Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-10
DOCTORS DINE AND DEBATE
Annual Meeting Of Omaha Douglas County
Medical Society.
Better PAY FOR INSURANCE EXAMINATION
Or. Christie Calls Attention to the
Fact that Present Fees Allowed
for the Service Are TOO
small.


The annual meeting and banquet Of the
Omaha Douglas County Medical society
was held Tuesday night at the Willard ho-
tel, about 100 members being present.
President c. II. Peabody acted as chair
man OF the meeting and POSTMASTER
Dr. W. II. Christie read a paper on the
subject Of tho examination Of insurance
risks by the medical profession. and the
meager compensation allowed for these ex-
aminations arbitrarily fixed by the laws of
the insurance organizations. He held that
the insurance examination fees should not
bo less than S. for ordinary examinations.
ard that $40 was not too great q fee where
microscopic examinations are made neces-
sary.
DR.. r. C. Moore. one Of the veteran prac-
titioners of Omaha, gave talk along the
line Of historical "reminiscences of the early
physicians of Omaha their early struggles
and experiences. His talk was impromptu
and was replete with amusing and droll an
ecdotes.
DR. ]. NJ. Akin. secretary OF the society,
submitted his annual report. which showed
that the society had held seventeen meet
ings during the last year. Three deaths in
the society occurred during the year and
the present membership is 129. The aver
ago attendance at the meetings was forty
five The financial affairs in all respects
are prosperous.
Dr Ralph city physician. submitted and
read his annual report. as customary at
each annual meeting OF the society. The
report is follows:
The additional funds provided permit 81
an increase in our laboratory facilities. of
improvement in our methods of recording
statistical data. and Of printed matter to
be used as educational circulars TO be dis
tributed to homes where contagious and
communicable diseases exist. Provision,
however. has not been made for additional
inspectors, and I earnestly ask the pro-
fesaion TO cooperate with me in meeting
this deficiency. To this end. II reports OF
and the department notified of any omis-
sion in inspection as Il relates to any
nuisance that menaces the public health.
then we together can make up for the
present what another inspector would
The resolution passed by the city coun-
Gil January of this year relating to the
appointments of Profs. Langfeld and Crow
ley to the positions of bacteroogist and
chemist respectively. makes a new epoch
in the health department of Omaha. No
measure affecting this department has ever
been passed that transcends it in impor-
tance. since by giving the department the
services 10 OF these i6 S'e work
along scientific lines. 1t also marks a steI
forward in that 1t places the health de-
partment in the same category with the
largest metropolitan city. The work that
the department will do through its labora
tories has not been mapped out vet com
pletely; however. this much may be said
besides the diphtheria work as now con
Quoted, the city will examine, free OF
charge, the sputum in suspected cases OF
pulmonary tuberculosis, the blood in sus
pected typhoid fever and such. other dis
charges the examination of which will b,
of assistance to the doctor and a beneh
to the. patient or public
In those cases in which the milk, water
or food is suspected of being impure, or Of
causing disease, the department will have
the same investigated.
Pertaining TO MIX supply.
The agi alton i'm regard TO milk, whicl
ing about the contamination of our wishes
for laboratory, will receive due attention
1t will be our aim through frequent ant
careful examination to keep II pure, 1. @.
make it conform to a high standard. Blu
must ask you not to expect too much a
once and not to criticse too quickly. Wha
the standard purity of milk should be !;
not difficult to say, but what We have
/ see my duty. am to improve the mill
sold to the public. and this shall be done
But am not unmindful of the fact tina
the standard must be a gradually ascending
one. II we are not TO commit great injustice
our standard must not be so drastic as t
defeat the purpose OF the trainers of TN
ordinance. What we shall aim to do is t
educate the dairyman how TO produce
clean, wholesome article, but we must Civ
them time to learn We cannot with JUS
tice place our standard so high that onl
few in the business can conform TO Il
milk business. Besides. with the enormou
demands made for cream by our grea
creamery industries, there is great temp
tation for dairymen to sell direct to then
so that one industry is already threatenin
another.
The department does not feel that It
in Its province to take sides on this quei
ton. II n city is to be furnished pure mil
IL must be produced in the vicinity. There
fore, we shall cndeavor to drive no one OF
of the business, but rather to encourae
the production of better and purer produt
When the time is ripe for demanding
high fixed standard the same will be pre-
mulgated and rigidly enforced. But unit
that time | ask your assistance in e.
planning this matter TO the public.
In regard TO the amount OF cream in mill
and the absence from ii of adulterants an
preservatives. the city ordinances are SUI
I have purposely not included in this re
port our statistical data for the year.
would consume too much of your time "a
night, and VIII appear later in printed form
II shall be my effort this year, more tina
ever, to bring the health department 1
closer touch with the profession, and
mutual benefits will result. as you all wi
concede
Committees and Officers.
The president announced the folowr
committee to examine the reports OF II
officers: Drs. r. S. Towne, +. f. Wo
mersly and c. NJ. Schindell.
The election of officers being next
order the following were elected for II
ensuing year: President, Or. w. H. 81;
baugh of South Omaha; vice president d
J. c. Moore Of Omaha; secretary. DR..
NJ Akin, Omaha; treasurer. DR.. MillaI
Isngfelt; member Of board of censors, d
A. H. Somers.