Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-06-12
MEDICAL SOCIETY.
OPENING OF THE TwENTY-THIRD ANNUAL
SESSION
At the City Hall, Yesterday Ahsrno'n-Ihs Ad-
dress Of Welcome by DR.. c. ?. Stiftl.
he Trip to Benwood.

West Virginia State Medical Society con
vened in the chamber of the Second Branch
Of Council, at the City Hall, at half past
two o'clock yesterday Afternoon. In the ao-
fence of DIR. s. H. Austin, of Lewlsburg,
President Of the Society, and Of the Vice
Presidents. DIR. Stifel called the session to
order. and stated it would be necessary to
elect 4 temporary presiding officer. On
motion of Dr. George Baird, DIR. l.. ID.
Wilson was chosen temporary President,
and assumed the chair, after thanking
those present for the honor conferred.
PRAYER was then offered by Rev. DR.
J. r. Mcclure, Of the United Presbyterian
Church.
Secretary J. L. Fullerton, Of Charleston
called the roll, and twenty-three members
answered TO their names, rs follows: Drs.
Sufel. Geo. Baird, Jepson, r. NJ. Baird,
Aschman. Ulrich, c. NJ. Frissell, John
Frisseu. Dickey. Hudreth, Hutchings,
Reed. Bimey, Mccoy, Wilson, Of this city;
j. l.. Fullerton, of Charleston; X. W. Hal,
Moundsville; l. r. Charles, Charleston
G.. Shriver. Bethany; ID. Mayors, Charles
ton: J. W. Cooper, Wellsburg; b. +. Har-
din. Wellsburg; j. Il. Carter, Triadelphia.
ADDRESS or WELCOME.
The address Of welcome was then deiiv-
cred by Dr. \. f. Stifel, OF this city, who
spoke as follows:
Mn PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
MFplcAL SOCIETY," OF WEST VIRGINIA.
On the part Of my colleagues OF the Com
mittee Of Arrangements, | bid you cor
dial welcome at this, your twenty-third
annual session. The physicians OF this
city have ALWAYS take a deep interest in
the welfare of the Society, and also took
An active part at its organization. In the
Presidents address, at the second annual
meeting. Dr. John FrisSell makes the fol
lowing statement: AT an informal meet
ing of u number Of medical gentlemen at
the Mcclure House, Wheeling, in Feb
ruary. 1861, it was determined to issue a
circular call to all Of the
regular profession of the State, who were
within the reach and knowledge OF those
making the call for u meeting 10 be held at
Fairmont on the 10th of April, 1867 OF
the sixteen physicians who signed this CIR
cular seven were from Wheeling, and of
these seven only two are with US now 10
take an active part in our proceedings. One
Of those two presided when the Society
was organized in 1850, and the other was
elected president for the ensuing year at
the same meeting The former is DR. ".
j. Bates, and the latter DR.. John FrisSell.
The deep concern Of the physicians of this
city for the welfare of our Society is also
indOrsed by the large number of papers
by Wheeling physicians, published IN our
II is particularly gratifying for US 70
welcome YOU, because OF the progress made
by the Society during the last four meet
ings. held in portion of the State, which
heretofore was hardly represented. Some
OF the older members were not entirely free
from msgivingS when it was decided at
Weston that the Society should meet the
following year AT a city where we had but
one member. But the missionary work
proved successful, and to-day the Society
is stronger, not only Us TO the number Of
members, but in the acquisition of men
whom we honor for their ability and high
professional standing.
To-day the Medical Society of the State
of West Virginia is worthy Of its name, as
il now represents not only particular sec
ton. but the entire State.
Our State has now reached a stage Of
which is indeed gratifying. On
the surface we find the qualifications of the
great iron arteries which permit freer
extending In various directions;
commerce is active, and manufactures are
Springing up. And the surface is being
pierced to reach the lower strata. 10 bring
the mineral wealth with which nature
has so richly endowed Us, from
the darkness in which il has
been slumbering, TO the light of day.
While these strides of progress do not in
terest us an organization directly, yet II
behooves us 10 stop and reflect, and ask If
the highest stratum-the intellect, the
brain-Of our State-is keeping pace with
the progress apparently being made in
other directions. We, as members of a
liberal profession, should take a deep in
terest in this portion of the progress of our
State.
The physicians of West Virginia have
labored faithfully and persistently in ad-
vocating the practical application OF the
deductions of our sciences for the proven
ton of disease. Our work in this field is
by no means completed. But as the guar
dams Of health, it is not only our privilege,
but il is our duty TO do what we can,
towards anormal development of the BRAIN
While not wishing to underrate the value
OF that wonderful storage battery-the
memory has not the time come when
we should enter our protest against that
system Of education which Is converting
human brains into music boxes This
method of education is putting forth all its
efforts 10 train the brains 10 play as many
tunes as possible And when wound up At
the examination, these tunes are repeated
with an accuracy which at first is startling
and with a mOnOtony which soon grows
wearisome And after that the fine me-
chanism of our music box breaks down
when worked too much, and 1t soon be
comes rusty when not in use for short
time Would it not be well that we re
mind our educators that the human brain
has other functions to perform than sim
ply 10 exercise memory, and that the
grandest, the most sublime function of
man is TO think
While il is our duty 10 exert oar best
efforts for a healthy development of the
brain, we should also look well TO our
selves, set our own standard high, cult
vate exact scientific thought, and free
ourselves from tho bondage OF traditional
bias and prejudice.
Hoping that this meeting will be another
stepping stone for the elevation of our pro
fession, and this in part for the develop
ment of the highest stratum-the brains OF
our State-i again bid you heartfelt wei
come.
ENTERTAINMENT OF DELEGATES.
Following his address of welcome, the
response to which was omitted, owing to
the absence of the President, DIR. Stifcl
proceeded TO enumerate the arrange
ments which had been per-
fected by the local committee
for the entertainment Of the visitors. lie
said the Hotel Windsor would be head
quarters for the physicians; that the street
ear companies had extended the use of its
ears To an wearing the badges of the organ
izatlon: that the Wheeling Ice and Storage
Company. the Riverside Iron Company, the
"Pewiky' Railroad Company, eto, had
extended courtesies, and in conclusion read
letters of regret from DR. Jas. J.. Reeves,
of Chattanooga; DR.. l. NJ. Richmond, Of
St Joseph, Mo, and DR. l. G.. Wiltshire,
of Baltimore, honorary members.
BOARD OF CENsQRs.
The Chair then appointed the following
Board Of CenSOrs: Drs j. II. Carter, Geo.
Baird, {. NJ. Frissell, II. Shriver, X. W.
Hall. J. u. Birney aud j. W. Cooper. TO
whom were referred the applications OF
those desiring 10 become members OF the
The Board reported III favor
of admitting Drs &. A. Aschmanu, Il. II.
Shields. II. j. McMurr and X. J. Reed.
The Board announced that other applica-
tions would be reported upon later. The
applicants passed upon were elected mem
beers of the Society.
REPORTS.
The reports Of the Secretary and Treas
urer were read. and the latter was referred
TO an Auditing Committee, composed. of
Drs. +. {. Myers, Ulrich ami Hardin,
which committee reported the report cor
rect.
PAPER READ.