in the world-struggle for existence will survive, whose units are the healthiest, the wisest, the strongest and the best; and, gentlemen, you are measurably responsible for the result. The medical profession should be the guardians of the public health; for upon its preservation and protection depend the wealth, strength, success and perpetuation of the State and nation. Behold the diminutive race of islanders coping successfully with overwhelming semi-barbarians! It is because of their temperance, abstemiousness, cleanliness and an intelligent use of the life essentials-water, sun and air-that they have the clean, keen intellect and the wonderful powers of endurance. Medical men should be the mentors, too, of the schoolsthose foci whence are disseminated the seeds of infection into thousands of homes. Do you all appreciate your responsibility for this and understand that you alone can advise and direct the formation of measures of protection and the passage of laws for their enforcement? The day is at hand when our lawmakers will be glad to have your advice as to sanitation, now recognized as so fundamentally essential to national prosperity. So mote it be.

Again, I thank you.

In retiring from the Presidency of the State Medical Association of Texas, Dr. Paschal said:

Gentlemen, in retiring from the Presidency of this Association, I extend my sincere thanks to each member of this body for their consideration and courtesies. Any shortcomings or mistakes that I made were not from the heart, but from the head.

I have a gavel that I wish, through you, Mr. President, to offer to this Association. It is of little intrinsic value. It is made of wood taken from trees growing on historic ground. Part of it is from a tree whose boughs sheltered Ben Milam and his noble band of Texas heroes. It is from the place where from November, 1835, until the 4th day of December, 1835, the Texas troops were encamped. They were besieging the Mexicans in San Antonio, who greatly outnumbered them. Orders were given by General Burleson to fall back. Upon hearing this the brave Ben Milam stepped forward and said, "Who will follow old Ben Milam into San Antonio?" Three hundred and one of as brave men as ever lived volunteered. On the 5th of December the assault on San Antonio began. The troops were divided into two columns, one under the immediate command of Ben Milam. They advanced in parallel lines down Acequia and Soledad Streets, only one block separating them. So stubborn was the resistance and so fiercely contested, every foot was gained by hard fighting, and, though only separated by a short block, it was impossible for the

columns to form a union until the 28th of December. Just as victory crowned Ben Milam's heroic deed, he fell dead, shot through the brain. But he still lives in the hearts of every true American, and will never die so long as pen can write or tongue can speak.

The other tree is a large pecan, which in the early days of Texas marked one of the outposts of San Antonio. It was known as the "sentinel tree." In it were stationed sentinels who watched for the enemies of Texas, and helped to make this great inheritance of ours possible. On one of the bands of this gavel is inscribed: "Sum excubitor veritatis, sanitatis, humanitatis." "I am the sentinel of truth, health, humanity." On the other band is inscribed: “As I sheltered sentinels for Teaxs liberty, so will I guard this Association." And now, Mr. President, I place it in your hands, knowing that you will use it justly, and that you may ask the Association to honor me by accepting it and making it the official gavel of this Association. If they will do this, my only stipulation is that it shall be held in custody by each succeeding President, and be handed from President to President, which I hope will be done for hundreds of years to come.

DR. JOHN T. MOORE: I move that this gavel presented by our retiring President, who has so fully carried out the motto inscribed thereon, be accepted by this Association with the heartiest thanks of this body. Further, that we deliver it to his worthy successor, who shall be its custodian, and that we pledge to him the same hearty loyalty that has been given our retiring President; and, further, that Dr. Paschal be asked to give his address for the Proceedings.

Carried.

DR. PASCHAL: Gentlemen, I can only say that I thank you.

DR. F. E. DANIEL, President: In accepting this beautiful, valuable and historical gavel, so touchingly, so beautifully, so gracefully and so forcibly presented, I am strongly impressed with a sense of the great responsibility I am assuming. I accept this gavel with the responsibility that goes with it, and shall wield it to the best of my ability, during the brief term for which I have been elected, in behalf of the best interests of the State Medical Association of Texas.

I shall never pick it up but that there shall arise before my mental vision those scenes which occurred around this tree some forty or fifty years ago. There will ever cluster around it memories of those terrible, bloody days. There is something sacred in it. I will always be reminded of the importance and duty of wielding this gavel impartially, and, with God's help, I will do so.

The inscription upon it will be an additional incentive. It sets forth appropriately and beautifully the name, object and ambition of this Association. It shall be the in hoc signo vinces of our Association. By God's help, under this banner we will march on to new work and to grander victories.

