The scientific exhibit continued to make good its claim of being a marked feature of the meeting of the Association. Frank B. Wynn, who has done so much toward the development of this branch of the work, having completed seventeen years of service, insisted on being released. At this time he bespoke an honorarium of $1,000 to $1,500 for his successor; which brings to our notice that these exhibits do not spring into existence fully formed, but are the result of painstaking labor and with a real desire to present something of value to the general practitioner. In fact, it is stated that they are not for the laboratory specialist but the aim is to appeal to the man who wishes to come in closer touch with the newer ideas in his profession. Too often this exhibit is thought of as an adjunct to baby foods, books and instrument exhibits. The Presidential address to the House was of peculiar gravity when Dr. Vander Veer spoke of the losses that the Association had sustained during the year. It was peculiarly fitting that the work of Dr. Rodman should live after him in the organization of a National Board of Medical Examiners. It is thought that a certificate from this Board that would be accepted by any licensing board would be of value and that many would avail themselves of it. Organized with the surgeons general of the government services and the foremost medical educators of the country; financed by the Carnegie Foundation for several years, it has received the recommendation of the Council on Education after it had made it known that its requirements would be such as to meet those of any State. There were two amendments to the constitution that are of interest. First, that "The House of Delegates shall meet annually on the Monday preceding the opening of and at the same place as the Scientific Assembly of the Association." The other created the office of Chairman of the House, who should be elected for one year. The report of the Sub-Committee on Social Insurance was one of the most exhaustive studies ever presented to the House. As that report has been published in form for general study and as we have a special committee upon the subject it is unnecessary to take the matter up in any detail. The Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association is elected by the House of Delegates. Three are elected each. year to serve for three years. The only representation the East had on the Board was Dr. Councilman of Boston and Dr. Marvil of Atlantic City. The three whose terms expired in 1916 were from Denver, St. Louis and Shreveport, La. The Trustee from the latter place was reëlected to succeed himself. A Trustee from Lincoln, Neb., was elected to succeed the one from Denver. That left one place to be filled and the section from which this Trustee should be selected refused to put up a man whom some of us thought would be suitable. Texas, Missouri and Virginia had men in the field. New York, Pennsylvania and Kentucky wanted representation on the Board. Connecticut had absolutely no claim on it. It was a most graceful compliment to sterling worth an evidence of the appreciation of a man standing always for what he thought was right, that these states with claims relinquished them and elected Everett J. McKnight of Hartford, Conn., to the Board of Trustees. D. CHESTER BROWN. (16) Report of the Committee on Hospitals, by Dr. Philip W. Bill (Bridgeport): REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOSPITALS. Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates: On May 2, 1917, I received a note from the Secretary of the State Society, informing me that I was Chairman of the Committee on Hospitals; this was the first I knew of the matter. A week later the President of the State Society dropped me a line stating that he would like a report from the Committee on Hospitals. The scant time left made it impracticable to have a meeting of the committee so the chairman assumes the responsibility of this report. A set of questions was sent to the superintendents of twentyfive hospitals in the State; replies were received from twenty-one. The questions were: I. How many patients can you care for under ordinary conditions? 2. How many patients could you care for in an emergency? 3. What preparation have you made or have under way for the receiving and care of a suddenly increased number of patients? 4. Could you take care of 25% more patients than you have now on 24 hours notice? Of these No. 3 furnishes the most interesting answers as tending to show just how seriously the hospital authorities consider the possibility of having to cope with a more or less severe emergency. Fourteen of the twenty-one answers were either flatly "none" or such modifications as "cots to put up,” “a stock of beds and clothing," "Emergency lectures," "our building and equipment is taxed to the utmost to do our work, we have tried vainly to get an appropriation from the State for a larger building." Seven report a business-like attempt to be made. The Hartford Hospital heads the list. The details of this work can be had from the article by Dr. L. A. Sexton, Superintendent, and read before the Connecticut State Nurses' Association at Hartford, May 16, 1917. Dr. Sexton deserves much credit for his endeavors. The other hospitals in this group are to be congratulated on their preparations. It may be of interest to report an outline of what has been done at the Bridgeport Hospital, Mr. W. W. Jones, Superintendent: A roof garden on top of one of the highest hospital buildings has been roofed and sided in, and is equipped with forty beds; these with twenty beds in another ward which will not be occupied until needed will take care of sixty new patients at a moment's notice. The staff has been divided into four units, two surgical, one orthopedic, one eyes and face. Each unit consists of: one surgeon, two assistant surgeons, one physician, one anaesthetist, five nurses, and has been assigned operating room and ward. The treatment of wounds has been standardized so that all use the same method. Dressing trays are set up the same way in each ward, each tray being precisely similar as regards contents and arrangement. This all tends to greatly diminish confusion and repetition. While we do not expect an invasion nor active fighting we must remember that nearly every city in Connecticut is directly or indirectly manufacturing war munitions, and the possibility of explosions, riots, etc., is not so remote as some seem to think. Respectfully submitted, PHILIP W. BILL, Chairman. (17) Report of the Committee on Industrial Insurance, by Dr. Paul Waterman (Hartford): REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE. Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates: The Committee on Industrial Insurance appointed by the Committee on Public Policy and Legislation was unable to carry out in full the duties laid upon it by the Connecticut State Medical Society at its 1916 meeting, on account of the absence of the Chairman of the Committee from the State during the summer and autumn of 1916. Because of this the subject of Industrial Insurance, and particularly of Compulsory Health Insurance, was not adequately considered at the autumn meetings of the County Societies and the opinion of the constituent members of the Society on this subject was not fully obtained. In accordance with advice which the Society had received, a bill was presented at the recent session of the General Assembly, providing for Compulsory Health Insurance. Two hearings were held on this bill before the Committee on Insurance of the General Assembly at which its passage was earnestly advocated by its proponents, the American Association for Labor Legislation, and by representatives of local labor organizations. Opposition to its immediate passage was offered by representatives of the manufacturers of the State. Several of the local medical societies in the State sent representation to these hearings, of which the general tone was in favor of the principle embodied in the bill, with recommendation for further consideration before its passage. Your Committee was represented at these hearings, and lacking specific instructions from the Society, as well as an accurate knowledge of the attitude of the individual members of the Society, your Committee decided that it was proper to state that the underlying principle met with hearty support in the medical profession and that the physicians of the State would do their utmost to fulfill their part in case the General Assembly decided to pass the bill, but that such a measure would modify the social machinery to such an extent that it ought to receive thorough consideration before being put into effect, in order that its execution might be thoroughly practicable. The Committee on Insurance of the General Assembly believed that all interests involved would agree upon further study of this measure, and on the recommendation of the Committee on Insurance the General Assembly referred the bill to a commission for study to report to the next session of the General Assembly. To the same commission was also referred another bill before the General Assembly which included Compulsory Health Insurance with other extensive provisions for public welfare. The personnel of this commission has not yet been published. Respectfully submitted, PAUL WATERMAN, Chairman. (18) Report of the Committee on the President's Report, by Dr. C. J. Bartlett (New Haven): |