VALEDICTORY ADDRESS 
BY THE 
RETIRING PRESIDENT, 
FORDYCE BARKER, MI)., LL.D. (columb. et edinb.) 
DELIVERED BEFORE THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF 
MEDICINE, FEBRUARY 5th, 1885. 
NEW YOKE: 
PRINTED FOR THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. 
1 8 8 5. VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. 
FELLOWS OF THE ACADEMY: 
In now closing my official relations with the Academy, it is 
both a pleasure and a duty to briefly recall the more prominent 
features in its history during the period of this connection. I 
will also venture to offer a few suggestions derived from my 
long experience in this position, as to some points relating to 
its future growth, its increasing usefulness, and its influence 
on the profession. As I know you will be impatient for the 
intellectual feast which is to follow in the address of my suc- 
cessor to this Chair, I shall be as brief as is consistent with a 
clear statement of the points to which I think it desirable to 
ask your attention. 
It has been my good fortune to hold this position when the 
profession were becoming more alive to the importance of this 
Institution, and more and more ready to contribute material 
aid for its growth and support. At the same time, there was a 
new development of mental activity in the profession, not 
only in this City, but all over the world, demonstrated by 
great and important discoveries in science, and a wonderful 
increase and valuable additions to medical literature. 
As I have referred to these facts more in detail in former 
addresses before the Academy, I will not detain you now by 
further allusion to them. I will only briefly refer to a few of 
the most notable events connected with the Academy, during 
my administration. 
First to be mentioned is this new and commodious Hall, 
which could not then have been built except for the munificent 
donation of one noble benefactor, Dr. Abram DuBois, and the 
contribution to the full extent of their hard-earned means by 4 
DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
many others. We are rapidly out-growing our new Hall, and 
must soon have another, as our library is now nearly tilled. As 
I learn from Mr. Brown, our excellent assistant librarian, the 
Academy had, when this Hall was built 1879, about 9,000 
volumes ; it now has about 25,000 volumes and 15,000 pamph- 
lets. Its circulating department has about 6,000 volumes, 
which our Fellows can take out of the library for consultation 
at home. In our Journal room, open as is the library for all 
who may wish to read in our rooms, there are 225 medical jour- 
nals in all languages in which there is to be found a medical 
literature. 
The Academy is greatly indebted to Messrs. Wm. Wood & 
Co., and D. Appleton & Co., for large donations of their new 
publications, and I believe to some foreign and other Ameri- 
can medical publishers. We gratefully acknowledge the gen- 
erosity of these gifts, and wTe feel assured that they were made 
from entirely generous motives. But we may be permitted to 
express the conviction that both publishers and authors will 
tind it a Avise business policy to place a copy of every new 
medical work in our library, as it has been estimated by a 
competent authority that one copy of every new good book in 
this library will secure the sale of at least ten more. The 
library is visited not only by the profession of this city, but by 
medical men from all parts of the country, who come to this 
great metropolis. They have seen in some medical journal 
a notice of a book, but have not remembered aaTlo were the 
publishers; in coming to our library, they examine it to see if 
it is what they want. 
The next notable event in the history of our Academy, since 
I have held this position, is its absorption of another very im- 
portant organization, the Journal Association, which, to quote 
from a former address, “ not only added largely to our library 
but also to our moral and intellectual power.” 
The truth of history demands that the fact should be men- 
tioned that, nearly two years ago, the Academy passed through 
the segment of a cyclone; but, like a good steamship driven 
over a sandbank near a lee shore, with its engines temporarily DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
5 
disabled, it escaped being hogged, its seams were not opened, 
its barnacles have been scraped off, its bottom lias been 
cleaned, and it lias since gone on its voyage witli favoring 
winds and fine weather. All who are familiar with its past 
history, and who are unbiased by personal feeling or prejudice, 
must agree that the Academy has more nearly approached its 
avowed aims and its high purposes during the past year than 
in any former one since it was founded. It has had a larger 
increase of prominent men, and of young men of promise, 
than in any previous year since that in which it was organized, 
with the exception of the year when the Journal Association 
came into it. More than four times as many papers have been 
offered to me than there have been sessions to listen to them, 
and as these sessions had been promised to previous applicants, 
months before, very many of these papers have been with- 
drawn. I have afterwards seen them, not only in the medical 
journals of this city, but others in the journals of Philadelphia 
and Boston. It is bare justice for me to add that I have gen- 
erally found them to be of such merit that I greatly regretted 
that the Academy could not have had the credit of their first 
publication. 
The papers which have been read at our meetings have been 
characterized by careful preparation, thorough research, origi- 
nal and often valuable hints as to pathological examinations 
and therapeutical indications. 
