efforts and endeavor to make each succeeding year outrival the preceding in interest and usefulness, not only to this body, but to the entire profession. A higher plane of merit can be established. The intelligence, respectability and wealth of our CLIENTELE is beyond question. The allopaths admit this to be true, and assign many reasons for it, not admitting that a low mortality report is the principal one, but claiming it is because we give little or no medicine. They are commencing to go even farther in this respect than we. The late Dr. Austin Flint said: "Fame would attend that author who would write a work on non-medicinal treatment of disease." A Canadian author has recently said he believed "that the erection and endowment of a thoroughly equipped hospital where medical treatment should never be used, unless an occasional anæsthetic, would be of the greatest possible benefit to mankind and to the science of medicine." Dr. Reeve has but little confidence in figures when applied to vital statistics. This prestige can not secure much needed ends, neither can merit alone do it. The people help those who help themselves. The professional rights properly belonging to us, both in State and National affairs, are admitted by most of our lawmakers, but there is an undercurrent against us. "Possession is nine points in law." These places can only be attained and maintained by thorough and efficient organization. When legislation against us is slyly attempted, after the best of promises to the contrary from the other side, as has recently been done, then we must be prepared to meet the opposition. Personal appeals and the appointment of committees are all right and good, but the support and aid of the entire profession at large has a great bearing; each one has an influence, be it great or small.

The strength of our cause is vitally related to the thoroughness and efficiency of local organizations of every kind-colleges, hospitals, dispensaries, societies, etc. The ten societies of our State have an influence. They should serve as auxiliaries to the State societies, as the State societies do to the American Institute. The papers presented

last year from three of these organizations were well received. and I am glad to see that this has been continued. The younger physicians are too apt to think their services are not needed, and if offered will not be acceptable. To prove this a falacy, read the proceedings of the first sessions of this society, and you will see that there was ability and earnestness manifested by both young and old at their meetings. Many of the valuable papers contained in their records were written by men we know to-day as eminent writers and teachers. Such was our Wilson, Beckwith, Sanders, Buck and others, whose works live after them. They, too, were then young, and this was only the beginning of what we now so much prize. The time is not far distant when the labors of all these veterans must end. Who but this generation is to take their places? Every individual member on entering the profession should resolve to do something to enhance its interest and add to its general stock of knowledge. Not practice it merely for a living; think not alone of the paltry dollar. We owe a debt money can not pay. There is a daily opportunity to cancel it in the proper way, if only desired. The older writers and teachers have labored for us, and something should be given in return. If we have been indifferent in this line of duty, let us arouse from lethargy and develop latent powers. At these meetings all can not, and should not, perform the same work. If we can not talk in discussion, we can certainly report something of interest in writing-give experience, it matters not so much whether it be success or failure. We often learn most from our failures. Much valuable knowledge is locked up in the mental storehouse of shrewd practitioners, which dies with them. Important discoveries are sometimes made several times by different individuals before they become common knowledge. These gatherings are not of value alone for the intellectual benefit derived, but they cultivate a social feeling that is necessary and should be cared for.

There are some matters connected with our society's work and organizations to which I invite your attention.

Among the first things to be considered is the increase of our active membership. Could we not with advantage reduce our initiation fee to a minimum sum, or else abolish it altogether? The certificate of membership is the only expense to the society. We have enrolled about two hundred active members; yet, with the number of physicians in the State, there ought to be more than twice as many. The desire is to secure the membership of all reputable homeopathic M. D.'s in our State, and especially those just entering practice. If the young physician does not begin this line of duty early in practice, he is not likely to commence it at all. Let us not place a barrier in his way. The three dollars initiation fee, with the two dollars annual dues, operates to keep out many of the younger members, and really lessens the society's income. Let the initiation fee be nothing, or one dollar at most, and the two dollars annual dues be payable invariably in advance, not only by new members, but by all active members. All similar bodies do this, and why not ours? Then there will be money to pay cash for publishing the transactions, and the tardiness in their appearance will not be so common. The committee on publication will not be continually annoyed by the printer and other creditors. No member should be entitled to a copy of the transactions until he has paid for it. Under the present plan all receive them, and then get their dues if

you can.

From this time forward let the standing resolution be adhered to, "that every member in arrears for three years or more be dropped from the list of members," and let it be so amended that no member shall receive the transactions who is at all in arrears. Then those who do nothing will not be an expense to us. There is a provision that all members dropped from the list can be restored by paying arrearages to date of restoration. That more members may take a part in our deliberations, let a by-law be created that no member shall serve on more than one bureau, registration and legislation excepted. Then we can in addition have it always

understood that volunteer papers are welcome under the various bureaus considered. Let the resolution adopted two years ago be made a standing resolution, that papers presented to the society shall be read by synopsis, or in full, not to exceed ten minutes, except the chairman, which shall not exceed fifteen minutes. Long text book essays are of little benefit. We want time for the discussions. The interesting and profitable part of our proceedings is this interchange of ideas. Let the time for discussion be limited to five or ten minutes for each speaker, and no member speak more than twice on the same paper. Much is often lost by allowing papers to be presented and placed on file without a word of comment. Custom, since the organization of this society, has changed the order of business from that adopted and now published in our by-laws. Let this be made to accord to present usage.

Fellow members, I return hearty acknowledgment for the honor conferred in selecting me to preside over your deliberations. Many of you know I have for several years taken much pride in the life of this society. I feel impressed with the responsibility of the present position, but with your aid and kind indulgence we will hope to succeed in making these sessions both pleasant and profitable. Thanking you for your attention, I now declare the twentysecond annual session of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Ohio ready for business.