GENERAL MEETING. 39 
Mr. DoorirrLe remarked that the most instructive results would 
be obtained by experimenting with young persons; and the subject 
was further discussed by Messrs. W. B. Taytor, E. B. Exxiott, 
and C. A. Scuort. 
237TH MEETING. JUNE 2, 1883. 
Vice-President HinGarp, and afterward Mr. HarKkwness, in the 
Chair. 
Twenty-two members present. 
It was announced that the next meeting would be held October 
13th. 
Mr. W. Lee made a communication, with illustrations, entitled 
SKETCHES FROM MEDALLIC MEDICAL HISTORY. 
; [ Abstract. ] 
The paper was prefaced by remarks on the value of coin and 
medal collecting as a profitable means of instruction, and by a recog- 
nition of the danger to which collectors are exposed of develop- 
ing a mania for collecting odd and curious things which cease to 
be instructive. An extended interest in numismatics commenced 
to show itself in this country in 1858, at which time there were 
probably not as many as one hundred coin collectors in the United 
States. The interest has grown rapidly, however, until now there 
must be on the books of the United States Mint the names of at 
least one thousand collectors who receive yearly the issue of 
the mint, with a special proof polish. In New York alone, during 
the year 1882, there were thirty-nine collections sold at public 
auction, the amount realized being '$68,441.36. The largest of 
these was the Bushnell collection, which realized $13,900.47. Sev- 
eral of our large cities have numismatic societies, some of which 
are designated as numismatic and archeological societies; and a 
number of periodicals devoted simply to the interest of numis- 
matics obtain a satisfactory circulation. . 
The modes of striking off coins and medals were given somewhat 
in detail, and attention was then called to the important part which 
medals struck in honor of medical men and to commemorate im- 
