Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-06-14
THE SESSION OVER.
CLOSE OF THE STATE MEDICAL CONVENTION.
The Papers Read and an Exciting Discussion
Officers Eected-To Meet in PaIrmOni-
The Banquet Last Night

The State Medical Society was called
to order at 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing by DIR. l.. ID. Wilson, President pro
tenn, and prayer was offered by Rev. X.
Rush Swopc, Of st. Mathews Church.
The reading of voluntary papers was
at once called for, and DR.. w. ii. Sharp
took the floor with paper with the
title, "a Case of Atrcsia Of the Uterus" :"
the reading of which was listened to
with great interest.
DIR. Sharp at once followed with very
carefully prepared paper upon Gases
of Fracture of the Skull in Children.
Letters were read from President ;.
II. Austin, of LewiSburg, and DIR. John
ID. Myers, regrctting their inability TO
be present AT the meetings.
DR.. T. B. Camden read an interesting
paper on "A Case OF Fatal Burning by
Spontaneous Combustion, upon which
DR.. Harris made some pertinent re-
marks.
DR.. c. +. Ulrich. of this city, pre-
sented paper upon "Preventive Medi-
cine and the Physician of the Future,
in the course Of which the Doctor said:
There seems to be general awakening
all over the civilized world, on the subject
Of sanitation, which means the cultivation
of such a condition Of our physical sur
rOundings as 10 prevent disease. Health
Boards are being organized in town ana
county; complicated Boards of Health are
established in the large cities, and ma
tional institution of the same kind has
sprung into existence. The old adage,
'an ounce of prevention is better
than a pound of cure has found it way
among the doctors, and is making decided
revolution in the nature and character OF
the PHYSICIANS calling. Formerly the ad-
vent OF disease was looked upon as an un-
avoidable visitation Of Providence, and no
attempt was made to keep il off. In fact,
efforts of that kind were regarded by the
over-pious as an interference with the Di-
vine plans | have known stout resistance
to be made to the use of anasthetics in mid
wifery, because it was held that any at
tempt TO remove the curse pronounced
against Eve that she should suffer pain in
bearing children, was flying in the face OF
providence, and consequently sinful. Of
I
are confined to the ignorant and super
stitious, yet even among medical men we
| find some who are opposed TO too much
sanitation, lest disease should be com
pelled to fold his arms and eXclaim
| in dolorous voice, 'OthellO's occupation
/ is gone, while many though not
in principle opposed to santa
ton. nevertheless hold themselves aloof,
and make no effort TO promote
the public health, because they
do not see in it any immediate prospects OF
remuneration Instead of dl
viding disease into durable and incurable,
as has heretofore been done, we are begin
ming 10 divide them into preventable and
non-preventable The more we investigate
disease, its etiolOgy and character, the
larger we find the former class, and the
smaller the latter. Avoidable dis
ease and premature death are still rampant
among us. Ignorance and shortsghted
selfishness still abound in the medical pro-
fession. which ought 10 consist only OF in
telligent. thoroughly trained and noble
hearted men We are still so much in the
dark concerning the etiolOgy of disease
that we make but little progress in pre-
venting its inception and development. 1t
should be the business of every honest ply
sician to do all in his power TO educate the
public up 10 the understanding and hearty
support of all measures looking TO the
prOXimate solution of all preyentable dis
ease, and placing those which cannot be
prevented under such sanitary restrictions
as to reduce their force and number TO Il
minimum. Here lies the true work Of the
physician The treatment and cure of dis
ease is TO great extent, empirical, fire.
auently founded ON false theory which
has short life and Is finally exploded. But
i'm the prevention of disease by the destruc-
ton of germs through the publication OF
| the vehicles that carry them, such as the
air in dwellings and the drinking water,
which. though intended for the mainte-
nance of life, sometimes TEEN with the
seeds of death, the physician finds field
of labor worthy of the higher Prderof intel
lect which should characterize every mem
Der of the profession.
DIR. +. 4. Harris followed DR.. Ulrich
with a paper on "Some Abdominal Sur
gerry" which specified some carefully
considered observations Of the gentle
man.
DR.. r. c. NJ. Floyd, Of Ohio, present
ed his credentials, and was admitted.
The Board OF CensorS made a favor
able report on the applications Of DrS.
r. T. Shcarer, Jas. Schwnn, w. +.
StatherS, and i. f.. Sherman OF Glover
Gap, and they were admitted TO mem
bcrShip The Board also reported an
amendment TO the Constitution, which
was adopted.
The Secretary was instructed To nOti-
fy DR.. Gambel OF the order at a former
meeting. relating to his reply to charges.
Adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session opened with
the samo large attendance characteriz-
ing the morning meeting. One or two
new arrivals were present, among them
DIR. j. Il. Walkingshaw, Of WellSburg
Under the call for papers, DIR. c. b.
limbaugh read a paper Of considerable
value to eye specialists, on "Bident OPP
Grafton for the extraction of the diSlo
Gated crystalline lens during the read
ing of which the Doctor described a
new instrument which he had used
with great success. The paper was dis
cusSed by Drs. Hutchins and Dickey.
DIR. T. Il. Camden road a paper on "A
Case of Diphtheritic Group" describing
his treatment, etc. A discussion followed
led by nrs. Stifcl, who narrated several
cases coming under his treatment. HC
was followed by 5. l.. Jepson, whose
remarks were quite interesting and
were closely listened to. DR.. wilson
President pro tenn. also took the floor
and made some well considered remarks
The Doctor had seen several case:
of recovery without an opera
tiOn, but none after an
operation, and his experience and obser
vations were not such as To lead him tC
place much value upon resort to sur
gerry, except as means Of slightly pro
longing life. The Doctor did not be
lieve in Saturatng the air Of a sick room
with limc-watcr or other vapOr, and be
lieved pure, dry air was the best. III
wanted TO protest against shutting up :
room, saturating the air, etc. Such al
atmosphere was hard on well person
and must be harder still on one sick
and struggling for the proper imitation
OF the lungs. The Doctor was frequent
ly interrupted by questions from his
hearers, and quite discussion followed
DR.. Sharp was a firm believer in the
efficacy OF heat and moisture, and DR.
Jepson reiterated his beliefs, In som,
forceful remarks. He did not feel dis
posed to summarily break away from
long established practice, UNIVERSAL!
recognized by the profession, both in it:
oral teachings and in its literature.
On motion Of DR.. nickey, DIR. Fisher
OF bridgeport, was invited within The
bar, with the privileges Of the floor.
On the recommendation Of the BoarC
of Censors. DIR. II. w. Brannon was ad
mitted to membership.
4 motion was made by DR.: CooDel