Massachusetts Medical Society. 
BY-LAWS 
OF THE 
MIDDLESEX SOUTH DISTRICT 
MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
Adopted October 8, 1879, Revised January 1, 1886. 
WALTHAM: 
FREE PRESS BOOK AND JOB PRINTING OFFICE. 
1886. Massachusetts Medical Society, 
BY-LAWS 
OF THE 
MIDDLESEX SOUTH DISTRICT 
MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
Adopted October 8, 1879, at,d Revised January i, 1886. 
WALTHAM: 
FREE PRESS BOOK AND JOB PRINTING OFFICE. 
i886. The Middlesex South Medical District was established by a 
vote of the Councillors of the Massachusetts Medical Society,, 
passed October 2, 1850. 
The first meeting in this district was held at Waltham,, 
February Id, 1851. This Society was then organized Jay the 
choice of officers as follows: — 
Dr. Josiah Bartlett, President. 
Dr. J. W. Bemis, Secretary. 
Dr. R. S. Warren, Treasurer. 
Councillors. 
Horatio Adams, 
Josiali Bartlett, 
Luther V. Bell, 
Jonathan W. Bemis, 
Anson Hooker, 
Hiram Hosmer, 
Josiah S. Hurd, 
Timothy Wellington r 
Simon Whitney, 
Samuel Richardson. 
Censors. 
Luther V. Bell, 
Morrill Wyman, 
Simon Whitney. 
Anson Hooker, 
James M. Whittemorer BY-LAWS 
OF THE 
Middlesex South District Medical Society, 
ARTICLE I. 
FELLOWSHIP, 
The Middlesex South District Medical Society shall consist 
of all the Fellows of the Massachusetts Medical Society 
residing in the Middlesex South District,* and none other. 
<M. M. S. By-Law XII.) 
ARTICLE II. 
DUTIES OF MEMBERS. 
Every member is expected to attend all the meetings of this 
and to communicate any instructive case that may 
occur in his practice, any useful discovery that he may make 
in medicine or surgery, or the allied sciences, and any inven- 
tion that may have practical application in the same. 
ARTICLE III. 
ASSESSMENTS. 
Every member of this Society, unless honorary or retired, 
shall annually be assessed such sum as the Councillors shall 
* The District now includes the following cities and towns : Arlington, Ashland, 
Belmont, Brighton, Cambridge, Charlestown, Concord, Everett, Framingham, 
Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden Marlborough, Medford, 
Natick, Newton, Sherborn, Somerville, Stow, Sudbury, Waltham, Watertown, 
Wayland and Weston. 4 
from time to time determine (M. M. S. By-Law V.); and, inr 
addition, such sum as may be authorized by vote of this So- 
ciety at any stated meeting, for the payment of its own 
expenses, in case the reversions from the State Society shall at 
any time prove insufficient for that purpose. 
ARTICLE IV. 
The members of this Society shall, in their relations with 
each other, with their patients, the profession at large and the 
public, be guided by the Code of Ethics of the Massachusetts 
Medical Society. 
ETHICS. 
ARTICLE V. 
MEETINGS. 
There shall be two stated meetings in each year. The 
annual meeting shall be held on the third Wednesday in April,, 
and the semi-annual meeting on the second Wednesday in 
October. Unless otherwise ordered by vote of the Society,, 
these meetings shall be held respectively at Watertown and 
Cambridge. 
Special meetings shall be called on the written application 
of live members. No business shall be introduced at a special 
meeting, unless it shall have been announced in the call issued 
therefor. 
Seven members shall constitute a quorum; but a less number 
may adjourn a meeting from time to time. 
Meetings for scientific improvement may be held at such 
times and places (within the District) as the Society shall 
determine. 
ARTICLE VI. 
OFFICERS. 
At the annual meeting there shall be elected by ballot thfr 5 
following officers (M. M. S. By-Law XIII.), viz.: a President, 
a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Librarian, a Com- 
missioner of Trials, a Eeporter and an Orator; also, by ballot 
(M. M. S. By-Law XIII. and Digest XV.), live Censors, of 
whom three at least shall be re-elected from the old board 
(M. M. S. Councillors’ Proceedings, Oct. 7, 1874); and Coun- 
cillors in the proportion of one to every eight Fellows, as 
nearly as may be* (M. M. S. By-Law XVII.) 
From the Councillors thus elected, the’ Society shall select 
one to be its representative in the committee which is to nom- 
inate the officers of the State Society. (M. M. S. Councillors’ 
Proceedings, Feb. 4, 1874.) 
ABTICLE VII. 
DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. 
The President shall preside at all meetings, and, at his dis- 
cretion, approve all bills against the Society. At each stated 
meeting he shall name one or more members, each of whom 
shall be prepared to read at the next stated meeting an original 
paper upon some topic connected with the practice of medicine 
or surgery. Jle shall also perform such duties as may devolve 
upon him as Vice-President ex officio of the State Society 
(M. M. S. By-Law XXIII.). In the absence of the President, 
the Vice-President shall preside. If both are absent a Chair- 
man shall be chosen. 
