Year: 1875

Y
| Ceunty Medical Society, Jul,


7th, 1875.


| In assuming the duties of the of
ficesef President OF this Association
iit 10 incumbent on me, before taking
the chair, to make some remarks t,
voii Of a special or general character
Permit me before attempting thai
duty. to return to YOU my sincere
thanks and grateful acknowledge
meiits for elevating me to preside
over your deliberations for the en-
suing year. / consider it no empty
honor to occupy the position you have
assigned me. ~ request a just for
bearsnce, and signify to you the hope
thaf by yoar good counsel and lib
eraf Indulgence, We may bring our Ia
bors te a satisfactory conclusion,
thoagh the rules of order may not be
accurately observed or may be inad-
vertently violated.


Congratulate you, that during the
past year the cruel hand of death has
not been laid upon one within our
little circle. 1t is with feelings of
gratitude, that Providence has again
permitted us to assemble, at this,
our annual meeting, in full yigor OF
action, and with our weapons sharp
ened by past experience, to face our
foe and repel his attacks, in whatever
guise, with all the skill and power
within us. Ardently may we desire
that the coming year, will bear us
upon its bosom rs safely rs the past
one, and ut our next annual meeting
may the same feelings of joy and
gladness, over an unbroken circle,
prevail.


We are now in the third year since
our organization, and yet though hu-
merieally weak, we are comparatively
strong; and our influence has. been
felt and will continue to be felt in its
limited sphere of action, as strongly
as the elements of more extended
organization, if properly cultivated
and judiciously exercised.


The object of this Association, well
known by every member, is for our
mutual benefit and improvement. 1t
is rs stated in our Constitution for
''the advancement of knowledge upon
all subjects connected with the heal
ing art; the organization of the pro-
fession, in connection with the
American Medical Association and
State Medical Society; the elevation
of the character, and the protection
of the rights and interests of those
engaged in the practice of Medicine;
andthe study of the means calcula-
ed to render the Medical profession
most ueofal to tho -plhlia ma sihser,
Went to the interests of humanity"


We meet here monthly in consulta-
tion upon subjects of vital impor
tance, not only to ourselves, but also
to the public. We meet to inter
change our thoughts and experience,
and then, combining and concentra-
ting our knowledge, that each and
every member may profit there
from and convertit to some practical
use. Our intentions are good and
commendable. We have a position
of trust and honor with the public,
as well in our collective as individual
capacity, and to betray or abandon it,
would be prOstituting our noble pro-
fession to selfish or ignoble pur-
poses.


There are some in the community,
having great conscientious scruples,
whether in regard to their health or
their pockets, | am at loss to in
form you, who express doubts about
the propriety of our meetings. They
appear to think that our sole object,
is to raise prices, charge exorbftant
fees, and make unjust demands on
their credit and derive all the benefits
of the Association, however selfish,
to our own discredit and dishOnor
and to their great injury.


In regard to our prices, l will take
this occasion to suggest TO them a re-
markable fact, sensibly experienced
by many of you here present, that
the livery man, in many instances
charges as much for an ordinary con
veyance to the house of patients as
the Physician receives travelling over
the same ronte, in his own convey
ance. This can be verified in our
city, if any of you prefer 4 practical
demonstration.


There are those, also, in the profess
sion, who disparage and discounte-
nance our motives, and would bring
discredit upon our Association,
through ignorance of its purpose or
jealousy and prejudice of its power.
We expect quacks, charlatans, EN-
prizes and peripatetic humbugs, who
have no patrons at home, to slander
and oppose us. They have a right
to oppose, for opposition to US is their
staff of life.


/ think | fully appreciate every
objection urged by those of the pub
lie, who advise against us. They do
not comprehend its objects, nor prop
erly estimate the functions of this
Association. They have not received
that education or instruction, that
would lead them to form correct opin-
ions, as to the duties and obligations
of members of our profession to
each other or to themselves. How
ridiculous would it appear for these
srise men to enter one of our great
rolling mills, machine shops, or wool
en- factories, where cooperative labor
and capital combined are welding
their strong arms for the benefit o.
all, and demand in a loud voice tf
stop their machinery, abandon theil
tools and each retire to his own pri
rate shop and labor to perform that
which required the united strength
. and skill of all to do. How mucl
more ridiculous and absurd is it fol