Daily globe., 1883-06-06
THE MEDICS.
Convention OF the National Medical Asso-
citation st Cleveland - Interesting Ad-
dress by the President.

Convention of the National Medical Asso-
citation ut Cleveland - Interesting Ad-
dress by the President.
CLEVELAND, o., June 5.-The thirty
fourth annual meeting of the American
hall, about thousand distinguished ply
sicians from all parts of the country at
tending. General Ed. S. Meyer delivered
an eloquent address of welcome. The
programme of the session including enter
tainments was read and DR.. Jno. L. Atlee,
of Pennsylvania, delivered the annual ad-
dress consisting largely of "reminiscences
of early medical life, having graduated
sixty y-three years ago. In his speech he
said: We meet here to engage earnestly
in furthering the interests and object
of medical progression; We come
together from all parts of the broad
country, charged with these great respon-
sibilities. 1t is fitting to express here deep
regret at the absence from our councils of
delegates from the Medical society of the
state of New York. Let US hope this alb
sence may be only temporary, and at the
next meeting every state may be repre-
sented. Let me impress upon the mind of
every member of the profession the ne
cessity of strict and undivided attention
to the duties of his high calling. When
you undertake the case of a patient your
whole duty belongs to him. An inter
mission of q single visit on your
part may be the sacrifice of
the life of your pa'ient. Above all
things ever strive to maintain the honor
and dignity of the profession. Let no
selfish or mercenarY consideration deter
you from serving the laws laid down in
our noble code of medical ethics. Guilt
vate friendly relations with your local
medical brethren, most particularly the
younger, and regulate your Intercourse
with all men in such way as to cast no
stain upon the honor of the profession
which is in your keeping. In my day,
previous to the establishment of medical
societies, I have seen many disastrous
effects from the want of brotheriy consid-
Grafton and kindness. The medical men
of that day were often in dificultie; 5.
Patients would be taken from one ply
sician to another without ceremony,
and so great was the jealousy that for
more than twenty years after my gradua-
tiOn it was impossible for medical socie-
!.
Instead of being taken by the hand by old
er physicians every obstacle was thrown in
my path. Consultations were refused. The
treatment of my patients was unfavorably
criticised. BY the establishment of medi-
cal societies and the adoption Of code of
ethics wonderful change has been effect
ed. We Row feel it our
duty to sustain our Younger
brethren, treat them with courtesy
and kindness, save them from their errors,
and encourage them in all their good work.
Had the adoption of the Code of Ethics
no other result, it would have been an in
valuable blessing to the profession, but it
has accomplished more. It has put the
seal of condemnation upon all ''is1ns' and
developed an esprit de corps thai has en-
larged the boundaries of our scieuce and
greatly increased the usefulness and social
standing of the profession. At the close of
long life, one devoted unreservedly to
the study aud practice of medicine, l will
say that Notwithstanding it's
uncertainties, its fatigues, its anxieties, its
bitter disappointments, am satisfied that
in no other career can a man more fully
accomplish his whole duty to God and his
fellow men, so that when life here is end
ed it can be truly said of him, as was said
of him whom we should initiate ''He went
about doing good"
The afternoon was devoted to the con-
sideration of medical and surgical topics.
The members divided into seven sections,
meeting in different halls for the specific
work.