Benefits of Medical Societies—The Value of Papers and Their Discussion;
of Pathological Specimens; of Social Features, etc. [excerpt]

     There was never a time when medical men were so closely criticised as at present. Newspapers are continually publishing articles upon medical topics, and reporting the history and progress of prominent cases. We have just had a notable example in the case of President McKinley.
     Differences of opinion and criticisms have been published in all the daily papers. Such occurrences are deplorable, as they reflect more or less discredit upon the whole profession. This spirit of criticism is not confined to medicine, as instanced by the squabbles of the army and navy. Nevertheless, we are particularly interested in those relating to medicine. I believe that if we could multiply our small societies until every physician was a member of one of them, rash talk and unwise criticism would be almost abolished.