Alabama, G. MOSES; Arkansas, A. L. BREYSACHER; Connecticut, W. A. M. WAINWRIGHT; Delaware, II. F. ASKEW; District of Columbia, F. HOWARD; Georgia, J. P. LOGAN; Illinois, H. A. JOHNSON; Indiana, W. H. MYERS; Iowa, A. M. CARPENTER; Kansas, D. W. STORMONT; Kentucky, R. H. GALE; Maine, A. GARCELON; Maryland, S. P. SMITH; Massachusetts, L. F. WARNER; Michigan, W. BRODIE; Minnesota, A. B. STUART; Missouri, J. B. JOHNSON; Mississippi, J. W. M. SHATTUCK; New Hampshire, E. F. MCQUES. TEN; New Jersey, S. LILLY; New York, H. W. DEAN; North Carolina, R. J. HICKS; Ohio, A. DUNLAP; Pennsylvania, W. J. ASDALE; Rhode Island, L. MORTON; Tennessee, W. T. BRIGGS; Texas, D. R. WALLACE; Virginia, F. D. CUNNINGHAM; West Virginia, G. BAIRD; Wisconsin, E. P. RUSSELL; U. S. Army, B. A. CLEMENTS; U. S. Navy, C. EVERSFIELD.

The Committee of Arrangements reported a number of additional delegates, members by invitation, and permanent members.

On motion of Dr. DAVIS, of Illinois, the list as read was approved, except the members by invitation, which list was referred to the committee for revision.

An invitation for the Association to meet next year in Detroit. was read and referred to the Nominating Committee.

Special business being in order, the report on a Plan for the Better Arrangement of the Sections and a more rigid examination of Papers offered for Publication, was read by the chairman, Dr. E. LLOYD HOWARD, of Maryland, as follows:

The Special Committee appointed to report "A plan for the better arrangement of the Sections, and for the more rigid examination of papers offered for publication," after a careful consideration of the subject, find not only a change in the order and constitution of the Sections desirable, but that alterations are also demanded in the manner of conducting their business.

The objects of the Sections should be to afford a medium for the interchange of ideas, and for the discussion of practical medical questions in their several special fields, rather than a place for the reading of lengthy dissertations and tedious statistical statements. In the opinion of this Committee, lengthy papers, no matter how interesting and valuable, should not be permitted to monopolize the few short hours of our sessions. On these rare occasions when so many men of experience and ability are met together, and with time so limited, briefly stated points and conversational discussions afford the best means of instruction; practical experience

speaks in hints and suggestions fruitful of thought, and comparison of views formed under conditions of locality and climate must always command interest.

To gain these results your Committee would suggest that no member should be allowed to hold the floor for longer than twenty minutes, or speak twice upon the same subject, unless by unanimous consent, in Section meetings. At the same time, provision should be made for the reception and disposition of well-prepared papers which by nature of their subject cannot be brought down to the limits here required. Such papers should be referred to special sub-committees appointed by the Sections for their examination, and, if found of sufficient interest or value, sent to the Committee of Publication. These sub-committees should have ample time for the careful performance of their duties, and might report directly to the Committee of Publication at any time within. thirty days after the adjournment of the Association. If the authors prefer, they might read an abstract before the Section, within the limits prescribed, embracing the new or salient points of such articles. It is believed, by these means the meetings of the Sections will acquire greater interest and be attended by many who otherwise might be deterred by the dread of a tedious infliction to which most of us have heretofore been occasionally subjected. At the same time, as will be more fully explained presently, a most effective step will have been taken to improve the character of our published transactions.

The present organization of the Sections is such that all the interest of the members of the Association centres in two or three of them, whilst the others are but slimly attended. A reduction of their number, from six to five, with a slightly altered distribution of the subjects, would, it is thought, be attended with good results. The following arrangement is suggested in place of that now existing:

1. Practical Medicine, Materia Medica, and Physiology.
2. Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children.

3. Surgery and Anatomy.

4. Medical Jurisprudence, Chemistry, and Psychology.
5. State Medicine and Public Hygiene.

This last is in accordance with a resolution adopted in 1872, by which the "Committee on a National Health Council" แ was continued, and to constitute a special section on 'State Medicine and

Public Hygiene,' to which all subjects cognate thereto may be referred." It should be composed of the representatives of the several State Boards of Health, for the States in which such boards exist, and one member from each of the other States; to be nominated by the Committee on Nominations, and take the place of the Committee on Climatology, which might be abolished.

Lately the habit of re-electing the Chairman of Sections for several successive years seems to be acquiring favor, and, in the opinion of this Committee, is not an improvement. It is absolutely necessary to the economy of time, and the proper transaction of business, that the presiding officers of Sections should be men of prompt and decisive action, and, if the suggestions which shall presently be made be adopted, of high scientific attainments. In their selection, these requisites should be kept steadily in view to the exclusion of more popular acquirements.

