The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-11
SESSION.
Address by the President, DIR. S. Z.
Munford, of Princeton.

hlN <AuuIC5S ~ LuC sAuC DIs . H.
Munford, of Princeton.
The meeting was called to order, in the alb
sence of Vice-president DIR. w. Shultz, of Leba-
non, by DR.. 7. B. Harvey, of this city. The
secretary delivered to the society an invitation
from DR.. W. B. Fletcher, superintendent of the
Hospital for the Insane, to visit that institution,
and a like invitation from Superintendent
Wishard to visit the City Hospital.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
The president. DR.. S. e. Muntord, of Prince
ton, then delivered his annual address, his sub
ject being "a Question in State Medicine" He
said he was not here to indulge in pessimistic
views as to the intellectual and literary status
of the medical profession. Upon the basis of
achievements, medicine need not hide its face
when comparison is made with the other learned
professions. From Pliny to Moliere, and to a
later era, there have been those to rail at and
caricature medicine because of its feeble sci
ence and impotent art. But the science Of med
icine and the art of healing are no longer viewed
as traditional vagaries. They are eminently
respectable in this age. Ignorance and incom-
potency make no such conquests. Physi-
clans, as a rule, have a close fellowship with the
learned in all departments and enjoy, in marked
degree, the favor of society. Though we now
and then engage in a little just self-laudation
we cannot close our eyes to the fact that igno-
rance is clothed by that ample American degree.
doctor of medicine, and that the entire body
suffers a reproach therefrom which in a great
measure compromises its respectability and
hinders its usefulness.
But so long as the credulous and easily gulled
characteristics of human society maintain their
present standard the ignorant doctor will rot
perish from the earth. His standing alG N1par-
ent success, like that of all ignorant adherents of
medicine and of all the disciples of nonsense,
rest upon the intrinsic tendency to recovery from
acute disease-upon the healing power
of nature. His cases of pneumo-
mia, of typhoid fever and scarlatina,
we must acknowledge with confusion of face,
have no notable fatal pre- eminence over like
cases in the hands of his learned neighbors.
This, orather a large elementin society, closes
the question; it is viewed as the experimentum
crucis. His Ignorance of the LESSONS of morbid
anatomy and pathology; his inability to com
prehend the intricate phenomena of disease; to
read Alright the endless reflex symptoms and
trace them to cause; to rise to the demands of
emergencies; torecognize the very beginnings of
contagious diseases and to effect and enforce
measures for the safety of home and community,
are deficiencies which seem not to come within
the range of public vision.
He kicks up a pedantic dust which utterly be-
fogs many who believe themselves learned and
wise. All his functions are shrouded in mystic
ry, and his endless errors are hidden by the
grave. Any effort to check the arrogance of this
character or to expose his ignorance by the de-
cent follower of medicine in his vicinity evokes
the cry Of persecution" and enables him to
pose as a martyr-the coveted opportunity of
every mountebank. The cruelest treatment he
can receive from an individual doctor or from an
association of doctors is to be ignored.
But is he to be forever unhindered by society,"
His congener in law may be disbarred, the teach
er may have his license revoked, the minister of
the gospel is amenable to the church; but the
medical free lance in Indiana is absolutely with
out restraint.
The toga of regular medicine is not always a
garment of righteousness. Some of the most