ARTICLE VIII. 
The Secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of 
the Society, and read the same upon due requisition. He shall 
DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
* The words in question shall be held to mean, that whenever the number of 
members of a District Society exceeds a multiple of eight, such excess, provided that 
it be not less than five, may be represented by one Councillor. (M. M. S. Councillors’ 
Proceedings, February 5, 1879.) 6 
announce each meeting of the Society by sending a printed 
notification to every Fellow at least seven days before the time 
appointed for such meeting. He shall give immediate notice 
to all who shall receive any election or appointment in the 
Society. He shall perform such other duties as may be 
assigned to him, in addition to those which are or may be 
required of him by the By-Laws of the State Society (M. M. 
S. By-Law XV.), or by any vote that may be passed by the 
said Society or its Councillors. 
ARTICLE IX. 
DUTIES OF THE TREASURER. 
The Treasurer shall collect all assessments within the Dis- 
tinct as soon as may be, make such disbursements as may be 
ordered by the Society, pay such bills as may be approved by 
the President, and keep an accurate record of all receipts and 
expenditures. He shall, at the annual meeting of the Society, 
present an exact report of the said receipts and expenditures, 
and of the condition of the treasury, and shall submit his 
accounts to such examination as the Society shall order. 
He shall also perform such duties as may be required of him 
b) the By-Laws of the State Society (M. M. S. By-Law XVI.), 
or by any vote that may be passed by the said Society or its 
Councillors. 
ARTICLE X. 
DUTY OF THE LIBRARIAN. 
Whenever the Librarian receives authentic information that 
any publication has been sent out to the Fellows of the State 
Society, he shall, at the next meeting of the District Society, 
give due notice of such distribution. (M. M. S. 
Proceedings, June 13, 1876.) 7 
ARTICLE XI. 
DUTY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TRIALS. 
The Commissioner of Trials, whenever called upon by the 
President of the State Society, shall serve as a member of a 
Board of Trial, to try any Fellow charged with infraction of 
the By-Laws of the State Society. (M. M. S. By-Law XXXI.) 
ARTICLE XII. 
DUTY OF THE REPORTER. 
The Reporter shall prepare and present at the annual meet- 
ing of the State Society a report on cases of importance in the 
District, the public health thereof, or any subject of local 
Interest connected with the practice of medicine or surgery. 
{M. M. S. Councillors’ Proceedings, Feb. 3, 1875.) 
ARTICLE XIII. 
DUTIES OF THE COUNCILLORS. 
The Councillors shall attend each stated meeting of the 
'Council at the time and place specified in the By-Laws of the 
State Society, and such special meetings as may be called by 
the President, and shall perform such other duties as are 
specified in Articles XYIII. and XIX. of the By-Laws of the 
State Society. 
ARTtCLE XIY. 
DUTIES OF THE CENSORS. 
The Censors shall, according to the Rules and By-Laws of 
the Massachusetts Medical Society, examine for admission to 
that Society such candidates residing within the Middle- 
sex South District as have received the education required, 
are otherwise duly qualified for examination, and 8 
none other. Their meetings* shall be held at the same place 
and on the same day as the stated meetings of this District 
Society. Three Censors shall constitute a quorum, and the 
senior Censor shall preside. Unless a quorum be present, no 
vote shall be taken, except on the question of adjournment. 
Any meeting of the Censors, whether a quorum be present or 
not, may be continued by adjournment to such time and place 
within the District as may be determined by the Censors 
present. (M. M. S. By-Laws XX., XXI.) 
ARTICLE XY. 
SECRETARY OF THE CENSORS. 
The Secretary of this Society shall be Secretary of the Board 
of Censors for this District, and shall call and attend all the 
meetings of the Board. He shall report all unexcused absences 
to the Treasurer of the State Society. lie shall keep a faithful 
record of the meetings and transactions of the Board in the 
Record Book of this Society. He shall obtain for successful 
candidates, from the Recording Secretary of the State Society,, 
properly prepared certificates of Fellowship, for which he shall 
be responsible; and shall personally see that all the formal 
requirements of the By-Laws [I. and II.] of the State Society 
have been complied with by each candidate before giving the 
latter such certificate. (M. M. S. By-Law XXII.) 
ARTICLE XYI. 
PRIVILEGES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE CENSORS. 
The Board of Censors, including the Secretary, shall receive 
from the treasury of the State Society the sum of three dollars 
for each and every candidate examined by them; provided,. 
