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CONSTI T V T I O N
BY-LAWS
         NEW   YORK


ACADEMY  OF  MEDICINE.


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ISA FIDES, ALT ARK O O M,to U N E
               ARMY
             MEDICAL

             OCT 17 1946



C. A. C. VAN BEURKN, PRINTER, 22:5 BLKKOKEU STREET.
               1852. 
**$*'*..
*; 
CONSTITUTION
BY-LAWS
NEW   YORK
ACADEMY  OF  MEDICINE.
UNA FIDES, ALTARE COMMUNE.
CO 1
■jrjU^
          NEW YORK:
G. A. C. VAN BEUREN, PRINTER, 223 BLEECKER STREET.
             1852. 
 
CONSTITUTION.
                       Art. I.
  This Association shall be called the New York Acad-
emy of Medicine,  and shall  be composed of Eesident,
Non-Eesident, Corresponding, and Honorary Fellows.

                       Art. II.
  The objects of the Academy shall be:—
First.  The cultivation and advancement of the Science of
  Medicine.
Second. The  promotion of the character and honor of the
  Profession.
Third. The  elevation  of the standard of  Medical  Educa-
  tion.
                      Art. III.
  Eesident Fellows shall be regular practitioners of Medi-
cine and Surgery in the City of New York and its vicinity;
they shall be proposed in writing, at  a stated meeting, by
two Fellows, and may be elected by a majority vote at any
meeting subsequent  to the  one at which  they have  been
proposed.  Any Eesident Fellow removed permanently from
the City or vicinity, without having resigned his Fellowship,
shall be considered a Non-Eesident Fellow, and enjoy all
the privileges  and immunities of a Corresponding Fellow.
A residence of at least two years  as a Practitioner in this
City or its vicinity, shall be necessary to render an indivi-
dual eligible to Eesident Fellowship in the Academy. 
4
                       Art. IV.
  Corresponding and Honorary Fellows, having been pro-
posed at least one month, shall be elected at a stated meet-
ing,  by a  three-fourths vote of Fellows present, and then
only upon  the recommendation of the  Committee on Ad-
missions.
  The number of  Corresponding  Fellows shall be limited
to two hundred, and Honorary Fellows to fifty.

                       Art. V.
  The officers of this Academy shall  be a  President, four
Vice-Presidents, a Eecording Secretary, an Assistant Secre-
tary, a Domestic Corresponding Secretary,  a Foreign Cor-
responding Secretary,  a  Treasurer, Librarian,  and  seven
Trustees;  all  of whom shall  be  elected by ballot and a
majority vote,  at the stated meeting in January, and shall
hold their offices one year,  and until  others are chosen in
their places.

  No Fellow shall  be eligible to the office of President for
two successive terms.
                       Art. VI.
  The following Standing Committees shall be elected annu-
ally, by ballot or otherwise,  and, until  others are chosen,
perform such duties as may be assigned to them:—
  1.  A Committee  on Admissions.    2.  A Committee on
Medical Ethics.  3.  A Committee  on  Finance.   4. A Com-
mittee on  Publication.  5.  Scientific Committees, as  fol-
lows:—1,  Anatomy, Physiology,  and Pathology;  2,  Sur-
gery and Surgical Pathology; 3, Theory and Practice, and
Medical Pathology; 4, Materia Medica and Botany; 5, Ob-
stetrics and Diseases of Women and Children; 6, Chemistry
and Pharmacy; 7,  Public Health  and  Legal Medicine.
  These  Committees  shall  eonsist of five  members  each,
except the  Scientific Committees,  whose numbers shall be
regulated from time to time by the Academy. 
5
                       Art. VII.
  § 1.  Every Fellow, desiring it, shall be furnished with a
duly-authenticated certificate of Fellowship, which may be
revoked  for cause; and in  case of refusal to surrender the
same,  the  Academy  may publish said revocation in the
newspapers.
  § 2.  Any Fellow, having complied with the requirements
of the Constitution and By-Laws, may resign his Fellowship,
by presenting at a stated meeting a communication in wri-
ting to that effect.
  § 3.  No resignation shall be valid until accepted by the
Academy.

                       Art. VIII.
  The Academy hereby reserves the right of punishing
violations of its  regulations, or its code of Medical Ethics,
with the concurrent vote of four-fifths of the Fellows pre-
sent at  a  stated  meeting,  by  reprimand,  suspension, or
expulsion; and will recognise as a regular practitioner, no
Fellow who has been expelled.

