The morning times., 1896-12-17

The Medical Society of the District OF
Columbia held "A meeung last night at the
Georgetown College Law School Building,
SOC f street. The meeting was one gilmore
than ordinary Importance, as'fJ was the
occasion selected by the president of the
society, DIR. Samuel G. Busey, to deliver his
annual address. An audience consisting of
most of the prominent physicians of Wash
ington ana many of the iaity, among whoaf
were several ladies, gathered To hear Dr.
Busey.
DIR. j. H. Bryan took the chair w lille the
address was being read. Beyond the an
nouncement that the janitor's gift box
was on the table and that he looked to
the society for his Christmas turkey, the
entire session was devoted To the presi-
denps address. To say that the paper
was in point OF scholarship and method of
treatment OF tine subject, matter, conlfnen-
surate with Dr. Busey's reputation as
scientist, is the best and highest character
iZation possible to ma Ike.
DR.. Busey said in opening that this report
would chronicle facts ana events marking
a new era in the history OF the society
and the profession in the District He then
proceeded To enumerate and analyZe the
The legislative measures lnaJ nave been
organized and advanced by the society, for
tne Oh tle pUyslcdi
welfare OF the public
Firstin order he discussed the law passed
last year for licensing physicians in the
District, and for an examining board for
the determination OF the qualifications of
applicants for license.
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
Following the same line OF thought and
discussion the speaker touched upon the
law regulating the establishment of schools
and colleges OF medicine in the District
Thirdly, and last, among these subjects
OF legislation he mentioned the act making
privileged communication any statement
or confession made by patient TO a
physician, i'll the practice OF the profession
Heretofore, in this District, SUCH comnuHi-
cations Gould be drawn from the physician
witness in court under oath, and knowledge
gained III such way was no more sacred
in the court room and the physician had
no more protection from The inquisitorial
examiner than any other evidence or any
other witness.
The new law following the immemorial
| custom and traditions of the profession
conforlned To the letter of the statute i'll
many States and nearly so to the code OF
France.
un the matter OF the sanitation OF the
dty and the aid and advancement given
the subject by the society, DR. Busey said
that the committees Of the society first
urged Congressional action in the direc-
ton OF better water supply, a sewage
system that should meet all demands, and
espet iaily the proper and universal con;
nection OF sewers and water pipes with
all dwellings.
IL was TO their efforts that the water
and sewage systems had been SO extended
as TO include Tacoma and Bright wood with
In their liiuits and the comfort and health
of these suburbs largely bcttered. II was
a subject of personal congratulation that
these and other salitary measures advo-
Gated by the society had become effective
during his own term OF office as president
a systematic publication OF the pro
ceedings OF the society was urged By the
president The good that can be accom-
plished by such publication is incalculablc
and makes the duty of tie society iniper
ative. The record of the scientific re-
searches of the IuembeTs vot the society
formed the basis, through t3ler- publea
ton, of the greatest possible general good,
as facts can only be established by the
record Of success and failure of investi-
gators.
THE SOCIETY'S PUBLICATIONS. -
Among the examples of benefits arising
from such publication, the president men
toned the report of the committee on
public health published last June, and
dealing with the matter Of the Anacosta
ildlS anu tIeiT elect on lie DetiItn OF
the eastern part of the city. The wide at
tention given the subject and the agita-
ton OF proposition TO abate the nuisance
showed plainly that every sanitary reform
was due primarily TO the medical pr0fes
sion.
The society, he said, was not concerned
in the location of a hospital for conta gious
diseases, but it does insist on the iunlc-
date establishment OF such an institu-
tion some where N the District. Th..
records show that during the last year
there were 164 dwellings in which .iiph-
iberia developed and twenty-five in which
scarlet fever prevailed. This made 1S9,
distinct foci Of contagious disease.
A UNITED PROFESSION.
The record OF the year, Dr. Busey sold,
shows the advantage of a united prufes-
sion. That profession had led every re-
form In every age and was the hand
maiden of religion as well as the very
origin of progress. Unless the science
dominates the ignorance and rejudice tEat
sometimes confronts it, it will fail in its
mission.
In conclusion, DR.. BuSey said:
The education and betternient of the
people at large in sanitation is not less
humane than tne healing OF the sick Dur
ing the past three years, this society has
made creditable progress in this depart
ment of medical polity, in that it has
asserted its right. privilege and duty to
seek and promote such legislatonas would
conduce to the advancement of scientific
medicine and To the welfare of this com.
muntty; and now in the closing hour of
this session, it has the proud distinction
OF summing up its efforts to widen the
scope of Its activities in the interest of