fare of the Association. It is well to be patient with what we do not approve; every one must "give and take." This body is the great breakwater which holds Old-School aggression in check. It is feared and hated because of its power. One Eclectic can chase a thousand Allopathic conspirators, and two put ten thousand of them to flight. It requires bribery, as in New York; dissension, as in Iowa; extortionate and domineering measures as some seek to apply them, to weaken us. We come out of every fire purer if not stronger. The vote to go to Atlanta was received by the Southern members with much enthusiasm. The new president is very popular; many declare him the best parliamentarian in the Association. It is to be hoped. We have needed such a man very often, a man that would not sit hesitating in the chair, or who did not treat the Association as his property. We have had such, and need them again. More JOHNSTOWN.

anon.

ART. XXXI.—Toothless and Hairless.-A Long Cord.-By T. C. CHEATHAM, M. D.

Mrs. W., æt. 18, strong and hearty, has no teeth and never did have, except two small peg-like representations of eye teeth and one stomach tooth; these were cut when about four years old and remained the same without shedding. Has no alveola process. Again, she is almost hairless all over the body-very little fuzz-like. hair on the scalp-no eyelashes nor eyebrows; arms, legs and entire surface of the body void of hair, not even a fuzz; skin slick and glossy, born this way; never perspires the least bit, even in the hottest of weather, and never did. Says she is compelled to keep cold water applied to her head in hot weather, or the scalp gets dry, hot, painful, swells and cracks, the swelling extending over the entire face. She has a sister five years old similarly affected. Thirteen children in the family-all, except these two, with good and full sets of teeth and fine suits of hair. Mrs. W. appears well formed in every other particular; she is capable of doing a great deal of hard, physical labor.

I neglected to say this is a white lady. Now, can her condition be bettered by treatment?

A LONG CORD. - Mrs. J., white, large, strong and well formed, primipara, gave birth to a five-pound girl babe; the cord measured forty-four inches, and was wrapped three times around the neck. I have had a great many obstetrical cases, but this is the longest cord I ever saw.

ART. XXXII.-Meeting of the Missouri State Board of Health. The State Board of Health met at Jefferson City, Mo., July 2nd, in response to a call from the Governor. The meeting was held at the Executive Department, all the members being present.

The membership of the State Board of Health, as at present constituted, is as follows: Dr. Albert Merrell, St. Louis, eclectic, appointed September 1, 1883, term expires July 2, 1887; Dr. George Homan, St. Louis, allopathist, appointed July 2, 1885, vice Dr. Gregory, resigned, term expires July 2, 1887; Dr. Jefferson D. Griffith, Kansas City, allopathist, appointed July 2, 1885, vice Dr. Hereford, resigned, term expires July 2, 1887; Dr. G. A. Goben, Kirksville, allopathist, appointed July 2, 1885, term expires July 2, 1892; Dr. Geo. M. Cox, Springfield, homœopathist, appointed July 2, 1885, term expires July 2, 1892; Maj. William Gentry, Sedalia, farmer and stockman, appointed July 2, 1885, term expires July 2, 1892; Mr. James B. Prather, Maryville, farmer and stockman, appointed July 2, 1885, term expires July 2, 1892.

A reorganization was effected by the election of Maj. William Gentry, President; Dr. Geo. Homan, Secretary; and James B. Prather, Treasurer. Dr. Merrell was continued in the office of Vice-President, he being the only member holding over.

Dr. Hearne, the retiring Secretary, appeared before the board by request, and made a statement regarding the financial operations of the old board. After some discussion an Auditing Committee, composed of Drs. Griffith and Homan and Mr. Prather, was appointed to go over the books and verify the statements and accounts presented.

An Executive Committee was created, composed of the President, Vice-President and Secretary. The President was empowered to appoint various committees, on recommendation of

the Executive Committtee, to take up, investigate and report to the board upon matters affecting the health or well-being of the people and the live-stock interests of the State. Dr. Griffith was requested to prepare a report upon the recent occurrence of dysentery in almost epidemic form at Kansas City, as a probable result of the use by families of ice taken from near the outlets of sewers.

By invitation, Professor Sanborn, Dean of the Agricultural College, and Dr. Paul Paquin, State Veterinarian, appeared before the board and made statements regarding the present condition and prospects of live-stock interests in different parts of the State.

By resolution, Maj. Gentry and Mr. Prather were appointed a committee to prepare a report on this subject, in conjunction with Prof. Sanborn and Dr. Paquin, the same to be submitted to the board at the earliest possible date, and to be followed by additional data and information from time to time, as the committee may deem necessary.

