her victories not less renowned than those of war." You have assembled in annual reunion not as politicians to ply the trade of the trickster and the demagogue, and by vexing the air with the fulsome praises of some unworthy partisan to elevate him to place and power; nor yet animated by the sordid desire of financial gain, have you assembled to take measures to further swell the coffers of that commercial world "whose merchants are princes and traffickers among the honorable of the earth;" nor yet bewildered by the temporary glamour which encircles the name of some human butcher, have you assembled to join the unthinking mass in their blind adoration, or to drown the moans of the wounded and dying and the wail of the widow and orphans in pans to his praise. No, yours is a nobler and higher purpose, compared to the beneficial results of which the achievements of the proudest victor king who ever strode over a red battle field sink into insignificance. As in this world of ours there is a constantly recurring and never ending conflict between the elements of life and death, and since in the struggle between those two opposing forces, your profession has enlisted under the banner of life, how well it has earned its title to our gratitude and how successfully it has accomplished the great end of its high mission on earth, is well attested by its complete mastery over many of the "ills that flesh is heir to" and the gradual lengthening of the average span of human life, so palpably shown by carefully prepared statistical tables, until you can proudly say, if you have not been able to completely vanquish man's great conquerer, you can at least claim that you have been able in a measure to arrest the progress of his pale horse and check him back upon his haunches. And how has this great scientific triumph been achieved? Mainly by the efforts of organizations such as yours.

I will not attempt to speak in detail of the history of a profession to men who, of course, are much more familiar with it than I could ever hope to be. Still I may be permitted to say it is older than history itself, its existence dating from the time "whereof the memory of man runneth not back," and its origin is lost in the dim and shadowy ages of tradition and fable. And although in the earlier centuries it was much beset by the ignorance and superstition of the times, yet it has always maintained its character for dignity, learning and respectability. Its existence has always been a matter of absolute necessity and prime utility to man, and it has kept abreast with the progress of the ages. Indeed, so nearly does it concern all our lives, and so completely is it interwoven into all our domestic affairs, the story of its struggles and

its triumphs can never fail to be one of intense interest to the non-professional mind. The good, kind physician is with us from the cradle to the grave, and the memory of his good deeds is sacred to us all. We can all remember how, in childhood, with what wholesome awe we looked upon the man of pills, as with look of terrific wisdom and air of awful solemnity he approached our couch, how utterly stunned we were as he discoursed of our ailments in words of "learned length and thun-dering sound." How, as with mesmeric touch, he soothed our fevered pulse, and with well directed potion he soothed us into peaceful and healthful slumber. How, as the years grew apace, he was the trusted friend and adviser of our youth and the valued companion of our manhood's riper years; and how, when at last worn out by his intense life struggle in behalf of his fellows, he sank to rest, we wept as we stood by his grave, and sighed for the sound of "his fettered footstep which could come no longer."

If it be true, as it doubtless is, that the grandest gift of God to man is that of another good and true and useful man, then without doubt may your profession take high rank among the public benefactions to our race. For wherever a wound is to be healed or dressed, wherever a human pang is to be assuaged, whether in the quiet and peaceful walks of private and domestic life, or amid the grand diapason of battle; whether in the stately palace of the money king, or around the deserted couch of the lonely outcast of earth, we find this same true professional ministering with equal and impartial zeal and energy. When the withering breath of pestilence is sweeping over nations, holding its high carnival of death; when, in many instances, the minister deserts his flock, and the parent his stricken household, as the angel with his flaming sword is said to have guarded the gates of Paradise against the intrusion of sin, so do we find him with unflinching firmness, standing like a lion in the path of the destroyer, battling with a heroic manhood in behalf of his fellows, and often with absolute self-renunciation perishing himself in the discharge of his duty. So prolific has been your profession in furnishing these noble examples, that to attempt their enumeration would be a vain and useless task. But I may be permitted to speak of one who went from among us, and who, if I mistake not, was a member of your organization. Of him, the brilliant and chivalrous gentleman and accomplished scholar, who, when the tale of sorrow and the piteous appeal from his fever-stricken countrymen of the Valley of the Mississippi, was borne to his ears along the whisper

