The herald., 1896-02-16
MEDICAL SCIENCE ADVANCE
Proceedings of the Travellers Club al
Its Meeting Yesterday
The Strides in Progress TAKEN During the
Last Quarter OF century-fhe Young
Men to the Fore

Yesterday morning another impromptu
meeting of the Travellers club, composed
OF eminent doctors from all parts OF the
United States who are wintering in South
ern California, was held in parlor 3 of the
Nadeau. After brief discussion of Roent-
gems discovery, Dr.. f. L. Prescott of Min
neapolis. an A. NJ. of Bellevue college, N,
y, grandson of General Prescott of Bunker
Hill fame, delivered an address on Ad-
vance in Medicine and Surgery During the
Past Twenty-Five Years. He said, in part:
No profession has made more advance
in the last twenty years than that OF medi-
cine and surgery. We realize and under
stand that hunbugs exist in our profess
sion, yet, Notwithstanding this fact, there
is a true advance in the progress of ma
leria medica and operative surgery. In
New York harbor stands the colossal figure
OF Liberty enlightening tine world with Ham
ing torch, and inviting with outstretched
hands ell foreigners to our shores. SO to-
day stands the young modern physician
End surgeon. inviting sick and suffering
humanity to seek relief and alleviation
from the pain that man is heir to. Twenty
years ago diphtheria was disease TO be
dreaded, often rushing whole families
to premature graves. 1t is to be dread
ed now. Yet the operation of ira
cheotomy has lessened the fatality of this
dread monster to large extent and in the
past two years anti-toxin has played con-
spicuous part in the cure of this disease
In speaking OF the advance of the surgeon
during the past twenty-five years, one, if
not the gre test, has been in abdominal
work. At tIat time a gunshot wound in
these regions was always fatal, but at the
present time It Is not an uncommon thing
to remove bullets that have penetrated the
viscera. The advances made by DR.. j. b.
Murphy in perfecting his anastomoss but
ton places young surgeon at the head Of
his class of the present generation. This
invention iS at the present time one
which | need not detail, as so much has
already been written on the subject,
but think i'll trying TO show the advances
made in the last quarter of a century this
will serve as one of the greatest illustra-
tons. OVariotomy was also at that time con-
sidered fatality, but now in what hospi-
tai Is IT not a common operation. stu
dent in our medical colleges at the present
time uses the cadaver in practical opera
tions and at the tmo of their graduation
are in the main thoroughly qualified to
practice that which is considered by all to
be one OF Gods most sacred privileges, that
of surgery.
Twenty-Five years ago typhoid fever was
feared by all, today under the treatment of
the skilled physician with but little med-
cine and scientific method OF good, proper
nursing, he carries over rs per cent. of his
cases through. And thus all along The line
do we demonstrate that there is a true sci
enee in the God given art of the practice
of medicine and surgery. What is there
nohler and grander than being the instrti-
ment in the hands of the Aliwise Chief Of
physicians in saving tho life of an only
child who is ilutterins between life and the
gateway OF the great eternity, or restoring
to all anxious and loving wife her husband? =?
Fifty years ago in nearly every state in the
MON any man could study medicine for a
few months, obtain few prescriptions
from some so-cailed Indian physician, ado,
NJ. d. to his name and begin experiment.
ing upon sick and afflicted humanity. How
is it today The standard OF our medical
colleges is far superior to that of even q
few years ago.
Today literary education is required by
all recogni iZed schools. In former years a
man who was able to read and write could
rnatriculate. Notice the difference today.
Therefore. claim that the young qualified
practitioner of today must necessarily be
superior 10 the physicianD of oiden times.
Take for instance such men as Drs. Mum
dee, Thomas and Faulkner of New York.
| DIR. j. X. Brown OF Boston, DR.. Irish OF
Lowell, Drs. j. \. Hyde, A. d. Bevan and
J.C Outhet OF Chicago. 1t is remarkable
to notice their success, when one remem
bers that not one OF them is over 40 years
of age. some not yet so, and how the pub
lie appreciates the younger representatives
of advanced medical science.