The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-01
VIRGINIA MEDICAL MEN.
They Meet in Annual Session al Inc
Hot Springs.
DR.. HODGES ON FORGOTTEN DOCTOR.
A Splendid Address Showing t"e "e"'"'
cent Work Of the Profession In ihefres
ervation and ProIongsiion Of fHnm""
Iife-Aunusl Experiment.

cial.-The twentyIninth annual session
20 the Medical Society Of Virginia, was
called to order in the Casino at Z. NJ by
the President. DR.. George Ben Johnston
Of Richmond.
rhis was the first meeting and open to
the public
The first order Of business was the adj
dress 60 the public and profession.
The subject was the Forgotten Doc
tor" Or. ]. Allison Hodges, OF Richmond,
being the leader After thanking the con-
vention Tor its cordiality and the honor
conferred upon him by his selection. he
said in part that he would discuss n sub
iect OF mutual interest to the public and
profession. His title did not refer TO
memorial address but to class OF men
who are much neglected. When the
history OF the nineteenth century shall be
written. the record OF It's marvellous ad-
vances I'm the arts and sciences will he
It's crownng glory. yet Judging from The
past 1T was doubtful IL adequate credit
would be bestowed upon the medical pro-
fcssion for its grand and benetcent work
I'm the preservation and prolongation OF
human life.
THE UNSEEN HAND.
In estimating a civilization the neglect
ed and forgotten man or class of men
more than any other should be considered
BECAUSE it is the unseen hand that Is Of
ten the power. The many cannot be
Judged By the few who happen to be up
permost. The security and steadfastness
OF free institutions are at last measured
by the condition Of the weakest part
Hence tho consideration Of one class OF
men as more important than another IN
culcates a doctrine opposed to the DON'T
nant Democracy of our country and race.
Such DR. Hodges believed 10 be the ten
dency Of the times and as a result the
medical profession does not occupy that
exalted position which Il once claimed,
and to which its great benefits conferred
on suffering humanity entitle II. Ihe
fault may be that OF ourselves, but the
fact remains that in the eyes Of the pub
lie at least, ours is but an honorary pro-
fession and entitled 10 but slight consld-
Grafton and TO few OF the endowments
OF social or civil life. because in the past
we have been neglectful OF public matters
II has been assumed that we are lndlffer-
ent TO them and consequently our voice
falls on deaf ears even If IL be the united
! one OF such q society as this. and more
over II II even be upon a subject OF pecu-
liar professional interest and one requir-
Ing especial technical training.
INDIFFERENT LAW MAKERS.
In proof OF this the Doctor cited In
stances I'm which bill after bill relating 20
nublic health introduced into Congress
! has failed to pass even I'm the Virginia
LEGISLATURE a like fate met like bill
| during twenty successive sessions, 1t be-
ing passed finally but with scarcely a
sufficient appropriation to make 1t ef-
/ fective
The only mode OF correction OF this
/ state OF affairs IS for each physician 10
make his personal and professional in
terests felt because the public In gem
eral has no adequate idea of the mogni-
tnde OF the work for their common well
| fare. or OF the grandeur Of medical sci
once or art
This Is a practical age and practical
| generation. and everything Is subjected
10 ultimate analysis and everything Is
| Judged by the utiltarlan standard.
THE REAL VICTORS.
/ The world appauds the dramatic but
| closes its eyes 10 the silent victories Of
science Sir Joseph Lister. by the dis
covery of antl-sepsIn and asepsis, has
saved more lives than NapOleons ambl-
tion destroyed. and his work will live
| after him I'm silent, but ever active fer
! tlity OF good.
The recognition. however. he has re-
! ccived as compared with the War Lord
is infinltesmal, II Is your duty that the
| public should not only know how your
| profession has benefited humanity, but
who the bonefactors are. and in return
| you should demand that honor and posi-
tion he correspondingly accorded. | de-
| test the scheming political doctor. but
when schemers and bribers and hoodlums
"ln II for what II IS worth" are dictat-
ing legislation and seeking TO perfect
/ their INSCRIPTIONS and nofarious pur-
poses. il Is time for men who have nobler
| aims I'm life 10 aid IN electing such law
makers as will protest against abuses and
use their Offices for the public good.
GUARDIANS OF HEALTH.
Corporate action OF such societies as
this and individual appeal can influence
| Legislatures, and the duty should not
be shirked, for we are the appointed
guardians OF the nations health The
| masses Of the people are honest and
Trustworthy but medicine and its prac-
| tice. is the most ebstruse Of all the
| sciences, and consequently the public Is
bewildered. especially when II considers
the various schools, 10 say nothing OF
| Charlatans. Christian scientists. etc.
The Doctor paid his respect to the
"Furor Scribendi," that 10 a great extent
has had the effect Of discredlting work
and ability OF many members Of the pro-
fession. also TO the Anti-Vivisection So
ciety their pretended interest being the
hollowest OF hollow shams.
Shall ignorance stand in the way of
1 t~frt .,t.
tain way, the world has long known the
necessity OF cleanliness: but IL was not
till experimental science. by means OF
vivi-sectlon. was able TO say "Be clean
or you must surely die" that obedience
was gained TO this divine command.
ANIMAL EXPERIMENT.
Hygiene has been made a science
through bacteriolosy. and shall santa
ton and new methods OF saving the
healthy from diseases be hampered by
these so-called humane societies. which
are seeking to lmbue the minds Of Legis-
Iatures with the idea that physicians
: are vampires and hyenas2
Protection from typhoid fever and tu-
berculosls would have been unknown, but
for animal experimentation. and, II
mistake not. bacteriology Is TO accom-
plIsh in the sunset hours OF this nine
tcenth century much In the interests OF
a disease-cursed world that hath never
before entered the mind Of men to con-
ceive.
Coming to the end OF his essay. Or.
| Hodges referred to matters for which,