MISCELLANEOUS MEMORANDA. being a beauty; nor is a sensible man to be condemned because his elocution does not com- · pare favorably with the best forensic displays out of the medical profession. Scarlet Fever is quite prevalent among small children, in Boston. A few adults have Such is the demand for horse flesh in France, suffered from it severely. Thirty children and particularly in Paris, to prevent the sale were reported sick with the disease at the Or- of that from animals dying of disease, it has phan Asylum, on Washington Street, last been recommended to the municipal governweek. In Cambridge, an adjoining city, or ment to organize a special market for horse ders have been issued by the School Committee, that, for the better safety of those attending school, the children of those families in which the disease has appeared must not be allowed to attend school until all danger is past. A pleasant meeting of the medical gentlemen of the city was held at the Tremont House on Saturday evening last, on invitation of the faculty of the medical department of Harvard College. Why cannot the agreeable social meetings that were formerly held by the physicians of the city at each other's houses be renewed? What is the secret of so much ophthalmic surgery being drawn from Boston to New York? Patients will certainly find themselves in as skilful hands here as in past times. The assertion that high charges drive patients to other cities needs confirmation. In answer to a correspondent who wishes to know whether the method of treating scarlet fever is considered successful, he is referred to the bills of mortality. meat. It is the only way in which abuses in regard to. that kind of food can be controlled. Evidence in abundance, from medical men of the highest social and professional standing, has been furnished to the public authorities, in favor of legalizing the sale of it for human food, it being both well-flavored, wholesome and nutritious. Let a pound of horse meat be sold in a Boston or New York market, and the people would be horrified, and humanity outraged. A Dr. Snodgrass, lately arrested at Massillon, Ohio, on the charge of killing his wife, was subsequently found dead in jail. Dr. Augustus Mitchell, of Portland, Me., has removed to Jacksonville, East Florida, for the express purpose of giving his attention to the treatment of pulmonary diseases. Invalids from the North, who visit the South to avoid the fitful climate of New England, will find many advantages to be derived from the bland and vitalising air of East Florida. Dr. Mitchell has long had this removal in view, from a conviction that it is the most promising regions for consumptive patients to visit, and a field in which he can render essential professional service to his fellow-men. At the last meeting of the Suffolk District Medical Society, a proposition was submitted, that refreshments should be had at the close of each session. That policy will insure full Dr. Bryan's Philadelphia Medical and Surmeetings, when the appetite for science is gical Journal, now in its fifth volume, has lost wholly vitiated. The Royal Society always nothing of its business-like character, being have tea and its accompaniments served, promptly published, at beginning of each when business is over, at Somerset House. month at only one dollar and fifty cents a Without the supper, a quorum could not be year, when paid in advance. A leading paper persuaded to be present. Pass the order for a in No. 6. of the present volume, is made up monthly supper, however meagre it may be, of selections from favorite prescriptions of and an ardent love for medical investigations living American practitioners, by Horace will assume astonishing activity. We are ad- Green, M. D., which we copy in full. vocates for the sandwiches. Any thing to induce the medical gentlemen of the city to become acquainted with each other. A famine is apprehended in Liberia, owing to the failure of the crops. Many natives of the interior have died of starvation. Drs. The communication from Cincinnati, and Snowden and Lang, of Boston, are now in the another from New Haven, with an account of service of the Liberian Government from the Medical Schools in both places, embracing whom reliable information may be expected. a description of the manner of the several Dr. Dickson, Member of Congress, from professors in their lecture rooms, is better cal- the Albany district in New York, is unable at culated for the diary of a traveller than for present to take his seat on account of sickthis publication. No one is to blame for not ness. THE MEDICAL WORLD. BOSTON, DECEMBER 17, 1856, DR. WOOD'S ADDRESS.