The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-13
THE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
Interesting Discussion Of Various Diseases by
the Physicians.

The county doctors, after spending two even
ings on evolution and the first chapter Of Gen
isis, last night settled down to routine business.
The judicial council reported favorably on the
applications of Drs. j. T.. Keegon and f. I.
Cherry, and they were made members Of the
society, which now numbers over eighty regular
members. of these about thirty were
present last night, and listened to a
paper by the president, DR.. John
Chambers, on 1.-THE Treatment of Pleurisv and
of Pleuritic illusions This paper was to have
been read at the Tri-State Medical Society, last
fall, but was only read by title, as the Doctor
could not attend the closing session. DIR. Cham
bers confined his paper strictly to the treat
ment, first, for aborting the disease bv rest and
anodynes, and second. as to the indications for
and methods of tapping the pleural cavity and
removing the purulent or hbro-sonyemeous
nuids. he was not in favor of sweating
or cathartlcs, and discountenanced blood letting.
as we have more comfortable and efficient RENE
d1al measures in opiates, blisters and poultices
tor acute cases of pleuritic stitch. He cited
several CHROME cases treated at the City Hospi-
tai IN which there was no bullying between the
RIBS, and did not believe that his sign has the
value given 1t by authors.
As acute pleurisy was a common disease in the
army, and generally where there is great expos
ure, and as the prominent city physicians were
IN the service, many "Reminiscences were drawn
from field and hospital practice, notably by Drs.
Harvey, Wooden, Bigelow, Thompson and Fergu-
son. DR.. Harvey cited q case in which 100 pints
of matter were drawn from a chronic case by
successive tappings. The case was from expos
ure in the woods of North Carolina, in a Union
man escaping the rebel CONSUMPTION. The liver
and spleen were pressed down to the pelvis and
the heart over to the right side by the immense
effusions. The patient returned to his home,
where a silver drainage tube over four inches
long was inserted to draw off the constan thy
forming fluids. This tube at last slipped in, the
cavity closed and the lungs were restored, and
the man is now sound and we'll.
A lively discussion was held by Drs. Thomp-
son and Bigelow as to local or systemic action of
morphine, the former, with others, contending
that the nearer the injection to the seat of in,
jury the earlier and more potent its action. DR..
BigeloW commended that it made no matter
by what route anodynes entered the system, as
they acted on the nerves through the organic
nerve centers and by reflex action.
vigorous discussion between Drs. Chambers
and Wooden as to the old question Of blood-let-
ting or not, in which DR.. Woolen advocated
bleeding in acute pleurisy, while DR.. Chambers
thought DR.. w. was under the influence of the
charmer, DR.. Gross, of Philadelphia, who advo-
Gated blood-letting for inflammatory affections
in his post-humous paper at the American Asso-
citation. DR.. Newcomer cited his experience;
so did DR.. Byron, who was suffering while speak
ing from the disease. He advocated sweating
and warmth in bed, with which advice the
society adjourned.