treatment may
sometimes he secured. The paper was discuss
ed by Drs. Mitchell, Pendleton and Warren,
and interesting cases where different varieties
of the e.sease existed were adduced.
DR.. spalding presented paper embodying
the testimony in certain suit for malpractice
in case Of injury to the eye, making it text
from which to urge the necessity OF early re-
moval of injured eyes TO save the remaining
sound eye from sympathetic inflammation.
Adjourned TO 3 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The association met at $50.
Drs. Aver and Colony, delegates from the
Massachusetts MedcalI Society, wereIintroduc-
ed and invited to participate ia the discuss
ions.
The association proceeded TO an election of
officers for the ensuing year with the following
result:
President-Dr. o. A. Horr, Lewiston.
First Vice President-Dr. l.. w. Pendeton,
| Portland.
Second Vice President-Dr. d. E. Marston,
| Monmouth.
Treasurer (for years)-Dr. A. S. Thayer,
| Portland.
Corresponding Secretary -Dr. J. o. Webster,
| Augusta.
| W. X. Oakes, Auburn; J. NJ. Bates, Var
month W. b. Cobb, Standish; j. ID. Nutting,
| Hallowell.
| Committee ON Publication-Chas. d. Smith,
| (ex-ofiicio); 9. o. Hunt. Portland; George ii.
! Cummings, Portland; Charles A. Packard,
Bath; b. +. Sturgis, Auburn.
| Business Committee. e. Kimball, Port
land; W. p. Watson, Gorham.
| Dr. wedgewood of Lewiston then delivered
| the annual Grafton taking for his subject Ra-
tional Medicine and Quackery. Rational med
| icine was defined as a practice founded on rea-
son; that system OF practice which appeals to,
and which can be comprehended by our reason
| ing faculties II discards all "pathes" and
| "isms" Il discountenances and discards such
terms as "Allopathy" Homeopathy" "Eclec
tic,'' "Thompsonian' or Haydropathy All
the different forms OF practice contain some
| thing good and those who profess them are not
| all knaves or FOOLS
| Education Is essential to rational medicine
The truly successful physician must be educat-
| ed not alone In Latin, Greek and mathematics
| but he must be universally educated. He
must know to think. Rational medicine re-
| fuses toadmit ecognize any man who
| adopts exclusive ideas as to the theory OF dis
| ease or as to the methods OF cure. it recognizes
| as its followers men OF sound minds and broad
| views made so by education and honest en-
deavor. 1t is progressive science and is built
mp by gradual additions, as for example the re-
| suit Of Hunters labor in anatomy, Harvey In
| physiology, Jenner in vaccination, Simpson In
| obstetrics and Mott In surgery.
/ IL collects, systematzes and utilizes every
| grain of truth. No secret is concealed and
| treasured up for exclusive use.
| Cicero has said BY nothing are men
! brought nearer to God, than by giving health
/ to their fellow creatures. 1t has torn away tho
1 mantle of ignorance that shrouded Ito early
/ years Quackery touriehes from an inherent
| weakness of the human mind Ii is the stamp
/ OF ignorance and superstition, and belongs TO
| all trades and professions.
| We have charlatans. legal, clerical and med
| lChI. NO Helu IL 80 Wlue for ltH CULTIVATION as
| that Of medicine, and we find it practised by
men who have diplomas and belong to reput-
| able societies as well rs by pretenders.
| The quack labors Tor gain, not for humanity,
| The worst resorts and nurseries of quackery
| are those supported by the church, and the
| best directed efforts toward legislation for the
| elevation of rational medicine have been de-
feated by men prominent In other temperance
| and religious reforms.
We offend against rational medicine by the
| practice OF such habits as detract from the Dig
| nifty and honesty of an honorable profession.
Above all things, we must act ourselves, be
| true TO our honest convictions and hold fast to
| truth Our safeguard against qusokery is
education for the physician land for the public,
| alone and In common.
A vote OF thanks was rendered DIR. Wedg-
wood for his entertaining address, and copy
requested for publication.
DR.. b. f. Sturgis OF Auburn reported case
Of chronic absoess OF the Tibia.
DIR. Gordon, committee on neurology, re-
| al tha fon NJ 0n-