variety, were shown to consist of such innocent and innocuous natural products as the opium alkaloids, cocaine, strychnine, acetanilid, the bromides, mercuric salts, and similar substances. Almost all the liquids were found to contain from 5 to 50 per cent. alcohol. The eloquence of some prominent citizens following a dull dose of a much-advertised nerve tonic, as testified to by themselves in heavy type, with picture, is not surprising when the amount of alcohol involved is considered. The heads of temperance organizations, the eminent divines, and officers of religious societies who testify to the merits of the cure for all the ailments of the human body must be surprised when informed what is the true source of the surprising restoration of energy which always followed a dose of the sovereign remedy.

How much harm is done by this class of remedies is difficult to estimate. Certainly, many cases of drug habit owe their origin to the persistent use of some popular catarrh cure or nerve tonic. The sale of stomach bitters and similar liquid remedies is always greatest in local-option districts.

The crusade against these dangerous or fraudulent articles has been begun by the editor of the periodical referred to above. The duty of the medical profession is plainly to give all aid to the movement. As conservators of the public health we must urge the passage of laws which will require the publication of the quantitative formula on the label of every remedy sold direct to the public.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES particularly should keep in mind the importance of attending this meeting of the Faculty. At the recent annual session a special committee was appointed to draft a new medical-practice act, and if its passage is to be secured at the next session of the legislature it can only be done by the united efforts of members of the profession in support of a measure upon which all are agreed. This committee will report at the semiannual meeting, copies of such report being distributed to members of the House of Delegates prior to that time, and every member of the House should make himself thoroughly familiar with every detail of the proposed act and be prepared for intelligent discussion and definite action upon the subject at that time.

THE MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY wishing to submit papers for the semiannual meeting at Deer Park, September 21 and 22, will kindly communicate with Dr. Jeffries Buck, 1127 North Caroline street, chairman of the committee of arrangements, before August 20. No papers can be received later than that date.

The seventh meeting of the House of Delegates was held in the Hotel Stafford Thursday, April 27, at 9 A. M.

Dr. Earle presided. There were present Drs. A. D. Smith, Brayshaw, Chaney, Norris, F. B. Smith, Williams, Hines, Griffith, J. B. Seth, Jones, J. D. Blake, Neff, Harlan, O'Donovan, Ruhräh, T. A. Ashby, Winslow, Reik, Birnie, Scott, D. C. R. Miller, and W. Brinton.

The minutes were read and approved.

The treasurer's report was read by Dr. Ashby. It was approved and referred to the Council.

Dr. B. W. Goldsborough and Dr. Arthur Hebb were nominated for the position of medical examiners.

The following officers were elected:

President-Dr. Samuel T. Earle, Jr.

Vice-Presidents-Drs. C. O'Donovan, city; T. M. Chaney, Chaney, Calvert county; Joseph B Seth, St. Michaels, Talbot county.

Secretary and Treasurer-Dr. John Ruhräh.

Board of Trustees-Dr. Wilmer Brinton.

Councilors, Western Shore-Drs. J. W. Leitch, Huntingtown; T. H. Brayshaw, Glen Burnie; Arthur Williams, Elkridge; W. P. Miller, Hagerstown. Councilors, Eastern Shore-Drs. Paul Jones, Snow Hill, and W. F. Hines, Chestertown.

Councilors, City-Drs. T. A. Ashby, R. W. Johnson, Hiram Woods, Wm. H. Welch, T. S. Latimer.

Committee on Scientific Work and Arrangements-Drs. J. Buck, Arthur P. Herring, and John Ruhräh.

Committee on Public Policy and Legislation-Drs. Wm. H. Welch, J. W. Chambers, J. D. Blake, Samuel T. Earle, Jr., and John Ruhräh.

Library Committee-Drs. G. J. Preston, H. B. Jacobs, Stewart Paton, J. W. Williams, and J. N. H. Rowland.

Memoir Committee-Drs. J. T. Smith, F. D. Sanger, H. H. Young, Philip Briscoe, and E. L. Whitney.

Committee on Fund for Relief of Widows and Orphans of Deceased Members-Drs. E. F. Cordell, J. W. Chambers, R. W. Johnson, D. W. Cathell, and T. S. Cullen.

Auxiliary Congressional and Legislative Committee of the American Medical Association-Dr. John S. Fulton.

Delegates to the American Medical Association-Dr. Randolph Winslow, two years; Dr. R. P. Smith, one year. Alternates-Drs. I. J. McCurdy, Frederick, and Horace Simmons, city.

Committee on New Medical Law-Drs. J. McP. Scott, B. W. Goldsborough, W. H. Welch, R. W. Johnson, C. Birnie, C. F. Bevan, Samuel T. Earle, Jr., John S. Fulton, and W. F. Hines.

Committee on Midwifery Law-Drs. Guy Steele, J. W. Williams, J. S. Fulton, Sydney A. Stokes, G. W. Dobbin, and W. Brinton.

Members of State Board of Examiners-Drs. B. W. Goldsborough and W. M. Dabney.

On motion of Dr. Johnson a unanimous vote of thanks was given Dr. Ashby for his long service as treasurer.

Dr. Fulton moved that the following telegram be sent to Mrs. Osler, Dr. Osler's mother:

"The greetings of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland to Mrs. Osler, asking her to share their sentiments in taking leave of William Osler, congratulating Mrs. Osler first on the distinguished career of her son, but most on the innate qualities which have endeared him to his associates in Maryland."

This was unanimously carried.

