considerations for the money expended by them. Either adopt this plan, and make all pay, or abandon the per capita system altogether.

"A resolution was passed, during the session of 1889, instructing the President to appoint a special committee of five persons, to assist the Committee on State Legislation, in having enacted a law creating a State Board of Health. Said committee was not appointed, because the Legislature of Texas has not convened since the instructions were given.

"I would be unworthy the honor that you have conferred upon me if I evaded, or failed to expressed myself freely, upon the subject of State laws for regulating the practice of medicine.

"We all realize the fact that fatal and criminal blunders must necessarily be committed by ignorant, and often unscrupulous, men who are permitted to practice the healing

art.

"The very thought of having the life of a young mother and her babe-one almost as incapable of self-preservation as the other-placed in the hands of even a kind-hearted simpleton, or a bold reckless impostor, is enough to awaken indignation in any chivalrous heart.

"A casual consideration of this question would lead one to think that our helpless sick, of all people upon the earth, ought to have thrown around them the protecting arm of the law, and that neither arguments nor importunities would be necessary to have enacted such laws. And yet, for nearly forty years we have knocked in vain at the door of legislative halls.

"There must be something radically wrong somewhere. It is easy, and customary, to account for these defeats by charging ignorance and demagoguery upon law-makers, but the charge is neither just nor true. I have had, for fifteen years, abundant opportunities to form correct opinions upon that subject, and with pleasure bear testimony that the Senators and members of our Legislatures are not only, as a rule, honest, intelligent and patriotic, but many of them personate the loftiest types of American manhood. They

represent the people of Texas, and crystallize into laws the wills of their respective communities. Whenever these several communities, in public meetings or conventions, express a desire for special legislation, there is no difficulty in getting it, if it does not infringe upon the rights of anyone, and the evidence is clear that it will promote the public good; but the voice of the people must and should be heard-and not the champions of any one trade or occupation or profession.

"Any liberal-minded man must acknowledge that a law, giving to only educated persons exclusive privileges to perform a specified work that has from time immemorial been regarded as the prerogatives of all men, should have the emphatic endorsement of those for whom it is enacted; and if we ever secure a law that will enable us to say who shall and who shall not practice medicine, we must abandon the policy of the past, and have the people to demand it for their protection, and not for ours.

"The regular physicians do not desire such laws for any benefits that can possibly accrue to them, bat our persistent demands have led many good men to believe that we would, if clothed in legal authority, exclude all other schools of medicine, and constitute ourselves sole guardians of the sick and afflicted. These erroneous impressions can only be corrected by individual home work, and until that is accomplished the agitation in legislative bodies will only result in mortification and inevitable defeat. These remarks hav no bearing upon a State Board of Health. The arguments in favor of both, a State and National Board, are familiar to you and need not be repeated here. I recommend that your next President be authorized to appoint a special committee of five members, whose duty it shall be to prepare a suitable bill for the creation of a Board of Health, and to urge its passage before the next Legislature.

"It is impossible for an organization such as ours, to attain the full measure of usefulness, unless its financial affairs are in a healthy condition and all its interests are conducted upon business principles. The indifferent manner of

paying dues, and the loose custom of supplying badges to all who apply, should be discontinued. The American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association make their respective treasurers custodians of badges, and they are only given when dues are paid, and are prima facie evidence of membership. A similar plan would doubtless redound to the good of this Association, and there can be no more suitable occasion for inaugurating this business reform than the present.

"Inspired, as we are, by loyal devotion to the noblest of all professions, and bound together by common hopes and aspirations, we can, and I trust we will, make the session of 1890, in this charming, beautiful city, not only rich with contributions to science, but memorable for its many pleasures."

This was referred to a special committeee of five; and Vice-President Sims-in the chair temporarily-appointed Drs. J. D. Osborn, T. D. Wooten, J. J. Burroughs, B. Sanders and J. M. Willis.

