At the meeting of the Society for April 22d, the following report of the Committee on the Publication of the Transactions were presented:

WASHINGTON, D. C., April 22, 1896. The Medical Society having decided to publish the Transactions the Committee has considered the methods of publication as directed by the Society.

Two plans were considered by the Committee:

I. The publication of an annual volume which will require an expenditure of $500.00 to $800.00, according to the size of the volume-the estimated number of copies being 500 bound in paper

covers.

The required sum to be raised by an assessment of $2.00 on each member in addition to the $3.00 assessment already levied.

2. The publication of the Transactions in a medical journal. As the report of the Publication Committee has already shown that such a plan is not feasible, the journals to which application had been made declining to publish the Transactions, the Committee had one proposition only. This is embodied. in the following letter. (See accompanying letter.)

In considering this proposal two plans have been suggested:

I. An additional assessment by the Society of $1.00 on each member, the

3. To vote from the treasury a sum sufficient about $300.00-for the publication in the REVIEW, each member to be supplied with a copy.

In comparing these two plans—publication of a volume and publication in THE NATIONAL REVIEW-the Society will be able to decide as to which is to be preferred. The difference in cost will be one-half or more than one-half less if the REVIEW is selected. The cost to each individual will be $1.00 instead of $2.00.

Of the different plans for raising the money for publication in the REVIEW, the Committee gives preference to that of the assessment of $1.00 on each member, the Society guaranteeing the satisfactory publication of the Transactions through a committee and the distribution of the journal to each member.

It is thought that the subscription of each member to the REVIEW could not give an assured sum, while the voting of a lump sum from the treasury, without assessment, would we fear deplete the treasury and interfere with the admirable projects of the Treasurer.

WASHINGTON, D. C., APRIL 4, 1896. W. W. JOHNSTON,

Chairman Publication Com. of the Medical Society of D.C. Dear Doctor:

Until within a few days I had not thought it possible for me to make. any proposition to your Committee concerning the publication of the proceed. ings of our Medical Society in THE NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW. Recently, however, a plan has suggested itself which I here offer as a possible solution of the problem.

I will place at the disposal of the Medical Society sixteen pages of THE NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW each month, with enough extra pages during the year to make the total of two hundred pages annually.

are

A careful computation shows that these two hundred pages are equivalent to over four hundred pages such as found in the Virginia Medical Monthly for instance. They are equivalent to three hundred and twenty-five such pages as are found in the Brooklyn Medical Journal. This is because of the large size of the page, and the style of type used in THE NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW. It would appear that two hundred such pages as THE NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW (or four hundred such pages as the Virginia Medical Monthly) would be sufficient to cover all the proceedings of our society which the committee might think best to publish.

The MS. for these two hundred pages must be furnished entirely by persons representing the Medical Society, and the Editor of the REVIEW must not be in any way responsible for them.

To carry out this plan, of course it will be necessary to enlarge my journal. I shall plan to devote eight of the pages already issued regularly to the Society, thus requiring only an additional eight pages. As nearly as can be figured at the present time this will cost an excess of $300.00 a year over my present expenses. In return for this additional expense I would ask that each member of the Medical Society subscribe for the National Medical Journal at the regular price of $1.00 per year. As the postage is 24 cents a year, so the net profit on each subscripsion is but 76 cents, (although I am inclined to think with an increase in size there will be an additional cost of postage per year on each copy). Taking the number of the members of the Society at two hundred and seventy, the net profits from the subscriptions to me will be about $200.00. It must be remembered, however, in this connection. that already at one time or another I have had nearly every member of the Society on my subscription books, therefore, even this $200.00 could scarcely be called a net gain to me.

Provided your Committee and the Society adopt this plan, probably nearly every member would send in his subscription. However, it would be necessary that the Society become in some way responsible for these subscriptions. In addition to this I presume your Committee would think best to ask the Society to subscribe for about fifty copies of the journal in order that the same could be bound at the end of the year, and be at the disposal of the said Society.

From this rough estimate it is seen that while THE NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW is at an additional expense of $300 a year the way is clear to receive back of this something like $250.00. I would very cheerfully give the balance for the privilege of publishing the proceedings.

A review of this proposition shows. that the Society can get its proceedings published to the extent of about 350 or 400 pages of ordinary book matter prac

tically free of cost: For it is presumed that each member would subscribe to the journal, and it is also presumed that under any circumstances the society would desire at least fifty copies of its proceedings for preservation, exchange,

etc.

