The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-02-20
established in 1040.

observing medical man, and, if other
should be inclined to think have il
any manner exaggerated the preva
lence Of this crime, l would reply til
best not to challenge further disclos
ures, as it can readily be shown, thai
the French with their license ant
atheism, are not more guilty thar
some Of our own communities, will
all our pretentions to intelligence
morality and christianity. Fact
could be cited which would mantl,
the cheek with shame"
A third subject which the Society
desired to urge upon the attention .
the legislature, was the establishing
Of some system Of collecting and pre-
serving the vital statistics Of oul
State, bya general and uniform regis
trationof fbirths, marriages and deaths
with the essential facts pertaining
to each.
Compulsory vaccination, is another
subject upon which it was felt tha,
Legislation was demanded.
The President called the attention
Of the Society to the important fact
that our State was being robbed o
many Of the fairest and healthiest O
our young female population to fil
houses Of prostitution in the eastern
cities.
In regard to the progress ofmedical
science and art in tho past, the fol
lowing facts are noteworthy:
"In the British Navy ninety years
ago, one in eight died annually, in
sixty years this was reduced to one
in seventy-two.
"At one period forty per cent Of
the children born in the Dublin lying
in hospital died during the first fif.
teen days. By the adoption of prop
er sanitary regulations the deaths
were reduced to less than four per
cent In Obstetrical practice fifty
years ago, one in sixty died, now less
than one in two hundred and fifty.
During four years of relentless war
our armies were entirely exempt
from those desolating ngscourges which
so often destroyed armies in the past;
aud it is well known the medical and
surgical history of the war, now in
course adjudication by authority OF
Congress, will exhibit ratio of good
health, and per centage of recov-
cries from diseases and wounds un-
paralleled in the records of the pro-
while the results of efforts
made for the repair of injuries and to
for losses, are alike creuf-
BILE to the community and compliment
tary tothe perseverance and mechani-
cal skill Of the Surgeons ofour coun-
try,
"Probably no department of tho
profession has made moro marked
progress than Orthopedic Surgery,
which is now enabled to rescue from
helplessness and defor1nity a large
who formerly were left to
suffer without assistance and without
hope.
aThere is no reason why the last
half of this century should not show
rs much or more marked progress
than that which ispast, as every new
fact developed reveals others which
were before overlooked, and if we
are true to our trust, results will be
such that we, as we'll as our prede-
cessors, will be entitled to the graft
tude of posterity. Then let Us con-
tinue to labor in the interests Of our
Society, that by preserving and ex-
tending its influence we may fully at
tain the end sought.
"Wkat nobler boast could desire,
than in future years the condition Of
the profession should enable us to
say. We found the profession the
home of the charlatan and cmperic;
we present it distinguished by science
and ennobled by virtue; we found it
discordant and left it organized and
harmonious; we found q low standard
Of literary and professional education,
and now point with pride to its
school OF the highest rank, conducted
by physicians who stand in the front
rank of science and learning; We
found it without due recognition and
influence in the State, and society,
and now leave it honored by the i'm
telligent and rich, and sustained by
the blessings ofthe poor"
A petition was signed by all the
of the Society and sent to
the General Assembly, asking that
body to recognize the Iowa State
Medical Society, as a corporate body
with all rights, powers, immunities
and privileges of Incorporated bodies.
Articles 3 and 4 Of the Articles Of
Incorporation, show the purpose and
object had in view:
Art. 3. The business and object
thereof shall be the promotion and
of Medical Science in the
State of Iowa, the advocacy of such
as will tend to alleviate the
sufferings Of humanity, improve the
health and protect the lives Of the
community.
Art. 4. The business Of the Socie-
ty shall be conducted, and its annual
meetings held at Des Moines, Polk
county. Iowa.
One OF the ends sought in the In
corporation Of the Society, is the
Of valuable matter which
has been accommodating on the So
ciety's heads for years which viii then
be published with other State docu-
ments, at the expense Of the State.
The Board ofTrustees for the en-.
suing year was constituted as fol-
lows:
Drs. Whitney, Of Ft. Madison,
Baker, Of Davenport, Watson, ofDu-
buque, Thrall, Of OttuYwa and Field,
of Des Moines.
These SUBJECTS upon which legisla-
tive action 10 ssksd, were referred to
appropriate co5AMittees and will be
L ~ - N.<.,~. e. l.s<> ks.r,n z&sls4 !.