again extends her cordial greetings to the Medical Profession of lowa Come, bring yours friends and enjoy the entire session Secure your hotel reservation early Huntsman's report denied the public all information as to the causes of depression in the practice, as to the code of ethics reported, and as to fee bill. The fee bill reported was adopted with some revisions. The report on the causes of depression apparently did not satisfy, for the subject was referred to a new committee who were instructed to revise and report. Dr. Hull, president of the society, read a paper on "The Wants of the Medical Profession." It is interesting to follow this pioneer physician and publicist through his brief presentment. The preeminent want of the medical world Dr. Hull found to be a "corps of competent physicians, men for whom nature had done much, and who possessed a liberal preparatory and thorough medical education." Another deficiency noted was "the lack of healthy discriminating tone in public sentiment, to the end that the ability of the competent physician may be fully appreciated." Too loose reign was given to "medicasters" who were virtually authorized by law "to go forth on their errand of death." Iowa was declared to be one of the states in which the practice was not regulated by law. In his view judicious laws would tend to relieve their crippled profession and save communities from incalculable mischief. Another want was harmony among the members of the profession. "Jars, schisms, strifes, animosities and bickerings" stood as "imperishable monuments of their shame and deep degradation." "Physicians, of all men, should earnestly cultivate intimate and confidential relations with each other, and the only rivalry that they should countenance should be to see who could become best acquainted with the true science of medicine, and to strive to occupy the highest and most extended sphere of usefulness, in their respective circles." He saw lasting benefits shadowed forth in the new organization. In the "Journal" of March 4, 1852 appears the long debated "Code of Medical Ethics" adopted by the Polk County Medical Society. 1. It declares for the observance of secrecy and delicacy in the relations of physicians with their patients. 2. It would avoid all visits beyond those necessary to the good of the patient. 3. It deplores gloomy prognostications, or the urging to the importance of one's services, but advises timely notice of danger to the friends and, when safe, to the patient himself. 4. It recommends consultations in difficuit and protracted cases. ance for the mental debility of the patient. 6. It was regarded as highly derogatory to the dignity of the profession to resort to public advertising, calling the attention of those afflicted with particular diseases, offering advice to the poor gratis, promising radical cures, publishing cases and operations, etc. 7. When called to see another physician's patient, the code prescribes that the physician should make his prescriptions to palliate or temporarily relieve the patient until the attending physician resumes his charge of the case. 8. It maintains that, ordinarily, the physician called in should make no charge against the patient. 9. It declares that no charge should be made for attendance on another physician's family; but the other physician, if able, should remunerate him as he is able to do so. 10. Comments to the disparagement of another physician's treatment it declares to be "a base violation of (the code of) a gentleman." The remaining sections are in substance as follows: 11. A physician should not take charge of another's patient, unless in consultation, or on relinquishment of the case, or a due notification that the other's services have been dispensed with. In such case, he should make no reflections on his predecessor. 12. General resume. 13. 14. Consult only with regular physicians. In consultations observe respect for others' judgments. 15. After examination retire for interchange of opinions-consultations to be secret and confidential. 16. Consultation concluded, the consulting physician should attend no more unless solicited. The paper was signed by A. L. Gray, committee on publication. Whether this pioneer medical society died of too much code and rate-bill or the subsequent proceedings ceased to interest the press, the fact remains that no further reports of its meetings are to be found in the Star, The Times or the Journal. DUBUQUE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY The first district medical society to be organized in Iowa was November 4, 1852 at Dubuque, the organization was finally perfected January 11, 1853. This society was known as the Northwestern Medical Society and included northwestern Iowa, 5. It counsels kindness, and generous allow southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Il