EIGHTH INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF 
CLARK BELL, ESQ.* 
As President of the Medico-Legal'Society of New York- 
Fellows of the Medico-Legal Societi) : 
I shall ask you to briefly glance, over the labors of the 
body during the past year, to look at its present position, 
its objects, aims, future prospects and responsibilities, 
and speak of the progress of Medical Jurisprudence as 
a science, in the world, at the present moment. 
MEMBERSHIP. 
Our roll of active members, December 31, 1887, con- 
tained 273 names, of Corresponding 148, and of Honorary 
11, making our total membership 432. On December 
31, 1886, our roll contained 38(J names—258 Active, 120 
Corresponding and 11 Honorary. We have elected dur- 
ing the year 48 Active and 31 Corresponding members. 
Total 79 members. 
The active members on December, 31, 1887, were 
Lawyers, 138 ; Doctors, 124; Scientists, 11. Total 273. 
The Corresponding members were; Lawyers, 19; Physi- 
cians, 119; Scientists, 10. Total 148. 
* Pronounced January 10, 1888 2 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
Honorary members : Legal, 5 , Medical, 6. Total 11. 
The increase in membership has been, over and above 
all losses by death or resignation : Active members, 15 ; 
Corresponding, 28 ; total 43. 
We have lost by resignations 29 ; deaths 7. Total 36. 
NECROLOGY. 
The loss by death to this body during 1887 has been 
serious. Among the active members we have to mourn 
Aaron J. Vanderpoel the eminent lawyer. 
Horatio F. Averell. Esq., of the New York Bar. 
Daniel R. Lyddy, Esq., of the New York Bar. 
Dr. John M. Carnochan, the eminent surgeon of New 
York. s 
Corresponding Members. 
Dr. Jean Th. Gallard, who was the Secretary of the 
Medico-Legal Society of France from the day of its 
organization to his death. 
Prof. Dr. Augustin Andrade, an eminent physician 
and scientist of Mexico. 
Judge Guy H. McMaster, Surrogate of Steuben 
County, New York, at Bath, N. Y.. 
Henry Buist, Esq., of Charleston, S. C. 
THE WORK OF THE YEAR. 
The following papers have been read before the 
Society at its meetings, a large number of which have 
appeared in the Medico-Legal Journal : INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
3 
The Retiring Address, January, 1887, of President 
Isaac Lewis Peet, M.D. 
The Inaugural Address, January, 1887, of President 
Clark Bell, Esq. 
“ Some Aspects of the Druse Case,” by E. W. Cham- 
berlain, Esq. 
“ A Simpler and more Intelligent Classification in 
Mental Diseases Important,” by Prof. J. J. El well. 
“ Insanity and the Care of the Insane,” by Clark 
Bell, Esq. 
“ Prison Labor and Public Utility,” by Louis Living- 
stone Seaman, M. D. 
“ Isaac Ray,” by Chas. K. Mills, M. D., of Philadel- 
phia, Pa., President American Neurological Association. 
“ The Penal Aspects of Suicide,” by L. C. Whiton, 
Esq., of New York. 
“ The Mental and Physical Capacity of Man, in the 
Rapid Expression, Receiving and Recording of Lan- 
guage,” by R. S. Guernsey, Esq., of New York. 
“ Opium Inebriety,” by Dr. Ira Russell, of Mass. 
“ Criminality,” by W. G. Stevenson, M. D., of 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
“ The Relation of Intemperance to Insanity,” by Clark 
Bell, Esq. 
“ The Post Mortem Imbibition of Poisons,” by Geo. B. 
Miller, M. D. 
“ Imbibition of Poisons,” by Prof. John J. Reese. 
“ The Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity,” by Clark 
Bell, Esq. 4 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
The same general subject by Dr. Norman Kerr, Presi- 
dent of the British Society for Study and Cure of In- 
ebriety; Dr. Joseph Parrish, President of the American 
Society for Study and Cure of Inebriety ; Anthony L. 
Dyett, Esq., of the New York Bar ; Chas. H. Hughes, 
M. D., Editor Alienist and Neurologist, St. Louis, Mo.; 
Ed. C. Mann, M. 1)., of Brooklyn, President American So- 
ciety of Anthropology ; T. D. Crothers, Editor Journal 
of Inebriety; T. L. Wright, M. D., of Bellefontaine, 
Ohio ; Rev Wm. Tucker, M. D., of Mt. Gilead, Ohio ; 
Mrs. M. Louise Thomas, President of “Sorosis ;” Dr. L. 