                        Art. IX.
  No part of this Constitution shall be altered, except at a
stated  meeting  subsequent to one at which a proposition to
that effect shall have been made in writing, and then only
by a four-fifths, vote of the Eesident Fellows present. 
6
                       AN ACT
 TO INCORPORATE THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE,
                 Passed June 23c?,  1851.
  The  people  of the  State  of New  York, represented  in
Senate and Assembly,  do enact as follows:
  Section 1.  J.  Kearney Eodgers, James Anderson, Galen
Carter,  Willard  Parker,  John  H. Griscom, Edward  L.
Beadle, Isaac Wood, James 0. Pond,  and John G. Adams,
and such  other persons as are now associated as the New
York Academy of Medicine, or may hereafter become asso-
ciated with them, are hereby constituted a body corporate, by
the name  of " Tlie New Yorh Academy of Medicine" for the
purpose of promoting the advancement  of Medical Science,
by such means as to  them shall appear expedient and proper.
  Sec. 2. The said  Corporation shall  have power to make
and adopt a constitution and  by-laws,  rules, and regulations
for the admission, suspension, and expulsion of its members,
and their government;  the election of its officers, and define
their duties; and for the safe keeping and protection of its
property and funds,  and, from time to time, to alter or repeal
such constitution, by-laws, rules, and regulations.  The pre-
sent officers shall hold their respective offices, until others
shall be chosen  in their places.
  Sec. 3. The said Corporation may purchase and hold any
real or personal estate,  the annual income of which shall not
exceed five thousand dollars.
  Sec. 4. The  said  Corporation  shall possess the general
powers, and be subject  to the general restrictions and liabili-
ties prescribed in  the third title of the  eighteenth chapter  of
the first part of the  revised statutes.
  Sec. 5. The Corporators, hereby incorporated, are author-
ized to appoint  a delegate, to represent  them  in the State
Medical Society, with all the powers  and privileges which
delegates for the  respective Medical College^  of this State
possess.
    Sec. 6. The Legislature may at any time alter or repeal
this act.
        State of New York, Secretary's  Office.
          I certify,  that I have compared the foregoing with
[L. S.]  an original  law on file in this office, and that the
        same is a correct  transcript therefrom, and of the
        whole of  said original.
          Given under my hand  and  seal of  office, at the
        City of Albany, this twenty-eighth day  of June
        one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
                                A. G. Johnson,
                                     Dep. Sec. of State. 
BY-LAWS,
                     I.—MEETINGS.

  § 1. The Stated Meetings of the Academy shall be held on
the first Wednesday of every month, except when the first
Wednesday is the first day of January or the fourth day of
July; in which case, the meeting shall be held on the third
Wednesday of those months.
  § 2. The Stated meetings in January, May, and September,
shall be for the transaction of business  not strictly profes-
sional or scientific, and the order of business arranged accor-
dingly.
  § 3. The Stated meeting in November shall be the Anni-
versary meeting, at  which an Oration shall be delivered.
  § 4. Special meetings may be  called at any time  by the
President, upon  the requisition in writing, of any ten Eesi-
dent Fellows.
  § 5. At  all meetings, twenty-one Eesident Fellows shall be
necessary  to constitute a quorum.
  § 6. The hour for holding stated meetings shall be : from
April to October, 8 o'clock,  P.  M.; and from October to
April, 7 o'olock, P. M.

                 II.—THE PRESIDENT

  Shall preside over all meetings; regulate all debates;  call
for  reports;  summon extraordinary  meetings on  urgent
occasions; sign all Diplomas, Letters-Testimonial, and other
documents requiring  his signature ; appoint all committees
not otherwise provided for; announce the result of all votes,
and give the casting vote only; introduce all Corresponding,
Non-Eesident, and Honorary Fellows, or distinguished mem-
bers of the  profession who may be present; designate one
or more  Fellows to prepare suitable memoirs of deceased 
8
members; and be, ex-ojficio, a member of all Standing Com-
mittees, and of the Board of Trustees.

                Ill—VICE-PRESIDENTS.

  The Vice-Presidents shall assist the President in the dis-
charge of his duties, and in his absence  preside in the order
of rank—the one receiving the  greatest  number of votes,
being first, etc.; and in case of equality of votes, they shall
rank by age.

            IV.—RECORDING SECRETARY.

