COMMITTEE ON THE HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF

CONNECTICUT IN THE WORLD WAR.

COMMITTEE ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REPORTS OF The Delegates TO THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE WAR COMMITTEE, AND THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL

DELEGATES TO THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Walter R. Steiner, 1919-1920.

John E. Lane, 1920-1921.

Alternate, F. K. Hallock.

Alternate, Charles J. Bartlett.

MINUTES OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

FIRST SESSION.

The first meeting of the House of Delegates was held at the Welfare Building, Bridgeport, on Wednesday, May 21, 1919, at 10:15 A. M. The following officers and delegates were present during the meeting: President C. J. Bartlett; VicePresident James H. Kingman; Treasurer P. H. Ingalls; Secretary J. E. Lane; Councilors F. W. Stevens, Fairfield County; W. R. Steiner, Hartford County; G. N. Lawson, Middlesex County; W. H. Carmalt, New Haven County; C. C. Gildersleeve, New London County. Delegates: Fairfield County-C. C. Godfrey, W. T. Godfrey, C. W. Gardner, W. C. Watson, J. W. Avery; Hartford County-R. J. Boyle, W. H. Crowley, G. W. Dunn; Litchfield County-F. W. Wersebe, H. B. Hanchett ; Middlesex County-F. K. Hallock, S. S. S. Campbell; New Haven County-J. F. Rogers, G. Blumer, F. G. Graves, F. N. Sperry, R. A. McDonnell, L. M. Gompertz, H. G. Anderson, J. H. Buffum; New London County-A. C. Freeman; Tolland County-none; Windham County-C. E. Simonds, E. F. Perry.

As no quorum was present at the beginning of the meeting it was voted that the reports be presented without waiting for a quorum. A quorum was present shortly after the beginning of the meeting before any business was transacted.

The following reports were read, accepted, and ordered on file, with the exception of the report of the Committee on Medical Examination and Medical Education, and the report of the Councilor from Windham County, which were not read.

(1) REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT.

CHARLES J. BARTLETT, New Haven.

Gentlemen of the House of Delegates:

The official duties of the President of this Society for the past year have not been burdensome, and it has been a pleasure to perform them.

The last year has made unprecedented demands on the medical profession. The absence of so many of our colleagues in government service, coupled with the appearance of the greatest epidemic of modern times, produced a situation which will not be forgotten by any of us who experienced it. The subject needs no elaboration here.

It is a matter for professional pride that this state, with its call for an unduly large quota of physicians for the army, was able to fill the quota, and to do this with men of such ability as those who entered the service. The report of this work will be given by the appropriate committee.

During the year two ex-presidents of this society have died, both well advanced in years: Dr. George L. Porter of Bridgeport, at the age of 81, and Dr. Rienzi Robinson of Danielson, at the age of 77. Dr. Porter served as president in 1887, and Dr. Robinson in 1895.

In spite of the epidemic which then prevailed, the semi-annual meeting of this Society was held with the New London County Medical Association in October last. Aside from this, all of the fall meetings of the County Associations either were omitted or in some of the counties were postponed and a business meeting was called later. I have, however, had the pleasure of attending meetings of all the component county societies except that of Windham County. The date of holding the latter's spring meeting and that of the New Haven County meeting unfortunately conflicted. Attendance upon these meetings I have found to be of distinct value and I have learned in some of the counties, whose membership is limited in numbers, how much of interest there may be even when only a very few physicians can get together.

The Chairman of the Council, the Chairman of the Committee on Public Policy and Legislation, and the President met, by invitation, with the Commission which was created by the Connecticut General Assembly of 1917 to consider the so-called "Omnibus Bill." The portion of this bill under discussion was that relating to compulsory Health Insurance. The opinion expressed by your representatives was that it would be unwise for