lessons derived from it. There were forty-three cases operated upon, of which five resulted fatally. The operations in the latter were delayed until the last moment. Dr. Howe thought this table proved that it was well to operate early in pelvic troubles, where the diagnosis was obscure. Dr. Ingalls remarked that there was no more danger in abdominal operations than in any other, provided there was suitable preparation made. He does not hesitate to open the abdomen at once in obscure diagnosis. Dr. P. H. Ingalls read an essay on "Treatment of Posterior Displacements of the Uterus," which appears elsewhere in this JOURNAL. Dr. Segur thought massage and postural treatment might be well used, especially in cases of young unmarried females, where local treatment is not advisable.

Dr. Irving W. Lyon then reported a case of pernicious anæmia which baffled the skill of five physicians. The exact diagnosis from the clinical features of the case was impossible. The patient was given every attention. Most careful notes of the case was recorded. Despite every possible medical aid, the patient succumbed. The autopsy and microscopical examination made by Dr. Wolff, of Hartford, afforded evidence of pernicious anæmia. Microscopical preparations were sent to Prof. William H. Welch, of Johns Hopkins University, who diagnosed the lesions as those due to pernicious anæmia.

A letter of acceptance as an honorary member of the Association was received from Mr. Chas. E. Gross.

Dr. P. H. Ingalls submitted the following resolutions, which were adopted:

(1) Resolved, That the committee on legal and reputable colleges be requested to revise the list of colleges so as to limit, according to their judgment, the members of those entitled to practice simply upon registration without an examination.

(2) Resolved, That the State Committee on Legislation be instructed to advocate the amendment of the law so that all candidates for registration be required to pass an examination.

Dr. P. W. Street, of Suffield, offered the following resolutions, which were adopted:

Whereas, The statute laws pertaining to the practice of Medicine, and such as are of peculiar interest to the medical profession, are something upon which it is desirable all physicians be informed; and,

Whereas, There is not now in existence any compilation embodying all such existing statutes for general circulation among physicians, and the looking up of such statutes involves reference to a constantly increasing number of volumes; and,

Whereas, There is not now observed any regular method of keeping our members promptly informed of new legislation which may have a medical bearing; be it

(1) Resolved, That this meeting suggests and recommends to the State Association that a pamphlet presently be published by the State Association for general distribution among its members, and with which to provide each one who may in the future become a member, which shall embody all existing statutes of the State of Connecticut affecting physicians, and of peculiar interest to the medical profession; and also the Constitution and By-Laws of the State Society; and be it also

(2) Resolved, That the State Society have published and promptly sent to each member, at the close of each legislative session, a copy of all additional legislation of similar character.

Whereas, Making out birth and death certificates requires considerable time and trouble, necessitating much questioning and often obliging the physician to make a special call for that purpose; and

Whereas, In computing the value of such services on the part of a Doctor the standard which should be taken is the value of a physician's time for professional purposes rather than the current rate of wages for copyists; and

Whereas, Failure on the part of the physician to fulfill legal requirements subjects him, in the instance of birth returns, at least, to a considerable fine as a penalty; be it

(3) Resolved, That we declare the fee established by law of twenty-five cents for each birth and death certificate returned to be thoroughly inadequate, and ask that measures be taken by the legislative committee of the State Society for securing by legislative enactment an amendment to the present statute gov erning compensation for said service, which shall establish the fee for making out each birth and death certificate at fifty cents.

Whereas, Question sometimes arises as to the shortest period of gestation which makes it necessary that the delivery of a fœtus be observed by the filing of a "still-birth" return; and,

Whereas, The Statute Law is inexplicit in regard to this point,

be it

(4) Resolved, That we request the legislative committee of the State Society to take measures to procure legislation which shall determine this point.

It was voted to increase the dues to $1.25.

The meeting then adjourned.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.-The semi-annual meeting was held by invitation of Dr. Miner C. Hazen, at his residence in Haddam, Thursday, October 24th, 1895.

The following members were present: Drs. Calef, Campbell, Edgerton, French, F. K. Hallock, Hazen, Lawson, Loveland, Mead, Nichols, Noyes, Plumstead, Sears and Worthington. Dr. Frank Coudert, recently removed from New Haven to Middlesex County, was also present.

In the absence of the President, Dr. John E. Bailey of Middletown, the Society elected Dr. Miner C. Hazen chairman pro tem. Dr. Frank K. Hallock of Cromwell, Clerk of the Association, read the minutes of the last semi-annual meeting, which were duly approved.

The first order of new business was the appointment by the chair of Messrs. A. J. Campbell, J. E. Loveland and S. W. Noyes, a committee to name a subject for discussion at the next semi-annual meeting; this committee is to report the subject and name of the dissertator at the annual meeting.

Dr. Hallock, on behalf of Dr. Campbell, presented the names of Drs. James Murphy, University of Pennsylvania 1895; Lewis Maitland, University of Pennsylvania 1895, and Daniel A. Nolan, Medico-chirurgical College of Philadelphia 1895, as candidates for admission to the Society. Drs. Calef, Campbell and Loveland were appointed a committee to investigate the credentials of these gentlemen.

