results in and out of its own school; it is the hope of medicine and is commissioned for the welfare of humanity.

"Professor!" exclaimed Mrs. Fishmonger during a private organ recital, "you must pull out that dear nux vomica stop once more. It is so sweet and good." The Old School is pulling out the "nux vomica stop." It must; it is the only one left in medicine that is good.

In the early controversial period it was said that Homœopathy neglected medical science-its uplifting power is now a matter of history. It has not only reformed the pell-mell shot-gun methods of the old practice, but anticipated its belated development of the germ-theory and its therapeutics in that it taught that animal viruses heal the sick. Its perfect law has defined and refined the dose. It was the first to demand, through this Institute, a higher scholarship. Its colleges were the first to admit women as students. Its original work in materia medica has been greater than any ever done in the world's medical annals.

In this field of materia medica Hering and Dunham and Hughes and Dake and Timothy Field Allen, with many more, have made themselves lasting fame. If the works of Ringer and Phillips show an increased range of therapeutical agencies, these agencies themselves attest that it was Hahnemann who widened their horizon. In the Homœopathic law internal medicine has reached finality. Hahnemann defined disease as a disturber of vital force. He defined medicine as a knowledge of disease. He defined the method of ascertaining the remedy. His definitions are conclusive and must end controversy; while riots of prejudice but evidence their verity.

It is indisputable that Homœopathy has the right conception of therapeutics. Before the clinical use of a drug it asks its properties, its pharmaceutical purity and present energy, and then what phenomena will follow its introduction into the human organism, what effect upon structure and function. To this principle every school of medicine must ultimately come. The Old School beats the devil round the bush by experimenting upon healthy animals and reptiles. But provings upon the lower animals are not reliable. Certain species of monkeys are immune to strychnine, and some species of deer to tobacco. Healthy human beings alone, with all their differences and idiosyncrasies can be fit subjects for experiment.

Establish therapeutics on this basis and certainty in medicine will follow. To this high end Homoeopathy is pledged. Favorable

omens are without and within. The increasing interest of all schools in therapeutics, the growth of popular intelligence, and that spirit of tolerance characteristic of advancing civilization, indicate a coming basis founded on science, public confidence and honor.

Apart from its influence upon, and permeation of, Old-School practice, such is the Homœopathy of to-day.

In Europe, progress has been hindered somewhat by governmental difficulties thrown in the way of those who seek preferment. Many young men are deterred from entering Homœopathic ranks, or often from acknowledging their allegiance. Nevertheless Homœopathy has a strong following in every Continental country, and is quietly preparing for greater extension in the near future.

In our own land, with its 20 colleges having 10,000 alumni and property valued at nearly $2,000,000 (not including State Institutions); with its 30 State and innumerable local societies; with its 97 hospitals and 56 dispensaries; with its 35 journals, publishing annually 17,000 pages of scholarly literature; and with its 14,000 practitioners, Homœopathy is a mighty witness to the genius of Hahnemann.

"Men and brethren," what glorious memories and priceless blessings are associated with the name and achievements of this great discoverer in medical science-this saviour of lives. His system for ascertaining the virtue of medicine after the lapse of a century has answered all the demands of science. His followers have built hospitals and colleges, and are numbered by thousands and tens of thousands. Have we done all that is required of us to perpetuate the name and commemorate the achievements of our illustrious leader? Have all means been exhausted whereby a gratified people should discharge their debt of gratitude and place that name where it belongs-among earth's immortals, to be known and honored of all men of science and letters? Certainly not.

The American Institute by its duly constituted committee is preparing to erect in the National Capital, a fitting memorial in granite and bronze to that illustrious name; a work which will be carried to completion, and in which all who bear that name as followers should have a share.

LET US "HIGHLY RESOLVE" THAT BY OUR TRIBUTES THERE SHALL RISE, AS THE CROWNING EXPRESSION OF OUR GRATITUDE, A MEMORIAL OF SUCH GRANDEUR THAT HIS NAME AND WORK SHALL REMAIN THE HERITAGE OF THE AGES.

