Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-08
aminer, DR.. S. L. Hauck. DR.. Hauck

When was Informed by our worthy
president and the board of directors of
this association that / was expected
to make q report at this annual meet
ing was at loss to know just what
to say, as have not had much ex-
perience in this Travelling Mems Acct
dent association work. although have
been connected very closely with a
Similar institution on the c., B. & @.
railway for the past fifteen years. II
desire to state at the beginning, how
ever, that my relations with this body
since our organization last April have
been extremely pleasant and I have
been ably and Loyalty assisted at all
times in whatever work has been &C.
complished by the medical department
by every officer and member Of the
board of the association. We have
had forty seven claims for indemnity
since our organization, all or nearly
all of which were protected by similar
insurance in some of the other travel
ing mems associations.
"A few OF these claims we were in
clined to reject, because it was ques-
ton whether the disabilities were the
result of injury as laid down in our
bylaws. However, being new organ
ization 1t was deemed wise by our
claim committee to recommend pay
ment of them through the board. These
claims of which l speak were not at
all spurious claims, as there was I'M
doubtedly disability existing in all of
them, and must say that our mem
bers have so far been extremely fair
| in the presentation OF claims to the
Iacc0pioffnn Tn, fhrnn nr
cases it was only a question of whether
the injury sustained, which was very
secondary causes possibly indirectly
the result of the injury.
Line is Not Clearly Drawn.
"This line Of demarkation between
an accident and a sick disability is not
always clearly drawn and your medical
director hopes by mentioning few
cases to get an expression as to what
we ought. and what we ought not. to
pay IN an association of this character,
as his mind is not quite clear on the
subject. We had a claim from mem
4 Der who slammed door on his fin
ger, who did not suffer much trouble
until two weeks after the injury, when
a felon developed on the finger at the
site of the bruise. Now a felon some.
4 times results from bruise, but not
always, and it is doubtful il such a
case should be allowed as one Of acct
dent An accident disability according
to section of article of our bylaws
is one where a member becomes dis.
abled through external violent and &C
cidental means, which shall independ
emily of all other causes Immediately
continuously and wholly disable him
from transacting any and every kind
of business pertaining to his occupa
4 ton rs travelling man. Cases will
! come UP where a member Is exposed
to poison ivy. Now we all know that
, it Is an accident on his part that he
becomes exposed to the Ivy, but the
|. poisoning which results In an eruption
sometimes all over the body, is a sick
ness disability and not an accident dis
ability, and yet know Of several cases
of the other travelling mems associa
, lions and the claimants made then
considerable trouble.
!, 1--WE might as we'll say that a mar
who has been exposed to smallpox
, and contracts the malay is entitled
to accidental Indemnity. It is an acct
: dent that he becomes exposed but thu
: smallpox following Is case Of sick
ness and not accident Time will no
i permit our going into this matter fur
/ ther at this time, nor into the mat
5 ter of sprained backs, which concerns
us very much, only to say that WI
expect to have a meeting somewher,
: at some time during this year of tn,
; various medical men of these associa
tions when certain recommendation
: as to payment of claims will be mad,
!, to the various boards Of directors o
Z the association.
. Speaks of Association Growth.
}. 81 do not wish to take up too mucl
: of your time but / do not wish to los
: this opportunity of congratulating tn
8 members of this association on tn
< growth of the same in such shor
r space of time, which only convinces IL
j of the fact that every year in the his
tory of mankind, since the beginning
of human life, the spirit of charity an
8 organizations founded on the principl
! of man helping his fellow men hav
q steadily grown and these various as
|. sociations Of travelling men banded t.
! gether for the purpose of helping eac
other in the event of being overtake
I by misfortune or acclaent are conspit
r uous examples OF the charity of ma
O for his fellow men. The atmospher
j. is growing oppressive for the pess
i mist and mans inhumanity to man /
4 gradually disappearing as civilizatio
!. founded on scientific principles is PR
! crossing.
g World Owes Progress to Science.
! 1.-THE world owes most Of its progress
= to science. 1t is the key that unlock
I for us the great storehouse Of natur
/ and leads the mind from one impor
e ant revelation to the other scatterin
s. light and wisdom as she Journey
along. Before her triumphant marc
ignorance and superstition fade ava
d as the wilson one sees in dreams val
a ish when consciousness returns in tn
4 ,orrine IN fbic ~ v,,,ooroee -,