The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-02-12
SOUTH CAROLINA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

ccedings of the Medical Association recently held
in Charleston:
"Thc following gentlemen were reported by
the Nominating Committee, rs officers Of the
Association for the ensuing year, and OIL motion
Of Dr. Dickson, confirmed seriatim and rira roce:
ar. w. Gibbcs. Sr, NJ. d., President; p. G.
Gaillurd NJ. d., J. J. Wardlaw, NJ. D., Vice
Presidents; w. c. Ravencl, NJ d., Secretary !;
w. DcSnussure, NJ. D., Treasurer; j. McF. Gus
ton, NJ. D., Orator"
We fad the following notice of the addrsss
delivered before the Association by DIR. l.. II.
SMITH, formerly of this District, but now of Co
lunbu, S. c.:
CDR. Smith commenced with calling the attcn-
ton of his audience to the object wlicl, had
brought them together md which was to he
found in the preamble and resolutions by whose
adoption tho Association was organized, TO
elevate the medical standard by culling from
every field the choice fruits Of discovery, and
laying up in the ctcrnul archives Of our profess
sion the imperisl,able Jewels discovered by her
votaries.' And after many meetings, fine oru-
tions and learned dissertations, with the much of
valuable information that has been added to our
general stock, with the useful suggestions in
the lcngtl, aud breadth of the land, with the
new fields for discovery that have been surveyed
with the Associations like our own which have
been established in every State in the Cunfetlcr-
acy, and organized into II body extending from
oceun to ocean, it would still be pertinent to i'll
Iuirc how much hns been done towards Il social
und political elevation of the profession.
I" Medical schools and syst ems nre everywhere
springing up doctors, made by sleight of hand
aud from the most improbable material, are
thrown upon the country to battle with the
grim monster. The popular mind is oppressed
by their pretensions and science sl,nrcs insult
with ignorance. Universities and Colleges give
credentials to til osc who, in society," are unable to
occupy position above the vcricst quacl who
has the impotence to oppose them. A thousand
influences assail from without, wllic!. we seem
to think beyond our control. The interior of
our country is cursed and sco,lrged by hosts of
ignorant and prcsunptuous cn,pirics and the
nostrum wonders, whose palatial dwellings and
granite stores are ornaments to our cities throw
their panaccas broadcast over the land, and while
poisoning the popular minds with pamphlets aud
Samaritan anianacs, drain the bowels and peck
not affect the profession pccuniuriIy, yet the re-
suit is for social degradation.
"The remedy for this state of things the orator
was inclined To believe, might bo found in q
legislative enactment making the practice OF
medicine, without the evidence of having tnk,,
the proper degrees. offence against the law
lie Illustrated this by reference to the legal pro.
cssion, and the causes to which it owed what the
speaker called its superior sociul position. Every
| useful and respectable occupation in life has, ol
should have, its protection by law. DR.. Smith
| urged this point ut considerable length, us tn.
most important duty within the Influence of tn,
Associaion-dwclling on the various develop
iiients of quackery which are every day spread
bclore the eyes of the community. lie also sug
gcstcd that Ii check i:,ht be given to tho upe,n-
tions of the nostrum vendors by IL tax upon
manufactures out of the State, nasnuch as we
have among lis none Of the original practitioners
| Ill this system of quackcry. Lay tax amount
| ing on prohibition on these magic pnnaccas put
up i'll blue papers and gray, and you will there.
by quarantine the great scoursc Of the land.
"lt Is nothing more than matter Of history 10
say that the medicnl profession has been the fos
| ter r-notI,cr Of all in science that has been OF
practical benefit to the world. Egvpt's doctors
gave mental food for the Grecian philosophers
who have bcgucalc.l us inaxims aud up,orisnls
which reflect their learning in the day of the
nineteenth century The lalors Of tho profession
have given to the world the elements from whose
mechanical operation every trade has received
an impetus, aud every mutton increased in wealth
| and power
"With some further exhortatory remarks upon
the necessity Of tuking some immediate steps for
the elevation Of the social Standard of the piofes-
sion, DIR. Smith closed his Grafton"