-On the sixth of May, when the American Association commenced its session at Detroit, Michigan, George B. Wood, M. D., then President, delivered an address, since published by order of the Association. It may have been before the medical public for months. If so, however, we have been unfortunate in not having earlier received a copy, since it is a pleasure to read whatever ema nates from the author. page, be While turning over the leaves, page after fore the regular business of reading was commenced, the medico-literary labors of that gentleman became the subject of thought. His industry has been intense. For thirty years, at least, Dr. Wood has been before the medical profession of the United States in the character of a successful teacher in the university of Pennsylvania, and an author of distinction, who has commanded the respect and confidence of those for whom his writings were specifically designed. It is a difficult undertaking to have the prominency of Dr. Wood, and pass thus far on the eventful journey of life with so little social friction from the envious, the fault-finding, and those unprincipled appendages of a learned profession whose position depends on their success in destroying the influence of their superiors. There is no smothering the mortifying fact that has disgraced the local history of medicine, and sometimes tarnished the biographical splendor that would have belonged to the characters of individuals, had it not have been for an unfortunate habit of supposing it necessary to undervalue or destroy the prospects of a rising star in the firmament, that their own feeble light might be taken for the sun. nificent country. The good that flows from a fountain so pure, where character and science are the two pinions on which the whole organization revolves, is properly estimated. On the tessellated floor of the temple of Esculapius, the doctor steps lightly, in speaking of the two opposing schools of modern practice, viz: the homeopathics and their antipodes, the allopathics. No matter where anything comes from if it is really good, according to Dr. Wood's principles of argument. That is genuine eclectic doctrine, and will be received with admiration and eclat by some of the bold medical logicians of Ohio. Hear his words: "The regular practice of medicine is based on no such dogmas, and no exclusive dogma whatever. We profess to be intelligent men, who seek knowledge in reference to the cure of diseases, whereever we can find it, and in our search are bound by no other limits than those of truth and honor. We should not hesitate to receive it from the homœopathists, had they any to offer. We would pick it up from the filthiest common sewer of quackery; for, like the diamond, it has this excellent quality, that no surrounding filth defiles it, and it comes out pure and sparkling, even from the kennel.” If as much of the address were republished in these columns as our taste for fine writing would urge, it might be trenching farther on the rights of the Association than would be justifiable; therefore we leave it with reluctance, hoping that medical scholars who pretend they are at heart and soul devoted to the diffusion of the true principles of legitimate medicine, may have an unbroken literary feast over the bountiful table spread for them by Dr. Wood. PROFESSIONAL STUPIDITY. The art of keeping still and saying nothing is the true secret of the success of scores of medical blockheads. A bland, corDr. Wood has been a favored man. His path has dial, cheerful temperament in a physician, opernot been crossed. No harsh epithets have dropped ates disadvantageously just where it should call out from the point of a reviewer's pen. An amiability, those qualities in others. As the owl passed for a bird a candor, which belongs to the gentleman, seems to of wisdom, so stupidity passes in the society of superhave kept the carrion dogs of mischief-making propen-ficial people, as a sign of superior intelligence. A sity at bay, and he will transmit a name to posterity, faithful history of the medical profession would illusin the annals of American Medical Science, respected trate this proposition that the race is not to the swift as a man of cultivated powers, and honored as au- nor the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise. thority in the department to which an essential part of an industrious life has been devoted. DISEASES OF THE THROAT.-Since the discovery But these reflections must not divert us from a of a new and successful treatment by Dr. Green, of consideration of the address. It is a clear-sighted analysis of the past doings of the Association, with an equally correct view of what it might and should a hieve, and nothing appears to have impressed Dr. Wood more favorably than this, "a great benefit conferred on the profession by the Association was the preparation and adoption of a code of ethics." Again, he speaks with decided approbation of these gatherings of the physicians—not from the ends of the earth, but from the states and territories of this mag New York, a multitude of practitioners have established the value of that gentleman's method. It is an extraordinary circumstance, and worthy of further investigation, notwithstanding its staleness, what has produced the amazing amount of throat ail. For a long while it seemed to be confined to clergymen, and was supposed to have been produced by excessive use of the vocal organs. It is now no respector of persons, but as frequently as otherwise, seizes upon the bronchial apparatus of persons who are very saving of their words. A choice article on the Preparation of Narcotic Extracts, by S. S. Garrigues, of Philadelphia; Effervescing Powders, by John M. Maisch, of Philadelphia; and lastly, Mr. Wayne's finishing communication on Elixir of Opium, would give character to any scientific society. AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.