Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-12
CLARK COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The Eleventh Session of the Thirty-sisth
Yen Held Thursday.

regular session in the East county building.
The following members were present: Drs.
Kay, Bryant, Hazard, Bell, Reeves, Hal,
KEENAN,, Dugan, King, Collins, Rodgers and
Nelson, with Drs. Witt and Smith as visit
orS.
The president and secretary being absent,
the tirst vice president, DIR. kennan, was
called to the chair, and DIR. Dugan elected
secretary pro TEN.
DIR. King then read very interesting
paper on Harmatemesis, which was dis
cussed by nearly all the members present.
Dr. Hall thought that harmatemesis came
under the head of ulcer of the stomach,
probably dependent upon dilated heart. and
thinks that ulcer is present in DIR. Kings
case: because of its suddennesS.
DR.. Bell did not understand how it could
be due to obstructive circulation.
DIR. Hazard thinks we cannot always tell
where the blood comes from. Has had
such cases caused BY cancer. He agrees
with DIR. King as to the treatment
DIR. Bryant related case where the pa
tient bled 10 death without any known
cause. Active and not passive hemorrhage
is to be feared.
DIR. Rodgers spoke of the difficulty in di-
agnosticating ulcer of the stomach, giving
the principal symptoms, and showing the
difficulty in treating it.
Dr. Carroll agreed with the former speak
ers, and spoke at length on the treatment,
saying that We should meet the indications
as they arise.
DIR. Rodgers stated that he was not able
TO present his paper and asked TO substitute
the following medical selections, which
were very much enjoyed by the society
First Poem on the Seapel; second The
Forceps; third. Twins; fourth, A New Cure.
DIR. Kay called attention to the city ordi-
nance, lately distributed, to prevent the III
PRODUCTION and spread of malignant con-
tagious and infectious diseases within the
limits of the city of Springfield. This law
was first enacted Jan. 80, 1883, and was
good and proper enough under the construc-
tion usually placed upon it But the strict
and literal Interpretation which some of our
health officer now hold Of the ordinance, as
evinced by their insi- lions lately given,
especially to phi were peculiar, to
say the least Il was to be enforced, they
said. to such an extent as to include all
cases of scarlatina, inasmueh as these were
contagious and infectious, even when not
malignant. Although this city ordinance
was originally instituted with prime refer
ence to smallpox and varioloid, yet other
malignant or infectious diseases
as class were included so as to be properly
dealt with. But tagging scarlatina seemed
to be a new departure in the history of our
sanitary regulations. 1t would be imprae-
ticable and unjust to undertake the tagging
device with reference TO all the diseases of
the class mentioned in the ordinance.
What confirmed DIR. X. in the opinion
that scarlet fever, and not small poS, was
the special objective point of the present
sanitary movement, was the fact, that just
now, that there was neither small pox nor
rumors of small pox in this city, nor in any
of the neighboring cities; but that there
were exaggerated notions abroad as to the
prevalence of scarlet fever. During several
Of the months of last year, we had more
scarlet fever and diphtheria than we had
last month; and more during January past
than in this month, thus far. But If the
strict construetionists of the ordinance re
quire the putting up of the yellow flag to
designate the whereabouts of the scarlatena
cases, then why not include all infections
and contagious diseases as well, some of
which are occasionally fatal, and all of them
Why not flag for measels and
whooping cough? If the doctors were not
allowed any discretion in the matter, then
when were the lines to be drawn. The law
does not provide that the flag shall be other
than yellow in any case. Suppose that we
had only one case of veritabIe small pcx in
the city-enough as we all know to create a
terrible commotion among the people-a
yellow flag would very properly be
put up as warning to all passers by; and
then, in addition TO this, suppose that all
the contagious and Infectious cases of
disease in the town were also advertised
with the same ominous colors. How long
would it take to cut of all social and bust
ness intercourse in Springfield? Not long.
The outside world would soon get the im-
ression that old Pandora had opened u"I
her box. not of diffusive blessings but of
winged diseases, and that one of these had
entered each household. Proper isolation
can be secured without using the flag.
DIR. Rodgers thought the ordinance a
great outrage, as there is nothing TO war
rant il now. 1t creates panic, will stop
the schools Gases of scarlet fever are few
and mild. He moved that committee be
appointed to present resolutions TO council,
asking that that part of the ordinance re-
lating to scarlet fever and diptheria be re
pealed. The motion was carried and the
chair appointed Drs. Kay, Bell and Rodgers
to confer with council.
DIR. Hall presented the name Of DIR. E.
Meyers for membership 10 the society,
which was referred to the board of censors.
The president after appointing DIR.
Hullck to read paper at the next meet
ing, adjourned the society until the second
Thursday in March.
A Sad Death.