EXECUTIVE ADDRESS 
AND 
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION. 
By the President, Rudolph Matas, M. D., 
New Orleans, La. 
[Extract from Proceedings Louisiana State Medical Society, Session 1895.] ■ EXECUTIVE ADDRESS 
AND 
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION. 
By the President, Rudolph Matas, M. D. 
New Orleans. 
Gentlemen—In compliance with the duties of my office as 
your chief executive, as specifically provided in Art. Ill, Sec. 1 
and Art. IV, Sec. 3, of our Constitution and By-laws, I must 
now submit to you my report as chairman of the Committee 
on Organization. 
Before proceeding with the text of my report proper I deem 
it necessary to take a cursory glance at the stirring events that 
immediately followed our last annual meeting, in May, 1894, 
and which so happily culminated in the final passage through the 
Legislature, on June 29tli, of Senate Bill No. 90, entitled: “ An 
Act to Regulate the Pr actice of Medicine and to create a State 
Board of Medical Examiners in Louisiana.” I shall also direct 
your attention to the fact that all the efforts of the executive 
were concentrated in assuring the success of this all-important 
measure, and, subsequently, in the realization of the preliminary 
steps, such as the election and organization of the Board of Ex- 
aminers, as provided by the new law. To cover these essential 
preliminary-and official conditions we were compelled to call a 
special meeting of the society, which was held July 31st, with the 
happy results which are now permanently recorded in Appendix 
C of the 15th Volume of Transactions. 
It was not until the business connected with that meeting 
was concluded that we were able to direct our attention to the 
important subject of organization. 2 
MEDICAL DIRECTORY. 
We were confronted at tlie very outset by a serious difficulty 
which has been realized, I am sure, by all those who, like myself, 
have been officially called upon to devise or suggest measures for 
the systematic organization of the medical profession in this State. 
This obstacle consisted in the lack of a complete and reliable 
directory to the medical profession in our State. Many partial 
lists of the physicians of Louisiana have been published at va- 
rious times, some better than others, but none that were even 
approximately complete; none which could be depended upon 
to give a numerical estimate of the forces available for medical 
organization in this State. As I have stated in the introduction 
to Appendix G of the 15th Volume of Transactions, “it was 
thought at one time that the law of 1882, which made the regis- 
tration of all practitioners in the office of the State Board of 
Health a compulsory requirement, would have eventually fur- 
nished the necessary data for a reliable directory; but, unfortu- 
nately, for reasons which need not be specified, the law was pur- 
posely evaded or involuntarily disregarded, so that only a very 
incomplete compilation was obtained. Nevertheless, the annual 
publication of the official register, though incomplete, was a val- 
uable document, and was much appreciated as a help by the offi- 
cers of this society. It was, therefore, with great regret that the 
profession recived the announcement of the suspension of this 
valuable publication in 1893, which had been previously pub- 
lished annually by the State since 1883. The cessation of this 
publication has been most keenly felt at this moment, when the 
creation of two Boards of State Medical Examiners, one regular 
and one homoepathic, have made it evident that a comprehensive 
directory of the medical profession in Louisiana was an essential 
requisite to the proper notification of the profession with a view to 
the enforcement of the new medical law of 1894. It should be re- 
membered that the present law, which is intended to regulate the 
practice of medicine by creating a Board of Medical Exam- 
iners, is the outcome solely of the persistent efforts of this society; 
and this body is, therefore, deeply concerned and practically 
responsible for the success of the Board of Examiners because the 
appointees are selected by the Governor exclusively from its 
membership. With this understanding of the situation, and in 
view also of the great value of a more perfect registry of Louis- 3 
iana practitioners to the officers of this society, I decided, with the 
approval and aid of the Vice Presidents and other officers, to 
undertake the compilation of a directory that would be of service 
to both the Board of Medical Examiners and to the members of 
this society. With this object in view, printed slips containing 
the official registry of the pliysicans in each parish, according to 
the list published by the State Board of Health in 1S93. were 
sent, with an appropriate blank, to each one of the Vice Presi- 
dents, who were recpiested to make additions or corrections to 
the list, according to the most reliable information obtainable, 
through correspondents in each one of the parishes in their 
respective Congressional Districts. The ATice Presidents all dili- 
gently seconded the efforts of the chairman in securing reliable 
returns; but, notwithstanding their efforts, it is to be regretted 
that they were not uniformly successful. The First, Second 
and Fourth Congressional Districts were comparatively complete 
and satisfactory, certainly as complete as it was possible to 
make them by a vigorous and conscientious inquiry in each one 
of the parishes in the districts. Returns from the other districst 
were not obtained to the satisfaction of the Vice Presidents, but, 
nevertheless, the directories for these districts are more complete 
than any hitherto published. To the lists furnished by the Vice 
Presidents have been added all names registered in the Board of 
Health from 1893 to December, 1891. And many names were 
added to the list from the records of the regular Board of Exam- 
iners by its efficient Secretary, Dr. Cocram. 
