The Cordova daily times., 1915-06-22
SESSION AM. MEDICAL
 C0NGRESS

newly elected President of The Ameri- can Medical Association, who de. livered his inaugural address at to- days session of the annual meeting of the Association, introduced his ad- dress with reference to some of the evils in the surgical profession.
 "Tn every community" he said, men are operating who have no right to take human life into their hands. This does not apply to the general practitioner. who, in an emergency, and to the best of his ability, operates in an attempt to save life. but to those who, for gain, undertake that which should be done only by the skillful surgeon. Surgery Is a special science, extra hazardous in it's nature, and hence the public has right to de- mand of the surgeon the very highest physical, mental, and moral equip ment."
 In the eradication of this evil of the incompetent surgeon, Dr. Rodman said that the American College of Sur. geons, which was organized only two years ago, was to be heartily congratu- lated upon the progress made.
 "The positive stand the college has taken on fee-spliting alone more than justlfles It's existence" he said. "This evil has become intolerable. and a wave of protest Is rising throughout the land which should, and we believe will. overwhelm the offenders.
 Let us at once apply the axe to the root, make this nefarious practice impossible, and drive from the surgi- cal temple those who defile it." Referring to the efforts which the Association had made in the elimina, ton of patent medicine frauds, Dr Rodman said the fight had involved legal proceedings which the Associa ton was combating vigorously, but that 1t was interesting to note that concerns with new preparations foI the market coming to the Associa tion's experts for endorsement. The Council of Pharmacy and Chemistry now had in It's laboratories three chemists who give their whole time tC testing such medicine, and the worl had eliminated in the issue of bool entitled, Useful Drugs" which a mum Der of the best schools now use as ; textbook.
 Tt remains" he said, flor the pro fession to set its ban on all proprie tary medicines. If the only Information concerning them comes from those who manufacture and sell them"
 A point on which Dr. Rodman lait great stress was secondary education leading to the medical profession. Tn, reforms which the Association hat fought for in medical schools had beer so far brought about that the standar, required was now as high as 1t shoult be for all of the schools of the entir country.
 An irreducable minimum has beel reached" he said, 'and 1t should b honestly enforced-that Is, as soon a 1t can be. There is, of course, no limi to the maximum that any highly CT dowed and exceptionally circum stanced institution may adopt fo itself"
 | He said that the ranks of the medI cal schools had been 80 thinned that third of the schools were now hors d combat, and it was expedient to mar time for while, and give those inst tutions which have approached the fl ing line at a double-quick speed chance to catch their breath"
 But the problem of secondary edu cation for the medical man he though was handicapped by too high cul tural standard. Although a course i biology, chemistry and physics, wa agreed upon as prerequisite to tn study of medicine, the subjects wer not taught satisfactorily in the hig schools. This, we believe. is the yer
 Therefore, for the present at leas It must be taught largely by the med cal schools, or there must be, as ha been suggested by distinguished edl eators. encouragement of the cul ricula of high schools. 80 that the win embrace course in the science | which will be acceptable to medics schools. This. We believe. ie the yer best solution of the problem
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