THE SENN BANQUET Testimonial Banquet and Presentation of Medallion and Loving Cup\p=m-\A Splendid Tribute of Praise and Esteem from the Medical Profession A testimonial banquet was given to Dr. Nicholas Senn, there are hundreds present who remember how a similar ban¬ Chicago, at the Auditorium Hotel, Saturday evening, Nov. 11, quet served to sustain the declining years of a man whom the 1905. profession all honored, and there are those who every day There was an attendance of 686, and from forty to fifty make acknowledgement of the fact that at that selfsame mo¬ physicians, approximately, were turned away because proper ment this section of the country was made a better land to accommodations could not be provided for them—a matter of live in and a better land in which to practice medicine. Dr. great regret to the committee of arrangements. There were Evans referred to the banquets given to Christian Fenger and representatives present from N. S. Davis, after which he twenty states. Dr. William introduced Dr. Joseph D. A. Evans, Chicago, acted as Bryant, New York City, who toastmaster. Messages of con¬ presented Dr. Senn with the gratulations were read from gold medallion. several prominent physicians Presentation of the Medallion. in different parts of the Dr. Bryant said that he United States, who regretted knew of nothing that gives their inability to attend this him greater comfort than to notable event. be able to fulfill the humble Dr. Joseph D. Bryant, New position that he was requested York City, presented a gold to do, the opportunity of span¬ medallion to Dr. Senn, minia¬ ning, by a few sincere, honest ture replicas of which were words of affection and praise, distributed among those in at¬ the brief interval between the tendance. On one side of the bestowal of a token of distin¬ medallion was a likeness of guished regard and its accept¬ Dr. Senn; on the other the in¬ ance by Dr. Senn, whom the scription: "To Nicholas Senn, profession so much delight to the Master Surgeon, from his honor. It is fitting that one Fellows, November 11, 1905." whose professional career be¬ Dr. L. G. Nolte, Milwaukee, gan about the time of that of Wis., presented Dr. Senn with Dr. Senn should be chosen for a silver loving cup, given by this gracious purpose; one his former private pupils. whose effort to emulate hie Between the speeches were achievements added much to interspersed musical selections the total of his own; one by the Swiss Quartette and whose respect for him, begot¬ singing by the banqueters, Dr. ten of years of friendly inter¬ Norval H. Pierce leading. Drs. course, has deposited in his Fernand Henrotin, Daniel R. heart a regard for him that Brower, Jacob Lang, and Wil¬ knoweth no abatement. liam E. Quine related very Along the pathway of medi¬ amusing and interesting anec¬ cal endeavor for nearly a dotes about Dr. Senn. Ad¬ quarter of a century noted and dresses were made by Drs. enduring examples illustrative Witherspoon and McMurtry. of the wise forethought and The occasion was a memor- generous co-operation are seen of his able one. Good fellowship prevailed, and Dr. Senn, the center in the cause of advanced standing. Instances surgical that sur¬ of attraction, received a tremendous ovation. technic foretell notable results now proclaimed great gical triumphs. The organization of military medicine, of no re¬ of a Series. This Banquet One cent date, has yielded an abundant harvest because of his early Toastmaster Evans, after calling the meeting to order, said conceptions and continued earnest culture. The books made by to the in a certain sense, this testimonial to Professor Senn is him, those given by him, will testify, respectively, that, recol¬ not the result of Chicago effort, but represents the spontaneous bright sunshine of active life and the somber shadow of sentiment of the of the Mississippi Valley. View¬ lection. Human afflictions, which before his time yielded only profession of ing the matter from that standpoint, he said there was no rea¬ to indomitable fate, now yield to the outcome the inspira¬ tion of his and the handiwork of his technic. son why a word of welcome should not be said to any man teaching Long- now in the within the sound of his voice. But, on the other hand, there deferred and defeated hopes are revealed happy contributed the graces of are many men who have journeyed to Chicago from afar in opportunities by saving reparative he the lion's share. order to add their testimony, their presence, and their words wisdom and skill of which has given is a to the testimonial that is those who live in the city Dr. Senn classed a distinguished man, distinguished given by