National Eclectic Medical Association. ANNUAL MEETING-1883. THE Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the National Eclectic Medical Association of the United States of America was held in the Senate Chamber, in the city of Topeka, Kansas, beginning on Wednesday, June 20th, 1883. FIRST DAY.-MORNING SESSION. The Association was called to order at ten o'clock by the President, Doctor Andrew Jackson Howe, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Right Rev. Thomas Vail, D. D., Protestant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas, was introduced, and offered the invocation, to the Great Healer of men, invoking the Divine blessing on those now assembled to consult as to the best and most proper means of following his example in healing the sick and comforting the afflicted, and asked that they may be animated by the Divine Spirit. He closed by repeating the Lord's Prayer. GOVERNOR GLICK'S ADDRESS OF WELCOME. President Howe announced his Excellency, George W. Glick, Governor of the State of Kansas. The Governor proceeded to address the Association: "Gentlemen and Fellows of the National Eclectic Medical Association of the United States:-In behalf of the State of Kansas and of the worthy members of your Association of the capital city of the State, I welcome you to this place of meeting. "It is a source of great pleasure to me, as well as the members of your society who are citizens, to be honored by your presence. It is a compliment to the State, and a greater compliment to her members of the medical profession, to feel and know that the grand young State of Kansas is able to offer sufficient attractions to you to visit her territory, and enjoy for a brief period its salubrious climate and note its wonderful progress in material development, its grand strides of progress and its great possibilities for the future. Men of education and of scientific skill, as you are, you will observe these things and comprehend their value by a simple view of the beautiful surroundings. "One reason why I think Kansas was selected as the place of your meeting was that your associates who reside within our State had assured you that you would enjoy perfect health while here, and you will find that assurance true; the immunity from disease I can assure will add largely to your enjoyment while you remain with us. "That your coming, gentlemen, will be a source of pleasure as well as profit to each of you, I have no doubt. Men who leave their homes and business to attend such meetings show to the world that they have an interest in science and are devoted . to the cause of humanity that their profession represents; that their aim is not controlled alone by the mere routine of their vocation, but by the higher and nobler aim to alleviate the sufferings and ills that mankind are subject to, and by investigation and consultation to surround us by a wall of protection against the wasting diseases that invade the households of the highest as well as the humblest of mankind. "If I understand aright the principle upon which the Eclectic School of Medical Practice is founded, you are not exclusive or confined to any pet theory or practice, or any special class of remedies, but that you call out and appropriate to your use the choicest and most valuable parts of nature's Materia Medica and use them in your practice without reference to the sources from which they were obtained. You select the remedy that will subdue the disease in the most effective manner and in the shortest time. You make no war on the Allopathic, Homœopathic or Hydropathic theories or practices, but make the good and the useful remedies of either medical profession subservient to your will, and subordinate theory to your requirements in subduing diseases. While I am not one to judge between the different theories of the different medical schools of practice, there is certainly one thing about yours that will commend it to the thinking and the fair-minded, namely: that it is free from prejudice for or against remedies, simply because other physicians use or adopt them. You do not object to the use of a remedy simply because the learned or skillful man who belongs to another medical organisation than yours uses it in his treatment of diseases. A grand and noble principle on which to found and perpetuate your medical practice, grand in its inception, honorable in its aims and charitable in its treatment of others who believe in different theories of the practice of medicine and the treatment of diseases! "That you are honest and sincere in your endeavors is proved by your honest and laborious efforts to elevate the moral tone and standing of your profession, and to add to the store of your yearly-accumulating scientific information. By your efforts to mitigate and alleviate the sufferings of mankind from the pains and aches that invade the human form, and travelling hundreds of miles to seek for more knowledge and learn from your associates what they have accomplished for suffering humanity in the past year, you demonstrate your desire to place your profession on a higher plane of scientific learning. Thus the elements are made to do your bidding in your intelligent and successful warfare for the protection of the lives and the happiness of your fellow man. "This is a laudable ambition. I trust that your most sanguine anticipation will be gratified by the result of this meeting; and that year by year you will add to your store of knowledge and secure new and more salutary remedies in the healing art, which you will be able to apply with an intelligent skill and successful results that redound to your credit. Again, gentlemen, I welcome you to our young State, and hope your stay may be pleasant, and that your convocation will result in great benefit, profit and happiness to yourselves." PRESIDENT HOWE'S REPLY. When the applause which followed as the Governor concluded had subsided, Dr. Howe replied: "Governor Glick :- When the National Eclectic Medical Association voted a year ago to hold their next annual convention in Kansas, at the capital of the State, there were those who thought us rash for going so far westward. But the cordial reception tendered us has convinced all present that in coming here a step was taken in the right direction. The welcome words of your Excellency have already put us on good terms with ourselves and our surroundings. In return for the official compliment on your part please accept our hearty thanks. May you long enjoy the distinguished honor the suffrages of an intelligent and discriminative people have conferred on you. "Some of us can remember when Kansas was a dark and bloody ground; when this vast territory was grazed by untamed herds, and roamed over by hordes of savage men. Now the evidence of culture and proofs of prosperity everywhere abound. To be the chosen ruler of this promising commonwealth is a distinction that ought to satisfy the ambition of the most aspiring. You have occasion to be proud of your civil position. "Right Reverend Sir, we appreciate the earnest appeal made at the throne of Grace in our behalf. Sickness is an evil, a misfortune, a calamity, and physicians have a pecuniary interest in its existence; therefore it is questionable whether we can legitimately pray for our daily bread. To escape the dilemma we endeavor to be so agreeable and to give such pleasant medicines that our patients do not regard it a grievance, but a luxury, to be sick. We really make some people enjoy poor health. By this means we endeavor to avoid the imputation of invoking an epidemic of some kind when it is distressingly healthy. "Revered Governor, we all wish you well. May your lines ever fall in pleasant places." The Committee on Credentials was appointed by the President, as follows: George C. Pitzer, M. D., of Missouri; T. Arthur Wright, M. D., of Kansas; Henry Wolhgemuth, M. D., of Illinois; William T. Gemmill, M. D., of Ohio; Vincent A. Baker, M. D., of Michigan. The following communication was received from officers of the Kansas Eclectic Medical Association : "Resolved, That it is the sense of the Kansas Eclectic Medical Association that the By-Laws of the National Association prohibiting more than fifteen delegates from Kansas should be unanimously suspended, and that all qualified physicians, members of the State Society, who can duly pass the Committee on Credentials, shall be admitted the present year." On motion of Dr. S. W. Ingraham, of Illinois, it was unanimously Resolved, That the names of other persons, members of medical societies in affiliation with this Association, or who live in States having no such societies, if duly recommended by the officers of such societies or of this Association, shall be duly referred to the Committee on Credentials as candidates for permanent membership, on the same footing with delegates duly appointed as prescribed by Article I. of the By-Laws. The roll of officers was then called by the Secretary. Present Andrew J. Howe, M. D., President ; Henry K. Stratford, M. D., Vice-President; Alexander Wilder, M. D., Secretary; James Anton, M. D., Treasurer. The roll of States was also called, and credentials were received from auxiliary societies as follows, namely: the Eclectic Medical Society of Connecticut, the Eclectic Medical Society of Georgia, the Illinois State Eclectic Medical Society, the Indiana Eclectic Medical Association, the Iowa Electic Medical Society, the Kansas Eclectic Medical Association, the Kentucky State Eclectic Medical Association, the State Eclectic Medical and Surgical Society of Michigan, the Minnesota Eclectic Medical Society, the Eclectic Medical Society of Nebraska, the Eclectic Medical Society of the State of New Jersey, the Eclectic Medical Society of the State of New York, the Eclectic Medical Society of Central New York, the West-Side Medical Society of the city. and county of New York, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Mahoning Valley Eclectic Medical Association of Ohio, the Eclectic Medical Association of Pennsylvania, the Vermont State Eclectic Medical Society, the Eclectic Medical Society of Wisconsin; also the American, Bennett, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa and United States Medical Colleges. TREASURER'S REPORT. Dr. Anton, the Treasurer, presented his annual report, which was read, as follows: Mr. President and Members of the National Eclectic Medical Association: The Treasurer respectfully submits the following report of the financial condition of the Association for the year ending June 19th, 1883. June 23-To Donation from Dr. Charles Band, of Crete, Neb. June 23-To Dr. Charles Band's prize money, ordered by the Association turned into the Treasury subject to his order July 16-To Cash awarded by Dr. Charles Band to Dr. G. Herman Merkel, as prize for Essay and presented by him to the Association July 16-To Initiation Fees collected by mail 1883 June 19-To Annual Dues by mail 100.00 100.00 50.00 56.00 388.00 Total $1,319.00 1882 PAYMENTS. June 23-By Balance due the Treasurer, as approved July 16-By Cash to Dr. G. Herman Merkel prize for Essay, as per order of Dr. Charles Band 50.00 Aug. 5-By Cash in full of Nickles Publishing Company, for Vol. IX. of 75.00 Aug. 15-By Cash in full of Secretary's fee as voted 25.00 Sept. 10-By Cash to Treasurer for postage and stationery up to June 20th, 1882, as approved 13.00 Sept. 20-By Cash to Dr. L. E. Russell for prize awarded him by Dr. Chas. 50.00 Dec. 20 -By Cash to Treasurer for expenses going to and from New IIaven, 70.00 1883 May 12-By Cash to Secretary for stationery, postage, expressage, and Lithographer's bill for certificates 90.00 May 12-By Cash on account of F. W. Baldwin's bill for Vol. X. of Transactions, and printing calls, &c. 40.00 May 31-By printer's bill for Treasurer's circulars 2.00 June 9-By Cash to F. W. Baldwin, on account for Vol. X. |