The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-07-29
PHYSICIANS ELECT
CATHOLIC PP&E!$|lENT 5
SM.s<
DR.. John B. Murphy o. 70 Sc
Chosen Head of American M. "a,
ical Association.
New President Says Guilty Physi-
clans Destroy Confidence in
the Profession.
Is Prominent in Leading Medical
Societies Both in Europe and
in America.

At the convention of the American
Medical Association which was held
in San Francisco this year DR.. John B.
Murphy, a professor at the Northwest
ern University, Chicago, was elected
president of the organization DR..
Murphy is a practical Catholic and a
physician of more than national repu-
tation. In his address before the dele
gates at the convention DR.. Murphy
said that one of the chief destroyers
of confidence in the members of the
medical profession is the immoral
practices carried on by the traftickers
in human lives.
"Now have an unpleasant and most
painful duty to perform, and that is to
call this body's attention to the short
comings of the medical profession-to
the irregularities, .immoralities and
crimes that have crept into it's prac-
tice.
IF the exposure of the guilty physi-
clan had no other effect than to de.
stroy the public confidence in that in
dividual it would matter little to the
profession in general, but it has
much deeper significance; it lessons
confidence in all medical men and in
-al@naadical lnfeasurss.-.T The sraf1i 1ickers
IN human lives and inf1fmities must be
stripped Of their pseudo-ethical shield
so that they may be known and recog-
nized by the public These, though
comparatively few in number in some
communities, are too great in all to be
permitted to associate with the grand
and noble, ever ready and never fail
ing, unselfish and self-sacrificing body
of general practitioners and special.
lists.
"In conclusion I would say that the
claim that the medical profession is
overcrowded is not founded on facts
From personal observation of hospital
and private practice for third of a
century, would say that less than 40
per cent of the people requiring oper-
ations are given surgical opportunities
for relief.
From medical and surgical ex-
perience combined, and through in
formation received from eminent med
ical men I would say that exceeding
60 per cent of the acute and chronic
cases are correctly and timely dag
nosed; that procrastination is the
curse of medical diagnosis, entailing
invaLdism and mortality. The people
foster this more than they do any
other shortcoming in medicine.
There are not sufficient medical
men to treat all of the medical cases,
nor of surgeons to do all o. the opera
tions.
competency is only attained and
maintained by zeal, indefatigable labor
and continued effort in self-education.
The responsibilities of his profession
rest on the individual man. If he
shrinks from it's weight, the burden
grows doubly heavy. If he short cuts
for success, he sinks into the mire o:
dishonesty and dishonor If he carries
the weight of an erect figure, abiding
integrity and strong heart, it rides
like a bubble"
Commenting on DR.. Murphy's cleo.
ton The Los Angeles Tidings says:
DR.. Murphy has long been recogni7
ed as one of the worlds foremost
physicians and surgeons, and the asso'
citation has honored itself by electing
him to preside over it's interests. DR.
Murphy is known throughout the
world for his discovery OF the princi
pie applied in the Murphy button in
surgical operations, and has added tc
his already worldwide reputation by
his recent astonishing operations in
the suture of joints. He is pioneer
in this practice. Dr. Murphy is ma
tive of Fond du Lac and is "a years Of
age. He graduated from Rush Medical
College in 1879, after which he spent
several years in Germany and is no"
professor of surgery and clinical sur
gerry in the Northwestern University
One of his greatest interests is in the
Mercy hospital in Chicago, which is II
charge of the Sisters of Mercy. Its
wonderful success has been due u