Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-11
OLD AS HIS ARTERIES
SAYING APPLIED TO MAN RE-
ITERATED BY DIR. HARE.

The spirit of Aesculapius held sovereign
sway among teh disciples of the god of
medicine who gathered last evening at
Rauscher's to enjoy feast of learning and
a banquet OF material things. The intellec-
tuaI entertainment was furnished principally
by DR.. Hobart Amory Hare professor OF
therapeutics and materia medca in Jeffer-
son Medical College, Philadelphia, and au
thor OF many standard works on medicine.
He delivered an address on The Relation
ship of Diseases of the Heart TO Diseases Of
the Arteries" Dr. Hare was followed by
several local members of the profession.
who contributed the result of their expert
ence and observation to the consideration
Of the subject. Reversing the usual order
observed at such functions. the dining
room was not visited until the speechmaE-
ing was over. 1t was not explained that
the precedence accorded the mental exer-
cises over the indulgence of the appetite
was based upon any recent physiological
discovery.
The gathering was under the auspices OF
the Clinical Society of Washington and was
attended by a large number of the mem
bers Of the medical profession in this city.
DR.. Louis a. Johnson, the president of the
society, presided. He introduced DR.. Hare,
referring TO the latter as one of the lead
ing opponents of medical science in this
country. Dr. Hare divided his address into
two parts, first discussing changes in the
heart muscles due largely to nervous con-
ditiOns, and then describing analogous al
terations In the arterlal system. The speak
er uttered warning against the habit
which he said physicians have of neglecting
those pathological states of the heart not
brought about by valvular LESSONS and not
indicated by cardiac murmurs. lie thought
II was a too common practice to search for
high arter'al pressure in making physical
examinations OF the heart. Physicians
should not forget that the heart IS ire
quently impaired the result of influenza
and such diseases when the evidences of
impairment are to be found in The feeble
ness of the circulation. DR.. Hare spoke OF
the feeble heart of tuberculosis. saying that
practitioners frequently ignore the organ
almost entirely in treating that disease. de-
voting nearly all Of their attention to the
lungs.
Heart Damaged by Worry.
Speaking Of cardiac strain. he said that
the heart is frequently damaged in pro-
louged nervous worry. Cardio-vascular
changes result more from nerve strain than
from infection. he declared. He described
how the great increase in the hearts ac-
ton. due to mental effort. necessarily weak
ems the organ. the change at first being
functional. but later becoming organic. In
general. after man passes the age OF for
tY-fiye years, the speaker stated, the zenith
I'm cirCulatory possibility has been left be-
hind. Thereafter it is a struggle with the
Mart 10 MAINTAIN ll9t necessary power,
which begins to wauc at siXty-fiVe years.
Taking up the discussion of arterial
changes. Or. Hare expressed the belief that
practitioners are prone 30 ignore the vase
motor system. He said that doctors should
not neglect the arteries; they should not
forget that the heart. receiving so much
attention and study, is nothing more than
a dilated artery.
The speakers statements on the subject
OF the difference between spasmodic con-
diton of the arteries and a condition re-
sultiug from hbroid changes were received
with the greatest interest, and were after
ward discussed generally. DR.. Hare said
he was convinced that a knowledge of these
differences here is of the highest value in
the treatment of arterial diseases. Where
the case IS spaSmodic In character, he said.
good results are obtained from the use OF the |
HttrateS. but where there Is real thicken- |
ing of the coats of the vessels it is bad |
practice TO give nitro-glycerine. nitrate of
amyl and other similar remedies. In that |
ease the iOdides. the speaker said. are the !
only remedial agents that do any real good |
in reducing the blood pressure. He said he
was convinced that the arteries subject
10 hypertrophy and compensation, just as
is The heart.
General Discussion.
In response to invitations from the pres
idcnt. brief addresses were delivered by DR..
q. NJ. IIober, DR.. \. f A. King. On. George
Tuly Vaughan and Dr. J. B. Nichols
after they had finished speaking DIR. Hare
made additional remarks, saying that he
did not wish to be understood as placing
arbitrary limitations on human life, as had
been attributed 10 an eminent member of
the profession in Baltimore. He, however,
urged the truth Of the old saying that a
man is as old as his arteries. BY a unan-
imOus vote the visitor was heartily thanked
for his address. After each one present
had been personally presented to DR. Hare,
all repaired to the dining room, where a
slmptuOus dinner was served.
The arrangements for the affair were
looked after by Dr.. W. NJ Barton Dr. w.
A. Wells and DR.. J. D. Thomas.
The officers and members Of the Clinical
Society are: DR.. Louis A. Johnson, presi
dent. DIR. John ID Thomas, vice president;
Dr. Frank Biscoe. secretary and treasurer;
DIS L. b. Behread. f. O. Belt W NJ Bar
ton. Frank Biscoe Monte Griffith Harry
HURT. ;. Key, DUFF Lewis, W. A Morgan
J b. Mullins, c. II Hammett, J. 3. Mich
OILS. y w Prenuss. V. b. Jackson, n. A
Johnson. J. Ramsburgh james Stuart, J.
u. Thomas, w. A. Wells. J. 5. Wall. G.. g
White A b. Hooe J. J Richardson, c.
g. Marburg and NJ. d Magee.
Guests in Attendance.
Tine following guests were present: Drs.
g. y. Aeker 5. S. Adams Roy Adams, W.
Atkinson, C. II. Baicr. c. d. P. Bailey
n = Barnes, w. N. Barton. J. B. Bayne.
G.. NJ Beau. f. Il. Behrend +. 0. Belt. F.
L Blscoe, Earl Biscoc, u. 5. A., r. s.
Blackburn W Burch. ". X Butler. j
Cabeu w. =. Carr b. d. Chadwick, r. A.
Clayton. c. X. Collins. John Constas II.
Crook, NJ. T. Cuthbert II. b. Deale. II. II.
DuuuuIly II. Fisher Gen Forwood L. s.
A. Fowlkes. Frederick, H. u. Fry, Gill,
L. y. GlazehrcOk, W. =. Gwynu, +.
Hagucr, O.. NJ. Hammett T. V Hammond,
g. L. Hardin, J. w. Hart, assistant sur
geou. L. 5. A: r. T. Holden, II. HURT. l..
NJ Hyuson, William \. Jack. V. b. Jack
son J. 4. Johnson. l.. a Johnson. T. J.
Kemp, $. Key A. f, y. King G NJ keber