In addition to this it insures that each member of the society has a complete record of the proceedings. Additional advantages are that already the NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW goes to nearly every physician in the District of Columbia, while the Medical Colleges of the city are gratuitously supplied with a large number of copies. One result of this must be that local interest will be excited in behalf of the Medical Society by those not connected with it, while the 70 or 75 per cent who do not attend the meetings, on an average, will be incited to renewed activity by seeing the transactions.

It might be added that there are certain details about such an arrangement which it is useless to discuss here unless the general proposition is, or is likely to be accepted. It might also be added that should the society desire more than these two hundred pages during the year they can be furnished at exactly cost. And it might further be said that if this general proposition strikes your committee and the society favorably, the NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW stands ready to make any minor concessions which shall be in the interests of the Medical Society. Very respectfully yours,

CHAS. H. STOWELL. After considerable discussion of the report Dr. G. N. Acker moved to accept the offer of the editor of the NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW, and the motion was approved. Dr. Acker also moved to levy a special assessment of $1.00 upon each member to pay for the journal, and the motion was carried. Dr. W. W. Johnston moved that an editing committee of three be appointed by the President to edit the transactions; and that the editors be given discretionary power as to the publication of the papers and discussions. After some discussion this motion was carried.

At a later meeting the President announced the following as the committee: Drs. W. W. Johnston, G. M. Kober and Jas. D. Morgan.

At a later meeting of the Society, the committee made the following report:

The committee appointed to edit the transactions begs leave to make the following report with a view to securing the aid of the members of the Society in the work of publication:

While the members have the privilege of publishing their papers in any journal of their choice, yet it is earnestly hoped that preference will be given to the Society's pages in the NATIONAL MEDICAL REVIEW, as in no other way, than by securing the greater part of the papers read before the Society, can the transactions be made successful and creditable.

The committee considers that its chief duty is to publish all the papers read and a full epitome of the debates and not to exclude any paper or debate except for reasons that would be apparent to the writer as well as to the committee. As far as the committee is aware every paper that has been read within its knowledge should be published.

The only reason for condensing papers or debates is the limited space at our disposal. At the same time it is gratifying to state that the editor of the REVIEW has promised to be very generous and has allowed the society even more space than first granted. A further advantage to be derived from the publication of papers in the Society's Transactions is their more prompt appearance and more general local circulation.

It is urgently requested that every paper read, and the report of every patho

logical specimen, should be handed to the secretary at the date of reading.

It is intended to begin the publication of the transactions from March 4th, as up to that time most of the papers and all the debates have appeared in print, but since this date none of the discussions have been published.

W. W. JOHNSTON,
G. M. KOBER,
J. D. MORGAN,

Committee.

ON

LEGISLATION.

An Act to regulate the practice of medicine and surgery, to license physicians and surgeons, and to punish persons violating the provisions thereof in the District of Columbia.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be, and is hereby, created a board of medical supervisors of the District of Columbia, which shall consist of the presidents of the three boards of medical examiners hereinafter provided for and two persons, not physicians, one of whom shall be learned in the law, to be appointed by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, each for a period of three years, or until his successor is appointed: Provided, That not more than two members of the board of supervisors shall be adherents of any one system of medical practice: And provided further, That said Commissioners may remove, after due notice and hearing, any member of said board for neglect of duty or other just cause, and that in case of the death, resignation, or removal of any member the vacancy for the unexpired term of said member shall be filled in the same manner as other appointments are made.

SEC. 2. That the said board of medical supervisors shall elect a president, a vice-president, and a secretary. Said board shall make, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, such regulations as may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act. Said board shall hold such meetings as may be necessary for the transaction of business. Said board shall supervise all examinations provided for in this act, and shall issue all li

censes to practice medicine and surgery or midwifery in the District of Columbia. Said board shall keep an official record of its meetings, also an official register of all applicants for examination for licenses to practice medicine and surgery in the District of Columbia. Said regis ter shall show the name, age, place and duration of residence of each candidate, the time he or she has spent in medical study, in or out of medical schools, and the names and locations of all medical schools which have granted said applicant any degree or certificate of attendance upon lectures in medicine. Said register shall also show whether said applicant was rejected or licensed under this act. Said register shall be prima facie evidence of all matters contained therein. The secretary aforesaid may be elected by said board from others than its own members; said secretary shall also act as treasurer, and shall give such bond as may be required by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia; said secretary shall have the power to administer oaths upon such matters as pertain to the business of said board; said secretary shall mail to the address of each applicant a notice of the time and place of examination, not less than seven days before the examination, and at a longer period if requested by the applicant at the time of making application.

SEC. 3. That from and after the passage of this act, all persons desiring to practice medicine and surgery in any of their branches in the District of Columbia shall apply to said board of medical supervisors for a license to do so. Applicants shall submit to examination upon the following