926 
certain facts revealed by the report are 
food for thought. Thus, the Jowrnal has 
an aggregate circulation two and one-half 
times greater than the aggregate member- 
ship of the Association. It would seem, 
therefore, that while the profession at large 
prizes the Journal, it places relatively less 
than half as much value upon membership 
in the Association. This fact becomes 
strikingly significant when it is remembered 
that membership can be acquired by those 
who are eligible at no additional expense 
and with but trifling inconvenience. Does 
the Journal fulfill all the wants of the pro- 
fession arising in connection with the Asso- 
ciation? Are there no additional advan- 
tages to be derived from membership? Is 
there a lack of esprit dw corps—a lack of the 
sense of unity in the profession? Is the 
existing basis of our national organization 
distasteful to the majority of the practi- 
tioners? Do our subscribers embrace a 
considerable number of practitioners, who, 
under existing rules, cannot become mem- 
bers, and whose influence, therefore, can- 
not be secured in behalf of the Association ? 
These are questions that I am at liberty to 
ask, and that you are at liberty to answer. 
Another thought suggested by the report 
relates to the disposition of the accumulat- 
ing surplus. Shall the present policy for 
creating a fund for the purchase of property 
be carried out? Shall a larger proportion 
of the money be expended in still further 
exploiting the Journal? Shall the mem- 
bers receive a direct advantage from the 
earnings of the property which they have 
created, by reducing the annual dues, or 
shall a certain proportion of our surplus be 
expended in conducting original scientific 
investigations on subjects of universal inter- 
est to the profession? I cannot resist the 
temptation in this connection to venture 
replies to these questions far enough to say 
that, in my opinion, a reserve should be 
held in hand large enough to meet any pos- 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8S. Vou. XIII. No. 337. 
sible contingencies that might occur by fire 
or other disaster in connection with the 
Journal; that the present generous policy 
in promoting the welfare of the Journal 
should be continued; that the dues of the 
Association should not be decreased ; and 
that the question of establishing and de- 
fraying the expenses of certain commissions 
for special scientific investigators should be 
taken under serious consideration. The 
question of tuberculosis is not yet a closed 
chapter. The causation of cancer is yet 
sealed mystery. The problems of tenement- 
house reform are not yet solved. The pre- 
vention of various endemic diseases has not 
yet been made practicable. The systematic 
investigation of the American medicinal 
flora, begun under the auspices of this As- 
sociation more than forty years ago, re- 
mains an uncompleted task. These are a 
few among the many objects of a specific 
character which demand and should receive 
the fostering care of the Association. 
I feel, however, that at the present mo- 
ment, and under the existing features of our 
organization, it would be almost impossible 
to determine, judiciously, either of these 
very important questions, and I now bring 
them before the Association only for the 
purpose of directing attention to them, with 
the hope that they may be taken up subse- 
quently, and under more auspicious circum- 
stances. 
SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION. 
The Association began its career with 
general meetings, devoted chiefly to ques- 
tions of medical education and professional 
conduct and to lengthy reports from var- 
ious standing committees. In 1860 it 
divided itself into a few sections, each with 
a certain autonomy, and each devoted to a 
particular part of our great scientific work. 
This change was followed by the establish- 
ment of the Judicial Council, by which 
means controversial questions, many of 
