The Portland daily press., 1889-06-12
THE MAINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,
[coNrINUED FROM FIRST P GE. !

CONTINUED FROM FIRST P,GEl
intuitive. A complete knowledge of the living
man, in health and in disease. involves
thorough study not only of his structure and
functions but more or less of every element
and force entering into the earth
the air and the water with which he stands
in constant relation. The medical
science of to- day, therefore, embraces not only
a knowledge OF the living man, but also of such
facts, principles, and materials gathered from
every other department of human knowledge
as may increase our resources for preventing or
alternating his sufferings, or proongng his life.
The time was, when medical studies en-
braced little else than the fanciful theories and
arbitrary dogmas of few leading minds, each
OF which became for the time the founder of
sect or So called school of medicine, with his
disciples more or less numerous. But with
the development of general and analytic chem
istry, of the several departments of natural
science, of more practical knowledge Of phys
les, and the adoption of inductiye processes of
reasoning, the age of theoretical dogmas and of
medical sects blindly following some more plaus-
IDLE leader passed away, leaving but an infini-
testimal shadow, yet visible on the medical
horizon.
So true is it, that in casting oar mental vision
to-day, over the broad domains of medicine we
see its votaries engaged, some searching for new
facts and new materials; some studying new
applications and better uses of facts and ma
terials already known some of them are in the
dead house with the scalpel and microscope,
not only studying the position and relations
OF every part, from the, obvious bones and
muscles to the smallest leucocyte in health,
but also every deviation caused by morbid
action or disease. Some are searching the
Hatd he fha fba a. Aot
for more knowledge concerning the causes of
disease and for additional remedial agents ;
some are in laboratories with crucible, test
glass and microscope, Analysing every morbid
product and every remedial agent, separating
the active principles from the crude material
and demonstrating their action on living an
imals while far the greater number are at the
bedside of the sick and wounded, applying
the knowledge gained by all other workers to
the relief of human suffering. more active,
earnest, ceaseless and bensfcent field of labor
is not open to the vision in any other direc-
ton, or occupied by any other profession or
class Of men.
Another subject to which it is proper your
attention should be called, is one of great i'm
portance to the continued prosperity Of our
profession. l refer to the location of the Med
ical School of Maine. While the school has,
to five months added to its number of chairs
or professorships insisted on better prelim-
nary education, increased its clinical instruc-
ton, raised its standard for graduation, in
accordance with the progress of the age in
medical education, it still does not afford to
its students hospital clinical instruction. The
school is so located that our students have no
access, whatever, to any true clinical instruc-
ton at the bedside of the sick.
Nearly all of our medical colleges, to-day,
provide some amount of true hospital clinical
instruction, and many of them are so
directly connected with important pub
Tic hospitals that their courses of
clinical instruction, in all the departments
of practical medicine and surgery are as full
and extensive as in any of the other depart
mepts of medical science. So important is
hospital clinical instruction considered in
medical education, that the vast majority of
medical students will 60 to those schools
where such clinical instruction is afforded.
The number of students receiving instruction
IN Boston with access 10 the Massachusetts
General Hospital, is equal to that in all the
other New England schools put together. To-
day, the medical college that does not afford
hospital clinical instruction is universally con-
sidered behind the age.
The faculty of the medical school are, and
have been for several years, unit in this mat
ter; they have urged upon the authorities of
the college, the importance of moving the
medical department from Brunswick to Port
land, where it shall be by the side of the Maine
General hospital. 1t is not intended in this
change to disturb the relations existing be-
tween the medical and academical departments
of the college.
UP to the present time the consent of the
trustees of the college, for such transfer has
not been obtained. The profession of the
State has always been loyal to its medical
school, and it would seem as if the authorities
of the college ought to give some heed to
united voice of the profession for the removal
of the medical department to a place where
ample clinical instruction can be afforded. 1t
may be emphatcally stated that medical
school without adequate means of hospital in
struction cannot long sustain itself.
1t is not by logic, or the principles of de-
sign, or Latin, or Greek, or German, or French,
that medical education is to be rendered what
1t ought to be; but by studying medicine in
the laboratory, under the microscope, on the
dissecting table, in the wards of hospitals and
in dispensaries where patients are seen, exam
ined, and prescribed for, and where by attend
ing to what are now so often called the refine
ments of chemistry and physics, students learn
the diagnosis of disease as well as its treatment
Here in the midst of these clinical demonstra-
tons practical medicine is to be learned Where
these are, there will be the great medical
classes; not necessarily at the great capitals
but none where these means of illustration are
wanting.
DIR. S. c. Gordon of Portland read a paper
ON Pregnancy and Operative Surgery
their Mutual Relations
DR.. Jas. A. Spalding of Portland, read a
paper on Mercury in its general uses"
The following gentlemen were elected to
membership:
DR.. Adebert Millett Searsmont
DR.. c. A. Pillsbury, Saco.
DIR. A. X. fancy, Bangor.
DIR. A. j. Fuller of Bath, made verbal re-
port on the part of visitors to the Medical
School of Maine.
Adjourned to 7.45 o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
The association met in the evening at
o'clock with an unusually large attendance
and listened with close attention and inter
est to an admirable paper by DIR. |. 7. Dana
OF this city, on "Apoplecteform seizures
Diagnosis of the Different Forms, and Their
Treatment" This paper and its discussion
by prominent members of the profession con-
sumed all of the evening session.
A LIVELY RUNAWAY.
A Carriage Upset and Four People