Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-18
Addresses by Drs. Pepper and Busey.
Meetings Of the Constituent Societies.

oo sABnt ana the reading OF the papers was
PeonPsy THIS WIN Be the for the
arrived to-day and had the pleasure OF enjoying the
banquet oy description. They had, however,
regarded as an adequate compensation for loss Of
the banquet
The Congress Organized.
The congress met for organization at O'Clock in
the main hall, Grand Army Building. 1t was
purely business meeting, and ON this account It
was termed by the committee "the preliminary
meeting" II was an interesting occasion because
practically the Congress Of American Physicians
and Surgeons then for the frst time came into ex.
lstence, although during yesterday and to-day
the congress seemed TO the throng OF visitors who
Before O'Clock The members Of the different
societies began to come to the hall from the
various meeting places, and BY the time the meet
As chairman Of the executive committee Dr. VIM
Pepper, OF Philadelphia, took the chair OF the
presiding ofiicer. and having raped for order
spoke as follows:
DR.. rrrPrR's ADDRESS.
DR.. Pepper, Of Philadelphia, the chairman Of the
executive committee, called the congress to order
and spoke as follows:
ION benan OF the executive committee have
the honor 70 announce to you, the members Of the
gress OF American physicians and surgeons the
manner In which we have discharged the respon.
IS Of 70
veiopment OF one special society after another
showed the Irresistible tendency OF the recent
TO ns O
bodies suggested naturally the thought OF q con-
loint meeting. which would bring together the
active workers In allied fields. This thought
began TO take definite shape as much as four years
ago before the attention OF the medical profession
became occupied with the preparations for the
meeting OF the International Medical Congress
which occurred In this city last year. But all
as1ion was deferred in order that there
should not be even the sembance Of Interference
with that important meeting. The delay has not
Deen injurious It has rendered more than ever
conspicuous the actual heed OF an organization to
secure tne reunion, at stated intervals, OF the
more active teachers and writers and workers in
Ine leading branches OF medical science such re-
unions must be at a locality TO which 1t viii be
PosSlole 10 draw such men from all quarters
IN order 70 produce the best scientific results It
Is essential that the members In attendance shall
De feaSonaoiy limited, and that as far as possible
A continuity OF Intellectual lie and activity is
thus secured, which Increases greatly the dement's
OF those interested In the development or such an
organization are, as am myself, warmly attached
TO the American Medical Association, and deter
promote the success OF this great national organ-
zation. All are no less ARMY interested In The
prosperity OF the various special societies to
wnlcn tney severally belong. Your executive
committee found little difficulty, however in de-
Gliding upon plan which would avoid even the
least interference with the American Medical AS
ISOLATION, while at the same time it avoided any
encroacnment upon the independence ana autOn-
omy OF the special societies 1t is unnecessary to
embodied in the bylaws which viii be- immedi.
ately submitted to You.
SESSIONS TO BE TRIENNIAL
"Your committee ventures to hope that these
provisions, which are strictly in accord with the
terms Of the resolutions under which they were
the congress- We have recommended that the
sessions shall be trlennial, thus leaving TO each
participating body two intervening Independent
chosen. We have jealousy guarded against the
ADMISSION OF any parliamentary business into the
work OF the congress, the functions Of which are
tine. Thus and thus only, can the sessions OF
this body be lifted up into and maintained In that
high and cool air Of learned discourse which best
permits the diffusion OF truth and the promotion
Of science. we have no less jealousy guarded
the independent sovereignty OF each participating
ali prVeges are Gpoe s The 70
burden OF expense, which should always be but a
light one, has been laid In equitable distribution.
held - ~
IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY
which every year renders more accessible more
attractive and more precious to every citizen OF
the republic. Nor could we fail TO make acknowl-
edgment Of the great material advantages we
liberal and enlightened policy which places freely
&C our disposal the admirable facilities OF the
medical department.
"Here, toe, your executive committee would gladly
acknowledge, we have found colleagues IN the
members OF the committee OF Arrangements TO
whom, and especially TO whose chairman DR.. 6. c.
Busey, we desire TO return cordial thanks for a
Jealous and harmonious cooperation which has
contributed In very large proportion 10 the sue
cessfu Inauguration OF this new organization.
HOW rRE PRESIDENT WILL BE CHOSEN.
And lastly, your executive committee would re.
port that In the discharge Of one of the most i'm.
portant Of our duties we have reached the con.
cuson that the selection Of the president Of each
congress shall be entrusted to the executive com.
mittee then Ia ONCE Thue Will the choice OF the
WSos a az q srT Sas
s0G By Their
Tue powers you are asked to Confde to future ex.
ecuttve committees are large, but they win be
repoeed In safe hands Each society participatinS
Mem ~ sSv 70 cont ana lofty effort
regarded as more and more an honor, and In time
the scientific qualifications OF candidates Will be
any doubt that II the spirit which has
led TO the formation OF this congress be main
tained and cherished. this new organization Will
future medical science. 1t remains then only to
add that in exerttng the privilege OF selecting q
president for this frst Congress OF American Phys
tcians and surgeons your executive committee
feel they have been guided to the choice OF q man
whose admirable personal character, whose high
attainmentA and whose nlustIious services in the
cause OF literature. OF science, and OF the entire
medical profession, mark him as entitled to this
great honor and distinction. It gives me therefore
the utmost grauncatton 70 present TO you our
president, Or. John Shaw Btllings and TO announce
that the Congress Of American Physicians and
surgeons II now duly organized"
TIE FrRsT PREsIDRNT.
DR.. Billings then came forward, and In few
words expressed his appreciation OF the honor
which had been conferred upon him In his selec-
ton for the important position OF president OF the
congress. Dr. Billings Is well known in this city.
this country and abroad. As the head Of one OF
the greatest medical libraries In the world be Is
brought into contact with the foremost man OF
the profession. and his peculiar ability Is demon
strated by the great success which has resulted
In his management OF the library under his
After pursuing course Of studies at Miami UNI
vers1ty and the OHIO Medical college, he began In
Cincinnati the practice Of bis profession The
breaking out Of the war changed the course Of his
lie, and In 1851 he was appointed acting as
slssans surgeon In the United states
In this city, and then served with the Army Of the
Potomac In 1884 he became connected with the
surgeons Generals ONCE In this city and In 1875
ne WAS appointed surgeon with the rank OF major
Ia the Regular Army. Dr.. Billings Ia medical ad-
wiser OF Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, and
Hopkins University. He ID . MEMBER OF many
scientine societies IN this country and abroad He
received IN 1854 the honorary degree OF II. D.
from the University OF Edinburgh. HIS contribu-
lions 70 the periodical literature OF medicine are
numeroua Ais great work 10 regarded q the
0eneralS Once. which n now being issued
DR. Billings read dispatch Of gfeeting Iust M.
celvod rom Sir Henry Acland. the late nreaident
Of the medical council q Great Britain.