(c) New London County, by Dr. John G. Stanton:

(Read by Dr. George R. Shepherd, in the absence of Dr. Stanton.)

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates:

As the Councilor for New London County has not been called upon in the capacity of either organizer, peace-maker, or censor during the year, in the absence of anything of special interest during that time among the members of the New London County Society, it becomes a rather difficult problem to make a report which will either interest or instruct the members of the House of Delegates.

The year has been marked by placidity rather than by enthusiasm, and the profession has been content to pursue the even tenor of its way; sufficiently rapid to prevent stagnation, it is true, but exhibiting none of that fervor which is supposed to be necessary to set the Thames on fire. Not that conflagrations are necessary, or to be desired, but a little nerve and snap is desirable in the medical profession, as in any other, and whatever conduces to getting out of the net of daily routine is a thing greatly to be hoped and striven for. The New London County Society meets twice a year, in Norwich and New London, alternately, the regular yearly meeting on the first Thursday in April, and the semi-annual meeting on the first Thursday of October.

The semi-annual meeting, a purely literary one, was held in Norwich.. There were sixteen members present, the President, a Norwich physician, being absent, however. At the regular yearly meeting, held in New London, there were fifteen members present. Fairfield County sent a delegate in the person of Dr. Robinson, of Noroton, and Hartford sent Dr. Crothers, who read an intensely interesting and instructive paper on the "Treatment of the Spirit and Drug Neuroses in Private Practice." It developed a very general discussion. The regular dissertator being absent, no other paper was read. The same dissertator was appointed for the next regular meeting, and it is hoped he will do better next year. The paucity of numbers represented at these two meetings betrays a woeful lack of interest, and emphasizes the need of an injection of en

thusiasm serum into the body medical, to vivify the individual members, and to lead them to a greater personal interest in professional

matters.

JOHN G. STANTON, Councilor.

New London, Conn., May 20, 1906.

(d) Fairfield County, by Dr. William H. Donaldson: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates:

It gives me great pleasure to have the honor of presenting the first annual Councilor's report for Fairfield County. More especially so, because I have such a splendid body of men to report for and such pleasant matter to report. The profession numbers. 269, of all kinds, of which 146 (55 per cent.) are members of our Society, and 123 are not affiliated. Of those not already members. a very small proportion have the qualifications necessary to become such. It will be our earnest effort to enroll every one entitled to membership.

There is no lack of harmony, as a general good-fellowship exists in all parts of the County.

The scientific work of the members keeps well abreast of the times. Credit for this condition is largely due to the earnest, untiring, and self-sacrificing labors of the officers of the County organization, especially of the Secretary and Clerk, the latter having cleaned up the tax list, for the first time in many years, every member being now fully paid up.

This was

Only one case has called for action by the Councilor. a misunderstanding between one of our members and the State Examining Committee, due to lack of proper records during the first years of the Committee's work. This was speedily and satisfactorily adjusted and will result in improved methods of recording hereafter.

We have only one standing grievance in our County, and that is the failure of the State Society to recognize in Bridgeport, the second city of the State, a suitable meeting place for our annual convention. Respectfully submitted,

W. H. DONALDSON, Councilor.

(e) Windham County, by Dr. Selden B. Overlock:

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates:

year.

The Windham County Medical Society has had a prosperous Its meetings have been better attended than at any time before, at least during the last ten years, since the present Councilor has been a member. Dr. C. C. Gildersleeve, the retiring president, has put forth every effort to make the meetings a success, and has achieved good results. Besides contributions by members many papers have been read by well-known men from outside the society. These papers were not only full of interest, but of great practical worth to the members of the Society. The only criticism, in this connection, which can be offered is that the outside papers had better be confined to the semi-annual meeting and for this reason: at the annual meeting the business of the year must be transacted. This must, of necessity, be of no interest to the visitors, and, withal, tedious; besides, at one meeting of the year, at least, each County should depend on its own members to furnish material for the literary programme.

