The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-17
BEFORE THE ASSOCIATION.
RAPID PROGRESS OF SCIENCE AND
SKILL SHOWN IN THE SUB
JECTS
THAT ARE AnrRusE TO LAYMEN.
Twenty-Secend Annual Convention
of the Mississippi Medical As
sociation Past Success.

OF the twenty-Seeond annual conven-
ton of the Mississippi Valley Medical
association was devoted to scientific
papers and discussion. Such is the
daily programme. Papers which to the
layman are abtruse and Incompetent
sible, to them are taught with signifi-
canoe, illustrating the results of the
latest Investigations and exemplifying
the application of the most modern
methods. In point of attendance the
convention is a marked success and
the character of the papers is fully up
to the standard of the association,
value in the world of medicine and to
mankind in general
The Indictment weather yesterday
morning did not interfere in the least
with the proceedings and attendance
of the convention. The plan of limit
ing the time for discussion has been
productive of good results; much has
been accomplished in a comparatiyely
brief period. 1t is true that it is some
times ludicrous to cut off a speaker
before he has reached the idea he
wants to convey, but no exception is
made to the rule, and the doctor who
INDUCES in parenthetical remarks and
long prefaces has to take his medi-
cine. This he does good naturally,
however. There has not been apparent
the slightest friction in these meetings
and, although the doctors are by no
means of one mind. their differences
oL opinion but serve to make the dis
cusslons more interesting. Their salts
factlon in st. Paul as a place for such
gathering mas been generally ex-
pressed.
The doctors were exceedingly promnt
ana assiduous in their attendance at
the morning session, but somewhat
dllatory in the afternoon meeting.
PRESIDENT III. o. Walker, of Detroit.
presided at the forenoon session. and
after prayer by the Rev. Dudley w.
Rhodes, the usual business was trans
acted, after which the president an
nounced the committee on nominations
as follows:
Lone, of st. Louis; Dr. Scott, of CIeve-
land, Ohio; DR.. Wishard, of Indian
apolis; DR.. J. Homer Coulter, Of Chi
cago; DR.. Mayo, of Rochester, Mimi. !;
Dr. Collins, of Hot Springs, Ark; Dr.
Blech, Of Detroit; Dr. Lee, of Omaha.
and Dr.. Barclay, of New York.
DIR. GRANT ON SURGERY
In the absence of DIR. Meyer who
was to deliver the address on medi-
cine, Or. Grant, of Louisville, delivered
the address on surgery-"The Relation
ship of Diagnosis of the Future Surg
lcal Progress" DR.. Grant said some
common ground must be chosen on
winch we can equalize our differences.
Many of the most recent operations. y
SAID he are already passing away
under the effect of our modern scru-
un1zlng investigation. We forget there
are men in the quiet of their labra-
tories doing work which makes all
our wonderful progress possible, and
gives us these new methods. We can
NOT progress much farther in tech
n1que of operative skill Any great
amount OF paraphernaiia suggests a.
lack or personal resource in the oper-
ator; Almost every part and organ
recently with more or less good to the
patient If we would make earlier
and more careful diagnosis, many of
the possible failures would be preclud-
ed. NO surgeon dare say to the pat
lent If I had known yesterday or
pe1ofe thus and so the result would
have been different Are we not at
IauIt sometimes ourselves? Rarely will
we Iaif to secure an operation if the
operator be certain of his diagnosis
and demands the operation.
No term in all surgery is so often
n9sappiled as conservatism No aim is
dearef to the surgeon than the WAYS
ana means OF relieving his patient. We
must not fall into the error of making
one man great and another insignifi-
cant. The experience which age
gives some men leads them to make
valuable and correct diagnoses. Fly
perience is and should be one of tba
greatest aids in diagnosis.
Inc skiagraph has lately come into
Importance in surgical work and If
may be made an excellent adjunct in
many instances. It's recent successes
are noteworthy. 1t is yet, however. in
us infancy and doubtless is capable
Oh SUN more development Nav we
NOT soon expect to see these fetus in
utro. NO one doorway can omen to
the royal road to success in the nrac
uce OF surgery. The skillful and in
teingent application of prompt relief
auded to careful diagnosis will give
US the most wonderful and satisf9ct-
or9 results What each one finds to
do, let him do it with his might y
unanimous vote OF thanks was ex-
tended DR.. Grant for his exeeilen+
address,
The next paper on the nroeran,,,o
was by DR.. E. NJ. NJ Houghton Ne
trolt,-A Demonstration of the Their
apeuflc Action of the Anti-toxine mr.
Houghton reviewed the theories o9
serum theraphy, demonstrating the
differences between toxines and anti
toxlnes. 1t has not as yet been shown
JUST now the anti-toXine countera cts
or destroys the toxine. The use of the
anl-toxlne serum injection was
demonstrated upon number of p11inaa
pigs. The discussion of the paner JVoS
postponed until the result of the in
Jectlons on the animal might be deter
mined.
BLIND PHYSICIAN OF CHICAGO
DR.. Robert H. Babcock. of Chicago
read a paper on "A Report Illustrating
the Value of Secondary Physical
Science in the Diagnosis of Cardiac
Diseases. DIR. Babcock is known as
the blind physician of Chicago. and the
eloquent and forcible manner in
which Dr. Babeock delivered his paper
added much to the already scholarly
and scientific value it possessed. His
remarkable power of minute differen-
tlatlon In heart and lung diseases was
evident throughout. Among the other
points brought out We're, .Murmurs
are the least reliable signs Of valvular
olsease- An accurate diagnosis cannot
be made unless the secondary signs of
Vaiyuiar disease are recognized. If
the heart actions are not sufficiently
strong there may not be any mumur:
or a grave defect may not be noticed
for the same reason. Secondary synp-
tens are. modified pulse rate. char
acter and rhythm leading to a conges-
ton OF the veins and internal organs.
In some instances there is also systolic
VENUS pulsation of the liver. Such
systolic jugular pulsation is diagnosic
Of insuffieiency even if the murmur is
not audible The paper was discussed