The second subject referred to your Committee-the consideration of a plan for the more rigid examination of papers offered for publication is one of great and pressing importance.

In looking over the volumes of the Transactions it is very apparent that, while many of the papers are marked by conscientious. care in their preparation, and contain matter of decided interest, others are characterized by nothing that is new, and by a looseness and verbosity of statement not calculated to reflect credit on the Association. Indeed, it is to be feared, articles have sometimes secured their position in the published Transactions because of their lack of interest. It has occasionally happened that one of the Sections, to save itself from the infliction of a lengthy paper, after hearing a few pages, has suspended its reading by a reference to the Committee of Publication; and the latter, acting on the principle of publishing all that comes to them, without revision or alteration, claim that the Association and the Sections are alone responsible for the contents of their volumes. If the recommendation above. made be adopted-that all lengthy papers shall be submitted to sub-committees of Sections for approval-it is believed the evil will be greatly abated. But still, some revising power ought to lie with the Publishing Committee, and they ought to be expected to use it. The Sections have been again and again enjoined to use more discretion in referring for publication, but, with a tendency to too great indulgence towards authors, and in the press and hurry incident to our short sessions, cannot reasonably be expected in all cases to examine and pass upon the merits of a paper with the care

and deliberation necessary for determining its fitness for publication.

The Committee of Publication have shown decided reluctance to assume the responsibility of rejection, when, at former meetings, it was proposed to clothe them with the power. Why they should be so averse to performing this simple editorial duty-certainly not a very pleasant one, but one which every medical editor in the country has to discharge-is not obvious: but in the opinion of this Committee the subject is one of so great importance that it should no longer be neglected; and, if the Committee of Publication remain unwilling to meet the responsibility, another should be appointed in its stead.

Although perhaps somewhat exceeding the strictly proper scope of its duty, your Committee cannot refrain from pointing out certain defects in the general plan of organization of the Association, and suggesting changes which they are convinced would materially add to the interest of the general meetings and conduce to a more systematic and effective working. They most cordially approve the resolution offered by Prof. S. D. GROSS at the last meeting, but modified as follows: "Instead of a report on Medical Education, on Medical Literature, and on Climatology and Epidemic Diseases, there shall annually be delivered before the Association at its general meetings a report from the Chairman of each Section; these reports to consist of a review of the more important advances and discoveries of the year in the various branches of science included in their several Sections, each report to consume not more than forty minutes in its delivery." It is believed this feature would greatly add to the interest of the meetings, and not conflict seriously with any of the proper objects of the Association. In recommending it, your Committee do not wish to be understood as urging the Association to entirely abandon and ignore the subject of Medical Education. Although but little progress may as yet have been made towards the attainment of a higher standard, the future may develop, and, in the opinion of this Committee, will develop opportunities for effective action; and no change should be accepted which might incapacitate the Association for availing itself of them when they occur. All that is here contended is, that no good is accomplished by theoretical treatises, and that all discussion founded upon them is idle and fruitless. Whenever any practical and practicable plan for the improvement of medical schools can be suggested, it will find ready hearing under the head of "New Busi

ness," or through the medium of a special committee. With reference to the subjects of climatology and epidemic diseases, it may be remarked that under the proposed re-arrangement of Sections they have their more appropriate place with "State Medicine and Public Hygiene."

But any change in the mere arrangement of sections and committees must fail in raising the Association to a very high degree of efficiency, unless more order and method can be brought into the general conduct of its meetings. The time of a whole morning session is too often occupied with uninteresting and fruitless discussion of points of order, or ethics, or private grievances. When four or five hundred men are met together, having but parts of four days in which to transact business, attempting to represent the medical profession of the whole country, and act not only in a scientific, but in a legislative, and also judicial capacity, it cannot be expected that much progress should be made unless all irrelevant subjects be studiously kept out of the discussions, and nothing admitted that does not come before the meeting in such tangible shape as can be acted upon with directness and intelligence. A step in the right direction was taken at the last meeting in the adoption of the standing resolution to the effect, "that all questions of a personal character, including complaints and protests, and all questions of credentials be referred at once, after the report of the Committee of Arrangements or other presentation, to the Committee on Ethics, and without discussion." And in the opinion of your Committee, the business of the Association will be greatly facilitated, and the interest of its meetings enhanced by a most liberal enlargement of the scope of this ordinance. It is therefore advised that, hereafter, a strict adherence to the "order of business," as contained in the By-laws, be enforced, with such changes as will confine the introduction of all new business, resolutions by members, etc., to a specified hour of the first and fourth days of meetings only, and throw into the hands of the Committee on Ethics for adjudication, all those vexatious personal questions that have heretofore so disturbed the dignity, and monopolized the time and attention of the Association, to the exclusion of its higher and broader functions.

As there might arise occasions when it becomes obviously proper or necessary, that immediate attention shall be given to some new business," it is suggested that the Committee of Arrangements and