The record-union., 1891-04-24
ILLS OF THE FLESH.
Their Causes, Nature and Treatment
Discussed by Doctors.
An Interesting Days Session of the
State Medical Society-The
Evening Reception.

the Senate chamber. 1t was considera-
bly, after 10 o'clock before President Clu-
ness raped the meeting to order.
The Chairman of the Board of Censors
reported favorably on the application of
Dudley TAFT for admission to member
ship, and he was unanimously elected.
The Chairman announced that the first
order of business would be the reading
of paper by DR.. David Powell on the
''Prophylaxis of Diseases in Children"
The doctor said there had been no
marked epidemic among children in Cal
ifornia during the past year. Diphtheria
had been prevalent to great extent in
some portions of the coast, and the sani-
tary condition of these districts was no
doubt accountable for the disease. He
related how he had successfully cured
patients of the disease, and stated that
eminent physicians declared that persons
could be vaccinaued against it.
In regard to scarlet fever, the doctor
said that during the past year the State
had enjoyed remarkable immunity
from the disease. Whooping cough
caused but very few deaths during the
year, and dysentery among children IN
summer was hardly ever found to result
fatally, as in the Eastern States 1t has
been estimated that at least q per cent. OF
deaths among children under one year Of
age, and II per cent. among children
under five years, resulted from convul-
si0ns, which were brought about by feed
ing the child with indigestible food. OF
the 3,034 deaths in California during the
past year, :, ,246 were children under ten
years of age, a remarkably large proper
ton, and all due to preventble diseases.
Preventive measures for diphtheria were
imperatively demanded.
VIEWS OF a WOMAN.
The paper was referred to the Com
mittee on Publication and the discussion
was opened by DR.. Charlotte b. Brown.
She stated that the large mum Der OfdeathS
of children under five years of age was
cause for some alarm among the people.
In her experience she had noticed that
the infant which was allowed to nibble
many times q day, taking a very slight
amount of nOurishment each time, soon
developed a small stomach and was COM
PEELED TO take nutriment often in order TO
satisfy itself. She did not believe in
allowing the baby 10 sleep out OF doors.
a good live child could inhale more
oxygen in ten minutes while awake than
in two hours of sleep.
Then, again, she did not think a lot of
chattering nurse girls cougregated about
the baby-carriage did the least bit of
good, and ii was certainly the custom in
our fashionable neighborhoods.
DR.. Browns paper was also referred to
BOARD OF EXAMINERS.
The selection of the remaining mem
bers of the Board of Examiners was pro-
ceeded with, and the following gentlemen
will constitute the board: Drs. Regem-
berger, Levitt, Shiels, Wadsworth, Blake,
lie TourneuX and Steele; alternates, Drs.
Whitell, BaZet and WintOn.
DEFoRMITIEs IN CHILDREN.
Dr. II. y. Miners paper on 1.-THE Surgi-
Secretary. 1t was ably written, and eX-
planned the different methods to be en-
ployed in treating all deformitieS of the
child, and diseases which develop shortly
after birth.
The paper was referred to the PubIca-
ton Committee.
NEW MEMBERS.
O. c. Hawkins and F. w. r. Cleveland
We're admitted to membership on recon-
mendatiOn of the Board of Censors.
TREATMENT OF HIP DISEASES.
DIR. w. H. Sherman of San Francisco
read a composition entitled Unusual
Conditions in Connection with Hip-joint
Diseases and he gave the society some
valuable information in regard TO opera
tions which he performed recently in
cases of hip disease. His paper was also
ordered printed.
THE NEXT SESSION.
DIR. Plummer presented recommend
alton from the Executive Committee, adj
vising that the National Medical Asso-
citation be invited To hold its convention
in 1892 in San Francisco. and suggesting
that the California delegation in Wash
ington be asked to urge the association to
come to the coast.
The recommendation was adopted
unanimously.
COCAINE ADDICTION
Was the title of a paper read by DR.. II. G..
Brainerd, of Los Angeles. He said that at
present there are 100000 people in the
world known to be addicted to the CO.
calne habit, and II is recognized as the
third Scourge of America-the alcohol
and opium habits alone outranking it.
The victim is easily distinguished by the
yellowish color of his skin, his sunken
eyes, encircled with purplish flesh, his
unsteady gait and noticeable nervousness.
The effects of the deadly drug are plainly
to be noticed after the unfortunate has
used it for two or three weeks. He be-
gins to get restless, is unable to sleep at
night, and frequently imagineS that he is
being pursued by an unknown enemy.
Once the user of the drug begins to crave
1t, he constantly requires more and more
to satisfy him, and some use as much as
thirty grains day.
DR.. Brainerd's paper was also ordered
printed.
ITS TREATMENT.
Dr. Gardner, OF the Napa insane ASV-
lum, explained the manner in which he
treated patients sent to that institution
who were addicted 10 the morphine or CO.
caine habit. He did not believe in taking
the drug away from them all at once, but
IN gradual manner, which would cause
the patient less pain and suffering, and at
the same time be an act of humanity. He
did not believe the vicious habit would
ever be banished until husbands began 20
reflect on the niseries they caused their
wives by vicious indulgence and the risk
they ran in raising children.
He knew OF a case where a father, who
was a heavy driniker, raised family of
sixteen children-eight by one wife, and
eight by another. Fourteen of his little
ones died III commissions, and the other
two were afflicted with hereditary dis
Gases.
CONCERNING INSOMNIA.
DR.. NJ. +. Prices paper on Insomnia"
occupied over half an hour il, its reading.
lie held that sleep is just as necessary TO
the maintenance of life as the taking of
food, and a person denied sleep for three
weeks Will as a general rule die. Insom-
ma was one Of the chief causes of insan-
ity.
a recess was taken until p. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
Ihe first business taken up at the after
noon session was the reading of DR.. j. O.
lirschtelder's paper on "Koch's and
Lelbrlchs Treatment of tuberculosis
lie SAID he had hoped to be able to an
nounee 10 the society that that dread dis
ease, consumption, had met its Waterloo.
He had hoped to announce that the
lymph would be a cure of CONSUMPTION.
hut he was COmDellpi IN aolyroy.1a1,,o