W. Baker, of Retreat for Epileptics of Baldwinsville 
Massachusetts ; Morris Ellinger, Esq., late Coroner of 
New York ; Lucy M. Hall, M. D., of Brooklyn, N. 
Y., these papers were read at November and December 
meetings of the Society, the reading and discussion of 
which was presided over by ex-Chief Justice Noah 
Davis. They we e discussed by Messi s. Austin Abbott, 
Dr. W. G, Stevenson ; Dr. Mason, consulting physician 
to Inebriates Home, Fort Hamilton ; Dr. Frank L. 
Ingram Dr. Emmett L. Dent, of Insane Asylum, 
Ward’s Island ; Dr. W. F. Holcombe ; Dr. Chas. S. 
Shepard, of Brooklyn ; Dr. Ira Russell, of Winchen- 
den, Mass.; President Clark Bell, Esq.; Dr. S. Water- 
man, of New York ; Dr. A. Jacobi, President New 
York Academy of Medicine ; Dr. Isaac Lewis Peet, 
Superintendent Deaf and Dumb Asylum ; Dr. S. K. 
Paddock, Medical Examiner of Springfield, Mass.; and 
the discussion was summed up by ex-Chief Justice 
Noah Davis, INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
5 
BANQUET. 
The Society gave its annual banquet at the Hotel 
Buckingham, where its meetings have been held, it 
was largely attended by members and their wives, and 
by distinguished guests, from neighboring States a nd 
cities were present. 
PRIZE ESSAYS. 
It has been decided by the Executive Committee to 
offer three prizes : First of $100; second of $75 and third 
of $50, for the first, second and third best essay, on any 
subject within the domain of Medical Jurisprudence. 
The first prize offered, is by our member Elliott F. 
Shepard, Esq., and the remaining prizes are donated 
by a few members of the Society. 
The details have appeared in the Journal, and it is 
hoped mo ;t of our members will compete for these prizes, 
which are announced to close on April 1, 1888. 
medico-legal journal. 
The most important work of the body is doubtless 
wrought by the Medico-Legal journal, in disseminating 
throughout the scientific world, the papers read before it, 
and awakening interest in the science, among its 
students everywhere. Aside from the publication of a 
part of these papers, and the discussions thereupon, the 
Journal, has published portraits of Dr. John P. Gray, 
late Superintendent of Utica Asylum, and a sketch of 
Utica Asylum as it stood in 1867 ; a portrait of Dr. Isaac INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
Ray; a copy of the bust of the great Belgian alienist, 
Joseph Guislain, with a sketch of a statue proposed to 
his memory, (but not the statue unveiled at Ghent last 
July) ; a portrait of Aaron J. Vanderpoel of the New 
York Bar ; of Hon. Guy H. McMaster, Judge and Sur- 
rogate of Steuben County, New York ; a portrait of 
the Elder Tuke of England, reproduced from a drawing 
in the hand of his descendant D. Hack Tuke, and a cut 
of York Retreat, as it existed at the time of his labors. 
The circulation of this journal has steadily increased, 
but it needs the active support and co-operation, of the 
members of this body to make it more successful and 
useful. 
During the past year I have sent the following circu- 
lar letter to many eminent Alienists, Jurists, Judges, 
Scientists and Publicists : 
Medico-Legal, Journal Association, 
Office of the Editor, 
No. 57 Broadway. 
New York. 1887. 
Dear Sir : 
Please give me your idea of the best definition of insanity under our 
present knowledge of that subject. 
Also what in your judgement should be the legal test of criminal respon- 
sibility for acts committed by persons suffering from any form of mental 
disease. I am making a study of these topics, and would feel greatly 
onliged for your views. 
Very faithfully yours, 
Clark Bell. 
Of replies received many have been published in the 
Journal. I should be glad to receive responses to these 
queries from every member of the Society, who has not INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
7 
already responded, whether Active, Corresponding or 
Honorary, as well as from all Judges, Lawyers, Medical 
Men, Superintendents of Asylums, Alienists or others 
interested in this subject whose eye it reaches. 
MEDICO-LEGAL PAPERS—SERIES 4 AND 5. 
