The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-17
ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Of the State Homeopathic Medical So- ciety Meeting.
 At the tiftieth annual meeting of the Connecticut Homeopathic Medical soci- ety, held in Hartford, May 18th, in addi-
 ton to other business printed yester- day, pr. J. H. Allen of Norwich was elected a censor of the society to sue ceed himself, and pr. Sophia Pentield, of Danbury, was elected a member of the board of censors to succeed pr. Lambert, who in the position of presi- dent is chairman of the board of cen sors.
 pr. Arthur S. Cheney, of New Haven, spoke of the desirability of having legis- lation to protect the physician from be- ing compelled to divulge professional se- crets in court He said that lawyers are now the only professional men who are protected from divulging profession al secrets. He related case which re- gently came before the court in New Haven in which a doctor was sum mOned as a witness. The doctor was asked question relative to a patient and he refused to answer, The court adjourned for the doctor to consult counsel and the doctor was informed that he would have to answer the ques- ton or go to jail for contempt. Rather than go to jail the doctor answered the question, and it was a matter which was of the utmost importance to the pa tient pr. Cheney said that the New Haven Medical society had taken ac- ton on the matter and he thought that the state societies and county societies would vote to have legislation enacted that would protect the physician. It was the sentiment of the meeting that such legislation was necessary, and it was voted that the matter be referred to the legislative committee of the eocie- ty.
 On report of the censors the following were elected to membership:
 Dr.. Carroll Beach of Hartford, pr. Robert J. Ferguson of New Haven, Dr. Arthur Bartlett Kellogg of Hartford, Dr. J. F. Fitzsimmons of Waterbury, Dr. Edgar c. Cowles of Hartford Dr. Carl Williams of New London and Dr. J. Torrington Black of Hartford,
 The annual address of pr. Smith was read in the afternoon The subject of the presidents address was "The Place of the Physician in Modern Life" pr. Smith said it was the proud boast of the Homeopathic school that one of the revolutions which characterized the re- naissance of medicine was led by Hah- nemann, the man who dared to indulge in independence of thought, and pre- stunned to declare the medical treat ment of his day irrational and unscien- hie pott ing law led to his ostracism yet he ac- cepted even this condition rather than compromise his position, or express doubt of the results to be obtained from the practice of homeopathy.
 Our clients demand much of us pr, Smith said. They ask that we shall not only be physieians; men trained and prepared for the responsi- bilities of our profession, but they re- quire that we shall possess that quail ty which is called tact, the adaptation of self to conditions and men. They also expect of us that sweet reasonable ness which is comprised in the word courtesy. Not only are we healers of bodily ills, but also of the mind dis eased, and perhaps, ministers to the an- guished soul"
 Dr. Smith said that the fierceness of professional competition, the jealous r- valry of physicians of other schools, the great responsibilities entrusted to him when the health, life and reputation of his clients are committed to his care, his gratuitous service to the poor. these are some of the reasons why the pbysi- elan of the present day should receive q much higher recognition. and far greater consideration, than are com- monly accorded him. The physicians life is one in which the hours of rest can seldom be definitely fixed and are often very scanty. The wear upon his makes the average life of the physician fifty-tWo years, the shortest of the professions; while the meager- ness of the fees, and active competition. make his average annual income ill this country, about $1,200.