Address by Pierson
THE PRESIDENT: I want to introduce now another famous name among the Homeopaths, the Dean of Hahnemann College in Philadelphia. This gentleman and I come from a common ancestor. Dr. William M. Pierson of Philadelphia.
DR. WILLIAM M. PIERSON (Philadelphia): Mr. Chairman: I have had the very great pleasure of knowing, and know at the present time, many splendid Eclectic physicians, and one of the gods that I admire is your Doctor Lloyd, a man who stands head and shoulders and four-square in scientific medicine. It was my very good fortune to know Dr. Scudder when he was active in the Eclectic Medical College, and for the last few years I have known Dr. Nellans. As a college administrator, let me plead with you to give Dr. Nellans your encouragement, your active support, and, if necessary, your life's blood. He is engaged in a difficult problem—reestablishing and reorganizing your college. Medical prejudices did not end with the last century and will not end with the next century, and in this country, where we are privileged to use a little personality and think perhaps more freely than citizens of other countries, it is perfectly proper for you as Eclectic physicians to have your own college. I know something of the thousand tribulations, and the fortitude that Dr. Nellans has manifested in the past two years, and he is not doing this for his own personal satisfaction or aggrandizement, but because he is loyal to Eclectic medicine. He is doing it for every Eclectic physician in the United States, doing it so that you men may really have a more valuable heritage. So I am pleading with you to give Dr. Nellans in his fundamental and valuable work your active support and cooperation, and as I have said, if necessary, your life's blood.
I wish you every success in your conference. In 1917 or 1918 the American Institute of Homeopathy met at the Statler Hotel, and the National Eclectic Medical Association met at the Tuller. At that time General Noble was actively enlisting medical men for the military service of our country and spoke to your organization and to our own, and at that time many of the younger men enlisted in the medical service by virtue of his invitation. So you have the same rights and privileges that any reputable group of physicians have and you are entitled to your beliefs, whatever they may be, in regard to the most efficient methods of treatment. This world I hope will never become so dogmatic and so utterly devoid of personal opinion that sick people will be treated by any rule of thumb. As the ultimate end of that policy you might expect the National Cash Register Company at Dayton, or some other such organization, eventually to build a machine whereby you could press a certain button and out would come a stereotyped, accepted treatment. (This, of course, is what we now have, in the 21st century: "Standard Practice Medicine".—MM.)
I congratulate you on your coming together and talking over the experiences you have had during the past year, and I can assure you as a college administrator that we are actively interested in doing everything we possibly can to assist with the reestablishment and reorganization of your Eclectic college.
THE PRESIDENT: We thank these gentlemen for their visit and appreciate very much their" advice and their kind invitation.