The motion to amend Chapter VII of the By-Laws by addition of Section 6 was then considered. After discussion by Drs. C. Birnie, Scott, Ashby, Blake, Gardner, Todd, Chaney, and F. B. Smith, Dr. Blake moved that it be amended by changing the third word "may" to "shall." This amendment was accepted by Dr. Reik, and the following was carried unanimously:

To amend Chapter VII of the By-Laws by the addition of Section 6 as follows:

SEC. 6. The Council shall, upon request and in compliance with the conditions hereinafter named, assume the defense of suits for alleged malpractice brought against members of the Faculty.

Conditions: a. Any member desiring to avail himself of the provisions of this section shall, as soon as possible after any demand has been made upon him or any suit instituted against him, present to the Council his request for defense and together therewith a full and complete history of the case, the services rendered, and his further connection with or relationship to the plaintiff. Should the Council conclude that his claim for defense is valid, he shall sign a contract renouncing his own and vesting in the Council sole authority to conduct the defense of said suit, and agreeing to make no compromise or settlement of the case without the consent of the Council given in writing and signed by its proper officers.

b. The Council shall thereupon contract with said applicant to take full charge of said suit, to furnish all necessary legal services, to furnish all medical-expert services, and pay all necessary expenses of the accused; provided that the Council shall not obligate the Faculty to the payment of any damages awarded by decree of court or upon compromise.

c. The Council shall not undertake the defense of any suit based upon an act committed prior to May 1, 1905, nor before the date of qualification of the accused as a member of this Faculty. Furthermore, no member shall be entitled to the privileges of defense by the Council whose dues to the Faculty are not paid in advance, as elsewhere provided in the Constitution and By-Laws.

d. Such medico-legal defense as is herein contemplated refers only to suits for alleged malpractice, and is in no sense meant to cover criminal prosecutions nor suits for assault, criminal abortion, feticide, homicide, or other criminal act.

e. The Council shall have authority to appoint an attorney-at-law for the term of one year to represent the Faculty in all suits for malpractice and similar threats against its members, and to determine his compensation.

The amplified offer of the MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL was read, and, on motion of Dr. Blake, seconded by Dr. Winslow, was unanimously carried: "To the Council of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland:

"The Medical Journal Co. agrees to publish in the regular issues of the

MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL the proceedings, papers, announcements, news items, and other relevant matter furnished by the Faculty as may be decided upon by a joint editorial or publishing committee consisting of the editor of the JOURNAL and the appointees of the Faculty.

"It is further agreed on the part of the Medical Journal Co. to mail regularly each month a copy of the MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL, postpaid, to each member of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty.

"The Medical Journal Co. also agrees to contribute to the library funds of the Faculty the sum of $400 annually in monthly or quarterly payments, as may be designated by the Faculty.

"The editor of the JOURNAL agrees to contribute from the book and exchange lists from time to time such books, pamphlets, periodicals, and other printed matter as may prove profitable to the purposes of the library.

"In addition to the foregoing, 10 copies of the MARYLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL will be sent monthly, as issued, to the Faculty rooms for the library files. "On the part of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty it is agreed to appoint and maintain an associate editor or committee to co-ordinate with the editorial and business management of the JOURNAL in determining upon matter for publication and in so adapting the policy of the JOURNAL as to subserve the highest interests of the Medical Faculty.

"The Faculty agrees further to submit all matters for publication in typewritten form and at such times as will regularly meet publication dates to be fixed upon hereafter.

"In consideration of the services to be given by the JOURNAL the Faculty agrees to pay from its funds the subscription rate of 50 cents a year for each member of the Society in annual or quarterly amounts.

"It is understood that present subscription accounts with the JOURNAL by members of the Society will be due and collectible till this agreement becomes operative.

"This agreement will take effect July 1, 1905, and continue till July 1, 1906, to correspond with the fiscal year, and is subject to renewal as may be agreed to hereafter."

Drs. Brush, Blake, and Winslow agreed to turn over to the Faculty their share of stock.

The House of Delegates adjourned.

MRS. OSLER'S REPLY

TO THE TELEGRAM OF CONGRATULATION SENT APRIL 27.*

To S. J. Earle, Esq.:

83 Wellesly Street, Toronto.

Dear Sir-Mrs. Osler, who is unable from her great age to write, asked me to express her heartfelt thanks to you for the very kind telegram of greeting sent through you from the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, and to say that the receipt of the message gave her the greatest pleasure, more especially in the expression of affection and appreciation called forth by the personal qualities of her son, since these are, in her eyes, more precious than all his honors.

She knows that it must be hard for him to sever his connection with such kind confrères, and she is sure that the friendships he has made during his residence in the States will be among his most cherished memories. I am, sir, yours sincerely,

*See page 320.

JEANETTE OSLER.

Mr. President and Members of the House of Delegates:

There having been no session of the State legislature since the last annual meeting of the Faculty, nothing has arisen which has required consideration on the part of the committee on legislation during this period. WM. H. WELCH, For the Committee on Legislation.

April 25, 1905.

REPORT OF THE FUND FOR THE RELIEF OF THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF DECEASED MEMBERS.

We are glad to be able to report that this beneficent charity-the only doctors' charity among us-founded by the Faculty two years ago, has continued to increase during the past 12 months not only by contributions from members, but also by gifts from laymen. We again commend it to your favor and interest, asking that you will become contributors to it, now or by will, and also interest your wealthy patients in it. As a subscriber well said, "it is wise to have a good amount laid aside for contingencies. Sometimes these arise during the summer when few of the members are at home. It is most satisfactory to be able to raise the necessary amount promptly." Bsides the gifts already announced in our last annual report, we have received the following: