454 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. VII., No. 172 



to exist in Massachusetts between the death-rate 

 from phthisis and the dampness. Dr. Pepper had 

 conducted a similar investigation in regard to 

 Pennsylvania by means of a series of questions 

 addressed to physicians throughout the state. The 

 answers received were somewhat meagre and un- 

 satisfactory, but were sufficient to show certain 

 remarkable facts. The relation between phthisis 

 and dampness was not so clearly shoAvn as in 

 the case of Dr. Bowditch's investigation. As a 

 general rule, the counties of high elevation and 

 sparse population made the best showing. The 

 most striking fact, however, was the remarkable 

 correspondence between the areas of least death- 

 rate from phthisis and the areas of standing hem- 

 lock : they seemed to be almost exactly coter- 

 minate. In those towns where the mortality was 

 found to be low, the death-rate was increased in 

 those parts which lay along rivers and in swampy 

 regions, and where the cellars of the houses 

 were damp. The direction of the prevailing winds 

 seemed to have no bearing upon the amount of 

 phthisis. The opinion of the physicians addressed 

 in regard to the influence of heredity in phthisis 

 appeared to^be almost unanimous, only 7 out of 

 94 denying it. 



Dr. A. L. Loomis read a paper upon the effects 

 of high altitude on cardiac disease, in which he 

 reported several cases of various cardiac dis- 

 orders, where a sudden change to a high altitude 

 seemed to hasten the fatal event. The doctor ad- 

 vocated extreme caution in making such changes. 



Dr. I. H. Piatt of Brooklyn read a paper upon 

 the physics and physiological action of pneumatic 

 differentiation, the purport of which was that the 

 action of the pneumatic cabinet was similar to 

 that of compressed-air apparatus, and that no 

 more medicated vapor or spray can be carried into 

 the lungs with the aid of the differential process 

 than without it. The author believed the benefi- 

 cial result of treatment by this method to be due 

 to the reduction of congestion by the increased 

 atmospheric pressure in the lungs and by the 

 strengthening of the thorax by exercise, as well 

 as to modified nutrition consequent upon the 

 changes in the respiratory and circulatory func- 

 tions. 



Dr. Roland G. Curtin contributed an interest- 

 ing paper upon the subject of Rocky Mountain 

 fever. The fever commences with a chill, and a 

 rise of temperature to 101 or 102, without the 

 remission of typhoid. The skin is dry. The tem- 

 perature may fall suddenly and rise suddenly. 

 Quinine seems to be powe rless. Delirium may 

 occur, but it is not usual. There is no definite 

 duration to the disease, and its tendency is to 

 recovery : the absence of fatal cases prevents a 



knowledge of the pathology. The question seems 

 to be unsettled, whether it is a separate disease, 

 or a light form of typhoid. 



A very important paper was presented by Dr. 

 C. C. Rice, " How the therapeutic value of our 

 mineral waters may be increased." The fact of 

 so many patients going to the European springs 

 to the neglect of the American is partly the fault 

 of the medical profession in this country, and 

 partly the fault of the owners of the springs. 

 Americans are less acquainted with our own 

 springs than with those of Europe. It is important, 

 that, if the waters are used at all, they should be 

 used intelligently. The general hygiene should 

 be under the direction of a physician. 



One of the factors which go to make the Euro- 

 pean watering-places famous is the mental effect 

 of the vigorous course of training there in vogue. 

 Contrasted with this is the social life at Saratoga 

 and Richfield springs. People go to Carlsbad, not 

 for fashion, but for the waters. The habits at 

 the European watering-places are simple. Ameri- 

 can springs should be more thoroughly investi- 

 gated by the profession, and the waters should be 

 given their proper place in the materia medica. 

 He offered the following suggestions in regard to 

 the development of our springs : 1. Analyses of 

 the waters should be made by competent chem- 

 ists ; 2. Clinical investigation of the waters should 

 be made by physicians ; 3. Care should be taken 

 to select the special spring adapted to the case ; 

 4. A careful history and diagnosis of the case 

 should be sent with the patient to the local physi- 

 cian ; 5. More rigorous discipline should be en- 

 forced ; 6. Patients should be compelled to abstain 

 from fashion and social dissipation. 



Dr. Didimaread a paper upon the health-resorts 

 of Mexico. His paper was based upon communi- 

 cations from Mexican physicians, which were 

 somewhat contradictory ; but the facts seemed to 

 be that the climate of Mexico was naturally 

 favorable for the relief of phthisis, but its bene- 

 ficial effects were offset by its lamentable lack of 

 sanitary arrangements. Another drawback to 

 the climate is the great difference between the 

 temperature in the sunshine and in the shade. 



< The southern Adirondacks ' was the title of 

 Dr. E. F. Bruen's contribution, who was a warm 

 advocate of Blue Mountain Lake. This lake is 

 surrounded by pine-forest, and the air is so pure 

 that no dust is visible in the beams of sunlight. 

 But little rain falls in the winter. 



Dr. J. H. Musser discussed the question of the 

 prevention of phthisis among mill-hands, and ad- 

 vocated the extension of the plan adopted by the 

 Willimantic thread company, of supplying the 

 mill-hands with wmolesome and nutritious ford, 



