The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-21
WEST VIRGINIA MEDICAL SOCIETY
cgnlinued fLan seoond Page.


of the humble dsyout Christian.
What is learning, what 10 professional
skill without the quickening power which
springs from high moral character
ItSllows TO personal advantage, NO eel
fish Indulgence TO constitute the measure
OF right and wrong; and without It th(
physician cannot meet the demands o
his profession, nor safety the just claim
OF those who commit health and lie Z
his care, live desire the elevation Of thu
medical profession; II we lament and dep
recate the evils which environ 1t; II we arr
sincerely anxious to improve the ssPrii d
corps Of the Medical Society Of the state o.
West Virginia, let us begin the work by
rigid cultivation and practice OF those car
dlnal virtues which constitute the ChaTae
ter Of high minded gentleman.
"AbOyo all TO thine ovu self be trus,
And 1t Will iollSW RS the night the day,
Thou eanit not then b. tali0 70 Ruy man."
Medical men may be learned, they may
be 90 good Rs they are great; but without
organization, without unity OF design
and frequent Interchange Of thought, theil
power and influence are greatly dimin
lshed. The truth Of the motto "Vis unto
forlior" Is beautifully exhibited in the
table OF the old man calling his sonI
together, and requiring them TO break
with ease single sticks which, when aggre'
gated, they were poweTless 10 intrGGt. The
same motto 10 illustrated by single grains
OF sand driven by the rain drop, when, II
aggregated, they defy the rushing, mighty
power OF the ocean breakers, The coll Of
ships cable is another example To prove
the meaning and power Of union In the 40
compliahment Of any object, whether
good or evil, When applied TO medical
societies 1t means the aggregation Of the
fruits OF study and experience, and their
dissemination for general improvement,
The beat men In the profession OF oil
the great centres Of population, both
in Europe and America, appreciate the
advantages OF medical societies. To pre-.
pare for their stated meetings they work
faithfully, writing papers, preparing spec.
linens, and thus keep moving the ark Of
the medical covenant for the benefit Of
mankind.
Why are we go indolent2 Why have we
been 10 slothful and manifested such Cul.
pAble disregard OF our assumed obliga.
lions? Every member OF the society Ia un-
deniably responsible, In part, or according
to his opportunities and talents, Tor Ito VI.
tally, growth and usefulness. Thuslet us
revive our energiesj let us 60 buslly 10
work and establish OF once and forever 0
higher standard for our annual volume Of
transactions.
Better a thousand times that We should
only publish the business proceedings Of
the society than 10 send forth common place
matter, to be ridiCuled by those capable Of
Judging the merits oil O scientific and lite.
rSry performance.
This Ia delicate subject, but II 10 my
duty to speak plainly and | must not
shrink from the unpleasant task, however
much some OF you may differ from me in
opinion as to the professional value Of
our annual publications. Instead oil the
hsbitual depletion Of the soCiety's exche.
Quer for such purRe.e, | think II would be
wiser and more profitable In every
way to offer premiums for acceptable
papers. This would encourage original
Investigations, industry among the mem.
bers, and add largely TO the dignity and
honor Of the society.
Under our present rules, every paper
published, whether good or bad, carries
with Il the endorsement OF the society.
live must publish volume every year
without regard to the quality Of matter In
the hands Of the committees let It be dis
tInCtly stated to readers, as Is done by
other State societies, that the society does
not CotnmItilselt to the opinions expressed
by the writer's.
Never In the history Of the society was
there more suspicious time than at pes
emit for turning over o new leaf In our gov.
eminent. After several fruitless attempts
we have atlast secured from the legislature
q law establishing q estate Board Of
Health" and regulating the practice Of
medicine. In every community medical
men are the peculiar guardians oil the
public health, and their obligation Is as
praiseWorthy as disinterested. II 10, In!
deed, remarkable that the same gentleman
who first conceived the necessity Of State
Medical Organization, and prepared the
call for O convention at FAirmont to
establish State society, should also have
been the author OF our State Board Of
Health law, which, when put In opera.
ton, will bring the entire profession Of the
State into close relation and greatly aug.
ment our membership. Gentlemen, for
these two most notable steps Of medical
progress in West Virginia, We are princl'
paliy indebted to our distinguished fell
Dr.. James E. Reeves, whose
energies and selfsacrihCes for legitimate
medicine within our borders will never
be forgotten.
II may reasonably be supposed that the
law 10 not as perfect as It's author could
wish; but II Is the very best that It
was possible 10 secure. Pablo opinion
must frst be educated before we can hope
10 secure from legislators complete santa
~ delenCes In the form Of statute law.
Every year the State expends large sums
Of money to- protect the property Of its
citizens, and Tor the punishment Of crimi-
nal offenders.
II would be interesting 10 present
statement OF the disbursement Of money
Tor The various departments Of the State
government, but the figures are not
at hand. II Is safe, however, TO
BtN IuAb hGNGlAA
dollars are annually appropriated for the
penilen larry, for the care aud education
Of the blind, deaf and dumb; for the In;
sane Asylum, ior public schools, normal
schools, and the State University, while
ioF ihst.education which Herbert Spencer
has shown ID ''most WORTH" namely, that
which tends directly TO preserve lie, the
sum Of one thousand dollars has been con-
dltlonally appropriated!
Ills a wsifknoWn fact 10 every medical
man that but for such preventAble diseases
a. scaElet fever, and diphthetia, the care
Of the blind and the deaf would require
but an insignificant outlay Of money and
no large and expensive establishment
world be necessary for their education.
The came is, 10 q less extent, true oil the
insane, many Of whom, II taken 10 time,
given good sanitary surroundings aud
saved from ordinary attacks Of sickness,
would never have become charges 10 the
State. In other words, the prevention OIL
osjinaYV disaAshR. IA The beat WAy 10 bfe.