In the matter of education, great improvement is everywhere demanded in the proper development and culture of the body as well as of the mind; and no class of men can point out the way, or explain the principles whereby this can be accomplished so well as medical men. Then in the halls of legislation and in the management of public institutions, where the health and lives of multitudes are concerned, the voice and influence of our profession should always be recognized, and possess far greater power and authority than have been given them hitherto. Complaints have been made that unjust prejudices exist in some portions of the community against the regular profession of medicine, that it does not command the respect and influence in New-England that is found to exist in the West and South, and that in point of rank and character it falls much below the position assigned to it in Great Britain and other European nations. Whether there may be any just cause for this complaint or not, one thing is very certain—the time is approaching when the relations between the profession and the public must in some respects change. With the rapid increase of intelligence in the community, with a more general diffusion of physiological and sanitary knowledge, accompanied by a disposition on the part of the people to form their own opinions in all medical matters, a higher and broader education will be required. The demand will be for those means and qualifications, which can be applied directly for the prevention of disease as

well as for its cure; the physician must become the medical counsellor and teacher, as well as the adviser and administrator of drugs.

As a consequence, the services of men thus educated will be more highly appreciated and better compensated. The higher a people rise in true civilization, the greater the value attached to life; and the more clearly they understand that the means for preserving health and prolonging life depend upon human agency, the more readily will they seek, as well as appreciate, those means.

Is not the preservation of life as important and valuable as that of property? And can any reasons be given why services for protecting and saving the one should not be as well compensated as those for preserving the other?

Wherever in Great Britain the most interest has been awakened in reference to health and sanitary reform, such remedial services have been in demand. In 1872,* when certain new and important laws on sanitary reform were passed by Parliament, in which liberal provision was made for. the employment of a large number of medical men to see that these laws were enforced in all parts of the kingdom, a singular fact became apparent that, in many localities, it was difficult to find physicians fully competent for the service. Should

* It seems, by recent intelligence, that some reaction is taking place in sanitary reform in Great Britain, in consequence of the Acts passed in 1872 undertaking to accomplish so much, together with changes of membership in the new Parliament. As the objects intended by this reform are so important, and have enlisted so many able advocates, this reaction can be only temporary.

our national or state government take similar steps in legislation, we fear the same fact would prove true in our own country.

Within a few years we have had very able and warm discussions upon the importance of a higher standard of education for admission into the profession. This is all well; but would not the influence and usefulness of men, who have been for a longer or shorter period engaged in medical practice, be more widely extended if they could generally take a still higher stand in all matters pertaining to education, to literature, to the sciences, to the arts, and in every department of culture and refinement? In an age and amidst a people very much devoted to worldliness and the accumulation of wealth, there is great danger of our prostituting the principles of a noble science to mere gain. Inasmuch as material interests and external display too often constitute at the present day the standard of influence and association, a strong temptation is presented to lower the aims and narrow the bounds of our professional duties. While following an avocation upon which we must depend for support, and in which there are powerful inducements to resort to such means and expedients as will afford the largest income, let us show that we can be governed by a nobler aim, a purer motive. In no way can this be so effectually exhibited as in diffusing such knowledge as is calculated to preserve health—to prevent disease. At no former period in the history of medicine has such a field for doing good been laid open to

the profession.

The demand for useful knowledge, the increasing interest in science and the spirit of reform-all favor improvement in this direction. A review also of the past affords encouragement. For no class of men have ever done so much to promote the interests of humanity or of physical welfare as the medical profession. There is scarcely a practitioner of medicine any where, in city or country, who does not give, every day, more or less of his services to the poor. As a citizen, the physician is called upon to give his share of time and labor, either with others or alone, to promote in various ways the interests of the public interests, perhaps, connected with some association, school or church. In cities,

most valuable services are contributed gratuitously towards the support of dispensaries, infirmaries, hospitals, and other similar institutions. Besides, in all philanthropic and benevolent organizations, the profession has had its full share of representatives; and in the higher fields of education and literature, it has always had its earnest workers; while in the cultivation and advancement of the sciences generally, we may say, it has uniformly taken the lead. In fact, without disparagement to any other class or profession, we may safely state that our profession has been first and foremost in the promotion of every department of science, whether useful or ornamental. The public owe to it a debt of gratitude, which cannot be repaid or easily cancelled, for some of the most valuable discoveries and applications of science.

This work of discovery, of philanthropy and of benevolence, we trust, is not wholly done. If the happiness and welfare of man have thus been, to any extent, promoted, if the interests of civilization have been advanced by such discoveries and services in the past, richer and more inviting fields of usefulness await the profession in the future. Language cannot describe the value, the importance, the utility of the application of physiological, hygienic and sanitary laws. It is the special duty and privilege of the medical profession to expound these laws and take the lead in their promotion.

Mr. President and Fellows:

As we celebrate this Anniversary, we should not overlook the changes that death is making in our ranks. In the congratulations and festivities of the day, let us then call to mind the memories and services of our comrades, our brothers who have fallen! The names of twenty-five Fellows and three Honorary Members of the Society are reported as having deceased since our last annual meeting. That great Destroyer, whose power they had long and faithfully striven to avert from others, has at last triumphed in their own persons over all the art and skill which they or loving friends could command. In the case of several, death came suddenly, apparently without a moment's warning, while others were forewarned by pains so often repeated and long continued, that they prayed to be relieved from their sufferings.