it a duty in all severe and doubtful cases to give her families the benefit of the superior skill and larger experience of the specialist.

Dr. Chase had sometimes for financial and other reasons delayed to send for a specialist until too late. This was a great mistake, as it injured the patient's chances, was detrimental to the reputation of the family physician, both as regards this patient and the specialist, and only enabled the latter in too many cases to smooth the pathway to the grave whereas had he been sooner summoned life might have been saved. Dr. Boothby urged that the physician should not be too sure of his diagnosis, for if a wrong diagnosis had been made the consultant was in an embarrassing dilemma, not wishing to injure the reputation for medical knowledge or surgical diagnosis of the family physician, and yet compelled to be honest in the expression of his own opinion. These difficulties would be avoided if a conditional diagnosis was made by the physician.

Dr. Sanders had known of a case where a professional friend of his had lost a most valuable family by sending one member to a specialist. The specialist cured the case, and then informed the head of the family that he was competent to treat not only that peculiar organ but the other organs and humors of the body, and thereafter enjoyed all the emoluments coming from medical practice in that family of wealth. If specialists would devote their attention exclusively to their specialty and be honest; the general practitioner would be more ready to consult with them.

Dr. J. H. Moore said that it was often impossible for a man especially interested in one line of practice to entirely give up general practice. If the specialist was fair and honest the case should be sent to him with confidence that it would be skillfully treated, and that the family thereafter would not be treated with too great kindness. He had sent with satisfaction to himself and his patients cases requiring special treatment to some younger doctors who were just establishing themselves as specialists and had not yet felt able to relinquish general practice.

Dr. Elliott observed that nearly without exception the leading specialists in the homoeopathic ranks in New England had at first attended also to general practice, and very many of the younger men are of necessity following in their footsteps. The advantage of consultation with specialists is most marked; it increases the respect of the family for the family physician, and often renders him able to do them a priceless service by utilizing the superior skill and knowledge of a specialist and thus saving life or avoiding disaster. The general practitioner owes a debt of gratuitude to the specialist for his invaluable assistance, and for the honorable treatment which, with very rare exceptions, has been the rule.

Dr. Perkins' interesting paper treated of a medico-legal case. A fractured femur had been set after consultation with Dr. N. R. Enuson. The result was considered excellent. Yet the patient urged on by ill-considered surgical and legal advice, brought suit for malpractice, the ad damum being $20,000. The case dragged on for several years before coming to trial. The counsel for the plaintiff finally offered to settle for $100, thus tacitly admitting the true ground of the prosecution. Before the case came to trial, two most eminent old school surgeons were asked by the defendants to see the patient. They complied and pronounced the surgical result excellent and that the action was outrageous. The case was thereupon nolle prosequi. The points emphasized were the want of protection under the present laws of physicians and surgeons against malpractice suits which are little less than instances of blackmail, being totally without reason or justification. The great injustice

and injury thus done to the surgeon, and in this case the generous and honorable treatment by the surgeons of the old school who refused any compensation for their valuable service and advice.

Drs. Warren and Packard gave interesting cases in their experience where suits were either threatened or brought, in which the only apparent reason was the malice or the poverty of the plaintiff. No honorable lawyer would appear in such cases.

Dr. Winnr urged that all physicians of whatever school should stand together and support each other, whether right or wrong, unless it be a moral wrong.

Dr. Boothby was careful to urge students to especfally avoid criticism upon the methods or results of old school practice in any specific case. The doctor or surgeon should always be given the benefit of the doubt.

A generous collation was served. The new Chipium Hall is an ideal place for a medical gathering, and fills a long felt want. The attendance was large, the papers excellent, and the discussions animated and profitable.

The Homœopathic Medical Society of the County of New York held its regular monthly meeting in the Berkeley Lyceum Hall, 19 West Forty-fourth Street, on Thursday evening, May 14th, 1896.

There was a large attendance present, brought out doubtless by the fact that special committees were to report upon the deaths of two of our esteemed members, Dr. Edwin J. Pratt and Dr. Robert McMurray.

In the scientific portion of the meeting the Committee on Obstetrics, Dr. F. W. Hamlin, chairman, presented an interesting paper by Dr. P. J. B. Wait, entitled, "Chorea in Pregnancy." The discussion was opened by Dr. J. T. O'Connor as follows: Chorea appears in pregnancy, when at all, almost exclusively in adult life and is doubtless due to some trouble in the cortex. It is not ordinarily a fatal disease. Of fifteen cases in pregnant women quoted, not one died. In any service of chorea in pregnancy, abortion is of course liable and also the developing fœtal nervous system is liable to be injured, showing later in life. The cause of chorea is doubtful. Possibly due to rheumatic diathesis. Mitral murmurs, etc., lead to belief in this theory. Mitral trouble is often coincident with chorea and seems to have (in these cases) peculiarities of its own, i.e., soft vegetations on the valves, which may disappear, however, under treatment. There are two kinds of chorea, functional and organic. In pregnancy it is most apt to occur in primipera. May come from fright. If predisposition exists it is easy to see how it would develop on provocation. In cases of chorea in pregnancy by far the greater number are in cases out of wedlock. The sense of shame, dread of the future, etc., being sufficient to cause it.

