Samuel Duffield; one who had few supe- {fessional character, and active zeal in proriors as a father, friend, and physician; moting the objects and interests of this whom to know was to love; who looked, organization, the members of the State thought, and spoke always as a gentleman; Medical Society will ever fondly cherish his in whom cum tristibus severé, cum remissis memory. jucundé, was not the result of artificial accommodation, and whose removal has left a vacancy not easily filled. Therefore

Dr. H. Carpenter, from the Committee on Nominations, made the following report, which was, on motion, accepted, and the persons therein named unanimously Resolved, That a copy of the above pre-declared the officers of the Society for the amble and resolutions be transmitted by ensuing year :the Recording Secretaries to his family, with the expression of our heartfelt sympa. thy.

Dr. West offered the following, which rowes, Lancaster County; Dr. John H. were unanimously adopted :

Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolution be transmitted by the Secreter do. ; Traill Green, Northampton; J. S. taries to the family of the late Dr. Parrish, with the assurance of the deep sympathy of the Society in their bereavement.

On motion of Dr. Moses B. Smith, it was Resolved, That the Society deeply regret Resolved, That the thanks of the Society the decease of its late fellow-member and be tendered to P. W. Sheaffer, Esq., for first President, Dr. Samuel Humes, of Lan- the letter and chart accompanying the recaster, for whose moral worth, high pro-port from the Schuylkill County Society.

Dr. Emerson, from the Committee on Dr. J. P. Hiester offered the following Public Gratuitous Vaccination, reported resolutions, which were adopted :progress. On motion of Dr. Condie, the report was accepted, the committee continued, and Dr. J. L. Atlee added to its number.

Dr. Halberstadt, from the committee appointed at the last session, made the following report, which was accepted, and the committee discharged :

The committee, to whom was referred the subject of drawing a plan for the purpose of obtaining information in relation to epidemics as they prevail over the different zoological formations of the State, respectfully report:—

Resolved, That the Society earnestly request all societies, that have not yet done so, to furnish, at an early period, topographical histories of their respective counties, accompanied by charts.

Resolved, That the annual reports of the different county societies be recommended to have strict reference to the different geological formations, in order to ascertain, by a comparison of facts, how far the prevalence of epidemics and other diseases may be influenced by them.

On motion, adjourned.

Friday Afternoon, May 27. The Society met at 4 o'clock P. M. The roll was called, and the minutes of the morning session read and approved. Dr. Atlee offered the following, which was adopted :

Resolved, That the Committee of Publication be requested to furnish annually to the Epidemiological Society of London a copy of the published Transactions of this Society.

Dr. R. K. Smith offered the following, which was adopted :

That they have given the matter due consideration. The importance of such information as is contemplated by the resolu tions, must be apparent to every one; but the obstacles that lie in the way, are to be found in the fact that the class of the profession from whom chiefly must be obtained the necessary data upon which anything like satisfactory conclusions can be based, are those engaged in the active practical pursuits of their calling, demanding more of physical than mental exertion, and conducing more or less to an apathetic feeling regarding the higher intellectual objects Resolved, That the thanks of this Society which legitimately come within the sphere be tendered for the polite invitations received of professional life. Hence, the information to visit the Academy of Natural Sciences, sought to be obtained is often withheld, the Academy of Fine Arts, the United States from their indifference, or, what is as much Mint, the Laurel Hill Cemetery, the statuary to be deplored, from an unwillingness to in St. Stephen's Church, and the Girard devote the time and trouble requisite toʻthe College, and especially to President Allen, procuring and arranging the necessary ma- of Girard College, for his hospitality to the terial. The committee, therefore, are immembers of this Society on the occasion of pressed with the belief that the only practical mode of effecting the object will be to arrange the facts presented by the annual reports of the County Societies, and thus Resolved, That the thanks of this Society approximate the end in view. This will be are due to Dr. Hiram Corson, its late Presirendered more complete by the organization dent, for the impartial and courteous manner of future County Societies. Each county in which he has presided over its deliberarepresented in the society presents a viewtions during the present session. of the prevalent diseases of the preceding year within its own limits; and, if any epidemic disease have prevailed over any par. ticular character of surface, its geological features may be followed up into adjacent counties, and the respective reports of such counties compared. In this, such results as the resolutions contemplate, may be reached.

