Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-06
THE SECOND DAYS SESSION.
Members of the National Medical Associa-
ton Again Gather.

ton Again Gather.
GENERAL ADVANCE AND PROGRESS MADE IN
MEDICINE READ BIZ DIR. sHuRLEY-sol1E KoU-
TINE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR TONIGHT.
Before 10 o'clock this morning large num-
bers Of men wise and skilled in the arts Of
healing began to wend their way across Penn
sylvania avenue to Albsugh's Opera House for
the second days meeting of the American
Medical Association. There are so many meet
fngs of sections committees and other organi-
cations allied to the main one that
all the hours of the doctors are well
filled up. The evenings are devoted 10 social
enjoyment and q number of pleasant enter
tainments have been planned for the visitors;
as already stated in The STAR. Last night was
held the reception at the Arlington given by
the local men to those from out Of town. There
were meetings all yesterday afternoon and
early in the evening and again at an early hour
this morning. Notwithstanding this fact the
members of the association showed up bright,
sharp and all attention at the general meeting
Of the whole organization this morning.
MEETINGS OF THE SECTIONS.
There are SO many physicians present in town
now. representing SO many Glasses of practice,
that it is found necessary to divide the associa-
ton up into sections, each devoted to a partic.
ular branch of the general subject Of medicine.
These sections hold meetings at 8 O'Clock in the
afternoon, making it possible for each member
to attend the section that Is most likely to in
terest him the most. In the morning Of each
OF the four days, however, the general associa-
ton holds session at Albaughs. at
which business of interest to all is
transacted and papers Of general value read.
Rev. Father Richar Is of Georgetown College
opened the exercises today in an eloquent and
graceful prayer. He asked that all those who
were gathered together might be moved by q
Godlike spirit and charity, and prayed that
In spirit and strength by Him who did not
ills.
GENERAL MEDICINE.
The paper Of the morning was by DR.. E. L.
Shurley OF Detroit upon the subject of general
medicine. DR.. shurley said, in opening his ad-
dress. that it would be task Of too great mag
nitude to attempt to go at length into oil the
progress that had been made in medicine within
the past year. He would hence confine himself
10 astudy OF heterogeneous and tOxicons in
their relation to zymotic diseases, devoting
himself mainly to congratulations upon the
chemical and biological side of the subject.
Dr.. Shurley at once plunged into the depths of
his subject and presented most thorough and
He discussed at length the body, from O chem
ical and physical standpoint.
ANIMAL CHEMISTRY.
There is but comparatively little known Of
animal chemistry, said DR.. Shurley, but he re-
viewed the subject as it is known, defining the
protoplasm in its chemical nature. Protoplasm
has been considered not as a proteid substance
but as a number of such. Then the chemistry
of blood was taken up and treated exhaustively.
The chemical, organic and pathological natures
of saliva, bile and pancreatic juice were also
treated. and after reviewing many Of the chemi-
cal, molecular and other changes that take
place in the human body DR.. Shurley
said 1t was no wonder there are SO
many chances for diseases. Many regard
the introduction OF pepttones as cause for
much of the febrile troubles. The diphtheria
germ develops ptomaine, which may be the
main cause of the trouble. In his paper Dr.
Shurley rehesrsed the discoveries and re-
searches made by various physicians during
the past year.
TUBERCULAR BACILLI.
The matter of tubercular bacilli was Of course
touched upon. We are inoculated BY such
bacilli every day, and the question arises why
are we not all stricken down by disease.
Probably because we arc in such a healthy con-
dition that the bacilii do not find proper rest
ing place and the pabulum they require. Then
why do guinea pigs develop disease every
timer Those who place the fullest reliance
upon the germ theory say it is because they
are susceptible, but DR.. Shurley gave what he
considered better and more satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION.
DR.. Shurleys paper, which was of the greatest
value to the physicians who understood it,
written as 1t was for the purpose OF arousinx
increased interest in physical and pathological
chemistry. was received with applause and Yves
referred withou: objection to the publication
committee.
The report of the librarian. c. ". Richard
son OF this city, showed the addition to the
library OF fOrty-fve periodicals and number
OF other works. 1t recommended the removal
OF the library from one of the towers of the
Smithsonian building, where it is now stored
capacious and suitable quarters.
THE CONSTRUCTORS AMENDMENT.
The amendment to the constitution proposed
by DIR. A. L. Gihon yesterday. printed in last
evenings STAR, came up as the special order of
business this morning. The amendment calls
for the meeting of the association to begin on
the first Wednesday OF May or June. instead of
on Tuesday, and was for the object of getting
Kindred organizations, whose members arc also
members of the medical association. to meet on
the first two days Of the week and thus increase
the attendance upon the sessions of the associa-
ton we'll.
DIR. Gihon made another address this morn
ing in favor of his amendment. bright, witty
and entertaining. showing the advantages the
association would receive were the change
made.
AGAINST THE PROPOSED CHANGE.
DIR. Quimby Of New Jersey made some earn
est remarks in opposition to the amendment, as
did DR.. Scott of Ohio. DIR. Davis Of Chicago,
whose every appearance before the convention
is greeted with applause, announced that the
as he understood it, was not
really one to the constitution at all
but to the bylaws. simply changing the order
of business. Still he did not favor the amend
ment and recommended that the association be
made large enough to hold all special organi
cations to be included in the various sections
DIR. Victor Vaughan of Michigan said he
understood the amendment as cutting down
the number of general meetings by one. His
only objection was that it did not cut them
down by two. The only advantage that comes
from the annual conventions is from the read
ing of the presidents address and the papers
Half the time is wasted in general meetings
and fruitless discussion.
LAID ON THE TABLE.
On the suggestion that the amendment did
not really change anything and was of no value
q motion was made that the amendment be laid
on the table and this was carried by rousing
majority.
The amendment introduced by DR.. Scott
abolishing the committee on state medicine, for
the reason that the section of state medicine
covers the ground fully. then was brought up.
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