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SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XII. No. 295 



stances mentioned by Hale are of the greatest interest, and we re- 

 print one here, as it shows clearly what the subject of this study 

 ought to be. In his second paper on this subject, Hale quotes 

 from a letter from Von der Gabelentz the following : " My brother 

 Albert's eldest son George, before he had learned his mother- 

 tongue, called things by names of his own invention. In these 

 names the constant elements were the consonants, while the vowels, 

 according as they were deeper or higher, denoted the greatness or 

 smallness. For instance, his term for ordinary chairs was lakazl, 

 apparently quite a self-made word. Now, he would call a great 

 arm-chair lukull. and a little doll's chair Hkill. The root for round 

 objects was m-m. He called a watch or a plate mem, but a large 

 plate or a round table mum ,■ the moon was likewise mem, but 

 when he first saw the stars he said mini mim mim mim. His 

 father, and at first every grown-up male person, was called papa, 

 till he learned to distinguish between Papa and Oxo%s^-^>s.{o papa"), 

 and henceforth called all other gentlemen o-papa. Now, I am a 

 head taller than was my father. So one day, when seeing my father 

 and me together, baby called the former o-papa and me %i-pupu. One 

 day in winter he saw his father in a large fur cloak and with his 

 hat on. This impression he uttered with the word piipn, meaning 

 a very big papa. The boy soon gave up his idioglottic endeavors, 

 learning German before his ne.xt-born sister had reached the age of 

 beginning speech. So that language could have no further gram- 

 matical development." 



THE GREAT MEDICAL CONGRESS. 



The First Triennial Session in Washington. — A Series of Brilliant 

 Meetings. — Some of the Papers read. — Distinguished Guests. 



The meeting of the Congress of American Physicians and Sur- 

 geons, which took place in Washington last week, continuing three 

 days, marked a new departure in national gatherings of American 

 medical men. It was a convention of specialists, of men who have 

 pursued their investigations, each in his own department, far be- 

 yond the point reached by the ordinary practising physician, even 

 though his professional equipment be of the best. The papers that 

 were read, therefore, presented the results of the most advanced 

 scientific researches in the several departments, and the organiza- 

 tion of the congress is such as to insure in the future the main- 

 tenance of this high scientific standard. All opportunity for 

 scheming medical politicians to gain prominence or office is care- 

 fully guarded against, and the only chance that any physician has 

 to gain distinction through membership of the congress is by pre- 

 senting papers of such high order of excellence as to command the 

 attention and secure the approval of the learned members of the 

 medical profession to whom, as to the most competent critics, he 

 submits his work. 



Perhaps the best idea of the scope and objects of the congress 

 may be gathered from the address with which Dr. Pepper of Phila- 

 delphia, chairman of the executive committee, opened the first ses- 

 sion. He said, — 



" On behalf of the executive committee, I have the honor to an- 

 nounce to you, the members of the various special associations 

 composing the Congress of American Physicians and Surgeons, the 

 manner in which we have discharged the responsible duty intrusted 

 to us. The present meeting is the result of prolonged deliberations. 

 The development of one special society after another showed the 

 irresistible tendency of the recent progress of medical science. 

 The deep interest which attaches to the meetings of these separate 

 bodies suggested naturally the thought of a conjoint meeting, 

 which would bring together the active workers in allied fields. 

 This thought began to take definite shape as much as four years 

 ago, before the attention of the medical profession became occupied 

 with the preparations for the meeting of the International Medical 

 Congress which occurred in this city last year. But all action was 

 deferred, in order that there should not be even the semblance of 

 interference with that important meeting. The delay has not been 

 injurious. It has rendered more than ever conspicuous the actual 

 need of an organization to secure the re-union, at stated intervals, 

 of the more active teachers and writers and workers in the leading 

 branches of medical science. Such re-unions must be at a locality 

 to which it will be possible to draw such men from all quarters. 