GEORGE HALBERSTADT,
JOHN P. HIESter,
HIRAM CORSon.

their visit.

Dr. Condie offered the following, which was adopted :

Dr. Turnbull offered the following, which was adopted :

:

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be presented to the Secretaries, for the faithful and efficient manner in which they have discharged their laborious duties.

Dr. Condie, in the absence of the dele. gates to the National Medical Association, stated that said delegates had presented to the Association the resolutions directed by this Society at its last session, and that they

had used their best efforts to secure the Resolved, That the thanks of this Society adoption of the same.

are due to the Committee of Arrangement of the Philadelphia delegation, for their attention in furnishing such excellent accommodations for the sessions of the Society, and for the zeal manifested to promote our

On motion of Dr. B. H. Coates, it was Resolved, That the statement of Dr. Condie be received in lieu of the report of the delegates.. Dr. Parry offered the following, which comfort and pleasure. were adopted :

Resolved, That, for the purpose of acquiring farther information in relation to kine-pock, and increasing the facilities for procuring and preserving supplies of fresh and genuine vaccine virus, this Society recommends to each of the county societies in the State to appoint a committee to collect any new and useful facts in relation to vaccination, and to report the same to a central committee (to be appointed by this Society), at least two weeks before the annual meeting.

Resolved, That the said central committee shall consist of three members, and it shall be their duty to draw up a synopsis of the reports received, and present the same to this Society at its annual meeting.

The President appointed Drs. E. Parry, P. Cassidy, and H. Carpenter said committee.

Dr. Mayburry called the attention of the Society to the resolutions of Dr. Emerson, passed at last session. (See Transactions

of 1852, pp. 15, 16.)

On motion of Dr. Mayburry, the said reso. lutions were adopted, and the officers directed to give due notice of the same to the county societies.

On motion of Dr. Condie, the second resolution of the Montgomery County Society, laid on the table at the last session, was taken up, and indefinitely postponed.

On motion of Dr. Geiger, it was

Resolved, That, when we adjourn, we adjourn to meet in the borough of Pottsville, on the last Wednesday in May, 1854, at 11 o'clock A. M,

On motion of Dr. Hiram Corson, it was

Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be tendered to Dr. Spencer, of New York, for the volumes of the Transactions of the New York State Medical Society, presented to us by him.

On motion of Dr. Confer, it was

Resolved, That the thanks of the Society are due to Dr. F. West, Treasurer, for the faithful manner in which he has performed the duties of his office.

The minutes of this afternoon's session were read and approved.

On motion, the Society adjourned sine die.
HENRY S. PATTERSON, M. D.,
JOSEPH GIBBONS, M. D.,

Recording Secretaries.

MEDICAL NEWS.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Important Treasury Circular to prevent the Importation of Adulterated Drugs and Medicines. [The profession will read with great satisfaction the following important treasury circular, and will rejoice that the present Secretary of the Treasury has de

The President appointed Drs. Condie, Norris, and Yardley, the additional members of the Committee of Publication, to act in conjunction with the members, ex-cided that patent or secret medicines are officio.

On motion of Dr. J. R. Bryan, it was Resolved, That the President elect be requested to deliver an address at the opening of the next annual session.

On motion of Dr. Atlee, a committee was appointed to conduct the President elect to the chair.

Drs. Atlee and Mayburry, being appointed said committee, performed the duty as directed, when Dr. Hiester addressed the Society in a few eloquent and appropriate remarks.

