New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-18
DOCTORS IN COUNCIL.
NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS-
MEETING OF STUPENDoUS MAGNITUDE
yIRCHow's N~PoPULARITY-THE
MEDICAL EXHIBITION.
rrRoS STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuYk.l
D. Al ,cf0


No man, not even Professor Virchow himself,
of whose marvellous energy it was monument
and 10 whose great renown it bore most eloquent
evidence is able at this time to estimate the
significance of the Xth International Medical
Congress, whose sessions have taken place in
Berlin during the week just ending. That it
has been a noteworthy gathering the brilliant
externals of the show have proved; but there
are many respects in which its value from
scientific point of view might be questioned
Like all big affairs of its kind, where the purpose
is only discussion and conference determination
being impossible impracticable, the deliheratlve
proceedings have contained a monstrous deal of
chaf 1t would be natural to say that this
was owing to faulty organization, that the essay
lists might have been chosen men instead Of volun-
tcers but the criticism would be unjust to the
committee that had the preliminary work in
hand, and in its field accomplished miracle.
The trouble is fundamental A congress to which
the delegates are self-elected cannot, in tho
present constitution of human nature, be in the
best sense representative. That character can be
given to it only by the participation of men of
loficst eminence in their respective countries, and
the restriction of the discussions to such men.
Until this is done small men will continue to
try to lift themselves by pulling at their own boot
straps and the International Medical Congresses
will continue to present the spectacle which even
a medical layman the phrase is In many mouths
just now was compelled to observe at this. the
largest and proudest of the meetings yet held
Men will be seen pushing themselves into notice,
not because they have valuable contributions TO
make TO the cause OF science but simply TO be
conspicuous, TO fatter their own vanity, and turn
the fact of their participation in the meeting 10
personal profit. A hundred fine phrases about tho
unselfshness Of everything connected with the
Congress were turned at the opening session. but
If some pretty lively advertising is not noticeable
within few weeks from a great change
will have miraculously taken place in some
doctors whose assertiveness is evidenced by
the Official programme. Pamphlets which
can be dignifed by the statement that they
are Extracts from the proceedings of the Xth
International Medical Congress-, held in Berlin
under the presidency of Rudolf Virchow," are
not to be despised advertising mediums, and
are not thought to aiTront very 1agrantly that
singular thing which physicians speak Of so rev.
erentially as a Code of Professional Ethics.
When the Congress met, on August 4. the sec
ary-general was able 70 report land there was
something like an infectious twinkle In his voice
as he did so that the titles of over 700 papers TO
be read before the various sections Of the Congress
had already been submitted and that at least
1000 were expected. When some patient critic
with monstrous capacity for literary digestion
shall have absorbed this mass of halter and told
an expectant world what percentage of healthful
nutriment it contains and how far forward OIL tho
road of progress the milestones of knowledge have
teen moved by the avalanche las DR.. Lassar called
it, then it will be possible TO estimate the scientific
value of the Congress.
But not till then. Meanwhile, the great meet
hfg is chiefly interesting TO the world at large as
spectacle. AS such it was imposing almost awe
Inspiring In the matter of size alone it was over
whclmingly impressive. Five thousand members
were present when Professor Nirchow declared
The Congress open. A day later about LOO" had
lcen added to the number. Nothing could have
illustrated more strikingy the puissant influence
of the man who stood at the head of the Congress
than the manner in which this act of opening IN
vas accomplished. The scene was the circus
REM. the only building in Berlin suitable for the
OCCASION 1t is a vast amphitheatre, which is APP
preached from court opening from the harl-
strasse The magnitude of the affair and the
artistic taste and intelligence with which the
preparations had been managed were impressed on
,he delegates and visitors already On arrival at
,he entrance TO this court. Immense tripods
Guarded its sides. vast garlands showed the way
into the corridors of the theatre On all hands
were antique symbols OF the healing art. skill
full architect had made temple out OF the theatre
statue of Esculapius, heroic in size modelled
in plaster, strong, massive, reposeful, speaking
looked down from above the spot chosen
for the tribune From this tribune, which was
approached from the parquet by hight OF stairs
whose high balustrades were draped WIN heaVy
cloths embroidered deeply with design in gold
afrn lar
Seats for seven thousand men and women-all
filed!
Like Zeus on Olympus, Escuapius sat in
dignity above the mighty gathering. 10 his
left. onefourth way around the theatre, enslirined
within her own temple stood Minerva; 10 his
right at a similar distance, in a niche 1.-THE only
feature of the architectural decoration a little
out of keeping with the prevailing antique, was
bust of the German Emperor The usual pan
ners and garands may be left to the magma
ton. They were present in profusion, but their
brilliancy paled before that Of group OF men
who at IL o'clock, the hour appointed for the
beginning, stood in the middle of the parquet,
which had taken the place of the sawdust ring.
They were high officers Of the German English
French, Italian and japanese armies ana navles, re-
splendent in their uniforms, lofty dgnltaries OF
civil governments, scarcely less bedizened with
insgnias of rank and badges of preferment. These
were among the guests Of honor,-for them the
entire parquet had been reserved; but it was
not large enough. and the gay uniforms con-
tinued the strip Of color from the staircase lead
ing to the platform through the aisle to the en-
trance beyond. 1t veritably congress OF
nations, and the vast buzz Of comment from the
sooer-hued encircling thousands had not half
finished its task Of separating the picture into its
constituent elements when the tinkling Of bell
and the appearance of VirchOw hushed it into
silence. Then shown the magic power Of
great presence. AS no other man among the
thousands the world knew him, and the delegates,
Official and unofficial, from twenty-five Govern
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