  The Eecording Secretary shall keep  minutes of the pro-
ceedings of all meetings;  notify officers and  members  of
committees of their appointment  and the duties required of
them;  sign diplomas, and certify to all official acts requiring
certificates either in connection with or independently of the
President, as the case  may be; attest and affix the common
seal to  all  Diplomas,  Letters-Testimonial, and other  docu-
ments  requiring the seal of the Academy and  signature of
the President; transmit to  the Committee on  Admissions,
all nominations for fellowship within one week after each
stated meeting; receive the signatures and initiation-fees of
newly elected members, and pay the same over  to the Trea-
surer ;  be, ex-officio, a  member  of the Standing Committees
and of the Board of Trustees; and transact such other busi-
ness in his department as may be ordered  by the Academy.

             V.—ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

  The Assistant Secretary shall keep a correct list, and issue
notices of meetings to all Eesident Fellows; call the roll  at
each  meeting, and  previous to every election prepare a list
of those entitled to vote; assist the Eecording Secretary  in
the discharge of his duties, and in his absence perform them.


    VI.—DOMESTIC CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

  The  Domestic Corresponding Secretary shall  take charge
of, and conduct the correspondence of the Academy within
the United States. 
9
      VII.—FOREIGN CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

   The Foreign Corresponding Secretary shall take charge
 of, and conduct the foreign correspondence of the Academy.

                   VIII.—TREASURER.

   The Treasurer shall receive and have the care and keep-
 ing of all moneys and funds belonging to the Academy ; also
 all bequests and donations not of a literary or scientific char-
 acter; pay all bills or  sums of money directed by  the
 Academy and endorsed by the Finance Committee,  and none
 others ; keep a correct  account of all moneys received and
 expended; have power to employ a person to collect  the
 annual assessments; give  a statement of the funds of  the
 Academy at the meeting in May and in September, and at
 the meeting in January a full and detailed report;  have his
 books ready for inspection by the Finance Committee when-
 ever  they may require it;  and  deliver up, when legally
 called upon,  all moneys,  bonds,  papers, books, etc.,. etc.,
 belonging  to the Academy, to his successor in office, or to
 any other person especially appointed to receive them..

                   IX.—LIBRARIAN.

   The Librarian shall have charge of all books, pamphlets,
 manuscripts, anatomical or pathological specimens, apparatus,
 instruments, medals, coins, or scientific property of whatever
 kind, and  affix to each donation the name of the donor;
 keep a catalogue ;  observe such rules  as shall be prescribed
 for the regulation of his department,  and render a full and
 detailed account of the condition thereof at least once a year,
 and oftener if required.

                    X.—TRUSTEES.

   The Trustees shall provide  suitable  rooms for meetings
 and other  necessary accommodations; have in  charge the
property of the Academy;  superintend its general interests,
and report annually at the stated meeting in January; hold
meetings, and be subject to the same  rules as the Standing
Committees. 
                          10


                   XI.—COMMITTEES.

  § 1. All Standing Committees shall meet at least once in
each month, and keep regular minutes of their  proceedings,
which shall be recorded in suitable books provided for the
purpose.
  § 2. They shall, in addition to such duties as are hereinafter
assigned  to them, respectively consider all  matters particu-
larly referred to them, and report thereon.
  § 3. When any member of a committee, or officer, shall fail
to discharge his duties to the satisfaction of the Academy,
he may be dismissed from his office by a  two-thirds vote ;
but no motion for dismissal  shall  be acted  upon until the
next stated meeting, prior to which the Eecording Secretary
shall notify the alleged delinquent of such motion.
  § 4. Every member of a committee, or Fellow, having funds
or property belonging to  the Academy, shall  give up the
same on demand, to the person authorized to receive it.

          XIL—COMMITTEE ON  ADMISSIONS.

  The Committee on Admissions,  upon receiving from the
Eecording Secretary the names of the candidates proposed
for  fellowship, shall  make  due inquiry, and report within
three months  such  as may be deemed worthy  an election;
which  report shall specify the source whence the nominees
derived their diploma or license to practise, with the dates
thereof;  and should this committee fail to report within the
time specified upon  any nomination submitted to them, any
Fellow having made such a nomination may renew the same
directly to the Academy, and a vote shall be taken upon it;
in this case, however, the affirmative vote of  four-fifths of
the members  present, as ascertained by  ballot, shall be
requisite to ensure an election; and on the question being put,
it shall be distinctly stated that the nomination  has not been
approved by the committee.

       XIII.—COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL  ETHICS.