-pated from that prolific source before many years Some poetaster of antiquity declares "that birds of a have sped away. feather like to flock together." How perfectly the truth of this homely rhyme is verified in the annual meetings of persons in this country and Europe, for mutual improvement and the interchange of civilities! First the medical practitioners; then the medical officers of lunatic asylums; the geologists; the general philosophers; and in the long procession of worthy devotees to scientific inquiries and explanations, the druggists and apothecaries, under the modest title of Pharmaceutical Association, hold their annual feasts of reason. With respect to the flow of soul, no account of transactions at dinner-tables are recorded by the secretaries, consequently all comments on the doings of learned bodies at the trencher must necessarily be imagined, and our remarks confined to the main objects contemplated by their several constitu tions. The fifth annual meeting of this well-organized society was held in Baltimore, in September. A report of the proceedings occupies a pamphlet of eightynine pages. John Meakim, Esq., of New York, then President, made a model opening address. Any presiding officer who has the humanity not to inflict a long stupid lecture on an audience deserves a gold medal, and the thanks of those whose opinion is worth having. Subsequently, George W. Andrews, Esq., of Baltimore, was elected President for the ensuing official year; and John L. Kidwell, of Georgetown, D. C., Frederick Stearns, Detroit, Michigan; and H. T. Kiersted, New York, Vice Presidents; and W. J. M. Gordon, of Cincinnati, Secretary. What blood is to the animal body, money is to the body of a corporation, and the financial circumstances of the association, therefore, must always indicate the health or consumptive tendency of associations where funds are required for defraying expenses. The receipts the past year were $195.85,-and $232 due from members remaining unpaid. There are one hundred and forty-one active members; three honorary; and eleven correspondents. Passing over the minutes of the daily proceedings, which were conducted with parliamentary order, we have derived the most satisfaction from the scientific papers placed on file and now published in detail. No such researches could have been produced by second-rate minds. They are honorable memorials of the chemical acumen of the members who communicated them to the archives of the association. They would be acquisitions to any medical library. Mr. Edward S. Wayne, of Cincinnati, on the Action of Oil of Sassafras upon metallic vessels, particularly those where lead has been used as a solder, and an observed compound resulting from those containing lead; and another on the Oil of Cotton Seed; a third on Oil of Pig-nut Hickory; a fourth on the peculiar acrid principles of the nut-order Trilliacea; and a fifth on a new proximate principle from Sanguinaria Canadensis, --are brilliant avant couriers of what may be antici There is a degree of importance attached to the workings of this fraternity which is of more consequence to the interests of practising physicians, than may be apprehended at first sight. Through the mixtures and compoundings of the apothecaries we are thought to cure or kill. Their knowledge is our personal gain, inasmuch as individual skill is rated according to our success by the great looking-on public. If the pharmaceutists prepare drugs according to laws which the exactions of a rigid science demand to determine their positive properties, the practitioner the pestilence that walketh in darkness. of medicine is armed for a combat, and a victory over BERKSHIRE MEDICAL INSTITUTION. For the information of far-off readers, it is proper to state that this medical school, now thirty-four years of age, is located in the beatiful town of Pittsfield, Berkshire county, in the Western part of Massachusetts. Its name is derived from the county. For a series of years, although within thirty-six miles of Albany, where there is also a medical college of good reputation, and Boston and New York are both accessible by railroad within a few hours, this institution has stood in good odor with the people, the profession, and the wide world—for it is represented at all points of compass by those who received their medical education within its portals. And wherever any of the graduates of the Berkshire have established themselves, their qualifications have always been found equal to all professional circumstances