98 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXII. No. §52. 



sources, and for the diffusion of medical 

 knowledge. Closely related to these en- 

 nobling purposes is that social instinct of 

 our profession, which would elevate and be 

 elevated by interchange of views resulting 

 from common experiences, and by mingling 

 together in pleasant friendly intercourse. 

 Happily our present meeting is held under 

 ideal conditions for the exercise of all the 

 functions of such an organization. Per- 

 fect harmony prevails. The differences 

 which at times have divided us have all 

 been satisfactorily adjusted ; and we are to- 

 day as one man in our united effort to ad- 

 vance the science of medicine, to enlarge 

 the scope of its beneficence and to promote 

 the welfare of our profession. 



Since our meeting at Atlantic City one 

 year ago, many of our members have ceased 

 their labors and passed to the great be- 

 yond. The list is a long one. Among the 

 number is that of Nathan Smith Davis. 

 He was one of the founders of this asso- 

 ciation, an ex-president; a member of the 

 board of trustees, the first editor of the 

 Journal, and for years a power for good in 

 its affairs. He lived beyond the time al- 

 lotted by the psalmist, and all his years 

 were filled with labor and with honor. I 

 will not undertake at this time to estimate 

 adequately his great services, or appro- 

 priately to pay tribute to his memory. This 

 w^ill be done later in the session by one 

 better prepared than I to eulogize our de- 

 parted leader. 



At our last session, Dr. B. C. Pennington, 

 of Atlantic City, was chairman of the com- 

 mittee of arrangements. He was honored 

 with the fourth vice-presidency in recogni- 

 tion of his ability, his high professional 

 standing, and his devoted services to this 

 association. His name, too, is now found 

 among the year's honored dead. A cul- 

 tured gentleman, a learned and accom- 

 plished physician, his memory will ever re- 



main as an inspiration for high ideals and 

 noble endeavor. 



EARLY YEARS. 



When the American Medical Association 

 was organized in 1846 it is doubtful if 

 there were more than 25,000 physicians in 

 the entire United States of America. It 

 was organized as a representative body, 

 composed of delegates from affiliated so- 

 cieties, colleges and hospitals throughout 

 the states. It was a body of delegates 

 from all state, district, county and other 

 medical societies which adopted the code of 

 ethics of the national association. The ap- 

 portionment of delegates was on a basis of 

 one for every ten members of the societies 

 represented. For a number of years the 

 delegate body thus constituted was not too 

 large for the discussion of important s^ub- 

 jects and the ready transaction of business. 

 With the rapid increase in population, 

 the admission of new states to the union, 

 and the settlement of new territories, came 

 a vast increase of physicians, with a corre- 

 sponding multiplication of state and county 

 societies. Without change in the appor- 

 tionment of delegates, the national associa- 

 tion developed into a body too large and 

 unwieldy for the transaction of business. 

 Indeed, during the latter years under the 

 original system of organization, practically 

 every member in attendance on the annual 

 sessions was a delegate. While the work 

 of the sections was carried on with increas- 

 ing excellence, the important functionsi re- 

 lating to legislative and other matters, be- 

 longing to a great national organization of 

 the medical profession, were neglected. 

 The general sessions brought together hun- 

 dreds of delegates, forming a convention so 

 large that thorough discussion of important 

 questions and judicious action on the same 

 became practically impossible. Moreover, 

 the delegates attending the annual sessions 



