San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-19
DOCTORS OPEN
Convention
IN DALLAS .
Resolution Hits System Of
Contract Practice
of Medicos.

phbIAs. icA., april lJ.--UAJ-
The American physician was pictured
in new light as teacher to the
world" and was given new duty,
the duty of preventing disease as well
as healing, by medical leaders adj
dressing the House of Delegates nj
the American Medical Association
which opened its scvcnty-seventh an
nual convention here today.
As American business, industry and
finance in recent years have seized
world leadership, so American med-
cine is now the instructor rather than
the pupil of the old world, the speak
ers said Without nationalistic feel
ings or emphasis on personal gain,
but with the broader view of healing
the human race, has the American
doctor entered the front ranks in the
battle against disease, according to
this portrait presented by the presi-
dent, presldcnt-plect, and speaker of
the House Of Delegates.
MANY CLINICS.
While the new physician was being
described to the legislative body of
the association, the mass of delegates
numbering more than 5000, attended
numerous clinics at the Texas Fair
GrOands where many phases of the
ills that flesh is heir to were demon
strated bySpecialiSts. The double pro-
gram of science and business con-
tlnued throughout the day.
When the House of Delegates con-
Yencd, ia members were present.
These members are elected from state
organizations and various medical
groups. They transact the business
and pass all the resolutions rejecting
the official stand of organized medi-
cine.
DIR. DIN West of Chicago, secre-
tary and general manager. announced
membership Of 91.792 out of ap-
proximately 10000 physicians in the
country.
Europe. which for generations has
been considered the medical leader Of
she world, within recent years has
taken an unfortunate trend in medical
discoveries. according to DIR. Wendell
{. Phillips of New York. president
elect, in his annual address to the
house. The intense natiOnalistic trend
Of foreign nations since the World
War has been reflected in their mcdi-
cal science, leading them, he said, to
take advantage of every possible OPP
portunity TO exploit their merits"
Unfortunately" continued DR..
Phillips, many Of the medical dis
covcrieS thus far proclaimed and pro-
NOTED as national interests have not
fully proved their worthiness. IN
other words, the rush for publicity
has led the promoter far aficld from
the pathway OF proved science.
L. S. SCIENTISTS PRAISED.
From Switzerland has come thu
Spahllnger treatment of tuberculosis:
from England, the e-Bamard work
on cancer. also the Dreycr vaccine for
tuberculosis; from France. the Cal
mctte work on vaccination against tu-
berculosis with living organisms: from
GermanA Blumentbafs investigations
on cancS, and from Denmark, Sano
crysn.
Not one Of these discoveries thus
far has been established as Of great
value. although. according to Park,
the Calmette work on vaccination
seems to possess possibilities of virtue.
THE United States. on the contrary
without having made any great pre-
tense to the forcing of its scientific
discoveries into the nationalistic pro-
gram. has given to the world remark
able discoveries and scientific advances
in medicine
DR.. Phillips mentioned as examples
the work Of the Dicks and Of Dochcs
and Blake on scarlet fever, the dis,
cOverics in the relation of light to
ricketts,, the toxin-antitOxin prevention
Of diphtheria, and the discoveries re-
latIng to the elimination of measles
and possibly whOoping cough.
MEDICAL BROKERS'.
Members of tine house Of delegates,
the legislative branch of the conven-
ton. asserted that contract practice
is absorbing an ever increasing por-
ton OF general medical practice" BY
contract practice" is meant the sys-
TEN of contracting to treat a large
group Of persons at so much year
il they become i'll or contracting to
give medical aid to all the employees of
IA factory or business at a stipulated
yearly fee.
Brokers under the gIise Of health,
accident and sickness insurance. in
which they purport as middlemen TO
,'ll medical service to the laity are en-
tcring the medical practice" said II
resolution prepared by DIR. A. u.
DGnn, Of Nebraska.
The resolution asked that this mat.
ter be investigated by the judicial
council Of the association TO end that
the trend and dangers to patient and
profession inherent in this movement
by analyzcd and clearly set forth"
EVIDENCE RULE SOUGHT.
The late publicity given to expert
medical testimony in certain widely
icraldrd criminal cases brought atten-
ton Of the profession in the form OF
. demand for legislative reform Of the
rules Of evidence. A resolution pre-
pared for the house of delegates said
hat this development had given an
advantage TO the rich, those able to
hire expert medical testimony, and
In lnI L..