The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-17
SURGEONS OF THE BEE-LINE
They Meet to Exchange Ideas Relative to
Their Special Railroad Practice.
A Few Suggestions as to Hospitals for Rail-
way Employes-Annual Meetings Of Royal
and Select MsSOns and Good Templars.

Inc dSsCclaLlOu Oh the Dce-llQe surgeons QeIU
their fourth annual meeting at Room 70 OF the
Bates House, yesterday: Those present were
j. NJ. Weaver, Of Dayton, O., president of the
association; j. L. Williams, Of Cardington. that
State. secretary; A. Dunlap, of Dayton;
w. X ksve. OF Sidney, o.; II. Fl. Ysrgin, Of
Union City; j. W. Marsee. Of Indianapolis; W.
.. jenkins, of Terre Haute, aud Henry 5. Bell.
OF Paris. III. The officers elected for the en-
suing year were: Henry S. Bell. NJ. d.. OF
Paris. H., president; W. r. Kevs, NJ. D.. OF
Sidney, o., vice-president. and j. l.. Williams.
III. D., of Cardineton, secretary. Tn object Of
the association is to discuss the work OF the pre-
eeding year. to exchange views and experiences.
and to devise plans to better accomplish the
work that falls to the lot OF q railway surgeon.
The afternoon session was spent In relating the
experiences Of the year and discussing cases the
various MEMBERS have been called upon 10 treat
There were no set speeches. but . general talk,
in which all joined, and a number OF new modes
OK treatment were discussed.
AT the evening session, President Weaver
made the annual address. He said that three
years ago, at their frat meeting, the members
came together as strangers, and only knew OF
each other a. their names appeared in the COM
panys reports, but now they met and grasped
each other by the hand as friends and associates.
working together in the great cause of science
and humanity. The meetings have always been
both pleasant and profitable. but have not been
as successful ~ they should have been In point
of attendance. At all these meetings practical
and important topics have been discussed, and
those attending have all gone away feeling
that they have been benefited, and the
cause in which they have q common
interest advanced. zone Of the best things
about our meetings." he continued. sis that
each aad every member has been willing to say
something on the subject presented. and that In
his own way, regardless OF textbooks or writer's.
IN these meetings 1t Is practical thought and ex-
perience. rather than theories, that are needed.
We have not stepped 70 talk of ethics or fees,
or consult how much money We can get out OF
our company for individual cases. but rather
how We can best aid IN hsstening recovery from
injury and restore TO place and position the In
Jured. We have talked about shocks. fractures
and dislocations, confused and lacerated wounds,
anesthetics, amputations, gangrens, hot and
cold applications, injuries to the eye, antisep-
ties. etc.
The speaker said that since the last annual
meeting q national association Of railway sur
geons had been formed and that be was pres
ent at its organization, and that
from the high character and standing
OF many of the members. II would rank among
the foremost medical associations OF the coun-
try. and he advised members OF this one to join
IL. Several o. the railway systems of the coun-
try, he continued, have adopted the plan or ap-
pointing a "surgeou-in-chief." whose duty it
seems to be to somewhat supervise the corps OF
surgeons, systematize the work and act as an
adviser 10 the general manager or other officials
In all things concerning surgical affairs The
Bse-line has no such surgeon-in- CHIEF, and the
speaker suggested the propriety OF calling the
attention Of the general manager TO the sub
ject.
There Is anoth,r matter of very considerable
importance and inter est, y said the Doctor, that
l desire to cali your attention to, and that ID the
care and treatment of injured employees In hos
pitfalls, rather than in hotels, clearinghouse or,
under certain circumstances 10 their own homes.
Those Of US who have had experience IN hospi-
tai work and management know that the
results il the treatment Of seriously
injured persons in hospitals are far
better and more satisfactory than in private
houses. Many Of the employees OF our railroads
are unmarried men. and without homes. Their
time. when OF duty, is spent in hotels, boarding
and lcdeing-honses. and TO these places they are
taken when injured. Many OF these places are
Of the poorer class, inconvenient, crowded and
poorly ventilated, and the Same can be said OF
many Of their homes. In these places, if badly
injured, the chances for recovery are very linn
tied. We are all thoroughly familiar with this
condition Of Affairs. Many are the cases that
linGor a long time, and finally die. for the want
OF good food, good nursing and favorable sur
roundings. The surgeon does all that science
and skill can accomplish, but we all know that IL
byRienic surroundings and food are bad our ef-
forts are often IN vain, and the results disas-
trous. I have no doubt ali of us have lost cases
thus situated, and have felt that if they could
have been sent TO some well-regulated
hospital their recovery would have been
greatly fastened and lives saved. AT some
places along the line of our road-Cleveland Co
lumo bus, Cincinnati, Dayton. Indianapolis, Terre
Haute and 81. Louis are good and weli-estab-
lished hospitals, where, / have no doubt, a
larger proportion OF injured employees could be
sent aud cared for by the local surgeons OF the
road at those points. In my Judgment, I think
taken thar will lead to the sending to these hos
pitfalls all seriously injured Who have no satis-
factory homes and can bear transportation"
After DIR. Wesvsr's address the association sd-
journed. and most of the members spent the
evening sc the tneaters.