Eastern Carolina and Virginia Doctors' Meeting held in Washington, 1917

“Seaboard Medical Association,” from the Charlotte Medical Journal, 1917

The 21^st annual meeting of this useful medical organization of Eastern Carolina and Virginia doctors was held in Washington, N.C., December 19-21, 1916, under the presidency of Dr. D.T. Tayloe, the well-known surgeon of that attractive Eastern Carolina city. The president’s address, “The Struggles and Successes of Surgery,” was well conceived and elicited much favorable comment.

A number of excellent papers were presented evoking, almost without exception, lively discussions. Of special note may be mentioned the following papers:

Pneumonia—Dr. J.L. Spruill, Columbia, N.C.

Post-Operative Adhesions—Dr. P. St. L. Moncure, Norfolk, Va.

Bone Surgery—Dr. Joseph T. Buxton, Newport News, Va.

Intensive Treatment of Syphilis—Dr. T.V. Williamson, Norfolk, Va.

Polio-Myelitis—Dr. L.T. Royster, Norfolk, Va.

Dacro-Cystitis—Dr. H.W. Carter, Washington, N.C.

Early Diagnosis of Tuberculosis—Dr. J. Howell Way, Waynesville, N.C.

Tuberculosis—Dr. Charles R. Grandy, Norfolk, Va.

A public health session, attended largely by an audience of Washington’s intelligent men and women, was an interesting feature of Wednesday evening. Health talks were made by Dr. C.R. Grandy, Norfolk, Va.; Dr. Smith of the U.S.P.H. Service, and Drs. J. Howell Way, Cyrus Thompson, and Charles O’H. Laughinghouse of the North Carolina State Board of Health.

Dr. Tayloe, as presiding officer was at his best, and though surrounded with the disadvantages inherent on the busy doctor who presides over a three days’ meeting of a medical society in his home city, he called the sessions on time, and kept business moving rapidly.

The discussions were quick, apt, and always to the point, more than one of experience in the larger national societies, commenting on the spirited nature of the comments following the various papers.

The social features were delightful, a smoker Tuesday evening, an elaborate banquet following the public health meeting on Wednesday evening, and private dinners, all having the fine flavor of Eastern Carolina hospitality have every doctor a most charming visit with desire to come again.

The banquet at the Hotel Louisa with covers for 100 guests was to the older of Carolina doctors a gentle reminder of some of the annual dinners of the N.C. State Medical Society, in the years of the past era, repeating in the lavishness of its completeness in every detail of the elaborate menu, with ample solids, liquids and gases, for the entertaining of the guests, the banquets given in Fayetteville in 1888 or Charlotte in 1887 and 1906.

Norfolk, Va., was selected for the 1917 meeting.

The following officers were elected:

President—Dr. Kirkland Ruffin, Norfolk, Va.

First Vice-President—Dr. Joseph L. Spruill, Columbia, N.C.

Second Vice-President—Dr. R.L. Payne Jr., Norfolk, Va.

Third Vice-President—Dr. Ira M. Hardy, Kinston, N.C.

Fourth Vice-President—Dr. R.L. Raiford, Sedley, Va.

Secretary—Dr. Clarence Porter Jones, Newport News, Va.

Treasurer—Dr. George A. Caton, New Bern, N.C.