The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-12-08
Papers Read and Discussed
By the Physicians
TWILIGHT SLEEP IS FAD
That Is Opinion of DR.. J. W.
Andrews, Who Touched
On Subject.

The annual meeting OF the South
ern Minnesota Medical association
held in the Grand theatre Monday
and Tuesday, was brought to a close
at five o'clock yesterday afternoon,
having proved one Of the most inter-
esting and well attended meetings OF
the association. The afternoon ses-
sion, following the business meeting
was taken up by lively discussions
on papers given, and continued long
beyond the time scheduled for clos
ing, some of the papers being omitted
on account of lack of time. Among
the subjects discussed were "Spleno-
megaly and Diseases Associated
Herewith" with an illustrated eX-
PLANTATION of "Ribiere and Schneider
Tests as Used for Diagnosis in Ger
tain Diseases OF the Blood" Papers
dealing with the general topic had
been prepared by Alexander Arch
bald of Rochester, who illustrated the
method of blood TRANSMISSION in the
treatment of pernicious anemia; D..
c.. Balfour, J. d. Pemberton, and
H. q. Griffin of Rochester, Franklin
r. Wright of Minneapolis delivered
paper on Treatment of Structure
of the Uretha." and the discussion
was taken part in by Harry Cohen
and William F. Braasch. A. E. Soh-
mer of this city gave an interesting
paper dealing with "The Thyroid
Gland in it's Relation to Infections"
Use and Abuse of Anesthesia.
"The Use and Abuse of Anetheia
in the Practice of Obstetrics" was
thoroughly exposed by w. H. Con-
dit of Minneapolis, and opinions on
the subject appeared to be rather di-
versified. Those who were down for
discussions and papers were T. F.
Hammermeister, New Ulm; F. l..
Adair, Minneapolis; w. F. c.. Heise.
Winona; w. c.! Portman, Jackson;
c.. r. Curran. city; Frank M. Man,
son, Worthington; Allen B. Stewart,
Owatonnay The so-called twilight
sleep" for the mother was denounced
by the physicians, none of whom
gave it more than a passing remark,
stating that the crusade in it's favor
had been a igeqadvertisingers cheme
DR. ondit spoke2 strongly In favor of
nitrous oxide as deadeIer of pain,
without i'll effects, and explained the
methods of it's use. DIR: 81 W., An
drews stated that, he had, praEticed
medicine for twenty years, and found
that the profession was as much at
variance today as it was quarter of
a century ago on the matter of anes-
thesia in the practice of obstetrics.
He drew attention to the fact that
only about ten per cent of the cases
were attended to- in hospitals, and
80 per cent were taken care of by
the country practitioner, who could
not get nitrous oxide, and could not
use this gas, neither could they apply
twilight sleep, which had proved
nothing but a fad. and eliminating
these there left nothing to relieve the
prospective mother but ether or
chloroform.
Use Of chIoroform.
The use of chloroform had been es-
pecially denounced by some of the
doctors, but DR.. Andrews stated that
in his experience he had found moth
ing SO good as chloroform. 1t could
be applied by physicians anywhere,
and required no costly apparatus or
extensive preparation to apply it. The
patient revived promptly and there
there were no i'll after effects. DR..
Andrews talk was enthusiastically
received by the physicians in attend
ance. DR.. Condit stated that of course
the nitrous oxide could not be given
except in hospital, and all such
eases should be attended to at hos
pital anyway, where the best of care
could be given. Owing to the lateness
of the hour. and the fact that the ma
tinee of Romeo and Juliet was
scheduled to take place at the Grand
the meeting was adjourned at five
o'clock.