Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-06


The American Medical association convened in its
annual session this morning at the Congregational
church The delegates arrived in such numbers
this morning that previous to the hour OF meeting
the vestibule OF the church and the entrances were
crowded with long lines of members waiting to be
registered. Over five hundred delegates had regis
tered this morning, and new names were constantly
added to the list during the day. Inside the church
the delegates were scattered about In groups In
the galleries were seated large number OF persons
VINO were interested spectators OF the proceedings
The members OF the Washington committee, distin-
gulshed by the blue ribbon on the lappels or their
coats, were buSily engaged in answering inquiries
and IN completing the arrangements for the meet
Ing or the sections. Upon the platform was the
reading desk, and to the right were the tables for
M ane use OF the secretaries single mass OF flow
ers, with the letters A. NJ. A. upon white back
ground, rested upon the desk and gave the only
touch OF color to the scene.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
At 10:45 the president OF the association, DR..
Austin Flint, OF New York, preceded by DR.. A. Y.
P. Garnett, the chairman OF the Washington COM
and their appearance was greeted with a round OF
applause by the delegates. Seat on the plat
form were Dr: r. Kinloek, Charleston, s. c., first
vice president; DR.. A L. Gihon Z. S. N. third vice
president; DR.: W. B. Atkinson, Philadelphia, per
rector OF St Johns church, this city. DR. Garnett
called the association to Order and asked Rev. MI.
Leonard to oher prayer. The reverend gentle
prayer, which the members OF the association
repeated With him. DR.. Garnett then introduced
the president OF the association, Dr. Austin Flint,
ana In response to the hearty applause, DR.. Flint
bowed his thanks
DR.. Garnett's Address Of Welcome.
Dr. A. Y. p. Garnett, chairman OF the COM
mittee OF arrangements, in welcoming men,
bers OF the association, spoke of Washing
ton place OF eminent and renowned
gatherings, where the supreme interests OF
the whole country are studied and discussed by
It's largest tntelectS in order to the discovery and
enforcement OF those political and constitutional
laws which shall best establish and maintain the
Well.being of the Republic. 1t was, he thought,
ft place for the meetings of this body, for laws
devised by human wisdom could be more important
TO humanity than those laws OF life upon which
rests the "SalAS pOpat." He referred also to the
peculiar advantage possessed by this body, which
is not affected by sectional interests by party
ambitions. They had no constituencies to whom
they were responsible. They moved In higher
plane. and were answerable alone to the die
could not be patented for Individual use, or con-
yerted into practical profit by huge monopolies-
He alluded eloquently to the mission, the duties
and responsibilities OF the physician and to his sin
gular experience. What, he asked, In comparison
to such experience, was the knowledge OF human
nature acquired in the confidential council chamber
OF the lawyer, or learned in the secrecy OF the
fessonal, even when remorSe wringS truth from the
penitent? Their daily experience forced them to
ItCOSnlLe Win uunlllty InaU beyond al tnelr
knowledge there were experiences they could not
understand, laws they could not explain or regu-
late and powers and influences they could not con-
troll, and should they not, he asked, be taught by
the mental, moral and physical relations which
these experiences brought before them, an abiding
faith In the wisdom OF that Being who has made
the ministry Of pain and death part OF His divine
administration in nature and in natures order Of
animate life? He referred to the value and import
ance OF these periodical gatherings and the useful
results which have thus far followed the successful
administration OF the grand organization
PREDICTION OF wAsHINGTNNs FUTURE GRANDEUR
"1n welcoming you, then, gentlemen, to this beau
ttful metropolis" said Dr. Garnett 81 hope shall
be pardoned for the Indulgence Of that natural pride
which prompts me to predict that at no very dis
tant day, to the many physical beauties and natu-
raj advantages which she at present possesses and
which assure her future grandeur, splendor and
power, there will be added the Sublimest achieve
ments OF Intellectual effort the wonderful evolu-
tions and demonstrations OF professional science,
the highest conceptions and skillful executions OF
perfected art, representing all the nations or the
earth, and cOnsplring TO make Washington the CEN
ter Of those educational and Intellectual move
m ments, d which; In their Development, exercise
character and In shaping the destiny OF our
people"
The hearty words OF welcome uttered by DR..
Garnett ELECTED an enthusiastic response from the
association The report of the executive COM
mttee was read by Dr. Garnett which gave an
account OF the arrangements that had been made
for the reception and entertainment OF the dele
gates and the rates OF railroad tickets to returning
delegates
Letters received from A. Peirce Gould. F. R.CS
OF London, and other distinguished surgeons and
physicians OF Europe, to whom Invitations had
been sent to attend this meeting, were ordered to
be printed In the minutes
Invitations from the surgeon general of the navy
to visit the museum Of hygiene and from DIR. God
ding, the superintendent OF the government in
sane asylum, were read.
FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY MEMBERS PRESENT
The list which was read by the secretary showed
the presence OF $50 members, but additional dele
gates will come In to-day and tomorrow.
DR.. j. H. Trumbull. OF Ohio; DR.. j. A. Marshall OF
massachusetts,; DR.. Garlick, Racine, Wis, and all
the members OF the Medical Society OF the District
OF Columbia were made members OF the aSSo-
citation by invitation.
President Flint's Annual Address.
Mr.. Flint then began his annual address. from
personal recolectionS he could speak OF the enthu-
siam which characterized the first convention in
1S47. The motive for organizing the association was
stated In the call to be the improvement
in medical instruction and the advancement
OF the standard OF medical requirements Its growth
and development have been rapid. 1t has passed
dition is sufficiently attested by the present meet
ing The speaker then spoke OF the advance which
was constantly being made in medical knowledge.
He thought that the time devoted In colleges to
Greek and Latin might more prof1tably be devoted
10 the study OF physics, chemistry, French and
German The members Of the in
cial position is higher in no country sweeping
charges against the profession at large and at the
medical schools by members OF the profession are
harmful, as well as unjust The evil doing OF few
schools ought not to be made the basis OF an attack
upon al The overcrowding Of the profession by
new aspirants Is attributed TO the excessive num-
Der OF medical colleges: and granting that this is
true, the profession must rely upon itself correct
such an evil by refusing to accept such students
and by declining to sanction doubtful institutions
The speaker suggested that committee on edu-
schools and colleges in order to secure uniformity
in the standard OF requirements for matrlculat1on
and graduation 1t had also been suggested that the
title OF NJ. d. be made simply honorary, and that
1t should not ent1tle person TO practice.
The speaker reverted to the excellence OF the
citation, and which was still IN force. He would
suggest that a resolution be adopted specifying
with more precision the grounds for refusing CO
operation with Irregular practitioners. He thought
that the assuming OF some Sectar1an name ought
to place the practitioner out OF the pale OF the med
1cal code, and this sentiment was applauded by
the listeners.
ADVANTAGES OF MEETING IN WASHINGTON.
In concluding, the president paid a tribute to the
service OF Dr.. S. d. Gross, Of Philadelphia, an ex-
president Of the association, who was detained
from the annual meeting by sickness He then re-
verted to the advantages offered by the meeting ar
the capital city, and spoke OF the medical library
at the Army and Medical museum as the largest
exclusively medical library In the country. He ex-
pressed the hope that Congress would soon provide
permanent building for the reception OF these
books.
ON NOTION OF DIR. TONER,
the presidents address was ordered to be printed
Dr. Toner offered resolution Of sympathy with
Dr. Gross, but accepted an amendment that the
NOR 0ff fho