Drs. Hallock, Calef and Loveland were appointed a committee to revise the order of exercises at both the annual and semiannual meetings; the idea being to provide a working program, or order of proceedings, which will condense the routine business of the sessions, and thus allow more time for the reading of papers and general discussion.

The report of the Middlesex Hospital Committee was rendered by the chairman, Dr. F. D. Edgerton, who described the work of selecting a list of incorporators, formulating a charter, and getting it passed by the State Legislature. The report of the committee was accepted with a vote of thanks to the members, Messrs. Edgerton, Calef, Hallock, Hazen, and Granniss, for their efforts. The Association also voted that this committee complete its work by issuing the call for the meeting of the incorporators.

The Society voted unanimously to endorse the two following. resolutions, adopted by the Hartford Medical Association at their meeting October 23d, 1895:

(1) Resolved, That the Committee on Legal and Reputable

Colleges be requested to revise the list of colleges so as to limit, according to their judgment, the numbers of those entitled to practice simply upon registration without examination.

(2) Resolved, That the State Committee on Legislation be instructed to advocate the amendment of the law, so that all candidates for registration be required to pass an examination.

The Society now proceeded to take up the subject appointed for general discussion-namely, "Diphtheria." Dr. Frank E. Potter, of Portland, the dissertator by appointment, was unavoidably detained, and in his place Dr. J. Francis Calef, of Middletown, opened the discussion. He described at length the methods followed by the New York City Board of Health in making examinations, isolating patients, and otherwise dealing with the disease. The use of anti-toxin both as a preventative as well as curative agent provoked much discussion, and opinion was divided as to its efficacy. All agreed that further study and more extended observations must be made in order to determine its true value. Dr. Calef reported the cases he has treated with the remedy, and there was no question as to the good results obtained. Dr. John E. Loveland, of Middletown, who next to Dr. Calef, has had the most experience in the county with antitoxin, reported cases supporting the view that the remedy was of decided value. Dr. Miner C. Hazen, of Haddam, on the other hand, reported a long series of cases showing most satisfactory results with the old methods of treatment. Dr. Arthur J. Campbell, of Middletown, gave the history of several cases of diphtheria and croup with unusual clinical symptoms. The rest of the members in turn gave their experience and expressed their opinions.

After the adjournment for dinner the Society went into informal session. Dr. M. C. Hazen gave an interesting account of his trip abroad, and Dr. C. A. Sears, of Portland, told one of his famous stories. Dr. F. K. Hallock opened the informal discussion on the Code of Medical Ethics, criticising some of its features, and advocating a more liberal interpretation of it. The Society expressed its pleasure in again meeting Dr. A. E. Worthington of Middle Haddam, who in point of admission, is its oldest member, and also voted its most hearty thanks to Dr. Hazen for his generous entertainment.

NEW HAVEN CITY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.-The regular monthly meeting was held on Wednesday evening, November 6th, 1895, at Stewart's Cafe. Owing to the absence of the President, Dr.

The

Daggett, the Vice-President, Dr. H. B. Ferris, presided. Secretary, Dr. Townsend, read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved. Dr. Daggett had entered meanwhile, and took the chair.

Dr. Russell reported an interesting case (occurring within the past week) of strangulated femoral hernia, with operation followed by a pneumonia. The patient, a man seventy-six years of age, had an irreducible femoral hernia of several years' standing. The patient had been suffering from a moderate bronchitis for the greater part of the year. During a fit of coughing the previous night, the hernia suddenly became strangulated, as evidenced by fæcal vomiting about an hour later. Dr. Russell, upon being first called to the case next day, found a tense and non-reducible hernia of the size of an orange. The sac was opened and about six inches of badly gangrenous intestine and a portion of mesentery, also gangrenous, were excised. The intensely adherent omentum was reduced after the separation of the adhesions. The mucosa was united by a continuous suture and the serous surfaces by two tiers of Lembert's sutures. Union was perfect, for gas and fæcal matter were easily passed, per rectum, up to the time of the patient's death from pneumonia. On the following morning the temperature was ninety-nine degrees, pulse seventy-eight, respirations thirty-five. Examination of the chest revealed a well-marked pneumonia of right side. The temperature rose, the patient grew rapidly worse, and died two and one-half days after the operation, purely of pneumonia, the abdominal symptoms having continued to be wholly favorable. The question arises, "Was the pneumonia a result of the administration of ether?" The patient had had a moderate bronchitis, and he might have had pneumonia anyway, but it is probable that the ether hastened the attack. It was impossible to administer chloroform, on account of the age of the patient and the condition of the heart, which was dilated, with an intermittent pulse. In several other cases, ether had been administered to patients with a marked bronchitis, and no serious results had fol.lowed. Dr. Russell stated that a few weeks previously he had had a patient of more advanced age recover after an operation for strangulated femoral hernia. The important points in this case were, then, the excision of about six inches of gangrenous intestine, a perfect end-to-end union, proven by the passage of gas and fæcal matter, a favorable rally from the operation, followed by a fatal attack of pneumonia, which attack might have been hastened by the administration of ether.