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MOBILE COUNTY.

On diseases of Mobile county, by George A. Ketchum, M. D., of Mobile.

On Internal Urethrotomy, by C. H. Mastin, M. D,, of Mobile.

On the Endemics and Epidemics of Mobile, with special reference to their ætiology and prophylaxis, by Jerome Cochran, M. D., of Mobile.

On the Diseases of Women in Mobile, by E. P. Gaines, M. D., of Mobile.

On the Epidemic Diseases of Mobile for the first half of the year 1870, by Wm. H. Anderson, M. D., of Mobile.

Report of Case, with Physiological Explanations, by Wm. H. Anderson, M. D., of Mobile.

Trismus Nascentium, with Cases, by George A. Ketchum, M. D., of Mobile.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

On the diseases of Montgomery and vicinity, by J. M. Williams, M. D., of Montgomery.

On the Surgery of Montgomery County, by J. S. Weatherly, M D., of Montgomery.

On some points in the Physiology and Pathological Anatomy of the Eye, by R. F. Michel, M. D., of Montgomery.

On diseases of Benton and vicinity, by Dunklin Pierce, M. D., of Benton.

Pickens County. On the Surgery of Pickens county, by A. W. Agnew, M. D., of Providence.

Wilcox County. On the Diseases of Wilcox county, by E. D. McDaniel, M. D., of Camden.

On the Surgery of Wilcox county, by J. Paul Jones, M. D., of Camden.

Portions of several of these papers were read before the Association. By special request, the whole of the following papers were read, namely: Dr. Ketchum's report on the diseases of Mobile; Dr. Weatherly's report on the Surgery of Montgomery; and Dr. Osborn's report on the diseases of Hale.

The allusion to chloral hydrate, with which Dr. Osborn's paper concludes, gave rise to an interesting discussion of the therapeutic properties of this medicine.

Dr. J. M. Williams, of Montgomery, said that as it was coming into very general use, he would like to have the views of the members as to the conditions which indicated its use, and particularly since its reputation in delirium tremens, and other forms of drunkenness, had become so well established, that people were beginning to use it in such cases without medical advice, he would like to know under what circumstances it might be considered dangerous.

Dr. Desprez, of Tuscumbia, stated that he had used the medicine, and was well pleased with its action; that, however, he had seen it stated that in solution it soon underwent some chemical change which made it deleterious, and even dangerous, and that he would like to know the best method of keeping it in solution; that he had tnought of dissolving it with glycerine, but had been informed that such mixture would be unsafe.

Dr. Osborn, in reply stated that he had been accustomed to use chloral very freely in his practice, and that for convenience of administration, as he practiced in the country, and was obliged to dispense his own drugs, he always carried a bottle containing chloral dissolved in water and syrup, and that although he had used this mixture two weeks after its preparation, he had not observed any disagreeable effects to follow its administration. He was satisfied that for all forms of simple nervous excitement and insomnia, it was the most prompt and efficient remedy known to the profession; and that while accidents had been reported as following its use, he must believe, from his own experience, that it was as safe as any other powerful medicine.

Dr. John S. Lynch, of Wilcox, said that he had given it to one patient in whom it produced no sedative effect, but seemed to act as a stimulant.

Dr. McDaniel, of Wilcox, related a case of meningitis, in which morphia, although given freely and relieving the pain, had failed to produce sleep. He then gave chloral, which caused the patient to sleep, but failed to relieve the pain, the patient complaining that she felt the pain even while sleeping. He then gave the two remedies in combination with the effect of fulfilling both indications at the same time, ease and sleep coming together under their joint influence.

Dr. F. A. Ross, of Mobile, said:

In reply to the question of Dr. Williams, I desire to state that I

have used the hydrate of chloral in more than one hundred cases. As a hypnotic, I think that it has no equal, and the value of its uses for this purpose, can only be measured by the fact that it perfectly fills a want which has existed for all time in the practice of medicine. The sleep produced by it is easy, profound and natural. It lasts for several hours, and the patient awakes calm and refreshed. There is no nausea nor headache, and no nervous derangement. Although the sleep is profound, the patient can be easily arousedwill take food or medicine, and immediately relapse into slumber. Perhaps one of its most valuable qualities is the prompt and perfect control which it possesses over that hitherto frequently fatal disease, delirium tremens. It was in a case of this character that I first used it. I had sent to a German importing house in New York, for a sample, which was the first imported into this city. Three days previous to its arrival, I was called to treat a well-known citizen for an attack of delirium tremens. In spite of my utmost care and attention, the patient got continually worse. It was impossible to produce sleep. He struggled constantly with his nurses; saw all the horrible sights usual on such occasions, and his vital powers failed rapidly. On the third day he was covered with a cold, clammy sweat; had a very small, feeble pulse of 170; some difficulty or inability to swallow; and his friends were advised that the case was a hopeless one. Just at this moment (3 o'clock P. M.,) the chloral arrived, and I immediately gave him 30 grains, and left the same quantity to be given in two hours. I visited him at 6 P. M., and could hardly believe my own senses. He had been sleeping since the first dose, and I found him with a warm, pleasant skin, a quiet, steady natural pulse of 88. His sleep was as quiet and as natural as a child's. He awoke at 8, perfectly rational, took some broth, had another dose of chloral, slept all night, and the next morning was convalescent.