On motion of Dr. Atlee, it was

{

subject to the same examination as other medicinal preparations]:

To Collectors, and other Officers of the Customs, under the Act of 26th June, 1848. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 4, 1853.-It being represented to this Department, that much embarrassment has been experienced by officers of the customs, at some of the ports of the United States, in reference to the provisions of the act of 26th June, 1848, "to prevent the importation of adulterated and spurious drugs and medicines," it is deemed expedient, with a view to avoid future difficulties arising from misconstruc

Benzoin, when affording 80 per ct. of resin, or

tions of the law, and to secure uniformity and useful for chemical manufacturing purof practice at the several ports in carrying poses. out its provisions with precision and efficiency, to furnish you with the additional instructions which follow, explanatory and in modification of the circular instructions addressed to you by the Department of the 8th July, 1848.

Colocynth,
Elaterium,
Galbanum,

12 66

12

30

60

benzoic acid. colocynthin. elaterin.

resin.

gum, and volatile oil. pure gamboge resin and

gum.

pure guaiac
resin.
resin, and

gum.

Jalap, when affording 11 (6 pure jalap re-
sin, whether in root or in powder.

Manna, when affording 37 per ct. of pure man-
Myrrh,

nite. pure myrrh

resin.

To avoid the recurrence of a difference of opinion between the officers of the customs as to what particular articles of commerce should be considered drugs and medicines, and as such subject to special examination by the special examiner of drugs and medicines, it is thought proper to state that, in conformity with the evident spirit and intent of the law, it is required that all merchandise used wholly or in part as medicine, and { Opium, found described as such in the standard phia. Rhubarb, soluble matworks specially referred to in the act, must ter, whether in root or powder; none admissibe considered drugs and medicines, and that ble but the article known as East India, Turkey, or Russian rhubarb. all invoices, therefore, of such articles, in whole or in part, must be submitted to the examination of the special examiner of drugs and medicines, before they can be permitted to pass the custom-house.

30

Sagapenum, 50 per cent. of resin.
Sagapenum, 30 per cent. of gum, and
Sagapenum, 3 per cent. of volatile oil.
Scammony, 70 per cent. of pure scam-

Senna, 28 per cent. of soluble matter.

In the examination on entry of any medi-mony rosin. cinal preparation, the said special examiner is to unite with the appraiser.

With a view to afford a reliable guide to the examiner of drugs and medicines, as well as to the analytical chemist, on ap. peal, in ascertaining the admissibility of such articles under the provisions of law, founded on their purity and strength, the following list is given of some of the principal articles, with the result of special tests agreeing with the standard authorities referred to in the law, all of which articles are to be entitled to entry when ascertained by analysis to be composed as noted, viz. :— Aloes, when affording 80 per cent. of pure aloetic extractive.

Assafœtida, when affording 50 per cent. of its peculiar bitter resin, and

All medicinal leaves, flowers, barks, roots, extracts, &c., not herein specified. must be, when imported, in perfect condition, and of as recent collection and preparation as practicable.

All pharmaceutical and chemical preparations, whether crystallized or otherwise, used in medicine, must be found on examination to be pure, and of proper consistence and strength, as well as of perfect manufacture, conformably with the formulas con{tained in the standard authorities named in the act; and must in no instance contain over three per cent. of excess of moisture or water of crystallization.

Essential or volatile oils, as well as expressed oils used in medicine, must be

Assafoetida, when affording 3 per cent. of pure, and conform to the standards of spevolatile oil. cific gravity noted and declared in the dispensatories mentioned in the act.