Our discussions have been of such excellence that 1 am quite 
certain that every one carries away from our meetings either 
new suggestions or new information, which amply compensate 
for the evening passed in this Hall. 
In a scientific body like this, all discussions should express 
the results of mature inquiry, and a clear and forcible state- 
ment of the reasons which have led to positive practice. In 
some papers, the novelty of opinions advocated and the original 
methods of practice proposed, whether medical or surgical, 
may be so exclusively a matter of individual experience that 
all discussion must be necessarily limited at first to inquiries 
and dpriori objections, founded on anatomical, physiological, 6 
DR. ADDRESS. 
or pathological grounds. Papers of this class should be the 
subject of a most thorough and searching examination; for 
they may be either mischievous, and their effect for evil must 
be effectually exposed, or they may possess positive value 
which should lead to prompt acceptance and adoption. 
To secure such discussion as will represent the most advanced 
knowledge of the Academy on any special topic, I have at our 
recent meetings adopted a plan first introduced by Dr. Y. P. 
Gibney. Writers of papers have been requested to send to a 
few of those whom they knew to have given special attention 
to their subjects, the points which they would suggest for dis- 
cussion, printed on a small slip of paper, and especially asking 
those who held different or opposing views to take part in the 
discussion. They thus have time to arrange and formulate 
their knowledge and opinions, and the time of those present at 
the meeting is not wearily wasted in listening to crude, profit- 
less, and digressive talk. 
The reports of the Treasurers of the Academy and of the 
Board of Trustees have already been before the Academy. 
While its financial condition is now better than ever before, 
there still remains much to do. A few weeks since, a Com- 
mittee of Ways and Means were appointed, of which Dr. 
Gouverneur M. Smith is the Chairman, to solicit contributions 
to pay off our only debt, a mortgage of five thousand dollars. 
They have worked with great zeal and enthusiasm, the Bellows 
of the Academy have responded with self-sacrificing generosity; 
the necessary sum has not yet been wholly secured, but the 
prospect of soon accomplishing this is most encouraging. We 
particularly need money for preserving our library by book- 
binding. It will be remembered that last year a generous sum 
was given for this purpose by a lady, who has in many instances 
shown that she is as warm a friend to the Academy, as she is 
conspicuous for her readiness to aid every good work by mu- 
nificent support. Many of our Fellows have also most liberally 
added to the beauty of the Library in this way, and have ren- 
dered great service in the preservation of our books in good 
condition, which otherwise would speedily deteriorate. DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
7 
I have long contemplated offering some suggestions on the 
present occasion as to the wisdom of a change in our By-laws 
relative to the duties and functions of the sections. Only one 
of the sections, that of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women, has 
kept up an active organization, done excellent work, and made 
regular reports to the Academy since my official connection 
with it. Two or three only of the other sections have reported 
their organization, by the election of a Chairman and Secretary ; 
and this has been all. Two have appointed a Fellow to read 
an original paper before the Academy, one of which, a most 
valuable paper, was read before us. The other I have never 
been able to get, and as four years have now passed since that 
time, I do not think it very probable that it ever will come be- 
fore the Academy. 
The founders of the Academy did not contemplate making 
these sections independent societies for special work, but as 
contributing aids to the high aims of the central power. I had 
proposed to suggest such a modification of Article XVII., Sec- 
tion 2, as would assign to the sections functions similar to those 
of the Academy of Medicine of Paris. But we have not the 
time now to consider the details of such a change, and I leave 
the matter for future consideration by the Academy, and my 
honored successor. 
Neither did the founders of the Academy intend to absorb 
or concentrate in itself all the scientific work of tire profession 
in this city. The whole spirit of its high aims and purposes 
indicate that, on the contrary, they desired to stimulate and 
encourage such work in every feasible direction. I hope the 
time is not far distant when the Academy will be so well en- 
dowed that it may offer to all such societies, as the New York 
County Medical Society, the Pathological, the Obstetric and 
and the Surgical Societies, and the youngest of all, which has 
begun its career with excellent scientific work, the New York 
County Medical Association, a home for its meetings free from 
all expense. 
Our standing committees have always faithfully discharged 
their important duties, with one exception, and that is the 8 
DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
Committee on Medical Education, which has had little to do, 
and it has just done this and nothing more. 
I may now he permitted to ask if the time has not come, 
when it should be one of the most important and useful of all 
of our standing committees, in carrying out one of the objects 
of the Academy as declared in our Constitution, “ the elevation 
of the standard of medical education.” Iiow can this best be 
accomplished, is the question. 
It seems to me that a way is now open for this Committee 
to do effective work in this direction. 
For years the medical profession in all parts of the country 
have been agitating the cpiestion of separating the licensing 
power to practise medicine from the teaching power. 
