History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

66 History of Medical Practice in IUi?ioisSecretary read her name, he read it distinctly and repeated it. A motion wasmade to refer her name and all other questionable ones to the JudiciaryCouncil. Immediately a motion was made to lay the motion on the table,which was done by a very large majority with great applause. . . . Let uscongratulate ourselves that we possess the first woman delegate to the AmericanMedical Association. Some max say that your President transcendedhis authority in approving and being instrumental in her appointment. Inreply I would ask if the rule has not been one of long standing? And if wehave a member of this Society ineligible as a delegate?" No action was takenby the Society, but Dr. Stevenson must have felt quietly proud of her fellowpractitionersand the members of her Society.Apparently the Illinois State Medical Society desired to establish womenin medicine firmly and publicly. The Nominating Committee listed bothDrs. Harriet Botsford of Chicago and Lucinda Corr of Carlinyille as membersof the Committee on Diseases of Children, and Dr. Ellen Ingersoll onthe Committee on Obstetrics. So Dr. Stevenson's slight figure had passedthrough the inner door and left it ajar for those early women physicians tofollow.The committee appointed to memorialize the legislature on the subjectof establishing a State Board of Health reported. The response to theirrequest in Springfield was general and fullof encouragement. The committeehad taken before the legislature a bill drawn up to suit the needs ofthe state and so worded as to avoid objective criticism and needless opposition.They had been assisted by the Committee of the American MedicalAssociation and by other physicians throughout the state who were interestedin health problems. Physicians were urged to discuss the matter withtheir respective representatives. "These instrumentalities were followed upby persistent lobbying, and such explanation and defense of the variousitems of the bill as could be made on the ground, and the result was veryencouraging." The bill, shorn somewhat, had passed the House by a vote of96 to 37, and was before the Senate on "second reading" with fair prospectof final passage. The appropriation was cut from $10,000, the amount askedfor, to S5000 for two years. But at least the success of the project was nearlyassured, and Illinois was to join the list of states enjoying the protection ofa State Department of Public Health.1 878 — SpringfieldThe meeting was held this year in Representatives' Hall. GovernorCullom, who came into the hall to listen to Dr. J.L. White's PresidentialAddress, was invited to the speakers' platform, was introduced to theSociety by the Vice-President, Dr. E. P. Cook of Mendota, and spoke briefly,referring to the establishment of the State Board of Health and the opera-