and emergencies. The Hon. Henry H. Childs, M. D., a professor from the beginning, and still vigorous, fresh, and animated, is dean of the faculty. Report brought intelligence a while since that the school was debilitated; but the catalogue of students who have been in attendance on the late course of lectures, is the best evidence that could be produced to prove that an abundance of strength and vitality remains. That cannot be a sickly corporation which is upheld by an array of youthful forces represented in sixty-three names on the matriculating list. By being sparing of their degrees they command respect. In 1855, only twelve were conferred upon those who had sustained themselves under a rigid examination. Two honorary doctorates were given the same year. No mention is made of graduates the present season. Probably it is the custom of the institution to announce them in some other manner. Formerly the Berkshire Medical College was a de partment of Williams College, at Williamstown, Mass., twenty miles north of Pittsfield. In consequence of the inconvenience of managing its interests, while obliged to gather the trustees of the college together from remote points, to vote the degrees which the medical professors recommended, an act of legislation cut the academical and scientific connection in twain, and gave the latter an independent existence. Long life to the Berkshire: may its shadow never be less! Many men who have made their mark on the columns of the temple of fame, first figured in its lecture rooms. It has always been a firm foundation to stand upon, with a view to making an ascent into more elevated regions, in which tact, talent, and industry are invariably sustained in this land of enterprise and encouragement. DEATHS REPORTED AT CITY REGISTRAR'S OFFICE FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 6. Francis E. Couillard 1 mo., Mary Cumming 9 mos. John Scannell 7 do., David Croty 45 yrs., Bernard, McLaughlin 25 do., James Coleman 45 do., Maria J. POPULAR FALLACIES. Certain extraordinary Pratt 4 do., Ellen Mahoney, 2 do., Joseph Riley 2 do., whims are always held in respect by the masses, and Thomas Hickey 13 mos., Mary Homer 61 yrs., Bridpreaching, writing and publishing, against their ab-get Gibbs 3 mos., Mary Connell 60 yrs., Thomas surdity, only confirms the people in the belief of their Glynn 12 mos., Francis Murphy 3 yrs., Ambrose Mcimportance. Thus, well-bred ladies and gentlemen Shane 6 do., Edward Byrnes 11 do., Frederick Clough consult clairvoyants, paying them generously for ex- James H. McManus 4 do., Donald Doyle 5 do., Ed2 do., Hannah Kelleher 2 do., Joanna Hawkes 27 do., amining the interior condition of their livers. This is ward Farrell 33 do, Mary Withington 43 do., Rufus as common in Boston, the Athens of America, as din- Battles 37 do., Patrick Brick 49 do., Mary A. Tracy ing on roast beef and pudding in England. Lancing 2 do., Michael Teague 2 do., Julia Curran 32 do., Sathe gums of teething infants, which aggravates their rah Riley 2 do., Maria L. Small 22 do., Rizpah A. G. sufferings a hundred fold; cutting imagined tongue-beth Sheehan 12 do., Eliza Donovan 4 do., Henry F. Blanchard 21 do., Thomas McCormick 2 mos., Elizatied tongues, thousands of which ought to be tied in Gutterson 20 do., Charles Kingsbury 4 days, Wm. after years; wearing red strings round the neck, to Coleman 14 mos., Ann M. Ryan 10 do., Mary E. O'prevent nose-bleeding; curing toothache by hiding a Brien 1 do., Charles Richardson 1 day, child of Arpea, thereby cheating the dentist; drinking thorough- den and Julia Hall 2 days, Mary E. Chamberlain 4 wort tea at the full of the moon, to obviate the necessity years, William H. Chamberlain 13 mos., John Carey of calling a physician at the wane: feeing natural do., Thomas Fahy 24 do., Mary McKenney 4 do., 66 years, Charles McCarty 11 do., Catharine Stack 6 bone-setters for reducing luxations that never oc- Bridget Dolan 33 do., John Crozier 29 do., Joshua H. curred; and implicitly obeying the directions of a sev- Hayward 59 do., Peter Small 35 do., Benjamin Selenth son, are a regular New England inheritance. den 25 do., Charles L. Newton jr. 6 do., Emma D. The last grandmother explains the whole thing to her Batchelder 6 do., Lillie L. G. Ingalls 5 do., Justus F. daughter, so the information comes down by regular 94 do., Ann Plunkett 80 do., Lucy A. Thompkins 27 Bradford 28 do., Bridget Shevlin 2 do., Michael Wall lineal descent in families. It is mortifying to a culti-do., Emma F. Butler 2 do., Maria Cassidy 10 mos., vated medical practitioner to be obliged to contend with these popular fallacies. But there is one course before him, — either say nothing against them, or be starved out. Sarah J. Kilroy 11 do., Thomas B. Smith 8 do., Jeremiah McDonald 1 mo., James White 9 mos., James Tobin 30 years, Mary Porter 79 do., Washington Hunt 6 do., Sarah A. Hall 66 do., Wm. W. Sarsfield 2 do., Wm. Hillman 64 do., Grace F. Johnson 77 do., Edward W. Baxter 2 do., Regina D. Lund 3 do., Jas. Kady 2 do., Mary