New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30
ITS HALF CENTURY PASSED.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE
ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND MAKES AN ADDRESS AND
IS ENTHUSIASTICALLY REcEGvED-DRs.
BRYANT. jacob. sAYRE AND J
PURPLE ALSO SPEAK.

The New-York Academy OF Medicine. an I'M
stitution whose strength and significance are IA
miliar to every intelligent New-Yorker. celebrat.
ed its semi-centennial last evening at Carnegie
Hall. Admittance was by invitation only, ana
when the hour of o'clock arrived the big hall
was nearly filed. Only a few seats In the or
chestra and the top gallery remained vacant
while nearly every box was filled with women
and their escorts.
The leading feature Of the evening was an ad-
dress by President Cleveland, who came from
Washington for the purpose OF delivering IL
The President arrived in Jersey City just be-
fore ) o'clock yesterday afternoon. and. crossing
the river was driven at once to the house or
Dr. Joseph d. Bryant. at No. 81 West Thirty-
sixth-st The President dined with DR.. Bryant.
the members OF his family. the Secretary OF
War. Daniel s. Lamont. and Surgeon General
George NJ. Sternberg. 1t was $50 o'clock when
the President went upon the platform OF Car
negie Hail. leaning upon the arm Of DR.. Bryant.
He was greeted with long and loud applause
from the auditors. who rose at his entrance,
while the band PLAYED the usual Hail to the
Chief" Behind him came Secretary Lamont.
Surgeon-General Sternberg Bishop Potter. DR..
Samuel s. Purple Dr. Lewis A. Sayre, DR.. A.
jacob. Carl SchurZ Recorder Goff and others.
DR.. Bryant. as president OF the Academy Of
Medicine, opened the exercises of the evening
with a brief address. in which he reviewed sue.
cinctly the purposes Of the Academy as the rep
resentative body Of the medical profession OF the
city and it's services to the municipality in the
matter OF many plans for the public health. He
ended his remarks by interpreting the presence
of so large gathering upon the occasion Of its
semi-cen.ennia celebration an evidence OF
the interest of all good people in whatever tends
IL III Of fba init
ONE OF THE FOUNDERS.
DIR. Samuel S. Purple of the eight Twins
founders Of the Academy OF Medicine spoke
briefly of how the institution took form first in
the minds Of the physicians of the city and later
more tangibly. He said that its purpose was to
be barrier between quackery and medical In
tegrty and step toward professional harmony
DR.. Lewis A. Sayre. another of the founders.
gave some interesting "reminiscences OF the early
days Of the academy. and outlined some OF Its
services for the health of the city particularly
In the matter of the establishment OF quarantine.
He called attention to the academy's committee
appointed to induce Congress to adopt legisla-
ton that should lead to the improvement OF the
health of the whole country. Should its propo-
sitions be adopted, he said it would go far tow
ard stamping out tuberculosis scarlet fever.
diphtheria typhoid fever and other contagious
diseases He also thanked the President for the
help he had afforded this committee.
The formal orator Of the evening for the Acad.
envy was Dr. A. jacob. former president He
outlined more at length the scope OF the Acad-
emy defining it as the neutral ground OF tho
profession, the one temple Of safety. mpartiali-
~ and neutrality. He called especial attention
to the fight the Academy had made against
auackery and urged his hearers TO beg their
representatives in legislative bodies to second
their efforts in all possible ways lie touched
upon the marvellous advance recently made IN
handling dangerous diseases. and declared that
most Of them had resulted from animal expert
mentation, for which he entered plea.
THE PRESIDENT INTRODUCED.
The big audience again rose to its feet and
cheered for some time when DR.. Bryant intro
duced the President of the United States. whose
address was frequently punctuated with APP
plause Mr. Cleveland read his address in
voice that was audible in every part OF the
hall.
Mr. President. and Ladies and Gentlemen have
anticipated the share assigned to me on this oc-
casion with considerable repdation tor Hari n"
reasons. have been chiefly disnuroed nTsvs
ground for my right to join those who celebrate
the seni-centennal of medical ass9cia,i9 h,ooa
when the desirable choice of future activity seemed
to rest between running away rom NONE Sror in
clned toward the more quiet and orderly OF thss ,
late day for claim of relationship to the medical
fraternity Nor do forget that less tnan seven
ticipatng in the exercises when he cornerstone
was laid Of the building which Is now the nome me
half-century Of useful and Honorable existence;
But this incident which aroused IN interss, sun
Medicine. hardly entities me to share In the
Fluctuations Of those who have snee oSrne s en
Of
loved the ease and happy surroundings OF puohc
station. - ,.o, ha,o M rich, m
even standing room within the inner circle OF the
naNn S0a speak to you as reprs
sentative of the vast army OF patients ana iay-
''' AZ the outset desire to remind you that you
owe US much Though largely in the majority ana
Wit weIl Conducted among us do not vex you with
hurtfu competition. Instead OF making IRE hnrd
t ws assist y0d ~ you by INDUCING in an sorts of rrssu
iarities We are obedien and submissive 10 your our
sometimes pay your bills, even after recSVeTyy
health With M,how we yo are aMfys
In circumstance If when IN perfe yo hsi
is in our minds 1t is fair to ken US to certain
very differently inclined when well
WHAT THE DOCTORS HAVE DONE.
We begin by conceding most heartily. and without
the least reservation the learning and skill Of those
now constituting the medical profession. and the
wonderful advance that has been made through
their untiring labors and Investigations In the al
deviation OF human suffering and the ssying OF hu-
man life.
IL may be that this seems to you an acknowledge
ment so much your due as TO be hardly worth max.
Ing. You should, however. value IL because II Is
made those who were not born yesterday.
but who hold In lasting and tender memory the min
isrations Of village doctor of fifty years and
are now the living monuments OF his faithful care.
He too alleviated suffering and saved human life We
know that II not given to him to see the bright
lights that now mark the path OF medicine and
surgery but you cannot convince US that he CROPPED
entirely In the dark We remember without abhor-
renee his evcr-ready lancet and the scars Of his
blood letting found IN every household We endure
with complacency the recollection OF his awful
containing bottles. powders and pills
which. whatever might be thought OF them now.
seemed then 10 be sufficient for all emergencies 20 say
not hing OF the tooth pulling tools and other shiver-
breeding instruments sometimes exposed TO view.
IL ne was ignorant OF many OF the remedies and APP