Bark, Cinchona, when affording one per cent. of pure quinia, whether called Peru- Patent or secret medicines" are by law vian, Calasaya, Arica, Carthagena, Mara- subject to the same examinations, and discaibo, Santa Martha, Bogota, or under position after examination, as other mediciwhatever name, or from whatever place; ornal preparations, and cannot be permitted Bark, Cinchona, when affording two per to pass the custom-house for consumption, cent of the several natural alkaloids com- but must be rejected and condemned, unbined, as quinia, cinchonia, quinidia, ari-less the special examiner be satisfied, after cene, &c., the barks of such strength being due investigation, that they are fit and safe admissible as safe and proper for medicine to be used for medicinal purposes.

we feel warranted in saying that the chances are altogether better for the acquittal of an ignorant, uneducated pretender to medical knowledge, who is really guilty, than for that of an intelligent, well-educated sur. geon, to whom no fault can justly be

The appeal from the report of the special the treatment. From several recent trials examiner of drugs and medicines, provided for in the act, must be made by the owner or consignee within ten days after the said report; and in case of such appeal, the analysis made by the analytical chemist is expected to be full and in detail, setting forth clearly and accurately, the name, charged.-New Hampshire Journal of Mequantity, and quality of the several compo-dicine. nent parts of the article in question; to be reported to the collector under oath or affirm. ation.

Report of the Weather in Philadelphia for May, 1853.-The temperature of the last month rose to 65.33 degrees, which is about two degrees above the average temperature of the same month last year, and nearly three degrees above the average mean of many years. Rains also were abundant, more or less fall

On such report being made, a copy of the same will be immediately furnished by the collector to the special examiner of drugs and medicines, who, if the report be in conflict with his return made to the collector, and he have cause to believe that the appealing on fifteen days, and amounting for the and analytical examination have not been conducted in strict conformity with the law, may enter his protest in writing against the reception and adoption by the collector of such report and analysis, until a reasonable time be allowed him in the preparation of his views in the case, and their submission to this department for its consideration. JAMES GUTHRIE, Secretary of the Treasury.

month, as measured and recorded at the Pennsylvania Hospital, to 5.173 inches. The month thus abounding in heat and moisture, the two great elements of vegetable growth, the earth is at present teeming with more than her usual promise.

Seven times, during the month, the fall of rain was attended with thunder and lightning. That which occurred at 9 o'clock, on the evening of the 23d, was the most severe; and what is worthy of remark, Quebec, L. C., was visited about the same

The prevalence of west and southwest winds during the month was quite remarkOut of the 31 days, the wind was

Prosecutions of Medical Men.-Within the past year several suits have been com-hour with a destructive thunderstorm, by menced and carried through against medical which one or more individuals lost their men for malpractice. Among those in this lives. vicinity we may mention the trials of Dr. Hammond, of Nashua, and Dr. Sargent, of Rochester in this State, and more recently able. that of Dr. Kittredge, of Andover, Massa-westerly 25 days, and southerly 19 days; chusetts. In the first case, Dr. Hammond that is, on some part or the whole of that was acquitted, not more in consequence of number of days the wind was at some point the ability of his counsel than the honesty of the compass within these quarters. Durand independence of the surgeon called to ing the whole spring, also, the prevalence testify for the plaintiff. In Dr. Sargent's case of these winds has been quite unusual: the we are informed that the verdict was given days of westerly wind for the three months for the plaintiff in the face of the most ex-amounting to 76, and of southerly wind to plicit testimony from medical men. The 50 days. This, it seems highly probable, same was true in Dr. Kittredge's trial, inis attributable to the remarkable absence of which, as we understand it, after an injury to the arm in which there was rupture of the brachial artery, the attending surgeon was brought in guilty for causing the arm to slough off by tight bandaging. The com munity should be made to understand that by encouraging such prosecutions they are endangering their own safety, and surgeons will be compelled in self-defence to require beforehand a bond that they shall not be prosecuted, whatever may be the result of

floating ice in the neighbouring oceans.Ordinarily, for six or eight weeks in spring, extensive fields and bergs are encountered, in lat. 42 to 44, long. 50 to 52, and are the terror of passing vessels. In 1851, ships coasted along the border of these floes for days in succession, seeking a passage through or around them. And when it is remembered that their temperature is usually about 15 degrees of Fahrenheit, it will not appear improbable that they should influ