THE WESTERN JOURNAL.

Vol. II.-No. XI.

LOUISVILLE, NOVEMBER 2, 1840.

SUMMER AND AUTUMN DISEASES OF 1840.

In one of our early numbers, we took occasion to call our readers attention to the fact, that the years 1838 and 39 had been uncommonly dry; but that 1840 up to the time (May) when we wrote had been rainy. As the summer and autumn, generally, have been wet, the year may be characterized as one of great humidity. In the article to which we have referred, it was suggested that a more favorable opportunity for estimating the comparative influence of dry and rainy seasons, would be furnished by these extremes, than was likely to occur again very soon.

We now ask, in what respects have the summer and autumnal diseases of the present year, differed from those of the two preceding? This question ought to be answered, and can be answered better at this time than hereafter, for memorandum books never become more copious, nor memories more accurate by time.

In our travels, for medical observation, in the State of Ohio, we have ascertained that the towns have been more healthy than the country; and, while the latter has not suffered any great mortality,

intermittent and remittent fevers have had rather an extensive prevalence. Again we respectfully and earnestly solicit from our brethren a state of their observations on these and our other summer and fall endemics.

D.

SCARLET FEVER.

It is worthy of being noted, that this foreigner seems, in fact, to have become naturalized among us—though it has not made a special "location." In past times it appeared as an occasional epidemic; but in these latter days it has been sojourning among our towns and neighborhoods, now here and now there, sometimes mild, sometimes malignant, generally the former with as much quiet composure as one of our own veritable endemics. Such a gentle but protracted invasion would seem to afford many opportunities for study. ing its mode of dissemination, the means by which it destroys life, and the measures by which it may be successfully countervailed. We are sorry to find, however, that the profession are every where divided on these different points. Some cry out for others against contagion: some stand up for acute inflammation and a liberal use of antiphlogistics-others stimulate throughout the whole course of the disease. Finally others do nothing. Each party has a certain number of facts to offer in support of their opinions, and seem little disposed to open their eyes to an examination of any others. In the midst of this great contrariety, but three truths are perceptible: first, that scarlatina will run its course; second that, when mild in character, the patient lives under any plan of treatment; third, that when malignant he dies whatever remedies may be employed. Such at least are our impressions, but we shall be most happy to publish evidences that the last is untrue. D.

COW-POX.

It is melancholy to observe the apathy which prevails among the people and the profession, on the subject of vaccination. Such neglect deserves the severest rebuke. Thousands are growing up

in

the West, without being protected against small pox, although protection is so entirely within the reach of every individual from the cabin to the mansion. Verily, we are negligent people, in every thing but trade and politics. When the presidential election is over, it is to be hoped, we shall find time to get our children vaccinated. D.

LICKING COUNTY MEDICAL AND PHILOSPHICAL SOCIETY.

We lately had the pleasure of attending one of the meetings of a new scientific association at Newark, Ohio, under the above title; and are indebted to Dr. Marble, one of its members, for an account of its organization and objects. In contemplates the cultivation of mineralogy, geology, chemistry and Botany, in connexion with medicine, and provides for admitting as members, gentlemen who are not of the medical profession. It looks to the establishment of a museum, the delivery of lectures and essays, and the gradual formation of a library. Some of the members have a number of specimens of pathological anatomy and comparative anatomy which will be made the basis of a cabinet of that kind. It is expected to have courses of lectures to which the community at large will be admitted.

The Society consists of four classes of members. 1st. Senior members, consisting exclusively of physicians. 2d. Junior members, consisting of students of medicine. 3d. Active honorary members, residing near enough to participate in the regular meetings of the Society. 4th. Honorary members, residing at a distance.

The Society elects its officers annually and holds regular quarterly meetings. The following are the officers, for the present year:

John I. Brice, President; Daniel Marble, Vice President; Dr. J. N. M'Millan, Recording Secretary; A. O. Blair, Treasurer; D. Marble and J. Dille, Corresponding Committee; Edward Stansberry, John M. Wilson, D. Marble, A. O. Blair, E. F. Bryan, Censors; F. B. Parmele, V. H. Roe, A. D. Bigelow, and J. Dille, Curators.

