Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-25


Ideal physician. the speaker said that
knowledge did not necessarily mean
Skill and that many who possessed a
theoretical knowledge Of the medical
practice were not possessed Of a practi-
cal KNOWLEDGE
Dr. Landlords peroration was especially
eloquent. and In IL he expressed the hope
that all within his hearing might, when
their last hour came, find that sOlace
which could come only to the pure, good
nina.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
The speech was loudly applauded. ard
Wheh quiet was Restored DR.. Jacob
Hiichaux presented his annual addrts IS
&c the society The address was highly
interesting, and contained many recon-
henoatioHs.- he congratulated the society
upon its great growth and increasing in
nueDce within the recent past, as il now
pears upon its rolls almost 1000 Of the
most learned and cultured physicians Of
TINS state. The president did net choose
any particular theme, but directed atten-
uOn to several important matters.
In the first place" he said, II would
recommend the appointment Of a com
mlttee whose duty il shall be TO urge
upon the General Assembly the great i'm
tho practice OF medicine and surgery in
Virginia, so that no Undergraduate shall
De permitted TO appear before the State
Board Of Medical Examiners save such
as SHAH have passed the examinations al
their respective colleges upon the funda-
mental brdnches-Viz., anatomy, physiOlO-
gy, chemistry, materia meoica and the
rapeutics, histology, pathology, and uri-
nology, and shall present a certificate Of
the same from their faculties after the
end OF the second year Of the course"
lie gave several arguments in support
OF this proposition, and continued: An
other matter as 10 the board: / would
suggest that some interstate arrange
ment be had by which men who shall
have been pronounced properly qualified
In one State may be accepted by the
boards Of other States thus giving larger
liberties TO medical men.
| need not say that / am In favor of
sustaining our boards at all hazards. for
i think now, as have thought for many
years, that they have done more to ele-
Vate the standard of medical education
than any step ever taken before. L would
recall 10 your minds. in this connection,
as showing that my opinions on this sub
iect remain unchanged. the paper | read
before you at our meeting at Allegheny
Springs in 1892.
REFORM IN NATERIA MEDICA.
Let us now turn to another part OF
the medical horizon. and / would ask
You 10 bear with me whilst / point out
the necessity for reform in that direction.
1 speak of our materia medica. II was
my fortune to lecture for a number of
years upon this subject, and l. therefore,
had opportunities to devote much time
and labor TO it, and ! do not hesitate 10
assert that IL is my firm conviction that
II the standard textbooks on this impOr-
tant subject were cut down 10 one-half
their present size We would confer the
flef h.. ,nlfrr 4
Of upon the medical world. upon the
pharmacist. upon the student and profess
sOr; and, lastly. upon suffering humanity.
/ do not believe that any man can master
properly the vast detail of such pOnderOus
volumes as now frOWn upon Us from our
shelves. II he has anything else 10 do.
am perfectly certain that we could mas
ter more thoroughly and use more skill
fully reduced number Of drugs"
Il am glad to see that the Medical So
this direction, and when thoy sent me a
list Of 100 drugs. for which there are bet
ter substitutes, and asked which l would
strike out at the next revision Of the
pharmacOpooia. l wrote that | would
strike out ALL and many more, If I could.
PROPRIETARY MEDICINES
Another matter Of growing Importance
Is the regulation Of sale Of proprietary
medicines. No man can scientifically
prescribe remedies already compounded
of whose constituents he Is entirely ignO-
rant The most scientific prescription
cannot be made TO suit so large a number
OF cases without changing the proportions
or the ingredients, or even the Ingredient
themselves, for in the acute stages OF
diseases the remedies most desirable
would be murderous a few days later.
The French laws require that all medi-
cineS sold In lthas country shall have
their exact formulate printed upon the
label This would be- sufficient for Us.
and / hope that proper action will be
taken at this meeting TO secure that end.
No medicine should be allowed TO be put
upon the market without its working for
mulae being plainly printed upon the
label"
ADULTERATION OF FOOD.
"In view Of the adulteration Of food
now prdcticed upon such an enormous
scale, l would advise that immediate
steps be taken to have suitable legisla-
ton enacted for the appointment Of a
State inspector of food. whose duty IL
shall be TO inspect all kinds Of food ex-
posed for sale. including meats. milk,
butter. vegetables, flour. sugar. wines.
distilled liquors malt liquors. etc, and
that he be empowered 10 employ cOmpe-
tent men, when necessary. 10 assist IN
his work. There should b. a competent
medical inspector Of every market In the
cities OF the State, for vast quantities OF
unwh0lesome food are wei. known to be
sold therein almost constantly.
y would, therefore, recommend the
appointment Of three committees-yiz.: