Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-06-05

i
profession have been wrestling with
this question of medical education for
! fifteen or twenty years, and reached
no practical solution, nor settled any
thing but negative points in the prob
| lem, tho profession has risen and is
ytsino every year without waiting to
be told ho,o to do 1t. And we believe
| It will be so it the future. Colleges
| have their functions, and very import.
ant ones too, but the profession of this
country is by no means the product
| Of the schools alone. Indeed their
share In giving character to, and fix
| ing the status Of the profession is Sec
ondary to that of the forty and more
medical journals now published in this
country, to say nothing of the many
volumes of medical literature that arc
issued yearly and eagerly read. How
ever others may feel, we do not be-
lieve there is anything discouraging in
the present outlook, but on the con.
trary much that is cheering. The
"coming DOCTOR" for there is a scom-
ing doctor" as surely as there is a
coming man" or Q coming woman, y
it must not be assumed is to be born
Of the colleges alone, but rather OF
numerous cooperating forces tending
to the same result. We would like to
assure some honest, anxious, suffering
minds of this fact, that ii might lessen
the weight of their self-imposed task
of preparing the way for his advent.
That the medical profession has re-
mained stationary, or can remain sta
tionary, while everything else, includ-
ing the several sciences which collec-
lively make up Medicine, is having
forward movement is a delusion we
do not share. The tendency of the
profession is everywhere toward as
sociated action. This we take to be
of the first importance. We meet, to-
day, for the firsLtime under consti-
tuition framed with especial reference
to this fact. Having been made a
delegate body it not only expresses this
tendency but intensifies it throughout
the State. We look upon this as the
most important of all the circum-
stances affecting rs at the present time,
and we are disposed to take it as a
pledge of future prosperity. Through
Organizations in each and every coun-
ty of our State, we expect to see the
personel of the profession changed for
the better; its tone and spirit elevated,
animosities softened, good will, and
mutual respect prevail.
The Esprit de corps here generated
will mark new era in our history.
We have reached a period when not
to advance in this direction would be
to confess ourselves out of sympathy
with the times in which we live. The
most striking social phenomenon of
the year past has been the widespread
movement among farmers, resulting in
organizations for the better pretec-
ton of their interests. Enterprises OF
every character, Benevolent, CONNER
cial, and industrial are carried on un-
der like social arrangements, and it
matters not whether it be the putting
down OF a rebellion or securing q
more remunerativc price on crop of
potatoes, it is reached by this means.
There are few, IL any, counties in our
State that do not now contain snffi-
cient number of practitioners to sus-
tain working society. We would
venture suggestion which may be
of use in places where 1t may be
thought most difficult. The life of q
physician is At best anytnlng else
than favorable to the pursuit of
literature, but when we come to
the life of the physician in
this western country, whose time
is largely taken up in wearisome rides
over extensive districts, whose work
cannot be systematized, and who has
no time that he can properly call his
own, the difficulty Is greatly aug
mented. Thus situated he loses
the habit of mind, which makes care
full, correct writing easy, and is apt to
feel that he would have nothing for So
ciety, and consequently, ,shriDks from an
undertaking in which he can do neither
himself nor his subject Justice
We think there is here misconception
of what should be the work of soci-
ETY.. 1t is not, primarily at least, to
read and hear elaborate essays, discuss
theories and doctrines, but to lay be-
fore each other their own thoughts and
experiences, compare methods of treat.
ment, and in every way make the
meeting one of practical interest. In
this way the social element finds full
scope, and is worth more than all the
elaborate essays that could be writ
ten. Conducted in this manner at first
there will be no danger of it falling to
pieces, and ere long the work of the
society will gradually assume more
perfect and formal shape.
In this connection may be pardon
ed another suggestion, which is to
make all local societies auxiliary to the
State society. The Des Moines Valley
Medical Association has the following
articles in its Bylaws which we com.
mend to the attention of others:
ART. v. Any address, essay or report
made to this Society, may, by vote of
| the members, be referred to the Iowa
State Medical Society, with request
| that they receive it and refer it to the
Committee on Publications.
ART. WI. As we design this Associ-
alton shall be auxiliary to the State So
ciety, each member of this Association
shall pay one dollar annually to the
State Medical Society, except the men,
Der is also member of a County Med
| ical Society, whose members pay one
dollar annually to the State Society ;and
| provided, also, he is not delegate to,
or permanent member of the State So
ciety, and as such pays his dues directly
| to the State Society.
| ART. VII. It shall be the duty of the
Secretary to collect the dues provided
in section six, and transmit them to the
Secretary of the State Society, taking
his receipt therefor.
1t will be seen that when generally
adopted this will provide an ample
fund for the yearly publication of the
transactions. Thoroughly organized
as our constitution cOntemplates we
will understand cur needs, and be able
to make our requests for such legisla.
ton as may be deemed proper with
such unanimity as will not fail of res.
pectful hearing.
Such q willingness was manifested
last winter in so amending the law in
relation 10 testimony of experts as to
provide for compensation over and
above that of the ordinary Witness
The amendment reads as follows:
Witnesses called to testify to an
opinion only, founded on special study
or experience, in any branch of science
or TO make any scientific or profess
ional examination, aud state the result:
thereof, shall receive additional com