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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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Internal Medic<strong>in</strong>e 125<strong>of</strong> France, <strong>in</strong> which he posed the query: "Are typhus, cholera, plague, yellowfever, dysentery, <strong>in</strong>termittent lewis and hospital gangrene due to<strong>in</strong>fusoria which perfor<strong>in</strong> the function <strong>of</strong> ferments?"The first milk ord<strong>in</strong>ance for Chicago was passed dur<strong>in</strong>g t<strong>in</strong>'s year.1871A discussion on the differential diagnosis <strong>of</strong> acute phthisis and typhoidfever was presented by Dr. L. J.Woolen at the annual meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the State<strong>Society</strong>.Dr. N. S. Davis presented the <strong>medical</strong> uses <strong>of</strong> carbolic acid <strong>in</strong>ternally <strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>fantile diarrhea, all forms <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>test<strong>in</strong>al flux, epidemic cholera, dysentery,typhoidal types <strong>of</strong> fevers, all forms <strong>of</strong> ang<strong>in</strong>a, scarlet fever and diphtheria,and some forms <strong>of</strong> carc<strong>in</strong>oma.1872The members attend<strong>in</strong>g the annual meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the State <strong>Society</strong> heardDr. I. N. Danforth lecture on "Disease Germs—Theory?" It is <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g tonote that Dr. Danforth accepted the germ theory as early as1872 but physiciansgenerally were slow to follow him.Also at this meet<strong>in</strong>g Dr. N. S. Davis attacked the idea <strong>of</strong> specificity <strong>in</strong>disease. He did a good service <strong>in</strong> oppos<strong>in</strong>g extremists or enthusiasts <strong>in</strong>regard to this new theory.While there was no complete report from the Committee on MedicalPractice because <strong>of</strong> the Chicago fire, Dr. T. D. Washburn <strong>of</strong> Hillsboro madea personal report, largely on the use <strong>of</strong> various drugs for therapy. He urged"moderation, carefulness and discrim<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>in</strong>that "there are two types <strong>of</strong> prescriptions not desired:prescrib<strong>in</strong>g." He stressedbold, rash, recklessversus fogy, fossil, antediluvian." He said that "the light is steadily <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g,which makes more hideous and repulsive the tricks and shams <strong>of</strong>charlat<strong>in</strong>ism. Let us be true to ourselves, humanity and God."1873Reports were given at the meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the State <strong>Society</strong> on various drugsand medic<strong>in</strong>es, galvanotherapeutics, the <strong>in</strong>cidence and treatment <strong>of</strong> cerebrosp<strong>in</strong>almen<strong>in</strong>gitis, and the chief cause <strong>of</strong> phthisis <strong>in</strong> New England.In the publications, "Myxedema" was described by Dr. Gull, and Dr. F.C. Curtis wrote about "Thermometry <strong>in</strong> Health and Disease." He felt thatfever <strong>in</strong> many cases was a safer guide than anyth<strong>in</strong>g else and he summed up<strong>in</strong> a sentence the valuable po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>of</strong> the thermometer: "It shows existence <strong>of</strong>febrile exacerbations; is premonitory <strong>of</strong> change <strong>in</strong> the course <strong>of</strong> a disease;helps <strong>in</strong> diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, and its <strong>in</strong>dications are un<strong>in</strong>fluencedby any outside circumstances whatsoever."

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