and a better aim at accuracy in the application of remedies. The surgeon cannot afford to be slovenly and careless in such matters. His success depends entirely upon correct diagnosis and precision in the application of curative agencies.

WHAT IS REQUIRED BY PHYSICIANS.

Medical men cannot be denominated a favored class-a fortunate set who enjoy sinecures. Among them are few men of leisure. Most of them are on active duty, like soldiers "at the front." Every night their sleep is likely to be disturbed. Theirs is an avocation which admits of no excuses; and for physicians there are no holidays. They must travel bad roads in stormy weather; and sometimes it seems as if the very fates had conspired against them. An approaching plague is reported, and all who can will flee to the mountains-save the physician; he must remain to take care of the poor who are unable to seek healthier retreats. Cholera and yellow fever, with ghostly insignia, stalk into our streets, and the doctor makes hourly visits to the abodes of the stricken and dying. Valiant committees are distributing aid at the doors of the sick, yet the noble bands know little till they hear from the medical corps. The reports are unfavorable; the scourge is on the increase. Several over-worked physicians have fallen victims to stifled air and the pestilence. Who shall fill the vacant places? The distressed city calls for medical volunteers, and does it call in vain? Let Norfolk and Memphis answer. The medical man is a philanthrophist and a hero. On the battle-field and in the fever-smitten camp the courage and endurance of the physician stand unchallenged.

In the sick room, where a confiding patient anxiously awaits the doctor's coming, there is a smile of renewed hope when the announcement is made that the longed for is here! The wailing child, whose thread of life seems of utmost tenuity, is under the doctor's charge; and solicitous parents have placed the precious treasure in the hands of him in whom all confidence is reposed. Are they to be disappointed? What a responsibility to assume! If he lose he is as deserving of praise

as if he won, yet who is appreciative enough to bestow the due reward?

The unprofessional, in idle curiosity, may wish to know a doctor's feelings under trying circumstances, and desire to pry into the secrets of medicine; but "only those who brave its dangers comprehend its mysteries."

SCHEDULE B.

STATUS OF ECLECTIC MEDICINE.

CONSTITUTION-Article V.-"It shall be the duty of the President to appoint Committees of persons in every State having in it a State Eclectic Medical Society, to attend the meetings of the Eclectic Medical Societies of the States in which they respectfully reside, and to report in writing at the annual meeting of this Association the prosperity, membership and condition of such Societies, and such facts in regard to the welfare and prospects of Reformed Medicine in the States as shall appear to them of importance. Their reports, or a proper abstract of them shall be included in the published Transactions of this Association."

ARKANSAS.

RUSSELLVILLE, June 8th, 1883. Alexander Wilder, M. D., Secretary, etc.:

DEAR DOCTOR :-In regard to the Status of Eclecticism in the State of Arkansas, I take pleasure in reporting the progress which has been made. Our State Association met at Conway, May 16th, 1883. There was an increase of membership and interest. Many scientific papers were read that would pass muster anywhere, and interesting cases in practice were reported and discussed. The President in the evening delivered a public address, setting forth in an effective manner the

distinctive features of the Eclectic practice and its superiority over the old, greatly to the enlightenment and appreciation of the audience. The members of our Association are harmonious and full of enthusiasm, and the Association is becoming a power in the State.

The officers elected for the coming year are as follows: President, J. M. Park, M. D., Cabot; First Vice-President, J. J. Jones, M. D., Conway; Second Vice-President, J. M. Yancey, M. D., Russellville; Secretary, L. E. Cook, M. D., Russellville; Corresponding Secretary, J. F. Bell, M. D., Cabot ; Treasurer, J. W. Pruitt, M. D., Russellville.

The next annual meeting will be held at Cabot, on Wednesday, May 21st, 1884.

J. W. PRUITT, M. D.

CALIFORNIA.