Nau 6 do., Edward Gillespie 21 do., EDITORIAL CHANGES.Alfred Paine 18 mos., Frederick A. Bickford 12 do, Dr. S. D. Gross and Dr. Caroline H. Hinckley 3 do., James C. Hallett 17 do., Richardson, of Philadelphia, the former recently of Elizabeth A. Blood 15 do., Hattie C. Alger 9 do., Louisville, Ky., are to become editors of the Medical James White 12 do., Mary Brady 4 do., Winifred C Examiner, published in that city. The Louisville Re-Brizzolara 12 do., John Riordan 18 years, Sarah E. view and the Examiner are to be united and hereafter Miley 2 do. appear under the name of The North American Med-2, consumption 13, convulsions 6, croup 3, dysentery DISEASES. Accident 2, inflammation of bowels ico-Chirurgical Review, and will be issued every other 2, debility 3, dropsy 3, dropsy in head 4, infantile dismonth. Dr. Gross is one of the most accomplished sur- eases 3, typhoid fever 3, scarlet fever 21, inflammation geons in this country, and, as an author, his writings of lungs 8, marasmus 2, palsy 2, teething 3; other are extensively circulated. diseases 1 each, 12; total 92. Born in United States 72, Ireland 16. N. A. APOLLONIO, City Registrar. THE MEDICAL WORLD. VOLUME I. DECEMBER 24, 1856. MEDICINE AMONG THE GREEKS AN- BY T. L. WRIGHT, M. D., PROF. OF THEORY AND medical science after the time of Melampus-Causes of it. NUMBER 13 of the Grecians became rubbed off, and law and civilization took the place of confusion and incongruity, the character of the individual Greek still partook largely of the versatility and unstable nature of his unsettled ancestry. It is unnecessary to dwell at length upon the characteristics of the Greeks. The study of Grecian history affords so good an opportunity The ancient Greeks a mixed people-Versatile genius- for learning human nature, that few of those Favorably situated for pursuit of knowledge-Attention to political science-Knowledge arranged into distinct wishing to qualify themselves for correctly estisciences by the Greeks-Early physicians-Melampus- mating the character of mankind, fail to turn to Source from whence he derived his skill-Stagnation of it for information. The peculiarities of the origin of the Greeks, were fortunate for the production. The ancient inhabitants of Greece were a of a desire in them, for the possession of knowlmixed people. They came from different coun- edge. They were favorable, also, for the fortries. The wisest of them emigrated from mation of the characteristics of energy and Phrygia, Phoenicia, and Egypt. Cecrops and perseverance among them, which were espeDanaus from Egypt, Cadmus from Phoenicia, cially suited to the dangers and difficulties to and Pelops, the Phrygian, were the earliest of be overcome by them, in its pursuit; and they the distinguished names of Grecian history. afforded them, moreover, the necessary clues Many men of less note, but of illustrious char- to the receptacles whence they might obtain it. acter also, came into Greece in its infancy; Of these advantages, the Greeks were not either being driven thither by violence, or wan slow in availing themselves. dering in quest of adventure. But in the inception of the Greek nations, it The natural tendency of such an intercom- was first important to establish laws and governmunication of men of energy and of accomplish- ment-to arrange boundaries, to form alliances, ment-according to the customs of the and make treaties. Hence the greatest adseveral places of their nativity-was to promote vancement was first made by the Greeks, in inquiry, to produce emulation, to diffuse knowl- the science of government. They arranged, edge, and elevate the standard of intelligence. and made available what knowledge they alThe ancient legends describing the early ready possessed, in that department of wisdom. Greeks, bring to mind a swarm of disturbed They added to it by travelling, and observabees, about settling upon a newly found hive. tion, and by the instruction of foreigners. In There was much humming, and buzzing, and deed, they were busied for several centuries in anxiety—were many petty jealousies and com- establishing and perfecting their political, and bats, and many magnanimous and friendly acts, before a final settlement was made, and order and organiz tion were established. social, and religious principles, customs, and rites. In the inquiries they instituted, the authorities they examined, aud the examples Even in the remotest periods of Grecian they imitated in such an enterprise, they neceshistory, a great many incidents are related, rily must have acquired much collateral inevincing great proficiency in the civilized arts. formation concerning the medical art. In fact, But they are so mingled with savage and bar- a number of celebrated characters practised barous elements, as to afford a clear conception medicine in Greece, in very early times. But of the mixed character of the people. And they were distinguished rather as exceptions, after the rougher points of the characteristics than rules. Sufficient importance was not at |