The record-union., 1897-01-30


charitable service to the sick and suffer
ing. noble appreciation of obligation to
humanity and self-abnegation in the
discharge of professional duty, we must
look for them among our physicians of
to-day.
If We have now arrived at an under
standing, you are, l hope. prepared for
suggestion quite in keeping with the
extremely moderate and reasona bIe dis
position that characterizes the patient
and layman You have invaded our be-
nighted cOntentment and led us out into
broad fields of scientific discovery. This
has inspired US with a new born spirit
of wisdom and critisism which demands
that new and larger fields be opened To
our complaCent gaze. You have pene-
trated the places where the germs of dis
ease are hidden. We are quite certain
that you should be required TO destroy
the origin of disease. and ultimately
usher in the dawn. The only escape from
the world will be through a passageway
marked Old Age Exit If this has the
appearance of exacting too much, or if
business considerations present obsta-
cles to its accomplishment, / think we
ought perhaps to reduce our claims or
at least give our doctors to other en-
ployment.
In the meantime, those of us who are
conservative must be allowed To hope
that further investigation will continue
to point the way to the prevention of
disease. For this investigation we must
still rely upon the efforts of those who
have already done so much in that di-
rection, encouraged and stimulated by
such effective organization as the Aca
DENY Of Medicine. We are sure that
this work. having arrested the attention
of the worlds brotherhood of medical
science, will not be neglected; nor need
we fear that Americas contribution to
splendid results will be deficient. In
some instances, however. investigation
has performed its part and only effective
action in other quarters is necessary
to supply needed remedies. In some
cases, of course, you are absOlved from
all responsibility in your professional
character by exhibiting dangers and
warnings against them. Thus certain
diseases which you deem contagious yet
remain imperfectly isolated.
You have demonstrated the peril of
unwhOlesome water and noxious sur
roundings, and yet much remains TO be
done by way of protecting our people
against these dangers. You have es-
tabished code of ethics which con-
demns charlatanism in all its forms;
and yet ignorant pretenders roam over
the land offering to perform miracles. or
are located in our towns and cities,
preying upon the weakness of the sick
and afflicted, while men and women are
allowed to die without medical atten-
ltiOn, deluded with the hope that faith
will save them in their extremity. With
in the limits, of your Professional power
and influence you seek to restrain any
approach to criminal malpractice, yet
newspapers disgustingly though COW
ertly advertise the way to such crimes
and .startle their readers with sensa-
tional tales of death and misery to
which they are directly accessories.
Il need not suggest that such evils
are allowed to exist by reason of the
insufficiency of our laws or a laxity in
their execution. / have intimated that
for this condition you are not response
BILE in a professional sense, but are you
as citizens doing all in your power to
cuse you of utter neglect of your duty
to the country, and yet we cannot keep
out of mind the suspicion that if your
professional work in exposing evils We're
more thoroughly supplemented by labor
in the field of citizenship these evils
would be more speedily corrected.
If laws are needed to abolish abuses
which your professional Investigations
have unearthed, your fraternity should
not be strangers to the agencies which
make the laws. If enactments already
in force are neglected or badly executed,
you should not forget that it is your
privilege and duty to insist upon their
vigorous and honest enforcement Let
me also remind you of the application
to your case of the truth embodied in
the homely injunction: If you want a
job we'll done, do it yourself If MEM
bers of your profession were oftener
found in your national and State legis-
lative assemblies ready to advocate the
reformatOry measures you have dem
onstrate to be encessary, ard to de-
fend your brotherhood against f1ippant
and sneering charges of impracticabil-
ity, the prospect of your bestoWal upon
your fellOWmen of the ripened results
of your professional labor would be
brighter and nearer.
while thus suggesting the need of
your influence in legislative circles for
the accomplishment of reforms related
to your profession, you will. I hope.
permit me in conclusion to enjoin upon
you the duty of an active and general
interest and participation in public af-
fairs for the promotion of your coun-
try's good in all its phases Our Gov
ernmert was founded upon faith and
anticipation that those who loved il
most and were best able to hold it
steady would be at it's helm. Without
this 1T will surely go astray Never did
patient need your medical treatment
more than the body polite needs the
watchful care of your patriotic and
diSintereSted citizenship. No object of
personal ambition and no activity of
professional life should be permitted to
withhold from our Government the
tithe of devotion and service due from
its thoughtful, intelligent and educated
citizens. The reward of willing recog-
milton of our obligation TO watch and
protect our free institutions and pre-
serve them from weakness and decay
will surely come when just Govern
ment, supported by the patriotism of a
loving people, shall bestow with equal
hand upon us and all our countrymen
the blessings of national peace, content
ment and happiness
After the exercises Mr.. Cleveland
went to Dr. Bryants house where he
will pass the night. He viii return to
Washington tomorrow
BAY COVERED WITH ICE.