THE INSTITUTE SESSION. In forming an estimate of the success of the recent session of the American Institute of Homœopathy, there is one fact to be considered, namely, that the attendance was influenced in both directions by the circumstance that this was the second successive meeting in Saratoga. It doubtless induced some to attend and some to stay away, and it is exceedingly difficult to determine whether the plan was wise or otherwise. Yet we did not hear a single expression regretting the choice that brought the Institute a second time to the famous American spa.

It goes without saying that the Institute session was presided over in a manner most efficient and acceptable. Dr. Orme's address proved to be, as might have been expected, the dignified and scholarly expression and outcome of his long years of close and patient observation of the progress of medicine, and of his intelligent devotion to the interests of homœopathy. Accurate yet conservative in statement, and replete with thoughtful suggestions, it may well serve as a theme for the study of physicians, whether in or out of the Institute.

Everybody was interested, and some were anxious, to know what might be the working and the results of the "sectional plan" of meetings. Fortunately for the pleasure of the occasion, the members, and especially the chairmen and members of the bureaus, seemed determined not to be disconcerted at any personal inconvenience which the "sectional" experiment might impose. Criticisms there were, of course, and just ones too, but they were all offered in the most kindly and

forbearing spirit, a circumstance which added much to the comfort and pleasure of the committee having the details in charge, to say the least.

It can be said truly, that the quality of the discussion, taken all in all, was better-indeed, considerably betterthan usual. Probably this was due to the fact that under the "sectional plan" surgical topics were discussed by surgeons, obstetric themes by obstetricians, ophthalmic subjects by ophthalmologists, etc. Under the new plan each bureau had more time, but the time was not always employed in the way usually deemed best, i. e., there was not enough time spent in discussion, and too much given to the reading of papers. By the way, the papers themselves, so far as we heard them, will compare favorably with those of previous years. They exhibited, more than is generally usual, evidence of the thought and experience of their authors, though there were exceptions, as might have been expected. About eighty new members were received.

Among the criticisms and suggestions we heard respecting the sectional meetings were chiefly these, as we recall them: "They are bringing out more valuable discussions." "They will improve gradually the character of our essays." "They allow time for individual members to slip away for a few hours of sight-seeing or recreation." "There should never be more than two bureaus in session at once." "The gynecologists and pædologists ought not to hold sectional meetings at the same time." "Why not omit or else abbreviate the sectional addresses, and give the time to sectional meetings?" "Why don't you have one or

two sectional meetings in the forenoon, instead of having them all in the afternoons and evenings?" etc. This is about the substance of the remarks as we heard them (and we asked a good many questions of a good many members, for the purpose of bringing them out).

There was a committee "on sectional meetings" appointed for next year. Every member who has a suggestion to offer should write it out and send it to the unfortunate chairman, so as to give him something to think about for the next few months. The mental exercise will do him good, and doubtless help the Institute also.

One other matter of importance-the work done by Dr. T. F. Smith, chairman of the Bureau of " O., R. & S.," in finding out what department of work each member prefers-was a grand success, and its success will almost certainly be visible at next year's meeting. It is to be hoped that this new departure of the Bureau will be continued as a valuable aid to all the other bureaus.

The Institute adopted two important resolutions looking to the success of the next session. One was to limit the time occupied by each bureau in making its report in the general session to ten minutes. And the other to provide that not more than one-half the time set apart for each sectional meeting should be spent in the reading of papers. This latter resolution will guarantee one and onehalf hours at least for discussion in each section, or a minimum of fifteen hours in all. This looks like business. If we do not have an abundance of profitable discussion next year whose fault will it be?

OUR BUSINESS EDITOR. Our Business Editor has taken to himself wings-or rather wheels-and has fled to parts unknown-to us. The

last we heard of him he was in St. Paul, Minnesota, and directing his course towards Yellowstone Park. We understand that he proposes, if time permits, to pursue his flight to Oregon, and probably to Alaska. It will be remembered that he proposed Sitka as a suitable place for the next Institute meeting. He perhaps wishes to ascertain the extent of the hotel accommodations at that favorite resort of his. By the way, he writes us an account of the accommodations at Lake Minnetonka, in case the Institute should ever determine to hold a session there. We will publish his letter shortly.

P. S.-We forgot to mention that our Business Editor left a few of his autographs at his office, which subscribers can procure at three dollars each. He is expected to return on or before the first of September.

TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS.

We hope our contributing friends will be patient with us. This month the journal contains sixteen pages extra, and is chock full of Institute matters of a quality to interest all readers, and we are obliged to defer important papers till later issues. There are some excellent things in store for September.

ERRATA.

In consequence of a misunderstanding of directions, our printer, while we were absent at the Institute meeting, struck off the first form-sixteen pages of the present number before the proof had been revised. Some errors are, therefore, to be found, which should be noted.

Page 449, 4th line from bottom, for "Urales" read Urates.

Page 452, 6th line from top, omit "but."

Page 458, line 24, for "arrestible' read irrepressible.

Page 458, line 38, for "abodinal " read abdominal.

Page 459, line 2, for "malaria " read malarial.

Page 464, line 36, for "College" read Belge.

Page 464, bottom line, for "acute " read acuta.

Gleanings.

Ice Poultice.

