History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

86 History of Medical Practice in Illinoisfour representatives of our profession. We differ politically, but we haveever been ready to act as a unit whenever any question involving the honoror integrity of the profession, or the physical wellbeing of the people wasbrought forward, and I think that we as doctors, after a while, will be ableto leave small traces of our footsteps in the sands of legislation."Then the toastmaster called upon Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson whospoke of the future and of "my hobby which is co-education of the sexesin medicine. . . . When the State University is organized, I hope the menand women will be educated in one institution—educated as physicianswithout any regard to the sex question at all. It seems to me, if we be physicians,that the first necessity is equality of opportunity, and that is all thewoman physician asks."After several other toasts, Governor John P. Altgeld was introduced.The high spot in his short address, delivered late at night, might well havebeen his statement about the state he served as Governor: "There is nota little thing in the State, unless it is the size of the Democratic majorityof the last election."The problem of membership received serious consideration. Prior to themeeting, 7000 announcements were mailed out to all "regular physicianswith an appeal to the medical profession of the State to become members."At the meeting, the President reported in detail on the various activities tosecure additional county and city societies and to increase the membershipof existing component groups. A circular letter had been mailed to allphysicians, and Dr. D. R. Brower reported that "twenty or more countyor city medical societies have been organized since that circular was issued,and I trust we may see the result in an increased registration at this meeting.I hope it has been the means of exciting additional interest. It is certainlynot a gratifying state of affairs to know that Illinois, one of thegreatest commonwealths in the Union, has one of the most insignificantstate medical societies."The physicians present were interested in the history of the Society anda comprehensive and complete summary ofthe founding days was presented.151896—OttawaAt the 1896 meeting, three very famous "J.B.'s" presented scientificpapers: Dr. John B. Murphy on "Surgery of the Gasserian Ganglion withDemonstration," Dr. James B.Herrick on "Thyroid Therapy," and Dr.Joseph B. DeLee on "Craniotomy on the Dead Child."15Reference to the minutes of this meeting will give the historically minded readerinformation secured from physicians who were present in Springfield in May, 1850, whenthe Society came into being. A wealth of historical and biographic material is recordedas an accurate and interesting report to those members in attendance at the 45th annualmeeting.