New-York tribune., 1879-02-06
pREs1nrNr ROOsNs ADDEESS.


Ike England or France, or Germany, is sehsloy III
nv those conditions OF age and nXty and is IL
certain established relations to the state, which make
unneces sry many OF the discussions into when We ae
constantly drifting. The ordinary and eHtraoIoih"D
necessities Of government have left htie ule ioi
such minor matters the determination OF INC ieiao
4oof class ,yhic The state has practically Gccareu
10 have no formal connection with the governing
powers The process Of arrangement f. however no"
ouc on For the next hundred years the people oi the
United states will devote mach time, not only t' 'no
refinement of Their material condition, 10 lhcr h'A"
vavs and hedges their field and lawns hut also 10 "o
relations of tho various guilds INTO which the people are
divided to the state 20 which all give allegiance Nay
then beg your attention to consideration IN ooune
of m, relations O: the medical profession TO the sAte
Iuiii consider the relations Of the medical profession 10
the state under the following heads
I-As Witnesses 10 oid IN the detection Of crime, OF
the breaking UP Of nuisanccs.
u-As defendants IN suits for malpractice.
UI-As educators Of the physicians OF the future.
IV-Ae managers Of institutions f0r the care OF the
sick and injured.
V-Aspro;cctors Of the community from quecscry.
VI-As sanitary advisers to the Commonwealth
1t is probable TINT the singular contradictions OF
come of our medical experts have excited tho wonder o
lavmcn and a sense Of shame in medical men, Tn" laiy
have sometimes asked - there ere really 10 fixed rules
FOR the determination the existence Of metallic poi
eous IN the human body II there is no evidence Of in
sanity that may be clearly shown 10 iury y thcre j
no standard as TO what Is perfect cure for fracture
and 1T be not possible for the physicians of NeW-rcIh
10 agree as 10 whether the noise from an elevated lai
WAY iliuy 70 the nervous system We know, ana
all intelligent layucH know, that there must always he
different shades Of opinion upon the same sugect III
science unsettled and progressive ~ our OWN bu'
nobody yet knows why IS that experts can always Uo
found who honestly adopt precisely contrary opinions
The system IN our law that allows able and Jealous
nd "a
have made honest parts3ns Of them, Is certainly VI
C0us. TIE State hould summon, He SlAie sAVdiu ~
eNpcys and they should act as associate ndEts 10 "a
thc real Judge getting the truth before IN" jury Inc
plainuff and defendant ehoNid uud0uuedy nave the
T1h o' uniting their case before the ii. dica experts
and exercise cho'ce IN selecting them hut the medical
man should receive his honoraIlum from me 'ate ana
never be put IN the position, as an expert OF helne
witness for ono side. Ihen the physician surgeon or
thclnlst "oui go upon 'n. ob 90 M f;bo1t fesT
ana without the idea OF favor
As Defendants IN sUIIs FOR MALPRACTICE.
Iisamatter Of modification that there should be any
necessity for such relation the profession Of medi
ripc 10 The State as this But physicians are unfortd-
hatey not exempt from the fratcs and faults OF hu-
naDty and they must expect To at the bar of
Justice for any crimes they may commit lfrahky ad-
nit however In the outset that we ourselves are IN
measure TO blanc FOR tho tone OF expression about tho
work OF physician which somewhat prevalent among
the people.
1t has often panied many Of u.s. I am sure
10 hear a medical practitioner boast, even In
The presence OF laymen, OF cures that be had
made when another man, his peer, had mundeTed'
10 lightly accuse man Of being II liar OF tAIei Is
tt.u considered disgrace society in our land
but doctor j, imputed with malpractice IN as free and
Pa,y manner o. the most tIifm peccajo Is charged
NUOa servant. But We, a. pot ts>luIt eHuulu hIst
clear ourselves from any completely in TINS Blud Vi ue
fraction before we ugr upon those who lightly handy
rharges against medical mon Icach 0I MS ""hIu ClyI
NOW disbelief IN the charge Of malpractice which Is
80 frequently brought u him 10y patient who j. ubOnt
served IL society in l.Id the services Of medical
men could bc change {" one oI lcSlecI , ,o =,
There is need for u lcmcdy Tor so;Nc 9t
mlsct,cr ,Is on" Of the States Of our country
which Away the van In any progressive political
on social movement, las already parsed Ia" "hich
does away With The system OF coron"r liiics !, now
obtains ia New-YorS. By ths new Law OF sias-acli
tCte the Office OF coroner Is aboahcJ Ia !s stead IS
80 TIE causes OF ended IS there auy calling upon
the civil power, "mcI ttch tIHeai' IL nr,e's4IE' IN
fhc iolm Of the dNtc'-alloFnty ana luIucc, III VI
state the coroner may not bc even physlcan ana nc
may be very gn"rtnt man, WINS Inc InH
usually obtained IN thc easiest way PSsI"t' nncl w
remember that serious medical questions are very often
nerhaus even the lfc OF physicaIHe do not wonder
,SS 1SSS' bad |"e s,s,eS stem To- ' which SeyYok sill cns,
Medical men, suspected or accused OF negligence OF
examination Of their case 10y those VINO nave none %!