linois. Dr. George W. Richards was elected president, meetings were held monthly. In 1875 there were eighteen members. LOUISA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY The Louisa County Medical Society was organized April 24, 1852, at Wapello. At this the first meeting of the society, the following officers. were elected: Dr. J. M. Robertson of Columbus City, president; Dr. T. G. Taylor of Wapello, secretary; Dr. J. B. Latta of Grandview, treasurer; Drs. H. T. Cleaver, John Bell of Wapello, and J. H. Graham of Morning Sun, censors. At this meeting a constitution, by-laws and code of ethics were adopted. It appears that the above named physicians constituted all that were present. At the next meeting, January 19, 1853, Drs. H. Belknap, John Cleaver of Columbus City and A. S. Condon were admitted to membership. Dr. John Bell, Sr., was admitted as an honorary member April 16, 1853, and Dr. W. M. Clark of Columbus City to active membership, and in January, 1854, Dr. B. G. Neal of Columbus City was admitted to membership. Dr. W. A. Colton, Columbus City, May 25, 1855; April 19, 1856; Dr. W. S. Robertson, Columbus City; May 28, 1856, Dr. D. McCaughn of Morning Sun; April 18, 1857, Dr. John Muldoon of Wapello; July 17, 1858 Dr. C. H. Curtis was admitted to membership and April 20, 1861, Dr. S. E. Jones of Grandview was made a member. WAPELLO COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY The Wapello County Medical Society was organized in 1853 by Dr. C. C. Warden; J. Williamson; W. L. Orr and A. D. Wood of Ottumwa; Dr. J. W. LaForce of Ashland, and Dr. Weir of Agency. President, Dr. C. C. Warden; vice president, Dr. A. D. Wood; secretary, Dr. J. Williamson. During the Civil War the society did not meet, and not until 1870 was the Wapello County Medical Society, again reorganized with Dr. W. L. Orr, president; T. J. Douglass, vice-president, and J. Williamson, secretary. Since this reorganization in 1870 the Wapello County Medical Society has met uninterruptedly. A. O. Williams. JOHNSON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY At the meeting of the physicians of Iowa City to attend the funeral of Dr. John A. Morse in August, 1855 the first steps were taken to form a medical society in Johnson county. It was soon after organized and flourished for many years; until in 1869 dissentions occurred and a division followed which resulted in the incorporation of the society by a respectable part of the membership which formed the dissenting minority. The incorporated society continued its organization while the other finally ceased to exist. CLINTON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY No records of the earlier meetings of the Clinton County Medical Society can be found. Some records in our possession show that in 1859 a medical society was organized and that in 1869 it was reorganized and the membership restricted. MUSCATINE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY Muscatine County Medical Society was organized on the 16th day of June, 1866 with Dr. A. Ady of West Liberty as president. For a time everything passed off pleasantly but soon interest began to die out and the meetings ceased for lack of attendance. It was however revived from time to time until the 12th of June, 1874, when a reorganization was accomplished under the title of Muscatine Medical Society. Dr. J. W. Robertson was elected president and Dr. H. M. Dean, secretary. The meetings have been held monthly. MARSHALL COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY The first attempt to form a medical society in Marshall county was in September, 1856 at Marietta. Then the county seat, and known as the Iowa Central Medical Society with eight members holding quarterly meetings at Marietta. Dr. Elias Fisher was elected the first president. and Dr. R. Howe Taylor secretary. This society maintained a useful existence for three years. Some of its members left for other localities and the society disbanded. After a period of nearly two years another medical society was organized in Marshalltown to which place the county seat had been removed in 1861. "This organization was known as the Marshall County Medical Society and was brought into existence by the convention and organization of the medical gentlemen of the county. It consisted of twelve members who convened together in quarterly meetings until the following year, 1862, when the excitement incident to the call for troops for the Civil War, together with the appointment of some of its members to their respective regiment, caused suspension and finally disorganization of the society. During the entire war and until January, 1867, no medical society appears to have existed in the county, but on the 12th day of January a convention was held by the physicians of the county and the Marshall County Medical Society was reorganized. Its