The following volunteer papers were referred to their appropriate Sections: On Plastic Splints, by Dr. H. O. Marcy, of Massachusetts; On Epithelioma, by Dr. S. P. Breed; On a New Speculum, by Dr. E. A. Hildreth, of West Virginia; On Conservative Surgery, by Dr. I. N. Quimby, of New Jersey; A New Instrument, exhibited by Dr. H. I. Bowditch, of Boston.

PERMANENT MEMBERS.

Dr. Davis submitted the following names for election as permanent members: Drs. F. C. Schaefer, Chicago; W. H. Fitch, Rockford, Ill.; G. H. Chapman, Hudson, Mich.; G. E. Willard, Chicago; C. C. Hunt, Dixon, Ill.; J. J. Stone, G. Benedict, and J. H. Stewart, of Minnesota; J. N. O.Brien, Plymouth, Wis.; R. Dexter, and J. Vider.

REPORT ON THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

Dr. Brodie, of Michigan, chairman of the special committee appointed to consider the recommendations embodied in the President's annual address, submitted the following report:

"Your special committee, to whom was referred the recommendations in the President's annual address, respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and recommend as follows:

"1. The Smithsonian plan: It is believed that if the offlcers of the Sections should perform their duties promptly under the existing regulations, there would be no necessity for further examination.

"2. In the matter of a standing committee to procure papers on scientific subjects, it is or should be part of the duty of the chairmen of the Sections to obtain suitable matter for their respective Sections, at as early a time after their appointment as possible; and it is believed this would effect what the President proposes.

"3. On permanent members and representation, we do not think it best at the present time to make or suggest any change in the present plan of organization.

"4. On the union of this Association with the Canada Medical Association, we consider the same impracticable, and

are of opinion that the present system of intercourse between the societies by delegates serves to meet the requirement.

"5. On the question of the Pharmacopoeia, we deem it inexpedient at the present time to take any action in the premises."

On the suggestion of Dr. Bowditch, the report was laid upon the table temporarily.

REVISION OF THE U. S. PHARMACOPOEIA.

The hour of ten having arrived, Dr. E. R. Squibb, of New York, spoke on the revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia. He stated that he was ready to report on this important matter, but saw from the programme that only one hour had been allowed for it. He would be unable to do more than to make brief allusion to the matter in that time, and was unwilling to dispose of it in any such cursory manner. It was deserving of a long and deliberate consideration. Yet he was willing to conform with the wishes of the Association and do as directed.

Dr. Davis, on behalf of the Committee on Arrangements, said that though this subject had been assigned to this hour, it might be laid on the table, at the close of the hour, for further consideration.

It was decided, on motion of Dr. Gallagher, to hear Dr. Squibb to the end of the hour.

The

report, as read by Dr. Squibb, involved a full resumé of the arguments pro and con on the revision of the Pharmacopœia. It involved copious quotations from Dr. Wood's pamphlet on the subject. It denied the allegations of Dr. Wood that it was the intention by the proposed innovations, to abolish the old Pharmacopoeia, but asserted that the design was to improve the present plan by introducing new and important revisions similar to those lately made in the German Pharmacopoeia. Nor was it designed to interfere with the "Dispensatory," but merely to have a Pharmacopoeia without a Dispensatory. It was intended by the new revision simply to undertake a work which the old Pharmacopoeia did not do. He explained that it was intended by the revision to make the Pharmacopoeia explain its own assertions, or definitions,

without the aid of a Dispensatory. He referred to many mistakes in the Dispensatory of 1877, showing little improvement since 1873, and which should be remedied. In refutation of the argument that the whole profession, by the proposed plan, would be under the control of one man, he averred that it should be remembered that that man would be the President of the American Medical Association; and that no more impropriety obtained in that, than in the representation of an entire Government by one Minister, as often occurred in national

matters.

The time having arrived for another order of business, the subject was referred to the Committee on Arrangements to appoint an hour for its further consideration.

The next order of business was an

ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SECTION IN PRACTICAL

MEDICINE, ETC.,

which was delivered by Dr. P. G. Robinson, of Missouri. The address consisted of a review of the progress made in medicine during the past year. It had been fully shown that accumulations of sewerage and the like became centres of contagion. Especial attention was directed to the etiology of specific fevers, notably the typhoid, and reference was made to the outbreak which occurred in Lancashire, England, in consequence of using milk supplied from one dairy. The attention of the Association was called to an article in the July number of the American Journal of Medical Sciences, where the cure of a case of rabies canina by the use of strychnine was reported by Dr. Watson, of Jersey City. In his case there was no aversion to water shown, and for that, and some other reasons, a number of physicians held that it was not a true case of hydrophobia. The great question to be settled was that of diagnosis.

