The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1869-03-19

OeLsUered before the Gales County Medical
Society, on March 1st.
The Society meets in Pulaski on the I'd
Saturday of each month at / O'Clock, m.
DR.. D. G. GORDON, President,
DR.. G. V. Brown, Vice President,
DR.. j. A. SUMPTER, Treasurer,
DR.. G. G. ALTERNATELY, Secretary.
Mr.. PRESIDENT "A wise man once sad
"There is no action of man which is not
the beginning of chain Of circumstances,
the result of which no human ken can d.
vine" Whether this be true or false,
thousands of men live, breathe and move
pass from the stage of life, and are
heard of no more-none we're ever blessed
by them, none could ever point to them as
the means by which they rose to useful
ness or greatness, not line they wrote. not
a word they spoke, could be recalled
their light went out in darkness ADD they
were remembered only as the insect of yes
terday. To the shame of the Medical pro-
fession be it said, that there are many who
cannot see beyond the little petty, contempt
ible circle of their own personal interests,
all their thoughts are withdrawn from the
love and good of their profession, and GEN.
tered upon their own individual success in
the world. They manifest no interest in
the advancement of their profession, culti-
vsLe no social relation with their brethren,
but rather seeck to traduce and iDiure those
members of the Profession, who, to secure
these desired ends, have organized and
still sustain Medical Society. Pander-
ing to the prejudices of a misguided pub
lie sentiment, they spend their lives in the
way of others, die and are buried across tie
path that leads to usefulness and distinc-
ton in the noblest profession. save one,
that ever engaged the attention of man.
But while this is true of some, it is
equally true that there are others. who live
in the constant desire to do good to others,
to have place in the memory of posterity,
and to occupy share of the worlds at
tention when they shall have long ceased
to be susceptible of it's praise or ceusure.
Most of the passions of the mind are
bounded by the grave, but sometimes an
anxious hope or a trembling fear will VEN
ture beyond the clouds and darkness that
obscure our mental horizon, and expatate
in boundiess futurity. This active love Of
fame steadily contemplates the good of man
kind. aud entities US to the gratitude and
reraembrance. of future ages.
Ii am not mistaken. Mr.. President, g
desire to do good in our day aud genera
ton, and hope, that if We hand down
nothing new, We may at least transmit un-
sullied the records of our Profession to
those who may live after our proudest
works have crumbled into dust, are not the
least incentives to our Association. And
though there are some who think they know
enough and have I'M. D." attached to their
names, who refuse to unite with US, call
to be hung up by the bells and nibbled to
death by young ducks, mean the NJ. D.
part of them, yet we have some faith in
the sentiment in the immortal Clay that
"Truth is omnipOtent and public justice
CERTAIN" and that ere long these pseudo
professors of physic will find that M. D.,
instead of meaning Doctor of Medicine will
mean MIg6ty Dry.
But, Mr.. President, we have some among
US who have a name to live, yet they have
forgotten the spirit of their calling. Many
Of them are rarely present (eVen when in
town, and some whose names are record
ed as members of our society, have never
been present at single meeting. "These
things ought not to be-"
1t is no disparagement to any of them
to say that they might have been benefited,
learned something and been better pbysi-
clans and better men if they had been
punctual attendants Of this Society.
Gentlemen, this is the beginning of the
New Year, the old year has passed away
and with it have gone all derelictions of
duty. and though we may not have done
all that We ought to have done, and in con-
sequence thereof, are not to-day what we
might have been, nor are We yet what we
hope to Beg, yet We congratulate ourselves
upon what We are as q Medical Society.
Notwithstanding we commenced without
the promise of single old member of tie
Profession, excepting our highly esteemed