The matters of drainage and sanitary measures in towns, and the control and supervision of nuisances generally throughout the State, were discussed, and the question of how the formation of local boards of health could be best encouraged and promoted was considered. It was deemed important that the aid and co-operation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction be invited, in order to know the condition of school houses and school premises. The efficacy of railway stations, yards, etc., as a means of spreading disease was suggested. It was thought advisable to co-operate in this direction with the State Board of Railroad Commissioners.

Other subjects discussed were the collection of mortuary statistics, the registration of births, and the proper sources of pure vaccine supplies in the event of an outbreak of small-pox.

The registration of physicians under the existing law will be continued, and the question of the feasibility of issuing a complete State registry was referred to the Executive Committee.

The session was adjourned at 6 P. M. in order to accept the Governor's tendered hospitality, and was resumed in the evening, when, after providing for proper representation at the con

ference of State Boards of Health, to be held at Washington next fall, in connection with the meeting of the American Public Health Association, the board adjourned to meet at the same place, subject to the call of the President, on the second Tuesday in next October.

Although the Legislature at the last session failed to provide for the continued financial support of this body, the Governor and other State officials say they are earnestly desirous of its continuance, and have pledged themselves to use their influence with the next Assembly to provide for the deficiencies created by the failure of appropriation by the last one.

ART. XXXIII. - Electricity in a Case of Obstetrics.
T. BAIRD, M. D., ALBANY, TEXAS.

By W.

On the evening of the 9th of June, 1885, I was called to see Mrs. L. R., of this place. I found her in labor with her first child. She was thirty-one years old, had a good constitution, and had always enjoyed good health. She informed me that occasional sharp and lancinating pains had annoyed her since the evening of the 6th inst., but at this time they were becoming much more frequent and severe. Upon examination I found the cervix elongated to an extent which I had never before discovered in one at term, and this elongated portion projecting into the vagina, and containing the presenting part of the vertex. The os was thick, yet firm and rigid, feeling more to the touch like cartilage than the tissue belonging to the os uteri. The pains, thus far, had produced no effect upon its dilatation, as it was still a "pin-hole os."

Fully knowing that by any plan of management, I had a case which would prove tedious, and that the indications were plain that I should do all in my power to control the pain with which she was suffering (which was now becoming constant, obtaining but little rest in the intervals), and to conserve her nervous forces so that they might be sufficient to carry her successfully through to a favorable termination; and, having no knowledge of any agent by which I could so successfully meet these indications as electricity, I therefore made an application of the faradic current, passing the current through her body from the

lumbo-sacral region to the abdominal region continuously for a period of thirty minutes. At the end of this time her rhythmical pains were much less severe, and she was enjoying refreshing rest in the intervals.

I now withheld the current for about six hours (when the pains again became harassing in the intervals of regular contraction), and then repeated the application with the same result. In this way I managed to secure her a sufficient amount of immunity from suffering to prevent any exhaustion for twenty-four hours, and in the time thus gained the os became softer and began to yield. At this time the contractions were beginning to exhibit a greater degree of force, and the pain resulting from them was proportionately greater. Therefore, the more effectually to control this pain, and to assist the uterus to perform its expulsive efforts with the expenditure of a minimum amount of nervous force, and to facilitate the labor; to prevent exhaustion, by securing perfect rest in the intervals of uterine contraction; to secure the speedy termination of the third stage of the labor; and, after this, to maintain the uterus in a state of tonic contraction, and thus prevent post-partum hemorrhageto successfully meet all these indications, I now, from this time on to the conclusion of her labor, applied the current during the time occupied by each recurring rhythmical uterine contraction. And I may here state that each indication, as above set forth, was promptly met and as promptly fulfilled. The pains, which were due to the regular uterine contractions, were so far modified as to be but little complained of, and in each interval she was enabled to secure a refreshing respite. That nervous force was conserved, and exhaustion prevented, was fully evinced by the fact that at no time during her labor did her pulse-rate exceed 90 per minute, and in fifteen minutes after its conclusion it was but 75 per minute, with a full, soft and equable stroke; nor, at any time, did she exhibit, either by word or action, symptoms of fatigue or exhaustion.

There was no fluid in the amniotic sac. Whether it had been removed by absorption, or had passed off gradually before the onset of labor, the patient herself did not know.

The labor was completed on the evening of the 11th, by the