Joke 12, 1885. 



SCIENCE. 



481 



selves as deeply impressed with its value as a thera- 

 peutic agent. 



Dr. F. C. [Shattuck followed with an exceedingly 

 interesting and scholarly paper upon the home 

 treatment of consumption. 



The morning session on the 28th was opened by a 

 paper from Dr. Ch. Dennison of Denver, Col., upon 

 a rule for the even division of climate. The ground 

 was taken that dryness and elevation are the most 

 important elements of climate in the treatment of 

 consumption. 



1 The problem of acclimatization ' was the title of 

 a paper read by Dr. I. H. Piatt of Brooklyn. The 

 question of acclimatization, although a long-vexed 

 one, had never been satisfactorily dealt with, partly, 

 no doubt, because] most of the discussion antedated 

 the advances of recent years in the sciences of 

 biology and anthropology, especially as developed by 

 the great principle of evolution. Facts were adduced 

 to show the perfect adaptation of races to climates 

 widely differing from their own, and which are at 

 first injurious to them. The acclimatization of the 

 Spanish race in Peru, and of the French in Algiers, 

 were cited as examples. The whole subject was but 

 an application of the fundamental law of biology 

 enunciated by Herbert Spencer, — that of adaptation 

 to environment. In the adaptation of a race to new 

 surroundings, the principle of natural selection would 

 play an important part. And the author took the 

 ground, that, even in the acclimatization of an indi- 

 vidual, the same law would find application, as the 

 protoplasmic elements of the body would be subject 

 to it in their growth and development. The author 

 called attention to the exceedingly complicated nature 

 of the problems presented by the action of the many 

 elements of climate upon the human organism, and 

 the modifications and reactions effected therein, and 

 the importance of their more thorough and systematic 

 study. 



The public session in the afternoon was opened 

 by Dr. J. C. Wilson of Philadelphia, with a paper 

 upon the climate of Florida ; and Dr. Keating, also of 

 Philadelphia, followed with a paper upon the same 

 subject. Both gentlemen took substantially similar 

 views, Dr. Keating dwelling principally upon the 

 climate of southern central Florida. This region is 

 characterized by sandy soil, pine woods, and con- 

 tinual sunshine. The climate is more equable than 

 that of the northern portion of the state. The coun- 

 ties of Orange and Orlando are the most favorable 

 spots. There are good hotels, fine drives, and all the 

 facilities for comfortable living. The summer as well 

 as the winter climate is desirable. The doctor much 

 preferred the central portion of the peninsula to 

 either coast as a health resort. 



Dr. E. Darwin Hudson, jun., treated of the results 

 of the home treatment of consumption, contrasted 

 with those of changed residence and climate, and 

 presented cases in his own experience in which he 

 had obtained favorable results where, for some rea- 

 son, change of climate was inadmissible. 



' Hay-fever and allied affections ' was the title of the 

 contribution of Dr. F. H. Bosworth of New York. 



A brief sketch was presented of the history of the 

 various theories in regard to the causation of hay- 

 fever, — first, that it is caused by the pollen of rag- 

 weed and other plants; second, Dr. Beard's theory 

 of a nervous tendency, which he claimed was heredi- 

 tary; third, the theory of Dr. Daily of Pittsburgh, 

 that it was caused by hypertrophy of the nasal mu- 

 cous membrane. Neither of these elements alone is 

 capable of producing the disease: it is the effect of 

 all three acting together ; and the removal of any one 

 is sufficient to cure the disease. The most practical 

 and radical method, however, is by attacking the 

 hypertrophied mucous membrane. The doctor ex- 

 plained the action of the hypertrophied membrane 

 in causing the disease by its tendency to cause partial 

 occlusion of the anterior nasal passages, in conse- 

 quence of which the effort of inspiration produces a 

 rarefaction of the air behind the partially occluded 

 portion of the passage, thus, by a process analogous 

 to dry-cupping, producing turgescence of the local 

 blood-vessels. 



Dr. D. M. Cammann closed the proceedings with a 

 history of the stethoscope, and the presentation of a 

 modification of the Cammann stethoscope devised 

 by himself. 



A reception was given in the evening by the New- 

 York members to the non-resident members. The 

 papers read before the association will be published 

 in full at an early date in the New-York medical 

 journal. 



The following officers were elected for the coming 

 year. President, Dr. William Pepper of Philadelphia. 

 First vice-president, Dr. Frank Donaldson, Baltimore. 

 Second vice-president, Dr. Beverly Robinson, New 

 York. Secretary and treasurer, Dr. J. B. Walker of 

 Philadelphia. Council, Dr. E. D. Hudson, jun., New 

 York; Dr. E. T. Bruen, Philadelphia; Dr. J. H. 

 Tindale, New York; Dr. J. C. Wilson, Philadelphia; 

 Dr. F. H. Bosworth, New York. 



CURVED BACILLI IN AIR AND WATER. 



Me. J. Hericotjrt {Comptes rendus, 18S5, p. 1027) 

 gives some interesting results of his investigations on 

 the nature of curved bacilli, and their presence in the 

 atmosphere. The researches were made during the 

 recent cholera epidemic; and the following are his 

 results : — 



1°. In all water, no matter what its source (spring- 

 water, from cisterns, running, or stagnant), there are 

 curved bacilli of varying form and size, among which 

 those of the same type as the cholera bacillus are con- 

 stantly found. 



Of the various waters examined, some were taken 

 from localities absolutely free from cholera; others 

 were examined very lately, when the disease no longer 

 existed; and most of them were used for drinking- 

 purposes, and were of perfect quality. 



2°. The constant presence of these micro-organisms 

 in all kinds of water can only be explained by sup- 

 posing the existence of their germs in the air ; and 

 to test this, atmospheric dust was collected from dif- 



