The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-20

his brother, Dr. John D. s. Davis. with few other prominent Birmingham physi- cians held a conference for the purpose of organizing the Alabama Surgical and l Gynecologieal Association. The work of 1 the Alabama Medical Association was lim- ited Through able editorials in the Ala hama Medical and Surgical Journal, own- ed and edited by the Drs. Davis, the ad- vancement of surgery and gynecology in this state was advocated, and the organ 1 ization of such an association was urged l for scientific purposes. It was the aim | of the charter members to make 1t an honor for any physician to hold It's certi- fcate of membership At the meeting for permanent organization, a dozen of the l leading surgeons of the south were elect | ed honorary members with view to the l formation of a southern organization later. It was significant that Dr. Davis promoted a movement in his own state that gradually expanded until it embraced the entire south. With remarkable in- sight he recognized the importance of holding intact the state organization, and developing material for the larger ana more exclusive society. The extension or i the Alabama association into the South- ern Surgical and Genealogical Associa- 1 ton Is told in Dr. Douglass address. This organization was perfected in Birming- l ham, October 12, 1887. Dr. w. D. Haggard of Nashville was made president and Dr. Davis was elected secretary, an office which he held for fifteen years, when he accepted the presidency.
 His Last Address.
 ] Tn Dr. Davis last address before the association he referred to the prominent i surgeons and gynecologists of the south at the time the association was formed. | etf sail Davis. their names and influence enabled the l association to occupy the position in the ! south 10 which 1t aspired. Too much honor cannot be done Haggard Mcclure Bedford, and Hallock ex-presidents or the association who have gone to their reward"
 Dr. Davis saw the need of specialism l in the profession, and of special societles for the promotion of the several spe- ciaIties. One of the ablest addresses he l ever delivered was before the American Association of Obstetricians and Gyne- coogists of which he was present. Dr. Davis held that the greatest and most influential organization of the united States should be the American Medical association to which both specialists and general practitioners of this country 1 should belong In his address he made suggestions that have given stability and permanency to section work outlined the duties of the House of Delegates and , suggested the class of members to De known Fellows. He believed that the 1 organization would become the most scientific and influential organization. l that the world has ever known.
 The Davis memorial will be therefore of vast significance While he ranked so high in his profession he never lost an opportunity to advocate reforms and | charities in Birmingham. There are two l questions upon which he was most out ] spoken. He repeatedly urged that Birmfng- l ham should have charity hospital and an ambulance corps. The other was the neglect of our water supply. Dr. Davis
 position was that while both St. Vim | cents and the Hillman hospitals have done a noble work neither enjoys the endowment or public appropriations nec- essary to make them purely charity hos l pitals; the question of public revenues naturally arises whenever a public fm- provement is proposed; that Birming- ham had grown large enough to estab- ] fish and maintain a city hospital with l city ambulances and the necessary | equipment to make it a public institution.
 pr. Douglass Address.
 Dr. Douglass memorial address Is as | follows:
 MT. President and Fellows--Let surgery pause and medicine slumber, for this 1 hour Is consecrated to the memory of l one we all loved. This Is the annual
 meeting of the Southern Surgical and | Genealogical association, yet Elias Davis l is not among us. How strange 1t all seemsi Who has not missed his cordial greeting so unmistakably sincere? Who does not look for that tall awkward form,
 those clear cut angular features, those restless, penetrating but kind eyes? Just l but 11A1 A1x-1a 1,.a
 was with us, zealons and active as of
 yore; yet there was something on his l face that bore the shadow of impending l fate. Ruthlessiy he was taken from us.
 Mourn him we must forget him we can not.
 l Since last we assembled, three ex-pres- dents of this association have crossed into the beyond" Grim Charon only rests upon his oars little while ere he calls for another passenger. Quickly, al- most suddenly, the summons came to l Dr. Engleman. Why should his like be
 taken from us; so gentle, cultured, loving and lovable. The flowers OCT his new
 made grave have scarce lost their fra grance Sweet memories of him will finger with us always.
 J. Mo Fadden Gaston.
 Next to follow was J. McFadden Gaston, l the "Nestor" of southern surgery; a vet eran of almost four score years; a rugged. original character, always a thinker and i leader of men. His honorable and varied career came to peaceful end November 15 1903 Younger than either of these was Dr. Davis. Willingly but sadly, I | will review his brilliant young life; not 1 to glorify 1t, nor yet to indulge in soulless persif1age but that those of us who live with him and after him may be inspired 1 by his nobility, impressed by his hu- manity and imbued by his ambition. In ] the quiet village of Trussvile. Jefferson county, Alabama. on November 25, 1863. l William Elias Brownlee Davis was born. He sprang from line of physicians; his | paterna ancestors for five genera tions were reputable practitioners of medicine; his father, a surgeon in the confederacy, was killed at St. Petersburg, Va. leaving | a widow and two sons impoverished by | devastating war Bereft of fathers guidance and support, these brothers | Davis became the sole charge of their mother. Heroically she battled against diversity and instilled into these lads her gentle Christian spirit, and inspired 1 them with their fathers ambition and I patriotism.
 Knew Hard Work.
 | From the earliest days, Elias Davis knew what it was to work. Upon the