Notwithstanding the pains taken to secure accurate reports 
from the parishes, the directory, for some of these is, to say the 
least, still very unsatisfactory, and should be considered only as 
a provisional guide with the hope that it will serve as a basis for 
a more complete registry in the future, should the society decide 
to continue its publication. 
MEDICAL FORCES IN LOUISIANA THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR 
ORGANIZATION. 
An analysis of this compilation reveals that at the time of 
the publication of this directory, February 12, 1895, the practi- 
tioners of medicine in Louisiana could be classified as follows : 4 
Graduates of all classes 1,315 
Licensed without diplomas , 212 
Total practitioners 1,527 
Licentiates of the Board of Examiners since the publication 
of the directory, and up to April 25, 1895 71 
Total to April 25 1,598 
If we now examine this list from the standpoint of organiza- 
tion we will be compelled to deduct the following from the above, 
in order to make an approximate estimate of the available num- 
ber that would be qualified for membership in our society : 
Deduct licensed without diplomas 212 
Deduct doubtful graduates •. 89 
Deduct liomoepaths, eclectics and other sectarians, about.. 50 
Total non-available 351 
Therefore 1,598 
Less 351 
Approximate available graduates 1,247 
NUMERICAL STRENGTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIETY’S 
MEMBERSHIP. 
Now, coming back to our society, we find that our list of 
permanent members at our last meeting embraces 379 names ; it 
will be safe to state that since the last meeting the new accessions 
will swell the list to at least 400 active permanent members. 
The rate of progress in the growth of the society’s member - 
bersliip is difficult to estimate because the complete membership 
roll has not been recorded until the last four years. We know, 
however, that in 1878 there were 79 members at the meeting of 
organization. 
In 1879, 31 were added to the list or 110 
In 1880, 18 more were added. or 128 
In 1881, 7 more were added or 135 
In 1882, there was no meeting. 
In 1883, 5 new names were added or 140 
In 1884, 22 or 162 
In 1885, 18 or 178 5 
In 1886, 12 or 188 
In 1887, 17 or 195 
In 1888, 19 or 204 
In 1889, 17 or 221 
In 1890, there was no meeting. 
In 1891, 14 new names were added or 235 
In 1892, 63 new names were added or 298 
In 1893, total 280 
In 1894, 109 or 379 
If we estimate the number of practitioners of medicine with 
a diploma who are eligible to membership in round numbers at 
1,200, we will see that our society represents on the basis of a 
membership of 400, about 331 of our available medical popula- 
tion. 
Our total permanent membership at the close of the session 
of 1894 amounted to 379 names. Of these 120 were contributed 
by the city, so that nearly 32 per cent, of the society’s member- 
ship (or nearly one-third) was contributed by the city physicians. 
If we admit that the membership of the society will be increased 
to 400 at the close of the present session we will probably see the 
same proportion maintained. 
In his annual address, in 1892, President Elliott estimated 
the number of practioners who were available for membership 
at 1,100, and of these 300 were residents of the city. The total 
membership of the society then amounted to 198, of whom 53 
were residents of this city, and 153 belonged to the State at large, 
showing that 18 per cent, of the profession of the State are mem- 
bers, while in the city and country, respectively, the profession is, 
for the city, a fraction below, and for the country, a proportion 
above 18 per cent, of the practitioners. 
It is, of course, impossible to estimate at this moment the net 
gain in members that we will be able to record at the end of the 
present session, but it is exceedingly gratifying to note that since 
April, 1893, to May, 1894, the society’s membership was nearly 
double, so that instead of 18 per cent, we are able to register 
331 per cent, of the total available medical population in our 
membership. It is to be fervently hoped that the splendid record 
of last year’s session, under the pre-eminently successful admin- 
istration of my lamented predecessor, will be again repeated, or 
even approximated. 6 
PARISHES IN WHICH THE STATE SOCIETY IS NOT REPRESENTED. 
Turning, now, to another phase of our representative func- 
tions, we notice that out of the 59 parishes in the State 47 are 
represented in our membership, or over 70 per cent, of the whole 
parish constituency. 
