THE SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CENSORS OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA, INCLUDING, ALSO, THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS-PART I-THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CENSORS.-Introduction-The County Medical Societies-An Ordinance in Relation to the Duties and Responsibilities of the County Medical Societies—The Revision of the Rolls-An Ordinance in Relation to the Revision of the Rolls-The Committee of Publication-An Ordinance in relation to the Committee of Publication and its Duties-Applications for Charters-The Roll of the Correspondents—The Reports of the Secretary and of the Treasurer-The State Board of Medical Examiners-The President's Message.

PART II-THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC HEALTH.-The Sanitary Supervision of the Slate-The Law to Carry into Effect the Health Laws of the State-An Ordinance to Create a Health Officer for the State of Alabama-The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878-The Yellow Fever Commission, and the Board of Experts-Quarantine Legislation in Congress-The McGowan Bill-The National Board of Health-Quarantine Resolutions.

PART III-SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS.-The Conclusions of the Board of ExpertsThe Harris Bill-The McGowan Bill-1 he Bill of the National Board of Health-The Memorandum of the Executive Committee of the American Public Health Association-The Report upon the Work of the Yellow Fever Commission, by the Committee of the American Public Health Association-The Report on Propositions Relating to Yellow Fever, by the same—Hon. J. Randolph Tucker on Constitutionality of Quarantine Laws-Hon. Frederick G. Bromberg on the Law of National Quarantine.

PART I-THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CENSORS.

INTRODUCTION.

In the beginning of our Sixth Annual Report, it affords us pleasure to be able to congratulate the Association on its continued and increasing prosperity. We entered upon a new career, very different from any known before in our history as an Association, with the adoption of what is known amongst us as the New Constitution, a constitution which has committed us to a plan of organization and action not only previously unheard of in Alabama, but unlike anything else that we know of in the way of medical organizations any where in the world. The more this plan has been put to the test by the onward march of events, the more it has given proof of its adaptation to changing circumstances, and of the far-reaching wisdom of its fundamental conceptions. In 1875, by the "Act Establishing Boards of Health in the State of Alabama," we were called upon by the State to undertake the administration of a complex system of Sanitary organizations, to consist, when completed, of a local board of health in every county and in every city of the State, all under the general management of this Association acting as a State Board of Health. Again, in 1877, the State gave evidence of her confidence in our stability and trustworthyness by the passage in the General Assembly of the famous "Act to Regulate the Practice of Medicine in the State of Alabama," the first law ever enacted by any State of the American Union, which empowers the medical profession itself to prescribe the terms of admission into its own ranks, and the character of the qualifications necessary to obtain the right to practice medicine in the State. In the session of the General Assembly which adjourned only a few weeks ago, the State has again shown her high appreciation of this Association by appropriating, in the "Act to Carry into Effect the Health Laws of the State," the sum of three thousand dollars a year, for the uses of this Association in its capacity of State Board of Health; and in a spirit of generous confidence in us, which we believe will prove to be as wise as it is generous, has entrusted the details of its expenditure to our discretion. We have made this rapid enumeration of our legal privileges and powers, with the view of impressing upon our Counsellors and Delegates and widely scattered membership, the character and magnitude of the responsibilities which attach themselves to our organization, and which we cannot afford to forget, or to neglect, or to value lightly. Let us prove ourselves equal to our fortune. Let us prove ourselves worthy of our mission. There is but one way to do this; but that way is sure and easily understood. It is to do our

duty bravely, justly, laboriously, and unshrinkingly. If we do this we can look the busy Present in the face without shame; and need not fear the verdict of the great Future.

THE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

The success or failure of this Association in the great work which it has assumed, of administering the health laws of the State, and of regulating the practice of medicine in the State, depends very largely upon the success or failure of the County Medical Societies in the performance of that part of this work which devolves upon thrm. This Association is responsible to the State for the manner in which the county medical societies discharge their legal functions, being made so by the express terms of the statutes. Hence the proper organization and the wise discipline and regulation of the county medical societies are to this Association considerations of paramount importance. In order to keep up the discipline of our of College Counsellors and to make it competent to serve the purposes for which it was created, we have found it necessary to hedge it about with regulations stringently expressed and vigorously enforced; and there can be no question that a code of regulations equally explicit and imperative is needed for the regulation of the County Medical Societies. Towards the accomplishment of this end we recommend to the favorable consideration of the Association the draft of an Ordinance, which here follows, to be entitled

AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTY SOCIETIES.

SECTION ONE-REPORTS.