*The Board cannot advertise its meetings at the expense of the Society, unless it 
be authorized thereto by vote of the Society. (M. M. S. By-Law XX.) 9 
however, that the whole amount paid to the Board shall not 
exceed the sum of sixty dollars for any single year; and each 
Censor who shall neglect or refuse to attend a meeting of the 
Board, for which he has been duly notified, without offering 
an excuse which shall be satisfactory to those who do attend 
the same, shall pay a fine of five dollars to the Treasurer of 
the State Society. (M. M. S. By-Law XX.) 
ARTICLE XVII. 
DUTY OF THE ORATOR. 
The Orator shall deliver at the annual meeting an original 
address upon some subject connected with Medical Science. 
ARTICLE XVIII. 
AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS. 
This Society shall, at its discretion, incorporate into its By- 
Laws, as soon as practicable at a stated meeting, by a majority 
vote and without previous notice, the substance of any vote or 
resolution passed by the Councillors or the State Society, and 
affecting the duties, rights or privileges of this Society or of 
any of its officers. Otherwise these By-Laws may be amended 
at any stated meeting by a vote of three-fourths of the members 
present; provided, that the amendment is proposed in writing 
at the previous stated meeting, and notice of the same sent by 
the Secretary to each member of the Society. 
ARTICLE XIX. 
COMMITTEE OF NECROLOGY. 
The President, Secretary and one associate, as they may" 
choose, shall constitute a Committee of Necrology, whose duty 
it shall be to prepare a short biography of every deceased 
member, which shall go on the records of the Society. 10 
RULES AND ORDERS. 
I. 
1. Calling the meeting to order. 
ORDER OF BUSINESS. 
2. Reading, correction and acceptance of the Secretary’s 
record. 
3. Heport of the Librarian. 
4. Keport of the Treasurer. 
.5. Election of officers. 
At the annual meeting. 
■6. Appointment of Essayists. 
7. Unfinished business. 
8. New business. 
9. Heading of appointed papers, with discussion and action, 
thereon. 
10. Voluntary communicatons, with discussion and action, 
thereon. 
11. Introduction of newly elected officers. 
12. Adjournment. 
II. 
To the notice issued for the annual meeting, the Secretary 
shall append a list of the names and residences of all the 
members of the Society. 
The delivery of the annual address shall commence at least 
■one hour before the time fixed for dinner. 
III. 
IY. 
Unless the Society shall make a special appointment, the 
President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be a Committee of 
Arrangements for each and every meeting. 
Any one of the foregoing rules may he suspended by an 
.affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present at any meeting. 
Y. 11 
[These blank pages are for the use of those who desire ter 
'make a memorandum of such alterations as shall be made in 
the foregoing By-Laws.] 12 13 
STANDING VOTES. 
1. Voted, That at the semi-annual meeting a Committee of 
three shall be appointed, whose duty it shall be to nominate a 
list of officers for the ensuing year. That Committee shall 
transmit its report to the Secretary on or before the first day 
of the next April, and a printed copy of that report shall be 
sent by him to each Fellow, at least seven days before the 
annual meeting. (October 8, 1879.) 
2. Voted, That on the third Wednesdays of July and Jan- 
uary, this Society will hold meetings for medical improvement, 
at Natick, if no other place is designated. (October 8, 1879.) 
3. Voted, That at each annual meeting delegates, in the 
proportion of one to every ten Fellows, as nearly as practica- 
ble,* may be chosen to attend the meeting of the American 
Medical Association. (October 8, 1879.) 
4. Voted, That the Secretary be instructed to append to 
the notices of the stated meetings of the Society, the names 
of the readers and the titles of their papers, so far as can be 
ascertained. (April 21, 1880.) 
5. Voted, That the Secretary be instructed, on or before 
the first day of February in each year, to certify to the Nomi- 
nating Committee the number of Councillors to which the 
Society is entitled. (October 12, 1881.) 
DISTRICT SOCIETY. 
STATE SOCIETY. 
1. Voted, That the Secretaries of the District Societies be 
instructed to notify Delegates to the American Medical Asso- 
ciation, that they must inform the Recording Secretary of the 
State Society, if they intend to be present at the meetings of 
* See note on page 5. 14 
the Association, in order that credentials may be sent to them. 
(June 13, 1876.) 
2. Voted, Whenever a Fellow of this Society, owing more 
than one assessment, pays for one year or more, the payment 
or payments so made shall be invariably considered as for the 
assessments longest due, and for none others. (June 13, 1876.) 
3. Ordered, That at the end of the present financial year 
of the Massachusetts Medical Society (May 31, 1877), and 
thenceforward annually, there shall be set aside, as a dividend, 
such portion of the balance remaining in the treasury as the 
Committee on Finances, in consultation with the Treasurer, 
shall determine (subject to the approval of the Council at its 
annual meeting), to be distributed to the several District So- 
cieties, in proportion to the number of the annual assessments 
which have been paid in advance by the said Societies respect- 
ively. (October 1876.)