LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 11 



ical Associations, and later of the Eclectic Medical 

 Society of Cincinnati. He had been a member of 

 the former National Association in its later years of 

 existence. With but one or two exceptions, he al- 

 ways attended meetings, taking a seat near the plat- 

 form, seldom exchanging words with any one, but 

 watchful of the proceedings. He took part eagerly in 

 the discussions, especially when they related to sur- 

 gical or gynaecological questions, but for routine med- 

 ical subjects, therapeutics, or technical points involving 

 principles of law or parliamentary usage, he had less 

 aptitude. He was never ambitious for official honors. 

 In 1882, however, despite his objections and protests, 

 he was elected president of the National Association 

 at its annual meeting in New Haven. He brought to 

 the office his habitual diligence and energy. He was 

 never remiss in a duty or in any way inefficient." 



And in a sketch published in 1890 the same writer 

 says : " Whether Professor Howe shall be called a 

 leader of the Eclectic School of Medicine it is hardly 

 in our province to discuss. . . . One, however, 

 who has been so long a prominent teacher in the 

 principal Eclectic College, who has been always in at- 

 tendance at our meetings and participated in the con- 

 ducting of them, who is regarded by a multitude of 

 Eclectic practitioners with an admiration seldom ex- 

 ceeded, who is the most constant of the contributors to 

 our literature, and whose every utterance is carefully 

 pondered by a multitude of the most thoughtful and 

 earnest Eclectics, has his rank and position beyond our 

 power to establish it for him." 



Constant in his attendance at medical meetings, 

 he was seldom the presiding officer. He believed that 

 he could be more useful to the societies in situations 