THIRD DAY-MORNING SESSION.

JUNE 16, 1894.

On re-assembling, at nine o'clock, the Institute received the applications of forty-three new members, which were ordered posted. The report of the Auditing Committee was called for, but not presented, owing to the absence of the members of that committee.

THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LIFE INSURANCE was called and presented as follows by Dr. A. C. Cowperthwaite, of Chicago, chairman of the committee. It was accepted and referred to the Committee of Publication. Following is the report:

To the Officers and Members of the American Institute of Homeopathy:

Your Committee on Life Insurance Examiners would respectfully report that during the past year no matters connected with the work of the committee have been brought to their attention that has required their action. Some statistics have been secured by one member of the committee that may prove of interest, and which we include in this report. The names of the several life insurance companies referred to are withheld by request. The report covers a period of two years, from January 1892, to January, 1894. One company reports:

Total business of the three companies, $2,776,650.00.

Total Allopathic,

$2,063,250.00

Total Homoeopathic,

713,400.00

Percentage:

The Homœopaths have furnished 23 per cent. of the total insurance, whereas their proportion would be about 12 per cent.-that is, one-eighth of the physicians have furnished about one-fourth of the insurance. In all companies we furnish an excess both in applications and in size of the policy.

Your committee find that the Homoeopathic physicians who are appointed as examiners are usually those living in the smaller towns, and that Homœopathic physicians are seldom appointed in the larger cities. We propose, as far as possible, to investigate this branch of the subject during the coming year.

Respectfully submitted,

A. C. CowPERTHWAITE,

Chairman.

Dr. Fisher moved that the report be printed under the direction of the General Secretary and sent to the proper officers of the life insurance companies. So ordered.

The report of the Committee on Medical Education was called for. Dr. Higbee stated that the report of the chairman had just come to his hands and that he is not yet ready to present it. On motion, it was deferred.

THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL LEGISLATION

was also called for. Dr. Higbee responded for its chairman, Dr. F. H. Orme, who was not present, stating that these papers also had but just come to his hands and that he was unprepared to present them, not knowing their contents. The chairman's report, was, therefore, deferred for the present.

Dr. I. T. Talbot, of the Committee on Legislation, presented the following:

MEDICAL LEGISLATION IN MASSACHUSETTS.

M.D., BOSTON.

BY I. T. TALBOT,

When the Massachusetts Medical Society was chartered in 1781 its membership was made to rest on two conditions-education and character. Freedom of medical opinion was guaranteed to its members by a clause imposing a fine of £100-$500-on any officer who should prevent any physician from becoming a member on account of difference of medical opinion or practice. The society prospered. It embraced the physicians in good standing and became the medical authority in the State. Any legislation which the society wished was readily granted. About 1850, some of the members having adopted Homœopathic belief and practice, the bitter prejudice so often engendered on this subject was directed towards this class of physicians, and in 1872 it culminated in the expulsion of its Homœopathic members in direct violation of its charter. This act aroused the attention of the people to its injustice and illegality, and though the courts never decided upon the latter point the greater court of the public unhesitatingly decided on the former. From that time the society lost its former position of respect and found it impossible to control any legislation whatever. The public became suspicious of any act which the society even favored. To secure any medical legislation it was necessary that the society should remain inactive or carefully conceal its wishes. The veriest quack and charlatan had but to refer to the past action and to raise the cry of injustice and medical intolerance to defeat any act aimed at them.

Massachusetts became the free field and camping-ground for all charlatans and irregulars driven from other States. It was only in the State legislature of the present year that any act regulating medical practice in the slightest degree was passed, and that with difficulty, the Massachusetts Medical Society, as such, having nothing to do with it. A copy of this act accompanies this paper, and though it is very faulty, it is founded upon, and in a measure embraces, the idea which I had the honor to present to this body four years ago, and which then received your favorable consideration.

This bill, now the law of the State, does not prevent any kind of