(5.) The omnibus discussion is not intended to open the way to elaborate lectures on special diseases or on medical questions of any sort, but rather to enable the members, for their mutual instruction, to elucidate their opinions in short speeches in relation to medical topics of current interest; such as details of personal experience in the use of new remedies; or of original or peculiar views in reference to the nature of diseases and their treatment; or of facts in relation to endemic and epidemic influences; or, in short, to elicit the salient points of professional experience and opinion in a brief and informal

way.

(6.) In the conduct of the omnibus discussion the President should exercise a large discretion; should encourage some speakers, and check others; and should divert the discussion into new channels when it degenerates into trivialities or common places.

(7.) Volunteer papers read in the omnibus discussion shall be submitted to the publishing committee, to be disposed of under the rules now governing said committee; but no abstracts shall be published of the speeches made in the omnibus discussion.

THE SESSIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

(1.) Until otherwise ordered, the Association meets annually on the second Tuesday in April, and continues in session four days.

(2.) Until otherwise ordered, during the annual sessions the daily meetings extend from ten o'clock in the morning to three o'clock in the afternoon, except on the first day of the session, when the Association is called to order promptly at twelve o'clock, noon, and adjourns at three o'clock in the afternoon.

(3.) The first day of the session is devoted to the formal business of the Association, namely, the organization, the president's message, the reports of the officers, the reports of the county societies, and the reports of special committees. And on the evening of the first day, the annual oration is delivered.

(4.) The second day of the session is devoted to the reading and discussion of the regular reports, and to such miscellaneous business as it may be deemed expedient to consider. An even

ing session may be held on the second day for the discussion of the medical papers read during the morning, or for such other business as may be agreed upon.

(5.) The third day of the session is devoted to the omnibus discussion, and to such miscellaneous business as may need attention. A special session may be held on the evening of the third day for continuing the omnibus discussion, or for such other business as may be agreed on. When evening entertainments are given, it is more convenient for them to come on the third day.

(6.) The fourth day is devoted to the report of the board of censors, and the revision of the rolls. On this day, it is not practicable to hold an evening session.

(7.) The special arrangements for the annual sessions are left very much to the discretion of the local committee of arrangements. The necessary expenses of the sessions are paid by the Association. In the discharge of their duties, the committee of arrangements should not forget the reasonable demands of economy. The Association has a good income, but does not care to expend it in paying heavy rents for fashionable halls to meet in.

THE PRESIDENT AND HIS DUTIES.

The duties of the President are given in genaral terms in section VIII of the constitution. Such additions and developments of these duties as have been made from time to time, are here gathered together in regular order.

Be it ordained by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, (1) That when any vacancy occurs in the intervals between the annual sessions of the Association in the office of any vice-president, secretary, treasurer, or censor of the Association, the President of the Association shall forthwith appoint some suitable member of the College of Counsellors to fill such vacancy until the next subsequent annual session of the Association.

(2.) That the President shall duly report the facts connected with such temporary appointments to the Association at its next subsequent annual session, and any officer so appointed is

expected to perform, in good faith, all the duties and obligations that were incumbent on his predecessor in office.

(3.) That in any grave emergency, growing out of the death or resignation or malfeasance in office of any officer of the Association, the President may call the board of censors to his assistance, and in connection with them take such steps as may seem expedient under the circumstances.

Additional Suggestions.

(1.) The President stands in the relation of commander-inchief to the Association considered as an army; and should keep himself in constant communication with the presidents of the county societies, as the captains of his companies. He should see to it that his division commanders, the two vice-presidents, of the Association, who have charge of the active field work, are not allowed to neglect any of the important duties committed to their charge; and to this end he should require from them such monthly or occasional reports as will keep him thoroughly advised of their plans and movements, and of the condition of the county societies under their respective jurisdictions.

