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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> 85should never be given, and it should be considered crim<strong>in</strong>al mal<strong>practice</strong>to place this drug <strong>in</strong> the hands <strong>of</strong> the laity for unrestricted use.Dr. Brower <strong>of</strong> Chicago, President-Elect, noted that <strong>in</strong> the State <strong>of</strong>Ill<strong>in</strong>ois there were 6,000 doctors but that membership <strong>in</strong>the <strong>Society</strong> washeld by only 600. He urged all members to do everyth<strong>in</strong>g possible toorganize active <strong>medical</strong> societies <strong>in</strong> their counties and to <strong>in</strong>crease the membershipto <strong>in</strong>clude all ethical practitioners <strong>of</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e.1 895 — Spr<strong>in</strong>gfieldThe still-young Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong> could not wait for its 50thannual meet<strong>in</strong>g to observe an anniversary <strong>of</strong> note. The 45th annual meet<strong>in</strong>gwas set for Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield, the city where the found<strong>in</strong>g fathers met <strong>in</strong> 1850and laid the ground work for the <strong>Society</strong> as it still exists today.For the first time <strong>in</strong> the history <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Society</strong>, the wives <strong>of</strong> the memberswere <strong>in</strong>vited to "the first annual d<strong>in</strong>ner given at the Leland Hotel, WednesdayEven<strong>in</strong>g, for the members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Society</strong> and their ladies." It was a longeven<strong>in</strong>g; Dr. E. P. Cook <strong>of</strong> Mendota, toastmaster, rapped for order shortlyafter ten o'clock. Dr. John B. Hamilton, Secretary, <strong>in</strong>troduced "not onlyone <strong>of</strong> the founders <strong>of</strong> this <strong>Society</strong>, but at all times, one <strong>of</strong> its most brilliantornaments, Dr. Robert Boal <strong>of</strong> Lacon." Dr. Hamilton also spoke <strong>of</strong> Dr.William H. Bissel <strong>of</strong> St. Clair County, once Governor <strong>of</strong> the State <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois,and <strong>of</strong> Dr. Nathan Smith Davis, a found<strong>in</strong>g father <strong>of</strong> the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical<strong>Society</strong> as well as <strong>of</strong> the American Medical Association, and President<strong>of</strong> the International Medical Congress. He impressed upon the m<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>of</strong>the men and women present the power and ability <strong>of</strong> men <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oismedic<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the past and also <strong>in</strong> the busy days <strong>of</strong> 1895.Then Mrs. Firebaugh was to speak about the part <strong>in</strong> a physician's lifeplayed by his wife. In <strong>in</strong>troduc<strong>in</strong>g her as the first woman to so address the<strong>Society</strong>, Dr. Cook stated that "a doctor is but half a doctor who has not awife." Among other th<strong>in</strong>gs Mrs. Firebaugh said: "We have sometimes hadour suspicions that less heroic measures may have been tried out upon usfor the good <strong>of</strong> humanity," and, "Ah, we might many a tale unfold <strong>of</strong> many,many th<strong>in</strong>gs, if we were right sure that no reporter had 'got mixed <strong>in</strong> withthe boys.'Dr. John L. White <strong>of</strong> Bloom<strong>in</strong>gton, a member <strong>of</strong> the House <strong>of</strong> Representativesfrom McLean County, responded to the toast "The MedicalStatesman" as follows: "Typical <strong>medical</strong> statesmanship or <strong>medical</strong> legislation,I th<strong>in</strong>k was exemplified <strong>in</strong> the bill which today passed the House, andonly awaits the signature <strong>of</strong> the Governor to become a law; a bill which, ifit fulfills its promises, will prevent a large proportion <strong>of</strong> the bl<strong>in</strong>dness withwhich today our State is cursed, and will lessen the expense <strong>of</strong> the care <strong>of</strong>the bl<strong>in</strong>d to the State about one-third. . . . We have <strong>in</strong> the House at present,

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