Dr. P. J. B. Wait: Orificialists tell us that chorea in children is often cured by releasing the hood of the clitoris. In future cases in young girls I shall certainly investigate the matter and see if such positive causative condition exists.

The Committee on Diseases of the Eye and Ear, George A. Shepard, M. D., chairman, presented a paper by George DeWayne Hallett, M. D., entitled, "Affections of the Membrana Tympani."

Discussion: Dr. St. Clair Smith: Is not a vesicular condition of the membrana tympani similar to phlyctenular conjunctivitis and keratitis and is it not liable to recur as in those cases? I used to see these cases in the same class of patients. There was always a condition of struma. I believe the two conditions are allied.

Dr. George DeWayne Hallett: No authority speaks of more than one acute attack in the same membrane. The chronic form exists but not in separate attacks. I never have observed it in the same individual with a phlyctenular conjunctivitis.

Dr. St. Clair Sinith: I have seen them so large as to be diagnosed as bulging of the membrane due to effusion. Puncturing it, however, showed it to be nothing but a raising of the epithelium of the membrana tympani.

Dr. Charles Deady: Pathological changes in the two conditions are identical, but it is quite rare to find the same condition in the ear.

The Special Memorial Committee to report upon the death of Dr. Robert McMurray, consisting of Drs. H. M. Smith. Jno. McE. Wetmore and T. F. Allen, presented a sketch of his life and work, after which remarks were made by Drs. T. F. Allen, Hallock, A. W. Palmer, Baldwin and Amelia Wright. The following resolutions were then read and adopted:

Whereas, This society has been deprived by the death of Dr. Robert McMurray, of one of its original incorporators, and a most active and useful member.

Resolved, That we sincerely mourn the loss of an associate who was always foremost in all efforts to unite the homoeopathic physicians of New York; always enthusiastic in the cause of homoeopathy and always earnest for the advancement of scientific truth and true medicine.

Resolved, That we remember in Dr. McMurray the courteous gentletleman, the conscientious physician and the honest man, who stood steadfast for the right and never neglected duty.

Resolved, That we extend our sympathy to the wife of our deceased member and friend, and direct that these resolutions be entered on the minutes and a copy be forwarded to her by the secretary.

The Special Memorial Committe, consisting of Drs. St. Clair Smith, Leal and Irving Townsend, to report upon the death of Dr. Edwin J. Pratt, offered a sketch of his life, followed by remarks by Drs. Hallock and Norton. The following tribute of respect was adopted by the society:

Your committee feel that no formal resolutions can adequately express for themselves or this society the affectionate regard of its members for the memory of Dr. Pratt, and they therefore submit this slight tribute to his sterling worth and modest excellence.

If any one trait of his character seems more than another to represent the man, it was his fidelity, and to this quality is due his unquestioned professional success, the warmth of his friendships, the tender regard of those who knew him well, the respect of all with whom he came in contact.

He was as brave as he was loyal, and as true to the cause he espoused as he was as aggressive in its defense, and as staunch in his convictions as he was careful in arriving at his conclusions.

No man sought him for advice, for help, and went away emptyhanded if it were in his power to aid, and in every relation of life he bore the character and stamp of gentlemanly honor and a noble manhood.

To his sisters, both of whom are wives of old and useful members of this society, whose influence in a large measure shaped his career, we offer our sympathy and an expression of the regret we all feel.

We extend to his wife our heartfelt sympathy, and hope that the child with whose care and education she is intrusted may imitate the virtues so abundantly evidenced by his father.

In miscellaneous business the following list of delegates to the State society were elected to serve until February, 1900. Drs. J. Wilford Allen, R. M. Andrew, John Arschagouni, Adelia B. Barber, Lydia A. Bickford, Granville C. Brown, Ivimey Dowling, Rita Dunlevy, Jeannette Reid Durkee, Mary L. Edwards, G. DeWayne Hallett, O. S. Hardy, A. H. Hart, J. L. Hiller. George P. Holden, Roland du Jardin, Elizabeth Jarrett, Harriette D'Esmonde Keatinge, Oscar Northway Meyer, Edwin S. Munson, Howard S. Neilson, Marie E. Ohlmeyer, J. B. Palmer, Geo. H. Patchen, Wm. S. Pearsall, Isabella M. Pettet, J. Perry Seward, Leroy B. Sherman, J. F. Simonson, S. Eliza Talcott, Charles Townsend, Phoebe J. B. Wait, M. Ruth Worrall, Amelia Wright, Gertrude L. Zabriskie.

