Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-26
THE MEDICAL SOCIETY
Three Interesting Sessions Held
BY the Doctors Yesterday.
SCHOOL HYGIENE DISCUSSED.
Interesting Paper on This Subject Read
by Dr.. Nef.
THE ILLEGAL PRACTITIONERS.
Fellows Consider Ways and Means
for Kidding the State of CharIa-
tnns--sfate Care of EpiIeptics-Dr.
Nelson's Plain Words.
THE ILLEGAL PRACTITIONERS.
Nelson's Plain Words.

The second days session Of the Medical
Society Of Virginia was by far the most
interesting Of the meeting. many interest
ing discussions occupying the attention
Of the physicians
In the morning two hours were devoted
to discussion of hygiene in the school
room. and i'm the afternoon various bust
ness PROPOSITIONS presented themselves.
and were freely discussed and disposed
OF. one of the most interesting questions
was that of how best to rid the State Of
| Illegal practitioners, and the discussion Of
this subject, led by Dr. r. s. Martin Of
stuart, Va. proved highly interesting. At
night q number Of papers on scientific
Questions We're read and discussed.
The society was somewhat late in as
sembling. Five-minute reports Of the
| clerical cases were called for and re-
ports were made by Drs T.. W. Rowe, OF
Orange and George Ben. Johnston Of
| Richmond. The latter introduced his pa
tient to the society. and DR.. W. 5. Gordon
interestingly discussed the case.
SCHOOL HYGIENE.
At II o'clock the question of "How best
to promote the health In every way Of
our children I'm public schools" was
taken up.
The discussion was led by DR.. J. IT.
Nem. OF Harris0nburg, who read an in
teresting treatise on the subject He
| dealt largely i'm statistics. showing the
large number OF pupils attending public
schools. the large number of schools ne
cessary for their accommod3 dion. and the
vast sum required for the support of
| these institutions. He decried the failure
ON the part of school boards and con-
tractors TO provide pure air for the chill
dreu occupying the school buildings He
suggested that II would bee well for the
General Assembly to appoint a commits
sion TO act I'm concert with members OF
IT'S own body who i'm vacation might
make inquiry into am matters pertaining
10 the publc-school system. and report
their conclusions tor future legislative
action.
DR.. Nen's paper was followed by one
on the care of the Eyes Of School Chill
dren." read by DR. Alfred G.. Palmer, Of
Richmond This paper was exhaustive
serving the retroactive power OF the child's
eve. Retroactive errors We're. the paper
asserted. to be found I'm the eyes of
many children i'm the school rooms. and
no remedial efforts were resorted to,
with the result that nCar-sshtedness was
inevitable
40 attention the paper continued, was
paid 10 the proper introduction of light
into the school-room. and the result was
manifest lie suggested that some rene
dial legislation be enacted by the Gene
raj Assembly and that special attention
Doe given 10 the size and lighting of
school-rooms, the desks, che size OF type
I'm school-books. and other details. He
referred to the number of school chill
dren who drop out Of school because Of
the failure of their eyfsight. and as
serted that "a great obstacle I'm the way
of reform m this direction was the pre-
iudice against children wearing glasses.
Ii was the opinion Of DR.. Palmer that
the eyes OF children should Doc examined
Immediately upon their matrcIlatiOn i'm
the schools and that care should be given
them during their entire school term
lie had, be said. been appointed Oculist
10 the public schools of This city about
year ago, but had only thus TAR been
permitted 90 examine the eyes Of the
pupils in the High School Why ne should
have been required 20 begin his work az
the wrong end he could not say.
THE DISCUSSION.
DR. Hugh Mcclure was 20 have read
paper on Hygiene of the School Room"
but he was not present and the ques-
ton was thrown open to general
discussion. Dr. q. W Drake of Hollins,
spoke briefly. endorsing what had been
set forth in the papers read, and Or.
Ell. Mcclure introduced In. Burroughs.
of Asheyille who touched on a few points
which had been elaborated on by his
predecessors. he Thought the question
too large 20 Dee properly discussed in a
short space of time.
DR.. William H. Taylor made rather
humorous short talk, though he infused
among his humorous remarks many very
timely suggestions hc had he said,
learned from his connection with the
sch0ol-rOOms that girls are very much
more willing In their studies than boys.
but the boys though largely unwilling.
We're very much more able than the
girls. There were many reforms that
should be made in the schoOl-roOms. Or.
Taylor said. but many Of them could not
De made. for the reason that the school
boards lacked funds therefor. one OF the
evils. asserted the speaker. was the steps
the pupils had frequently 10 ascend
ana descend. these belns often hurtful
% the girls. lie thought il wise 10
have a doctor on all school boards. not
Il doctor who merely served 10 get free
street-car tickets and for the privilege
of sitting i'm the front row al commence
monts. but Il real medical doctor who
should know his duty and not be afraid
20 perform It.
Or. Christian. of Trbanna. made quite
a strong address setting forth the future
Of the children Of to-day. and urging the
Importance OF properly nurturing their
physical being SO that they might be
physically competent 20 fulhl the duties
which may devolve upon them in the
coming years. Physical perfection. he as
serted. was essential To mental prof.
cheney. and it was the duty of the physi-
clans 70 see 10 II that the bodily welfare
Of pupils was looked after.
Dr. j. a. Upshur thought that hygienlc
discussions should not be confined 10
public schools. but that the physicians
should do a general missionary work. and
inculcate in the parents the know
ledge that in and out OF the schOol-room
their children's health and bodily com
fort should be looked after The curri-
culum OF school children. and especially
OF girls. should be confined. he thought.
10 the hours In the school-room. and not
permitted 10 interfere with the hours al
lotted for recreation. Lessons should be
A