health officer more power than he ought to have, as the president alleges there are, then, it becomes your duty to follow the president's advice and expunge such words and clauses from the new constitution, which will soon be submitted to you for such action as you may see fit to take thereon.

In the face of the constitutional provisions pointed out, both in the old and the new constitution-provisions that make the floor of this Association the forum for the discussion of all questions that can affect the organization or welfare of the Association, and that make this body the ultimate and final arbiter of every power that may be exercised by any of its officials, it appears remarkable indeed that the president should. pronounce that our organization is "at best undemocratic, and includes much that is foreign to the spirit of republicanism."

For thirty-three years the board of censors has brought its annual reports before this Association and asked for their careful and thoughtful consideration, knowing that every recommendation they contained depended absolutely for final validity upon the approval of this body. If the board of censors has a complaint to make it is that many of the members of the Association have failed to remain and listen to these reports with the interest they should have taken in matters upon which they must pass final judgment. After spending much time, thought, and labor in preparing these reports the members of the Board naturally feel a pride in seeing them receive the attention they ought to receive, dealing as they do with the organization, policies, and work of the Association.

The president goes further and discusses the evils of “ring rule" and "its usual accompaniment, the much maligned boss," in such way as to fully justify the inference that his remarks are intended to apply to the administration of the affairs of this Association. The Board begs very respectfully, but very positively, to resent and repudiate the application of any such terms to its work.

For thirty-two years the annual reports of the board of censors have been brought before this Association and acted upon, containing as they did numerthe organization

ous

recommendations bearing upon

and policy of the Association. The board points with pardonable pride to the fact that these recommendations have received the almost unanimous endorsement of this body, the instances being very few indeed-three or less-in which such endorsement was not given.

The instances are very numerous, however, in which recommendations made by the successive presidents of the Association have failed of such endorsement.

The floor of this Association always stands open to every delegate or counsellor to offer such amendments to the constitution, or such ordinances as he deems wise and expedient. If, "ring rule" has existed it was certainly in the power of the Association to overthrow it at any meeting, and if the Association did not exercise such power, then who is to blame?

In answer to the President's suggestion that other members of the board of censors than the state health officer should occupy the chairmanship of the board when acting in its three capacities the board submits the following:

Suppose some member of the board of censors other than the state health officer were its chairman and a call from several of the county societies in the State were received requesting him to visit their respective societies for the purpose of helping to adjust some dispute as to organization or policy? Inasmuch as all members of the board, except the state health officer. are active practitioners, how could the supposed chairman afford to neglect his professional work for the purpose of responding to such calls? Manifestly, he could not afford such a sacrifice of time.

Suppose some member of the board of examiners other than the state health officer were its chairman he would find himself under the necessity of handling every year from one hundred and fifty to two hundred sets of examintion papers, with all the correspondence, both in and out of the State, that such position would entail; and of having these papers bound, marked, and filed. Could a member of the Board who is actively engaged in practice afford the time necessary to do all this work?

Suppose some member of the committee of public health other than the state health officer were its chairman, how could public health work be carried on? However great the emergency, the state health officer would be under the necessity of obtaining instruction from the chairman of the committee before he could proceed, and as these two officers might, and often would, reside far apart much delay and confusion would necessarily result. Indeed, it would be an endless trouble for the executive officer to consult the chairman and find out what he must do; if he did not consult him, but acted on his own responsibility, then the situation would be practically what it is now, therefore nothing would be gained by the adoption of the

plan proposed by the President. On the contrary, much would be lost in the promptness and vigor with which our public health system may be enforced. Evidently, this suggestion of the President is from many points of view impracticable. Were the Association in possession of an appropriation snfficient to admit of providing salaries for separate chairmen of the board in its three capacities, so as to justify them in neglecting other work in order to attend to official duties, then this recommendation of the President might from some points of view be entitled to serious consideration, but under existing circumstances the board has no hesitation in expressing the opinion that it should not receive the endorsement of the Association.