Pursuant to my recommendations of last year, sub- 
scriptions to the proposed volumes have come in, 
sufficient, to warrant the Executive Committee and the 
Society, to authorize the publication of Volume, or Series 
1, which it is hoped will be completed the present year. 
New members and all members, who have not sub- 
scribed for these volumes, are urged to send their names 
at once to the President, or Secretary, so that the burden 
of publication may fall lightly on the Society and te dis- 
tributed widely among members. The list of subscribers 
has appeared from time to time in the Journal, and the 
cost is $3.50 per vol. in cloth and $2.50 in paper. 
THE LIBRARY 
Has received very little attention during the past year 
from our members. This has been a subject of regret 
to me, and the question of a suitable home and location 
for our library, is one of the most important questions, 
which the body has before it for consideration, to which I 
invite the earnest and thoughtful attention of the Execu- 
tive Committee, and of every member of the Society. 
OUR AIMS. 
To my mind the present endeavor of this Society, should 8 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
be to increase its active membership, in the various States 
and Territories of the United States, with a view of mak- 
ing the body thoroughly national in character, and not 
• .4 
local in any sense, except as to the place where its ses- 
sions must needs be held, in the metropolis of the 
country. This has been our policy for the past few 
years to some extent, but it should, for the present at 
least, be more pronounced, and more aggressive. 
If ten men could be selected at the least, from 
each American State and Territory, who occupied 
prominent positions in the Legal or Medical professions, 
ora; Chemists, Scientists or Publicists, it would bring 
the So -iety into a greater sphere of usefulness, broaden 
and widen its field of action, and bring to its notice 
questions arising in the Courts of the American States, 
for active discussion and criticism, which would be of 
enormous consequence to the progress of the science in 
America. 
Judge H. M. Somerville, of the Supreme Court of 
Alabama, who has recently joined this Society, and P. 
Bryce, M. D., Superintendent of the Insane Asylum at 
Tuscaloosa, Ala., who unites to-night, will take the lead 
of this work in the State of Alabama and in some of the 
Southeastern States, while prominent gentlemen in other 
States will aid the work. 
We have now members in most of the States and 
Territories. We have no members in thirteen of the 
States, and we should take steps at once to bring this sub- 
ject to the attention of prominent men in all these States. INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
9 
As we vote by ballot, by mail, non-resident members 
need not feel under obligation to attend the sessions, 
unless convenient, and to aid this movement I have 
recommended that the Constitution and By-Laws be so 
amended as : 
1. To reduce the annual dues of members residing out- 
side the State of New York to $2.00 per annum, which 
will give them the Journal free, the price of which is $3 
per annum, which recommendation has been unani- 
mously adopted this evening. 
2. To increase the number of Vice-Presidents of the 
Society, so that one may be chosen from each State or 
Territory, to these responsible positions, from represent- 
ative men and thus widen and broaden the influence of 
the Society, which plan will come before the body at its 
next session. 
PUBLICATIONS. 
The Committee on Publication and the Executive 
Committee, are considering the propriety of publishing 
in one volume, the various papers read before the body 
on Alcoholism and the Medical Jurisprudence of Ine- 
briety. These papers, with the discussions upon them, 
would make a respectable volume, containing the labors 
of a large number of scientists, and would be a valu- 
able contribution to the literature of the world, upon a 
subject now arresting public attention. 
This must be done by private subscription, as the 
financial situation of the Society, would not at present 
warrant such an expenditure, in addition to the obliga- 10 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
tions which it has assumed, to the Medico-Legal Journal 
and for the publication of Medico-Legal Papers, Series 4. 
and 5. 
A subscription has been circulated which will defray a 
portion of this expense, and it is proposed that the resi- 
due can be met by a subscription to the work itself, 
which will be furnished to all who choose to subscribe 
at the nominal price of 50 cents in cloth and 30 cents in 
paper. 
Members desiring to aid this work will kindly send 
their names and the number of volumes for which they 
subscribe to the President or Secretary without delay. 
THE PROGRESS OF THE SCIENCE. 
AMERICA. 
The increase of interest is marked and well developed 
The Medical Jurisprudence Society of Philadelphia, 
is flourishing and doing a good work. I submit a list of 
the papers read before this Society during the past year, 
kindly furnished me by the honored Secretary, Dr. Henry 
Leffman. 
