The record-union., 1891-04-23
ASSEMBLED MEDICOS.
Second Day Of the Medical Society's
Annual Session.
DR.. r. Beverly Cole Goes After His
Pupils Scalp-Emotional Insan-
ity-Electien of Officers.

ate Chamber for the second days pro-
ceedings Of its twenty-first annual ses-
sion.
The Board of Censors recommended
the following applicants for membership
and they were elected: w. f. Magard,
II. II. Clarke, Robert Caldwell, j. Ellis
Rodley, II. d. Lawhead, j. Clark, r. e.
Hartley, w. ]. Wilcox, A. Fine, l.. P,
Tooley.
DIR. LIE Moyne Wells read paper writ
ten by J. p Widney, of Los Angeles, on
''fhe Difficulty of Enforcing Medical
Legislation, the Reasons Which Lie Back
of 1t, and the Remedy" The writer de-
clares that there is a prejudice against
such laws, as being close legislation. The
same sentiment pervades the community
and there is difficulty in enforcing such
legislation even when the enactment Of
statutes have been secured. He recon-
mended the establishment Of Board OF
State Examiners, upon which shall be
members Of all the regular recognized
. schools OF medicine.
DIR. Ross, of Woodland, thought the
paper just read contained valuable sug-
gestiOns. He had some experience with
the medical bill which it was tried to get
through the last Legislature. Its pro-
visions were not properly explained to
have been relegated to the waste basket
as ''cinch' bill. He thought mistake
had been made III drawing up the bill
in attempting to define 'unprotessiOnal
conduct" The best medical law eXtant
was that Of Canada. That country was
divided off into medical sections, and
each section sent delegate to a central
conference. This conference formed all
laws, passed upon applications to prac-
tice, and in fact governed the whole
business
CRIMINAL INSANE.
DIR. r. F. Rooney, of Auburn, was not
present, but his paper on Criminal In
sane" was read by Secretary Kerr. The
main question set forth was whether or
not a violent insane person, who to all
appearances has recovered from his
affiiction, be allowed to go out into the
world and propagate his species. The
writer thought not, and he felt confident
that others of the medical profession
would agree with him. In DR.. Rooney's
opinion the desire or mania to shed
human blood or commit crime could be
inherited just as insanity was.
DIR. Brainard Of Los Angeles said he
had given much attention to the subject
OF insane criminality. He thought there
was too much sentimentality about it.
When man escapes punishment by
Imprisonment or hanging for an
stroclous crime, on the plea of
the duty OF the public to demand that
that person be kept where he would not
again commit crime.
DR.. Price of Los Angeles had also given
the subject of insanity close study, and
was thoroughly convinced of the truth
fulness of the saying ''blood will tell" )"
and was satisfied that the propagation of
the human race through persons afflicted
with insanity should be prohibited.
DR.. Stallard of San Francisco said that
in England persons who escape punish
ment on the insanity dodge are afterwards
confined in asylums. 1t was good
thing. But the public and the law
makers in this country were good deal
TO blame for the present opportunities
for escape, by widening too much the
bonds of irreSpOnsibility.
DR.. Mcfarland agreed with the other
doctors. He said, however, that, although
he was not familiar with the laws of Cali
fOrnia, he knew that in some States the
law was that the Judge could send the
prisoner to an asylum after his or her
acquittal. The doctor was decidedly
against the SO-called emotional insanity
often resorted to by persons who are
charged with crime, and did not believe
ii was specie of insanity. He also con-
sidered that all persons afflicted with
epilepsy were in reality insane and
should be confined.
Dr.. Orme ofLos Angeles was also against
emotional insanity.
SOCIETY CONTRACT SYSTEM.
Treasurer Parkinson read communi-
cation from DIR. G.. +. @. Morgan of San
Francisco, in which the writer severely
denounced the society contract system y
and he hoped that the society would take
action in severe condemnation of the
practice.
On motion of DIR. Parkinson the COM
munication was referred to the Executive
Committee for q report.
DIR. Thomas Ross of Woodland was
then called upon to read his paper on
Medical Responsibility" The doctor
said this was an interesting subject, and
he wished he could give more time to it.
When one holds himself out to the public
as physician, great responsibility rests
upon him. He should not be expected to
effect great and permanent cures in all
cases; but he certainly is called upon tc
exercise reasonable skill and diligence
The doctor devoted considerable time tC
the necessity of physicians being careful
IN thoroughly disinfecting their hands
and persons when handling their patients
particularly those afflicted with con
tagious diseases. Physicians cannot be
too careful in adopting asseptic and anti
septic measures, particularly in the eXer-
else Of midwifery.
DR.. Lawhead, of Woodland, said he
heartily concurred in the suggestions
offered by DR.. Ross. Doctors could not
be too careful, and the great responsible
ity that rested upon them should never
be lost sight of.
DR.. g. W. Davis, of San Francisco, was
of a similar opinion. and related an in
stance wherein the life of patient was
lost in a case of childbirth simply be-
cause the attending physician neglected
thorough disintection. Septicemia set in
Immediately. AntisepticS should be used
constantly in these cases, and, in his
opinion, one of the best antiseptics was
thoroughly boiled water.
DIR. COLES PUBL IN TROUBLE.
The Committee on Obstetrics and Puer-
peral Diseases was next called upon.
DR.. l.. 5. Burchard, of Oakland, Chair
man of the committee, was the first TO ad-
dress the society, his subject being the
Management OF Labor" The doctor de-
voted himself to a lengthy description oi
the ordinary details OF managing cases OF
childbirth. He insisted that these de-
tails were important, rs physician never
knows when he is going to meet with
complications, and he insisted that anti
sepues should be used in all cases.
DIR. r. Beverly Cole of San francisco
opened the discussion on this subject
DIR. Cole said he had been Il teacher OF
obstetrics, and the gentleman who had
preceded him was a pupil of his, and
therefore he was sorry that he would be
compelled TO tear the Doctors paper tc
pieces DR.. Cole said he was irrevocably
from first 10 last opposed to anti-septi-
cisn. lie defied anybody to prove that
since the practice of anticepticism
the mortality III cases of child birth had
decreased. He characterized it as a new
tangled fad, and "meddlesome mid
wiiery," and asked how it was that oul
mothers and fathers got along so well
when anticepticism was not heard of
The doctor literally ''roasted'' his former
II a. 4 IL. IL