The Providence Medical Journal. Vol. 5, 1904. Edited and Published by Editorial Correspondence, Books for Review and Exchanges should be addressed to the Editor 148 Broad Street. Correspondence relating to Subscriptions, Advertising, etc., should be addressed to the Business Manager, 755 Broad Street. Vol. 5. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.00 PER ANNUM. SINGLE COPIES, 20 CENTS. THE PROPOSED REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND MEDICAL SOCIETY. It is but fair to the committee on revision, who have devoted a good deal of time and thought to the report presented to the State Society at its last meeting, that judgment should not be passed upon it without a thorough. understanding of its provisions and a clear idea of what is to be gained by its adoption. Objections have already been raised owing to a misunderstanding of its intent and a failure to read carefully its pages, and it may not be amiss to recapitulate the reasons for and against its adoption which will appeal to us as members of the Society and which influenced the committee in their deliberations. There is need of a revision 1. Because nearly every state in the Union has adopted or will speedily adopt a similar plan and Rhode Island cannot afford to relegate herself to the rear in any progressive movement, for the value of any medical society in its relations to the profession and to the public is in direct proportion to its efficiency of action, and a scheme which provides for the individual in the dis trict societies, for his representation in the state societies and, through them, a direct voice in the National Society is a logical and effective method of procedure. 2. Because our present system of doing business is cumbersome and antiquated and detracts largely from the scientific value of our meetings. 3. Because, with our present Medical Practice Law and the rigid examination given to physicians who wish to practice in this State, there is no need of a further examination for admission to the State Society. 4. Because we need new blood, new ideas, new members and we will never get them till we do away with this examination idea which is keeping scores of desirable, active and educated physicians from our ranks. A man who has been in practice for some years is not delighted with the idea of an examination and there are scores of members, of twenty years' standing who, like the writer, would fail most lamentably were he again obliged to apply for election. The Rhode Island Medical Society is not a mutual admiration society, it is not a close corporation, it confers no benefits to members which would not be greatly increased by a largely increased membership, it performs no public service which would not be augmented by the influence of five hundred members instead of two hundred and fifty. The scientific work of the last decade has been done by a mere handful of its members, as a perusal of its transactions will readily prove, and who can deny that a fresh impetus to do better work will be imparted at once with the entrance of a few hundred new members. When we have tried for better medical legislation it was but two or three who appeared as champions while scores protested, but it was not the men who opposed the plan who influenced the result so much as the members of the State Society who did not appear. Had we five hundred active members in the State Society what a power we would possess in moulding public opinion, what influence we would have in promoting or preventing mushroom legislation affecting public health. Can any one deny that this would be a desirable state of affairs? The plan proposes to enroll as members of the Rhode Island Medical Society every legally qualified physician in the State who is a member of a district society, upon payment of a nominal yearly fee. Each district society. shall be the judge of the qualifications of its own members (By-Laws, Chap. XII, Sec. 5) and opportunity shall be given every reputable and legally registered physician who does not practice or claim to practice nor lend his support to any exclusive system of medicine. Each district society elects a certain number of delegates to the State Society who as a Hall of Delegates transact all business, thus leaving the hours of each session free for scientific work. What legitimate objections can be raised to this scheme? I. This Society has a dignity of its own imparted by its distinguished founders and increased by its years of usefulness and it is not best to overthrow at once the methods which have promoted and safeguarded its interests. The committee has attempted to preserve all of the valued features of the organization, to keep intact its charter and privileges accorded it by legislation, but to increase its power for good by imparting to it modern ideas. 2. We shall let down the bars. Why not? What is to be gained by restricting our membership to a few. We are not to be injured by association with these new members. We may be benefited and we certainly can try to do them good. 3. We shall have to take in as members and affiliate with undesirable men. Not at all. If undesirable they are ineligible, for if they are undesirable because of dishonorable conduct, they are not reputable; if they practice any special system of medicine they are barred from membership; if it is deemed unprofessional and contrary to medical ethics to do contract medical work it is entirely within the province of each district society to so state in its own by-laws. Each district shall be the judge of its own qualifications for membership and may enact such by-laws as it deems best, but if a physician is legally qualified to practice and is reputable and does not do any of the things which his district society considers contrary to the spirit of medical ethics he is not undesirable, he is desirable and should be a member. Personal animosities, petty spite and professional jealousy should have no part in estimating a man's desirability. Varying conditions in various districts must be met by devious methods. There is nothing incompatible with perfect unity and a powerful organization in this proposed plan and if it is not adopted at least in a modified form we are taking a step backward and the time will be far distant when we will see that greatly desired home for the Society, a largely equipped and frequently used library, a powerful and prosperous journal which shall voice the sentiments of the profession of this State. On the other hand, what may not a united profession do to reach the Mecca of medical ambition. RHODE ISLAND PHYSICIANS DECEASED IN 1903. Gideon Archambault.-Born in Canada and graduated at Victoria University, Toronto, in 1869. Fellow R. I. Medical Society, 1873. He practiced in Woonsocket and died there, April 8, 1903. Asa Whitford Brown.-Born in Sterling, Conn., graduated at Cleveland Homœopathic College in 1853. Member of Rhode Island Homœopathic Society. Died at his home in Providence, June 1, 1903, in his ninetieth year. Amos Ray Collins.-Studied with Dr. William H. Wilbur, of Westerly, |