The Connecticut State Medical Society.

BY-LAWS.

CHAPTER I.

Section I. Name. The name and title of this organization shall be The Connecticut State Medical Society.

Sec. 2. Purposes of the Society. The purposes of this Society shall be to federate and bring into one compact organization the entire medical profession of the State of Connecticut, and to unite with similar societies of other states to form the American Medical Association; to extend medical knowledge and advance medical science; to elevate the standard of medical education, and to secure the enactment and enforcement of just medical laws; to promote friendly intercourse among physicians; to guard and foster the material interests of its members and to protect them against imposition; and to enlighten and direct public opinion in regard to the great problems of State medicine, so that the profession shall become more capable and honorable within itself, and more useful to the public, in the prevention and cure of disease, and in prolonging and adding comfort to life.

Sec. 3. Component Associations. Component Associations shall consist of those county medical associations which heretofore have been and now are affiliated with The Connecticut Medical Society.

Sec. 4. Composition of Society. This Society shall consist of members, delegates, guests, and honorary members.

Sec. 5. Members. Members of this Society shall be members of the component county medical associations.

Sec. 6. Delegates. (1) Delegates shall be those members who are elected by the component county associations; (2) the Councilors; their respective component associations in the House of Delegates of this Society.

Sec. 7. Guests. Any distinguished physician not a resident of this State who is a member of his own State Association, may become a guest during any annual session on invitation of

the officers of this Society and shall be accorded the privilege of participating in all the scientific work for that session.

Sec. 8. Honorary Members. Eminent physicians, not residents of this State, may be elected Honorary Members by a major vote of the House of Delegates after nomination of one year, but such shall not exceed three in any one year.

Honorary Members shall have all the privileges accorded by Section 7 to guests.

CHAPTER II.-MEMBERSHIP.

Section I. The name of a physician upon the properly certified roster of members of a component association, who has paid his annual assessment, shall be prima facie evidence of membership in this Society.

The annual tax shall be collected from all such members except the secretaries of County Medical Associations, but the taxes of any member may be remitted by vote of the House of Delegates upon recommendation of any County Medical Association.

Sec. 2. Any person who is under sentence of suspension or expulsion from a component association, or whose name has been dropped from its roll of members, shall not be entitled to any of the rights or benefits of the Society, nor shall he be permitted to take part in any of its proceedings until he has been relieved of such disability.

Sec. 3. Each member in attendance at the annual session shall enter his name on the registration book, indicating the component association of which he is a member.

CHAPTER III.-HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

Section I. The House of Delegates shall be the legislative and business body of the Society, and shall consist of (1) delegates elected by the component county associations; (2) the Councilors; and (3), ex officio, the President and Secretary of this Society.

Sec. 2. The House of Delegates shall meet on the first day of the annual session. It may adjourn from time to time as may be

necessary to complete its business, provided that its hours shall conflict as little as possible with the General Meetings. The order of business shall be arranged as a separate section of the programme,

Sec. 3. Each component association shall be entitled to send to the House of Delegates each year, one delegate for every thirty-five members, or any part of that number.

Sec. 4. Fifteen delegates shall constitute a quorum.

Sec. 5. It shall, through its officers, Council, and otherwise, give diligent attention to and foster the scientific work and spirit of the Society, and shall constantly strive to make each annual session a stepping-stone to further advancement.

Sec. 6. It shall consider and advise as to the material interests of the profession, and of the public in those important matters wherein it is dependent upon the profession, and shall use its influence to secure and enforce all proper medical and public health legislation, and to diffuse popular information in relation thereto.

Sec. 7. It shall make careful inquiry into the condition of the profession of each county in the State, and shall have authority to adopt such methods as may be deemed most efficient for building up and increasing the interests in such county associations as already exist and for organizing the profession in counties where associations do not exist. It shall especially and systematically endeavor to promote friendly intercourse among physicians of the same locality, and shall continue these efforts until every physician in every county of the State who can be made reputable has been brought under medical society influence.

Sec. 8. It shall encourage post-graduate and research work, as well as home study, and shall endeavor to have the results discussed and utilized.

Sec. 9. It shall elect representatives to the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of that body.

Sec. 10. It shall have authority to appoint committees for special purposes from among members of the Society who are not members of the House of Delegates.

Such committees shall report to the House of Delegates, and may be present and participate in the debate on their reports. Sec. II. It shall approve all memorials and resolutions issued in the name of the Society before the same shall become effective. Sec. 12. Sections and District Societies. The House of Delegates may provide for a division of the scientific work of the Society into appropriate sections, and for the organization of such Councilor District Associations as will promote the best interests of the profession, such associations to be composed exclusively of members of component county associations.

CHAPTER IV.-SESSIONS AND MEETINGS.

Section I. The Society shall hold an annual session, during which there shall be held daily General Meetings which shall be open to all registered members, guests and honorary members. Sec. 2. The time and place for holding each annual session shall be fixed by the House of Delegates.

Sec. 3. Special meetings of either the Society or the House of Delegates shall be called by the President, on petition of ten (10) delegates or fifty (50) members.

Sec. 4. General Meetings. All registered members may attend and participate in the proceedings and discussions of the General Meetings and of the Sections. The General Meetings shall be presided over by the President or by one of the Vice Presidents, and before them shall be delivered the address of the President and the orations.

Sec. 5. The General Meeting may recommend to the House of Delegates the appointment of committees or commissions for scientific investigation of special interest and importance to the profession and the public.

I.

CHAPTER V.-OFFICERS.

Section 1. The officers of this Society shall be a President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and eight Councilors.

Sec. 2. The officers, except the Councilors, shall be elected annually. The first Councilors shall be appointed by the President, one from each county, who shall serve for one year, or until their successors shall be elected. At their annual meetings in the year 1906, each affiliated county medical association shall elect one councilor, of whom those elected in Hartford, New London, Windham, and Middlesex counties shall serve for one year, and those elected in New Haven, Fairfield, Litchfield, and Tolland counties shall serve for two years, and at the expiration of the term of office of the councilors so elected, each affiliated county medical association shall, biennially, elect a councilor, who shall serve for two years.

Sec. 3. All elections shall be by ballot, and a majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to elect.

Sec. 4. The election of officers shall be the first order of business of the House of Delegates after the reading of the minutes on the morning of the last day of the General Session, but no delegate shall be eligible to any office named in the preceding section except that of councilor, and no person shall be elected for any such office who has not been a member of the Society for the past two years.

CHAPTER VI.-DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the House of Delegates; shall appoint all committees not otherwise provided for; shall deliver an annual address at such time as may be arranged, and perform such other duties as custom and parliamentary usage may require. He shall be the real head of the profession of the State during his term of office, and, as far as practicable, shall visit by appointment the various sections of the State and assist the Councilors in building up the county associations and in making their work more practical and useful.

Sec. 2. The Vice Presidents shall assist the President in the discharge of his duties. In the event of the President's death, resignation, or removal, the Council shall elect one of the Vice Presidents to succeed him.