The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1889-05-23
Proceedings of the Arkansas
Eclectic Medical Association.

The Arkansas Eclectic Medica
association met in the court house a
Russellvile at D. m. May 10Th, is
80, DR.. J. w. Pruitt in the char.
Roll of officers was called; Is
Vice president Browning and End
Vice president Ferguson also Cor
responding Secretary johnson ant
Treasurer Park were absent.
Minutes of last meeting were reaC
and approved.
The names of Drs. S. j. Baker, w
II. Montgomery, II. 2. Bruton, E
Leming Jr., F. M. Baker, G. F. Heff
lington and A. J. Widener were pre-
sented for membership and elected
members of the association.
DR.. Jones read paper on "New
Remedies" which was discussed by
various members Of the association.
DR.. Warren reported new RENE
dy, { Ichthyol) which he had found
very beneficial in the treatment Of
old sore legs.
Drs. Pruitt and Yancey reported
some interesting cases of obstetrics
The society adjourned to meet al
10 o'clock Thursday.
SESSION, THURSDAY MAY 10TH.
The association met this morning
and the roll Of officers was called and
minutes of previous meeting were
read and approved.
Pres. Pruitt delivered his annual
ad dress in which he advocated lib
eral and progressive medicine in q
very favorable manner, as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE ECLECTIC MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION OF ARKANSAS:
1t is with no small degree of pleasure
and satisfaction that we greet you upon
his occasion and bid you welcome to
BUR little city.
The history of our association has in
Iced, been that of a sickly infant, not
because of defective vitality, wanting
n the elements of truth and right, but
because of the lukewarmness of Its pro-
'essed friends.
Although truth is said to be mighty
md will ultimately prevail, yet in the
inception of any great reform or dis
,overy she has always been with the
and her advocates have often
rome unrewarded age to dishonored
graves. When Jenner announced the
discovery of vaccination. hypocritical
PRIEST declared it to be Anti-christ,
while the illustrious Harvey, the dis
;overer of the circulation, lost his
arge and lucrative practice and was,
We believe, driven into exile. Calico
forced to recant his views in
egard to the motions of the heavenly
bodies, which truth and science had re-
'ealed, before bigoted ecclesiastic,
vas so impressed with the truth of his
discovery, that, stamping his foot in
scorn, cried, sit still
moves"
Reformations, whether in law, relig-
on or science, never go backward. nei-
her do they begin in the ranks of con.
ervatism, but are the outgrowth of the
wants and necessities of the times. Re-
orms are never inaugurated by the
many, but by the radical
ew. Doubt is the foundatio of i'm
and may be taken as prima
acie evidence of error, imperfection,
II that something better may yet be dis
overed, than what is already known.
fedicine is far from being, and perhaps
lever will rank with the exact scienc-
g, but this does not prevent investiga-
ion and the exercise of those analytical
lowers of mind that peculiarly belong
o the Caucasian race. The why and
wherefore in every problem of science,
theology, etc., has always
ngaged the attention of the most pro-
ound sayants OF every age. Without
man would not progress
would remain crystallized.
Out of the ignorance and gloom, and
'igotry and darkness, and notorious
want of success in practice, of the So
allied regular school, was Eclecticism
conceived and brought forth. 1t was
lealthy infant, whose mother was an
humanity, nursed by public
ointment, and rocked in the cradle of
by the hand of profession
i ostracism.
Notwithstanding these untoward en-
it grew to vigorous youth,
nd began to deal trencffant blows up
N the hoary head of error, until there
vas a shaking of dry bones, and howl
# impotent rage that reverberated
throughout the land. Not being able
o squelch this young giant by wheed-
ing cajolery, ridicule, or invldious
criticism, its enemies invoked the high
Iand of the law, and by a species of
evilish enginery, prompted doubtless
" his Satanic Majesty himself, procur-
ID the passage of law in New York
tate to regulate the practice of medi-
inc, that was disgrace to the civiliz-
.tion of the age, and for oppression aud
granny was only equaled by the BLUE
LAWS OF CONNECTICUT"
Under the operation of these laws.
,aml. Thomson was condemned to a
lark, damp felon's cell, and the illus
rious Beach and his associates had
heir college destroyed and were driven
rom the state. But, gentlemen. bet
er day has dawned, Eclecticisn is a
-igoro us grown man, and nearly a score
# colleges proudly own the name,
while our graduates (ec!ectics are al
Ways successful in practice) are found
n nearly every state of this union, hon
red by the people as successful physi-
,ians and useful ciJizens. Have our
opponents ceased their opposition? Nay
'erily, it is more pronounced than ever
before. Under the instructions of the
A. Med. ASSN each state society is try
ng to so shape legislation in each state
which would give the regulars practi-
,al control of medical matters in all the
tates of this union.
Eternal vigilance is the price of lib
,rty, and while we do not complain of
he past nor desire to pose as martyrs
before the public in the present, still
We do desire, aye, are determined that
,ur rights shall be respected In the fu-
are.
Our opponents object to us because
yo wear distinctive name. True, but
We are physicians in the broadcast and
pest sense Of the term, nevertheless.
Dur platform is as broad as science aud
ruth itself, while no Procustean code
If ethics, cireumscribes our powers.
Through the efforts, mainly of your
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