Spread a layer of linseed meal threefourths of an inch deep on a cloth of proper size, and put pieces of ice the size of a marble on the meal at inter

vals of an inch; then sprinkle lightly with the meal, cover with a cloth and turn over the edges; apply the thick surface to the skin. The meal protects the skin and excludes the air from the ice, thus preventing melting.-Technics.

Castration for Epilepsy.

Schramm, of Dresden, says that in comparison with other forms of spasm, castration in epilepsy and hystero-epilepsy yielded less favorable results, but that when epilepsy has a close relation to the menstrual process, the operation is a legitimate one and of great value. He adduced two severe cases operated on respectively one year and one and a half years previously, neither of whom had any fits since the operation.-Arch. of Gynecology, May 1887.

Herpes Zoster: Its Relations with Herpes Facialis and Herpes Genitalis.

Epstein of Neisser's clinic in Breslau, says that the question of the indentity of these various forms of herpes was raised by Bärensprung,in his classical article on zoster, years ago. Gerhardt supported this view, and suggested an examination into the relation between the facial herpes of acute febrile diseases and the rise in temperature. Just as there is usually a prodromal neuralgia in zoster, so in facial herpes an initial chill precedes the eruption by three days on an average. The initial chill seems to suggest the probable origin of the eruption; but to explain how the rise in

temperature can exert a direct influence upon the minute twigs of the trigeminal, Gerhardt suggests that the nerve passes through a narrow bony canal along with a small artery, which is first narrowed and then enlarged by the febrile influence. The pressure of the nerve trunk between this artery and the bony wall causes more or less irritation of the nerve-trunk. In the case of herpes genitalis Mauriac has been brought to the conclusion that this is also due to a nerve-lesion and is closely connected with herpes zoster. Epstein examines carefully into the pros and cons of the question, and analyzes carefully the views of prominent writers on the subject, finally leaning strongly to the conclusion that all the forms of herpes have a common pathological origin, however differing in their clinical appearance and course.-Phila. Medical Times, May 28, 1887.

Remaining June 30th, Prescriptions in dispensary, Minor surgical operations,

42

H. O. ROCKEFELLER, M. D.,
Resident Physician.

THE PENNSYLVANIA PHARMACEUTICAL EXAMINING BOARD.-Governor Beaver has appointed Mr. A. J. Tafel, the wellknown homoeopathic pharmacist, a member of the Board of Examiners provided for by the pharmaceutical law recently enacted in this State.

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.-The Board of Regents of this institution has appointed Dr. J. G. Gilchrist Professor of Surgery, and Dr. C. H. Cogswell Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Children in the Homœopathic Department, thus securing the establishment of four chairs which include all therapeutic and clinical teaching. Students of homoeopathy in the Uni

versity will now receive all their practical instruction from homoeopathic teachers, and only anatomy, physiology, chemistry and medical jurisprudence will be taught them by allopathic teachers.

An energetic movement is on foot to provide a homeopathic hospital in connection with the department, and with bright prospects of speedy success.

THE ALBANY COUNTY HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.-At a regular quarterly meeting of the County Homœopathic Medical Society, Dr. Gorham presented a summary of the more important proceedings of the National Homœopathic Association recently held at Saratoga. His remarks had special reference to the utility of arsenite of soda in the treatment of diabetes, as recommended by Dr. Martineau, of New York; also regarding the utility of stramonium in the early stages of hip-joint disease.

Dr. Paine described at length reports of confinement cases, embracing the preliminary treatment and the management of labor.

Dr. Gorham related his experience in the use of Massenetta water in the treatment of malaria and intermittent fever.

Dr. Waldo reported the history and treatment of several cases of albuminuria.

Dr. Schwartz related the difficulties he found it necessary to overcome in a recent case of chronic cystis.

Dr. Pratt called attention to the salient points of a paper to which he had listened, at the Saratoga meeting, on "The Physiological Effects of Sea Air Upon the System."

The next regular meeting of the Society will be held on the second Tuesday in October.

THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA will be held at Pittsburg, September 20, 21 and 22, 1887. The headquarters will be at the Monongahela House, and the sessions will be held in the chapel of the Pittsburg Homœopathic Hospital. In connection with this meeting will be celebrated the 50th anniversary of the

THE MARYLAND INSTITUTE OF HOMEOPATHY held its ninth semi-annual session in Baltimore, May 11, 1887, Dr. G. T. Shower, the President, in the chair.

The President, after the delivery of a brief address, presented some "Notes on Materia Medica," and Dr. Eldridge C. Price gave the history of three interesting clinical cases.

Dr. Elias C. Price presented a paper on "Diseases of the Mammary Gland," and Dr. O. Edward Janney one entitled "A Short Study in Infant Foods."

After general discussion, the Institute decided to adjourn sine die and cease to hold meetings. The explanation of this decisive action is as follows:

For several years previous to 1882 there existed in our State a society called the Maryland State Homœopathic Medical Society. About five years ago this society ceased to hold meetings, and in order that Maryland should be represented by a State association, the Maryland Institute of Homœopathy was organized November 15, 1882, and later on was incorporated as a State society.

Recently, however, the Maryland State Homeopathic Medical Society has been revived, with a good prospect of continuance, and the members of the "Institute," recognizing the priority of the other society, have determined to encourage no rivalry, and have, by the above action, left the field clear. O. EDWARD JANNEY, Secretary.