Dr. F. E. Daniel said (introducing Dr. Moore): Dr. J. T. Moore, our retiring Secretary, now becomes Vice-President of your Association. He has been faithful in the many duties of his former office, and, as VicePresident, you may expect him to work with the same zeal and earnestness. (Introducing Dr. Cantrell): Here is a tall sycamore of the profession, whose silvery tongue has ever spoken for the best interests of the profession. He is a worker, and it affords me great pleasure to present him as one of your Vice-Presidents.

(Introducing Dr. Shropshire): Gentlemen, one of the workers of the Association who has contributed in no small degree to the success of this reorganization. I dub him the "Samson" of our body.

(Introducing Dr. Law): Gentlemen, the silvery tongued orator from Belton, whose voice you will hear at our next meeting. selves for a rare treat, for you will get it.

Prepare your

Gentlemen, it

Dr. Law, in answer to the cries of "Speech," said: seems almost superfluous for me to assure you that I appreciate this honor and compliment. I want to assure you that I will do my best, and an angel could do no more.

Dr. F. E. Daniel (introducing Dr. Chase): I want to present to you your Secretary elect. I want to commend him to you as a handsome gentleman. A young man full of promise, of inestimable latent, potential energy. A man of wonderful courage, who will volunteer to take up the pen laid down by the distinguished gentleman on my right (Dr. Moore). He knows not what he is doing, I fear.

Dr. Chase: Mr. President, and gentlemen of the House of Delegates, I wish to thank you for the honor which you have bestowed upon me, and especially for the personal compliment conferred upon me at this time in the history of the State Association. I will state to you frankly that I had no expectation of being elected to this office. When my friends came to announce my election, I had a feeling of depression. I had argued to other men that the taking of an office was a duty they owe to the Association. I now have to take my own medicine. I promise you that, seeing in this election to office a call to duty, I will take up the work, and do all in my power to further the interests of the Association. I want to ask, request, and urge that every gentleman present do what he can to assist me in my efforts.

On motion of Dr. Paschal, Drs. Stamps and Knight were appointed a committee to go to the General Assembly and advise them of the choice of the House of Delegates, and announce that the new officers would be presented to the General Assembly at 2 p. m.

Dr. Baylor read the report of the Board of Councilors. On motion the report was received and the items ordered paid. The Councilors' bills amounted to $648.52.

Dr. Loggins presented the report of the Committee on Finance as follows:

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.

Your Committee on Finance, to whom the reports of the Secretary and Treasurer and the expense accounts of the Councilors were referred, beg leave to report as follows:

We have examined the books and accounts of the Secretary and Treasurer and have found them to be correct, and the finances of the Association as shown by the report of the Treasurer.

We recommend that the House of Delegates pay Dr. Joohn T. Moore for his service as Secretary since the death of our late Secretary, Dr. H. A. West.

We have examined the expense accounts submitted by the several Councilors for money expended by them in the prosecution of their work of organization, and we recommend that they be paid.

Respectfully,

J. C. LOGGINS,

C. M. ALEXANDER,
NEWT LONG.

Adopted after an amendment allowing Dr. Moore the sum of $200 with thanks of the Association.

On motion by Dr. Loggins, Drs. Paschal, Moore and Miller were appointed a committee to write Mrs. West a letter expressing interest and sympathy, and communicate to her the disposition made by the House concerning the matter of salary paid Dr. West.

On motion the salary of the Secretary was ordered paid monthly. Dr. T. J. Wilson read a supplementary report of the Board of Medical Examiners, which was received and endorsed.

The following committee was appointed to prepare memorials and hold suitable services at the next meeting: Drs. J. E. Thompson, Bacon Saunders, J. M. Inge, W. R. Blailock, J. E. Gilcreest.

A resolution by Dr. Cummings was adopted extending thanks to the city of Austin, the county of Travis, to the State University, the Governor, and Dr. and Mrs. Goodall Wooten for their courtesy, kindness and hospitality.

The President announced the appointment of special and standing committees in the afternoon.

Dr. Moore moved to adopt the amendment introduced by him on the previous day, inserting in chapter 6, section 3, the words: "As furnished by the State Secretary." And in section 4 of the same chapter: "And take his receipt for the same," and "and mail programs to members one month before the annual meeting." After discussion the amendments were adopted.

Dr. Bennett's amendment to section 1, chapter 9, making ten days read "thirty days" was read and adopted.

On motion of Dr. Decker thanks were extended the Entertainment Committee for the excellent manner in which they had done their work.

Adjourned until 2 p. m.

April 29th, 2:30 p. m.

Meeting called to order by the President.

Committees and section officers were announced (see page 4). On motion of Dr. Reuss, the committees just announced were made standing committees.

The Secretary was instructed to write Senator Heyburn endorsing the Pure Food Bill and assuring him of the support and appreciation of the State Medical Association of Texas.

Decided that the next session of the House of Delegates would. be held Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the last week in April, 1905.