THIRD DAY, THURSDAY, JUNE 7.

Dr. Elisha Harris, of New York, presented a paper upon "Results of State Legislation on Public Health." Owing to other engagements, Dr. Harris was unable to read his paper on this subject, but after submitting the paper, presented the following suggestions as subjects of discussion:

1. In organizing boards of health, the manner of conferring authority on men already over-burdened with other duties, fails to give sufficient authority or to secure the confidence of the people.

2. In defining the powers and duties of local boards of health, the powers conferred are too indefinitely stated, and the laws of nearly all the States, upon this subject, need revision.

3. The proper definition of nuisances, often answers the purpose of abating them.

4. There is need of specific provisions against contagious diseases.

Such laws as exist have come to be regarded very much misunderstood and abused, so as to bring into disrepute medical boards.

A broader basis must be secured through conference with army, navy, and state medical boards.

Thus there should be a national basis for laws of quarantine.

There should also be general regulation of certain sources of contamination of certain articles of food.

We know that one of the sources of impairment of animal food, is due to want of sanitary care of animals in transportation. This is a worthy subject, and requires proper legisla

tion.

Also the subject of trichinæ requires scientific observation and treatment.

5. Laws are required for the proper removal and prevention of general sources of diseases, such as sewerages and sanitary drainage.

Something more than the dicta of local boards of health or local engineers, is needed. This question involves the health

and wealth of States as much as certain localities, therefore there is needed general and systematic topographical state surveys.

After a general discussion of the subjects suggested the business of this section closed.

THE AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGE ASSOCIA

TION.

The Provisional Association of Representatives of American Medical Colleges, met in Chicago, June 2d, at the Palmer House, at 10 a. m. The Association was formed in Louisville in 1875, and met in Philadelphia in 1876. Its object was to form a permanent confederation, to be known by the title which heads this item. Representatives, by person or proxy, from the medical colleges named below, were present. Prof. J. R. Biddle, of Philadelphia, was in the chair, and Prof. Laertus Conner, of Detroit, was secretary. The work of the Provisional Association consisted in adopting a constitution, bylaws and articles of confederation, which were signed by the representatives of different colleges present. On Monday, the Provisional Association, adjourned sine die, and the permanent organization, known as the American Medical College Association, was formed, with Prof. Biddle as President, Prof. N. S. Davis, vice-President, and Prof. Connor as Secretary.

The constitution and by-laws are herewith appended. The ultimate end of the association is more manifest in the Articles of Confederation, which are to be subscribed and conformed to by all the associated colleges.

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I. NAME.

The name of this Association shall be the "American Medical College Association."

ARTICLE II. OBJECTS.

The objects of this Association shall be the advancement of

medical education in the United States, and the establishment of a common policy among medical colleges in the more important matters of college management.

ARTICLE III. OFFICERS.

The officer shalls be a President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary and Treasurer, who shall severally perform the usual duties of such officers. They shall be elected by ballot at each session of the Association, and shall serve from the time of adjournment of such session till the adjournment of the next ensuing session. But present officers shall be perpetually eligible to re-eletion.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP.

SECTION 1. Any regularly chartered medical school in the United States which shall conform and subscribe to the Articles of Confederation of this Association, may become a member of the same.

SECTION 2. Any college member which shall be convicted upon trial of willful violation of any of the Articles of Confederation of the Association, or which shall fail to make answer to such charges of such violation, duly preferred, at the meeting at which the same come up for trial, shall thereby forfeit his membership in the Association.

SECTION 3. Any college which shall thus have forfeited its membership, or any college whose original application for membership shall have been rejected by the Association, shall not be eligible for membership again until a period of two years shall have elapsed since the time of forfeiture or rejec

tion.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS.

Meetings of the Association shall be held not oftener than annually, at some time in the months of May or June. The exact time and place shall be fixed by the President with regard to the object for which the meeting is to be held; but when, in his judgment, there is no special reason to the contrary, preference shall be given to the place of meeting of the American Medical Association, and to a time conveniently near to the time of meeting of the same.

ARTICLE VI.

REPRESENTATION AND VOTING.

At the meetings of the Association each college may be represented by one or more delegates, or may submit, in writing, resolutions, amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws, or its vote upon pending questions, except upon charges against a college for violation of the Articles of Confederation. In all cases each college shall have but a single vote, and when representation is by two or more delegates, the vote shall be cast by the senior delegate in the Faculty rank. The President shall not be deprived by his office of his privileges as delegate in voting. On questions connected with the trial of charges against a college, the accusing and accused colleges shall have no vote.

Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed at the meetings of the Association, or by letter to the Secretary. In order to be entertained, they must be seconded at the time of proposal by one other college, or its delegate. When proposed at a meeting, or submitted to the Secretary after call for a meeting has been issued, they must lie over a year before a vote is taken. Upon voting, two-thirds of the votes cast shall be necessary for adoption.

BY-LAWS.

ARTICLE I. CALLS FOR MEETINGS.

The calls for meetings shall be issued by the Secretary, after conference with the President as to time and place, and must not be later than two months before the proposed time of meeting. The Secretary shall call meetings upon:

1. Direction of the President, who is empowered to convene the Association at his pleasure.

2. Resolution of adjournment at previous meeting.

3. Receipt, before March 1, of proposed amendments to the Constitution, By-Laws, or Articles of Confederation, duly recommended by two colleges, or of a written request for a meeting for any purpose, when proffered by not less than three colleges.

4. Receipt, before January 1, of charges and specifications against a college for violation of the Articles of Confederation.

In all cases where a call for a meeting is issued, the object of the same must be stated in the call, with proposed amendments, resolutions, or charges, given in full.

ARTICLE II. ORDER OF BUSINESS AT MEETINGS.

The Order of Business at meetings shall be as follows:

1. Presentation of credentials of delegates. 2. Reading of minutes of last meeting. 3. Voting upon pending questions. 4. Reading of Annual Reports of Members. 5. Introduction of new business. 6. Election of Officers for the ensuing term. 7. Report of the Secretary and Treasury. 8. Adjourn

ment.

ARTICLE III. ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP.

SECTION 1. Colleges which shall, through their delegates, subscribe to the Constitution, By-Laws, and Articles of Confederation, at the meeting of the Provisional Association of Medical Colleges, at which the same shall have been adopted, and shall file with the Secretary a copy of their college charter, shall thereby become members of the Association.

SECTION 2. After adjournment of the aforesaid meeting, colleges wishing to join the Association must apply to the Secretary, and forward a copy of their College Charter. The Secretary shall thereupon send notice of such application to all the colleges of the Associatian. If, after four months, no objection shall have been received, the Secretary shall then send to the applicant a copy of the Constitution, By-Laws, and Articles of Confederation, and upon return of the same duly subscribed by an authorized officer of the college, shall enter the name of said college upon the roll of members of the Association. Objection to the applicant on the ground of nonconformity to the Articles of Confederation, may be made by any college-member; but the same must be submitted, in writing, to the Seretary, and within four months after receipt of the notice of application. Such objection must be in the form of definite charges and specifications. Upon the receipt