Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-01-28
TRIBUTES READ AT GATHERING
HONORING DIR. j. F. LEEPER

/ The following tributes to DIR. and
Mrs. ]. r. Leeper were part of the
program at the meeting and BAN
quet of the Morgan County Medical
society held Tuesday evening of last
week. The meeting was in honor Of
DR.. Leeper, as the oldest practicing
physician of the county association:
BY DR.. Lee Humphrey
Mr.. President, Fellow Practitioners
and Ladies: offer an apology for
using manuscript, but none for
what is in it, for I did my best and
that is all anyone can do:
I assure you / am truly grateful
for the high honor you have con-
ferred upon me as POSTMASTER of
this medical meeting, an association
whose major purpose is to assuage
and alleviate the pains OF suffering
humanity.
In appearing before you this ev-
ening 1 realize that time is precious
and l shall not indulge in any stor-
les, but come Immediately to the
matter at hand; that of honoring
our senior and honored member, Dr.
j. F. Leeper, to whose long and sue
cessful period of medical practice
we wish to pay tribute this evening.
/ was just little surprised to
find that he received his certificate
in 1878, which gives him about So
years of practice. During that long
period he has ridden horse back per-
haps thousands of miles, driven a
buggy other thousands of miles, and
driven an automobile still other
thousands of miles through mud,
snow and all kinds of good and bad
weather, to minister to the sick and
afflicted. 1t would be impossible
to sum up in any sort of fashion,
the many kind and helpful deeds
the good doctor has performed or
the hundreds of families upon whom
he has called professionally during
these many years. But his services,
like those of any good doctor have
meant much to many people, and it
is fitting, indeed, that we meet
tonight to show our respect and
give due credit for his high type,
conscientious and well meant SER
vices rendered.
The choosing of profession, like
the choosing Of companions, means
much to man, and it appears that
our good doctor made the right
choice, for he has seemingly enjoyed
his work and prospered in the same.
The practice of medicine is sec
ond only to that of the clergy in
bringing relief and happiness to its
clientele, and the doctor who is
right minded and justly recognizes
his opportunity through his close
and intimate association with the
various members of family must
hold dear many of the family secrets
which are not confided to any other
person, and because of his conf
dence he enjoys an exceptional OPP
portunity to help in many family
affairs and to preserve their good
health and their happiness.
Again time will not permit me to
review the struggles and hardshlps
encountered by the medical profess
sion in overcoming the obstacles
and animosities-of other medical
cults in earlier days, in building up
this wonderful system under which
we work and enjoy it's results which
only partially comprehend its great
ness and its possibilities.
Every true physician goes for
ward into the world of work with
absolute confidence, to cope with
disease by certain methods specifi-
cally indicated
God pity the physician who goes
out into the world to treat the sick
and afflicted and has no confidence
in medicine. | have known such
physicians, and there is just one way
to drive away their blues and estab-
lish confidence in themSelveS-pO-
litely hand them good book on
materia medica and therapeutics
and tell them to look it over. You
will have an interesting and CRATE
full student before long.
While reviewing the past strug-
giles of our profession and holding
to them with almost religious devc
Continued on page four)