The profession, however, in 12 parishes still remains without 
representatives in our society; these are: 
Caldwell. 8 graduates. 
Cameron, 5 graduates. 
Catahoula, 10 graduates. 
Concordia, 6 graduates. 
Franklin, 11 graduates. 
Sabine, 13 graduates. 
St. Bernard, 3 graduates. 
St. Martin, 9 graduates. 
Tensas, 13 graduates. 
Union, 33 graduates. 
West Baton Rouge, 5 graduates. 
West Carroll, 6 graduates. 
A total of 82 physicians in 13 parishes who have failed, up 
to the opening of this session, to seek representation in our 
society. 
This is a decided improvement, however, over the records 
of 1893, when, according to President Elliott’s careful estimate, 
out of 59 parishes 20, instead of the present 12, were not repre- 
sented in our society. In 1893, 10 parishes were only represented 
by a single member each. At the close of the session of 1894, the 
mumber of parishes represented by one member had been reduced 
to 5, so that there is marked improvement in this respect. 
Nevertheless, when we consider that a territory embraced 
by seventeen parishes is only represented by five members, and 
that the total representation of the medical profession of the 
State amounts to 331 per cent, of the whole, instead of the 66 
per cent, that should be obtained to constitute a numerically 
representative organization, we must recognize that our labors in 
this field are not ended, and that much remains to be done before 
we can claim that our ideal has been realized. 7 
THE FAILURE OF SYSTEMATIC MEDICAL ORGANIZATION IN 
THE PARISHES. 
In marked contrast with the notable increase in permanent 
membership and with the corresponding evidence of greater 
material prosperity and intellectual vigor which has been dis- 
played by our society in the last four years, we must painfully 
recognize the confirmed, if not increasing decadence of local 
medical organization in the country parishes. 
Our constitution distinctly states that it shall be the duty of 
the Committee on Organization “to use all practical means to 
organize the medical profession in local societies throughout the 
State,” etc. 
This has been the aim of all my predecessors, until 1893, 
when, after an experience of fifteen years, during which the 
efforts of our executive has been constantly directed towards the 
realization of this end, it was clearly recognized that this plan of 
organization had proved a failure in our State. In his second 
annual address, in 1893, President Elliott, while commenting 
upon the indifference of the parishes to systematic organization, 
was forced to the conviction that our present system was faulty 
and needed revision. 
“ The feeble interest taken in onr central body by these 
affiliated societies makes me still believe,” he said, “that a strong- 
central State organization is more potent for good than a weak 
central body with many remote and feeble branches. A visible 
embodiment of power has upon each one of us and upon the 
public a far more stimulating and impressive effect than can the 
assembling of a few representatives from our parish societies. 
Fifteen years of experience has taught us that the latter plan has 
not proved successful. Broad and wide in its conception it never- 
theless makes the success of the society dependent upon too many 
possible sources of failure, while here and there, where popula- 
tion is concentrated, parish societies have shown great force and 
vigor; the great majority of these societies are feeble, and them- 
selves need some source from which they can draw life and 
inspiration.” 
This opinion was again emphatically confirmed by my imme- 
diate predecessor, President Miles, who after noting the increas- 8 
ing languor in parish organization, also believe that the efforts 
of the administration should be directed chiefly to building a 
powerful and self-sustaining central body. 
The experience gained during my administration disconrag- 
ingly but conclusively confirms the conviction of my eminent 
predecessors. The reports of our Treasurer and Corresponding 
Secretary plainly tell the whole story and prove conclusively that 
our society would have long ago ceased to exist had it derived 
its support solely from the contributions of the affiliated societies. 
The Treasurer’s report for 1893 tells us that out of thirteen socie- 
ties that were then in affiliation only two had paid their dues in 
full for 1893, and these were the Avoyelles and the Orleans Par- 
ish Medical Societies. We are fortunate this year in being able 
to present a more creditable showing, for, in addition to these 
societies, other societies, viz: those of Morehouse, Ouachita and 
Plaquemines, have complied with the obligations of affiliation. 
Our list of effective or bona fide affiliated societies is there- 
fore limited to five. 
Grateful as we must feel for the staunch loyalty of these 
societies, we cannot fail to recognize that this is not a brilliant 
result after seventeen years of almost consecutive prayer and 
preaching on the subject of parish organization. 