" In order to produce the best scientific results, it is essential that 

 the members in attendance shall be reasonably limited, and that as 

 far as possible the same men shall attend successive meetings. A 

 continuity of intellectual life and activity is thus secured, which in- 

 creases greatly the benefits derived from these meetings. A large 

 proportion of those interested in the development of such an or- 

 ganization are, as I am myself, warmly attached to the American 

 Medical Association, and determined to exert their influence to 

 maintain and promote the success of this great national organi- 

 zation. All are no less warmly interested in the prosperity of the 

 various special societies to which they severally belong. Your ex- 

 ecutive committee found little difficulty, however, in deciding upon 

 a plan which would avoid even the least interference with the 

 American Medical Association, while at the same time it avoided 

 any encroachment upon the independence and autonomy of the 

 special societies. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the special points 

 which have been embodied in the by-laws which will be immedi- 

 ately submitted to you. 



"Your committee ventures to hope that these provisions, which 

 are strictly in accord with the terms of the resolutions under which 

 they were appointed, will meet the unanimous approval of the con- 

 gress. We have recommended that the sessions shall be triennial, 

 thus leaving to each participatingbody two intervening independent 

 meetings, at such time and place as may be chosen. We have 

 jealously guarded against the admission of any parliamentary busi- 

 ness into the work of the congress, the functions of which are de- 

 signed to be absolutely and exclusively scientific. Thus, and thus 

 only, can the sessions of this body be lifted up into and maintained 

 in that high and cool air of learned discourse which best permits 

 the diffusion of truth and the promotion of science. We have no 

 less jealously guarded the independent sovereignty of each partici- 

 pating society. To all their full rights are preserved ; to all equal 

 privileges are accorded ; upon all the burden of expense, which 

 should always be but a light one, has been laid in equitable dis- 

 tribution. The successive meetings of the congress will be held in 

 this beautiful city, which every year renders more accessible, more 

 attractive, and more precious to every citizen of the Republic. Nor 

 could we fail to make acknowledgment of the great material ad- 

 vantages we shall enjoy in these meetings here, through the liberal 

 and enlightened policy which places freely at our disposal the ad- 

 mirable facilities of the medical department. 



" And, lastly, your executive committee would report that in the 

 discharge of one of the most important of our duties we have 

 reached the conclusion that the selection of the president of each 

 congress shall be intrusted to the executive committee then in office. 

 Thus will the choice of the most worthy and most representative 

 men of the whole country be insured at the hands of a truly rep- 

 resentative body, specially selected by their various societies for 

 their ability and judgment. The powers you are asked to confide to 

 future executive committees are large, but they will be reposed in 

 safe hands. Each society participating will be stimulated to con- 

 tinuous and lofty effort. Membership in any of these bodies will 

 come to be regarded as more and more an honor, and in time the 

 scientific qualifications of candidates will be more and more strictly 

 scrutinized. Can there be any doubt, that, if the spirit which has 

 led to the formation of this congress be maintained and cherished, 

 this new organization will exert a powerful and beneficent influence 

 on the future medical science.' It remains, then, only to add, that, 

 in exerting the privilege of selecting a president for this first Con- 

 gress of American Physicians and Surgeons, your executive com- 

 mittee feel they have been guided to the choice of a man whose 

 admirable personal character, whose high attainments, and whose 

 illustrious services in the cause of literature, of science, and of the 

 entire medical profession, mark him as entitled to this great honor 

 and distinction. It gives me, therefore, the utmost gratification to 

 present to you our president, Dr. John Shaw Billings, and to an- 

 nounce that the Congress of American Physicians and Surgeons is 

 now duly organized." 



Dr. Billings, on taking the gavel, in a few words expressed his 

 appreciation of the honor which had been conferred upon him. 

 His formal address was given on Thursday evening, and was pub- 

 lished in last week's Science. 



The address of welcome by Dr. S. C. Busey of Washington, 



