SFMMS 150th: 1869 - Inspirational Highlights from the Medical Society President's Address February 15, 2018 150th 150th, SFMMS 0 SFMMS has a long-standing tradition for the incoming medical society president to provide an address at an annual gathering of the membership. Below are some of the more inspirational highlights from the address given by Dr. Henry Gibbons, Sr. in 1869. Henry Gibbons, Sr., MD SFMMS President, 1870 "The philanthropy of our profession is always large enough to cover the sick who are really poor." "Through the discovery of vaccination, the improved methods of treating certain diseases, and improved modes of living, the medium duration of human life in civilized countries has been considerably lengthened" (to 45). "The duty of the physician does not end when all hope of saving his patient expires. Still he may smooth the dying pillow. Still he may alleviate the final pang. But this is not all. He has duties to perform to those who stand around the dying couch with bleeding hearts. To him they look for sympathy and consolation…Let him have a heart as well as a head." "Though it is acknowledged that ignorant and incompetent individuals frequently obtain the medical degree, owing to the low standard of education permitted by many of our schools...our American schools…appear to infuse into their alumni a higher sense of honor…and a greater regard for the dignity of the profession." "Our organization has been nearly two years in existence and at work…all of us who have been in the habit of attending the meetings know that we have gathered from them instruction and benefit. We have given and we have received. We have performed a duty to ourselves and to our patients." "In connection with the status of the profession in California, I refer with the highest gratification to the Medical Association of Sacramento, which was founded soon after ours, and which enjoys a healthy and vigorous life. The paper and discussions produced by it exemplify a degree of industry and scientific research which would do credit to any medical association in the world. We may hope to see its example, and ours, followed in other localities." #SFMMS150th Comments are closed.