This condition of affairs is one that demands the serious at- 
tention of this body because it affects the very foundation—the 
guiding principle of the framers of our constitution. When our 
society was reorganized in 1878 it was stated by the committee 
(of which Prof. Richardson was chairman) appointed to solicit 
the co-operation of the profession in organizing the present State 
Society, that among other advantages ‘ ‘ it was only through the 
formation and maintenance of numerous parish societies that the 
State Society may be made successful,” and that “it is only by the 
formation of such parish societies which shall act in concert 
with the State Society that the profession can hope ever to ac- 
complish any thing whatever in the inauguration and promo 
tion of the State medicine,” etc. 
These suggestions were evidently taken as the basis of our or- 
ganization, and our present constitution, which was first published 
in 1879, reflects the same spirit and in every article indicates that 9 
this is the great aim and purpose of our society, i. e., to become 
ultimately an assembly of representatives or delegates from 
a completely organized parish constituency. 
OUR CONDITIONS APPARENTLY NOT YET FAVORABLE TO 
SYSTEMATIC PARISH ORGANIZATION. 
But time and experience liave proven that our conditions— 
whatever these may be—are not favorable for the development, 
growth and maintenance of the splendid structure that our 
elders had fondly hoped to build in our unpropitious soil. 
On the contrary, notwithstanding the devoted and unceasing 
appeals of our executive officers, the society languished and would 
have crumbled into dust by this time had it not been rescued by 
the saving clause, which permits this society to encourage indi- 
vidual or so-called 11 permanent membership” apart from asso- 
ciate membership, by affiliation. The growth and prosperity of 
the society during the last three years, especially by the compara- 
tively rapid additions of individual members, has proven that 
great results can be obtained in the most difficult field of organized 
medical effort—State medicine—by a body of individual repre- 
sentatives from the parishes annually assembled from all portions 
of the State to voice the needs of the people and of the profession. 
While this is certainly not the ideal system of securing the 
most effective professional organization, we must accept our pres- 
ent system as the best adapted to our peculiar local conditions, and 
we must be thankful that, defective as it is in principle, it has 
already done so much in the furtherance of our beneficent purpose. 
THE SOCIETY’S PLAN OF ORGANIZATION HAS CHANGED AND 
THE CONDITIONS OF AFFILIATION ALTERED. 
As our system of organization, if I may so term it, has grad- 
ually drifted away from the plan so plainly laid down in our 
constitution, it is obvious that the time has come when we must 
consider a revision of our organic laws in order that they may 
be adapted to our altered conditions. The necessity for an early 
revision becomes an imperative duty, if we are to do justice to 
the few faithful societies that have so loyally maintained their 
allegiance in the midst of so many discouraging circumstances. 
As well stated by President Miles, “ our regulations provide for 
the assessment of all affiliated societies in proportion to the mini- 10 
ber of delegates to which they are entitled.” If these rules were 
enforced under the conditions at present existing the burden of 
maintenance would fall heavily on a minority of the members. 
Art. VII, Sec. 1, of the Constitution, relating to this matter can- 
not at this time, in equity, be enforced. Our society has gradu- 
ally resolved itself into an organization of permanent members, 
and delegates of affiliated societies are virtually without recog- 
nition. Thus it seems unfair that a few affiliated societies ex- 
isting should be taxed for the maintenance of the State Society. 
Therefore, the question that now awaits solution may be 
stated as follows: 
Shall we, in view of the unsatisfactory results thus far ob- 
tained, dispense entirely with the plan of systematic parish 
organization into affiliated societies, and eliminate, in toto, from 
our constitution all the clauses referring to affiliated societies 
and associated membership? Or, shall we still vigorously con- 
tinue to encourage the systematic organization of the parish 
societies, but simplify the conditions of affiliation or allegiance 
until such time shall come when the organization of a sufficient 
number will permit of a return to the original delegate system ? 
I am decidedly in favor of the last proposition. It will be a 
material loss to diminish the yearly contribution from our main 
pillar—the Orleans Parish Society—but the dignity of a State So- 
ciety and an ordinary sense of justice demand that we should 
cease to impose a heavy tribute upon one society, especially 
when we consider that it is composed,.in the large majority, of 
our permanent members, in addition to the generous and expen- 
sive hospitality which it has for years voluntarily imposed upon 
itself for our entertainment. 
. A REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION RECOMMENDED. 