Live Birth in Medico-Legal Relations. By Dr. John J. 
Reese. 
Will Contests. By Walter E. Rex, Esq., late Regis- 
ter of Wills for Philadelphia. 
The Handwriting of the Insane. By Henry Hazle- 
urst, Esq. INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF (LARK BELL, ESQ. 
11 
The Claim of Moral Insanity in its Medico-Legal Re- 
lations. By J. Hendrik Lloyd, M. D. 
A Summary of the Weaver Case. By Hampton L. 
Carson, Esq. 
A Strange Homicide Case. By John T. Eskridge, 
M. D. 
Criminal Psychology. By W. D. Robinson, M. D. 
Suicide in its Relations to Insanity. By Wm. N. Ash- 
man, Esq., President of the Society. 
In addition there was a special joint meeting, with the 
Neurological Society, on January 24tli, 1887 at which sev- 
eral papers on the care and treatment of the insane were 
read and discussed. 
The following officers were elected January 10, 1888 : 
President, Dr. C. K. Mills; Vice Presidents, J. A. 
Clark, Esq., Henry Leffman; Secretary, Dr. F. X. Der- 
cum ; Treasurer, P. H. Coggins; Recorder, Dr. G. M. 
Bradfield. 
The same can also be said of the Chicago Medico- 
Legal Society and it is a source of great pleasure to 
see the interest maintained in these great cities by our 
sister societies. I am indebted to its Secretary, Dr. 
Helm for a list of the papers read before it, and of 
authors. 
The Massachusetts Medico-Legal Society is making 
steady progress in its domain, being the organized 
action of the Medical Examiners of that State, who 
take the place of the Coroners that have been abolished 12 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
there. The result of their Conference and combined 
action, the value of the statistical and other valuable 
scientific data thus collected, cannot well be estimated, 
but enough has transpired to commend it to the Amer- 
ican States, as an example well deserving emulation and 
imitation. 
While one or two journals in America have been re- 
cently discontinued owing to special causes, it cannot 
be doubted that the general interest in the profession of 
Law and Medicine in the Science of Medical Jurispru- 
dence is decidedly on the increase — but this is rather 
among individuals, than among the professional organ- 
izations. 
There was no section of Me lical Jurisprudence at the 
recent International Medical Congress at Washington, 
and the science is almost wholly neglected in the Amer- 
ican Bar Association, and, so far as I am aware, in the 
State Bar Associations, though it is to be hoped this 
will receive more attention in the near future. While 
the same criticism is true as to National and State Medi- 
cal Associations it must be conceded that the science has 
received greater attention among the Medical Schools, 
than those of Law. A chair of Medical Jurisprudence, 
should be in every Law as well as Medical School, and 
of course, in every university of learning. 
LUNACY STATUTES. 
The Governor of* New York in his recent message, has 
urged the revision and modification of our lunacy INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
13 
statutes, in deference to public sentiment,and this sub- 
ject will come before the present Legislature assembled 
at Albany. Thorough and intelligent revision of our 
lunacy statutes can, however, hardly be well done, by a 
Legislative committee, in the hurry and crowded char- 
acter of its deliberations. 
This work has hitherto been most successfully accomp- 
lished, by selected Commissioners in France, Italy, Great 
Britain, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, and we hope t > see 
Gov. Hill name a Commission composed of men selected 
for their ability to meet these questions, requested to 
submit a complete revision of our lunacy statutes, which 
should be done without expense to the State, so far as 
the labors of the Commissioners are concerned. 
MEDICAL EXAMINATION IN LIFE INSURANCE 
Is a subject of very great importance, and deserves 
more than a passing notice. 
This country now leads the world in life insurance. 
This must be its attitude for the few remaining years of 
this, and for, doubtless, the first fifty years of the twen- 
tieth century. 
Its success must largely depend upon the ability and 
care of its Medical Examiners. 
Medical men need special training for this work, the 
same as for any branch of skilled scientific labor. A 
Doctor merely as such, is no more fit for this duty, with- 
out special knowledge, than he would be to pass on a 
question of lunacy, or to give an opinion on a poisoning 14 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
case. This subject deserves our careful thought. Mr. W. 
M. Taylor, Vice President of the Connecticut Mutual Life 
Insurance Company, has recently contributed an able 
paper on this subject. Dr. Charles F. Stillman has 
written a treatise upon it, which will shortly appear. 
