dent to attend to the immediate preparing and publication of a Manual of Pharmacy, to be recommended to Eclectic practitioners and druggists, by the Faculty of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, and the officers of this Association.

Drs. J. King, E. A. Lodge, and Wm. S. Merrell were appointed. Resolved, That the members of this Association will furnish all the assistance possible, in order to expedite the publication of the Manual of Pharmacy.

Resolved, That all Eclectic Medical practitioners be requested to forward to the Faculty of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute, for the columns of the Eclectic Medical Journal, a list of all new remedies, combinations, mode of using, &c., which they may know or have discovered; likewise to give a careful statement of all the symptoms of the disease or diseases in which such agents are used with benefit.

Resolved, That all Eclectic physicians be requested to forward to the various committees of this Association, on their different branches respectively, all cases and information that may be useful and interesting.

Resolved, That all Eclectic physicians be requested to forward to the committee on Medical statistics, the statistics of their practice during the past year, and up to the next meeting in November, 1849.

Resolved, That we adjourn.

T. V. MORROW, M. D., President,

CONSTITUTION OF THE

NATIONAL ECLECTIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

For the purpose of more rapidly extending the principles of Medical Reform, as set forth in the address of the first National Eclectic Medical Convention, as well as promoting the knowledge and dissemination of all improvements in medical science, and adopting all measures which may be considered necessary to forward the cause of Medical Reform, the members of this Convention adopt the following Constitution.

ARTICLE I.-This society shall be known by the name of the "National Eclectic Medical Association."

ART. II.-This Association shall be governed by the usual parliamentary rules, and shall have the power of adopting such measures, rules, and by-laws as may be deemed necessary and proper. ART. III. The officers of this Association shall consist of a

President, two Vice Presidents, two Recording Secretaries, two Corresponding Secretaries, and a Treasurer, who shall perform the usual duties appertaining to their respective offices, and who shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Association, for the general management of its affairs, and for the transaction of all business not delegated to special committees. These officers shall be elected by ballot, annually, at the first regular meeting of the Association.

ART. IV. There shall also be committees of three, each, on the following branches of Medical Science, viz: on Theory and Practice; on Surgery; on Obstetrics; on Materia Medica, Medical Botany and Pharmacy; on Physiology; on Chemistry; and on Medical Statistics, who shall be appointed annually by the President of this Association, and who shall receive from the members of this Association, and from all friends of Medical Reform, on their respective branches, all interesting cases, discoveries, improvements, suggestions, and other useful matter in relation to Medical Reform, and who shall annually report the same to this Association.

ART. V.-The Association shall meet and hold their meetings annually at such time and place as may be appointed by a majority of the members present at any regular yearly meeting.

ART. VI.-No alteration, amendment, or addition can be made. to this Constitution, except by a majority of two thirds of the members present at any regular yearly meeting.

TO PREPARE A MANUAL OF PHARMACY,

J. King, M. D.

E. A. Lodge, M. D.

Wm. S. Merrell.

It was anticipated by the friends of Medical Reform, in consequence of the numerous letters received, signifying the desires and intentions of the writers, that at least two hundred individuals from the various States of the Union would have been present at the Convention this year; but owing to the appearance of the cholera among us, and as we have been informed by letters, from the fears of the friends and relatives of Eclectic physicians, a great number of them kept away. However, with the small number who attended, the business proceeded pleasantly and harmoniously, and one great object was effected in the organization of a National Eclectic Medical Association. In order, however, that those who were prevented from attending this meeting, in consequence of cholera, may have an opportunity of presenting their reports, addresses, &c., it will be seen by the minutes that an extra meeting will be held in this city, on the first Monday in next November, and we invite all our friends to attend, and avail themselves of the opportunity which will thus be afforded to them. The members present at the second Convention were as follows:

Residence.

Names.

Residence. T. V. Morrow, Cincinnati, Ohio.G. W. Read, Pennsylvania.

Names,

Jas. H. Oliver,

P. K. Wombaugh,

J. A. Gordon,

do.

do.

do.

D. P. Wooster, do.

W. B. Powell, Memphis, Tenn.
R. C. Raymond, Pennsylvania.
W. J. Wann, Alabama.
P. N. Main, Cincinnati, O.
G. W. Wallace,
do.
I. J. Avery, Reading, O.
C. B. Robbins.

E. A. Lodge, Cincinnati, O.
W. S. Merrell, do.

A. H. Willis, Ohio.

J. F. Merrill, Indianapolis, Ind.
Andrew F. Cory, Indiana.
W. W. Walters, Covington, Ky.
A. Brown, Cincinnati, Ŏ.
B. F. Hatch, Massachusetts.
George Glick, Ohio.
Joseph Milot, do.

J. C. Bates, Mississippi.
J. F. Baker, Alabama.
M. Kelly, Indiana.

To the philosopher and the philanthropist, a proper understanding of the laws of nature is an object of the greatest solicitude.

Every physician who loves his profession, the honor of science, and the well being of humanity, is often prompted to inquire into the therapeutic action of his remedies. Here opens a wide field of speculation which has been explored and surveyed into innumerable absurd theories, most of which have lived scarcely as long as their inventors.

A remedial agent of such extraordinary virtues as Cinchona, and one in so common use could not escape a scrutinizing investigation, but heretofore all discussion on this subject has resulted in the establishment of numerous contradictory theories.

How does Cinchona or its active principle Quinine arrest Intermittent fevers?

Perhaps the most generally received opinion on this subject is, that it acts as a tonic, and by this influence, raises the vital powers of the system so as to overcome the morbid influence of the miasmatic poison.

There is (as generally supposed) a vis medicatrix naturæ, that is always contending against disease. This renovating power is not always able to guard the constitution against injury, either from exhaustion of this power, or the greater intensity of the debilitating

cause.

Those medicines denominated tonics are supposed to raise and support this power. Those who believe the preparations of Cinchona arrest intermittents by their tonic power, suppose, that by giving them, a short time previous to the expected paroxysm, they so raise the vital forces as to overcome the morbific impression.

It follows from this theory, that intermittents and all other fevers are the result of debility. An objection to this view is that those fevers in which the specific action of quinine is most beneficial, are not those in which debility is a prominent symptom.

If its action were chiefly or entirely tonic, we should expect its specific action would bear a constant proportion to the existing debility.