their different capacities. The health officers in these counties are reported as earnest workers and as having from fair to very good success in collecting vital and mortuary statistics. I have added two societies to this class this year, Jackson and Walker, all the societies of this class have shown continued growth and prosperity.

The following fourteen societies I have placed in class II., viz: Blount, Cleburne, Colbert, DeKalb, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph and Winston. Eleven of these old quarterly meetings, viz:-Blount, Cleburne, DeKalb, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Marion, Marshall, Pickens and Randolph, with an average attendance of 44.17 per cent. of their membership. DeKalb is reported as sometimes holding monthly meetings. Two hold monthly meetings, viz: Colbert and Morgan, with an average of 32 per cent. of their membership. One society, Winston, meets semi-annually with an average attendance of 80 per cent. of its membership. The work of the board of censors is reported as fairly well done in these societies. The health officers are mostly reported as earnest workers and their success in collecting vital and mortuary statistics is given as follows:-Blount, not much success; Lawrence, fairly good; Limestone, very good; Marion, poor; Cleburne, moderate; Colbert, poor; DeKalb, good success; Lamar, a new man; Lauderdale, average success; Marshall, fair; Morgan, moderate; Pickens, fairly good; Randolph, mcderately good; Winston, very good. Most of these societies have made substantial improvement this year and several of them are only a little short of the standard set for those of the first class.

Instead of arranging in tabulated form the condition of the societies of each class as I did last year, I have placed all the societ'es in one table, giving, with each society the number of members; the number of non-menbers; the increase or decrease in membership; the number of meetings held; with the average atındance; the health officers ca'ary; the number of examinations held for license to practice medicine; the number of certificates granted; and the number refused; and the number of illegal doctors. Following is the table:

SUMMARY.

We have as a total number of members in the thirty three coun

ties composing the northern division.

Total number of non-members..

otal number of legal physicians.

Total number of illegal physicians.

Increase in number of members over last year___
Lecrease in number of non-members from last year.
Decrease in total number of legal physicians_
Lecrease in illegals_-_-

Total number of examinations for license to practice.
Total number of certificates granted__-
Total number of certificates refused.
Percentage of refusals___.

821

284

__1005

28

70

45

22

3

54

44

10

18.52

Very much improvement has been made along all lines in most all the societies of the division during the past two years. Nearly all the societies report papers read and discussed and cases reported. In a few of the counties meetings have been held and the public invited to attend, where programs have been carried out interesting to both the profession and the laity. I would especially mention a tuberculosis conference held under the auspices of the Shelby county society. I would recommend the holding of these meetings at least once a year in each county. They tend to disabuse the public mind of that erroneous idea that our organization is a trust, and to educate the people along the lines of sanitation and hygiene. The report of this year shows considerable improvement in the collection of vital and mortuary statistics. Each society should elect its best and most enthusiastic worker as health officer. The doctors of the State should also work for the election of men for the legislature, who will favor the enactment of a law providing for the payment of adequate salaries to our health officers.

I desire now to make a recommendation, which, if adopted and carried out and desired results accomplished, will, I believe, rebound greatly to the honor of our Association, and to the good of the people of Alabama. It is, that this Association, at its present meeting appoint a committee to plan for, and work for, the establishment, under the auspices of the Association of a pathological laboratory. I suggest that this committee be given authority to have drawn up and introduce in the next legislature, a bill providing for the appropriation of sufficient funds for the establishment and mainten

ance of the laboratory and also for its management; and that the committee be instructed to use all possible efforts for the passage of the bill.

Dr. Bell was followed by the Junior Vice-President Dr. Louis William Johnston, who submitted the following report from the Southern Division:

REPORT OF THE JUNIOR VICE-PRESIDENT.

LOUIS WILLIAM JOHNSTON, TUSKEGEE.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama:

Let me express to you my appreciation of the kindness by which I am permitted to present my report as Junior Vice-President of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. I was not present at the election, so I now take this opportunity of thanking you for the distinguished honor conferred, and assure you I have tried to discharge the duty to the best of my ability.

Finding some of the societies of the Southern division apathetic and inattentive to their Constitutional obligations, I beg pardon for making a few remarks on medical organization and why every physician should become a member. We should have the organization because "in unity there is strength." We need this strength in the regulation of laws which govern the practice of medicine. We need it for the protection of the profession in keeping out of the field irregulars and incompetents. There is much needed legislation to regulate the traffic in Patent Medicines. Were the medical profession thoroughly organized, what a tremendous influence it would wield in demanding this legislation and in directing it both to the good of the profession and the public generally. Adulterated foods would claim its attention. The sanitary condition of streets, public halls, prisons, and common carriers would be better looked after. The profession should organize to put down the quack and charlatan and the tendency to quackery, charlatanism and questionable advertising on the part of the profession. It should organize for mutual benefit, to stimulate the intellect by frequent intercourse, to exchange ideas and help each other. No member can know all that there is to be known on any one subject, therefore, by relating his own experience and discussing freely the papers, will not only increase his own knowledge but will be helpful to

others. To foster fraternal relations among the physicians of the State, and thus develop a spirit of loyalty to pure and exalted prin ciples of professional ethics is one of the important objects of organization. It is the duty of every physician in the State to join the organization in order to make it strong not only for the good of the individual, but for the public good as well. It is said that we have one of the best organizations in the United States and I hope you will guard her interests. There are memories and sentiments that cluster arcund this Association that are very dear to those who have labored many years for its welfare. It will be well to think soberly and wisely and act with all prudence in making radical changes in the Constitution, in order that we may prepare to meet the issues that may arise at the next legislature. Then the views of the busy city physician may not coincide with his brother country physician. Under these circumstances we must act wisely and well and do all in our power to hold the organization together. So I beg you to be careful how you deal with the proposed new constitution.

There is another thing I would like to call your attention to, which will be found in Section 12, Article 3 of the new constitution. Refusal or neglect on the part of an officer or counsellor of the Association, or an officer of a county society, to respond to a communication addressed to him by an officer of the Association. I Bee

that this complaint has been made by the cfficers each year and from experience I know it is difficult to hear from some of the 10cieties. The duty of the Vice-Presidents is to inform themselves by correspondence, by inquiry, and if practicable, by personal visits, as to the efficiency of organization of the county societies under their respective jurisdiction and as to the character of the work done by said societies, especially the frequency with which meetings are held, whether or not papers upon medical subjects are read and discussed and cases reported at meetings and also as to the promptness with which the board cf Censors, the board of Examiners, the committee of public health and the county and municipal health officers discharge their duties.

I beg leave to submit the reports from each county as received. AUTAUGA COUNTY.-Autauga County Medical Society has nine members. Three physicians in the county are not members. The society meets annually with average attendance of six. The jail and poorhouse are in a very good condition. The health officer does not make much effort in collecting vital and mortuary statistics. A few sporadic cases of scarlatina during the year. The Board of Health is active in discharging some duties, in others they are not. Delegates are sent regularly to the Association.