It is one of the live questions of the hour. 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
There is as yet, no national or local society of Medical 
Jurisprudence, in the British Islands. 
In Scotland more attention seems to be given to the 
science, due doubtless to the influence of the chairs of 
Medical Jurisprudence in the Scotch Universities. 
The Bar is behind the Medical profession in the mat 
ter, and the obstacles in the way of uniting the two pro- 
fessions, in one society for common work in this science, 
seem, insurmountable up to the present moment. It is 
to be hoped that some of the men of the Bar, will take 
the initiatory in such a movement. 
The English and Scotch alienists, and neurologists, 
however, keep abreast with the advance of the science 
in other countries. The editors of great British 
journals like the British Medical Journal, the London 
Lancet and others are fully alive to these questions, and 
keep pace with scientific research. The Journal of 
Mental Science and Brain stand high in their respective 
domains. 
FRANCE. 
The position of Forensic Medicine in France is grati- INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARE BELL, ESQ. 
15 
fying. The labors of the Medico-Legal Society of France 
under the Presidency of Emile IIourteloup, of the Paris 
Bar, have been valuable and gratifying. The death of 
Jean Th. Gallard, for long time secretary of the 
French Society, and the selection of Dr. Motet as his 
successor, has been the most marked event in that Soci- 
ety. Many important papers have been read before 
that Society. 
Among the French journals The Archives de Neu- 
rologie, Les Annales Medico Ps\ chologique, l’Enc- 
ephale, Annales d’Medicine Legale,and the new journal 
at Lyons, Archives d’Anthropologie Crimixalle are 
the leading French journals in the various specialties. 
Le Progress Medical, Le Revue de Medicine, Archi- 
ves Obstetriques and other journals have maintained 
their former high character and usefulness. 
ITALY. 
In no country has there been such extended labors as 
in Italy. The Societe di Freniatricia has just published 
an extended volume as the result of its labors during 
the past year, under the able Presidency of Senator and 
Prof. Andrea Verga. 
The Italian journals are in the front rank of the World 
in the various departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, 
Forensic and State Medicine. Among the leading jour- 
nals are La Psichiatria, la Neuropatologia, conducted 
by Prof. G.Buonomo and Dr. L. Biancii, La Revista Sper- 
iinentale de Medicene Legale, Revista Clinicia de Bo- INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
logna, Archives de Psy-Scien Penali et Antropologia 
Criminalle, Archives per Malattia Nervosa, Scienza Itali- 
ana, and many others. 
GERMANY AND AUSTRIA, 
and the German speaking countries. Forensic Medi- 
cine receives careful and thorough attention in the 
German universities. There is a chair of Forensic 
Medicine in each. There are many savants who devote 
their lives to the study and investigation of this science. 
The work of such men as Kraffi, Ebing, Theo. 
Meynert, Moritz Benedict, Prof. Maschka, Dr. H. 
Laehr, Prof. Virchow, Prof. Hoffman, K. Kornfeid, 
and hosts of others constantly enrich a literature of Fo- 
rensic Medicine surpassed by uouf, and the journals keep 
pace with the progress of scientific research. The leading 
journals of Germany in the domain of Medical Jurispru- 
dence are The Quarterly Journal of Medical Jurispru- 
dence, at Berlin, M. Eulenberg, Editor, and Friedrich’s 
Blatter of Legal Medicine, edited at Neuremburgh, both 
of which are in the front rank of journals of this kind in 
the world. The Jurbucher fur Psychiatrie, Zeitschrift 
fur Psychiatrie, Der Gerichstaal are among the leading 
Journals in the German tongue. 
BELGIUM 
does its work in its societies by its scientific men. It has 
no Medico-Legal Society. The students of the science 
in Belgium are chiefly medical men. 
The Belgium Bar have not as yet grasped the hands INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
17 
of their great Physicians in a society common to both 
professions. 
The leading Belgian Society is the Society of Mental 
Medicine, which includes the leading alienists of Bel- 
gium, and its Bulletin, registers and publishes its labors. 
It has no journal devoted to the science of Medical Juris- 
prudence. 
HOLLAND 
is in a similar condition, and in many respects is the 
counterpart of Belgium. The alienists of Holland are 
the only men who take much interest in the science, and 
the Netherlands have yet to organize a society which 
will combine the labors of the lawyers and medical men, 
as in France or our own country. 
