Meetings

American Ophthalmological Society-125thAnniversary Meeting

The American Ophthalmological Society, un-der the aegis of its president, David Shoch, metMay 21 to 24, 1989, to celebrate its 125th anni-versary at The Homestead, where it had met 48times in the previous 75 years. The meetingwas mellowed by nostalgia as the Society cele-brated its anniversary as the oldest nationalspecialty society in the western hemisphere.(The American Psychiatric Association beganas the Association of Medical Superintendentsof American Institutions for the Insane in 1844,becoming the American Medico-PsychologicAssociation in 1892, and finally the AmericanPsychiatric Association in 1921.)

Harkening back to the 75th and 100th anni-versary celebrations when Traquair and Duke-Elder were honored guests, the Council namedNorman Ashton as distinguished honoredguest. Other guests of honor included Francis-co Contreras of Peru, Alfred Huber of Switzer-land, Ridha Mabrouk of Tunisia, AkiraNakajima of Japan, Henri Saraux of France, andRalph J. Schneider of Canada. Frederick Blodiwas the 10th Verhoeff Lecturer, and FrankNewell gave a lecture on the history of theSociety.

The Council met on Saturday evening, aftertheir customary spring meeting, but invited thehonored guests to their dinner. The chairmanof the Council, William Spencer of San Francis-co, chaired the arrangements for the meeting.He introduced guests and presented Ashtonand Newell with copies of a facsimile of theconstitution and the signatures of all membersof the Society since its founding and Newell's"The American Ophthalmological Society1864-1989: A Continuation of Wheeler's Histo-ry." On Sunday Dr. and Mrs. Morton Cox, theCouncil, and officers greeted the new associatemembers elected last year (Augsburger, Phila-delphia; Char, San Francisco; Eagle, Philadel-phia; Liesegang, Jacksonville, Florida; Small,Oklahoma City; and Van Buskirk, Portland,Oregon). Each gave a paper at the scientificsessions. The meeting opened officially withthe reception for new members on Sundayevening.

The scientific program opened Mondaymorning with a special lecture on the history ofthe Society by Frank Newell. The regular scien-tific program followed. The special guests wereentertained at lunch by the Council and offi-cers. Professors Henri Saraux of France,Mabrouk of Tunis, Tunisia, Francisco Contreras

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of Peru, and Alfred Hubel of Switzerland spokebriefly.

That evening at the executive session Leon-ard Christiansen kept the members in suspenseas he recounted the childhood and career of theHowe medalist, Marshall Parks. Robert Kenne-dy, of Rochester, New York, was named presi-dent to succeed David Shoch. Frederick Blodi,of Iowa City, was named vice president tosucceed Kennedy. Thomas P. Kearns of Roch-ester, Minnesota, who served as editor of theTransactions (1973-1979) and secretary-treas-urer since 1981 was succeeded by W. BanksAnderson of Durham. Robert B. Welch of Balti-more continues as editor of the Transactions.William Tasman of Philadelphia succeedsBanks Anderson as assistant editor. RichardRichards of Baltimore who served as programchairman (1982-1985) was named to the Coun-cil.

This is the only remaining national ophthal-mic meeting that still has a program coveringall phases of ophthalmology and that permitsan unlimited number of discussants. Changesthough are evident; papers that would havestimulated wide discussions in the past had buta single discussant. The host of super special-ists in the audience discouraged the once com-mon description of the history and manage-ment of an interesting patient. Unlike formeryears the opening discussions were often morecritical and demanded better statistical controlsand more adequate long-term observation ofpatients.

The 10th Verhoeff lecture by Frederick Blodiwas a scholarly exposition of the events inmedicine in 1864 and ranged from a descriptionof medical journals and books to scientificmeetings. It was exceptionally well done. Thepaper by Daniel Albert and his coworkers ontransgenic mice that have a gene for a trilateralretinoblastoma was outstanding. The defecthas been bred through several generations with75% of the offspring that have the gene devel-oping bilateral retinal tumors and midlinenervous system tumors.

The annual banquet, with William Spencerpresiding, was the highlight of the meeting. Heintroduced the guests of honor and PresidentShoch introduced Norman Ashton, distin-guished guest of honor who proposed the toastto the Society. Shoch responded and RobertKennedy, president-elect, gave the toast to theguests. Akira Nakajima of Japan responded.The evening closed with announcement of thewinners of the various contests that rangedfrom golf and tennis to fishing and bowling.

The meeting was a fitting celebration of the125th anniversary of the Society. The nextmeeting will be May 20 to 23, 1990, at TheHomestead. W. Richard Green is the programchairman.

FRANK W. NEWELL