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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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Organization <strong>of</strong> State Medical <strong>Society</strong> 79pr<strong>of</strong>ession and lor the education <strong>of</strong> the young student <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e.The Committee on Revision <strong>of</strong> the Constitution ami By-Laws suggestedthe follow<strong>in</strong>g change: "Any regular reputable physician practic<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>State may become a member <strong>of</strong> this <strong>Society</strong>, either by be<strong>in</strong>g chosen as delegatefrom a local society or upon present<strong>in</strong>g a certificate <strong>of</strong> good characterand reputable <strong>practice</strong>, signed by the president and secretary <strong>of</strong> any localsociety <strong>in</strong> affiliation with this <strong>Society</strong>, and the payment <strong>of</strong> the regular dues.Such persons as become members by certificate shall have all the privilegesexcept<strong>in</strong>g the right to vote." The Committee po<strong>in</strong>ted out that the Ill<strong>in</strong>oisState Medical <strong>Society</strong> embraced less than 6 per cent <strong>of</strong> the regular reputablepractitioners <strong>in</strong> the state with a membership <strong>of</strong> a little over 300 while theIndiana <strong>Society</strong> had a membership <strong>of</strong> between 1300 and 1400; also thatother states not so populous as Ill<strong>in</strong>ois had very much larger societies whichexerted a much wider <strong>in</strong>fluence, both for the pr<strong>of</strong>ession and general goodthan did the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong>. The Committee contended thatdie <strong>Society</strong> had other duties than the read<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> scientific papers, namely,to look after the political <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> physicians, "perhaps not as a politicalbody, but it should br<strong>in</strong>g a certa<strong>in</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluence to bear on ourlegislature, to pass laws that are necessary for the protection <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>essionas well asthethe protection <strong>of</strong> the people." The Committee furtherpo<strong>in</strong>ted out that the Constitution and By-Laws under which the <strong>Society</strong>was operat<strong>in</strong>g had been adopted <strong>in</strong> Jacksonville <strong>in</strong> 1875, with very fewchanges s<strong>in</strong>ce that time.It was Dr. Davis's op<strong>in</strong>ion that every state <strong>medical</strong> society should havefor itsbasis some k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> local organization, and that no man should beallowed to come <strong>in</strong>to the State <strong>Society</strong> who did not support, encourageand make himself an <strong>in</strong>tegral part <strong>of</strong> the society organization where helived, whether it was a county or district society. He noted that the membership<strong>of</strong> the Indiana <strong>Society</strong> was based upon membership <strong>in</strong>the localsociety as a prerequisite for membership <strong>in</strong> the state society and that "<strong>in</strong>Massachusetts the state is districted; each district has its representation <strong>in</strong>the state society, and every man that is a member <strong>of</strong> a district society, is amember <strong>of</strong> the state society. So it is with the State Medical Association <strong>of</strong>New York." Dr. Powell <strong>of</strong> Coll<strong>in</strong>sville said: "I th<strong>in</strong>k there should be aqualification for membership dependent wholly and solely on good stand<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong> local societies, and I do not th<strong>in</strong>k there should be any such th<strong>in</strong>g asa permanent member <strong>of</strong> a State <strong>Society</strong>." The entire matter was recommittedfor study and time was given to consider the problem.Mr. W. S. Phillips, Super<strong>in</strong>tendent <strong>of</strong> the School for the Bl<strong>in</strong>d at Jacksonville,conducted a musical and literary enterta<strong>in</strong>ment for the members <strong>of</strong>the <strong>Society</strong>, given by the pupils <strong>of</strong> that <strong>in</strong>stitution.

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