The visits at both the annual and semi-annual meetings of State President, Dr. Wordin, have been of great benefit. This custom inaugurated by Dr. Carmalt and continued by Dr. Wordin has been of great good, especially to the smaller societies. It is to be hoped that the custom is now so fully established that it may be maintained by their successors in office.

Dr. Lowell Holbrook, of Thompson, the oldest member of the County Society, has died during the year. Even after age had rendered it difficult for him to leave his home, he came to the meetings of the Society and took part in its proceedings. He will always be remembered in the Society as a man who did his part well. Three new members have been added to the Society during the

year.

The direct work of the Councilor in Windham County has been very limited. The Councilor was appointed chairman of the Committee on the Adoption of a Constitution to conform with the new Constitution of the State Society. The report of this committee was accepted, and the County Constitution was adopted at the April meeting. No matters of discipline have arisen during

}

the year. Some members are delinquent in the payment of their yearly dues. These, under the provisions of the new constitution, are debarred from membership without further action by the Society. This, no doubt, will become a constant matter for attention of future councilors.

The past year Windham County has simply demonstrated the fact that the Councilor is of some use in aiding the officers in carrying out the work of the year, and in keeping the County Society in more intimate contact with the work of the State Society. S. B. OVERLOCK,

Councilor for Windham County.

(f) Litchfield County, by Dr. George H. Knight:

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates:

I want to apologize, in the first place, because I have no written report, although I was authorized to make one. When I sat down at my desk a few days ago prepared to do so, I didn't know what kind of a report to make out. Up in old Litchfield County we have no troubles, disappointments have been very few, and I certainly haven't been called upon to interfere, and we have had no occasion for discipline. I was prevented, by an attack of grip, from attending our last meeting. I simply want to say that up there in

that County there seems to be an acceptance of the majority rule, and it has always been made unanimous. The only point that I would suggest is that perhaps we might have a little greater zeal among ourselves in attending our County meetings, and that applies to me as to anybody else. I know of no other report to make concerning our Society.

(g) Middlesex County, by Dr. Frank K. Hallock:

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates:

The harmonious and satisfactory conduct of medical affairs in Middlesex County has been marred by only two occurrences of a discordant nature.

The first of these relates to a strained relation existing between two physicians living in neighboring towns in the lower part of the

County. It is expected that the differences between these two men will be properly adjusted and the ill feeling subside.

The second item of interest is of far more importance, as it concerns a subject which is causing trouble in the profession in various parts of the State. I refer to the practice of contracting medical services to lodges, societies, corporations, etc. As far as I know there are only three of our physicians in the County who are guilty of this method of practice.

Several years ago our County Association took positive action and sent out a circular calling upon its members to refrain from contract alliances of any kind. It appears that little heed has been paid to this request, and last fall, at the semi-annual meeting, by unanimous vote, the censors were instructed to prepare a second circular notifying the members that the contract system must cease. Following this, I, as Councilor, had an interview with the offending brethren and it was decided that by mutual agreement they would abandon the practice. Unfortunately such an agreement has not yet been reached and the matter stands in statu quo.

These physicians are desirable men, and we are anxious to retain them in our Society; nevertheless, it would seem the duty of the Censors and Councilor, after proper notification, to ask the County Association at its next meeting to vote upon the question of their forfeiting their membership.

The two meetings of the County and the monthly meetings of the Central Medical Associations have been well attended, and a spirit of interest in progressive medicine has been earnestly manifested by the members.

Of the two hospitals in Middlesex County it is a pleasure to speak. The administration of affairs at the Connecticut Hospital for Insane has been most satisfactory, and its record is one of State pride.

The Middlesex Hospital, the general hospital of the County, has issued its first annual report, and shows that the institution is well established financially, and is making steady progress in the efficiency of its services to the community.

I am sure it will touch a responsive chord in all your hearts to know that generous subscriptions by the citizens of the County have resulted in the establishment of free beds in the hospital