St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-16

SSSHfzS-fsSsHse noon that the physicians
turned out in force. President Park
Ritehie, of st. Paul, presided and read
his annual address. in which, after
judicious laudation of the science of
medicine, he elaborated the advantages
growing out of such an organization as
the State Medical society. 1t reviewed
the work of the past year, and predicted
still better results for the future. The
morning session was occupied with
routine matter, relating to the cOnstitu-
ton, eligibility. to membership, etc., OF
no general public interest.
The attendance was quite large when
the session was resumed at 2 O'Clock
and the section reports were submitted.
The several branches of the profess
sion are each in charge of committee,
which arranges for practical papers and
a discussion OF each. The theory and
practice of medicine came first, and the
opening paper was read by DR.. j. w.
Andrews on "Pleurisy with Prevalent
Effuson." DR.. j. w. Thompson dis
of the Eye" DIR. Talbot jones read
treatise on the treatment of typhoid
fever, and DIR. A. n. Jackson disgust
ton OH the treatment of appendicitis.
The evening session of the ''medi-
cos'' was characteristic of very ami
mated and learned discussion on what
was pOpuarly termed by several of the
profession as railroad Spine." The sec
ton of nervous diseases was taken upin
the hall of the house of representatives,
with DIR. c. E. Riggs, of st. Paul, as
chairman. The six papers read were
designated as symposium on spinal
concussion," and the several papers
were meritorious for the scientific ana
able presentation of the views of the
several physicians who read them.
There was ample Illustration of the
adage, "When the doctors disagree,
who shall decide?"
In the papers themselves and the gen.
eral discussion that followed it was ap-
parent that the physicians differ in
some minor points, and especially as to
whether there is such thing as spinal
cOncussion. They all agreed, however,
that experts in cases of what they
termed railroad spine" should use
more care to prevent the criticism that
has heretofore been applied to the pro-
fession.
The several papers read were as fol-
lows: 1.-The Relation of Spinal Con-
cusson to Neurasthenia and HySteria,"
Its Relation to the Traumatic Neu-
roses" 10y w. A. Jones, NJ. d., of Min
neapolis; ''Its Relation to Myelitis."
by Arthur Sweeney, NJ. d.. of st. Paul:
Its Relation to Mental Alteration,
by II. A. TominsOn, Nj. D., of st. Peter;
ats Relation to Chronic Diseases of the
Spinal Cord" by Leo N. Crafts, NJ. D.,
of Minneapolis; Its Medco-Legal Re-
lations." by r. o. Beard, NJ. D., of
Minneapolis.
After reading the papers the subject
was discussed generally. DR.. Millard
said he thought the symposium sprang
from his paper OF last year on the same
subject. He quoted judge who said
there are liars, id liars and medical
experts, and asked for reform in the
medical expert testimony. He has pre-
pared bill 10 he introduced at the next
legislature. providing that the experts
be selected by the court, and not by the
attorneys.
DIR. Sweeney expressed the view that
physicians are more subject to criticism
from the fact that they are not allowed
to tell tile whole truth when called as
experts. but are permitted to answer
only questions propounded by attorneys.
He took the ground that there is not
such thing as spinal concuSsiOn. but
that railroad spine is frequently cere-
bral disturbance. The general discus
SlOH WAS SOHllHueu Nv DFS. IOlnlillSOll
Andrews, of Mankato; Fulton, of st.
Paul; Chamberlain, Riggs and others.
At the conclusion of the discussion
by the physicians an opportunity was
given to the erratic and famous Frank
c. Collier, Windy City attorney, to
amuse the company with his rambling.
He stated that he had been in six in
sane aSylumS, been tried tWenty-one
times for insanity, and escaped from an
asylum once by sliding down lightning
rod. when he broke his arm. He had been
released four times Oh writs of habeas
corpus proceedings and twice dis
charged. He asserted that he is a living
example of the fact that the medical
exper is great, big, Iong-legged chump.
This expression brought down the
house. The company finally walked
out laughing at the humOr of the big,
good-natured hero of many incidents,
while the man who claims to be a fifty
dOllar-a-day lawyer and one of the bOyS''
leaned OH the clerks desk and called,
Say, doctor, won't you stay with me-"