The Netherland Society of Psycliiatrie is at present 
the foremost society in Holland so far as Mental Medi- 
cine goes, and embraces in its membership the leading 
Alienists of that country, it hears the same relation 
to Holland that the Society of Mental Medicine of Bel- 
gium does to that country. 
RUSSIA 
is devoting more study to the subject. Her great society 
is the Society of Psychiatry of St. Petersburgh. She has 
no Medico-Legal Society. She has a very able body of 
Alienists. Prof. Mierzejewsky, is President of the Rus- 
sian Society and editor of the Journal Archives of Psy- 
chiatry Neurology and Legal Psycopathology, and Prof. 
Kowalewskv, editor of the Messenger of clinical and INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
Legal Psychology and Nervous Pathology of Kharkoff 
are among the foremost writers and thinkers among 
the Russian students of Forensic Medicine on the medi- 
cal side, while George Dragondorf of Dorpat Russia is 
the foremost of the Russian Toxicologists. 
We learn that a new journal has been established in 
St. Petersburgh, Russia, devoted to Medico-Legal Science 
and Public Hygiene, edited by Dr. Schmullef, but we 
have not as yet seen a copy of this journal. 
SCANDINAVIA. 
Prof. Axel Key, editor of Del Kongelige Sundlieds 
Kollegiums etc., of Copenhagen, Denmark, is the leading 
exponent of Forensic Medicine in the Scandinavian 
countries, and his journal the highest authority there. 
A leading Journal is Fordsand Svenska Lakare Salcs- 
kapts, at Stockholm in Sweden. 
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. 
We do not know as much of Spain and Portugal in 
their relation to Forensic Medicine as we hope to. 
Steps were taken to organize work on the science at 
Lisbon during the past year, which we shall watch with 
interest, and hope to hear of good fruits from the action. 
The science is not neglected in the Spanish universities, 
but there is no Society of Medical Jurisprudence in these 
countries that we are aware of. 
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. 
We hope during the coming year to learn more of the INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK' BELL, ESQ. 
19 
progress of Medical Jurisprudence in the Spanish speak- 
ing countries of the Western Hemisphere and the 
Islands, and to come into nearer and more intimate 
scientific relations with them. We do not believe that any 
Medico-Legal Society, common to lawyers and medical 
men, yet exists among them. 
ORIGINAL PAPERS. 
Members desiring to contribute papers should address 
the President. More are now offered than can be re- 
ceived, but that should not limit the number from which 
selections should be made. So far as possible preference 
will be given to members, but contributions from non- 
members are solicited, and must he conceded to be of 
great value, it is by calling for these contributions 
that cases occurring of interest come to our notice. 
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF MEDICAL 
JURISPRUDENCE. 
I think the time has now come when this Society 
should take the necessary steps to hold a Congress of 
Medical Jurisprudence, in the City of New York, either 
in the fall of 1888, or the spring of 1889, for a full and 
complete discussion of the more important subjects now 
uppermost. 
To this Congress we should invite as our guests, to be 
entertained by our members, during its session of at 
least three days, representative men from all countries. 20 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CLARK BELL, ESQ. 
A Committee should at once he named, to agree upon 
the subjects of discussion, and to take the preliminary 
steps, to secure contributions and papers, from the most 
distinguished Medico-Legal Jurists who cannot attend 
in person, and to fix the date of the Congress. A com- 
mittee should be named regarding proposed reforms in 
Execution of Criminals now before our State Legisla- 
tion. 
Believing that this body, can do its best work through 
carefully selected Committees, I shall ask your authority 
to constitute them, for the various objects recommended 
if they meet with your favor. 
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS. 
Renewing the recommendations of my last inaugural 
address, as to the election of a State or National Chemist, 
under the pay of the Government, to be at the service 
of accused persons or the Government in criminal trials, 
and the establishment of the Morgue in this city on a 
scientific basis, after that of Paris, France, I congratu- 
late the Society on its continued career of usefulness 
and prosperity, and shall hope to unite with officers and 
members, in the labors of another year, in that zealous 
spirit, for the advancement of the science, that has dis- 
tinguished the previous labors of the body, and made 
the fame of the Society, conspicuous, during its career 
of a little more than twenty years since its formation.