One other consideration and this review of the President's Message will be finished.

When the Association is in session-actually present in propria persona-still, under our existing constitution the board of censors occupies the position of an adviser to the President, and is charged with the duty of reviewing all of his recommendations, yet our present presiding officer seems intolerant of the board occupying this relation, or any other advisory relation to the President of the Association during the interval between two annual sessions, the very time at which help and advice might be most needed. The president of the United States has his cabinet; the governor of a state, his staff, civil and military; the mayor of a city, his council; the president of a railroad, of a bank, of a corporation of any kind, his directors, all intended to aid the respective chiefs in administering the trusts confided to them, and to inspire confidence on the part of citizens, stockholders,

etc.

If our pending Constitution should contain no provision pointing out a "cabinet" for our president during the interval of two annual sessions, then, will he occupy the unique position of being the solitary president in this or any other country without a Constitutional adviser; then will the "oligarchy" against which the President declaims have been transformed into a monarchy of the purest and most absolute kind.

In submitting the views presented the board has done so in the utmost frankness, and with a sincere desire to see the interests of this Association promoted and its usefulnes to the profession and people of Alabama perpetuated and magnified.

The Reports of the Vice-Presidents.

The reports of the Vice-Presidents indicate that they have done faithful work for the past year, and demonstrate the wisdom of assigning to these officers the duties with which they are charged. They have brought us the results of their work in good form and are entitled to the cordial thanks of the Association. If similar work be done in the future the interests of medical organization throughout the State will certainly be promoted thereby.

The board recommends that the accounts for expenses incurred by these officers be referred to the auditing committee, and if correct that the treasurer be authorized to pay the same.

Report of the Secretary and Book of the Rolls.

The report of the Secretary covers the work of his office for the year and is entitled to the approval of this Association. Report of the Committee on Publication.

The report is in order and, therefore, is entitled to approval.

Report of the Treasurer and Book of Accounts.

The board finds the accounts of the treasurer correct and his books in order.

The board recommends that the Peoples Bank, of Greensboro, be made a bank of deposit for funds of the Association.

Revision of the Minutes of 1905.

After careful reading no typographical errors of importance appear in the minutes of the annual session of the Association for 1905.

The Accounts of the State Health Officer.

The board reports after examination of these accounts that they are found correct, and therefore are entitled to approval.

The Roll of Correspondents.

The board recommends that the name of Dr. J. J. Harlan, be placed on the roll of correspondents, Dr. Harlan having

long been a counsellor of this Association, but having recently removed to Texas.

Delinquent County Societies.

At the last meeting of the Association three county societies only were totally delinquent, namely, Clay, Greene, and Wilcox. Some, if not all, of these societies have completely redeemed themselves at this meeting of the Association, and it is to be hoped that hereafter they will comply with all of their constitutional obligations.

Needed Legislation.

The legislation most urgently needed is a law providing adequate remuneration for county and municipal health officers, a need which has long existed and to obtain which strenuous efforts have been made.

The board recommends that it be authorized to continue these efforts at the next meeting of the legislature.

Of course the need for a law of compulsory vaccination still exists, but inasmuch as several ineffectual efforts have been made to secure such a law, the board scarcely deems it worth while to recommend that another effort be made, unless conditions arise that seem to materially increase the prospects of

success.

Resolutions.

The preamble and resolutions introduced by Dr. H. S. Ward, in behalf of the Jefferson County Medical Society (see page 50), have received the consideration of the board.

Whilst endorsing fully the sentiments contained in the preamble and resolutions the board is of the opinion that they should be so constructed as to apply to all religious denominations and all religious papers. With this view, the board of fers a substitute for the original preamble and resolutions which embodies the same sentiments as the latter, but makes them general in application.

Whereas, the insertion in religious papers of advertisements of patent and proprietary medicines, of secret nostrums and fraudulent devices tends to create the impression that such medicines, nostums, and devices are endorsed, either actively or passively, by