The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-24

and responsibility of the. doctor. esti-
mating HIS service at TIL least price they
can pay for 1t, and often evadir,sy the nav.
7nent OF anything at all-the runners after
isins and pathies. the people VINO malign
and misrepresent the doctor and in,pusn
TO him motives and acts Inconsistent wi h
the conduct gentleman and Christian.
ready to oiIsr him. q briba to eo1nmit
crime, or who would drag him down into
the n2ire and filth of sim to taccomplIsh
their own ends IN hiding something of
which they are ashamed and for which
they receive the flashing or an outraged
conscience.
From individuals is due Just appre-
citation a consideration of the comfort
and welfare of the doctor. commensurate
with the unselfish devotion with winch he
| spends and is spent in mfnistsrin- to
suffering humanity: to guard jeaioI1sIv
the good name and reputation of the
profession as they would guard their oyyr, /.
TO stand shoulder to shoulder with the
doctor in the defense of truth and science.
as opposed 10 charlatanry and quackery-
to strive with us to make the world bet
ter because good men and true have lived
in it.
DIR. NELSON'S ADDRESS.
This was followed 10y the address of the
retiring president, DR.. Hugh r. Nelson.
OF Charlottesville, In his opening re-
marks the Doctor briefly sketched the
history Of the founding of the Medical
Society of Virginia. which had its birth
in an act passed by the Legislature of
Virginia, January 2 1924, after which he
addressed himself to discussion of the
functions of medical societies in general
and the Medical Society of Virginia in
particular
The avowed object Of the founders of
the Virginia society was. of course. the
advancement Of medical science BIZ a, fuil
and free Interchange of views and the dis
cussion of problems OF physical and psv-
chical life. A quarter of a century later
the American Medical Association was
founded with the same avowed purpose
The British medical journals adversely
criticised the Transactions of these asso-
Citations; and no wonder, because the off,
spring was fast outstripping the parent.
ROBBED OF IT'S TERRORS.
The abdomen had already been opened
cystic degenration of the ovary was no
! longer a menace TO lie. and operative sur
| gerry had been robbed of its terrors and
| all these achievements were by AMERICANS.
/ In addition 10 the above functions, al
| ready performed, may be named the call
| ing into existence OF medical examining
| boards, which met with such violent an
tagonism that legislative Interference was
| invoked almost successfully.
! DR.. Nelson took occasion TO register his
| opposition to the interchange of certifi-
| Gates with other State boards as an IN
| safe practice, saying That if rhe Virginia
| Board would not accept the certificates OF
| our own colleges. ii should certainly not
| grant to the board of any other State the
| right to license practitioners in Virginia.
| GREAT IMPROVEMENT.
| another point that | would emphasize
| said the Doctor lis the vast Improvement
| made in the medical graduates of to-day
| over those of quarter of a century ago,
| as regards tleir capacity for dealing with
| medical questions. When l received my
| NJ D. ] was van OF Inc attainment and
fancied myself able TO cope with any sort
! OF medical problem. Six months III the
saddle however taught that | knew no.
| thing and absolutely forced me out OF my
| profession for two long years. To-day the
| graduate of our first-class medical schools
| is as competent TO deal with the problems
| of life from medical and surgical stand
| points as are you and |. Medical societies
| nave accomplished their objects in this
| respect.
..What ii the position of the physicians
| who go out over all this broad land is such
| that the great medical centres receive less
| patronage tflan heretofore2 What II the
| Golfers of the great specialists are not
! quite so full as they We're twenty years
/ ago. More suffering is relieved and the
| generation has longer l.fea
| STATE BOARDS.
| DIR. Nelson referred to the State Boards
! of Health as creatures Of the medical so
| cieties of thu several States as doing good
| work. but hanpered by lack of proper leg
| tslat.un County boards he regarded as IN
| efficient in many cases for the reason thai
| anDointees are political creatures rather
! that 4nnpaIS for pro
| lection must be made 10 local authorities
| He discussed food adulteration, especial
| I,- with regard 10 the canning process
! and favored the appointment of a commit
| tee, to report first. VIVA; antiseptics should
! be allowed 10 be incorporated WITH oui
| canned or refrigerated food ana pakll2
| powders: second, in what proportion, and
! i3lird TO petition for an appropriation for
| investigation and report on the subject
| The address also contained an appeal Il
! thu. Society To refuse the thousand and
| one ,iecoctions and compounds thrust upon
| us by as many manufacturing companies.
| ! STATUE To INQUIRE.
| '.IHinaily. there is one function OF the
/ Medical Society Of Virginia Which it must
| perform in the near future. When, few
| wears ago, this body convened here we
! had the sad task Of cflroniclins the I'M
! timely death of Americas great anaton1-
| Isl. William Beverly Towles. Now this or
| gantzation is in mourning on account OF
| lis bereavement by removal from our
midst of Nirgin.a's great surgeon. Hunter
| McGuire 1t is not l VINO can do any
| Ting 10 enhance the high estimation in
| which you ali lo,d the remembrance OF
| this great physician and surgeon. this
warm friend, particularly OF young men,
! this noble Christian gentleman Inc
| Medical Society of Virginia must see that
| he still speaks IL living bronze close beside
| his great commander, whom he has cross
| ed the river to find and with whom he is
| now resting under the shade Of the trees.
| DR.. j. H. Browning chairman. Of the
| local committee, says that more than three
] hundred physicians will Zoe present at the
| meeting of he Soc.ety.