Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-07

4
fair and remunerative schedule of fees, and
adhere to them with uniformity; preserve
inviolate the strict rules of the code OF
ethics, and spurn, with all your influence, the
tricks Of trade, resorted to by some men to
obtain a cheney. BY this method you
will not only obtain your Just rights and
reap the fruits of your labor, but you will
uphold the dignity of your profession and
disabuse the the public Of many absurd
notions and preiudices. You will agree
with me that such a consummation can
only be attained by united action in the
county societies."
Having thus, as fully as our limits allow,
dwelt upon the shortcomings Of our pres
ent State organization, and also upon some
of the grand arguments for earnest, eff
cient associated effort by the entire profess
sion Of Tennessee, we come now to the
most difficult part Of the task assigned US
last April, TO wit: "To report, at the next
annual meeting, such amendments and by
laws as may tend to make this body in fact,
as well as in name, the representative of a
great State"
At the outset, one grand obstacle staTes
us in the face, which from the very origin
| Of the State has ever been in the way of
| harmonious and united action in every
| field Of effort. We refer to the peculiar
| geographical and Typographical character
/ Of Tennessee, very unlike that Of any other
| one in the great family Of States. 1t is in
| deed unique. So long and so narrow that it
may without a figure be called the ribbon
shaped state. 1t is four hundred and thirty
| two miles long, by one hundred and nine
I miles wide; and this strip sharply subdi-
| Vlded by great mountain and river lines
into three compartments. Hence our
| great ecclesiastical bodies have nearly all
either not attempted or else given up the
attempt to operate within cur State lines.
Middle Tennessee and North Alabama are
grouped together, as also West Tennessee
and North Mississippi, with perhaps Ar
kansas, and East Tennessee and North
Georgia, or Southwest Virginia. Some
times portions of Kentucky are included in
these variable and varying church lines.
Even railroads have not done away with
this difficulty. Relatively it is now worse
than ever. From Lebanon to MurfreesbCrO
is about thirty miles across; but
the actual way is sixty miles by
railroad. Numerous similar exam
pies will occur at once to every Ten
nesSeean. Our State sadly needs cross
lines. Twenty-Five dollars for a round
trip between Knoxville and Nashville, and
even more for such a trip between Nash
vile and Memphis is practical embargo.
For years this embargo will continue.
We need not wonder, therefore, that our
Society has never yet been even a Middle
Tennessee body; for physicians through
out the United States have been very
slow to organize, and here VS. have had
an almost insurmountable difficulty in our
way. 1t seems To us that in one way only
can We overcome this obstacle and make
the society State IN fact as well as in name;
that is, to amend our constitution and make |
il Ti4dly a delegated body, and at the same
time compel it 70 migrate from division to |
division of the State. Your committee is |
well aware that at different times the con-
stitUtiOn has been amended so as to con- !
template this end, and that it has been |
amended back again. And right here has /
been our misfortune. We have lacked a /
persistent and consistent aim. Sometimes |
we have been a convention, at others q con ]
gress; sometimes we have resolved to mi /
crate and arouse the whole State, and at 1
others We 1ave sat down at MurfreesbOrO /
or at Nashville until our vitality depended 1
upon the zeal Of an individual or two. /
Sometimes we have sent out q splendid 1
prize essay or a fair pamphlet of trausac-
tiOns, and then for years hid our light in /
the effulgence Of a medical journal. If We 1
wish to live, thrive, and do a work like the /
famous medical societies Of America, We
must even put our shoulders to the wheels,
like our brethren Of Pennsylvania and AL
ALBANIA. We must organize auxiliaries;
We must meet in all the principal
cities ard towns Of our beau
tifUl, heaven-gifled, and man-wOrTied
State. And we must annually send forth
our transactions in style worthy our title
and the consideration hitherto accorded Us
by our brethren throughout America.
an conclusion your committee submit
herewith a Constitution, which looks TO
the accomplishment Of these great ends.
This has been deemed q more convenient
mode of carrying ont your instructions,
rather than that Of cutting into pieces and
amending fragments Of the existing Con
StitutiOn, with which none Of you are per
haps al all familiar"
The report Of the committee was adopt
ed, and the Constitution recommended by |
them, received and fled for future action,
and the society then took recess until 2:3O |
p. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
The society met at 2:30 p. N.
FINANCIAL.
The Treasurer presented a report show
ing that the finances Of the society are in /
a very satisfactory condition, the expendi-
lures Of the past year being $500 against |
receipts and balance in the treasury last
April Of S213.G0, thus leaving a balance
now in the treasury of S2O4.6O, exclusive
Of the fees and dues paid in yesterday.
ESSAYS AND ESSAYISTS.
The President announced the appoint
meHt of DIS. W. p. Jones, j J. Alternately
and Thos. Lipscomb committee TO select
subjects for essays and essayists. Said es-
says to be read al the next meeting of the
association.
HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY.
DIR. J. b. Lindsley, the Historian of the
Society, was granted further time for the
OF his history Of medicine and
surgery in Tennessee.
TO BE PUBLISHED.
DR.. Alternately Offered a resolution pro
viding for publication in pamphlet form
Of the proceedings Of the society, three
copies Of the same to be sent 10 each men,
Der OF the Society, by the Secretary.
Adopted.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The election Of officers Of the Society
being next in order, DIS. Cheatham and
Van 5. Lindsey were appointed tellers,
and the balloLing resulted in the election Of
.he following named:
President-Dr. J. II. VauDumen, of
Chattanooga.
Vice Presidents-EaSt Tennessee, DR.. p.
d. Simms, Of Chattanooga; Middle Tennes-
see DR.. J. J. Alternately, of Pulaski; West
Tennessee, DR.. P. F. Evans, of Union
City.
Secretary and Treasurer-Dr. J. D.
Plunket, Of Nashville.
Corresponding Secretary-E. NJ. Wight,
IF Chattanooga.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
DR.. J. j. Alternately offered the following: |
'ResOlved, that the chairman, DIR. z.
III. Wight, be requested 10 write carefully
he report of the committee on a State
Board Of Health for the proposed report of
he proceedings Of the Society, and that
he committee be continued" Adopted.
DIR. MURFREE's ADDRESS.
DR.. Paul +. Eve offered the following:
'ResOlved, that the thanks of this AssO-
cI2tion be rendered our retiring President,
DR.. MGItree, for his very interesting ad-
dress delivered this morning, and we re-
quest copy Of the same for publication"
Adopted.
0DISREPUTABLF PRACTICES