Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

EDITORIAL. 33
rUai'lriiio Lnai JOlie
X'iaA'trnl Iniifnal should arouse the thoughtful consideration
iVieUltdl journal ^^ ^^,^^^ ^-^-^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ Carolina. The
Publisbed Monthly.
EDWARD C. REGISTER, M. D.,
fii'st ^^^s that the State should pass a law
requiring physicians to report every case of.
EDITOR tuberculosis, and that the cases should be
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
treated in sanitariums, and thus avoid the
danger to the health of others.
The second was that a law should be
passed making it a misdemeanor for any
jKirent or guardian to allow a child who
The fifty-sixth annual convention of the was born defective to go without sufficient
Medical Society of the State of North Caro- medical treatment.
Una was called to order on the morning of The third was that the legislature should
June 15th, 1909, by Dr. T. E. W. Brown, pass a law providing for a sanitary inspector
chairman of the committee on arrange- —a physician—who should visit the schools
ments, in the ball room of the magnificent frequently and thoroughly look after the
Battery Park Hotel in Asheville. Prayer health of the school children. He called
was offered by Rev. R. F. Campbell, D.I)., attention to the advances made by the last
after which Judge Thos. A. Jones, repre- legislature in establishing a sanitarium for
senting the Mayor of the city, delivered a the treatment of tuberculosis, but said that
splendid address of welcome. His speech
abounded in good sound, common sense,
the speaker laying particular emphasis on
this was only a step. The speaker believed
that the State had advanced by appointing
Dr. W.S. Rankin, of Wake Forest, to the new
the need of a better knowledge on the part
of doctors of medical jurisprudence. Judge
Jones said that on the witness stand the
i)osition of Secretary to the State Board of
Health. He paid a great tribute to the
work of Dr. R. 11. Lewis, of Raleigh, who
doctors of North Carolina had alwa\'s ac- has done so much for public health,
quitted themselves courteously and as gentlemen,
but he advised them to study some
Dr. Highsmith always has something to
say and he says it well. It may not be out
law and especially the law of medical juri^- of place to express an opinion which is uniprudence.
In this way, said he, could a versal among members of this Society, viz.,
doctor not only be able to hold his own be- that as president he occupied the chair with
fore any court but be able to protect him- grace and dignity, with fairness and just-
self from being entangled by a lawyer who ness.
had probably made a special study of the The registration at the time of the opensubject
under di.scussion for about a week ing session was estimated at two hundred,
previous to the trial, and was prepared with a figure that scarcely gives a true idea of
all kinds of questions to catch the expert the attendance. The program, while not
doctor. He also suggested that they use as extensive as that of some other meetings,
fewer technical terms in their evidence, as included many papers of very great scienthey
in that way greatly weaken their evi- lific value and profound interest. Thedisdence,
as a jury could not ui.derstand half cussions, engaged in with the greatest ena
doctor said because of the terms he em- ihusiasm, gave evidence of a genuine apployed.
"Speak to tlie jury in plain I'niled jjreciation of what the meeting means to the
Stales," said Judge Jones, "and not in doctors of our State. It would be impossi-
Latin." Ijle to mention all the papers and addresses
Dr. Chas. A. Julian, of Thomasville, in the soace allowed for these comments,
made eloquent response. As is character- nor would it indeed he fair to attempt the
islic his speech was expressed in the choicest task of specially drawing attention to any
language. With eloquent figures he paid certain ones. A number of prominent phyhigh
tribute to ^\sheville, her people, her sicians from other States were guests of the
climate, her beautiful environs, her institu- Society. Contributions from these gentletions
and her doctors. men added considerably to the interest of
The president. Dr. J. I*. Highsmith, in the meeting. Several subjects of special
his address on "Hygiene in Relation to importance werediscussed at length—among
Public Health" sketched the wonderful ad- these we mention especially the Pellagra
vances made in Medical Science and the and Tuberculosis Problems,
achievements in preventive medicine dur- The con-joint session of the State Board
ing the past thirty years. He emphasized of Health and the Medical Society was prethe
importance of educating the laity in sided over by Dr. George C. Thomas, of
order that tliere may be a proper apprecia- Wilmington, President of the State Board
ti>>n of the attitude of the medical man in of Health, and chief surgeon for the Atlantic
his efforts to improve sanitary conditions. Coast Line Railway. In opening the meet-
He made several recommendations which ing Dr. Thomas spoke of the very efiBcient