Search -
Transactions of the American Medical Association
Transactions of the American Medical Association Author:American Medical Association Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ADDRESS N . S . D A Y I S , PRESIDENT OP THE ASSOCIATION ADDRESS OF N. S. DAVIS, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION. GENTLEMEN OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL A... more »SSOCIATION:— In entering upon the discharge of those duties imposed on me by your too generous partiality, one short year since, I was constrained to do it with expressions of deep regret, that the great struggle for subduing a gigantic rebellion was still continuing; and that in consequence, the seats of many of our professional brethren whose cordial hands and warm hearts had so often greeted us, were still vacant. Those expressions of regret were accompanied by the hope, that, before the day for this annual gathering would come, the dark and desolating cloud of war would be broken, and give place to the radiant bow of peace, with former friendships restored and our National Union unbroken. It is my highest pleasure to congratulate you, to-day, that what we then so fondly hoped for, is now substantially accomplished. The cherished flag of our country again waves in triumph over every part of our almost boundless domain; and the patriotic legions who have borne it proudly, on so many bloody fields of human strife, are returning to their peaceful firesides, decorated with wreaths of victory and enshrined in a nation's gratitude. But our congratulations, to-day, are still mingled with a deep shade of sadness. Sadness, that so many of our countrymen have been compelled to sacrifice their lives in defence of the integrity and perpetuity of our government. Sadness, that so many of our professional brethren have been constrained to abandon the peaceful pursuit of their humane calling at home, and sacrifice comfort, health, and, sometimes, life, in the noble effort to mitigate the calamities and sufferings of war. And a de...« less