because of his at¬ of In behalf of the central committee of arrange¬ surgeon—distinguished not only surgical Chicago. but because of the standard of his ethical in¬ ments, he extended a welcome to the visiting physicians from tainments, high of a nature. I the from the eastern seaboard, from the stincts and ennobling attributes generous May Mississippi Valley, of states, and from the states of the Pacific. While Professor not, at this time, as a humble servant joyous friends, present gulf in their this beautiful of the love and Senn is the beneficiary of this meeting, we are no less gainers to him, behalf, symbol some cherish for the likeness of a sterling by it. This is a series of banquets started years ago, and respect which they him; Downloaded From: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/ by a New York University User on 05/25/2015 man, embossed on pure gold, and bearing the legend of true Brainard and Gunn and Edmund Andrews, of Chicago. But distinction? (Here Dr. Bryant presented Dr. Senn with a twenty years ago we were behind in surgical pathology. Here gold medallion, the audience arose, waved handkerchiefs and and there men of European education had come to this country cheered lustily.) and established spheres of influence for scientific work. The He expressed the hope that this token, emblematic of that work of Fenger, of Chicago; Lange, of New York, and others, which is noblest in human character, may serve to admonish while to a certain extent local in character, was of incalculable doubting souls to strive for the highest and best of aims. benefit to the people of the entire country. The mass of the (Applause.) profession of this country twenty years ago were behind the Loving Cup Presented. Germans in pathology. Germany in scientific surgery had us The mass of the in this did The next introduced was Dr. L. G. Milwaukee passed by. profession country speaker Nolte, not know the until Senn's Wis., who a silver loving cup in behalf of Dr. Senn's position they occupied "Principles presented of was This book was former students, and in so said: "As a token of Surgery" published. (Applause.) private doing It had its effect in and love and Dr. Senn, I with this cup popular. diffusing knowledge surgery affection, present you in this This book did the to Dr. Senn), the emblem of love, and wish country became instantaneous. more to (handing cup teach the profession how little knew and how much that you a great many more years of usefulness, and trust that you they was being accomplished than any one that had may spend the afternoon of your life in good health." (Ap¬ thing happened. Following this were notable contributions to surgical pathology plause. ) Roswell John Collins of and At this at the suggestion of a South Dakota physi¬ by Park, by Warren, Boston, juncture, others. At about this time there also the book cian, who was unable to be present, the toastmaster requested appeared great of Gerster. It the how to the new the audience to rise and drink a toast to the late Christian taught profession apply which and others had forth. the teacher of Nicholas Senn, which was accordingly knowledge Senn, Fenger brought Fenger, There at this a series of letters done. appeared time, too, from abroad, in The Journal of the Medical Dr. Senn's Reply. published American Association, and written by Senn, describing in clear-cut, forci¬ toastmaster then introduced Dr. who was enthusi¬ The Senn, ble the conditions as existed in German the of language they actually astically received. He rose amid waving handkerchiefs clinics. These letters told the profession what they did, what and and when was restored among hearty cheers, quiet said, they thought, and how they did it. Dr. Senn had written up other "I from your hands, Dr. this things: accept Bryant, the work of these men in such an absorbing and fascinating beautiful medallion, and assure that I would rather ac¬ you style that every man felt as though he himself had visited it from hands than from the hands of one I cept your any these clinics, and had seen these men work. These letters were know of. 1 this tribute. I value it much more appreciate a stimulus for every medical student, who desired to do sur- than I would a decoration a hand." highly by royal (Ap¬ geiy, to go to Germany or be drawn there as by a magnet. "That the of one man. This an plause.) means judgment is man who did felt he could not do to his the of Every surgery justice expression of love, respect and good wishes of noblest patients if he had not been abroad, and consequently he slaved are two in all professions." (Applause.) "There things this and saved for the purpose.