Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-05
DOCTORS IN SESSION.
sEc0xD DAY or THE MEDICAL 30
CyrTY or VIRGINIA.
RE Annual Address Of the Presi-
se.t, DR.. Presto.-xo Papers Of
sered for Dr.. Hunter Mecuirs's

(spec1al. )--At the morning session OF the
Medical Society Of virgfnis the nrst bust
ness was the delivery OF the annual
address Of DIR. Preston. the president:
DR.. Preston said! In accordance with
the time-honored custom, II becomes my
duty TO deliver the annual presidential
address. Would that could. with e!o-
ouent tongue and with words Of wisdom,
perform this duty In manner worthy
Of this occasion. ana In accordance with
my own desires and ambition ever to do
honor 10 this society.
Would, too, that could adequately ex-
press my gratitude to you. Fellows OF the
Medical Society Of Virginia. to repay in
some small degree the debt / owe you
for the high honor conferred upon me al
your last meeting, in the city Of Rich
nond.
feel, as 1 said then. that was doubly
IGNORED. conferred. as the honor was, by
unanimous voice, In that beautiful city
on the James. the capital Of our be-
loved Commonwealth. around which Gus
ter 50 many sacred memories, ana IN
front Of whose walls and in whose de-
fence i had given in by-gone days some
Of the best years of my life; conferred
as It was. in that lovely Mecca OF a
Lost Cause''-a cause. which though
buried forever in a winding sheet OF
glory, is yet hallowed In every true south
ern breast by the memory or
fallen heroes. our brothers. and
our sires.
OUR REUNITED COUNTRY.
In accepting such sentiments. common
TO us all In this beautiful Southland, /
feel that we surrender not one fota or
that loyalty and that devotion felt by
us all for our common. reunited country
q loyalty which to be proved needs only
the opportunity offered, the danger
threatened, when the southern soldier
in the past will leap to her defence with
. seal valor. and a patriotism. equal.
n not superior, TO that OF any other Sec
ton of this broad land. / may be par
doned too, at expressing my qualification
at meeting you and presiding over your
deliberations In this beautiful city-the
Saratoga Of the South-here In my native
Southwest land.
/ shall not d!gress further, but, follow
ing the examples set by my worthy pre-
decessors In this Office shall address you
upon some medical subject. l shall en-
deavor TO discuss briefly the mental.
moral and hygenic therapeutics in rela-
ton to the early home life and to gene
raj practice. In the subject selected i
have the sympathetic interest of the
: laity of all intelligent men and women.
especially the latter who are ever alive
to everything looking to the good of the
human race and to the development OF
mankind along mental. moral. and spirit
aal lines. The domain Of the wise must
not be limited 10 the mere giving OF
drugs, but must embrace all those In
fiuences Of environment. subjective, and
objective. calculated 10 tell for veal or
woe on each individual case.
FAMILIAR ILLUSTRATIONS.
Familiar illustrations of the influence of
the mental impression over bodily fun
tons are common in everyday life, as
witnessed In the blush of the maiden's
cheek. the pallor OF the face from sudden
fear. the stoppage OF the heartbeat from
mental shock, the exhilarating. life-giving
influence OF Joy and gladness. and the
detecting, dsspiriting effect Of grief and
gloom. The powerful influence Of conf
dence In the cure and prevention Of dis
ear was well understood and recognized
by the savages Of antiquity.
The conditions constituting human en-
vironment. as cir. water, food. clothing.
habitation, climate, act constantly and
powerfully in shaping the type and advent
81 disease. So. subjectively. the varying
states OF mind. temper. disposition, tastes.
mental and moral influences. brought to
bear through reading, studying, education,
rte, have powerful effect in forming
the character and life and upon the COM
fort and well being Of thy individual IN
all the functional activities OF the body
Physical expression shows permanent
marks of the feelings. emotions, passions.
etc. and thus a mans character Is often
written upon his face the transitory ones
being readable there. while the deeper
Traces of fixed habits OF thought and feel
ing are written in indelible characters
upon the organism.
Why should not the same common-sense
principles pertain to the rearing, de-
yeloping calling forth of powers, mental
and physical, IN the young or the human
race. in pushing TO the highest point of
excellence the better qualities OF muscle,
mind, and heart. thereby producing to
attn greater degree In each generation a
race OF giants and thoroughbreds. intel
lectually, physically and morally.
The plan is followed by intelligent
farmers In the Improvement OF their mo
roughbreds and short-horns-why not APP
pIy this 10 the human young? "The In
v,dual who comes into the world Is not
an isolated being" "Heredity governs all
the phenomena Of mental pathology, with
the same results and the same energy as
we see II control moral and physical
resemblances in the offspring" But the
environments of early life. in the
home, in the school. in society, have as
much, or, perhaps, more, to do with the
formation and shaping Of the future life
and character.
HEREDITY.
An old and true axiom Is "the hand
that rocks the cradle rules the world"
but the wonderful influence OF the mother,
as to the temper. disposition. tempera-
ment. appetites, ETC., over the unborn
child IL not so well appreciated or in
cuIcated even in our medical teachings.
as II should be. Many Of US to-day have
the benefits Of the calm. unexciting, lazy
Hives Of our forefathers. They stored vital
energies for us, which we, In many in
stances, ara expanding with a lavish
hand II. in the process Of education.
energy designed to further brain growth
IL dissipated in functional activity. here
dity tendencies to disease become there
bv developed. and the development of
the brain is limited. and defects become
evident which. under more favorable cir.
climstances, would never have existed.
II has been truly said, Gould the young
but realize how soon they will become
mere walking bundles Of habits they
would give more heed to their conduct
while In the plastic state
The laws OF hygiene. as also those Of
mental and physical development or de-
cay In the Individual. or nation, are as
nxed and inviolabie az those Of the Deca-
logue. and the punishment enforced more
prompt and positive.
HOME LIFE.
Applying these principles OF mental and