It is a subject of great importance to the profession, to our 
medical schools, and equally so to the community. It must be 
met and settled in a way that will be most effective for good, 
but this cannot be done at once. There are two ways by which 
this can be accomplished, but each -would require time. 
One -way involves the division of the profession into contend- 
ing parties, each most zealous to carry its point, heated contro- 
versies which always provoke personal feeling and personal 
antagonism, an appeal for action of societies, and a struggle for 
majority votes, not only in medical societies, but in securing 
legislative action; all of which would undoubtedly affect inju- 
riously our medical colleges and lower the profession in the es- 
timation of the public. Any good secured would be at a great 
and unnecessary cost. The public cannot understand medical 
controversies except from wdiat appears on the surface. A 
“ doctor’s quarrel ’’ seems to the non-medical community like a 
fight between drunken men in the dark. The late Mr. Charles 
Dickens once related to me a story which he had heard, of how 
Sidney Smith convulsed with laughter a dinner company at 
Holland House, by his description of a duel between two doc- 
tors. The mode of warfare was croton oil on the tips of their 
fingers, trying to rub each other’s lips. 
How this question is one which belongs to the domain of 
reason, and let us hope, for the honor of the profession, that DR. BARKER'S ADDRESS. 
9 
hereafter it will be confined to the region of argument, and 
that in dne time it will be settled to the satisfaction of all who are 
actuated by pure motives and a desire to secure the best results. 
At the last meeting of the Academy, some resolutions were 
offered, but by the courteous consent of my friends, the mover 
and seconder of the resolutions, they were laid on the table for 
future consideration. I therefore feel that I have now the fioor 
and venture to throw out a few suggestions as to the other 
method of meeting this question. 
In order that the standpoint from -which I look at this sub- 
ject may be perfectly understood, I will briefly state a few 
propositions which seem to me common ground upon which 
we all stand, and from which we must start. 
Where charters for medical colleges can be easily obtained 
from State legislatures, it is a duty which the profession owes 
to the public as well as to itself, to protect the community 
from ignorant, unprincipled practitioners of medicine, who not 
only swindle their victims, but jeopardize health and often 
sacrifice human life. 
This is a matter of great difficulty where each State is an 
independent sovereignty as to all such laws, where there is no 
central power to control action, and where personal freedom of 
opinion and conduct is zealously guarded as to everything 
which does not interfere with the right of others as regards 
health and property. 
The interests of the medical profession are so closely allied 
with the medical colleges that what affects detrimentally the 
one must reciprocally injure the other. 
The profession has a perfect right to supervise the methods 
and exercise a controlling influence over those who by law are 
permitted the privilege of giving a diploma which is effectu- 
ally a license to practise medicine. 
All wise legislation must be based on a thorough knowledge 
of all the conditions which demand special law ; it cannot be 
evolved from the inner consciousness of any one who lias only 
the spirit, the zeal, and the genius of reform, but must be de- 
rived from the accumulated wisdom and experience of the past. 10 
DR. ADDRESS. 
Mere examinations by a special board who have had no previ- 
ous training in this direction, no personal acquaintance with the 
mental characteristics, the habits of study, or the personal con- 
duct of the candidate, would be as unsafe a test for admission 
to the profession as any objection that can be urged against the 
present system. Injustice would be done to some, while flip- 
pant readiness in reply, which can be easily attained by a quick, 
bright mind by a few weeks of cramming, without either solid 
acquirement or sound judgment, would always secure success. 
The experience of all countries has demonstrated the neces- 
sity of examinations by the teaching faculties, and the wisdom 
of their assent to a license to practice. 
But in all other countries except this, there is an additional 
protection to the profession and the public by the concurrence 
of another power. 
In the Edinburgh University and in some other medical in- 
stitutions of Great Britain, this is vested in a special Board of 
Examiners. In France, this is under the direct control of the 
government. The Minister of Public Instruction has not only 
the power of granting or withholding the diploma, but, in ad- 
dition, even in this so-called republican government, he has 
the power of retiring any professor whose teaching is not 
abreast with the times. In Germany also, while the methods 
vary in different universities, and in different constituent 
parts of the empire, it is yet under government control, which 
I believe is always exercised wisely. 
Xow I offer the suggestion that a committee of judicious, 
wise, and unprejudiced medical men, which would represent 
the best interests of the profession, the medical colleges, and 
the public, could frame a law, with the aid of competent legal 
advisers, which would combine the two methods, in accord- 
ance with the spirit of our republican institutions and the 
sentiments of our epoch, and thus save the profession from un- 
fortunate and heated controversies, and from crude, hasty, and 
ever-changing legislation. 