To make my position clear in this matter, I would repeat that 
we must revise our constitution in order to simplify the conditions 
of affiliation so they may be made as little burdensome as pos- 
sible upon our organized constituency. I would also recommend 
that in this revision we provide for a system of official represen- 
tation in all the parishes in which this society has resident mem- 
bers. The germ of this suggestion was tirst presented in the ad- 
dress of President Newton, in 1889, when he recommended that 
an auxiliary committee of one member for each parish in this 11 
State, acting under the auspices of their respective Vice Presi- 
dents, should be provided for by constitutional amendment, mak- 
ing it the special duty of these to urge upon physicians in their 
respective parishes the importance and advantages to be obtained 
from the formation of medical societies in their midst. 
President Elliott, in his admirable address of 1892, independ- 
ently reached the same conclusion. He, very convincingly, states: 
1 1 Experience has taught me that very small results can be ex- 
pected from printed letters, circulars, postal cards, and such 
efforts through the mails. The universal use of the mails for 
advertising purposes makes each one of us immediately discount 
the importance of communications received in this way. Our 
daily mail brings us numbers of circulars of this nature which are 
speedily cast aside and forgotten, simply because they are general 
circulars. We have grown into the idea that nothing treated in 
this general way can be of much importance, or that which is 
intended for a thousand others cannot suffer much through my 
individual neglect.” 
The personal method seems to be the only successful one, and 
some efforts made by members of our body in the past prove its 
utility and suggest a feasible plan. 
This plan is: 
That this society shall appoint in each parish one of its mem- 
bers as a Committee on New Members, and that it shall be the duty 
of this committeeman to present personally the claims of this 
society to each regular and reputable physician in his parish, 
and to report the work accomplished to the Vice President for 
his Congressional District by March 1st of each year. 
He adds: 11 If the selection of the right man in each parish can 
be accomplished I feel convinced that our membership can be 
increased rapidly.” 
I have referred to this recommendation at some length 
because, notwithstanding the emphatic stress laid upon it by 
Presidents Newton and Elliott, and the recommendations for its 
adoption given by the committees appointed to consider the sug- 
gestions of the President, it has really never been given an offi- 
cial and satisfactory trial. After seriously considering the vari- 
ous plans that have been suggested by all our Presidents with the 
view of increasing our membership, none have appeared to me 
more practical and likely to accomplish good results than this. 12 
THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE TO REPRESENT THE SOCIETY 
IN EACH PARISH RECOMMENDED. 
I would, therefore, again repeat the recommendation urging 
that the President elect, officially appoint a committeeman or 
representative of the society in each parish and in each ward of 
the city of New Orleans, whose duty it shall be— 
(1) To solicit the co-operation of every reputable physician 
in his parish in the effort to increase our membership. 
(2) To prepare a correct list of all practitioners of medicine 
in his parish; their ethical status from the standpoint of their 
qualifications for membership in this society, where graduated, 
and the date of graduation. 
(The object of this list is that we may annually correct our 
directory of physicians in order that a complete and reliable 
registry of the medical profession in this State may be obtained 
and its annual revision facilitated.) 
(3) He shall prepare a brief report on the medical topo- 
graphy, prevailing diseases, climatology and other local condi- 
tions that may be peculiar or of interest from the medical stand- 
point in his parish. 
(4) He shall report the result of his labors before March 
1st of each year to the Vice President of his Congressional 
District. 
I would furthermore suggest that the names of these appointees 
be published conspicuously in the annual volume of transac- 
tions as an Auxiliary Committee on Organization. 
MEANS ADOPTED DURING THE PAST YEAR TO INCREASE 
MEMBERSHIP. 
• In order to carry out this idea, I have corresponded with all 
the Vice Presidents, asking them to secure applications of good 
men from the parishes in which our representation is defective, 
and especially in the twelve parishes, previously mentioned, in 
which we are not at all represented. In addition to a large per- 
sonal correspondence, I have sent out by mail, with the invaluable 
assistance of our faithful and efficient Corresponding Secretary, 
a number of documents to all the reputable members of the pro- 
fession whose names and addresses we could secure. 
These documents consisted in a circular letter showing the 13 
splendid results obtained by our efforts in the Legislature in se- 
curing the passage of the medical bill during the year 189f; ex- 
tracts from the constitution, showing the objects of the society; 
extracts from the by-laws, explaining the requisites for member- 
ship; application blanks; index of contents of our last volume of 
transactions. This was sent out during the early part of last 
summer, shortly before the present meeting. The same docu- 
ments were again recently sent out, with the additions of a pre- 
liminary programme of the present meeting, hoping that by these 
repeated reminders of our active existence and the evidence of 
the unquestionable progress that we have accomplished, we could 
probably induce some of the physicians of the State, who are still 
undecided, to join our ranks. Thus far eighteen applications for 
membership have been sent in, but it is hoped that before the expi- 
ration of this session we shall be able to record a far greater 
number of accessions to our ranks 
EVERY MEMBER URGED TO ACT AS SPECIAL COMMITTEEMAN 
ON ORGANIZATION. 
