Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-02
THE MEDICAL SocLErY.
Its Regular Monthly Meeting Last
Night-ImPortant Papers Read and
Interesting Cases Reported.

NaSnFllle Medical Society was held at s
O'Clock last night, in the Office ofihe
Board Of. Health. The following were
present: DIS. Eve, McAllister, Blitz, May
field, Morton, Winsett, Draughan, Hag-
gard, Saudek, .Menees, Hughes and Mad
din.
DR.. Morton was called 10 the chair, the
President, DR.. Lindsey, being absent. DR..
Morton nominated DR.. A. Il. CullOm for
membership. In accordance with the
rules of the society, action on the nomina-
ton cannot be taken till the next meet
ing.
Or. Mcdonnell, the essayist Of the even
ing, being absent on account of sickness in
his family, sent in his excuse, and was
granted further time for the production Of
his paper.
DR.. Eve reported a case of sclerosis with
eburnation, or eEOstOma Of the numerous
death in the attempt 70 amputate above
the shOulder-jOint, from hemmorrhage.
The Doctor gave a full history Of the case,
going very freely into the minute details
of the operation, showing clearly that the
patient could not have been resuscitated.
It was the first case Of the kind that ever
came under his notice during practice of
forty-eight years. The paper was referred
10 the Society for publication.
DR.. J. Saudek then, by request, read .
valuable paper on THE Relative Position
Of the General Practitioner and Tire Spe-
cialist."
DIR. sAUDEK's PAPER.
Gentlemen: Permit me to give the res
buttons IS passed 10y the American Medi-
cal Association in June, 1874:
Resolved, that this Association recog-
Mics specialties as proper and legitimate
fields Of practice.
Resolved, that specialists shall be gov
erned by the same rules of professional
etiquette as have been laid down for the
general practitioner.
The above resolutions as passed by the
American Medical Association, recognize
the right of 4 physician, educated in the
various branches OF his profession, who has
been hOnoTably sailing under the prOtec-
ton Of the medical flag, and has adhered
| strictly TO professional courtesy and ETH
quette to become a specialist: Which
means he is now at liberty TO pursue, in
vestigate and base his practice on one or
more special organs, or to treat diseases by
some special therapeutical agent, imposing
on himself the duty to practice the spec
ialty so selected, exclusively. Now, sine
the shaclIles have at last been removed, and
physicians can enter untrammeled the pur-
suit and culture Of special field; since the
doctor on this continent can direct his in
tuitive intellect, and inventive faculties in
the pursuit Of branch guided by his incli-
nation, taste C.s.p:her circumstances; since
he is allowed - enter field the cultivation
Of which is congenial to his searching
mind, and adapted TO his special inventive
powers, we have cause to congratulate our
selves, that the dawning Of a new era for
the advancement and progress of medical
science is at hand.
This revolution in the American medical
field means progress. Division OF labor
that has accomplished 50 much in all 9TH
er sciences and arts, must give no less favor
bic results in the medical field. Physicians
endowed with investigative minds will
select some part of the wonderful machinery
OF man, devote their time, apply their intel
lect TO the study, and research of its struc-
ture, sts chemical compound, its physiOlOgi-
cal uses, its pathological alterations, and
tathOm TO the very vitality Of the physical
and mental essence Of natures besg, and
most complicated product, man. Do not
look down with disdain on the specialist,
and endeayOT to check his progress. Though
some temporary confusion may follow the
certain divergence from the old beaten
track, yet the OblIteratiOn of this track may
lead us into newly trOdden trails, coming
unerringly from the whole circumference of
the professional circle, concentrating in the
great center Of the empire Of medical
science.
Place no stumbling block to check the
advancement OF specialists; cheer and en-
courage them in their field Of operation.
Be not arrogant toward him whose only
tTansgreSsiOn is selfabnegatiOn and devO-
ton TO the altar Of science; whose aim is
the thorough study and investigation Of a
special organ or subject; who, by constant
application and the culture Of one field,
may bring to light extensive and accurate
general principles. By general principles
/ mean nothing more nor less than general
facts-facis based on a minute research Of
the physiological and pathological structure
Of the parts derived from Occular demon
stratiOn with the aid OF the microscope.
Principles, or rather facts, deducted by this
minute and accurate process will place the
science Of medicine on 4 basis on which
ereR doctors could not disagree.
The specialist who, as a sbimisher in
the field Of science, advances boldly with
the determination of bringing his mind
force and intaIlectuaLpOwers TO the combat
Of one single subject, whose aim is the
addition even of one single fact to tie vast
domain of the medical empire, should be
embraced IS one Of the Romans in the field.
The intellectual epidemic is spreading its
scientific infection which, in its expansion.
evolves The obscure point Of learuiHg-hOl5
to learn. Beginning by the cultivation of
s parate fields, il brings to light the sim
pliCity Of its means, the infinite variety Of
its results, and, 10y gradual, separate and
progress, may ultimately embrace
the totally Of the scientific empire.
Reason, experience, and universal obSer-
walton approve division of labor as the great
basis OF progress in all thesciences and arts.
And this reformation in the medical field
was actually demanded in this continent,
the home Of the genius Of invention, from
the wooden nutmeg to the great Atlantic
cable. If success has crowned every other
science and art, where man was encOurag-
ed, assisted. and spurred on in the pursuit
of a single branch that he iutuitively pre-
ferTed, that his mind's-eye seemed % take
in at a glance, and the labor thereof seemed |
to be adapted to bis mental faCulties-lnay
We not reasonably expect similar benef. ial |
results, by cordially assisting The specialist |
in the science Of medicine? This growing |
Of our intelligent physicians to |
adopt the culture Of unit i'm the medical |
field, will ultimately bring that compound |
body, man, physically, mentally, whether |
normal or abnormal inthe grasp Of medical |
science, and the labor and researches so ex-
pended, will bring our minds out Of the old |
mode Of studying, theOTizing, practicing
and thinking all around a circle, and /
guide ms forward unialteringly to the very
center, to realize our progressive aim. We
will advance first singly, but unerriugly,
hen in groups but unanimously, and |
inally, as a whole, but fra'ernally, aud by
his slow but sure progress the domain Of
he medical empire will be ruled by
ceptre carved out Of the aggregate intellect
If medical men. The surgeon, who, in
ormer DAYS. had been tlWated in his pro
,ressive and scientific movements, who
lnder the old orthodox physician was only
reated as a professional servant, perform
No surgical and other mental operations by
rider. and under directions Of the exalted
,hysician, who alone had the privilege of |
Tescribing, judging, and directing when