The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-19
PHYSICIANS In COUNCIL.
Ninth Annual Convention of the Fri
State Medical Association.
Addresses by the President and Governor
POrter-Papers of Interest Read by
Delegates from All Sections.
THE DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

of which embraces many of the most eminent
physicians in the West, began its ninth annual
meeting in this city at English's Meridian Hall,
yesterday morning. There were about seventy
five members present at the opening of the SEES
sion, and those in attendance represent the
States of illinois, Kentucky OHIO, Missouri and
Indiana. 1t Is expected that many more Will
reach the city in time to be present at the SEES
sion to-day. Sir William McCormac,
eminent English surgeon and physician,
will arrive this morning, and will address the
society this afternoon. He is fellow OF the
Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of
Duolin and London, and is member of the
Senate of the Queens University of Ireland He
is a man of more than ordinary fame in England
as a physician He endeared himself to the
American delegation at the International
Medical Congress at London, of which he was
secretary in 1880, and his visit to the United
States is largely induced by the fellowships
formed on that occasion, as also from the fact
that he was with DR.. Marion Sims
in charge of the American ambulance
corps doing service at Sedan in the Franco-Prus-
sian war. He was made knight of the Legion
of Honor of France and of other orders in diff
ferent countries, and specially commits
stoned by the society of the Red Cross to organ
tzo field hospitals In the Russo-Turkish war. His
advent among the physicians of the Mississippi
Valley is regarded with more than ordinary in
terest his presence at the meeting in this city
to-day will be feature of some Importance.
The meeting began yesterday morning at 10
o'clock. The society was called to order by DR.,
j. Livingston Thompson, Of this city, the chair
man of the committee on programme, after
which DR.. William Porter, OF st. Louis, the pres
ident. took the chair. The address of welcome
kI,, .,;.sks ~I,aSz 49,
livered by Governor Porter, who spoke as fol-
lows:
GOVERNOR PoRTERs ADDRESS.
Gentlemen--Some wise man has said that one
man with a will outnumbers fifty without one.
In chat sense, at least this is large and animal
ing convention,
The salutation of the morning papers has
assured you so well OF the cordially of your
Welcome that further words can hardly
strengthen the assurance. Nevertheless, an
official representative of the State, desire to
!extend to You most cordial greeting YOu
shave your national, your State, yolI county and
syour neighborhood associations This is not
.one of them. This might properly he called
your kinship convention. The inhabitants Of
fbloOd, by similar habits of life and largely
by like conditions affecting health and
NAL ladies' You have come here, thus allied,
to interchange your freshest thought and ohser
walton and so to make what has been the sepa-
rate property of each the cohmon property of
all.
do not believe that any of the professions
Are more progressive than the medical profess
sion An opposite opinion prevails among many
Eho misnterpret some o. your rules, honestly
designed, whatever their effect may be, to sepa-
rate quackery and charlatanism from true med
f1cal progress No profession is more ospitable
to new suggestions and to new aids, and none
ksubtects them to fareT and iuster tests to prove
their efficacy. The great changes which in the last
Internationally years have taken place In medi-
s1cal opinions and practice shows the hospitality
;of your profession toward new discoveries and
new ideas,
In the earlier days, when interchange of
thought was more difficult and far less common,
1.-THE physician studied merely to cure the mala-
dies that surrounded him and his field of vision,
and effort rarely extended to the prevention of
disease and to the removal of the conditions in
(which diseases had their origin. Now, the best
skill and study OF the profession are devoted to
Investigation into the causes from which dis
eases spring and to the removal of the condi-
lions by which they are supported. They seek
often to remove the conditions which MAINTAIN
the disease rather than to attempt to combat it,
II disease s limited TO single dwelling, the
expert physician will explore to find ii some
merely local cause, which may be removed,
has brought it on; it prevails IN a
neighborhood, he will strive to And the more
extended influence which has given it origin; if
1t prevails over widely-extended region, he
viii diligently explore for the sources of the
epidemic. The great sanitary movements, en-
bracing extensive regions of territory, the min
utter ones limited to narrower districts, to Cities
TO Streets to buildings where offensive trades are
carried on, to private dwellings reeeive their
f1mpulse from this spirit OF investigatiOu. 1t is
this that demands that stagnant marshes shall
ing under fervid sun, shall be destroyed: that
offensive odOrs shall cease. 1t is this that wages
u warfare against all uncleanllness which
breeds epidemics. 1t is this that when pesti-
lences which are sweeping over CONT
nents turn their courses to us, strives
TO remove every cause that would give them
sustenance or furnish them anchorage.
Whilst with spirit of Observation-Disclosures and
zeal your profession has so earnestly addressed
/ itself to the work OF promoting health by pre-
venting diseases from taking root or from de-
veloping even into germ, you have been sedu-
lousy seeking, through all the realms OF nature
for new remedies, which, upon full and fair
pertinent, will work restoration. You have been
eager to employ all the resources of science and
every form of mechanical device that can be
made awaiting. Microscopy, which has uncOv-
cred many secret enemies of life that lay in am
bush, has been drawn into service and is achiey-
ing much. The microphone, which,
by magnifying sounds, promises
TO give every organ, muscle and nerve a
voice to Indicate whatever is abnormal, and to
tell It's tale of suffering, has already been EN-
ployed and is full of quiet promise. Other me-
chanical devices, susceptible of great improve.
ment and development and hardly less import
ant. are being made serviceable, aud their posi-
bilites are being watched by you with anxious
eaRerness. You are earnestly testing all and
waiting to avail yourselves of all that seem to
furnish promise. You are not tagging behind,
but you are going abreast with progress.
Why should you not be welcomed here by n
Ststef The progress and glory of a State depend
upon the mental and physical vigor of its citi-
zenS. Health lnVlgOraIes, disease enfeebles
Whoever, in a large way. can prevent
disease. or remove hereditary taints, or show
NOW efoaI cures can De wrought, performs high
service to the State, for which it may well feel
grateful The great ply siciau, in mis- own calling
may perform the service of a patriot, not less
than the warrior and the statesman
ADDRESSES AND LETTERS.
Following the address of the Governor, Dr.
j. l.. Thompson welcomed the members of the
society in few pleasant remarks. He said that in
Indianapolis the grandest object of interest was
the street-car system It's mules, he said dem.
onstrated their superiority motive power to
the horse; its bob-tailed cars were embIematic of
the brevity of human life; the absence of con-
duetors indicated the honesty and orderly boar
ing OF the people, and its fare-boxes were sym.
bols of benevolence.
DR.. G. W. Burton, of Mitchell, Ind, the secre-
farv q ne snnietv snhnni ted q hrlaf nInIIal