The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-11-14
OF PHYSICIANS AND
SURGEONS FROM a DOZEN
STATES ARE HERE.
EXERCISES Open iUSPlCl0USLY
Fifth Annual ConVertjon Of Southern
Medical Association Promises To
Surpass In Attendance. in Interest
And In Benefits.

The fifth annual meeting of the
Southern Medical Association was
called to order at 1880 this morning
in the Auditorium, with large repre-.
sentation of visiting physicians in at
tendance. and a number Of ladies and
gentlemen Of Hattieshurg present for
the opening exercises.
The meeting was sot lo be opened at
1890 but it was aa'buw later ehen
.-. q. ~irman. Doct.r W ,v. t.awford
e. led for order, %. much delay was
in-ced IN ting the doctors
t-.. ed and tagged On account of
the lateness Of the meeting hour it is
impossible to give the exercises as
full mention as The News would like.
While the attendance on the open
ing exercises was not as large as is
expected during the next two days, it
was larger if anything than was ex-
| pected for the first day and indicates
that the present meeting will be more
largely attended than any in the his
tory of the association. The midday
trains brought in a great number of
physicians who did not arrive in time
Tor the forenoon exercises. But de-
spite the delay in getting started the
session was a most auspicious one,
marked with much enthusiasm.
DIR. w. w. Crawford. chairman of
the local arrangement. committee and
eX-president of the association. pre-
sided at the opening of the exercises
and introduced the speakers. After
the meeting was brought to order Dr..
A. F. Watkins, pastor Of the Main
| Street Methodist church, offered a
most earnest and eloquent prayer,
closing by invoking the divine bless
ings on the doctors in attendance,
their loved ones at home. members of
the noble profession everywhere and
the patients of the visiting physicians
who would so much miss their good
friends.
On behalf of the city Hon. w. Field
er Cook, a member of the local bar,
welcomed the guests and in an elo-
quent manner paid tribute to the pro-
fession. His address was well re-
ceived and literally applauded, espe-
cially when he congratulated the doc
tors on the good work they had ac-
complished by recommending appro-
priations by the state legislatures for
use in the prevention measures and
for the dissemination of knowledge
of benefit to the citizens generally.
He expressed the hope that they
would continue the good work.
DR.. Chas. c. Hightower, secretary
of the Forrest County Medical Socie-
ty, and one of the leading physicians
of Mississippi. welcomed the visitors
on behalf of the society. His address
was a most happy one. in humorous
vein that at once set his audience
laughing and kept them in good hu-
NOR throughout The address made
a decided hit and left his friends
thinking that if he could talk as well
to individual members of the Hatties-
burg citizens whom he said would not
even receive their home doctors with
open arms" he would most likely find
one who would change her opinion
ard reception of him. Much laughter
was caused when DR.. Hightower, in
enumerating the many virtues of Hat
tiesburg and especially her ideal eli
mate, made the statement that the
Summers were not too hot, or the
winters too cold" and his eloquence
was interrupted by an exclamation Of
dissent from a shivering lady in the
audience. 1t was some time before
CONTINUED on Page Four.)