Dr. Robinson then passed to a consideration of the use of salicine and salicylic acid in the treatment of acute rheumatism. These had been used with great advantage in various hospitals, both abroad and at home, and there was no doubt that a means of alleviating this terrible disease had been found.

Reference was made to the value of counting the blood-cor

puscles in certain affections, and quotations made from several French authors.

In physiology reference was made to the labors of Ferrier, Fritz and Hitzig, Dalton, Mitchell, Hughlings Jackson, and others, regarding the localization of function in the brain, the function of the corpora quadrigemina, the duality of the vasomotor system, etc. During the past year several drugs had been brought into use, and special mention was made of the use of gelseminum in the treatment of facial neuralgia, salicylic acid as an internal and external remedy, erythroxylon coca, and several other articles. The address was well received, and referred to the Committee on Publication.

ADDRESS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SECTION ON OBSTETRICS.

Dr. Jas. P. White, of Buffalo, N. Y., delivered the address, and began by saying that the most notable event of the year was the formation of the American Gynæcological Society, and its transactions and publications were of great interest to the medical profession. Dr. White then called attention to a number of books and pamphlets in relation to this particular branch of medical study which were published last year.

Special and favorable mention was made of the writings of the late Dr. John S. Parry, and his book was reviewed to considerable length. The papers of Dr. Isaac E. Taylor, read before the New York Academy of Medicine, received special notice, but he was inclined to differ with Dr. Taylor as to the value of Cæsarean section when compared with craniotomy. The theory of Dr. Maxson, of Syracuse, N. Y., regarding the value of the knee-and-elbow position in the management of cases of malposition of the fœtus, received favorable mention. Pneumatic pressure, by Dr. Campbell, of Georgia, was noticed and believed to possess some value. Dr. White was pleased to notice the growing sentiment in favor of the use of the obstetrical forceps, and exhibited a pair made in accordance with his own views regarding the construction of the instrument. The management of placenta prævia was under consideration when the hour expired.

COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS.

The Committee on Nominations was announced as follows:

Dr. J. M. Keller, Arkansas; Dr. L. M. Lovelace, California; Dr. C. R. Bissell, Colorado; Dr. H. M. Knight, Connecticut; Dr. W. Marshal, Delaware; Dr. W. H. Ross, District of Columbia; Dr. R. Battey, Georgia; Dr. C. H. Rawson, Iowa; Dr. T. D. Fitch, Illinois; Dr. G. Sutton, Indiana; Dr. W. L. Schenck, Kansas; Dr. D. W. Yandell, Kentucky; Dr. J. C. Egan, Louisiana; Dr. W. B. Cobb, Maine; Dr. H. O. Marcy, Massachusetts; Dr. C. H. Ohr, Maryland; Dr. L. Connor, Michigan; Dr. C. P. Adams, Minnesota; Dr. T. B. Lester, Missouri; Dr. W. M. Compton, Mississippi; Dr. S. G. Dearborn, New Hampshire; Dr. S. Lilly, New Jersey; Dr. J. P. Gray, New York; Dr. E. Grissom, North Carolina; Dr. W. W. Jones, Ohio; Dr. S. D. Gross, Pennsylvania; Dr. W. H. Palmer, Rhode Island; Dr. W. H. Geddings, South Carolina; Dr. D. J. Roberts, Tennessee; Dr. A. E. Carothers, Texas; Dr. William R. Hutchinson, Vermont; Dr. F. D. Cunningham, Virginia; Dr. J. C. Hupp, West Virginia; Dr. J. T. Reeve, Wisconsin; Dr. J. R. Smith, United States Army.

Dr. Nichols, of the District of Columbia, President of the Association of Superintendents of Insane Asylums of the United States, was then introduced by Dr. N. S. Davis, and the Association adjourned to meet at 9:30 A. M., June 7, 1877.

THURSDAY, JUNE 7.-THIRD DAY.

The Association convened at 9:30 a. m., Dr. Bowditch presiding; the attendance was as large as on the previous day. The list of those who had registered was read by the Secretary, the total number of delegates now present being given as 660.

Dr. N. S. Davis reported the following names proposed as members by invitation: Dr. H. P. Godfrey, of Berlin, Wis.; Dr. J. R. Moffatt, Prairie du Chien; Dr. R. G. Floyd, Whitehall, Wis.; Dr. G. F. Everett, Dixon, Ill.; Dr. Truman W. Miller, Chicago; Dr. Thomas R. Douglas, Pennsylvania; Dr. C. M. Fitch, Chicago.