On call of Judicial Council, the following members answered to their names and took their places, to-wit: Drs. R. H. Harrison, Sr., P. C. Coleman, M. D. Knox, F. S. White, E. M. Rabb, C. M. Ramsdell. The chair appointed to the vacancies, temporarily, O. Eastland, B. E. Hadra, J. W. Carhart, T. J. Field, W. P. Powell and E. J. Beall. Dr. Beall being absent and Dr. Carhart asking to be excused, the Council organized with ten members, and elected Dr. Harrison Chairman, and Dr. Eastland Secretary. Dr. T. J. Bell, a member, reported later, and took his seat in the Council. Dr. Rutherford, another member, arrived Wednesday and took took his seat.

Dr. F. R. Martin offered the following resolution:

"WHEREAS, There seems to be a difference of opinion. among the members present as to the tenure of office of the present Secretary, and an election is talked of for a successor; and

"WHEREAS, It is claimed, on the other hand, that there

is no vacancy, the present incumbent having served only three years, since his election, therefore,

"Resolved, That the question be at once referred to the Judicial Council for decision."

The resolution was adopted.

The Secretary read his report as follows:

REPORT OF SECRETARY.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, April 22, 1890.

R. M. Swearingen, M. D., President, and Fellows of the Texas State Medical Association:

Your Secretary respectfully begs to report that in obedience to discretionary power given him by resolution at the last meeting, he had printed three thousand copies of the report on medical legislation, submitted by the chairman of the committee, Dr. George Cupples, at that meeting, and that a copy was sent by mail as directed in the resolution, to the physicians of Texas.

At last report, there were carried on the roll of active members the names of 448 physicians; there were admitted to membership at the last meeting fifty-eight members, making a total membership of 506, as per the register. Since last meeting there have been six deaths, leaving the number 500. Of that number however, several are no longer actual members, they having removed from the State and ceased paying dues. The deaths have been as follows: Drs. Ed. Randal, Galveston; J. B. Robertson, Goliad; J. M. Lewis, Mexia; R. B. White, Ennis; and Drs. A. E. and E. J. Carothers, of San Antonio. Doubtless our committee on necrology has preserved proper record of the respective dates, etc.

The removals from the State are Drs. Fred Terrell, formerly of San Antonio; W. J. Pettus, late of Galveston; F. E. Yoakum, of Greenville. The address of several members has been lost through removal, and failure to report to the Secretary, to-wit: Dr. H. L. Taylor, late of Waco; F.

M. Blakemore and W. W. Myers, late of San Marcos. If any member present knows their whereabouts, he will please report to the Secretary.

The library and archives of the Association are now cared for in the hall of the Austin District Medical Association at Austin.

There are now carried on the roll twenty-four auxilliary Associations, and there is no abatement in the interest in medical organization.

The correspondence of the Secretary's office has been unusually large, and courtesies have been exchanged with all the sister Associations. At last meeting there were admitted to honorary membership the following distinguished physicians: Drs. J. Harvey Reed, T. More Madden, of Dublin; J. L. Cabel, of Virginia, recently deceased, and Dr. T. F. Noyes, of Detroit.

noon.

The Seventh Decennial Convention for the revision and publication of the Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America, will be held in the city of Washington, D. C., on the first Wednesday in May, prox., the seventh day, at This Association is entitled to representation, and has been called on by the President, Dr. Robert Armory, to appoint delegates, not over three. The necessary credentials have been forwarded, to-wit: Certificate of incorporation, signed by the Secretary of State. The Secretary has been provided with two blank certificates to be filled out and given the delegates selected at this meeting.

In accordance with instructions as per resolution adopted at the last meeting, authorizing the President and Secretary to secure a charter from the State, I have the honor to report that the duty was promptly performed. A copy is on file in the office of the Secretary of State, and the articles of incorporation, together with the names of the trustees appointed by the President for the first year, were published in the Transactions. It will be necessary to elect a new Board of Trustees at this meeting, as the term of office is only one year. Respectfully submitted,

F. E. DANIEL, M. D., Secretary.