  The Committee on Medical Ethics shall hear all  com-
plaints of breach of etiquette, or violation of Medical Ethics, 
11
on the part of any Fellow, and decide all questions of Medi-
cal Ethics submitted to it by the Academy.  It shall,  also,
notify to appear before it, any Fellow of the Academy who
shall be charged in writing with violating any of the provi-
sions  of the Constitution, a copy of such charge having  been
previously famished him; his accuser being also cited to
appear,  the Committee shall proceed to take testimony and
hear the defence, reserving its decision to be reported to the
Academy at the next stated business meeting, when its action
may be affirmed by a majority of the Fellows present; but
the vote of three-fourths  of those present shall be required
to reverse the  decision  of the Committee.   It shall also be
the duty of this committee to endeavor to reclaim offenders
before proceeding against them in manner and form.


             XIV.—FINANCE  COMMITTEE.

  The Finance Committee shall audit, and if correct, counter-
sign all bills; examine the books and accounts of the  Trea-
surer ; superintend the financial concerns of the Academy,
and make a full and detailed report of all matters committed
to  their charge, at the  annual  meeting  in January, and
oftener if required; and likewise at that meeting, recommend
an assessment not exceeding three dollars a year upon each
Eesident Fellow, for the  payment of current or  contingent
expenses.

           XV.—COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION.

  The  Committee  on Publication  shall   superintend the
printing and publishing of all papers and volumes  ordered
by the  Academy.

             XVI.—SCIENTIFIC  COMMITTEES.

   The Scientific Committees shall bring before the Academy
at its stated meetings, or as otherwise ordered, such matters
as pertain to the several departments respectively assigned
to them, as subjects for  discussion  or  other action.  They
shall likewise examine and report on all papers, documents,
instruments, apparatus, &c, submitted to them. 
12
                   XVIL—ELECTIONS.

  At every Election, an Inspector and two Tellers shall be
appointed by the Chair to receive the ballots.  The roll of
Fellows entitled to vote shall then be called by the Assistant
Secretary, and  each Fellow as his name is called deposit
his ballot; and when the poll is declared closed, no vote
shall be received thereafter;  but the Inspector and Tellers
shall proceed to canvass the votes, and if no choice has been
made, a  new balloting shall forthwith take place; and at
each succeeding one the name  of the Candidate having the
fewest votes shall be withdrawn.
  Ballots enfolded in each other, blank votes,  and votea
cast for  a Fellow not in regular  nomination, shall be dis-
carded.

                    XVIIL—FUNDS.

  § 1. The  Securities,  Investments, and Funds of the Aca-
demy shall not be disposed of  or transferred in whole or in
part, unless by a two-thirds vote  at  a  stated meeting, of
which notice shall have been given at a previous meeting;
but bills, for current or contingent expenses, may be passed
by  a majority, at any stated meeting,  without previous
notice.
  § 2. No Loan of the Funds shall be made to private indi-
viduals.  No Fellow, whose Fellowship has been  vacated,
shall have a right, title, or claim to any portion of the Funds
or Property of the Academy.

                      XIX.—DUES.

  All Assessments ordered by the Academy, shall be paid
within the  current fiscal  year; and  the Initiation Fee of
One Dollar before signing the Constitution and By-Laws.

                 XX.—NOMINATIONS.

  Nominations of Candidates for the Anniversary Orator and
all  other Officers, shall be made at the stated meeting in
December. 
13
                     XXL—ETHICS.

   No Fellow shall countenance, encourage, or patronize, by
advertising, giving certificates, or in any other way what-
ever, an irregular practitioner, proprietor or vender of any
nostrum, patent, or quack medicine.

 | XXH.—SIGNING THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.

   § 1.  Every duly elected Eesident Fellow  shall affix his
Signature  to the  Constitution and By-Laws within  two
months after his election; and in default thereof said elec-
tion shall be deemed void, unless a satisfactory excuse be
given;—notwithstanding he  may be re-nominated and re-
elected.
   § 2.  No  one elected a Eesident Fellow shall be entitled to
the rights and privileges of Fellowship, until he shall have
paid his Initiation Fee and signed  the Constitution and By-
Laws.

               XXIIL—MISCELLANEOUS.