Finally, to conclude with my report on the subject of or- 
ganization, I shall again repeat, with President Elliott, that 
“while laying before you the suggestion of a definite method 
for the working up of our membership, let me urge upon your 
individual zeal which will make each one of you, without ap- 
pointment, act as a special committeeman upon membership. 
Those who have the interest of the society at heart sufficiently to 
bring them here will need, I trust, no word of mine to quicken 
them in this all important matter.” 
THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND ITS RELATIONS 
TO THE STATE SOCIETY. 
Intimately connected with the subject of organization and 
with the success of our society is that of our relations with the 
State Board of Medical Examiners, which is constituted by ap- 
pointees selected from our membership. The address delivered 
on the occasion of our called meeting in July dealt almost exclu- 
sively with this subject, and the recommendations made on that 
occasion are so fully recorded in Appendix C of our fifteenth 
volume of transactions that they need not be repeated to-day. 14 
Immediately after the names of the appointees of Governor 
Foster were officially announced, August 20, 1S94, the members 
of the board organized, and the law at once went into active 
operation. The board has held three meetings since its organi- 
zation, during which it lias passed on the merits of 133 appli- 
cants for the license to practice in this State. 
It is not within my province to detail the results obtained 
by the board, but in the short time (seven months) since it came 
into existence it has already given evidence of its efficiency, ac- 
tivity and ability to cope with the numerous difficulties that 
must necessarily beset the execution of any untried and repress- 
ive legislation. 
In our message to this society at the special meeting of 1894 
we said: “It is for the members of the future board to study 
carefully and critically the comparative advantages and disad- 
vantages of the present law, and to test in every practical man- 
ner the merits and defects of its executive provisions. It is ad- 
mitted by all that there are objectionable features in this act, but 
it is only by experience in its active operations and in the study 
of its results that we will be able to determine the modifications 
and additions that it will be most desirable to secure by future 
legislation.” 
Agreeably to this suggestion, the President of the board, Dr. 
Kennedy, has kindly prepared a detailed report for the present 
meeting, which will fully explain its organization; its operations, 
the results thus far obtained; the defects and imperfections that 
have been revealed by the practical applications of the law, and 
the remedies that experience has suggested are required to make 
it effective in its application. 
At the same called meeting in July, we also directed atten- 
tion to the necessity of adding a new article in our constitution 
which would permanently define and establish the official rela- 
tions of the future Board of Examiners to this society, which 
could not have been anticipated by the original framers of our 
constitution. To meet the new conditions, we appointed a com- 
mittee of three, consisting of Dr. C. Chassaignac, acting chairman 
of the Judiciary Committee; Dr. I. J. Newton, Jr., chairman of 
the Committee on State Medicine, and Dr. T. S. Kennedy, Presi- 
dent of the Board of Examiners, to present a report, which is to 
be submitted at this meeting, and which I recommend to your 
attentive consideration. 15 
I cannot dismiss this subject without referring with special 
thankfulness to the successful inauguration of this most impor- 
tant measure during the term of our administration. The claims 
of the Louisiana State Medical Society for recognition in the his- 
toric annals of this State could rest alone on the accomplishment 
of this crowning result of fifteen years of steady and laborious 
effort. By the provisions of the act the Louisiana State Medical 
Society becomes the active agent or the instrument of the law, 
and thus obtains a permanent organic status which must conduce 
to its stability as an organized body. 
Of the many important and useful legislative enactments 
that have come into existence through the instrumentality of 
this society, none can compare with this act in its far-reaching 
power for good in elevating our professional standard, in pro- 
moting the public welfare, and in assuring the permanent success 
of the organization that gave it birth. 
THE ANNUAL VOLUME OF TRANSACTIONS. 
Never in the history of this society has a volume of trans- 
actions been issued which reflected so much credit upon its mem- 
bers than the handsome and well nourished tome which records 
the proceedings of the fifteenth annual session and of the memor- 
able special meeting of July 31, 189L 
My late predecessor expressed the desire that the volume 
should be 11 to every member the most valuable work added to 
his library during the year.” Had he lived to see the fifteenth 
volume of transactions, we are confident that he would have 
agreed that his wishes had met with an enthusiastic response 
from the present administration. 
