S. V. Kibbe, West Hartford. T. F. O'Brien, Hartford. P. A. Park, Bristol. N. Vershbow, Hartford. MIDDLESEX COUNTY H. M. Chandler, Middletown. R. R. Felt, Middletown. NEW HAVEN COUNTY I. S. Alderman, New Haven. F. N. Otis, Meriden. A. J. St. Lawrence, New Haven. B. C. Sword, New Haven. M. J. Tanner, New Haven. A. A. Tower, Meriden. J. Wertheimer, Waterbury. M. C. Winternitz, New Haven. NEW LONDON COUNTY H. F. Lena, New London. W. E. McGinley, New London. A. H. Meyers, Mystic. T. J. Murray, New London. C. E. Pendleton, Colchester. .T. Soltz, New London. D. Sussler, Taftville. TOLLAND COUNTY E. H. Metcalf, Rockville. WINDHAM COUNTY.. H. C. Dixon, Danielson. J. F. McIntosh, Putnam. The following table shows the present membership and the changes in membership which have taken place in the past year: The Secretary desires to express his appreciation of the assistance rendered him throughout the year by Dr. John E. Lane, the preceding Secretary of the Society. Dr. Lane's comprehensive knowledge has always been on call, and his thoughtfulness has frequently given suggestions, which have made possible the functioning of the present incumbent. From the Officers and Members, the Secretary bespeaks a tolerant forbearance and a charitable mind for his multitudinous shortcomings; familiarity with the duties, gained by experience, and discard of the paving-stones of procrastination shall yield a richer fruit of service. CHARLES W. COMFORT, JR., Secretary Voted, to accept the report and place it on file. REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL. DR. WILLIAM H. CARMALT, New Haven. Mr. President and Members of the House of Delegates: The first meeting of the Council for organization for the current year was held on May 20th, 1920, at the Lawn Club in New Haven, immediately after the adjournment of the scientific session. In the absence of the Secretary Dr. Steiner acted. Dr. W. H. Carmalt was elected Chairman. Dr. Lane was elected Chairman of the Committee on Publication. On account of the limited attendance it was decided to defer further action: the meeting adjourned subject to the call of the Chairman. The next meeting was held on August 2d, 1920, at the Graduates' Club in New Haven. All the members were present except Dr. Overlock, Windham Co., who was compelled to attend a meeting of the Board of Medical Examiners, and Dr. Rockwell of Tolland Co. Dr. Lane, former Secretary and Delegate to the American Medical Association, and Dr. D. Chester Brown, Chairman of the Committee on Requirements for the Practice of Medicine, were present by request. To complete the organization of the Council, Dr. Steiner and Dr. Rockwell were appointed Auditors and the same gentlemen with the Treasurer were appointed to the Committee on Permanent Funds. The Secretary's salary was voted at $300 to include the editing of the Transactions, and he was authorized to employ additional stenographic assistance, if necessary. At the request of Dr. Brown the consideration of the Medical Practice Act was taken up, and without going into the detailed and unnecessary conversations held in conjunction with the above mentioned Committee on Requirements for the Practice of Medicine, and the standing committee of the State Society on Public Policy and Legislation, at this and subsequent meetings held on November 3d and November 11th, 1920, and on March 11th, 1921, the following brief digest of the action is submitted. A fuller report will be presented by Dr. Brown. It must be understood, at the beginning, that the whole matter was initiated at the request of a Legislative Commission, appointed by Governor Holcomb, for the consideration of a Civil Code; to, if possible, consolidate and simplify many and various, more or less allied, public administrative organizations, among them being the practice of medicine in its diverse, and, one may say, its illimitable phases. This Civil Code Commission requested the Chairman of the Council and Dr. Brown to formulate a bill representing the views of the Connecticut State Medical Society in the matter of such a consolidation with the intention, as was clearly understood at the time, that the Commission should consider it in conjunction with and after consultation with other organizations having authority to practice some phase of the art of healing the sick. As a result of these conferences, it was determined in the first place not to attempt to draft a medical practice act per se, but to draw up a series of recommendations to the Commission based upon benefits to the Health of the Public; to be more definitely formulated after consultation, as above stated, with other similar organizations of assumed or asserted welfare objects, whether individual or general; to be finally promulgated through the State Board of Health. In order that it should not appear that this was an edict of the Connecticut State Medical Society, as against irregular practitioners, it was decided that no member or officer of the Society should appear before the Committee of the Legislature, when the bill was considered. Instead of accepting the understanding of the joint committees above mentioned, that the communication was addressed to the Commission for its consideration only, the Commission forwarded it undigested, in toto, to the Legislature in session, introduced it, and published it as House Bill No. 860. It was at once understood by the public as emanating from the Connecticut State Medical Society, arrogating to itself all the privileges of practicing the Healing Art and that it repealed the functions of dentists and nurses as well as the claims of several irregulars, already recognized by law. The Civil Code Commission, however, quickly realizing its error, had the bill withdrawn and requested the State Board of Health to prepare a substitute bill, correcting certain confessedly objectionable features. It proposed to create an educational Board of Regents, similar to that in the State of New York, and had it introduced by the State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Black. But no! the mischief had been done; every cult and ism, psychological or mechanical, from Christian Science to Osteopathy, was up in arms, and at the hearing before the Committee on Public Health and Safety the room was packed with representatives of every form of irregular practice, claiming the right for every free-born American citizen, as well as every newly arrived immigrant (unable to understand our language) to doctor himself as he deemed best, and our sapient Solons apparently agreed, for the bill was overwhelmingly rejected. A somewhat interesting but by no means unusual psychological attitude when medical matters are considered in our legislative halls was brought out. When first introduced, as stated, the bill was considered to be the offspring of the regular profession who are regarded as a hide-bound labor union, opposed to letting any outsider have a chance; hence the bill must be stamped on. When, however, none of the regular profession appeared in opposition to the crowd of cults and isms as in favor of the substitute bill introduced by the State Board of Health, there was nothing in the bill but Dr. Black; and the profession at large did not endorse it. It was therefore no good, and should be, and was, rejected! The observance on the 12th of this month of the National Hospital Day, an anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, |