followed up the reading by the exhibition of casts and photographs illustrating cases.

After reading his paper, Dr. Farnham said: I have two cases of anterior stenosis which I wish very briefly to present. Of one I have a photograph and of each casts of nose and vault of pharynx. The first, a boy of ten, presents a typical case where the original trouble consisted in growths upon the anterior portion of each septum and a consequent thickening of the tissues of the alæ very marked as you see. The membrana tympani are somewhat sunken, although the tissues of pharynx and naso pharynx are normal. My second case is a young man of 23. The cast shows a similar external appearance of nostrils. The naso-pharyngeal cavity measures from base of uvula backward seven-eighths of an inch by one inch and a quarter from side to side. The treatment has been surgical, followed by dilatation, hot water and dialectrolysis. With three cells I get the reaction on the start at the positive electrode in about four minutes. The latter treatment is somewhat painful.

Dr. Senn from the Board of Censors, stated that the two physicians who had vouched for Dr. J. A. Winters, had withdrawn their names as vouchers, and moved to reconsider the vote taken by the Society on the admission of Dr. Winters, which being seconded, passed.

After discussion, a motion was made by Dr. E. W. Bartlett, and seconded that the whole matter be laid on the table, which passed.

Pending the further action of the Society, Dr. Winters being absent, the Secretary was by vote instructed to return to him the amount of his admission fee.

On motion of Dr. Meacher, the President was authorized to appoint delegates to the State Medical Societies of other States in his discretion.

A paper was read by Dr. C. G. Strong, on Nasal Catarrh, and the same was referred to the Committee on Publication.

Dr. Hoegh read a paper on Some Points about Neurasthenia, which was also referred to the Committee on Publication.

At this point Dr. Gapen presented and read the following memorial from the Women's Christian Temperance Union, relative to the claims of the Feeble minded and Idiotic:

TO THE WISCONSIN MEDICAL SOCIETY, IN CONVENTION ASSEMBLED: MADISON, JUNE 1st, 1886.

GENTLEMEN:—As associated members of a profession especially familiar with all the "ills our human flesh is heir to," it would evidently seem needless and inappropriate to recount to you the pitiable conditions in which you find the Feeble-minded and Idiotic, or any class of your patients. But in your busy care for the individual, many of you have doubtless overlooked the fact of the rapidly increasing number of these who cannot speak for themselves, and so have failed to definitely estimate their claims upon the community and the state. Specialists agree that the imbecile class is increasing in undue proportion to the increase of population; but while liberal provision is made for the education of the mute and blind and the insane, for this most helpless and pathetic multitude, provision is made for the suitable training and care of only three per cent. of the nearly 77,000 reported by the last United States census. It is with regret we remind you that Wisconsin has thus far practically ignored the claims of the 1,785 of her most helpless, but by no means most hopeless children. How can the state justly discriminate to the utter neglect of its unspeakably pitiable and irresponsible wards while it provides every aid for the strong and self-reliant?

Will you not by resolutions express your convictions that this neglect can no longer be excused in your legislators and bring to bear upon your incoming Assembly the influence of your combined knowledge and experience, urging immediate and liberal provision for this class for reasons philanthropic and economic, and for the higher claims of equity and humanity? Will you also add to this public expression your personal influence, when the hour for action arrives, and thus prove the power of an intelligent and interested constituency.

LYDIA R. CLARK.

Committee of Dept. for Care of Incapables, of National W. C. T. U. The undersigned, officers of the Wisconsin W. C. T. U., concur in the above memorial, and commend it to the favorable consideration of the convention.

EMMA C. BASCOM, V. P.,

MARY M. EATON, Cor. Sec.,
MARIA S. JOHNSON, Treasurer,
ELLEN W. LAMB,

Supt. Dept. S. S. Work,
HELEN R. OLIN, Supt. Fairs.

The memorial was referred to the committee already appointed with reference to the class referred to therein, and on motion the committee was authorized to take any action in the name of the society, in reference thereto which may seem to it judicious.

Dr. Ottillie then gave a brief synopsis of a paper he had prepared on "The Relation of Eye Diseases to Diseases of the Kidneys."

Papers by Dr. J. W. Coon on "The Local Treatment of the Air Passages";

By Dr. J. R. Barnett, on The use of Salicylate of Ammonia in the treatment of Typhoid and Septic Fevers and Inflammations; By Dr. J. H. McBride, giving a General Report on Nervous diseases;

By Dr. I. W. DeVoe, on the relation of Germs and Microorganisms to disease;

And by Dr. A. F. Jonas, giving report of a case of Gangrenous Erysipelas, were read either by title or by brief synopsis, and were referred to the Committee on Publication.

Dr. E. W. Bartlett: We have had a very pleasant time. I therefore move that the thanks of this society be extended to the members of the Madison Medical Club and other medical men of the city, also to the railroads for returning us at reduced fare, also to the administration of the insane asylum for their entertainment, also to the authorities having control of this building for the excellent accommodations they have given us, and also to the committee of arrangements for their arduous labors in entertaining us.

Carried.

Dr. Steele: I desire to extend my thanks to the society for electing me to the office from which I now retire; to the committee of arrangements for their very able and telling work in making this meeting a success and to the society for exercising great forbearance toward me in my imperfect manner of presiding over its meetings. I want also to express my satisfaction at the character of the papers that have been presented and at the general support that the profession has given this meeting. It has been to me a source of great pleasure, and I think we all feel that there has been been an improvement at this meeting in the character of the work that has been done. Many interesting papers have been presented. I again thank you, gentlemen.

Dr. S. C. Johnson, president-elect was here escorted to the chair, and took charge of the proceedings.

Dr. Johnson: Gentlemen of the Wisconsin State Medical Society; - respectfully thank you for the honor you have conferred upon

me in electing me as the President of this Society, and hoping that I may have sufficient judgment and ability to satisfactorily perform the duties of this office I with humility accept the trust which you have placed upon me.

Upon motion a vote of thanks was extended to Dr. G. M. Steele the retiring president, for the able and impartial manner in which he had fulfilled the duties of his office.

The president then stated that he was not yet prepared to name the members of the several Standing Committees,* but in fulfilment of the duty to nominate three members of the Society to serve as members of the Committee on Ethics in the places of those whose terms of office had now expired, he would nominate Drs. C. Gapen, G. F. Witter and F. W. Epley, and on motion these nominations were confirmed by vote of the Society.

After arranging for an informal session of such members of the Society, as might choose to remain after formal adjournment, and resolving that any papers referred to the Society by the officers of such informal meeting, should be given a place in the Transactions, There being no further business presented, the Society adjourned.

*NOTE. For list of the Standing Committees subsequently appointed by the

President, see page 7,

ARTICLE II.

IS OUR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH COMMENSURATE WITH JUST DEMANDS.

President's Address.

BY G. M. STEELE, M. D., OF OSHKOSH.

Forty-four years ago there was organized, The Medical Society of the Territory of Wisconsin. The members numbered thirteen, and the first place of meeting was in this now beautiful city of Madison. Its first president was Dr. Mason C. Darling of Fond du Lac. Of the circumstances surrounding this organization, the difficulties encountered, and the sacrifices made in getting together, and the fruits which may have resulted from discussing the trying responsibilities with which they were surrounded when so much alone, none remain to tell the story.

To-day we can scarcely appreciate the full significance of a territorial gathering, at that period. To-day, the improved highway, the comfortable carriage, the railway, the telegraph and the telephone succeed the trail for the pedestrian, the saddle, the more primitive vehicle, and the stage coach. Still these meetings were attended by representatives from various parts of the Territory, and whence all these sacrifices? There can be but one answer, and that the craving desire for more wisdom in performing the responsible duties of a physician. Thus we see that the foundation upon which our present superstructure rests was not planted in the sands.

If I mistake not, no profession is more zealous for knowledge, than ours; certainly there is none which grapples with more important problems than the growth and maintenance of human life.

For the next five years succeeding its organization all records. of the Society are lost. In 1848, when the Territory became a state, the name of the Society was changed to "The Medical Society