The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-13
NATIONAL MEDIC AL CONVENTION.
WASHINGTON. d. c.,
May Z, 1866.

May Z, 1865
DEAR GATE CfrY: l did not write you yes
terday as intended in consequence of pres
sure Of business. In my last only alluded to
general impressions in regard to the political
temper of men and their surroundings. This
morning | propose to conhne myself more
particularly to the action of the American
Medical Association upon professional mat
ters.
After the VERY important Dr. Palen matter
had been disposed of and the Association
fairly organized it divided into sections upon
particular subjects, namely: Surgery, prac-
teal Medicine, Hygiene, etc. Several val
uable papers were read in the several sections
and ordered printed in the transactions
Among these was one by Prof. Hughes on
surgery; another on Iyphtheum, by gentle
man from Philadelphia, and another by a
gentleman from this city on army diseases, as
witnessed during the war. The subject Of
cholera was considered in committee of the
whole, and DR.. Marsden, from Montreal,
made very extended address on the proper
sanitary regulations for the prevention Of its
introduction into this vicinity. This elected
New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and other
cities, all of whom seemed to have particular
plans of their ow j which they were extremely
anxious to impose on the attention of the As
sociation. The confusion arising from the
desultory debate was very materially added to
by the President Of the Association, whom for
utter want Of knowledge of the most simple
rules of parliamentary usage made bad matters
much worse.
| must stop here and refer littta more to
this subject of the presiding officer, for the
delay in the business of the convention. and
the confusion often manifested in the pro-
ceedings, were solely attributable to his in.
capacity.
We at the West have been accustomed tc
look upon New England as being the seat o
the intelligence aud refinement Of the coun
try, and the people of that section as being {
pure representative Of the good breeding ant
scientific standing of the nation. Indeed
the Capital Of New England claims this
uluCu. uuu ~ hoo uSSh sSuC1hiiy oSNoiNSN
But if the late President Of the American
Medical Convention is to be taken as q repre-
sentative doctor of that section, then we pro
test, and ask to be excused from aw arding i
any such compliment. Why, we know of
great many backwoods doctors out West VIII
never think for one moment of aspiring TO th
distinguished position of the Presidency o
the Association, who would have honored
far beuerl Testy, hot-headed, impetuous
ignorant of parliamentary rules, and yet as
suming to know them all, frequently ungen
tlemanly and personally disrcspectful in hi
department, ludicrous and sometimes gro
tesque In his actions, he succeeded in keepinl
the Association in as much confusion as b.
we'll could. 1t is to be hoped tnat hereafte
the Association will be more careful in. tn
selection of presiding officer.
The debates on cholera were very interest
ting, rs eliciting many facts connected witt
nuarantine, but nothing definite with regard i
the treatment Preventive sanitary mea,
ures take precedence over anything else
the estimation of all present. An effort wa
made to memoriaIize Congress to establish
uniform system Of quarantine, but it failed
secure the general approval of the Association
as few believe that by the most rigid enfosc
ment Of quarantine regulations, the diseai
can be prevented from traversing the uesse'
continent. A supplemental orgaaisat;on Vi
effected, beaded by sentlssan frem Ne
York, after the regular aesaion, however, vi
some action was taken on this subject.
The Association elected Prof Hsshss,s
Iowa, and Dr. 9. G. Cor, Of NaEyland, del
gates 70 10 Esropsaa socistiea
Ysas sply li0 - -