Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-04-12
DOCTORS HOLD BANQUET.
DIR. Harriet ID. Amy President Coun'
ty Medical Society Given an Ova-
ton. Has Been Physician
Forty Years.

lquet at the WinneShiek hotel Friday
evening. Sociability was the key
note of the occasion. The entire
personnel of both professions, as
well as that of nursing, with three
exceptions was represented at the
table.
An incident of the supper was an
ovation to Doctor Amy, president of
the county medical society. The sub
ject was introduced by Doctor DAILY
who said:
lone of our number has been a ply
lsician forty years. Medical events
have been SO numerous and signifi
cant during that time that merely
to have lived and moved as an intelli
gent physician in active service while
they were happening is a distinction.
1t is our privilege here tonight 10
acknowledge and to honor the ex-
perience of such a physician in that
environment
Science dominates the times in
which we live but eminence in scien-
tific work is not the only door to
greatness. There is more in medicine
than can be measured in terms of sci
ence and tonight in this little feast
ICf commemoration we felicitate the
good physician who possesses that
larger quality, the physician who
unlearns readily the old when science
presents the new.
Nor is popular esteem a standard
by which to judge the good doctor.
The doctor himself is better Judge
than the public is of the good he does
professionally. Among ourselves it
lis notorious that we receive credit
for efficiency when blame for incom-
petency would be quite fitting, and
that on the other hand, each of us
is discredited On occasion, when We
deserve it not. Many a doctors re-
putations would not know his charac-
ter if they met on the street."
From the standpoint of the COM
munity there are six classes of doc
tors. The oracle in the presence
CT old ladies, silent in medical meet
ings. 2-The silent, wise doctor, al.
ways rescuing almost hopeless pa
tients from the grave. 3--The opti-
mistic doctor, full of hope-scant of
knowledge. 1.-The posted doctor,
reads so much but knows so little
that is useful. 5-The drinking doc,
! tor, now extinct, a wopder O. when
he was sober. 6-The real doctor
who, knows what other doctors say
about medical matters, reads books
and journals, owns the apparatus OF
efficiency and has more or less wis
dom in making his merits known.
Each of these doctors must play
his own game. If he copies others
he betrays himself. A community is
known by the type of doctor it pat
ronizes. Some will need more kinds
of doctors than others. But seldom is
one to be found without real doctors.
Fellows and friends / salute The
Real Doctor-The Dean of Our So
ciety."
Doctor Amy responded in a nice
talk mainly about other days, giving
"reminiscences of early medical work
in the county.
Doctor Conover added to the enter
tainment of the party in a neat
speech in which he referred 10 sever
al aspects of the evenings profession
al juncture.
Doctor Swezey in lodging a toast
to the ladies made witty post NOR
tenn diagnosis sof the psychology in
Volved in the arrangements for the
banquet.
The secretary distributed list Of
puns and other Toast Stuff and Nom
sense" designed to give each doctor
a virtual If not an actual hearing at
the festive board. Following was the
program
Locksley Hall Amy
A Paradox. :. The Fordyce Worths
lSong-Will You Love Me When I'm
! Old (Ford) ....... Fillenworth
Trench fighters digging themselves
IN The Dentists
Dyes Guaranteed (Adv.) The Doctors
FORTY Years ago and Since. Thomas
IILifa'S Little Jrr;tot;no. Nyo...,l