The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-09
FOR NEW DISPENSARY
DIR. WIsHARD'S ADDRESS TO MA
RION COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
terest of a New City Dfspensary
Building.

The Marion County Medical Society held
its annual meeting at the courthouse last
night. The annual address was delivered
by the president, DR.. William N Wishard.
In his paper DR.. Wishard reviewed a part
of the work done by the society in the past,
and discussed at length few plans for the
future of the society. Concerning the lat
ter he said
There are other directions in which this
society has obligations besides the reading
and discussion of scientific papers and the
stimulation of interest in its own orsaniza-
ton. Notable among these may be men
toned it's duty to take a more active in
terest in municipal sanitary matters. 1t has
for a long time been a matter of regret
that our local vital statistics have been
practically valueless and that inquiries from
the department at Washington, d. c.. have
ELECTED little or no information. The city
Board of Health has recently suggested a
plan of relief and presented it to the
Mayors cabinet and the committee of cit
liens who are now considering the city
charter, and the suggestions have been in
corporated in the recommendations to the
Legislature, which body will be asked to
amend the charter in accordance with the
boards suggestions. The board advises the
appointment of a city sanitarian who must
be a medical graduate and specialist in
sanitary science, such officer to be APP
pointed by the Board of Health and under
it's control. His duties should be to attend
to sanitary affairs of the city and have
command of the sanitary police and make
full reports of all matters relating to this
department. He should be competent to
make sanitary analyses and meteorological
examinations and his whole time should be
given to the work.
''Such a plan has worked well elsewhere
and this line of work is recognized to be
of such practical importance that it has
become separate department OF instruc-
ton in some of our universities. 1t is de-
sirable that this society give it's active sup
port to this reform and L would recon-
mend that the members use their influence
with the Legislature to secure favorable
action upon the proposed amendment to the
city charter.
lit may not be inappropriate at this time
to call attention to the fact that this So
ciety should have permanent and more
suitable place of meeting and trust
will not be regarded as visionary If l sug-
gest a plan which would accomplish the
desired result and not involve any expendi-
ture of money the part of our members.
1t is simply that a united effort be made,
by every member of the Marion County
ties to erect a new building for the city
dispensary. The present building is dis.
such work and has practically no provision
ior the proper presentation of clinical ma
teral to the two or three hundred medical
students who annually bring thousands of
dollars to the city. Such a building, be
sides relieving the city of the stigma which
the present one casts upon the reputation of
our municipality would also afford a good
amphitheater for clinical purposes, and this
amphitheater would afford the best possible
place for holding the regular meetings of
this society
DIR. Albert Sterne introduced a resolution
to the effect that the Legislature be asked
to make some changes in the laws govern
ing inquest for sanity, but 1T seemed to
be the opinion of the medical men that the
laws could not be bettered and the resolu-
ton was tabled. The session closed with
the election of the following officers for the
ensuing year: President, DR.. ii. 0. Panzer;
Dr. F. c. Heath; treasurer, DR.. HI. A. Den
san.