The Russellville Democrat., 1886-06-09
Eclectic Physicians.

new officers are: President, Dr. k. H. Stevenson; first vice president, Dr. Jacob Grade; second vice presi dent, Dr. D. J. Warren; correspond ing secretary, Dr. F. M. Danna; sec retary, Dr. John Park; treasurer, Dr. R. H. Gardner. Tie next meeting will be held in Little Rock the third Wednesday in May, 1887.
 Dr. J. w. Putt of Russellville, de livered the following address:
 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
 GENTLEMEN--It is with feelings of unfeigned pleasure and satisfaction that I again have the pleasure of ad dressing you. Since last we met another twelve months has passed into history with it's triumphs, its successes and it's failures. Your presence here today evidences your continued confidence in the noble cause Of American Eclecticism, the most rational and successful system of medical practice the world ever saw. To electlcism the general pro- fession of medicine in the last sixty years owe the major part or the im- provements and discoveries that have been made in pharmacy, the intro duction of new agents and in materia mcdica and therapeutics. We have not only discovered new agents, but new ones for old ones, and have dem onstratcd beyond cavll that ln the old time methods too much medicine was given, and not enough reliance placed upon nature. Clinical expe- flence hns proved beyond the ques- tion 0fa doubt that it is the small dose Of medicine properly prepared and given that cures whilst the large one retards the cure, or actually poisons the patient. This great truth American eclectlcs have been qnick to learn, whilst our regular neighbors, blinded with prejudice, the legitimate outgrowth of servile deference to authority, autocratic and exacting in it's character, equal to any European despotism, have been slow to learn. As evidence of this assertion 1 presume 1 need do more than refer to the code of ethics of the American Medical Associa- tion, like the Iron bedstead of Pro custes, it was designed to make eve " member of the profession conform to it's measurement, or suffer excom- munication. But l am happy to say that thousands of our regular friends scofn to submit to It's tyrannical sway, and have asserted thelr right to be free.
 American Eclectlcism, actuatcd by that glorious spirit of liberty and independence that characterised our revolutionary forefathers, refuses to submit to the dicta of the clique, or code, not in accord with amenities of life practlced by gentlemen. It is not sectarian nor one idead, but broad and free and as liberal as true science itself.
 Eclecticism asks nothing but an open field ana fair fight; give her that and panophed with truth and success, as she always has been, her cause can never fail; the cause of truth, freedom and spirit.
 When people get sick nowadays they generally send for the doctor, and the one they send for is the one they think will cure them the quick est, regardless of schools, pathies or creeds, and the successful physician is hard man to beat. You cannot s'down him. by any fair means. And as eclectic physicians have, as class, always been eminently successful in the cure of disease, they have always, where known, stood high lu the esti nation of the public.
 In regard to medical legislation we can but reiterate the sentiments expressed last year. A law requir ing the physicians to be graduates of reputable schools of medicine, chartered by the states where they exist, that's enough While at the same time we are uncompromlsingly opposed to any law creating boards of health having judicial powers, es- pecially when the execution of it is placed in the hands of any one school of medicine. Such law so execut ed is sure to become an engine of tyranny and oppression, and is in imlcal to the spirit of American in- dependence and freedom.
 Our National Association, as you are aware, meets next month in the heroic city of Atlanta, Ga. Thls marks an important epoch Tn our school, as being the first meeting of the National Association held south of Mason and Dixon's line. From present indications there will be the largest attendance the association has ever had--our brothers from the frigld regions of the icy north, as we'll as those who hve beneath the sunny skies of our own beautiful southland, will be there. Shall Ar kansas be represented?
 Our state organization IS one Of which we may be proud. Organized and kept up under the most trying and dlscouraging circumstances, we have at last reached point of per manency. It cannot go down un- less the liberal and eclectie physi. clans of the state are derellct of duty. Then let us preserve it as q nucleus