We wish our Newark friends, in this praiseworthy effort to promote the cultivation not only of medicine but its associate sciences.

D.

GREEN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The physicians of Green county, Ohio, in 1839, formed themselves into a society under this style. The officers for the present year are Dr. Matthias Winans, President; Dr. Joshua Martin, Vice President; Dr. J. J. M'Illhenny, Recording Secretary; Dr. John Dawson, Corresponding Secretary; Dr. Joseph Templeton, Librarian; Dr. James Cummings, Treasurer.

At each meeting a person is appointed to read a dissertation at the next; and it is expected that every member of the society, will report all the important cases which occur in his practice. These reports may be made either in writing or orally; and are liable to critical examination. They are, indeed, themes for discussion; and exercises thus gotten up, cannot fail to be eminently useful.

The Society has adopted a system of rules and regulations for the government of its members in their professional intercourse with one another, and also a fee bill, designed to produce uniformity of deportment and charging.

Should Societies of this kind be organized in all the counties of the West, their influence would prove salutary in the highest degree to the character and interests of the profession.

The Green County Society holds its meetings in the town of Xenia.

D.

A PIN RETAINED IN PHE BODY NINETEEN YEARS AND THEN DISCHARGED.

We are indebted to Dr. Darius Maxon, of Gallipolis, Ohio, for the following fact, which presented itself in his practice a few weeks since.

Nineteen years ago a lady swallowed a pin, which was followed by symptoms of aggravated dyspepsia. For several days before it was discharged she was affected with a pain in her left side for which the Doctor applied an antimonial plaster, that produced pimples, through one of which the pin made its exit. A slight discharge of bloody serum followed. The pin was considerably coated and its head removed to its middle. D.

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Among the proceedings of this Society for May, June, and July, of the present year, a copy of which we have received, we find some interesting remarks on tornadoes, from which the following extracts are made:

"Dr. Hare adverted to the fact, that in an essay, published in Silliman's Journal in 1822, he had, agreeably to the authority of Dalton and Davy, stated, that the cold consequent on the rarefaction of air in its ascent towards the upper strata of the atmosphere was one of the causes of the formation of clouds; and in his text books he had soon after published an engraving of an apparatus, by means of which he was accustomed to illustrate, before his pupils the transient cloud which arises from a diminution of pressure in air containing aqueous vapour.

"In the essay above mentioned, Dr. Hare had alleged, that as much caloric was given out by aqueous vapour, during its conversion into snow, as would be yielded by twice the weight of red-hot powdered glass. But Mr. Espy, he considered, had the merit of being the first to suggest, that the heat, thus envolved, might be an important instrument in causing a buoyancy tending to accelerate any upward current of warm moist air.

"Dr. Hare had been willing to admit, that this transfer of heat might co-operate with other causes in the production of storms, but could not concur with Mr. Espy in considering it competent to give rise to thunder gusts, tornadoes or hurricanes. These he had considered, and still considers, to be mainly owing to electoral discharges between the earth and the sky; or between one mass of another."

"Professor Bache read an extract of a letter addressed by Mr. Forshey, of Natchez, to Mr. Espy, in reference to the tornado which occurred there recently.

"The writer stated that he had spent much time in examining the track of the storm in the vicinity of Natchez. He had ascertained its extent to have been not less than five or six miles below the city, and twenty miles beyond; its effects having been felt, but with less violence, for nearly one hundred and fifty miles. The track near Natchez was directed sixty degrees to the east of north. After describing the destruction of the city of Natchez, the writer states, that objects were every where blown towards the track of the storm; those directed most westwardly lying invariably below those directed more eastwardly. Mr. Forshey also describes the effect opon the houses as of an explosion outwards. In his view, these facts strongly confirm Mr. Espy's theory of this meteor."

"Mr. Walker made some remarks on the tornado, of limited extent, which visited Philadelphia on the 13th instant.

"Mr. Walker's own observations, and those of several intelligent individuals, on different sides of the central path, led him to the conclusion, that the currents from without the borders of the tornado were directed, in every instance, towards its centre. This was mani