Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-05-10
CITY AND COUNTY.
Annual Meeting of the Worcester District
MedIcaIsSOcIety.


MedIcaI'SOcIety.
The annual meeting of this ancient society
was held yesterday, at their library room, in
Worcester Bank Block, the president of the
society Dr. 0. Martin, in the chair. The
statement of the treasurer, DIR. j. NJ. Rice,
showed that the receipts for the year were
SOL S4, disbursements s9l,25 The report of
the librarian, DIR. S. +. Haven, Jr., represent
ed that one hundred and twenty valuable vol
umes had been added to the library during the
year, and expressed the hope that a room
larger, and better adapted to their uses, might
be provided in the public library building
about to be erected. DIR. WIN. Workman,
from the committee on the Waldo fund, re-
ported that the permanent fund now amounted
to S6050. invested in stock, and secured notes
and bonds. The proceeds for the year were
$422, which had been appropriated to the in
crease of the library and surgical apparatus
The available reserved funds amounted to
Sl32S. The Wilder fund now amounts to
$475,34. DIR. Workman, for eleven years
chairman of this committee, declined to serve
in that capacity longer.
The announcement of the death of DIR. Law
son Mirick of West Brookfield, a member of
the state and district society was made by DIR.
Nelson Carpenter Of Warren, who spoke of the
deceased as an estimable citizen, a judicous
physician, and an honorable counsellor. The
year preceding his death he made public pro-
tession of religion, and united with the church.
| DIR. L. II. Gage announced the death of Dr.
Henry Lincoln of Lancaster, a physician of
large practice, and much esteemed in that vi
cinity. The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year;
Presdent-Dr O. Martin of Worcester.
Vice President-Dr. e. r Fiske of Sturbridge.
| Secretary-Dr Thos. Ii. Gage of Worcester.
Treasurer-Dr j. Marcus Rice of Worcester.
| Librarian-Dr 5. f. Haven, Jr, OF Worcester.
Censors-Drs. Rufus Woodward, Henry Clarke,
and Thomas IT, Gage of Worcester Rowse r.
Orator for 1S60-Dr. Rowse k. Clarke of Whitins-
! Vile
Councillors--Drs. VIM. Workman, Joseph Sar-
gent, and o. Martin of Worcester j. L. Metcalf of
Mendon, Ephraim Lowell of West Boylston, NJ
| Wheeler of Spencer, X. R. Clarke OF Whitinsville
and Henry A. Jewett of Northboro'
Committee the Waldo and Wilder funds-Drs
Joseph Sargent, Rufus Woodward, and Henry
Clarke
Auditing Committee-Drs O. Martin, T. H. Gage
and VIM. Workman, OF Worcester
Committee on the Library-Drs VIM. Workman
and Thomas IL. Gage of Worcester, and j. S. Ames
of Holden.
The annual Grafton was then delivered by
Dr. Moses ID. Southwick of Blackstone, gem
orally upon some of the sources of uncertainty
in medical practice, but more especially upon
the prophylactic and therapeutical properties
of alcohol. The address occupied about one
hon, ...ls ..i..
toned, as one of the chief sources of medical
error, tn following of fashions in medicine,
and criticised some of the fashions, with cou-
siderable force. In speaking of alcohol as
remedial agent, he criticised at some length
the arguments for its use and especially the
work of Thomas X. Chambers, NJ. D., emit
tied digestion and its arrangements, in
which it is assigned high place in materia
medica. The address closed as follows
One of the ancents asserted that nc person could
be a good physician unless he was a good man.
This assertion has lost of its force by reason of
age. Inc good physician does not study and prac-
tce his arduous profession Tor money but also
from desire of being useful to his fellow beings
Alcohol differs from all other remedies on account
of its moral influence the race The conscien-
tious physician cannot look with compacency on its
remedial powers, and at the time close his
years. great efforts have been made arrest the pro-
gress OF intemperance. Warm hearts and eloquent
heads have plead the of debased humanity
and 1t has been to me source of pride and happi-
ness that the regular profession in this country have
generally ranged themselves the side of philan-
thropy: There are some exceptions, but they are
few, But have thought of late, that discovered
III the temperance pulse of the profession slight
symptoms OF relapse. And perhaps this circum-
stance has had some influence in deciding me to in
fict these crude and undgested remarks this re-
spected audience. But do not despair of the cause
or of the profession. And may my few remaining
days continue TO be cheered by the sanguine hope
that they will always be onward and upward.
On the motion of DR.. Metcalf of Mendon,
the thanks OF the society were extended to the
orator for his valuable and very interesting ad.
dress. With the transaction of some routine
business, the society adjourned to the Bay
State House, where the annual dinner was pro-
vided, and where nearly fifty members of the
society enjoyed the excellent fare for which
that house is celebrated.