New-York tribune., 1885-02-05
THROUGH NEW-YORK STATE.

THROUGH NEW-YORk STATE.
PAPERS OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY.
THE OPIUM OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF TIE
EYEs-THE ANNUAL ADDRESS.
ALBANY, Feb. A (SpeciaD.-TO-day's session
Of the NewYork State Medical Society began at lo g. m
to-day in Geological Hail. which we'll filed with
members the society and interested listeners After
the presentation Of the reasurers report Dr. A. c. Post
OF Ncw-fOrk, read q paper on "Hypertrophy OF the
Prostate" This followed by " Demonstration OF
the of Electric Light In Medical Practice, Illus
rated by instruments. by Dr. Lucien Howe, OF Buffalo
"The Opium Habit the title Of paper by DIR. N.
Hammond ofAuburn Dr. William Harles jr, OF Albany,
read the subject" The Culture of Bacteria illustrating
the topic by instruments Dr. A. NJ Phelps OF Chateau
explained method of the treatment OF hare
lip, illustrated by diagrams. The papers were heard
with attention and elected frequent applause.
Dr. Hammonds paper tho opium habit contained
some startling statistics touching the increase OF the
habit in this country. shown by the largely increased
consumption Of the drug In 1910, he said, the total
quantity OF opium consumed In the United
States about 10000 pounds. In 1880 1t had
increased to 1884 pounds. In 1868 it is estimated
that there from sOO 600 to 100000 victims of the
opium habit in this country now they number over
100000 The growth of the habit has been rapid within
the last few years. owing, DR.. Hammond thinks to
the invention of the hyperdermc syringe, which has
become fayOrite method OF administering the drug
More females than males addicted to the use OF the
drug-the ratio being about three to One-wOmen being
subject larger number OF painful ailments than
From the time of the publication OF De Quinceys
Confessions OF an English Opium Eater" in 1921,
til within few years. the medical faculty had ovor-
looked ignored the serious consequences OF the opium
habit and the people generally had come to look upon
a comparatively harmless vice. 1t Is now command
ing attention Dr. Hammond described the effects,
immediate and remote, OF the opium habit speaking, as
he said, in degree from personal experience, hay
ing been induced TO upon the habit to alay the
miseries OF sick headache. He concluded his paper Dy
presenting his method OF treatment for the cure OF the
habit which he describes a sudden reduction In the
quantity OF opium INDUCED in; not immediate and
ofits use, which would be injurious, but
reduction quantity covering week two weeks, and
accompanied with stmuants OF different kind until
is effected.
In the afternoon Dr. Jacobi Of NewYor, SAID that he
had been informed that the special committee ON legisa
tion full debate had agreed upon report upon
the bill to be presented to the Legislature touching
board medical examiners and Ia view OF that fact he
asked to withdraw the motion made by him yesterday
with regard to tho representation OF medical col
eges In the board. A resolution from the COM
mittee unanimously adopted providing that
the draft OF the bill reported by the special commit
tee shall be referred to the standing committee on egsla
tion. with the following instructions That the Dlii sha
be to the 70 gEsHsFe Gynydaio one are board
medical examiners to consist Of nine members, six
state OF YORK OF which six three shall be selected
those connected with incorporated medical col
egs and three from those who are members OF faculties
OF Incorporated medical coleges; tbe other
three to come from the other two incorporated
State medical societies In proportion To thelr
just representation the board 20 be appointed BY the
Regents Of the University annually without dlsqnalhca-
tiOn reappontmebt the following subjects to De IN
cluded IN the examination: anatomy physiology. cnen-
istry pathology and the practice of hedlce surgery,
$500 Section OF the Heath bill. relative TO anony-
nous examinations. Is adopted the rest OF the Heath
whole TO be carefully revised under competent esaI au-
resolution by Dr. Porter was also adopted, directing
the Committee lAsiglaton to request the Legislature
to Law that will enable the state Medical society
to regulate and control ts own membership
DT. Mitlendori or New YORK. read paper on uranu-
lated Lids" II contained the statement IN ustiallon
OF the Ignorance prevailing the subject Of diseases OF
the eye that inquiry at the Roman Catholic Orphan As
lum New FORK ftom the managers OF thas instu.
ton the that OF the inmates we're afflicted
with eye disease; while on examination ny
com petent physician. 1t was found that more than
100 children had granulatiol Of the lids. Papers were
read by Dr. Mercer, OF Syracuse, aud Dr. Ot OF
nSFnS and It's s relation to nmt MORTALITY Contained
many statistics drawn from Europe and this country,
r nar u by their MOTHERS and that
fed entrusted 10 wet nurses The average nortaIly
among the latter Is four or hye times as great
a among the former. DIR. Bell. of Brooklyn,
Rochester dissented from some OF the reasoning and
said that in his opinion the nealth and longevity OF
preference 10 maternal nursing Nor could he subscr
TO the theory Dr. winterss paper that the
parted to the children nursed by them,
Dr. yanderveer. OF Albany. closed the read
ns ns Snrsgfy 81 PS'' by prae.eI BY hS%son
fifteen delicate abdominal surgery performed by
Dr. Tate. The statement that DR. Tae used no anti
seprics in his operation and did not believe In them
caused u discussion to their value The prevailing
opinion the doctors who took part IN the discussion
that antisepcs, II not an absolute necessity were
generally important safeguards In delicate surgical Oper
TONS and DR. Nandcrveer admitted that he beieVed
their usc Notwithstanding the fact that Dr. Iate anu
Dr. Bantock OF London. discarded them worthless.
In the evening Dr.. sherman, the president OK the
society delivered the annual address before a large
audience I'm The Assembly Chamber the subject being
Medical Evidence"
It ha. been remarked" said he, "that doctor who
knows nothing OF law and awy yer who knows nothing
OF medicine deficient IN the requisite qualifications
profession. The Importance or medical ana
scientific IL often illustrated III our courts OF
law AS In OF Professor Webster, where portion
To certain extent the evidence or experts
the function OF jurymen, since II makes up an
opinion which the Jury Is to be guided For this rc
SON. IL should be received with caution ana the witness
To rigid xamnation There Is no lack OF
literature the subject or medical jurisprudence uch
OF It furnished by medical men OF this state
and Importance in the administration OF justice
that Its Importance demands. The medical witness
should thoroughly prepare himse!s both IN mis- medicine
knowledge and also IN his knowledge OF the law OF eV
dence before he TO give his opinion when Is
TO be accepted fact by the jury. III he De not pre-
pared he had better acknowledge IL rather thah give
testimony that wond subject him to dicue and perhaps
disgrace, A medical witness should never give cate
answered without an explanation lie shonid uehl9nn
the right xpan his and the court Will grant IL
A vote OF thanks given to DIR. sherman ana tne
society adjourned TO the Delavan House, "heTe lIe
doctors partook Of the annual dlhncr
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