Meeting adjourned at II P.M.

H. WORTHINGTON PAIGE, M.D., Secretary.

OFFICE TO LET: A New York homœopathic physician has an office to rent in his home. Light, pleasant, good-sized room with all conveniences. First-class location and very accessible to all parts of the city. Terms, including light, heat and door attention, will be moderate. Address NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL, 1672 Broadway, New York City.

DR. PRATT'S ANNUAL CLASS for instruction in orificial surgery will be held at the Chicago Homœopathic Medical College during the week beginning September 7th. For particulars address E. H. Pratt, M. D., 100 State Street, Chicago.

SHARP & DOHME, of 41 John Street, New York, have just issued a very convenient, as well as artistic, price list of drugs and physicians' supplies. It is worth while to write for a copy.

THE ANTIKAMNIA COMPANY has devised an ingenious and original little table which indicates the phases of the moon for each month. It appears in our advertising pages. A new table will be issued for each month. The popular Antikamnia tablets, in various compounds, show by their shading the lunar phases.

"I HAVE VISITED STAMFORD HALL several times in the past five years. I find the location to be a healthy one, the surroundings pleasant and cheerful, the furnishings excellent and ample, and everything adapted to promote the comfort of patients. The general management is admirable and the sanitarium must commend itself to those desiring or needing special care that is given in such an institution. George S. Adams, Medical Superintendent, Westborough Insane Asylum, Westborough, Mass"

SCOTT'S EMULSION.-Children who cannot be induced to take pure Cod Liver Oil frequently like Scott's Emulsion, and we find it especially useful in the treatment of tubercular affections in children, more particularly in tubercular bone and joint diseases. The children gain in flesh, appetite and strength during its exhibition and are placed in better condition to withstand the progress of tuberculosis.

CONDUCTED BY

H. WORTHINGTON PAIGE, M.D.

Readers of the JOURNAL are cordially requested to send personals, removals, deaths and all items of general news to H. Worthington Paige, M.D., The Rutland, 256 West Fifty-seventh Street, New York City.

Secretaries of societies and institutions are invited to contribute reports of their proceedings, and as it is intended to make this department crisp and newsy, reports should be complete but concise.

National Society of Electro-Therapeutists.-The next meeting of the National Society of Electro-Therapeutists will be held in New York, September 22d and 23d, 1896. The gradually increased interest manifested from year to year has demonstrated both its need and usefulness; but, if this increased interest is to be maintained, the Society must maintain its high character, both in the quality and number of papers presented at the coming meeting. The officers are very anxious this year to have every member represented by a paper, even though it contain only the report of a clinical case. A new feature will be introduced - at the coming meeting, in the form of a question department, and every member is requested to send to the Secretary a question pertaining to the subject of Electro-Therapy, to be discussed in open meeting. All such questions should be sent in early enough to be printed in the programme of the meeting, so that those wishing to discuss these questions may have time to look up points concerning them. Here is an opportunity, by mutual exchange of ideas, to clear up many obscure points.

Already a number of men eminent in the electrical world have signified their intentions to be present with papers on various branches of Electro-Physics, and also to take part in the discussion of all questions arising during the meeting. This will be of great advantage to physicians who are still wrestling with many of the knotty problems of the physics of the subject.

The chairmen of the different committees are as follows: Bureau of General Electro-Therapeutics, M. J. E. Clapp, 15 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass.; Bureau of Diseases of the Nervous System, M. D. Youngman, M. D., Atlantic City, N. J.; Bureau of Electro-Surgery, G. W. Roberts, M. D., 1672 Broadway, New York City; Bureau of Electricity in Gynæcology, Edwin De Baun, M. D., Passaic, N. J.; Bureau of Diseases of Eye, Ear and Throat, G. W. McDowell, M. D., 136 West 130th Street, New York City.

The titles of all papers should be sent to the chairman of the committee under which their paper falls, at once.

F. M. Frazer, M. D., Secretary.

The Homœopathic Medical Society of the County of New York held its regular monthly meeting in the Berkeley Lyceum Hall on Thursday morning, June 11, 1896. There was a good attendance out. Dr. Charles Deady, the President, occupied the chair.

The following were elected to membership: Dr. Clinton L. Bagg, 67 West 45th Street; Dr. Hugh Kidder, 351 West 42d Street, and Dr. George Taylor Stewart, of the Metropolitan Hospital, Blackwell's Island. Dr. Frank H. Barnes, of Stamford, Conn., of the N. Y. H. M. C. and H., class of 1896, was nominated for corresponding membership.

The Committee on Diseases of the Throat and Chest, Dr. William I. Pierce, chairman, presented a paper on "The Removal of Septal Growths Without Destruction of the Mucous Membrane," by William L. Pearsall, M. D.