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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> 73cial basis, and for this the pr<strong>of</strong>ession is more to blame than the public."Dr. N. S. Davis <strong>of</strong> Chicago <strong>of</strong>fered a resolution that "a committee <strong>of</strong> threebe appo<strong>in</strong>ted to petition the legislature <strong>in</strong> favor <strong>of</strong> a modification oramendment <strong>of</strong> the present law <strong>in</strong> relation to the commitment <strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>sane,as will do away with the necessity <strong>of</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g cases <strong>of</strong> alleged <strong>in</strong>sanity<strong>in</strong>to open court for trial, and substitute therefor provisions moreconsonant with humanity and more <strong>in</strong> accordance with the laws <strong>of</strong> otherenlightened countries on the same subject."Membership <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Society</strong> had reached a total <strong>of</strong> 417, and there was abalance <strong>in</strong> the treasury <strong>of</strong> §855.47.1883 — PeoriaAfter the <strong>of</strong>ficial welcome to the city <strong>of</strong> Peoria, the various committees<strong>of</strong> the House reported. The most important report to come up for considerationwas presented by Dr. Walter Hay as chairman <strong>of</strong> the specialcommittee appo<strong>in</strong>ted to memorialize the legislature for some modification<strong>of</strong> the laws govern<strong>in</strong>g the commitment <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>sane persons. The other members<strong>of</strong> the committee were Drs. William Hill <strong>of</strong> Bloom<strong>in</strong>gton and E. P.Cook <strong>of</strong> Mendota. These three men had had difficulty dur<strong>in</strong>g the preced<strong>in</strong>gyear <strong>in</strong> their legislative activity. The members <strong>of</strong> both houses "fully appreciatedthe defects <strong>of</strong> the present system and freely sympathized with thedesire for reform but most earnestly dissuaded the Committee from anyattempt to <strong>in</strong>troduce the measure dur<strong>in</strong>g the present session for the follow<strong>in</strong>greasons: (1) That any measure emanat<strong>in</strong>g from either political partywould be regarded as partisan, and would require for its passage the unanimousvote <strong>of</strong> that party at least, <strong>in</strong> consequence <strong>of</strong> the equality <strong>in</strong> thestrength <strong>of</strong> the two oppos<strong>in</strong>g political factions, and (2)that by reason <strong>of</strong>this equality, a protracted 'deadlock' had already consumed so large a portion<strong>of</strong> the session that no new matter, outside <strong>of</strong> the ord<strong>in</strong>ary rout<strong>in</strong>e bus<strong>in</strong>ess,would receive consideration."The committee was cont<strong>in</strong>ued and was asked to report aga<strong>in</strong> at thenext session <strong>of</strong> the House. The men had developed a bill which wouldprovide that the judges <strong>of</strong> the courts <strong>in</strong> each judicial district should nom<strong>in</strong>atetwo physicians <strong>in</strong> each county best qualified to act as Commissioners<strong>of</strong> Insanity. These commissioners were then to be appo<strong>in</strong>ted by the Governorto serve "<strong>in</strong> and for each <strong>of</strong> said counties" for a period <strong>of</strong> three years.The two commissioners, together with the Judge <strong>of</strong> the County Court, wereto constitute the Board <strong>of</strong> Commissioners <strong>of</strong> Insanity. The committeehad studied the statutes <strong>of</strong> other states, together with acts <strong>of</strong> Parliament,etc., as the basis for the bill which they framed for presentation to the legislature.The special committee to consider the preparation <strong>of</strong> biographical

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