Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-17

prevalence of kidney diseases akin to
Bright's disease, which he declared to be
much more common and far less danger
GUS than pneumonia. Heart diseases
are greatly feared and little understood.
even by the doctors. Many patients are
consigned to the grave by the doctors,
| but persist in getting better and enjoy
ing better health than many persons not
afflicted with cardiac troubles. He
ended up with an appeal for the use of
old-fashioned remedies, for which no
satisfactory substitute has been found.
Sulphur and opium were the two
remedies mentioned.
DR.. Hitchcock followed, indorsing the
propositions in the paper, and declaring
that opium was the sheet anchor OF
doctors in cases of brain diseases.
DR.. w. r. Clunes, of Sacramento, read
paper entitled, Recent Progress of
Sanitation in California and Our Pres
ent Sanitary Needs" The various laws
in the interests of sanitation were men,
toned and their good and bad features
noticed. Laws for the protection of
| domestic animals were numerous and
excellent, but human beings were left to
progress had been made in spite of draw
backs. A State sanitary inspector was
declared to be necessity of the times,
but the Governor had unfortunately
vetoed the appropriation bill, owing to
the unfortunate squabble in the State
Board of Health. The pollution of
streams and water supply through the
discharge of sewage into them was men,
toned, and sewer farms or some similar
method of disposal of the sewage de-
clared a necessity for interior cities.
Various other improvements, such as
provision for flushing the sewers, in
specting the slaughter-houses and pri-
vate property, were declared necessary.
Politics." he said, "are the bane of
sanitation when they come in conflict.
Politics should have no more influence
on medical men in public positions than
they do in private practice. The public
looks to the medical men for the con-
servation of their sanitary interests. 1t
should not be disappointed.
DIR. j. S. Griffin was discovered in the
hall at this time, and was introduced to
the society by DR.. Widney in a few APP
propriate remarks.
DR.. H. S. Orme came forward at this
point with stack of photographs, which
were Immediately put in circulation
through the hall, and pile of manu-
script, the result of two years work on
the investigation of the loathsome dis
ease OF leprosy, was presented. The
nature of the disease, its extent and its
history, were all dealt with exhaust
lively, and would prove instructive to
those interested. The photographs were
of various victims of the disease in this
State. The disease was declared to be
incurable, though correct habits, clean
liness and good food would do much
toward improving the condition OF the
unfortunate who contracted the loath-
some malady. DR.. Orme did not read
the entire paper, but sketched through
it rapidly, and finally turned it over to
the committee on publication, and sat
down amid the applause OF the mem
bers.
DIR. w. w. Kerr introduced the follow
ing resolution:
The Medical Society of California.
after due consideration, is satisfied that
the annual appropriation made to MANY
of the county hospitals of this State is
inadequate to efficiently maintain such
institutions. Therefore, be it
Resolved, That the various medical
societies shall be requested to investi-
gate the condition of the county hos
pitfalls in their respective counties and
use every lawful endeavor to have them
placed upon a solid financial basis.
The resolution was passed unan-
mously.
DR.. G. n. Ellinwood, of San Francisco,
read paper on Medical Jurisprudence"
of which the following extracts will show
the character:
The increasing frequency with which
doctors of medicine are made to appear
in the courts of justice as defendants in
malpractice suits has so awakened a pro-
fessiOnal and personal interest in the
question as to cause the appointment of
special committee at the last meeting
to consider the matter.
During the past two years there has
been a marked increase in the malicious
prosecutions of physicians for alleged
malpractice, with claims for damages.
Such suits have become notably less
meritOrious, more frivolous than form
erly, and large majority of them ex-
hibiting the characteristics Of black
mailing suits.
In California it is a remarkable fact
that malpractice suits, alleging negli-
gence and ignorance and consequent
damages, are commenced against men
who are most prominent in the profess
SlOn pdlnSUdklnS ana careful, cOnSclen-
tious practitioners, who, by habits of
study and methodic work have acquired
good practice and an ability to pay,
almost invariably men notably not neg
ligent nor ignorant.
Such suits are cases of libel and SLAM
der without elements of malpractice, and
such is the character of large proper
tion of the so-called malpractice suits
commenced against regular physicians
in the past decade.
That this is their true character, their
malicious, frivolous or revengeful nature,
is shown also in their almost universal
defeat when prosecuted to complete
trial.
1t is not desired, nor is it desirable,
that the physician and surgeon should
be exempted from any legal responsible
ity properly pertaining to his profession.
In any suit at law, founded in tort, he
should be held accountable as all other
citizens are held; but our urexperience out
here in California, and the experience
also of the profession in the older States
to some extent, and also in Great Brit
ain, shows a great need OF protection
against blackmailing, libelous and SLAM
derous suits brought under the general
title Of malpractice and claims for dam