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A VERY UNWISE BILL.

Just as we are about to close the Editorial Department, the press despatches bring the information that the following bill was introduced in the lower house of the Legislature on the 14th inst. :

"By Mr. Stevenson-To require the State Board of Medical Examiners to grant licenses to physicians regularly licensed in other States."

The passage of this bill would be one of the greatest disasters that could befall the State, and we sincerely hope that there will be found in the Legislature a sufficient number of thoughtful men to prevent it. To North Carolina belong the credit and honor of being the first of all the States to throw a wall of defense around her citizens to protect them from the ignorance of quackery and the imposition of charlatanry. From time to time the laws have been improved, until to-day they are the best in the whole country, and serve as a model for other States which are rapidly falling into line in this important matter. The passage of the above bill would be about equivalent to the absolute repeal of our medical law, as far as some individuals would be concerned, for there are some States that, while they require a license, grant such a license upon almost any claims the applicant may present. All that would be then necessary for a man to do to practise medicine in this State, would be to procure a diploma from some cheap medical college, run into one of those States that grant a license upon the presentation of a diploma from any incorporated college, and then present this license to our Board and require them to issue him a license to

practise here. We acknowledge that it would be a good thing if the different States could so formulate their requirements that an interchange of licenses would not affect the interests of any, but so long as the requirements in some States are so low, it would never do, and if the above bill becomes a law, it will take the Old North State from her position at the head of the list and place her on a level with the lowest. It behooves the members of the profession and all men who would have the lives of our people entrusted only to the keeping of competent physicians, to bring to bear all their influence in preventing such a calamity as this bill would inflict. Write at once to your representatives in both houses and warn them of the danger of such action as is proposed. Do not delay a day or an hour, but write at once, before a vote is taken on the bill.

The Duffy Prize of Fifty Dollars is offered for the best essay on Materia Medica, Indigenous in North Carolina. The essay should be type-written, signed in nom de plume, and accompanied by a sealed envelope containing the name of the author and bearing upon its back only the nom de plume of the writer. It should be in the hands of one of the Committee thirty days preceding the Society meeting. The Committee consists of Dr. R. L. Payne, Jr., Lexington; Dr. A. W. Knox, Raleigh, and Dr. A. Cheatham, Durham.

Read the advertising pages, and when you write to advertisers mention the JOURNAL.

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THOS. B. WILKERSON, M.D.

Chituary.

The community, Adoniram, Granville county, N. C., was made sad on the 12th July, 1894, by the death of its highly esteemed and much -beloved physician, Dr. Thos. B. Wilkerson, who spent thirty years of his life in the alleviation of suffering humanity in this vicinity. There is scarcely a family within the radius of twelve miles. of his home that are not indebted to him for his skill and faithful attention during the trying hours of illness, and who do not equally mourn his loss.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that, as a physician and surgeon, he had not only the entire confidence of the community, but also of his brother practitioners who knew him, as he was frequently consulted by them. and made chief operator in a case of serious surgery.

His fame as a surgeon is not circumscribed by counties and States, for, indeed, some of his operations have surprised the surgical world, inasmuch as they were new and original, an account of which he gave in his con tributions to the medical journals.

Dr. Wilkerson was born in Granville county, N. C., August 14th, 1837, and spent his boyhood and youth in the neighborhood of his birth-place.

He took his literary course at the University of North Carolina; after which he entered the University of Pennsylvania, from which Institution he graduated in art and medicine in 1857. He displayed especial genius in surgery from the beginning of his medical career, and grasped

every opportunity to perfect himself in this art.

He had just finished a special course in the Philadelphia Hospital when the war between the States came on, and he went to the front at the earliest opportunity, where he soon took rank witfi the prominent surgeons of the army. He was one of the surgeons in General Jackson's corps, and was one of the attending physicians during his last hours.

Dr. Wilkerson was a close student, and, besides keeping eminently posted. on the lines of his chosen profession' was well-informed on the current topics of the day, and one of the most interesting conversationalists it has ever been the writer's privilege to know.

Recognizing the conspicuous moral worth of this splendid man, his value to the public, and the sad vacancy his death has occasioned, the entire community share with his bereaved widow her sorrow because of her great loss. D. T. W.

DR. OSCAR GREGORY.

We regret deeply to learn of the death of Dr. Oscar Gregory, which occurred a few weeks since at his home in Oxford, this State.

Dr. Gregory was a Virginian by birth, studied medicine with distinction at the University of Virginia, and graduated from Jefferson College, Philadelphia. He served during the Civil War as Surgeon of the Third Virginia Cavalry, and after the close of the war practised his profession in Virginia and North Carolina. In all of his relations, both as a physician

and a thorough gentleman, his distinguishing traits of truth, loyalty and modesty won for him the esteem and trust of his fellows.

Dr. Gregory became a member of the State Medical Society in 1883, and

though circumstances have prevented his frequent attendance at the meetings of the Society, he has always manifested a deep and loyal interest in its welfare. He was fifty-six years of age.

OFFICIAL LIST OF CHANGES IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

THE ARMY.

Matthews-The leave of absence by surgeon's certificate of disability granted Major Washington Matthews, is extended four months.

Shannon-Leave of absence for three months on surgeon's certificate of disability is granted Capt. Wm. C. Shannon, Assistant Surgeon U. S. A.

Fisher-Leave of absence for one

month is granted First Lieut. Henry C. Fisher, Assistant Surgeon.

Lynch-The leave of absence granted First Lieut. Charles Lynch, Assistant Surgeon, is extended one month.

De Shon-First Lieut. George D. De Shon, Assistant Surgeon, will proceed from Fort Logan, Col., to Fort Douglas, Utah, and report for temporary duty.

Pothemus-Ordinary leave of absence for one month and fourteen days, in addition to the extension of leave of absence on surgeon's certificate of disability granted him, is granted Capt. Adrian S. Pothemus, Assist. Surgeon.

Robertson-The leave of absence for seven days, granted Capt. Reuben L. Robertson, Assistant Surgeon, is extended twenty-one days.

THE NAVY.

Three weeks ending January 12th, 1894:

Bradley, Michael, Med. Director, detached from duty as a member of the Naval Examining and Medical Boards.

Kidder, B. H., Med, Director, or

dered as member of the Naval Examining and Medical Boards.

Parker, J. H., Surgeon; ordered to special duty in connection with the investigation of the Ford Theater disaster.

Stone, Lewis H., P. A. Surgeon, ordered to study the subject and make a report to the Department of the therapeutic value of antitoxin in the treatment of diphtheria and croup.

Farenholt, Ammen, Assist. Surgeon, detached from the U. S. R. S. "Vermont" and to Naval Hospital Norfolk, Virginia.

Kindleberger, C. P., Assist. Surgeon, detached from Naval Laboratory and Department of Instruction and to the U. S. R. S. "Vermont."

Cooke, Geo. H., Med. Inspector, in addition to present duties will attend officers on duty at League Island Navy Yard, but residing outside of the Yard.

MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.

For the sixteen days ending December 31, 1894:

Purviance, George, Surgeon, relieved from command of service at Philadelphia, Pa., and detailed as Medical Inspector of Immigrants at that port, Dec. 18, 1894.

Mead, F. W., Surgeon, directed to proceed to New York City, N. Y., for temporary duty, Dec. 27, 1894. Το rejoin station (Washington, D. C.) Dec. 29, 1894.

Carter, H. R., Surgeon, granted. leave of absence for twenty-four days, in lieu of leave granted November 20, 1894, Dec. 21, 1894.

Peckham, C. T., P. A. Surgeon, to inspect unserviceable property at San

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