318 SUTTER ST., SAN FRANCISCO, May 27, 1883.

Dr. A. Wilder, Secretary, etc.:

Your Committee on the Status of Eclectic Medicine for the State of California reports as follows: The early days of Eclecticism in this State were clouded by the actions of a number of charlatans who assumed our name and attempted to force honest Eclectics to assist them in repelling the attacks of other physicians. They had, indeed, at one time, through their boldness and combination, almost captured our State Society; but, thanks to a judicious medical law, and the efforts of true Eclectics, they have been routed, many retiring in disorder from the field, while the least objectionable among them remain in quiet oblivion. We are now steadily increasing in numbers and influence, and hope that in a few more years ours will become the prevailing popular practice of medicine throughout the State. We have an excellent institution, the California Medical College, (Eclectic), in the city of Oakland, a few minutes ride from San Francisco, and a journal (The California Medical Journal), that will compare favorably with most of those published in the Eastern States. The hand of death has been busy among the foumders of our College, laying low such men as Doctors Webb, McRae,

Bundy and Kendrick; yet we have been able to maintain a full corps of competent professors, and the classes have steadily increased both in numbers and excellence of material. Our standard is as high as the highest, and our graduates will not take a back seat for any in the land. Our College is now in its fifth year and may be considered one of the established institutions of the country. The address of the Dean, Dr. D. Maclean, is 324 Sutter street, San Francisco.

The fortunes of our State Medical Society have varied during the eight years of its existence; but it is now peaceful, successful and respectable. It contains over fifty contributing members. The non-payers are dropped after three years of arrears.

The officers for 1883 are: President, D. Maclean, M. D., of San Francisco; First Vice-President, F. Cornwall, M. D., of San Francisco; Second Vice-President, J. A. McKee, of Williams; Recording Secretary, M. H. Logan, M. D., of San Francisco; Corresponding Secretary, A. S. Cook, M. D., of San Francisco; Treasurer, O. P. Warren, M. D., of Oakland; Censors, Geo. G. Gere, San Francisco, H. T. Webster, Oakland, and A. W. Bixby, Watsonville; State Board of Examiners, Doctors Maclean, Gere, Schmitz, Cornwall, Coleman and Herzstein, of San Francisco, and Dr. Warren, of Oakland.

We have a balance in the treasury of about one hundred and fifty dollars, and "owe no man anything." At the last session of the Society nine members were admitted and one withdrew. We appoint five committees of five members each to investigate the physiological and therapeutical action of five different remedial agents, and report at the December meeting. I will mention the names of the chairmen of the committees, with the subject of their investigations for this year, hoping that any physician having special experience with or knowledge of any of these remedies will be kind enough to communicate any facts of importance regarding them to the chairman of the proper committee.

Committee on Ustilago Maidis, Dr. A. W. Bixby, Watsonville, Cal.

Committee on Faborandi, Dr. H. T. Webster, Oakland, Cal.

Committee on Iris Versicolor, Dr. O. P. Warren, San Francisco, Cal.

Committee on Mangifera Indica, Dr. Geo. G. Gere, San Francisco, Cal.

Committee on Apis Mellifica, Dr. M. H. Logan, San Francisco, Cal.

Hoping for a successful session of the National,

I am, respectfully yours,

GEO. G. GERE, M. D.

CONNECTICUT.

To the President of the National Eclectic Medical Association: The Eclectic Medical Society of Connecticut met at Hartford on Tuesday, May 8, 1883. The following officers were elected President, Theodore Brockway, M. D., New Hartford; Secretary, N. D. Hodgkins, Rocky Hill.

There are about one hundred members of the State Society; also a large number of practitioners variously classified that are not enumerated with any society, many of whom practice. medicine after the Eclectic methods. So far as I am able to ascertain the members of the Society, the greater part of them, are in prosperous circumstances, possessing good reputation as practitioners and a respectable practice.

The interest manifested in the State Association has increased very much in the past four years. The Society grows stronger yearly, and its meetings are much better attended. Connecticut was early a battle-ground between the Old School and the Reformers. As early as 1836 a strong Thomsonian Society was organised at Hartford. After ten years of persistent effort a Charter was received from the Legislature in 1847. The Society was incorporated as the Botanico-Medical Association. The provision of this Charter allowed its licentiates full legal status as physicians and surgeons. A period was thus put to legal prosecutions against "irregular" practitioners.

About this time one Dr. Frost, of Bridgeport, was tried for his life for murdering a man with mandrake. From 1848 to 1854 the rapid progress in medical knowledge and general science rendered it impossible for all the practitioners of the