The subject of a new law in the matter of licensing physicians was brought up by Dr. Rutherford and was discussed at length by Drs. Branch, Jenne, Woodward, Wheeler, Prime and Hawley.

All favored a State Board of License Censors to consist of 5 to 7 members-a majority from the regular profession and one or two from the Homopathic and Eclectic schools,-said board to have the sole power to grant licenses.

A committee of three, consisting of Drs. C. F. Branch, J. N. Jenne and C. S. Caverly was appointed to look up the matter of bogus diplomas and irregular practitioners, also to ascertain, as far as possible, the best plan for accomplishing the foregoing object of establishing a central board of license censors to report at the next annual meeting.

Dr. Henry Janes, of Waterbury, was appointed to write an obituary of Dr. C. M. Chandler late of Montpelier.

Dr. J. B. Ransom, of Dennamora, N. Y, was elected an honorary member of the Society.

OBITUARY OF DR. H. F. CRAIN.

BY DR. S. H. GRISWOLD, RUTLAND, Vт.

Doctor Henry F. Crain, a native of Walpole, N. H., was born September 22d, 1810, the eldest son of Dr. Eleazer and Sarah Crain. At the age of five years, his parents left Walpole and settled in the flourishing village of Springfield, Vermont, where he passed the greater part of his life. His father, a noted physician, pursued the study and practice of medicine and surgery during the remainder of his life, his death occurring in his sixtieth year.

H. F. Crain, after being well advanced in common schools, completed the study of letters in the Springfield and Chester academies. Having decided to make the study of medicine and surgery his life work, he, under the able tutelage of his father, and Dr. Amos Twitchell, of Keene, N. H., entered Dartmouth Medical College, attended the usual course of lectures, and was prosector to the professor of anatomy. He graduated, and commenced practice with his father in 1837. In 1838 he went to central Pennsylvania, where he practiced four years.

Having paid especial attention to gynæcology, and believing that some mechanical design would be beneficial in the treatment of many cases of female complaints, he, in company with his father, invented the then famous spino-abdominal supporter, and for seven years manufactured and sold them to physicians and druggists, traveling in the eastern, middle and many of the western and southern states.

In 1849 he returned to Springfield, resumed the practice of medicine, and continued in active practice till 1882, when he removed to Rutland, Vermont, where in company with his son, Dr. M. R Crain, by his ripe age, long experience, professional bearing, ready speech and affability of manners, he soon gained the confidence of a large and influential class of patrons, among whom he was appreciated to an extent seldom gained in so short a time.

He rarely neglected the wants of the sick, and was ever ready to alleviate the sufferings of his patients. Carefully investigating and diagLosing disease, he was prompt in the use of remedial agents.

He died March 16th, 1888, after a protracted sickness of eczema, complicated with disease of the heart. At the time of his death he was a member of the American Medical Association, Vermont State Medical Society, Rutland County Medical and Surgical Society. Rutland Medical Club, and Connecticut River Medical Society.

In the death of Dr. H. F. Crain the profession sustains a loss not easily repaired, -the loss of one who, during his long professional life held strictly to the high dignity of the profession as taught and practiced in our regular schools and colleges, never wavering from the true princi. ples of medical ethics, discarding quackery, whether within or out of the profession. He was a critical observer of men and measures, of strong convictions, studious in keeping pace with the improvements in remedies or mechanical inventions for the better treatment of disease, testing every new element, giving rational reasons for approval or rejection. He had in his library books for reference from the most approved authors, foreign as well as American, of which he evinced a thorough knowledge, duly appreciating the great responsibility resting upon the profession which he so long and faithfully honored.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

OF THE

Vermont State Medical Society,

(As revised October, 1887.)

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I.-NAME.

This Society shall be called the Vermont State Medical Society.

ARTICLE II. -OFFICERS.

The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Publication Committee of three members, Executive Committee of three members, of which the Secretary shall be one ex officio, Board of Councillors, consisting of one from each county, and a Board of License Censors, consisting of three members, all of whom shall be elected annually at the opening of the second day's session, by ballot when demanded by any member present, or in such other manner as the Society shall direct, and shall hold their respective offices until the close of the next annual meeting, and until others are chosen.

ARTICLE III.-MEETING.

There shall be an annual meeting of this Society held on the first Thursday and Friday after the second Wednesday in October, in Montpelier, each year of the Legislature, and the annual meeting in the off year of the Legislature shall be held in Burlington, and a semi-annua] meeting at such place as the Society shall direct, on the last Thursday and Friday in June.

ARTICLE IV.-MEMBERSHIP.

Any physician residing within the State, who is a graduate of a regular recognized Medical School, may become a member of this Society at any regular meeting, upon recommendation of the Board of Councillors and vote of the Society, by signing the Constitution and paying the sum of two dollars to the Treasurer.