(2.) In accordance with article 27, it is intended that the annual message of the President shall be strictly "devoted to the discussion of the interests, objects, and business of the Association," and not to the scientfic discussion of some subject belonging properly to practical medicine or public hygiene, considered as departments of human knowledge.

(3.) As a rule, the subjects assigned to the regular reporters should stand in some definite relation to the State of Alabama. For example, "Pneumonia," or "Phthisis," is hardly an appropriate subject for a regular report; but "Pneumonia as it occurs in Alabama," would be an appropriate subject. So, also, would be any subject connected with the medical topography, or the medical climatology of the State, or any part of it, or with the endemics or the epidemics from which the people of the State are accustomed to suffer. Nor could any fault be found with general reports on recent advances in special departments of medicine, or in our knowledge of special diseases.

(4.) The President should appoint the regular reporters

within thirty days after the close of the annual session of the Association, so as not to delay the commitee of publication in the issue of the annual volume of Transactions. He should also appoint his committees promptly, and should see that the Secretary and the Treasurer are not negligent of their respective duties.

(5.) The President should direct the omnibus discussion in such way as to secure the accomplishment of the purpose for which it was instituted, and with a view of making it as comprehensive, as miscellaneous, and as fresh as possible.

(6.) The President should make himself familiar with all the business methods of the Association, so as to be able to preside with dignity and efficiency; and he should especially master all the details of the order of the revision of the rolls, so as to be able to conduct that important part of the proceedings with promptness and decorum.

(7.) In a word, the President should remember that the honors of his office are coupled with corresponding obligations; should feel that he is the responsible head of the Association, and should not leave it to drift at the mercy of the winds and the waves of chance and circumstance.

THE VICE-PRESIDENTS AND THEIR DUTIES.

The duties of the vice presidents are briefly indicated in section IV of the constitution. Since the adoption of the constitution the functions of these officers have been multiplied and enlarged according to the schedule that here follows:

(1.) As a basis for the work of the vice-presidents, the State is divided into two departments, to be known respectively as the first division and the second division.

(2.) The first division is composed of the counties of Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Morgan, Marshall, DeKalb, Marion, Winston, Cullman, Blount, Etowah, Cherokee, Lamar, Fayette, Walker, St. Clair, Calhoun, Cleburne, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Shelby, Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Bibb, Coosa, Tallapoosa, and Chambers.

(3.) The second division is composed of the counties of Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Chilton, Autauga, Elmore, Lee,

Marengo, Dallas, Lowndes, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock, Russell, Choctaw, Wilcox, Butler, Crenshaw, Pike, Barbour, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, Covington, Coffee, Dale, Henry, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, and Geneva.

(4.) One of the vice-presidents is to be elected for the first division, and is to have said division under his immediate charge. The other vice-president is to be elected for the sec. ond division, and is to have said division under his immediate charge.

(5.) The vice-president longest in office takes rank as the senior vice-president; and the other as the junior vice-president.

(6.) It is made the duty of the vice-presidents, each in his division, to assist the President actively and systematically in the administration of the ordinances of the Association; to promote the prosperity and organization of the county societies; to encourage the prompt and regular attendance of members on the meetings of the county societies; to encourage reputable physicians who are not members of the county societies to join them and become participants in their work; to encourage the county societies to send delegates to the meetings of the State Association; and especially to encourage and promote in the several counties the efficient administration of the health laws of the State, and of the law to regulate the practice of medicine in the State.

(7.) For the proper discharge of these duties it will be necessary for the vice-presidents to be in regular and frequent correspondence with the officers and members of the county societies, and with physicians not members of the societies, so as to keep themselves properly advised as to their status and discipline, and so as to be able to act with prudence, discretion, and efficiency.

(8.) The vice-presidents, in order of seniority, shall make to the Association at the annual sessions thereof, and immediately after the reading of the President's message, written reports containing detailed accounts of the work done by them as officers of the Association. These reports should include a special section for every one of the county societies, giving a brief but accurate and comprehensive account of its status and work during the preceding year. They should be devoted