Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-07-12
STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The Annual Meeting Held In BrntiIc-
bore this Week.

The semi-annual meeting Of the Vermont
state medical society was held at the Brooks
House ON Tuesday and Wednesday. accord
ing 10 announcement. The attendance was
not large, numbering about 30 members
The president, DIR. ]. NJ. Clarke Of Burling
ton, formerly Of Brattleboro. was in the
chair, and In the absence of the secretary
DR.. q. W, Phelps Of Bellows Falls acted AS
secretary pro tenn. On account Of the all
sence Of several members who were as
signed papers, the first paper read ON Tues
day afternoon was by Dr. Holton on Med
zeal Legislation This had reference To
measures tending 10 promote more effectu
ally the ends Of the law and the elevating
Of the standard Of the medical profession
DIR. Holton took up first the subject of med
zeal expert testimony, advocating the al.
pointment 10y the courts of experts in lieu
of their selection by attorneys as at pres
ent, and that such experts be reasonably
compensated for their services bv the state
The next topic related TO the appoint
ment OF medical examiners in lieu Of cor
oners as at present, 10 act Ia cases Of death
under suspicious circumstances.
Thirdly, DR.. Holton advocated the estab
llshment of state boards Of licensers and
examiners, with power 10 prescribe the
qualifications both Of those who wish 10 be
come medical students and of those who
wish to become physicians.
These propositions were supported by
quotations from the laws Of various states
and proposed enactments looking ~ the ac
complishment of these ends, as well as by
strong personal arguments in furtherance
OF these objects, showing that the doctor
had given the subject mature thought and
careful investigation.
During the discussion which followed the
reading of this paper Col Haskns, who
was present, was invited h. participate. and
did so, his remarks pertaining to the pay
ment of experts and having reference es
pecially to recent case in Bennington
county where physicians called as experts
IN "a murder trial were paid only the ordin-
ary witness fees
Following this Dr. G. W Peck of Bran
don read All interesting and valuable pa
per entitled Some observations on the
cause Of disease
At the evening session Dr. F. W. Good
all OF Bennington, the vice president Of the
society, read paper ON Thrombosis and
embolism Of the pulmonary artery" At
ITS conclusion the members repaired 10 the
residence of DR. Holton, where by invita-
ton Of Drs. Holtou and Draper. they met
company Of our prominent townspeople.
both ladies and gentlemen. refreshments
we're served and All enjoyable social hour
was spent
On Wednesday morning the doctors ac-
cepted an invitation from Dr. Draper ~
visit the asylum and two hours were spent
IN inspecting the institution proper, the
Summer Retreat aud The Cottage. IA call
being paid also at the farm buildings ON the
return.
On assembling after the return from the
asylum DR.. Draper read paper gu THE
Oath of Hippocrates. showing how the
principles embodied in the oath Of the father
of medicine have been preserved through
two thousand years Of time aud are TODAY
so far from obsolete that they form the ba
Sis of all the codes Of medical ethics by
which the profession throughout the civil.
lied world is governed
The formal proceedings closed with a pa
per ~ "Anasthetics. Of purely profes
sional interest, read by DR. q. W Phelps Of
Bellows Falls, the visiting members leaving
for home on the afternoon trains
-Four new members were admitted at the
opening session ON Tuesday-Drs Lawton
and Pratt Of Brattleboro, Rice of Whining.
ton and johnson Of Jacksonville
Interesting exhibits Of medical prepare
tons were made during the sessions by New
York aud Philadelphia drug stores