The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-01
The West Virginia Medical Soci.
eiy-SuggestiOns in Regard "a
Its Past and Eufure.

The West Virginia Medical Soci.
eiy-Huggesti0nS in Regard 10
Its Past and Future.
From the May number Of the Medical Student
DE- Reeves, Editor.
The Medical Society Of the State Of
West Virginia will meet in this city, At
Weisel Hall, 2 o'clock r. NJ, on Wednes-
day the last day ofMay, and il is greatly
desired that there shall be large gather
ing Of the brethren from all directions Of
the State.
Webelieve It is the purpose OF the Com
mittee ot Arrangements 10 give q well
come which shall do credit 10 the pro.
iession in Wheeling, and thus encourage
the Society to star. out in this Cen
tennial year with the aim OF n higher
level than it has hitherto occupied, and
greater usefulness in all It's exercises.
Like all other human institutions and
experiences, the history Of the society has
not been without lis ups and downs.
Coming into existence soon after the close
OF the war. OF the, rebellion and the
severing OF the "Mother OF States"
by the National Military power,
and having been conceived and brought
forth within the limits OF perfect obedi-
ence to the Federal authority, it was CON-
PEELED to encouter, for that reason, the
disadvantage Of local and bitter political
predjudices, which even to this day, EN-
barrass its progress, notwithstanding the
we'll known fact that the author Of the
Society was u so.called "Rebel sympa-
thizer." gI
A part OF the apathy which still exists
in the southern sections OF the State is
properly chargeable, no doubt, to the lack
OF convenient means Of travel from "cir-
cumierence to the centre" ," or from border
to border, but Notwithstanding these
drawbacks, that the membership Is mex
cusably small, all must admit. Even
along the lines OF steam cOmmunica-
tion, The most populous and llourishing
towns in the State are but feebly repre-
sented. For example: starting out
from Wheeling, which has II mem.
bers, there are 4 at Grafton, A at
Clarksbnrg, Z at Parkersburg, 8 at Point
Pleasant, at Huntingdon at Charles.
ton, 0 nj Piedmont, Eat Martinsburg, 0 at
IIarper's Ferry, l at Charlestown; and nil
in all there are but 120 members-a
number that does not embrace one-hall
OF the intelligent physicians in the State.
Besides the adverse influences above
mentioned, it may have been the case that
the proceedings OF the society have not
always been. oi such a character as to COM
bat and correct the prejudices which
have, without Just foundation, been di-
rected against il; that personal motives
preferences and dislikes-havc, now and
then, been permitted to control its action
anil thus oppose the very objects for
which it was created, namely--"thc cult.
walton OF medical knowledge; elevation Of
professional character; the protection Of
The interests OF It's members, and the pro.
motion OF social intercourse among the
medical men OF tho State;" that events
published transactions have not always
been put TO legitimate and, honorable
uses: admit all these and many other
mistakes which may possibly have, been
made by some of the ruling powers, still
the society is worthy OF The hearty good
will and very best energies Of every reg
ular physician in the State. The best
way 10 improve the society is that the
best men in the State should govern il;
and in order to govern it, they must al
tend its meetings.
There are some badly needed reforms
which we hope to sec inaugurated at the
next meeting. The most important Of
these concerns the publication Of the
transactions. Just how much little innO-
cent fattcry has cost the society's exche-
quer, and damaged its good name both at
home and abroad, it would be impossible
10 tell. We allndc to the motion tOpubiiSh
any and everything read before the 80
ciely. The fitness and selection Of papers
for publication is matter which should
be left entirely 10 the Committee on Pub.
LEGATION, and heyshould make 1t matter
OF conscience in every instance.
The responsibility OF appointing this |
committee belongs entirely TO the Prcsi.
dent, and certainly he has not more
difficult task to perform. In filling ii,
the choice should depend wholly upon
professional and literary fitness. Every
sensible man ia no: qualified to prepare
copy for the compositor, TO read proc,
etc. Neither has he that keen critical
PERCEPTION which enables him to read
rapidly and mark inaccuracies; or, il
competent to do the work, he may not be |
willing to exercise his skill in the. up.
pleasant duty Of striking out the unnecea.
sary verbiagewhich bedizens the majority |
Of such papers. And il authors are not
willing 10 submit their productions to
such test, they should seek their level in
4 medical journal where they will find
larger reading than is usually given to
volumes OF State transactions. . i
In tproof OF the justice OF these re-
marks We offer the last volume Of
Transactions. Phe few really valuable
papers which it contains are 80 outraged
by bad proof.reading that their interest, ia |
almost entirely destroyed. Besides. the
volume could have been made smaller by
at least one.half without injustice or dis
credit to anybody, and much to the re.
lief Of the Treasury which had to meet
an order for 5000 to pay the printer. II
authors had to pay out Of their own pock.
eta for tho printing OF their papers, what
little gems OF Transactions We should
hayel .-ts I.. s.ti
1t is not necessary to publish volume
every year, whether there is anything TO
publish or not, A good paper will not
spoil by keeping for year or two-poor
ones never do keep, and in that way they
could be easily gotten rid otby the Com
mittce on Publication.
Finally, whenever 1t is deemed advisa.
BILE TO publish volume, because Of
the accumulation OF sufficient number
OF valuable papers, the society should
even then protect itself by an accompany
ing resolution declaring that "Thc Medi.
cal Society OF the State Of West Virginia,
although formally accepting aud publish.
ing the within papers read at---,holds it,
self wholly irresponsible for the opinions
theoriesor criticisms therein contained"