The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-06
Congress of Physicians Endorse
the Diphtheria Remedy.
RESULT OF SPECIAL INQUIRY
Report Submitted to the
American Pediatric Society Eff
cacy OF the Cure Fully Established.
Component Societies Elect Off,
cers-Last Day OF the Convention.

Interest in this, the third and last days
proceedings of the congress of American
physicians and surgeons, ccntered in a
report submit ed this morning to the Amer
lean Pediatric Society-one Of the con-
ponent organizations-on the much talked
of anti-toxin treatment for diph liberia.
In the report was embodied the results Of
a long continued collective investigation OF
the treatment by special committee of
four pin ysicians and advocated in the strong
est terms the use of anti-toxin in all cases
of the dreaded chiIdren's s disease.
Prof. Huntingdon's classroom, Columbian
Uuive rsty, in which the meetings of the
society are held, was unable to accommo-
date the large umber of auditors VINO were
attracted by the widespread interest in
the subject under investigation and the
crowd spread out into the adjoining hall
The report was read by DR.. william
Northrup. of New York, chairman of the
committee. He stated that the committee
had pursued a systematic investigation
of the anti-toNin treatment of laryngeal
diphthcria. or membranous Group. They
clans residing in twenty-five of the United
States and in the District OF Columbia
and Canada of the use of anti-toxin in
100 cases OF diphtheria. Out of this
number only II ger cent proved fatal.
thus proving beyond shadow Of doubt
the efficacy of the treatment.
Tie only difficulty In the administra-
tion Of the injection, the report further
stated, was that physicians, from timidity
or yielding to the desires of parents, either
injected too small a dose or postponed the
treatment until it was too late. The anti
toxin should be injected not later than the
third day in diphtheria. Every day after
the third IeSsened materially the chances
of recovery.
The dost should be 1000 units, but the
committee found that practitioners, from
fear of the aDti-toXin, frequently used
frCm one-tenth To one-qUarter of that guam
tity, thus endangering their cases.
That there is no danger in the injection,
the report concluded, is shown that out of
the roo cases there was not one fatality
resulting from the use of the syringe.
The American genealogical Society tins
marning held an election of officers, re-
sulting as follows: President, DR.. Paul
Munde, New York; vice presidents, Drs. E
c. Dudley, Chicago, and Arthur W. john
stone, Cincinnati; secretary, DR.. J. Riddle
Goffe, New York: treasurer, DR.. J. Mont
gonery BaIdy, Philadelphia, and members
of the council. Drs Albert F. King. Washing
ton; Edward Reynolds, Boston; James II.
EthPr.dge, and DR.. Henry GaTvigue, New
York.
The American Surgical Society also
elected officers this morning, follows:
President. ] McF. Poewett, st. Louis; vice
president, J. McF. CASTOR, Atlanta; Secre-
tary, H. L Burrel, Boston, and treasurer,
G. L. Fowler, Brooklyn.
The general congress met at the Columbia
Theater at 2 p. m, as usual. From . to
8: 80 O'Clock the session was under the
direction of the American Orthopedic
Association, the subject discussed being
"Defornlities of the Hip Joint; Especially
Congenital Dislocations. " DR.. E. II.
Bradford read a paper bearing on the sub
ject, which was followed by a discussion,
in which Drs. V. 2. Gibuey, Of New York,
aud Harry NJ. Sherman, of San Francisco,
participated
From $50 to o'clock this after
noon the American Surgical Association
will direct the session, discussing The
classification OF Acute Peritonitis; the
Prognosis and Treatment OF the Different
Varieties DR.. Nicholas Sem, of Chi
cago, ILL.,, will read a paper on The
Classification and Dr. Robert Able, OF
New York city, on The Prognosis and
Treatment of the Different Varieties" A
discussion will follow, participated in by
DR.. John r. beaver, OF Philadelphia, Pa.
Dr. Andrew ]. McCosh, of New York city,
and DR. George R. Fowler, of Brooklyn,
Ny.
This evening the congress will accept an
invitation, extended by the Cosmos Club,
for a smoker in the clubhouse, corner Yer
mont avenue and II street