Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-17
The History of the District Society
and Its Development.
The DOCTORS OF WASHINGTON
The interesting Addresses at the
Medical Society Anniversary.
A DISTINGUISHED RECORD

AS stated IN another cOlurnn, the celeDrd-
ton OF the seventy-ffth anniversary Of the
Medical Society of the District of Columbia
at the F.thes' Hall last evening was mark
ed by the delivery Of several addresses,
which. inspired by the occasion. have more
than a passing interest.
The president of the society. DIR. Samuel
G.. Rusey. in his address, dwelt upon some
OF the notable facts in the history of the
society % which he is the honored head. He
said:
'Inasmuch as the occasion which has
brought together tonight is one of those
historic events which emphasize the per-
manency Of this city as the capital of a
great and powerful nation, and, following
80 quickly the commemora ton of the GEN.
tennial anniversary of the laying of the
corner stone of the Capitol, Identifies the
history Of medicine with that of the city
from its foundation to the present time,
will venture 20 recall your attention to
such historic data as will establish the CO.
incident relation of the medical profession
IN this city with its early history, develop
ment and present prosperous condition.
ION the 9th of July. 1870. Congress passed
and on the 10th of the same month Wash
ington approved the act establishing the
temporary and permanent seat of the gov
eminent of the United States on the River
Potomac In March, 1891, Washington is
sued proclamation defining the limits Of
the new federal territory and directing the
commissioners and engineer to proceed
with the preparation of the plan CT the
government city. On the 18th of September.
1I93, the corner stone of the Capitol was
laid by Washington, and on the first Mon
day Of December. 1850. the Congress OF the
United States began its first session in the
Capitol in this city.
The Early Practitioners.
When Drs. Samuel Brown and John
Crocker settled here. the territory was in
habited by few farmers. their servants.
and. perhaps. some tradesmen and fisher
mem With the settlement of Frederick
May, native OF Boston and a graduate Of
Harvard University. in 1875. medicine as a
science had its beginning in the city Of
Washington. Others followed and in 1915
there were nine physicians and two prac-
ticing apothecaries.' The first associate as
senbia8e Of the physicians of this city took
place in lSl3, called b. public advertisement
to take suitable notice of the death of DIR.
Benjamin Rush., the father of American
medicine. AID to appropriately comnem-
crate his life and professional services
Perhaps prior. but certainly during sew
eral years succeeding this date, the in
lux OF charlatans and pretenders was so
extraordinary, and sUcn injuries and wrongs
were perpetrated by them upon citizens,
that the qualified physicians began to con-
slider and discuss methods OF procedure
and organization by which the community
could be protected from such wrongs and
informed of the qualifications Of those fit
ted to practice the healing art. Those eff
forts culIclinated in a petition to CONGRESS
In 1878. signed by twenty-one physicians,
for the charter, which was granted and ap-
ri III -
February, iSip
We have invited you here tonight to
unite with US in conmernoration of that
event And, now that you know that those
noble founders were animated by the high
est inspiration OF Christian philanthropy
and bene:iccnce in the foundation of a
medical society, which has lived through a
perioc or seFenty-iive years, contemporaries
Gus II history with the federal city and the
government, you Will appreciate and honor
the pride We take in giving expression to
our praise and gratitude in memory OF
those noble men on this anniversary night
From twenty-one II has grown to an active
resident membership of pa, of whom but
two have passed the age of allotted life-
time, and It's senior i'll membership is a de-
cade younger thar it, l need not then tell
you that in physical vigor and intellectual
alertncss il is now in the very prime OF
mature life.
DecreaSe in Average Age.
Such youth and vigorous manhood have
not always characterized its membership
The average age has diminished with time
and the increase of numbers. Among the
honored dead twenty-seven lived beyond
three score and ten, of whom six were
founders; nineteen died at ages between
fifty and sixty-three years, after the date
of graduation, and seven held continuous
membership in this society for periods OF
fifty to sixty-three years.
The average age of these venerable de-
cedents was seventy-siX and one-half years
the youngest of whom died at seventy In
1874. and the last at eighry-nine, in 1893
In the primitive of medicine in this city
and during the early history of this society
the life of the general practitioner could
not have been less arGuous than since
Many Of them began life when the practice
Of medicine primitive and unremunera
tive in community struggling with pow
erty in the development of a new city. Il
Ia true that the average lifetime of tht
medical is much less than that of either
the legal or clerical professions. but thi:
general law Of vital statistics fails TO ex
plain the average youth of the presen
membership, which represents five OF th'
eight decades of the life history of this so
ciety. These data are somewhat phenorle
nal, and, perhaps, without special signlfi
canoe; nevertheless. they emphasize tn,
fact that the pursuit of the art of healing
Is not conducive to longevity. and. Will.
the average life of men in general is in
creasing, that of the medical profession 4.
decreasing. With average of forty-thre.
rate of % per cent under sixty-five, the
problem OF life and longevity is of sufficient
magnitude to command your attention. Il
will not do to ascribe this high death rat.
during the prime of life and manhood who'll
~ to mental worry, sleepless tire and in
adequate remuneration. for these find com
persation in the assured livelihood, con
scious pleasure and consolation of duty
well done. Whether referrable to such es
thetic or to graver considerat ton, the tim.
has surely come when the causes of tn,
comparatively low average life of men en-
longing life should be intelligently and de
all. who have reached and passed the ag
OF highest death rate are equally sure o
the inevitable. but can offer their junior
the consolation Of their good wishes.
Continued I'm One Family.
1.-THE elder May came here in 1875, fiv
years before the transfer of the government
to this city. He was q pioneer who pre-
pared the way for others. and the founde
through whose professional life the histor,
Of medicine in this city during the year
antedating the organization of this societ,
can be traced through membership to an,
before the establishment of the government
here and continuously with its growth AL
development down to the present time. Hi
son, John Frederick, was born and begal
the practice of medicine in this city an
died a member of this society at the sg
Of eighty. leaving son now an active resi-