I have since had the same perfect success in two other cases. In fact, I consider the chloral as a perfectly sure remedy in this disease. I have also used it in a great variety of painful diseases, and generally with decided benefit. There is a large class of disorders affecting the nervous system, from simple restlessness, or agitation, wakefulness, uneasiness, twitchings, and all those nameless symptoms which verge upon or pass into hysteria, in which this substance, especially when combined with valerian and lavender, affords great relief. I have found this combination invaluable in nervous palpitation of the heart, and I believe that even in organic diseases of this organ, it is beneficial by quieting the heart to some extent. In this class of cases, I use the remedy in ten grain doses, repeated at suitable intervals.

On motion of Dr. J. F. Heustis it was

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to memorialize the Legislature to purchase for the benefit of the State, to be

used as a hospital for chronic and surgical diseases, the marine hospital in this city, which is now no longer required by the United States government.

Committee:-Drs. J. F. Heustis, J. S. Weatherly, Wm. O. Bald

win.

On motion, Dr. T. C. Osborn was added to the committee.

On motion of Dr. J. M. Williams it was

Resolved, That after the present session the association will not accept as a body or individually any entertainment at the hands of medical societies located at places selected for its annual meetings.

On motion, a committee consisting of Drs. J. F. Heustis, J. C. Harris, and E. D. McDaniel, was appointed to prepare a suitable tribute of respect to Dr. Robinson Miller, deceased, an old and active member of the association.

Dr. E. D. McDaniel offered the following:

Resolved, That the Medical Association of the State of Alabama believe that the government of the medical profession should be kept in the profession's own hands.

Resolved, That we are opposed to the establishment of national schools of medicine not wholly under the direction and control of the profession, as unnecessary and unwise.

Referred to committee consisting of Drs. E. D. McDaniel, G. A. Ketchum, and J. M. Williams.

The report of the Nominating Committee was received as follows: The Committee on Nominations for Officers of the Association met at the Battle House, March 23d, Dr. J. F. Heustis, Chairman, Dr. J. M. Williams, Secretary.

The following nominations were made:

For President-Dr. T. C. Osborne.

1st Vice-President-Dr. G. E. Kumpé.

2nd Vice-President-Dr. Peter Bryce.

3d Vice-President-Dr. Goronwy Owen.
1st Recording Secretary-Dr. Jerome Cochran.
2d Recording Secretary-Dr. S. S. Forbes.
Corresponding Secretary-Dr. T. A. Means.
Treasurer-Dr. W. C. Jackson.

Orator-Dr. J. S. Weatherly.

Alternate Orator-Dr. R. D. Webb.

Valedictorian-Dr. G. T. Deason.

Alternate Valedictorian-Dr. W. P. Copeland.

Place of next meeting-Huntsville.

On motion, the rule to elect by ballot was suspended, and the nominations unanimously confirmed.

The time of meeting was fixed for the last Tuesday in March.

A committee of three, consisting of Drs. Michel, Locke, and Moses, was appointed to conduct the President elect to the chair. He was welcomed to the post of honor and responsibility which had been conferred upon him by his fellow-members, by the retiring President, Dr. Ross, and spoke as follows:

DR. OSBORNE'S REPLY.

Fellows of the Association :

It affords me exquisite pleasure to thank you for the distinction your volunteer suffrages have conferred.

The fact is patent to every one, and I do not wish to disguise it, that personal considerations have nothing whatever to do with the selection made to-day.

Your preference in electing me to preside over your deliberations is due to the humble efforts I have made, through a series of years, in feeble contributions to the medical literature of the State, and to the desire I have ever manifested in maintaining the dignity of the profession; and most sincerely do I return you fervent thanks for the honor intended. Candor, however, compels me to acknowledge my innate unworthiness in the fulfillment of the honorable position which has been so generously tendered, and the only apology I can offer for accepting the duties thus imposed, is based upon the conviction that you feel assured of the motives which will actuate me in their performance, throwing the blame upon the head instead of the heart, and making in this way indulgent allowances for all the short-comings of my administrative capacity.

Twenty years ago I would have indulged exquisite vanity in the possession of such an incumbency; and even now I am by no means destitute of this feeling, but, as in later life it is natural to lose much of the relish for honorary distinctions, and as the loss thus sustained is replaced by maturer sentiments, I may rationally hope that its present enjoyment will be unalloyed by the ambition of earlier years, and that I shall be better enabled to concentrate my ideas and energies upon the advancement of the interest of the association.

Trusting confidently in your zeal for the profession, and hoping sincerely that the mantle which has so unexpectedly fallen upon my shoulders may not suffer in its tranfer from those of my distinquished predecessor, I assume cheerfully the labors it imposes, and shall spare no pains in preserving it untarnished for that rotation which must annually occur.

On motion of Dr. S. D. Seelye it was

Resolved, That in view of the valuable services to the association

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