knowledge necessary for th' o snch an IT,
snail ht by careful judgment OF our rtrl- a Hght
mat should never he denied To ono OF AngloSaAon
"od one of orr remedies for nujust attacks upon the
fahfnlnCs- aui sk " medical men must he found II
.ucb an cirvatc tone professional sentiment Will
prevent ~ from Initiating tue vlcS o! bide. that are
tsid 10 foul their own ncsts.
As rprCATORs OF InE PHYSICIANS or IHE!LIrRE.
Although from tne very early history II the county
tho community hus taken az active interest in eduCa-
,on mud even in special cddcatiOu--;hat OF ministers,
LAWYERS ana tcachers-,carcey anything has been done
FOR the instruction OF medical student, except ny the
individual efor, Of tie who elected themselves 10
he professors iu the medical colleges which they founded
In the state OF NcvYoiL al carly date there Wa an
nitempt al medical college winch snould be Il depart
luet Of Kings College, now Columbia. IN tins the
European idea Of responsibility Of the faculty TO II
eeuatus AcademIcnS was feature; but this state OF
things did not continue, and 10 day not one o. the Iced
IugmcIct colleges OF the state u anything more taA
Il rfst-class educational establishment, owned ana
rlAeucsly controlled ia pu it, details OF financial man
pgelueut md aplhntnout of pIofessors, Icy a body
usually OF seven men Ih"y are at me ranc 'mc PFC
prci0- and teachers. All tha' The state mas Z" 90 YIN
these colleges D., {" prcScnue 'hai s'udth'S In theiu
hRll study three yeut that they sha.i DC t"ehH he
gears oi when t'.y e,hdlste ht Whl'n l;me lnt!
III true that III 0t these colleges thore II u1T
rOEnecuvn with ro-ct 'd uhlNtietics p ht WI" H,lhS
intOus soOn nuGs that they HRyc actual contempt
Tor the dca That II 4, any yaT % NE d.i\ 2 l9ai ol
scoulrenen- OF he men whose diplomas tley -lTn
Ing Itis greatly 70 the crcdt Of the medical colleges
wins tate that they have main taiurd medical teach
Inv at a hPh standard. spite Of such system ana
ouch on Indifference and losuiiy as lave been deAAe
In a ccuntry where there are sects, and dangerous
.ccs In cdicine where men who are ignorant or snh
ANY and vhy geology laed pnys"i1us The WofE
OF az c1 siniu!nE boli appointed J." Potcs "u.hVI{
NTould be a farce Whatever may DO proper IO Lhfahd
and GeruaIv the United S;ac- 9ro moi YET IraCl ioT
nn alliance Of medi ,ac wi'E tie rietc H'Ae 90 ne
icVe jh.- ety other sOcri cd1 success
FULLY uudeI AXE the supervision ~ the medical colleges
members or IhIs society tell ~ ~ iht iI
urc. OF the of .usOIs and know nov The last
IA IN regard examinations by county societies has
snccrrded simply IN egalIug every KIND OF nominal
physician Bnt observe what hhs been done hy tho
lrfsideut Of Harvard (niNeIslN. WIN tith ahii'y
md far xhtcdUees he has brought It's medical school
int cOse Gnc responsible relations 10 hs bOud Of uus
tees u, part his hcmC OF raising college tO tho
dignity of university. lie has taLtn II out from its