Not only lias the Publishing Committee fully carried out all 
the suggestions that were contained in the President’s address, 
but, at my solicitation, has added much other matter that will 
tend to make the volume indispensable as a work of reference to 
the medical practitioners in the State of Louisiana. The publi- 
cation of this octave volume of 537 pages, together with other 
extraordinary expenses, that were specially necessitated by the 
passage of our medical bill, have told heavily upon our finances. 
But, if we remember that the volume of transactions is the best 16 
index to our intellectual, professional and material progress, you 
will admit that it is the best investment that can be made of the 
funds of the society. 
When we consider that many of our members are com- 
pelled to remain at their homes and thus miss the direct oppor- 
tunity for professional improvement and entertaiment that is 
afforded by their meetings, we must be prepared to give them a 
quid pro quo for their dues in the shape of a really useful volume, 
rich in matters of local professional interest and information. 
It is in the nature of the average human being to soon tire 
of purely abstract theoretical claims upon his sense of duty. 
Even superior men become unreliable if their faithfulness to 
principle is not materially or practically rewarded. So it is with 
our professional brothers, we must arouse their sense of obliga- 
tion to their profession; and, after this, encourage them to main- 
tain their loyalty by actual, palpable rewards for their devotion 
to the common cause. The work of this society in the field, of 
legislation has begun to yield its fruit, but the more tangible 
reward and inducement to increased effort that we can offer our 
members is in the annual presentation of a volume which shall 
be the repository or medical treasure-house of the physician in 
Louisiana. 
THE MEDICAL DIEECTOKY. 
In pursuance of this idea and with the view of facilitating 
the labors of the executive staff, as well as for the benefit of the 
society, I would urge that the medical directory, introduced in the 
fifteenth volume of proceedings, be continued, and that the 
work of annual revision be based upon the reports of the Vice 
Presidents, who are to draw from the official representatives of 
the society in each parish for the information by the plan pre- 
viously recommended. The duty of perfecting this directory 
should devolve on the Secretary of the State Board of Medical 
Examiners, who being officially interested in the completeness 
and accuracy of the directory should be willing, without other 
inducement, to assume the responsibility of the annual revision. 
I would also recommend that the historical record, which has 
been added to the present volume by our Secretary, be continued, 
with the additional statement of the total membership at each 
session, from the date of the first meeting. This will be a vain 
able help for the ready estimation of our comparative progress. 17 
THE CONTINUED FEVERS COMMITTEE. 
The study of our continued fevers has been placed in charge 
of a general chairman, supported by several committees, who 
are to co-operate in furnishing all the available data that 
could be procured in our public charities, private hospitals and 
rural districts. The auxiliary committees that were appointed 
were numerous in members, with the hope that a general interest 
would be taken* in a work which, by common consent, is the most 
deserving of attention. 
It will be noticed that our program also announces the title 
of several papers which deal with the racial peculiarities of the 
negro from the standpoint of various specialities. This should 
form the basis of a collective study of the pathology of the negro, 
which could be continued in future with the reasonable hope 
that we would soon enlighten the profession with conclusive evi- 
dence on the controverted subjects that are involved in it. 
COMPARATIVE RACIAL PATHOLOGY IN LOUISIANA. 
Surely, if there is any field in which we can expect to throw 
some original light, it is in the field of racial pathology. Our 
forefathers labored long, earnestly and successfully in these 
fields, and the renown of the medical profession of Louisiana, in 
the ante-bellum period, was largely based upon their researches in 
the pyretology and comparative pathology afforded by the pecu- 
liarly composite population of this State. 
Researches on these subjects, which touch us so closely, 
should find a prominent place in our transactions. 
THE LATE PRESIDENT, DR. A. B. MILES. 
The brilliancy of the legislative triumph that has been scored 
by this society, in 1894, and which has made this year mem- 
orable in its annals, has been darkly clouded by the irreparable loss 
that the society has sustained in the death of its late President, 
Dr. A. B. Miles. The successful launching of our medical board, 
has only made us feel more keenly the incalculable affliction that 
has deprived it of its most powerful advocate and our profession 
one of its ablest and most beloved leaders. 
Six days before his untimely end, which no one then seri- 
ously apprehended, we met in this hall to take the first steps 18 
that were to make the golden dream of this society a positive 
reality. We all, then, deplored his absence, for it was largely due 
to his individual efforts, his prestige and influence, that the act 
creating our present Board of Examiners was passed in its present 
form by the General Assembly. I can only repeat after his death 
the public acknowledgment made during his life on the occasion 
of our electoral meeting, when I publicly expressed my great 
indebtedness to him for his loyal support, generous counsel and 
powerful influence in overcoming the final difficulties that beset 
the passage of our bill and threatened to destroy it in the lower 
house. 