meetings were monthly, its mem bership seventeen, "but its organization was premature." Dr. Kierulff says: "That in looking over his records he is reminded of the mountain in Æsop's Fables,' which was in travail for several months and finally brought forth a mouse. It was composed of regulars, irregulars, graduates and non-graduates, gentlemen and pugilists and finally after prefering charges upon each and every member for gross violations of medical ethics and etiquette, it adjourned to meet again to re-organize, making graduation from some regular school as a basis of membership. This last clause is the last but best expression of the seven month's existence of that society, and like the last straw, it 'broke the camel's back,' and the medical profession of Marshall county did not come together until March 31, 1873 when they organized in regular form, a society called the Iowa Central Medical Association, to be composed of such physicians and surgeons as would be admitted to membership in the Iowa State Medical Society. SCOTT COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY Scott County Medical Society was organized in Davenport, October 18, 1856, nine physicians met for that purpose at the office of Drs. Witherwax and Carter and on October 28, thirteen physicians met at the same place and adopted a constitution and by-laws and the code of ethics of the American Medical Association. The following officers were elected: President, Dr. Edgbert S. Barnes; vice-president, Dr. Lyman Carpenter; secretary, Dr. J. J. Thomson; treasurer, Dr. James Thistle. At the first quarterly meeting Drs. Barnes and Sanders were elected delegates to the American Medical Association. At the second meeting April 28, 1857, the member of the Rock Island Medical Society were made honorary members. January 26, 1858, the constitution and by-laws were revised and were again revised in 1855 under the direction of a committee consisting of Drs. W. F. Peck, J. W. H. Baker and J. W. Witherwax. In 1876 Dr. W. D. Middleton was president, Dr. W. W. Grant, vice-president; Dr. C. H. Preston, secretary and Dr. L. French, treasurer. At this time the membership was forty-three. MAHASKA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY The first medical society in Mahaska county was organized in 1856. Dr. S. E. Rienhart, president and Dr. J. T. Hopkins, secretary. When the Civil War broke out the meetings were discontinued. In 1872, a second organization was ef fected with a constitution and by-laws and subordinate to the state and national associations. This society seems to have maintained a continuous existence. So many of the earlier societies had more or less serious interruptions due in some measure perhaps to a heterogenous mixture of graduates and non-graduates. THE LINN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY-1859 This society was organized in 1859 at Mt. Vernon by Drs. Love, Ely, Ristine, Carson and Lyon. The meetings were suspended during the war but were revived in 1866. In 1873 its name was changed to the Iowa Union Medical Society which continues as an influential organization with two meetings a year. The present Linn County Medical Society was organized in 1903 as a part of the state and national organization and meets twice a year. The enterprising town of Mt. Vernon has a medical organization known as the Practitioners Club which meets once a month. NORTH IOWA MEDICAL SOCIETY In the early years of medical organization in Iowa when the country was thinly settled and physicians few in number, it was the custom for the medical profession to organize by several adjoining societies meeting together for professional fellowship. On June 22, 1859, the counties of Fayette, Allamakee, Clayton, Howard and Winneshiek joined in forming a society known as the North Iowa Medical Society; the meeting was held at McGregor. Dr. Frederick Andros was elected president and Dr. H. C. Martin, secretary. BOONE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY A medical society existed in Boone county in 1866 called the Boone County Medical Society. A few meetings were held but owing to a lack of interest on the part of its members it was soon abandoned. April 21, 1871 a new society was organized called the Boone County Medical Society with fourteen members, Dr. L. J. Allerman was elected president and Dr. A. A. Deering, secretary. Four or five meetings were held and this society followed its predecessors. In 1874 at a conference between Dr. L. J. Allerman of Boone, Dr. W. S. Schermerhorn of Jefferson and Dr. D. S. Fairchild of Ames a meeting was arranged of the physicians of Green, Boone and Story counties for the purpose of forming a district society, in view of the difficulty of maintaining county societies with the small number of physicians then practicing in these counties. Subsequently, Carroll, Calhoun |