The Negro Medical, Pharmaceutical and Dental Association of North Carolina held its session in Charlotte this year June 22-25. It is one of the most intelligent bodies which gathers in the state. Professionals came from every district between the mountains and the sea and from schools throughout the United States. The convention was composed of men who have measured intellectual swords and matched their instruments of skill with the best minds in their several lines. They are men who must be of the very best because the State Boards make high exactions upon the talent and training of gentlemen of color, in order that they may practice among their people. There is less reason than ever for colored people to go outside of their race when they need medical attention and those who witnessed the illuminating papers, the spirited discussions in the convention recently closed in Charlotte are wholly convinced of this fact. Addresses were delivered by Drs. T.C. Tinsley, J.O. Plummer, J.S. Massey, I.W. Faison, A.J. Crowell, Roscoe C. Brown, A.M. Rivera, Owen Moore, L.E. McCauley and J.N. Mills.
Decidedly the distinguishing feature of the convention scientifically and practically was the clinic at the opening session at the Good Samaritan Hospital in which operations from tonsillectomies by Dr. Plummer and Tinsley to a demonstration of rectal anesthesia by Dr. E.F. Tyson were performed. Dr. Tyson’s performance is said to be the first of its kind by any physician in Charlotte. Of the nine major operations performed at the clinic we have learned that every single case has enjoyed an uneventful recovery and has been discharged from the hospital well.
The operators and assistants contributing to the success of the clinic were Drs. A.H. Ray, Henry Hall, and J.C. Williamson, all of Winston, J.W.V. Cardice of Aurora, J.O. Plummer of Raleigh, T.C. Tinsley and W.C. Strudwich of Durham, C.W. Furlonge of Smithfield, L.O. Miller of Asheville, R.S. Holliday of Statesville, N.C. Jackson of Laurinburg, J.T. Williams, J.A. Pethel, E.E. Blackman and E.F. Tyson of Charlotte.
The following officers were unanimously elected. President, Dr. E. French Tyson, Charlotte; vice president, Dr. A.S. Nurse, D.D.S., Durham; second vice president, R.S. Hairston, Ph. G., Winston; secretary-treasurer, Dr. Clyde Donnell, Durham, re-elected; official press reporter, J.B. Davis, M.D., Louisburg.
The election of Dr. Tyson to the presidency of this body of medical men is a splendid tribute to his worth. He is a native of Cumberland county. His early education was received in the public high schools of Washington, D.C., after which he entered Harvard University at Cambridge, Mass., and received his A.B. degree in 1907. His medical education was received at Howard University, Washington, and after his graduation he served his internship in Freemen’s Hospital, a $600,000 government hospital conducted in connection with Howard University.
Dr. E.F. Tyson is the son-in-law of Mr. Thad Tate of Charlotte and is a prominent member of the Grace A.M.E. Zion church and serves in the choir and Sunday school. He is one of the most up-standing young men of his profession in North Carolina and Charlotte shares in delight with him the honor the state association of his profession confers upon him in recognition of his fine ability and merit. He was elected unanimously and is the first president of the association to receive this distinction. It is said that the surprise sprung by Dr. Tyson at the clinic in demonstrating an entirely new feat of surgery contributed most largely to the unanimous action of the doctors in this election. The people of North Carolina are here reminded of their good fortune in having distributed in their midst these experts of their own race who can come as near curing the ills and preserving the health of their people as any set of professional men. The day has come we hope when our people will no longer be faked by the street corner medical peddler, side show quack doctors and hypocritical false pretenders who claim extraordinary powers of Divine Healing. We must build our own professions and make our safety sure by following reason and science. This does not mean to gainsay those who use their faith to assist reason, for every wise doctor would prefer to have a patient who believes in the power of God through Christ Jesus to heal by the instrumentality of physical administration.
From The Star of Zion, The Official Organ of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, July 7, 1921. The photo is of Dr. Tyson's home in Charlotte, N.C.
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