RESOLUTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. WHEREAS, There are in the United States several thousand who have become blind because of ophthalmia neonatorum; and WHEREAS, This unfortunate result is largely preventable, being due to the neglect of nurses and midwives, therefore Resolved, That it is the sense of the Wisconsin State Medical Society, assembled at Madison, June the fourth, 1896, that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to urge such legislation as will tend to lessen the blindness caused by this disease. Resolved, That the following form for a law meets with the approval of the Society: *"SECTION I. Should one or both eyes of an infant become reddened or inflamed at any time after birth, it shall be the duty of the midwife, nurse or person having charge of said infant, to report the condition of the eyes at once to the Commissioner of Health or to some legally qualified practitioner of medicine of the city, town or district in which the parents of the infant reside. SECTION 2. Any failure to comply with the provisions of this act shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both. SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on the first day of June, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven." Dr. Sarles moved the adoption of the resolution, saying: "I think it is a very important matter and one that should be impressed upon the people of the State." Dr. Barnes: I wish to second the motion; it is a very important matter. The census of 1889 shows that over 50,000 people are blind from this trouble alone; and I think all other States are adopting, or have adopted such laws, and I think we should follow suit. Motion unanimously carried and so ordered. Dr. Abaly, of Madison, then read a paper on "Proper Type and Paper for Text-books." *This law is now in operation in the States of New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Ohio, Maryland, Connecticut, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Illinois; that is, it is in existence among a population of over twenty-eight millions. It is being prepared for action in the State Medical Societies and Legislatures of California, Michigan, New Hampshire. Louisiana, South Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin. A paper on "Ophthalmia in New-Born-Its Relation to Blindness, and Prophylaxis," was read by Dr. Seaman, of Milwaukee. A paper on the same subject was read by Dr. Zimmermann, of Milwaukee. A paper on "Examination of Eyes of School Children as a Hygienic Measure," was read by Dr. Barnes, of Milwaukee. A discussion of the subject of "Hygiene of Sight and Hearing," followed. A paper by Dr. Oviatt, of Oshkosh, was read, on "Prophylactic Measures for the Operating Room in Private Houses." A paper on "Prophylaxis as applied to the Preservation of Function in Wounds of Nerves and Tendons," was read by Dr. Earles, of Milwaukee. The President: Dr. B. O. Reynolds, one of the oldest members of the Society, has prepared a very short paper on the subject of "Reminiscences of the Older Members of the Society," and if there is no objection he will read it now. At Dr. Reynolds' request, the paper referred to was read by Dr. Reineking, and was received with great applause. Dr. Sauer: I would like to make a motion that the Society extend a vote of thanks to Dr. Reynolds for the interesting piece of early history of the Society that he has furnished. Motion unanimously adopted. The Committee on Prevention of Blindness was announced as follows: Dr. H. V. Würdemann, Dr. S. C. McGilvra, Dr. W. C. Abaly. On motion, the Society adjourned to meet June 5th, at 8:30 o'clock A. M. June 5, 1896, 8:30 o'clock A. M., proceedings resumed. Meeting called to order by the President. The President: The amendment to the constitution pro posed at our last meeting in Superior and laid over for one year, comes up for action. The amend Dr. Pritchard, Chairman of the Committee: ment to the constitution provides that a section of legal medicine be organized in the State Medical Society as an independent section, admitting attorneys to membership in that section on the payment of $1.50 annual dues, all members of the State Society to be members of this section. The amendment was proposed last year and laid over under the rules for one year. The question now ought to be taken up, and I move that it be taken up as a special order of business. Motion carried. Dr. Pritchard: I move that the amendment be adopted and become a part of our constitution. Motion carried. (See page 30, Proceedings of 1895.) A paper on "Relation of Master Towards Servant in Case of Infectious or Contagious Diseases, from a Medico-Legal Standpoint," was read by Dr. Philler, of Waukesha. Dr. Bell: Last evening before this Society adjourned we had the pleasure of listening to a paper read to us in regard to the manner, time, and origin of this Society, by Dr. Reynolds, of Lake Geneva. As a slight token of our respect for the long time service of Dr. Reynolds, I move you, sir, he be made an honorary member of this Society by a rising vote. Dr. Burgess: I would like to second that motion because of the paper the doctor has read which supplies a link in our history, and which gives us personal reminiscences otherwise impossible to get, which will go on the records of the Society and thereby supply a deficiency; because of the long service Dr. Reynolds has given the medical profession in this State, which of itself would make him one of the most respected characters among them; also because of the patriotism which he evinced by his long service of his country. Patriotism is something we all recognize, and we should do all we can to compliment him for what he has done, because after all it is rather a rare thing to see a man (speaking for the majority of the people) evince a very high regard for anything but himself. Motion carried unanimously by a rising vote, and Dr. Reynolds declared by the President duly elected an Honorary Life Member of this Society. Dr. Reynolds: I have heard men say they were too full for utterance; I have seen men too full for utterance; I not only feel highly honored, but very much surprised. I have never sought notoriety in any form. What little honor I have received has been spontaneous. I, like you, gentlemen, reverence age-honorable age. Seventy-two years I have lived and observed. In a political way I have received honors unsought and unexpected, but the honors that I have received at your hands are most highly appreciated, I assure you. A paper on "Our Insane Commitment Difficulties; MedicoLegal Aspects of the Law recently held Unconstitutional,” was read by Dr. Becker, of Milwaukee. Dr. Ladd: I think the work in this direction should have the endorsement of this Society; possibly not to go before the legislature, but to give weight to their statements, and I think some resolutions to this effect should be passed. Dr. Becker: To the end that we may have the proper law which will recognize the important medical rights of the patient, I have wished that the Society would commit itself to the following declarations: First. That the operation of our insane commitment law has given abundant protection to the citizen. Second. That the malicious incarceration of sane people by the State institutions for the insane is practically non-existent. Third. Notices to the insane before commitment, and jury trials, are prejudicial to their interests. I move that a committee of five be appointed to coöperate with a like committee appointed by the bar association to obtain the passage of a law which will bring out the medical rights and also the legal rights of the insane, and that this committee report what it has done, to the Society at its next session. Motion carried. Dr. Bell: I move you that the chair, in appointing a committee of five, make the reader of the paper chairman of the committee. Motion carried. The President appointed on the committee W. G. Becker, Chairman; George D. Ladd; G. E. Seaman; U. O. B. Wingate and M. J. White. Dr. Wingate then read the report of the Rush Monument Committee. Mr. President and Members of the State Medical Society: At the meeting of the American Medical Association held at Baltimore in 1895 as delegate of this Society, I had the pleasure of listening to the report of the Chairman of the Rush Monument Committee, Dr. Albert L. Gihon of the United States Navy. That committee was organized a number of years ago for the purpose of collecting a fund for the erection of a monument to the memory of Dr. Benjamin Rush, in the city of Washington, on the part of the members of the medical profession of this country. At the time of Dr. Gihon's report $3,094.39 had been raised for this purpose, of which $3,000.00 was invested in bonds and mortgages bearing 5 per cent. annual interest. A beautiful site has been obtained through the energy of that committee, free of expense; also a pedestal. Since that time, up to the time of the meeting of the Association this. year at Atlanta, this fund has been increased so that it now amounts to $3,787.00, and it now remains to raise money |