   §  1.  Any Eesident Fellow may  invite his professional
friends  to  attend the Meetings  of the Academy; and all
Fellows not Eesident, distinguished Physicians, or invited
Guests, present at a Meeting, shall be  introduced to the
President,  and  by him  to the Academy, and their names
entered on the minutes.
   § 2. Any Fellow  may, through the Chair, call on other
Fellows or upon invited Guests, for the expression of their
views and opinions on subjects under consideration.
   § 3.  A copy of every  Oration, Memoir,  or Medical Paper,
read before the Academy, shall be kept in its Archives, by
the Librarian, unle'ss otherwise ordered.   But no such paper
shall be published, as having been delivered or read before
the Academy,  unless authorized  by a  vote at a stated
meeting.
   § 4. All Memoirs of deceased Fellows shall be written upon
paper of uniform size and quality,  furnished by the Eecord-
ing Secretary, and bound in  successive volumes for future
reference. 
14
  § 5. An Official Catalogue of Fellows shall be"published in
manner and form when ordered by the Academy.
  § 6. Every Eesident Fellow shall notify the Assistant Secre-
tary of a change of residence as soon as practicable.
  § 7. All charges  against Fellows  of the  Academy,  for
alleged infractions of its Eules and Eegulations, or Breaches
of Medical  Ethics,  shall  be  addressed to the Eecording
Secretary, under a  sealed cover, with  the words, " Charge
against a Fellow,"  written upon it.  The reception of such
paper shall be announced to the Academy by the Secretary,
who, after designating it by a number, shall hand the same
over to the Committee on Medical Ethics.
  § 8.  Any Act which unfavorably affects the character of
the Medical  Profession,  shall be deemed   a  chargeable
offence.
  § 9.  All Scientific Papers or Translations read before the
Academy, shall be  referred to  the Appropriate Scientific
Committees.

               XXIV.—RULES OF ORDER.

  § 1. The President shall  take  the  chair precisely at the
time appointed, and the Academy proceed to business in
the following  order, except  at the stated Meetings in Janu-
ary, May, and September:—

        1. Calling the Roll.
        2. Reading  the Minutes.
        3. Report of Committee on Admission.
        4. Election of New Members.
        5. Reports of Scientific Committees in their order.
        6. Reports by leave.
        7. Reading of Papers and Discussions.
        8. Reception of Professional and Scientific Intelligence.
        9. Unfinished Business.
      10. New Business.

  § 2.  At the stated Meetings in January, May, and Sep-
tember, the order of business shall be as follows :—
1. Calling the Roll.
2. Reading the Minutes. 
15
        3. Report of Committee on Admission.
        4. Election of New Members, Officers, and Committees.
        5. Nomination  of Resident, Corresponding, and Honorary
             Fellows.
        6. Report of the Recording Secretary.
        7. Report of Committee on Medical Ethics.
        8. Report of Committee on Finance.
        9. Report of Committee on Publication.
       10. Report of Trustees.
       11. Report of Domestic Corresponding Secretary.
       12. Report of Foreign Corresponding Secretary.
       13. Report of Treasurer.
       14. Report of Librarian.
       15. Reports of Special Committees by Seniority.
       16. Reading of Papers and Discussions.
       17. Reception of Professional and Scientific Intelligence.
       18. Unfinished Business.
       19. New Business.

   § 3.   1. No  motion or resolution  shall be  considered
unless seconded; nor question,  unless stated by the Pre-
sident.
   2. When  a question is under debate no motion shall be
received, but to adjourn ;  to lay on the table; for the previ-
ous question; to postpone;  to refer; or to amend;—which
several motions shall have precedence in the order in which
they are here arranged.  The first three shall be decided
without debate.
   3. When  a blank  is to be filled, the  question shall  be
first taken  on the highest  number, the  greatest  sum, or
longest time proposed.
   4. Any  Fellow  may call  for  a  division of a question
when the sense will admit of it.
   5. The yeas and nays  on any question, when called for
by five Fellows present, shall be taken without debate and
recorded on the minutes.
   6. After  any question  has been decided, except one of
indefinite postponement,  any two Fellows, who voted in
the  majority, may at the  same or next stated meeting,
move for a reconsideration  thereof; without which no dis-
cussion shall be allowed.
   7. Every  Fellow shall have  the privilege of speaking 
16
once, on any question under consideration;  but not offcener,
unless by permission of the Academy.
  8. Any Fellow called to order while speaking, shall take
his seat, and the debate be suspended until the point of order
is settled.
  9. All questions  of order shall be decided by  the Chair,
subject  to an appeal, which shall be  determined by vote,
without debate.
  10. No motion shall be made while a Fellow  is  speaking;
and in all cases the mover must rise and address the Chair.
  11. All resolutions and amendments shall be offered in
writing  when required.
  12. All questions of order, not provided  for by these rules,
shall be determined by Parliamentary usages.

          XXV.—ALTERATIONS OF BY-LAWS.

   These By-Laws  may  be  suspended by a  three-fourths
Yote  at a stated Meeting; and be repealed or  amended by
a similar vote, provided notice  of the same  has been given
in writing at a previous stated Meeting.