It was during his administration that the society reached an 
unparalleled level of prosperity, as proven by the unprecedented 
increase in our membership. His ability, exquisite tact and 
judgment were never exhibited to greater advantage than while 
discharging the duties of the chair at our last annual meeting. 
His presence added to the dignity of our society ; his keen, 
well-balanced judgment gave weight to our discussions ; his 
magnetic influence attracted many admirers who, following 
wherever he led, enriched the society by their contributions. It 
is meet, therefore, that we should commemorate his splendid 
record and arduous devotion to our interests by some worthy 
tribute to his memory; and, to this end, I would recommend that, 
in addition to the report of the chairman of the Committee on 
Necrology, which will embody an expressive and appreciative 
memorial, that a portrait of Dr. Miles be given a conspicuous 
place in our next volume of transactions. 
THE LATE EX-PRESIDENT, DR. C. D. OWENS. 
We had not yet recovered from the crushing blow that had 
deprived us of a noble leader when we were again stricken by 
the hand of death which robbed us of another Ex-President, in 
the person of Dr. C. D. Owens, who, on the 15th of September, 
died at the Hotel Dieu in consequence of peritonitis caused by 
acute appendicitis. I shall not encroach upon the functions of 
the Committee on Necrology further than to remind you that 
Dr. Owens served as the head of our administration during two 
years of 1889-90 and 1890-91, a period of great trial for this 
society, in consequence of the general depression caused by the 
overflow of the Mississippi river. His devotion to this society 19 
is well displayed in his eloquent and polished address, deliv- 
ered before us in May, 1891. It is a forcible plea for higher 
medical education and a higher standard of qualifications to 
practice medicine. He ably reflected the spirit that lias animated 
all the Presidents of this society since its foundation, and the 
watch-words, “organization,” “culture,” “progress,” which 
were so frequently on his lips made him worthy of remembrance 
as an able exponent of the best traditions of our society. 
THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
I desire to lay stress upon the advantages of a closer rela- 
tionship with the American Medical Association than has been 
displayed by our society in the last few years. We should never 
lose sight of the intimacy of our union with the national organ- 
ization which has served as our model and guide. Our constitu- 
tion expressly states that one of the objects of the society is “to 
co-operate with the medical profession throughout the United 
States in sustaining the American Medical Association,” etc. 
There are numerous questions of great interest to us as an 
affiliated society which are annually discussed at the meetings of 
the American Medical Association, and reports of these discus- 
sions should be officially presented to us by our delegates. I be- 
lieve that the present mode of appointing delegates is really a 
mere incumbrance and a useless performance. It is advisable in 
future to appoint in the list of delegates only those who really in- 
tend to be present at the meeting of the national association. 
THE LIBRARY. 
While little can be expected in the way of building an effi- 
cient and really valuable State medical library, it should be an 
easy matter to collect a complete set of the transactions of other 
societies that would be of value for reference. A library con- 
sisting of volumes of proceedings would prove positively useful 
to our officers in the comparative study of the problems that fre- 
quently arise in the administration of our affairs. I strongly 
urge that this matter be made the subject of a detailed report, 
annually, by the Librarian, who should furnish the Secretary a list 
of all the volumes required to complete imperfect sets in order 
that they may be procured by exchange or otherwise, if possible. THE PLACE OF MEETING. 
While, personally, as a matter of convenience, I would prefer 
to attend the meetings of the society in the city, I, nevertheless, 
as one of its members, do believe that we are not furthering the 
interests of this body by continually meeting in the city. Ours 
is a State society, and we must recruit our constituency from all 
sections of the State. I therefore concur entirely with President 
Miles on this subject, and believe if our society is to be a repre- 
sentative State society it must hold its annual meetings in different 
places throughout the State. 
Finally, I must thank my associates and fellow-officers for 
their valuable eo-operatiou during my administration. Without 
depreciating the valuable services rendered by all the Vice Presi- 
dents, I believe it is only just to distinguish Vice President W. 
K. Sutherlin, of Mansfield, Fourth Congressional District, with a 
special mention for the thoroughness and promptness with which 
he complied with his obligations and for the sacrifices in time, 
money and comfort that he made to secure complete registries 
of the physicians in congressional districts.