New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-05
MEETING OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION

WELCOME FROM TIE MEMBERS or THE PROFESSION
AT DETRoIT-ADDRRss OF PRESIDENT TOYHR-A
REVIEW or THE FIELD-PRoGREss OF THE HEAL
ING ART.
lFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE
DETROIT, June 2.-The meetings of the
American Medical Association held in the Detroit
rhester The attendance Is large. DR.. Brode, Chair
man of the Committee of Arrangements. welcomed the
Convention the part OF the medical profession OF
Detroit he alluded TO the meeting which was held
this city in 1856, and enumerated Of the more
prominent losses by death in the Association during the
interval Meanwhile the city had grown from 10000 10
over 100000 inhabitants and had enormously increased
in wealth and prosperity Some statistics OF the
crease gwen and the various public works the
city, including the water supply and effect the
general health, were described in detail. The welcome
was given in the heartiest terms.
The President of the Association. Dr. J. NJ. Toner OF
Washington, delivered the annual address, in accord
ance with the custom OF these meetings. large por-
ton Of the address related past history OF the
society. Among other topics considered in the wide
field covered by DR. Toner the following Of general
interest," In 1870 there $4,000 physicians this
country who paid tax The census OF the same
year gives the total number OF physicians $685. these
figures respectively giving doctor 10 760 and
6ls OF the total population In France and England
there IS only one doctor to 1000 souls the
ton in cities being far greater than in rural districts.
Legislation with regard TO births deaths makes good
progress in most Of the States of the Union. In 1859 the
term of six months In 1872 Harvard University adopted
substantially similar course. which may be regarded
as marked advance in the systems Of medical instruc
ton.
Among the improved instruments employed by the
profession may be mentioned for purposes Of diagnosis
the dynamometer the microscope, the aryngOscOpe the
rhnOscOpe, the ophthamoscope, the stethoscOpe the
pleximeer, the endoscOpe the spectrum, the spymo-
graph the spirOmeter, the Thermometer the aneshes
Ometer, AMI the various appliances OF chemical analY
Sis no respect has the art OF medicine been so much
benefited of recent in the department of dag
70, especial consideration given 10 the pnilc
sophie method Of inquiry winch had led TO the discovery
OF choral hydrae and the new anOdyne croon chlora
hydrate.
LII respect TO excluding irregular and incompetent
practitioners from the profession there is TO
nope t6!s can be accomplished by legislative enact
mentsI such exclusion can only be practically effected
by superior skill and success Of educated physicians
which should leave no place Tor the Work of charatans
A wc-eudowed physiological and pathological labora-
tory Is greatly needed ana shond De estaDhsneu III one
advanced through fortunate discoveries OF the few
original than by centuries OF adherence 10
dominant theories Chartered medical societies should
he compelled by their charters To publish discoveries
brought before them. The appointment by request Oh
Dr. J. p. Cray superintendent OF the New-fork STATE
Lunac ASYLUM Utica, OF special pathOiOglst as MS
assistant III that institution, Is move III the rght drec-
uOn. ,,..-
question of the deslaOty OF INTERNATIONAL Med
ica Congress- and the 70 such an under
taking as the results that might be expected from
it, were considered length The medical officers IN the
army the consideration 70 when the
Association thinks they entitled and tins matter
needs again to be pressed on the consideration OIL Con-
ress The abors of tue profession during the epidemic
OF yellow fever made the subject OF glowing
tribute 10 those who rsked ana those VINO ost ther
lives III endeavOrs STAY the rayages OF the pet
year completed the address, of which the foregoing
is imperfect outline.
Practice OF medicine. Materla Medical ana physiology.
e. Obstetrics and diseases OF women ana chlldfen J
surgery and Anatomy. a. Medical Jurisprudence
chemistry. and psychology. 49, state medicine ana
DuDLc hygiene.