July 28, 1905.] 



SCIENCE. 



99 



constituted a body annually changing in 

 personnel ; and the sources of attendance 

 changed with the sections of the country in 

 which the meetings were held. In conse- 

 quence there could be neither that equal 

 representation of all sections which must 

 obtain in a national body, nor continuation 

 of work from year to year along definite 

 lines. 



THE SECTIONS. 



During these early years it was the 

 steady improvement in the work of the sec- 

 tions which drew the best element of the 

 profession to the annual sessions. Many 

 leaders of the profession in the various 

 states attended .the sections in which they 

 were interested, and took no part in the 

 proceedings of the general meetings. The 

 sections have now reached such a high de- 

 gree of efficiency that they have attained 

 the standard so much desired, and rank as 

 leading special national societies in the sev- 

 eral departments of medical science which 

 they represent. 



As chairman of the committee on sections 

 and section work, I have carefully studied 

 the workings of the sections. As a result of 

 this experience, I would repeat the recom- 

 mendation of my distinguished predecessor 

 in this chair, that the secretary of each sec- 

 tion should be elected for a term of years. 

 No national society can maintain its eflB- 

 ciency which changes its secretary an- 

 nually. And again, I would suggest that 

 the officers of the several sections meet to- 

 gether in conference as soon as practicable 

 after the adjournment of the session at 

 which they are elected, in order that 

 definite . plans may be formulated for the 

 scientific work of the next annual session. 

 The conference of section officers in New 

 York last November contributed much 

 toward the development of the admirable 

 scientific program now before you for the 

 present session. 



It should be the aim and purpose of 

 every member of this association to aid the 

 officers of the sections in elevating contin- 

 ually the standard of scientific work. 

 Every American physician may have pride 

 in the work done year after year in the 

 sections of this association. 



THE JOURNAL. 



It would be a difficult task were we to un- 

 dertake a definite estimate of the influence 

 of the Journal in the great work which this 

 association has accomplished during the 

 past two decades. When it was decided to 

 discontinue the annual volume of transac- 

 tions, and to establish a weekly journal, the 

 change was viewed with apprehension by 

 many. The influence of this publication, the 

 property of the association, in stimulating 

 research, diffusing knowledge, elevating 

 professional thought and conduct, and 

 building up this great organization can not 

 be computed. This part of my discourse 

 is so replete with suggestion, that I fear 

 the time and space at my command will not 

 permit such consideration as should be de- 

 voted to it. 



The volumes of the Journal mark the 

 steady and continued growth of the associa- 

 tion, and likewise bear testimony to the 

 fact that the Journal itself has been a 

 potent factor in that growth. Under the 

 judicious direction of the board of trustees 

 the Journal has steadily advanced as a sci- 

 entific publication. By the untiring daily 

 services of the present able editor, it has 

 leaped into the very front rank of scien- 

 tific publications, and in all that a great 

 weekly medical journal should be it has no 

 superior in the world. The power exerted 

 by such a publication as a medium of com- 

 munication among the members of the asso- 

 ciation is inestimable, to say nothing of the 

 other more important functions performed 

 by a great weekly journal. It has been 



