"The relations of physicians to society are in a general way outlined in Chapters I and II. The most noteworthy statements urge the teaching of applied ethics, as related to the medical profession, as a feature of the medical curriculum, and the recognition that 'physical energy, intellectual force, and moral excellence' are the necessary elements of individual character, and tend to advance ethical conduct in general. There should have been an emphasis at this place of the special medical truth that scientific research, pure truth, that love which motives original investigation and allies our calling with general science and evolution, is as conspicuous an element of character and progress as those named. This phase comes out indirectly in the obligation of physicians to enlighten the public as to right living, to secure the enactment of laws relating to the public health, assisting in their administration, etc., and especially of promoting a better statutory regulation of the practice of medicine. We are sorry for the omission of this great truth. "The organization of the local profession is dealt with in Chapter III of the report. The basic principle of local government is accepted in full, and here, at least by implication, the finger is struck upon the ailing point of our ethical disease in the statement that the local society should consider as eligible to membership any physician recognized as such by law and possessing a good personal and professional character, whatever may be his individual views on any question connected with the science of medicine.' To that position the matter must finally be brought. The sooner the better. There is absolutely no other capable of being put in words which will bear the attack of just criticism. All 'regular' physicians differ from each other as to a multitude of details regarding the science and art of medicine, and there is no logical ground for not applying for membership by sectarians because one may privately believe in certain special doctrines of allopathy,' homeopathy, eclecticism, or of any other method of cure. But this principle, admitted by us, also carries with it the obligation to accept such legal practitioners as members of our societies if they have no other disqualifications, and if they accept, as we ourselves accept, the patent corollary, that such private views as to opinions, treatment, etc., do not warrant the formation of any special 'school' or title, and if there is no trading upon such distinctive specialism. For the rest the local society must form a corporate part of the State and National organizations. "CONCERNING CONSULTATIONS.-The recommendations of the report on this subject are really most excellent. The only point upon which we should differ a little from it is where it says that, when asked for by the patient, the attending physician should always consent to a consultation, but he himself ought not to ask for it except when in his judgment it is distinctly demanded for the welfare of the patient.' Now we think that in all cases of doubt, and in many where no doubt may exist, the welfare of the patient. is conserved by consultations, especially if they are carried out with the tact and fine courtesy so perfectly advised in the body of the report. Particularly is this true, as so often happens nowadays, in the case of specialists. Concerning this aspect of consultations the 'code' is, we think, unwisely silent. Physicians, however 'general,' are all more or less specialists, and every disease has a peculiar relation to certain organs of the senses, etc., or there is usually some one physician or surgeon known to the attendant who has an exceptional experience in a certain disease, or is peculiarly fitted to advise in its treatment. As to the scandal of bribe-taking and bribe giving, or dividing fees, the report is not too severe-no words could be so-when it says that any person convicted of this corrupt practice should be denied all recognition and fellowship in the medical profession. They should be squarely turned out of our medical organizations. "As to the auxiliary professions, the 'code' has capital recommendations. For the first time such a document recognizes the duties to nurses and the nursing profession, and especially that we should promote their societies and organizations. At last a needed word is said against working and training the girls to death. The prescribing for the sick by pharmacists is an old abuse which is properly discountenanced, and which will not be remedied except by thorough going action of the united local profession. Selling secret nostrums is in reality prescribing, and should have been stigmatized as sharply as sophistication or substitution. The most criticisable sin of commission or of omission on the part of the document is the failure to say a word about the prescribing optician, the quack oculist who is 'prescribing for the sick' without being a qualified physician. Far more harm is being done to the profession and to the world by this shameless quackery than by all the abuses of all the auxiliary professions combined, to which so much space is rightly devoted by the report. It is quite the fashion, and a most reprehensible one it is, to ignore and belittle this and smile at the 'exaggerator;' it is a pity that this code substitute, however unintentionally, should have joined in this 'conspiracy of silence.' The matter will not down, either in this or in any other way.' The next meeting of the Association is at Atlantic City, and on account of the St. Louis fair a very large attendance may be looked for. Election of Association Officers. PRESIDENT-Dr. John H. Musser, Philadelphia. FIRST VICE PRESIDENT-Dr. G. C. Savage, Nashville, Tenn. FOURTH VICE PRESIDENT-Dr. George F. Jenkins, Keokuk, Iowa. TREASURER-Dr. Henry P. Newman, Chicago. SECRETARY AND EDITOR-Dr. George H. Simmons, Chicago. TRUSTEES-Drs. William H. Welch, Baltimore; Miles F. Porter, Fort Wayne, Ind., and M. L. Harris, Chicago. JUDICIAL COUNCIL-Drs. F. H. Wiggin, New York; G. B. Gillespie, Tennessee, and D. C. Peyton, Indiana. ORATOR ON SURGERY-Dr. W. J. Mayo, Rochester, Minn. Standing Committees Announced. The President announced the following committees: COMMITTEE ON AWARD OF ASSOCIATION MEDAL--Dr. Lewis S. McMurtry, Louisville, Ky., Chairman; Dr. Burnside Foster, St. Paul, Minn., and Dr. M. H. Fussell, Philadelphia. COMMITTEE ON AWARD OF SENN MEDAL.