The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-10-29
Reported for the Dispatch !,
"IoioAh SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA
(CoNcIupEpA

| bled a2aih aseeui-
Dr' MArPiN, from the comm ittae or no,,,;....
| recommended the following ply scians TO hs Fa,
| lows of the Society: oe 90,
Dr. Thomas P. Shelton and DR. chs. a..
| held, of Uarrea. Aibemarls; nr. John g u,.has
| nr. James w. Poindexter DR.. f. s. HcL. 80 n
| bushrod w. Bramham, OF Charlottesville mr. pau.
oeh Lhnasey, oil sc0ftsr'1te At6enarle; and Dr. Geo
Martin, OF North Garden, Albenarle
The Society proceeded to ballot upon these re-.
| commentators, and allthe gentlemen named were
| unanimously declared Fellows of the Society.
DR.. BoLros, Corresponding Secretary, stated that
the following gentlemen, Fellows Of the Society
had sent in their designations, viz:
DIR. VIM. B. Beck and DR.. G. F. Carmichael, of
Fredericksbargi DR.. r. Fl. Mssonr of Hepry county;
and Dr. 0. r. Funsten of Clarke couaty
On motion, the designations were accepted.
Trijnts to the Memory Of Dr. Watsoa
Dr.. BoLros moved the following resolutions
which were unanimously adopted
Hheyeas it has pleased an Almighty Ruler 70 re-
move, by death, our friend and associate, DR.. GEO
WATSON, therefore,
Reso.ced, That by the death of DR., GEo WATSON,
this Society has lost of its most respected and
manly bearing, and by his love and veneration for
our noble profession, has left an example to which
we may point every medical student worthy of
imitation.
Res0trsd, That in token of our sympathy with the
family of our amented friend and associate copy
of these resolutions be forwarded to them.
Tribute 70 the Memory of Dr. Clarke
DR.. PErERFIELD TRENT, with brief and feeling
address, Introduced the following preamble and re-
Having, by Divine Dispensation been bereft of
our friend and associate, DR.. VIM J. CLARKE, who
united to talents of the highest order an abiding
love of virtue, amable disposition and amenity
OF manners which never failed to secure him the re-
spect of all who knew him therefore be it Re.
soIred,
lst. That we deeply deplore the death of our Ia
mened friend and companion, who has been so
suddenly cut Off in the vigor of life and in the
midst OF bright prospects OF usefulness and profes-
sonal honor.
2. That copy ofthese resolutions be sent to the
family ofthe deceased, as an expression of our pro-
| found sympathy in their sore bereavement.
). That copy Of these resolutions be entered
upon the records of the Medical Society of Virgna
and that they be published in the stethoscope and
the Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal.
The PRESIDENT was requested, by vote of the
Society to prepare suitable resolutions in expires
sion of their sense of the loss to the profession and
| to the country in the death of DR.. CHAPMAN, of
| Philadelphia.
Dr. GooCH stated, that the Office of Librarian and
Curator of the Society was vacated by the death of
DR.. Clarke and he moved that the Society proceed
to fill it which motion being agreed to, he uomi,
mated for the office Dr.. Peterfeid Trent
DR.. PET1coLAs nominated DR.. Mayo. of Rica.
mond who declined the honor.
Dr. TRENT was elected
On motion cf Dr. GoocH,
Resolred, That a committee OF three be appoint.
ed TO enquire into the expediency ofmemoraIizing of
the Legislature in the of this body or to take
such steps may be deemed efficient to secure a
proper C0roner's System for the State and also to
place the medical witness or expert upon a more
favorable footing than he s under the statutes
OF Virginia-and report in the morning.
Drs Gooch, Strbling and Wake were appoirte
a committee, in pursuance of the resolution.
DR.. Bolton offered the following resolution:
Res0lped, That this Society appoint committee
whose duty it shall be to urge upon the Legislature
the passage of BILL requiring that the rerdors of
all secret 9oStra.as be required to put each pack
age of their medicines printed label, in plain En-
glish, stating the Ingredients of which It is com
posed
Dr.. BoLroN in offering his resolution, succinctly
stated his views OF the Importance of such law as
it proposed. The last meeting of the National Soci-
ary resolution with regard to the services of gem
tleman who bad exerted himself for the passage of
such a law by the New York Legislature. One of
the chief advantages of such provision would be,
that the physician would know what his patient
had been taking. Now, when called in to man
who had been using quack medicines freely, he was
entirely in the dark to what composed those med
icines; and as every physician knew how impor-
tant it to successful practice that physician
should know what course OF treatment his patient
had submitted to- before he came into mis- hands it
would be, at once, seen ho. much would be gained
by having the ingredients Of all such medicines
made known.
1t was known that many medicines which were,
in themselves harmless, become positive poisons
when combined with some others and by publish
ing the ingredients the chemist could at once know
the dangerous nature OF such Iosrums as had those
combinations. He had had occasion to be aware of
the effects Of some of these dangerous medicines
He believed that patient Of bis had died from
quack medicine. for cholera, taken during the pre-
valence Of that disease in Richmond before he vas
called III.
Again, as the mystery of secrecy was the great
charm Of these pcstruns, as soon their ingredj
entS were Known the charm would be ulSsOlfed,
| and they would cease to impose upon the public.
He knew ofcases showing the influence exerted by
secresy, and how a sudden exposure Of the true
character OF quaek remedies utterly exploded them.
He would mention the memorable case Of Hal
stead remedy for indigestion, which became so IA
nous aud which died out completely as soon as It's
rnodus operandi was understood. Besides, these
nostrums were sold at enormous prehts-their in
gradients being of merely nominal cost. Ii tue
public knew them, great saving would result,
even in the use OF such as might be popular, as
they could be easily and cheaply prepared at home
| Dr. B. mentioned the Cherry Pectoral and some
Of The remedies for colds insta aces in which the
great saving might be effected.
The PRESIDENT suggested that the difficulty
would be that the manufacturers OF the patent
rnedies would deceive by putting ingredients cpon
| the label not in their medicines
DR. BoLroN thought it would be practicable 10
detect such deceptions For instance, there was
| medicine prepared by arespectable house in Rich
n,ond which purportei to consist of vegetable IN
gredjeuts entirely. he had occasion to examine
bc,41 -actI, ,.tirI n 4 baa tat.en l,v one oe ;