Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-23

Origin, Progress and Present Pros
perity of their Midical and Sur
gical Association.

peflty Oh thtlI MlOlcal anu sur
gical Association.
The old adage that '.in union there
is strength" finds an admirable illustra-
ton ia the mammoth medical and sur
gical institute of the Drs, X. & X.
Oftentimes, however, there is more
than strength in union. Occasionally
we find in il wisdom also, and method,
and possibilities of boundless expansion
which apart from union might never
be attained. All this is true in the
case just noted. We distinctly remem-
Der the tine when suspicion bordering
upon incredulity existed in the minds
Of many of our leading citizens, among
whom might be reckoned not few
members of the medical profession, as
to the outcome of the enterprise. Now
in the same minds suspicion and
incredulity have given place to
implicit faith-given place, not will
ingly, but enviously, reluctantly and
by force of circumstances. The hard
est part of every laudable effort and
enterprise is the starting. At that
point opposition turks. When by real
merit enterprise succeeds, opposition
turns into friendship, opponents into
admirers. OF the medical and surgi-
Cal association we are now writing all
this is the truth In a nutshell. 1t is
hardly surprising, therefore, that when
taking our position at the corner of
Michigan avenue and Griswold street
and seeing the lame, the halt and the
blind constantly pouring in and out of
that institution, we should almost
unconsciously enter upon mental
speculation as to the secret of the un-
paralleled success and popularity of
this medical and surgical association.
The fact is there's no secret about it.
1t is only an additional confirmation
of what may be regarded as genera
law, viz: that in the long run true mer-
1t will always win.
ORGANIZATION, INCoRP oRATIoN
METHODS.
The institution is only four years
old, and the records of the county clerks
Office show that ii was incorporated
June Goth, 1882. The association had
a hard birth, but evidently came into
the world to stay, for neither the oppo-
sition that confronted it at the outset,
much of which emanated from envious
physicians, nor the persecution that
persistently followed it for months had
any effect save to develop its strength
and bring out its latent qualities of
endurance. II an existence of four
years has been sufficient to produce
the growth, prosperity and popularity
already attained, there is no forecast
ing the influence of the association in
the years to come. Evidently the physi-
clans who compose the organization,
in addition 10 being skillful in their
profession, are also business men Of
rare capacity and attainments. AL.
ready they treat patients from Maine
to California. At NO one time have
they less than 1850 under their care.
DR.. Kergan, the head of the associa-
ton, has just returned from Europe,
and though the object of his mission
there is not distinctly known, it is
limited that it had some reference to
the establishment Of transatlantic
branch of the already mammoth organ
ization. The necessity, or at least the
propriety of some such step can hardly
be questioned when it is borne in mind
that in this country, from ocean to
ocean, there is not section of the
continent TO which their enterprise,does
not extend. The association is COM
posed of sixteen physicians and sur
geons, eleven of whom constantly
travel, the other FIVE having permanent
headquarters in this city. These latter
compose the medical or judicial con-
gress that pass upon the treatment of
every case. Difficult cases, or those
abandoned by other physicians form a
goodly portion OF the $500 now under
treatment here and throughout the
country. For example, case is
submitted to the physician travelling
in Florida. He examines it with
special care and sends to head
quarters by mail or telegraph u
detailed account of the exact condition
and symptoms of the patient. The
medical congress here then pass upon
it and prescribe accordingly. The med
icines are then put up in their own
laboratory under their own personal
supervision, transferred to the shipping
department, packed and sent to their
destination. 1t will thus be observed
that every case, however near or re-
mote, comes under the scrutiny of six
physicians and surgeons. Each has his
own deliberately furnished Office. They
are all regular graduates and each has
distinguished himself in some particu-
lar branch of medical or surgical prac-
tice. Clas ification system and bust
ness characterize the institution in
everything. Cities and towns through
out the United States and Canada are
all classified and under any given
place will be found the names
of patients taking treat
ment there. Ailments are classified
and beneath each are the names Of
those afflicted with it who are under
treatment by Drs. Z. & X. Talk Of
doing things Systematically! There Is
not more perfect example of system
TO be found anywhere. Their methods
are perfect. We have seen their es-
Enlistment throughout, their elabor-
ate Offices and operating rooms, their
laboratory, their printing and advertis-
ing departments heir registers and
records, their CREDENTIALS and credits,