ing wire, added another chapter to the heroic grandeur of life. Of him, who, with a grander courage than that of famous Rancesvalles, when perished the harnessed chivalry of Spain, or of Cardigan's immortal "six hundred," who rode into the "jaws of death" on the bloody field of Balaklava, this plumed knight of your profession boldly entered the lists of death, and fell a victim to his own generous impulses, ministering at the high altar of humanity. I allude to the lamented Manning, who died all too soon, and the lesson of whose life is a sacred legacy to us all. He has erected his own monument, "which is more durable than brass and loftier than the kingly heads of pyramids." But Manning has not died in vain; the record of his useful and honorable life and glorious death has at least served to remove from the minds of the masses many unfounded prejudices hitherto entertained by them against this useful and noble profession. It has taught them the memorable lesson that while of course your toils and sacrifices should be requited with a suitable pecuniary compensation, yet that it is not simply a mercenary profession, that it has higher aims, and can and does accomplish nobler purposes. Besides, "when death strikes down" the noble, the useful and the true, "for every fragile form from which he lets the panting spirit free, a thousand virtues rise in shapes of mercy, charity and love, to walk the earth and bless it; for every tear that sorrowing mortals shed on such honored graves, some good is born, some gentler nature comes. In the path of the destroyer there spring up bright creations that defy his power, and his dark path becomes a way of light to immortality." And while the memory of Manning will be cherished with equal veneration and esteem by all classes of his countrymen as an honor both to the State and profession to which he belonged, the light of his grand example will serve to direct others along the same great pathway of true philanthropy.

And now in the name and behalf of our community, I welcome you to our hearts and homes as our honored guests, assuring you of our high sense of the honor you have conferred upon us by your presence, and of our heartiest wishes for the future success and prosperity of your organization.

The President, Dr. A. P. Brown, replied as follows:

In answer to the eloquent remarks from the gentlemen appointed to welcome the Texas State Medical Association to Belton, we say we

thank you, one and all. When your beautiful little city was selected at Tyler for our next meeting, some shook their heads, but when the iron horse brought us to your beautiful borders, and we found the whole people out to welcome us with a generous hospitality, this fear was dispelled, and these beautiful ornamentations by gentle woman's hand, reminding us of our loved ones at home, is sufficient to show our welcome. And, gentlemen of city authorities, and you gentlemen of the Committee of Arrangements, we tender special thanks for asking us to occupy the seats so recently vacated by those grand old Texas veterans, whose valor made it possible for us to enjoy this beautiful land.

He then announced the Association ready to proceed with the usual business.

The officers of the Association were invited upon the platform. Members of the press were also invited to seats.

Drs. C. W. Kelley and W. H. Galt, of the Louisville Medical College, were introduced and invited to seats and to participate in the discussions of the Association.

After this the President made a number of suggestions as to the plan to be adopted in acting upon many matters of interest to the State, the profession and the Association. They were as follows:

CUMULATIVE INVESTIGATION.

While it is a lamentable fact that some men write too much, it is equally true that there are those who do not write enough, and by such neglect of real duty lock up many valuable facts which are often too dearly obtained to be lost, and should not perish with their possessors, or be simply handed down by tradition, or made a family secret for the next eldest in the family. The perfection of science is classified. Knowledge and science are developed by improved methods of classification, and in this our great branch of science can best be forwarded by cumulative efforts, and in our Association by a method of rivalry in a community of interest in the effort at a compilation of clinical facts. Hence, I advise that while you continue your sections, as heretofore, the effort be made to make each member of the Association an active worker in the accomplishment of this end, and that you divide the membership into classes of eighteen, twenty, or thirty, each, and have each of the members write and present their views and experience on the same subject. Thus, twenty on peritonitis, etc.

What a volume, in five or ten years, this would be, and to the Texas student beyond price. Let us have it.

LAW AND PRACTICE OF MEDICINE.

In all countries as free as ours there are persons whose virtue nor presence add anything to the dignity or value of our profession, nor profit to the public, nor honor to the State; hence it is the duty of the State to regulate the practice of these characters, and it is believed that our law-makers view this body of men with sufficient respect to hear our petitions, and acknowledge in you sufficient sincerity, patriotism and intelligence to formulate such laws as should govern the practice of medicine in this State. Hence, you are earnestly recommended to select, or authorize the selection, of a suitable committee of your fellows to draw up such laws as will protect the people, and lead to a higher standard of proficiency in the medical faculty. The druggist and his practice should also receive your attention.

LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.

Nothing gives more pleasure than a well selected library and attractive museum, and the State should be urged to foster these by giving this Association material aid and ample rooms at the University for the perfection of this design.

QUARANTINE.

While our State laws on quarantine, with the aid of the General Government, have resulted in great good, they do not contemplate vital statistics, nor interior sanitation proper; and it is believed that a State Board of Health would more effectually accomplish the work designed, and give more satisfaction and relief; hence you are recommended to continue your work began at the Sherman meeting, as your action at that time aroused both the people and legislature, and prompted all the good quarantine laws yet enacted by Texas.

CONTROL OF UNIVERSITY.

It is believed that at this session you should take some action looking to the control of the issue of medical diplomas from our University, and while it is not difficult to procure the services of Professors, in Texas, perfectly competent to teach medicine and surgery, it is believed that a Board of Examiners, separate from those who teach, should examine and pass on the worthiest of applicants for medical degrees, and that this plan would not be derogatory to the honor or standing of the University Professor; and it is believed this Association should name that Board of Examiners, and that they should determine the