Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-01
VIRGINIA DOCTORS.
Meeting of the state Medical Society
at Hot Springs.


cial)-Dr. George Ben. Johnston, presi-
dent, called to order the twenty-eighth
annual session OF the Medical Society
OF Virginia, at 0 o'clock tonight, In the
Casino, and introduced TO the public and
profession Or. J. Allison Hodges. Dr.
Hodges, Of Richmond, delivered the
address 10 the public and the profess
sion, taking as his subject "The For
gotten Doctor"
The speaker said he did not mean to
make a post-mOrtem eulogium, but 10 re-
FER TO q class OF men neglected almost
wholly In civic affairs. IL was just such
men, however, who hold in their hands
the public safety, and 1t was by that
the standard OF the community was
judged. The tendency of the times was
TO consider one class OF men more I'M
portant TO the Commonwealth than
another, thus inculcating a doctrine op-
posed to the dominant democracy of the
country, and as result the medical
profession did not occupy the station TO
which the benefits it had conferred en-
titled it, the public deeming 1t of slight
importance and deserving of slight con-
sideratiOn. Because of past inertness in
matters political the profession has been
adjudged indifferent to them, and con-
seQuently, its voice, whether from an
individual or an association, was apt TO
be disregarded, even though 1t concerned
a subject of peculiar professional inte-
rest, and one requiring especial technical
training.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The bill establishing a State Board Of
Health for Virginia was rejected in
twenty successive Legislatures, and after
it Was passed the appropriation was
scarcely sufficient 10 make 1t effective.
The age was an utilitarian one, and we
could no longer make mystery of our
work, but must submit it to analysis.
Medicine had served its tens OF thou
sands, but none of its light had received
from the public the applause it deserved.
The mental vision OF the public must,
he said bc corrected by a better appre-
citation of the realities" of things, or its
moral perspective would continue TO be
at fault.
DUTY OF THE PROFESSION.
1t was the duty Of the profession TO
show the public who its benefactors were
and the benefits conferred, and to de-
mand that honor and position be cores
pondngly accorded. a just conserva-
ton of the rights Of the medical
profession was of much greater inn
portance TO the physicians than fealty TO
any political party. 1t was high time
for men who have nobler aims in lie
to aid In electing such lawmakers as
would be n protest against abuses, and
use their offices for the public good.
Matters pertaining to professional pro-
gress and sanitary welfare should out
weigh all considerations Of strict paru-
sanshlp, and our power should be felt
with legislators for purposes other than
those represented by mOnopolistic ioDDles
and political bosses. When vicious legls-
lation was proposed. or when salutary
measures were neglected, we who were
the appointed guardians OF the nauons 5
health should act and act promptly.
Silence at such times stultihed our pro-
fession and sacrificed our own seif-lh-
terest.
VIVISECTION.
Referring TO the Antivivisecton So
ciety. Dr. Hodges said its whole pre-
tended interest in regulating antivivi-
section was the hollowest OF hollow
shams. Through experimental medicine
the dictum BE clean, or you must sure
ly die" has been demonstrated. Inc
imperative lessons of hygiene had been
acquired almost wholly through the
marvellous revelations of hacterioiosy'
and should these facts and the new me-
thods of saving the healthy from as
ease be DdN1peICu by NhtS' SD-~"A'NN -
name societies which were seeking 10
imbue the minds Of legislators with the
idea that physicians were vampires ana
yeritable hyenas?
Dr Hodges then went on TO enumerate |
soma evils for which the public were
not wholly responsible. Unless phYsl-
clan was a member OF hospltal stan, |
his chances OF success were, he sa4H
reduced to a minimum. Especially was
this true of the younger members oi
the profession. Another abuse was
that OF persons able TO pay obtaining |
services from the dispensary that be-
long to,the deserving poor. other abuses |
were the business of the manuIactur-
ing chemist-the manufacturer OF meul-
c,nes that displace the doctors prescrlp-
zion nv displaying the constituents oil |
the remedy. the dosage and diseases for
,rhich indicated, so that patient can
a. dvise IT for another, thus depriYing the
nhysician of his legitimate Zee; dlspehs-
inc pharmacists who prescribe over the
counter and furnish other means ior
taking away the doctors lVeihood' IN
surance examiners fees; physicians re
turns Of disease and deaths "i'houl
expert fees-at any time
,he State has a legal right 10 take the
,doctor from his work and compel MN
20 testify in any court and at any place,
him with a per dlem OF oV
cents. fees In insanity EXAMINATIONS the
amount being $3.50; state ana city IT.
e,,,se-taxes. the physician being trebly
imposed upon; being obliged TO pay
etate license twice, based upon his IN
come. and a citl license. dependant also
,,non his income; medical registration
Jaws and medical examining boards.
,rbo address was a beautiful effort
marked frequently by applause. -ae
carried away the audience
MEMBERSHIP.
ro,lowing the address came the report
- she Committee on Nominations.
sr,,,,,-sfx applications for membership
,,.nrs handed In. one OF these was that
y. - Woman. and as the farther adnls-
- ~ women to the society Is maze |
~ snecial order for tomorrow morn
,no,s session. the nomination was ia'u
on the table until that time. oi those
elected the following are from iich-
mond. Drs. Ed Harrison, W. H. Lyne'
Tbcrnas ID. Merrick. ii. 5. MacLean r.
! Uobson. f. j. Moseley, 1. r. moore,
"a q Nicholson. ID. l.. MOTIFS hiciaIu
rorgnsson. A. +. Greiner ana u r.
Collins. s. ~o,,oa
,rhe price Nash Mcclure prize, so eaiieu
nocause OF the donors. Drs. Joseph frlce'
~ pbiladelphia: Herbert Nash, OF NOT
fol,r and Hunter Mcclure, OF Richmohu'
.,',n,,nt,ne 10 $3.50. and offered for the
800 history OF medicine and surgery III
SDr,,nia was awarded 10 Dr. Artnur