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LOUISA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. – The physicians of Louisa County, feeling the importance of organizing a medical society, met pursuant to published notice in Wapello, on Saturday, the 24th day of April, 1852. Dr. J. H. Graham was called to the chair, and Dr. T. G. Taylor appointed secretary. The object of the meeting was stated by Dr. H. T. Cleaver. After adopting preamble, constitution, by-laws, and code of medical ethics, a permanent organization was effected by the election of Dr. J. M. Robertson, President, Dr. T. G. Taylor, Secretary, Dr. J. B. Latta, Treasurer, Drs. H. T. Cleaver, John Bell, Jr., and J. H. Graham, Censors.
The meetings were held quarterly, and oftener when the general health permitted. At the next meeting, January 19, Dr. H. Bellknapp, John Cleaver, and A. S. Conden, were admitted to membership. Dr. Robertson having read an able essay at this meeting, a copy was requested to be deposited in the archives of the society. At a meeting held on the 21st of January, 1853, Dr. John Bell, Sr., was admitted an honorary members of this society. April 16, Dr. W. M. Clark was admitted to membership. November 24, 1853, appropriate notice of the death of Dr. John Bell, Sr. January 22, 1854, Dr. B. G. Neal was admitted to membership. In December of this year the famous operation of removing a bar of lead from the stomach of L. W. Bates was performed by the society, and the lead is still the property of the society. May 23, 1855, Dr. W. A. Colton was admitted to membership. April 19, 1856, Dr. W. S. Robertson was admitted to membership.
As a sample of the workings of the society at this meeting. Dr. J. M. Robertson was appointed to give a dissertation on general practice; Dr. T. G. Taylor, on obstetrics and diseases of women and children; Dr. H. T. Cleaver, on surgery; Dr. W. S. Robertson, on surgical pathology; Dr. John Cleaves, on pathological anatomy; Dr. W. A. Colton, on materia medica and therapeutics.
May 28, 1856, Dr. D. McCaughes was admitted to membership. May 21, 1861, Dr. Bellknapp’s death appropriately noticed. November 16, 1864, Dr. J. C. Brown was admitted to membership. June 5, 1865 death of Dr. John Cleaves appropriately noticed. November 15, 1865, Dr. J. F. Grimes admitted to membership. May, 1866, appropriate notice of Dr. S. E. Jones. July 12, 1867 Dr. E. W. Overholt admitted to membership. April 17, 1867 Drs. J. W. Holiday and O. E. Deeds were admitted to membership.
April 18, 1871, Dr. A. B. McCandless was admitted to membership. At this meeting appropriate notice was made of the death of Dr. J. F. Grimes. April 20, 1872, Drs. Frank Tustison and B. G. Kimmel were admitted to membership. May 30, 1872, Dr. J. A. Thompson was admitted. April 19, 1873, Dr. W. S. Grimes was admitted. May 15, 1873, Drs. H. M. Ochiltree and S. R. Spaulding were admitted. July 10, 1873, Drs. Thomas Blackstone, S. Dill, and George P. Neal were admitted. November 13, 1873, Dr. N. W. Mountain was admitted. April 18, 1874, Dr. J. A. Scrooge was admitted.
The active working members at the present time are Drs. J. M. Robertson, T. G. Taylor, J. H. Graham, H. T. Cleaver, B. G. Neal, W. S. Robertson, T. G. Taylor, J. H. Graham, H. T. Cleaver, B. G. Neal, W. S. Robertson, D. McCaughn, I. C. Brown, D. W. Overholt, J. W. Holiday, A. B. McCandless, F. Tustison, J. Thompson, W. S. Grimes, B. G. Kimmel, H. M. Ochiltree, S. R. Spaulding, S. Dill, G. P. Neal, N. W. Mountain, and J. A. Scroggs.
It will be seen that the society has been a live institution for twenty-two years. We have had the honor of giving to the College of Physicians and Surgeons H. T. Cleaver, M.D., and to the medical department of the State University Dr. W. S. Robertson, both highly honored professors in their institutions.