It* 



Before bringing this report to a close, your committee would re- 

 mark, that the evils they have felt it their duty to point out, are by no 

 means incident to the profession generally. Their observations relate 

 to individual instances, yet sufficiently numerous to justify what they 

 have brieflly said. Every member of the Society will appreciate the 

 importance of individual rectitude, to the reputation of the whole pro- 

 fession, where lines of distinction are not fairly established. Our pro- 

 fession, as a whole, stands preeminent for public virtue, probity and 

 usefulness, yet the individual short comings of its members have often 

 excited a popular and erroneous prejudice against it. Instead of look- 

 ing to physicians as the guardians of the greatest public and private 

 blessings — as men whose profession qualities them to sympathise with 

 the misfortunes of those around them, independent of social caste or 

 position — they look only at those who disgrace themselves and their 

 profession, and thence imbibe the opinion that physicians are a burthen 

 upon the body social, and opposed to the true interests of community. 



1st. For the purpose, therefore, of true improvement in the profes- 

 sion. 



2nd. That the influence of this State Society may be exercised 

 against dishonest practices ; and 



3d. That a line of distinction may be drawn between regular and 

 honorable physicians and those who are otherwise. Your committee 

 recommend the adoption of the following resolutions : 



Resolved, That the practice of admitting young men to the study of 

 medicine without a respectable preliminary education, greatly contrib- 

 utes to depress the science, dignity and usefulness of our profession ; 

 and that this Society urge upon its members the propriety of examin- 

 ing all young gentlemen who apply for the benefits of private pupil- 

 age upon their preparatory education, with a view to discourage such 

 as are deficient in this respect, from entering upon the study of a pro- 

 fession, in the ranks of which they can never attain preeminence, and 

 the usefulness and dignity of which they are not competent to pro- 

 mote. 



Resolved, That discussions upon scientific questions, connected more 

 or less intimately with medical science, would promote a more accu- 

 rate knowledge of the brilliant modern discoveries in Animal Chemis- 

 try and Human Physiology, and that to secure this object, it shall be 

 the duty of the President at this, and each annual meeting hereafter, 

 to appoint one member to read a paper at the next succeeding meet- 

 ing, upon the various improvements and discoveries in medicine which 

 have been made during the year, and one to read a paper upon the 

 n-lations which the natural sciences bear to recent improvements and 



