Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-28
VIRGINIA DOCTORS.
sEvENrERHrH ANNUAL SESSION OF
THE STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY.
DR.. Nelson Delivers the Annual Grafton
The Presidents Address Election
Of officers.
Reported for the pispatch.I

Virginia State Medical Society convened In
the Opera House here last night at s o'clock.
After the usual addresses OF welcome on
The part Of the citizens and the local pro-
lesion DR.. III. L. Nelson delivered the an
nual Grafton to the pubic and profession.
y crowded house was In attendance, com
Ioscd lirgelv OF the fair daughters OF this
old and historic town.
DIR. Nelson announced his subject to be
1.-THE Fallacies OF Modern Medicine" lie
made the general ststcment that whatever
interested any profession must OF necessity
have the good Of the public at large for its
ultimate object. The leading fall,cy noted
was the American method Of Doctor
making, wherein, Of the thousands
annually graduated from the schools.
a very large proportion are wholly deficient
in mental culture. This mental culture. he
maintained, is necessary for the successful
practice OF medicine; also. that this
lack Of culture Is responsible for the
disrepute into which the profession
Of medicine is falling. A deplorable
fact, but nevertheless true, is that ab0ut
one half Of the graduates OF the various
medical schools OF the country cannot write
a page without egregious errors. ortho-
graphic and syntactical. Reform il needed
in the requirements for graduation by in.
ssting on a better classical education OF
students.
The first address ~ the morning session
to-day was that by the president, DR.. Raw
ley W. Martin, Of Chatham, his subject
being "Praciical Hints on Hygiene"
Hygiene Is no longer an art alone, he said,
but q science; but until a recent period the
profession has been too much engrossed in
finding cures for many diseases which are
now better managed by taking the ounce OF
prereniiOn. The profession everywhere is
now aroused TO the Importance OF preventive
medicine, and greater achievements aret TO be
expected fromtbis department OF the ply
sician's work. The great need OF the day
is the enlightenment of the masses on this
subject. Law makers will not iegislate for
bygioDic purposes until the people dem md
it Of them. lie urgently advised that the
ply sicians teach the people in by.
gienic truths. The hygiene OF the
cXpectant mother must be carefully looked
after if the constitution OF her offspring
would be perfect. The very high rate of
infant mortality is, for the most part, at
tributable to disregard OF these hygienic
laws before and after birth. The physi.
cian should seek TO interest the editor Of
his city or county newspaper, aud invoke
his aid in the direction of educating the
people. Hygiene should be preached from
The pulpit, and IL should also be n plrt OF
the school curriculum.
Passing In review many OF the common
causes OF disease about us, great stress was
laid upon the forces productive OF malarial-
fever, the chief cause OF which is believed
10 be the want of proper drainage OF
our lands. The people should know
that it costs more in money alone
in doctors bills and medicine than
would be needed TO thoroughly re-
move the cause by good drainage. This
matter should be enforced by the county
officers. The destruction OF forests i
always followed 10y increased sickness:
therefore the waste Of timber should be
prohibited by law. Reference was made to
tie futile efforts OF a number OF gentlemen
to oil tam an appropriation for or State
Beard Of Health at the last session OF the
IcaI.ature. This Board clnuot do its
work without money, and every member
q the Society is urged to prevail upon bis
representative 10 do his part in giving tins
Important Board the money asked for.
Artificial feeding was next noticed as
being largely responsible for the great in
FAINT mortality OF the present day. The
failure Of American mothers TO nurse their
offspring is an anomaly to be found in no
other country in the world. The evil is
on the increase, and As enc indication it is
stated that The number Of nursinS-bottles
annually sold in this country reaches nearly
one million fire hundred thousand, aud
that there are about thirty different kinds
Of "infant food" on the market.
A great mistake Is made in raising our
Girls as "housc. plants" They need the
same outdoor exercise prIcticed by The
bows il they would be healthy and strong.
Referring to the increase OF insanity, the
speaker believed that it is largely due to
the violations Of natures laws and to the
large consumption OF alcoholic beverages.
some idea of the Influence OF these bey-
cragcs in shortening life may be cleaned
from the statement that temperate person
at the age Of twenty years may expect to
live forty-four years; II intemperata, IL
teen and q bali years. At forty years OF
age the temperate man may expect twenty
eight years; the Incorporate, eleven ana 4
half years.
During the delivery Of this address the
Society gave evidence OF It's endorsement
OF these important subjects, 50 intimately
associated with the wcfTe OF the whole
rooplc, by frequent and decided applause.
A number Of other papers OF interest TO
the profession were read and discussed.
Officers for the ensuing year were elected
~ follows: President, Dr. Bedford Brown,
Of AltXaudrii; First Vice President, Dr..
Alexander Harris: s cOnd Nice.President,
Dr. Heiber. 81. Nash; Third Nicc-Presi-
dent. Dr. /. Ashton; recording Secretary,
Dr. Landon 3. Edwards; spondin@
secretary, Or. John +. VIM; Treasurer,
Or. ri bard +. Styll. DR.. Willitn :.
Christian is to be the orator for next year.
Or. Hunter McGuile j. to lead the general
discussion on .'ScboOl Uvcipne."