The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-17
DOCTORS IN CHARGE
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF GEOR-
GA IN SESSION.
GIVEN A CORDIAL WELCOME.
ASSOCIATION WILL BE IN SAVAN-
NAH THREE DAYS.


welcome for the Medical Societies
and City Attorney Adams for Sa-
vannnh-Dr. Virgil o. Harden of
Atlanta RespOnded-Two New Gem
sOrs Named and Committees APP
pOinted-Papers Read and Discuss
ed, but Some Had to Go Over-Vis-
itOrs at the Yacht Club in the
Evening.
Savannah was turned over to the
physicians of Georgia yesterday. They
will continue in charge to-day and to-
morrow, during the fifty-third annual
session of the State Medical Associa-
ton.
Many of the physicians arrived the
night before, but the most of them
came in by the morning trains. The
De Soto corridors were filled with them
and when the convention was called
to order, in the banquet room, between
125 and $50 were present from every
part of the state. 1t is the largest
convention that the. association has
held in years. Committees from the
Savannah and Georgia Medical socie-
ties met the visiting physicians and
extended them cordial welcome.
DR.. James b. Baird of Atlanta, pres
ident of the association, called the
convention to order shortly after 10
O'clock. Rev. w. A. Nesbit of the
Westminster Presbyterian Church,
opened the session with prayer.
Welcomed TO savannah.
City Attorney Samuel B. Adams ex-
tended a welcome to the physicians in
behalf of the city. Mr.. Adams ex-
planned that the Mayors absence made
it necessary for him to extend the
welcome in his behalf. He assured the
convention with all sincerity that the
task was a pleasant one. In welcofn-
ing the members of the medical fra
ternity, Mr.. Adams paid tribute to
Savannah's departed physicians.
Savannah" he said, "has always
had much reason to be proud OF repre-
sentatives of your profession who have
been counted among her citizens. Many
OF them have not only been skillful
physicians, but honored and useful cit
liens. AS you walk our beautiful
streets you tread upon ground made
sacred by the noble dead who once la
bored unselfishly and gloriously for the
good of their fellowmen-choice, fear
less. spirits, to whom neither fatigue
nor pestilence, nor ingratitude gave
pause, but, who, in season and out of
season, labored increasingly and un-
selfishly to the end.
Doctors Savannah HOnOrs.
Time would fail me did 1 attempt
to call the names of all who are worthy
of mention. But we ought not to for
get such men as Kollock, Harris, Ar
mold, Bulloch, Charlton and Duncan.
Suffer a tribute to William Duncan. l
knew him well. He was for many
years my physician and friend. / was
one of the stricken when the pesti-
lence of 1876 devastated our fair city.
/ Can never forget his devoted atten-
ton, to which, under Providence, I
owe my life. What a gentle, tender,
and sympathetic, unselfish spirit was
hisi Richard the Lion Hearted did
not possess more physical courage, and
YET. a good woman was not more ten
der or sympathetic. There was moth
ing sordid, mercenary, or selfish, in his
golden heart. No cry of distress came
to him unheeded. He did not shut his
ear to the appeal of the poor. When
summoned to the bedside of the suffer-
ing he did not pause to consider
wheAher the sufferer was able to pay
his fee, and the poorest and most for
lorn had his best services. All honor
to the physician of which he is the
type. How sordid and mean that OPP
posite type. who sees nothing in a
great profession but an opportunity to
make money and who would unhesi-
tatingly be at something else if the
change would put money in his purse
But observations like these, tempting
though they are to the speaker, cam
not be unduly protracted in an adj
dress of welcome.
Hon, Walter G.. Charlton followed
Mr.. Adams and extended a cordial well
come in the name of the medical socie-
ties of Savannah. Mr. Charlton spoke
of the honor of the profession whose
representatives are in our midst. and
declared that Savannah welcomes
them with true Georgia hospitality
The good to be derived from conven-
tons of such a high order is obvious,
and Mr.. Charlton invited the visitors
to make themselves at home during
their stay in the city
DIR. Hardon's Response.
Dr. Virgil o. Harden of Atlanta re-
sponded for the association and thank
ed both the representative of the city
and the speaker for the Savannah
physicians.
Il believe" said DR.. Harden, "that
/ speak the sentiment of every mem
Der of the association when l express
our high appreciation of your cordial
welcome, and, Furthermore, our I'M
equally high appreciation of the spirit
by which Savannah hospitality is pro-
verbally characterized. We are here
to-day to carry on the good work be-
gun by our forefathers in the profess
sion more than fifty years ago. We
are here TO perpetuate noble traditions