The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-24
PHYSICIANS Of
State TO COME
Announcement That Sessions Of
Surgeons Will be Open At
tracts Much Attention.
AN EXCLUSIVE ORGANIZATION
Membership Limited to 1a5.
Others Arc on the Wait
ing List.

Announcement was made yesterday
by Or. George Ben Johnston. chairman
OF the local committee Of arrangements
for the coming convention OF the Amer
lean Surgical Association. which sits
In the jefferson auditorium on May
4th. to the effect that all the meetings
of the noted specialists Will be open
to the public and that medical and
scientific men will be especially in
vited to attend and hear the discuss
sions. AS a result OF this invitation.
it is expected that physicians from all
sections of the State will gather here
to attend the convention.
MANY of the papers will be OF UNI
usual interest" said Dr. Johnston. "and
should think there would be num-
Der of medical men in Virginia who
would be glad to take advantage OF the
opportunity to hear them discussed.
All will be welcome to attend the ses-,
siors.
Membership Limited.
The titles of all the papers were
printed in last Mondays Times-Dis-
patch. Sixty-tive members of the asso-
citation have already engaged their
hotel accommodation. and many others
have signified their intention Of attend
ing. The local committee feels sure,
therefore, that this will be the largest
convention in point of attendance ever
held by the organization
The association is limited in mem
bership to 1875, and has an extended
waiting list. many men prominent In
the profession having been waiting
for membership four or five years.
The essential provision on which
membership in the surgical associa-
ton is based is that the applicant
shall be teacher of surgery or
practicing surgeon who has made some
original research and has added some-
thing to the sum of human knowl-
edge. The majority Of the members
are men of letters. many of them be-
ing authors of standard textbooks on
surgery. AS necessary requisite for
membership the applicant has to file
with the council a thesis or original
treatise on some form Of surgical re-
search.
Members Here.
Peculiar interest attaches to tho
meeting Of the association In Rich
mond. which meeting also illustrates
the pre-eminence OF this city as
medical and surgical cergre. as two OF
the former presidents of the associa-
ton. Dr. Johnston and the late Or.
Hunter MCGUIRE, have both been at the
head of large medical institutions and
hospitals here.
One Of the equiements which has
kent some Southen men out of the as
ISOLATION is that the applicant shall
be a specialist in surgery. doing no
general practice. With but two menu
bers in Virginia at present. Dr. John
ston and DR.. Lewis c. Bosher. the as
ISOLATION has no member in either Of
the Carolinas or in Georgia, the lack
of city hospital facilities in the towns
of the Carolinas having retarded the
development of surgery. while in the
hospitals of Atlanta there is said TO
he no surgeon who gives his entire
time to his speciality, all the phystc-
ians there engaging more or less In
general practice.
Social Features.
Sessions will last through thres
days-May 4th. 5th and 9Th. The pa
pers considered will afterward appear
in book form The social features OF
the gathering will not be omitted, as
many of those who have already signi-
fed their intention Of attending will
be accompanied by their wives ami
friends. DR.. Lewis C. Bosher will give
reception to the members OF the as.
ISOLATION and those accompanying them
at the Westmoreland Club on the even
Ing of May 4th, and on the following
evening DR.. George Ben Johnston will
entertain at his residence on Grace
Street. Various afternoon features for
the enjoyment of the ladies are being
planned