219 
MONTREAL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSO¬ 
CIATION. 
This Association held its regular semi-monthly meeting on 
Tuesday, December 18th, in the lecture hall of the College, Union 
Avenue, at 7.30 p.m. Professor Me Eachran in the chair. 
After the usual business routine, Mr. P. H. Cummings, of Quebec, 
was called upon to read his communication on a case of navicular 
disease treated successfully by him during the past summer. The 
anatomy of the parts involved, the numerous theories advanced 
as the cause of the disease, and the modes of treatment were 
explicitly and fully explained. The frog seton (the treatment 
used in the case) was strongly advocated by the Speaker, and its 
mode of introduction plainly demonstrated. The reading led to 
considerable debate and critical interrogation which gave Mr. 
Cummings the opportunity of enlarging still more on the subject. 
Next in order was a paper by Dr. James Bell, of the Montreal 
General Hospital, and lecturer on Materia Medica in the Vete¬ 
rinary College, on Dr. Lister’s Antiseptic Treatment. The paper 
was prepared in the most thorough and scientific manner. The 
system was minutely explained as given by the inventor, which 
was followed by a number of valuable remarks as to its use in 
certain cases, such as complicated fractures, amputations, large 
wounds, &c., based upon personal experience. 
Some estimate of the pain and suffering prevented by this treat¬ 
ment can be arrived at when it is generally admitted that 
operations which, under ordinary treatment, w r ould take weeks or 
even months to heal, would, under Dr. Lister’s Antiseptic Appli¬ 
cation, be thoroughly healed in from one to two weeks—not 
unfrequently large and dangerous wounds are restored to perfect 
soundness in ten days or even less. Another noteworthy con¬ 
sideration in favour of this treatment is the almost complete absence 
of troublesome and dangerous after results such as septicaemia, 
erysipelas, &c., diseases which are not an uncommon sequence 
under the ordinary method. 
Dr. Bell closed by referring to its applicability in veterinary 
practice, which was supplemented by some useful and practical 
suggestions from the chairman, who was of the opinion that this 
new and humane invention would, if in the hands of the scientific 
veterinarian, be of incalculable benefit to the profession. 
A prolonged discussion ensued, which was entered into by most 
of the members present, at the termination of which the lecturer 
exhibited the apparatus used by Dr. Lister, and also the prepared 
gauze dressing, &c., made by him for the purpose. At the next 
meeting, to be held on the second Thursday in January, Mr. Le- 
may will read a paper on “Stable Management.”— Star, Montreal , 