Be it ordained by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama (1). That every County Medical Society which holds a Charter from this Association be and is hereby required to make to this Association at its Annual Sssions Annual Reports in relation to its current status and work, each and every of the said Annual Reports shall contain the several items of information specified in the articles of this Ordinance numbered respectively 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, whichhere follow :

(2). The names of the officers and members of the Society; together with names of the Colleges in which they were graduated ; and with their post-office addresses; and when any members have been admitted on the Certificates of the County Board of Medical Examiners the fact shall be so stated.

(3). The names, colleges, and post-office addresses, of all regular physicians practicing medicine in the county who are not members of the County Society.

(4). The names, systems of practice, and post-office addresses, of all the physicians in the county who are engaged in the practice of any other than the regular system of medicine.

(5). The names, colleges, and post-offiee addresses, of all Doctors of Medicine who during the preceding calendar year have passed successful examinations before the County Board of Medical Examiners.

(6). The names, colleges, and post-office addresses, of all the Doctors of Medicine who during the preceding calendar year have passed unsuccessful examinations before the County Board of Medical Examiners.

(7). The names and post-office addresses of all the medical practitioners of the county who during the preceding calendar year have died, or have discontinued the practice of medicine, or have removed from the county.

(8). The names and post-office addresses of all persons who have passed successfully before the County Board of Medical Examiners during the preceding calendar year the examination preliminary to the commencement of the study of medicine.

(9). The names and post-office addresses of all persons who have passed unsuccessfully before the County Board of Medical Examiners during the preceding calendar year the examination preliminary to the commencement of the study of medicine.

(10). The phrase, "calendar year," wherever it is used in this Ordinance is to be construed to mean from the first day of January to the last day of December, including the two days mentioned.

SECTION TWO-PENALTIES.

Be it further ordained (1). That every County Medical Society which holds a Charter from this Association will be expected and required to fulfill its constitutional obligations to this Association; and that every County Medical Society which fails so to do shall forfeit its Charter; shall be no longer recognized as a constituent member of this Association; and shall be no longer entitled to participation in the powers, privileges, prerogatives and immunities of this Association.

(2). That every County Medical Society which holds a Charter from this Association, will be expected and required to perform faithfully and efficiently the duties devolving upon it under the laws of the State of Alabama; and especially under the law to regulate the practice of medicine in the State of Alabama; and under the law establishing boards of health in the State of Alabama; and that every County Medical Society which fails so to do shall forfeit its Charter; shall be no longer recognized as a constituent member of this Association; and shall be no longer entitled to participation in the powers, privileges, prerogatives and immunities of this Association.

(3). That the failure of any County Medical Society which holds a Charter from this Association to send delegates to the Annual Sessions of this Association in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution, or the failure of any such County Medical Society to make to this Association the Annual

Reports required by the first section of this Ordinance, shall be regarded as a grave dereliction of duty on the part of such County Medical Society; and if such failures occur frequently, they shall be specially investigated by the Board of Censors of this Association.

(4). That whenever for any of the causes specified in this Ordinance; or whenever for any other sufficient reason of whatever character; the Board of Censors of this Association shall become convinced that any County Medical Society which holds a Charter from this Association has been guilty of flagrant violation or of flagrant neglect of its duties under the Constitution of this Association, or under the laws of the State of Alabama, the said Board of Censors shall report the facts to this Association, together with such recommendations as may seem to them expedient and just; and the Association shall take such action in the premises as the circumstances may seem to warrant. (5). That in the trial of cases against the County Medical Societies any Society that is charged with any dereliction of duty shall have the right to be heard in its own defence through such agent or attorney as it may select for that purpose; and shall also be allowed reasonable time for the production of any necessary evidence; and in the decision of such cases the vote shall be taken by calling the ayes and noes. A vote of censure may be passed by a majority of the members voting; but forfeiture of Charter shall require the concurrence of two-thirds of the members voting.

(6). That when any County Medical Society has forfeited its Charter it ceases to be entitled to representation in this Association; and has no longer any authority to engage in the administration of the law to regulate the practice of medicine in the State of Alabama; or of the law establishing boards of health in the State of Alabama; and it becomes the duty of the Board of Censors of this Association to give information to this effect to the Probate Judge of the county in question.

Done in Annual Session, in the City of Selma, on the 11th day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine,

THE REVISION OF THE ROLLS.

It is already a part of the regular order of business at all of the Annual Sessions of the Association to make a formal revision of three separate Rolls, namely the Roll of the College of Counsellors, the Roll of the Correspondents, and the Roll of the Officers, the revision of this last roll passing under the name of the election of officers. We think that the revision of the Roll of the County Societies is equally important with any of these three, and for reasons that are sufficiently evident without special argument. It also seems evident to us that it would be well to invest the revisions of all of the Rolls with a certain amount of formality and ceremonial. In order to carry into practice all of the suggestions here made, we respectfully recommend the adoption of the following draft of an Ordinance to be entitled