The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-16
PHYSICIANS OF
ALABAMA MEET
IN BIRMINGHAM
Thirty-second Convention OF
Association Opened by
President MarechaI
HIS ADDRESS HISTORICAL
Sessions Continue This Morning-An-
nual Grafton Will Be Delivered
Tonight at jefferson Theatre.
Reception at HiIlman.

Prominent Alabama physicians to the
number of about 800 are now in Birming
ham attending the thirty-second annual
meeting of the State Medical Association,
the first session of which was held yes
terday at noon. The Rev. J. P. McFerrin
opened the meeting with a prayer, after
which the addresses of welcome were de-
| livered and the annual address of Presi
| dent DR.. e. L. Marechal read. Reports
of officers were also received and at
night session number of papers read.
On behalf of the Jefferson County Med
ical Society and the local physicians, DIR.
Cunningham Wilson welcomed the visit
ors to the city of Birmingham and the
homes of the physicians His remarks
were of a sparkling, humorous nature,
but beneath his wit was a feeling of sin
certify. He asked the visiting physicians
to visit St vincent's Hospital, assuring
them that the Sisters in charge of the in
stitution would take great pleasure in
giving them welcome and showing them
through the various departments Of the
institution.
Col e. L. Dickey local attorney, was
selected to welcome the medical men on
| behalf of the city, Mayor w. M. Dren-
men being absent. Colonel Dickey respond
ed with a bright address, assuring the
delegates that everything in sight was
theirs for the asking.
DR.. Marechai's Address.
The annual address of President Mare
chal followed. In it the story of the evo-
buttons of the association was given as
follows:
prior to the long and bloody conflict
which occurred in this country conflict
destined to mark an important epoch in
the history of Republican institutions,
State Medical Association had nominal
existence in Alabama. Organized in 1S49,
| it held annual sessions with few inter
ruptions until 1885, when it ceased to have
practical existence. Without the cohesive
ness of representative body, while its
scientific work was in some instances of
excellent character, 1t was invested with
no legal functions and being without
definite and specific purpose, it had in it's,
organic law nothing to insure its con-
tinuity.
The few 1cal medical organizations
| WHICH tAlstNG III the state ut the time
were almost without exception confined
to the cities, while they were so imper-
fectly organized as to invalidate any salu-
tary influence that they were intended to
| exercise in the improvement of profess
sional conditions. A few of these socie-
ties were by virtue of special legislative
enactment to regulate the practice of
medicine in their respective counties, but
the standard of professional requirements
was so low as to practically nullify any
benefits which should have accrued from
the sagacious utilization of the legal priv
ileges with which they had been in
| vested.
Reorganization Affected.
after peace had been declared, al
though adjustment to the changed politi-
cal and social conditions was slow and
! painful, members of the profession look
ed forward in pleasing anticipation to a
state organization, representative in
character. Many of those who have been
| prominently identified with the previously
existing organization on account of adj
vancing age, and the infirmties incident
| thereto, were debarred from participation
| in such a movement. However 1t was not
until in 1868 that pursuant to a call a
meeting was held in the city of Selma,
| which resulted in the reorganization of
| the Medical Association of the State of
| Alabama. OF the gentlemen living who
were present upon that occasion, but
| three, so far as l have been able to learn,
are living. namely: Doctors Richard #.
| Michale, Jacob Higgins, both of whom
are still active and honored members of
the association, and DR.. T. C. Osborne of
| Texas
The war with it's unsettling of social
| conditions had made many changes in the
| personnel of the profession, and new men
had come into the state some of whom
were destined to exercise no inconsidera-
| BILE influence. Among team, and master
| whose comprehensive mind, and master
| ly logical perceptions made him a leader
in this work of reorganization. Without
| the prestige of birth, adventurous in
fuences or meritorious arts, his match
| less intellect obtained for him immediate
| recognition among men whose reputation
| for learning and scholarship was Cock
| tensive with the state. His trained mind
| had solved the intricate problem of or
ganization in its every detail. 1t is I'M
| necessary for me to state 1 refer to
| jerome Cochran"
| The address continued with a full his
tory of the association and concluded with
accommodations for its future.
| DIR. j. M. Mccormack, state health Of