TWO CASES ILLUSTRATING THE SUBJECT OF THE BLOOD COUNT, AS AN AID TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT IN ABDOMINAL SUR- REPORT OF A CASE. Dr. C. P. Stackhouse, SURGERY OF THE GALL BLADDER. Dr. F. P. Lenahan, ADDRESS OF THE RETIRING PRESIDENT. DR. ALEX G. FELL. READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, JANUARY 15, 1902. In taking such a subject on an occasion of this kind, I at first hesitated, but believing that often much good can be accomplished by trying to see ourselves as others may see us, I will endeavor to bring before the Society some criticisms and wants, and present some outlines of our future. Our society has grown greatly in the past few years both numerically and in general worth, but it does not appear that we are doing all we can, or that we have any set mark to attain. Our influence can be made greater with the public, and by careful, calm and considerate action can be made the ruling medical body, not only of the people but of the entire profession in the community. There are not many of the original members living, and if any could return, they would no doubt be surprised at the growth of the society, and be pleased to observe the plant they started, also in a sense be satisfied with the work done, but we must not be too laudatory of ourselves, nor too self-opinionated, as there is plenty of room to grow and abundance of work for all, if they will only do it, but there has been a lack of co-operation among the members, without which we will never attain the highest point of perfection and advancement to all, which should be our guiding star. It has been the history of the Society that the Executive Committee has been hampered in the work by the carelessness and even the lack of common courtesy which one man may expect of another. Members of this Society have received requests by mail to prepare papers for the meeting, and have at all times been asked to reply, but a number have neglected this and some have delayed their answer so long as to greatly inconvenience the Committee. There are only eighty-eight members of the Society, and we have, as a rule, but eighteen or nineteen meetings in a year, so if each member should prepare a paper, they would be called upon but once in four years, which is not asking much, but common decency and courtesy to your Committee should grant a reply; and when once in the affirmative, to see that it is fulfilled, as your Secretary and Committee are not gifted with abundance of time that they can run about to this and that one trying to have the vacancy filled. The past year has been more free than the preceding ones from this fault, but nevertheless, to glance over the schedule and note the non-fulfillments, strikes one with surprise. Allow it to be called to your attention that it is not fair to them, who substitute, and your Committee sometimes feels as if at times it is nearly an insult, to ask a member to furnish a paper on short notice. The members do not know that the essayists in fulfilling the engagement of another and the writer has not the time nor the inclination on such notice to prepare such a paper as he would had he the requisite opportunity, and allow me as a digression to state that there are a number of members who have never said "Nay" when requested to fill in the breach, and they are the men that the Committee asks last, after they have not succeeded in persuading others to take the place. Also, as our meetings will average an attendance of 28.5 members, it is not justice to them, as their time is worth something, as are their efforts, to be thus disappointed by the neglect of a fellow member. Now, if we are to have successful meetings, a hearty co-operation with your Secretary is manifestly necessary. The work of the Secretary and Treasurer takes considerable time and the Society has been most fortunate in their selection; as at all times the work has been done with great care. Financially, the balance on hand one year ago was $525.42; this year there is a balance of $570.61, showing that our income has exceeded our outlay by $45.19, so that our antici pated income exceeds our expenditures, and your Treasurer has deposited for safe keeping, at interest, the sum of $500.00, which should, with its accruing interest, be maintained as a sinking fund, and only touched should extreme necessity de mand, and if possible be added to when a balance remains at the end of the year. And it is recommended that the Executive Committee be encouraged to bring others, from a distance, to present papers, even if it does entail some expense to the Society, as on these occasions the members are brought together, and more in touch, for example, when Dr. Jay F. Schamberg lectured to us on "Cutaneous Manifestation of Smallpox," there were present forty-eight members, or over half the Society, a number exceeding the usual attendance on our Annual Meeting. Such papers act as a quickening power and bring to the mind of those who are apt to stay away, the existence of the Society, and its importance, and if more work in this field was done the membership of the Society, it is believed, would be increased. Your Censors of the past years have really had nothing to do, except to pass upon the desirability of applicants to membership, and only once in the writer's recollection, has a member been brought before the Society for any violation of the ethical laws or misconduct, and this had more wind than matter. The lack of complaint shows a happy condition and makes one at times question the advisability of the existence of actual ethical laws, and I doubt much if many have ever read the laws as published, feeling that the old law, "Do unto others as you would that others should do unto you," is sufficient unto them. At times there will be some misunderstanding as to one's conduct toward another, and an act that is in reality intended as an act of kindness, may be construed as a slight, or unjust interference, but if in working our deductions we would judge as we would be judged, we would, in nearly every instance, arrive at the proper decision; that of no intentional hurt. All men are naturally honest, but it is the circumstance that makes them dishonest, and it is the dishonest man who finally brings his own condemnation. When we hear things derogatory to the character of any fellow member we should be slow to believe, remembering the little rhyme: "Believe not each slandering tongue, As most weak people do, And think it a mistake and endeavor to uphold his character, as by so doing we will elevate the general standing and reputation of the Society. It is unhappily the opinion of a great many of the public that doctors will be guilty of most anything, and we too often permit remarks in regard to our brother to go unchallenged, thereby permitting a lowering of the profession in the eyes of the public. In every case of criminal abortion that comes to light the first cry seems to be, "Who was the doctor?" Now, we all know, from actual experience, that the doctor, as a rule, never figures in the case until the patient's life is brought in jeopardy, and when his presence is necessary in order to carry her through her ordeal. Our profession does not permit us to stand idly by and see the deepest-dyed criminal die when it is in our power to prevent, so we must be on our constant guard to prevent the debasing of our profession. And allow me to call the attention of the public to the fact that too many husbands and wives consider it perfectly proper to bring on abortion, forgetting that it is honorable for them to have children and that they together are better able to rear, educate, and to enjoy them in their old age, while it is a crime most heinous for an unfortunate, who will be disgraced all her life and must struggle alone to succor her child. If it is a crime in the unfortunate it is more so in the other and in working for the prevention of these cases and protecting the names of our brothers, we protect ourselves by raising the regard in which the public hold the profession. Your Committee on Illegal Practice has more than it can do. The most that they at present can attend to is to endeavor to keep our own house clean. The prosecution of any sect or schism by the medical profession is interpreted by the public as merely a case of jealousy and fear on the part of the medical man that he will lose some of his practice or that it is purely a monetary motive that has brought the prosecution and they always side with the defendant, asking who has made the medical profession the sponsers of the people, and in this way acts as an advertisement of the new schism or sect. Now allow me to say that the medical profession has existed back as far |