Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-24

sessions from Monday 10 SATURDAY. 1 have
considered more favorably than any others.
Many good workers in the Institute urge
II, but II seems TO me impracticable unless
the present plan Is so changed as to allow
three sections to report ut the same time,
or that we return to the old plan Of having
two sections at a time continuously and
have no section to appear before the whole
Institute. In this way the whole work
OF the Institute might be brought within
five days. but for obvious reasons ! would
not either plan, as | believe the
present plan for the present volume OF work
is the best.
There are some other subjects which I
consider OF sufficient Importance TO refer to
as briefly as possible, and the first to present
Itself is medical expert testimony.
Medical expert Testimony.
The taking OF medical expert testimony
In many cases OF criminal trials has proved
to be a farce and scandal on Justice. as
forcibly illustrated In the past year by the
Leutgert trial at Chicago and the Benham
trial at Batavia, N. Y. In one state, at
least, an effort has been made to change
the method Of procuring such testimony and
to insure its being nonpartisan and UNI
BIASED. l would that your
committee on legislation be requested to as
sist in promoting state legislation on this
subject, providing that medical expert wit
nesses shall be chosen by the court or some
competent state authority outside of the
medical profession, and paid for such serv-
ices by the county; and further, that In the
choice of such witnesses the law shall not
discr inmate n favor Of any school of medi-
cine.
Uniformity of state Liccnsure.
The question of uniformity in the re-
quirements for license to practice medicine
in the different states Is a difficult one to
solve. There has already been interstate
friction from various requirements; and
fr@,N thA ~nN,-a ~ Tho 40. xn 49, rnaIlt
perceive that there may be- much more. As
a matter of justice to licensed physicians
who may wish to move from one state to
another, uniformity OF licensure should pre-
vail. In the comprehensive and excellent
report OF the interstate committee to the
Buffalo meeting, the ninth article recon-
mends that the chairman Of the committee
correspond with secretaries of state regis
tration boards to get from them a definite
expression on this important matter. As
Stunning, as we surely may, that the re-
sponses from these boards will be unani-
mously in favor Of securing uniformity of
state licensure, we may be allowed to take
action accordingly. The object of the ninth
article of the interstate committees report
appears to be only to get an expression from
the state boards on uniformity of licensure.
Again the interstate has very
heavy duties imposed on 1t in another direc-
ton. Under these circumstances l would
recommend that a committee be appointed
of one person directly interested in licens-
ing, from each state, to cooperate in en-
deavoring to secure uniform requirements
for licensure of physicians in the different
states.
Forestry.
/ wish to call your attention 10 a subject
which is eminently entitled to our considera-
ton, though it is not directly in the sphere
of our work and Investigation at the present
time. 1t has undoubtedly come to the
knowledge of all present that the clearing
of the forests of our country has, in some
localities, seriously threatened the water
supply and increased the damage from
freshets. The forestry commission in th>
Department of Agriculture at Washington
is making a systematized effort toward a fu'
ture Improvement of surface conditions IL
territory so affected, and If through the
efforts Of this commission, the hill tops Of
the country may be covered with natura
forest trees, our sanitary conditions ant
prospects might be greatly improved.
would recommend the passage of the FOL
lowing resolution, viz: That the member
of this Institute will, as opportunity ma!
offer, assist legislation, for the preservation
of forests, and for the reproduction OF then
wherever needed.
Monument.
There Is a subject on which this institut
Is to be congratulated, viz. the completio
of the Hahnemann monument in a manne
that must challenge the admiration OF ever
member. AS a work of art, l predlct ina
this monument will rank among the hrst l
the country. The thoughtful expression G
the features, the attitude OF the figure. tn
graceful simplicity of the drapery, ana TN
classical dignity of the entire work seer
quite appropriate TO the venerable subJec
The committee in charge of the work an
the SCULPTOR are to be complimented on
perfect success. | believe one sight of tn
bronze will bring the necessary dollars frol
each one. And since the women haN
formed the Ladies' Hahnemann Monumer
association. we have faith to believe thu
i, the necessary funds will soon be-forthcon
= Ing.
a There is another subject I would 7GieI
. ton, which, though small in appeara7c
q should receive attention.; that Is, the No
: of Curanter or Curentur in the phrai
which this institute has adopted as !
h motto. The institute on Its seal uses oil
form, and the Hahnemann Monument ass
d citation, an organization OF the institut
O uses the other for.r. on its literature al
n on the bronze monument. Any Lat
a scholar can recognize the difference in ST
MITIGATION of these two words, and q
homeopathic should unite on the use of OF
form. l will not discuss the subject. b
propose that a committee be appointed
report on 1t at the session of 1899.
Realizing myself, as you all do, the II
mense practical benefit of the trained nur
n as a necessary adjunct to the physician
practice, / believe we should recognize
some way the Training School for Nurses
re our annual program. | would thereto
. recommend that provision lie made for t
reading of one paper in the section of y
stetrics. on some subject pertaining to t
10 trained nurses work. and that a commit
be appointed to make a brief report ca
year on Training Schools for Nurses.
II Materin Mcdica.
Now let US come to the item that is fiji
te In importance to this society and dear
III the heart Of every homeopathist, our N
Ir terra medica. In the early years of I
In American institute its principal thought a
e. work was on materia medica and clini,
IS medicine. And good thought and good VIC
tn It was. But the commemorate work in I
collateral sciences has absorbed so much
ty the time of our sessions, that mate
ke medica has been partially obscured a
s. apparently relegated to second place. J
IN the same men are working as ever,
committee on drug proving have done &C
N work ana the materia medica ~confereI
Nv has shown a faint renewal OF interest
materia medica, but the majority of
no profession have not given it the attenti
10 which its importance demands. Yet h
shall we effect a revival? Only by increas
an activity in work. The lamented j. p. Da
agitated for several years q plan for q n