The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-11-14
Medical Association Meeting.

| large attendance. Eight new members
were added to the society which now
numbers thirty-five physicians. DR.. j.
N Eldred, of Chesaning, joined the so
ciety, having been given permission by
| the Saginaw county organization.
DR.. Wade, of Laingsburg, was given
permission to join the Ingham county
society. Physicians living near the
border of county are allowed to join
the most convenient or accessible orga.
nization. Each county throughout the
state will soon have county medi ca
society that will be affiliated with the
State Medical Society, and each State
Medical Society will be affiliated with
and constitute the national organiza-
ton, known as the American Medical
Association. The object is mutual
scientific advancement, original re-
search and securing the enactment of
better sanitary laws.
Dr. E. l.. Shurley, of Detroit. Prof of
laryngology, was present by invitation
and read a carefully prepared and
thoroughly scientific paper on dis
eases of the thyroid gland" He said
that modern research had swept away
many of the old theories relative to the
causation of pathological changes in
this gland; that analysis of its colloid
secretion showed it to be composed OF
very complex substances, any change in
which, very materially affected the hu-
man economy. He named the sub
stances which recent chemical investi-
cation has isolated from this colloid
secretion, iodothyrin, iodin, xanthin,
hypoxanthin, inosit, creatin, and sarco-
Tactic acid, and spoke of the physiological
properties of each, and their influence
on cell life so far as known. He dis
cussed pathological differences between
bronchocele, and exopthalmic goitre,
and cretinism and lastly outlined his
method of treating these affections, a
part of which he hit upon accidentally.
The paper was very scholarly and ex-
ceedingly interesting and instructive.
DIR. Hume in opening the discussion
said it would be presumptuous in him
to attempt to discuss a paper of that
kind, the most he could do was to ask
DR.. Shurley questions. He related the
history of case occurring in his prac-
tice and asked if the administration of
thyroid extract would be indicated in
hypertrophic goitre. DR.. Campbell, of
Ovid, asked if the removal of the entire
gland did not always affect mentality;
told how he removed this gland from
the neck of dog belonging to friend
of his, and he was afterwards told that
the dog was of no service; didn't know
anything.
DR.. Mccormick said that as he did
the most of the talking at the last
meeting he would leave the field open
for other members. He asked DR.. Shur-
ley what his experience was in the
treatment of these affections with
Finsen's ultra violet rays; also with the
X-rays also how under the new theory
he would account for the fact that in
the deep narrow valleys of Switzerland
where these diseases are endemic,
cretins would improve by being re-
moved to higher attitude. He said he
had never seen typical case of
cretinism and had an impression that
they were very rare in this state.
DR.. French instanced case of goitre
incidentally cured by his treating, me-
chanically another portion of the body
for functional abnormality.
DR.. Mahaney had seen case Of
cretinism cured at the University hos
pital by the administration of thyroid
extract.
DR.. Eldred said he was well repaid
for his visit to Owosso; was deeply in
terested in the paper; discussed the old
methods of treatment and said the ideas
advanced by DR.. Shurley had opened
his eyes to many things that before
seemed to him very mysterious.
DR.. Lamb spoke of the class of cases
that came under his care chiefly ex-
opthalmic goitre, and his method of
management.
DR.. Shurley replied to these various
questions in clear, lucid manner and
much to the satisfaction of the society.
He would not give thyroid extract in
cases of hypertrophic goitre. The re-
moval Of the gland did effect mentality.
His use of Finsen's violet rays and the
Xrays were not satisfactory. Cretin-
ism very rarely occurred in the United
States. The case mentioned by DR..
French was very instructive and pro-
ceeded to explain how such things hap
pened.
On motion of DIR. Mccormick a vote
of thanks was rendered DR.. Shurley for
his very instructive paper and for the
interest he had awakened in the medical
society.
Preparations were made for the next
meeting which occurs on the first Tues
day in December DR.. Ward was APP
pointed to prepare a paper for that
meeting. K.