Transactions of the Canada Medical Association 10th Annual Meeting Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1877 Excerpt: ... OBJECTS. It is sometimes insinuated that this Association has no objects sufficient for its existence; and that the good effected is altogether disproportionate to the labour, expense and time of coming together. But those are the insinuations of the ill-informed, who fail to perceive that, apart altogether from the scientific importance of such gatherings, the social advantages of union and converse, social sympathy and fellowship with each other, outweigh, immeasurably, the inconveniences. The Medical Association of our American cousins has had its history, but now it numbers so many members that it seriously contemplates making some change whereby that number may be reduced. Although almost too large and unwieldy for practical purposes, were it to pass away now, after only 30 years of existence, it must be admitted to have effected an amount of good that could not have been obtained in any other way. It has brought the medical profession of the United States info one body, and has encouraged State and smaller local societies, thereby improving the tone in these. So also with this Association, which can boast an existence of only one-third that period. Legislation has endeavoured to impose geographical boundaries; this Association defies all efforts at fixing limits or bounds, as of a territory. Legislation has imposed a term and limit to our functions, making the fit and capable practitioner of one province of our country disqualified for the duties of his calling in another; this Association rubs out and obliterates, for the time being at least, those unsightly enclosures which, although in a measure necessary, and created in self-defense, yet mar the beauty and unity of the whole. DIVISION OP LABOUR. It is a matter of gratification that the work this s...