-Dr. James H. Dunn, Minneapolis, Chairman; Dr. M. L. Harris, Chicago, and Dr. Floyd W. McRae, Atlanta, Ga. COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC EXHIBIT--Dr. F. B. Wynn, Indianapolis, Chairman, appointed as Director, he to select the remaining members of the committee. COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH--Dr. Alfred Stengel, Philadelphia, Chairman; Dr. Wm. Osler, Baltimore, and Dr. L. Hektoen, Chicago. COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION--Dr. J. N. McCormack, Bowling Green, Ky., Chairman; Dr. P. Maxwell Foshay, Cleveland, Ohio, and Dr. George H. Simmons, Chicago. COMMITTEE ON RUSH MONUMENT--Dr. James C. Wilson, Philadelphia Chairman; Dr. Henry D. Holton, Brattleboro, Vt., Treasurer; Dr. Frank Billings, Chicago; Dr. L. Duncan Bulkley, New York, and Dr. Wm. L. Rodman, Philadelphia. COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL LEGISLATION-Dr. Charles A. L. Reed, Ohio Chairman, one year; Dr. W. L. Rodman, Philadelphia, two years, and Dr. William H. Welch, Baltimore, three years. COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS--Dr. Edwin Walker, Evansville, Ind.; Dr. A R. Craig, Pennsylvania; Dr. George M. Kober, District of Columbia; Dr. T. J. Murray, Montana, and Dr. William Davis, Minnesota. COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND PLACE OF SESSION--Dr. M. L. Harris, Illinois; Dr. F. H. Wiggin, New York; Dr. H. Bert Ellis, California; Dr. B. H. Hartwell, Massachusetts; Dr. G. C. Savage, Tennessee; Dr. H. A. West, Texas, and Dr. A. F. Jonas, Nebraska. COMMITTEE ON MAJOR WALTER REED MONUMENT--Dr. W. W. Keen, Pennsylvania, Chairman; Dr. Joseph D. Bryant, New York; Dr. Maurice H. Richardson, Massachusetts; Dr. Victor C. Vaughan, Michigan, and Dr. T. S. Cullen, Maryland. COMMITTEE ON REAPPORTIONMENT--Dr. William S. Foster, Pennsylvania, Chairman; Dr. P. Maxwell Foshay, Ohio; Dr. J. N. Hall, Colorado, President-elect and Secretary ex-officio. COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL INCORPORATION--Dr. Joseph D. Bryant, Chairman, New York; Dr. H. L. E. Johnson, District of Columbia; Dr. Leart us Connor, Michigan; Dr. D. S Fairchild, Iowa; Dr. C. G. Kenyon, California, and Dr. Frank Billings, ex-officio SUBARACHNOID INJECTION. A year ago I attended the meeting of the American Medical Association, at Saratoga, New York, at which meeting I read a paper on the subarachnoid injection of cocaine for operations on the upper part of the body. At that meeting very little discussion was brought out, and the little that was, was rather against, than for the method. Most of the surgeons were skeptical as to the analgesia extending to the upper part of the body, and as usual in anything new, especially where that something new revolutionizes the methods that we have concluded can never be improved upon, have been slow in taking up and adopting the subarachnoid injection. At that meeting I did not have the opportunity to demonstrate its value, but in the past year have received many inquiries relative to my method of using cocaine, etc. Concluding from the many letters that I had received during the year that perhaps my article had produced a little stir in the profession, especially among the Eastern surgeons, I deter mined to attend the meeting of the American Medical Association this year, at New Orleans, as a spectator, and find out if the profession was still as apathetic in respect to the method as they were a year ago. On my arrival at New Orleans, I was pleased to find out that there were many who were anxious to learn more in regard to the method of the subarachnoid injection and to see if it would stand the test that Iclaimed for it. Much to my surprise and pleasure, I was invited by Dr. F. W. Parham, of New Orleans, to operate on a case at the Charity Hospital in the presence of the members of the Americal Medical Association; the case selected was an ideal one for such a demonstration, that of carcinoma of the oesophagus, in a man about 65 years of age. After the necessary preparation, I injected the usual amount of tropo-cocaine (I have been using tropo-cocaine for several months past in preference to cocaine), and analgesia was complete over the whole body in ten minutes, when I did a gastrostomy. I do not think there was a skeptic in that audience after that demonstration, nor do I believe that any of them could question that analgesia was not complete over the entire body. Such demonstrations do more good to convert the unthinking portion of our profession than a dozen papers, and it would seem to me that if more clinical work could be done at these meetings, especially when it comes to demonstrating something new, more would be accomplished than at present, and no doubt all would go away better satisfied. A. W. MORTON. 615 Parrott Bldg. THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF SAN FRANCISCO. The Commencement Exercises of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of San Francisco were held in the Alhambra Theater, May 21, 1903, before a large and enthusiastic audience. Every nook and corner in this spacious theater was crowded with relatives and friends of the College and graduating classes. 1. ORDER OF EXERCISES. 2. Overture-" Raymonde". . Sousa Thomas |