^"ptembefAS?'}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  471 
And  is  it  not  a  fact  that  most  of  the  advertising  is  free?  Do  we  not  see,  month  after  month, 
communications  in  the  medical  press  on  the  action  of  the  new  synthetics  in  certain  affections? 
This  is  the  most  effective  kind  ©f  advertising,  and  it  is  impossible  to  imagine  that  the  journals 
in  which  these  articles  appear  would  receive  pay  for  their  publication.  There  is  no  reason  for 
the  high  prices  charged  for  these  goods,  but  the  knowledge  of  the  patentees  that  with  the 
process  and  product  patented  and  the  name  copyrighted,  they  have  an  absolute  monopoly, 
and  can  charge  just  what  they  please.  What  we  want  is  that  the  patent  laws  be  changed  on 
the  lines  of  German  laws,  which,  while  safely  guarding  the  public  from  extortion,  give  ample 
protection  to  the  patentee.  We  should  demand  that  products  used  in  medicine  should  not  be 
patented,  and  that  the  names  by  which  they  are  known  in  commerce  should  not  be  copy- 
righted. 
On  this  subject  a  resolution  was  presented  and  adopted  at  the  last  convention,  but  it  did 
not  go  far  enough.  I  would  therefore  suggest  that  although  this  work  would  be  within  the 
province  of  the  Committee  on  National  Legislation,  a  special  committee,  composed  of  one 
member  from  each  State  and  Territory  and  all  members  residing  in  the  District  of  Columbia, 
be  appointed  to  undertake  and  carry  on  an  agitation  for  the  amendment  of  the  United  States 
patent  laws  on  the  lines  already  indicated. 
I  would  also  suggest  that  our  delegation  to  the  American  Medical  Association  be  instructed 
to  bring  this  matter  before  the  next  convention  and  secure  the  endorsation  of  that  body  ;  that 
we  also  secure  the  co  operation  of  all  the  State  associations  through  their  delegates  present  at 
this  convention,  and,  in  fact,  employ  every  legitimate  means  to  accomplish  our  object. 
The  address  was  received  and  referred  to  a  committee  composed  of  Messrs. 
Bbert,  Thompson  and  Whelpley,  appointed  by  Vice-President  Payne. 
President  Morrison  then  resumed  the  chair,  and  Secretary  Caspari  called  for 
the  reports  of  the  various  standing  and  special  committees.    These  were  ready. 
The  selection  of  the  Nominating  Committee  to  elect  the  officers  for  the  ensuing 
year  was  the  next  business  in  order,  and  a  recess  of  five  minutes  was  granted 
by  the  President  in  order  to  afford  the  members  from  the  various  States,  Terri- 
tories and  Provinces  an  opportunity  to  choose  their  representatives.  At  the 
end  of  this  time  the  meeting  was  again  called  to  order.  Secretary  Caspari  then 
called  the  roll  for  the  names  of  the  nominators.  Responses  were  had  from 
Arkansas,  Colorado,  District  of  Columbia,  Georgia,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Indian 
Territory,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Massachusetts, 
Michigan,  Maine,  Missouri,  Nebraska,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  North  Carolina, 
Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Rhode  Island,  South  Dakota,  Texas,  Virginia  and  Prov- 
inces of  Manitoba  and  Quebec.  In  addition  to  those  representing  these  sec- 
tions, the  President  appointed  at  large  Messrs.  Ebert,  Tilden,  Good,  Frost  and 
Main  as  members  of  the  Nominating  Committee.  The  committee  decided  to 
meet  immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  session.  Secretary  Kennedy 
then  read  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  the  Council.  These  comprised  the 
various  motions  which  had  been  made  in  the  body,  and  statements  of  such 
measures  as  had  been  adopted  during  the  past  year,  as  well  as  certain  proposed 
changes  in  by-laws.  The  minutes  also  dealt  with  a  proposition  to  reinstate  Mr. 
Frederick  Stearns  to  membership  in  the  Association,  from  which  he  had  been 
previously  expelled.  The  correspondence  connected  with  this  matter  follows 
here  in  full  : 
Chicago,  August  20,  1S97. 
Mr.  A.  H.  Ebert,  City. 
Dear  Mr.  Ebert : — I  have  the  pleasure  to  send  you  a  letter  received  from  Mr.  Stearns  in  reply 
to  one  from  myself  to  him,  in  relation  to  the  proposition  made  by  several  of  his  old  friends, 
to  bring  about  a  reinstatement  of  Mr.  Stearns  as  a  member  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association.  You  will  observe  he  takes  a  very  manly  position,  and  one  that  can  hardly  fail  to 
create  a  kind  feeling  toward  him  in  those  who  do  not  know  him,  and  a  feeling  of  respect  and 
confidence  by  the  old  friends  who  know  him  well.   The  many  years  which  have  passed  since 