Would not the demands of the most progressive members 
of the profession be satisfied if the Regents of the University DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
11 
were empowered by law to appoint the Committee on Educa- 
tion of the Academy of Medicine a supervisory Board of Ex- 
aminers for the medical colleges of this city, whose duty 
should be to make an annual report, not only as to the exami- 
nation for diplomas, but other details as to the instruction and 
education of the student. This committee should be enlarged 
to the number of the principal departments of instruction, and 
. should serve without pay, for there can be no doubt that the 
best men in the profession who have the time would esteem it 
a high honor to serve on such a committee. 
For the medical colleges in other parts of the State, there 
would be no difficulty in devising a method by which the Re- 
gents would appoint men for the board of supervisory exam- 
iners who would be most satisfactory to all. 
Rone except those who are well acquainted with the facts 
can appreciate the immense advance which the medical colleges 
of this city have made within the past quarter of a century in 
teaching, and the increased facilities for acquiring a thorough 
education in all departments. 
I have also great pleasure in referring to two other schools, 
the “ Polyclinic ” and the “ Post-Graduate Medical School 
and Hospital,” which have been doing great work for the more 
thorough medical education of those who have diplomas, and 
thus necessarily for the “ elevation of the profession,” within 
the past three years. I do not believe that one in fifty of the 
profession of this city have the least conception of what these 
schools are doing. If I expressed in moderate terms my esti- 
mation of the importance and value of their work to the pro- 
fession of the country, I should be regarded by many as either 
carried away by my enthusiasm or prompted by personal con- 
siderations, so I will only say, Go and see for yourselves. Medi- 
cal men who come to this city, and who always keep up their 
professional interest, should not fail to visit them and see what 
clinical teaching and clinical opportunities are found here, with 
all the equipments for their utilization, and they will be well 
repaid for the time given up for this purpose. This system of 
special clinical improvement originated in Germany, and nine 12 
DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
or ten years ago I seized an opportunity to visit the most 
prominent of the polyclinics in that country. Undoubtedly 
they have greatly advanced within this time; hut I assert that 
then none that I visited were either in clinical advantages or 
clinical teaching on a level with our own at the present time. 
I take the liberty of suggesting that it would be a wise and 
politic movement for the medical colleges of this city, the 
“Hew York Polyclinic,” and the “Hew York Post-Graduate 
Medical School and Hospital,” to take the initiative, and invite 
the Committee on Medical Education of the Academy of Med- 
icine to visit these institutions, study their methods and their 
equipments, and report the result of their observations to the 
Academy at its annual meeting in January, 1886. 
It must be obvious to all that this great improvement in 
medical education, far beyond the elementary teaching of for- 
mer times, implies a corresponding elevation, not merely in 
the level of the average of the profession, but a still greater 
growth in the higher standards of medical science and literature. 
Thus the inquiry is naturally suggested, What is the future 
of this Academy, what is to be expected from it, and how is it 
to be placed on the high plane where it should stand in refer- 
ence to the profession, not only of this city and this country, 
but of the world ? A wise forecast will early plan to secure a 
result which it desires to attain. 
While our educational institutions are steadily improving 
their facilities for training the young men who are about to 
begin their career, and our Polyclinics and Post-Graduate 
Schools are more thoroughly preparing them for the higher 
grades of the profession, such an organization as our Academy 
of Medicine, in the great metropolis of the country, should be 
an ultimate centre at which all those who have been long 
enough at work to find out their individual vocation should 
have every opportunity to carefully study all the literature of 
past ages, and make original investigations in every possible 
field of medical science which can add to its importance. All 
short of this will be just so far a failure of the true mission of 
the Academy. DR. BARKER'S ADDRESS. 
13 
Tims far, which is only a beginning, the Academy has done 
its duty in bringing together most of the best men of the pro- 
fession and making them acquainted with the special ability 
of each, in collecting a most creditable library for consultation, 
research, and circulation, and in stimulating and bringing out 
good literary scientific work. 
What the Academy requires in the future is : 
First. A large tire-proof building, with ample room for a 
library containing all the medical literature of past and coming 
times, and including : 
Second. A large hall for its meetings, and others for smaller 
societies and committees. 
Third. A large room for a museum, illustrating physiologi- 
cal and pathological anthropology, and which should include a 
craniological series, a pathological series, and a series of sec- 
tions and dissections illustrating topographical human anatomy, 
and a comparative anatomy series. 
Fourth. An anthropometric laboratory, provided with the 
best means of measuring human bodies, the faculties, and every- 
thing cognate to these subjects, and which should include a set 
of psychometrical instruments and everything pertaining to 
the series. 
Fifth. A lecture hall, connecting with the laboratory and 
fully equipped with apparatus for lectures and demonstrations 
of all kinds. 
Sixth. It should also have a thoroughly educated and trained 
pathologist, who should, by means of an adequate salary paid 
by the Academy, be able to superintend all the scientific work 
and report on the specimens furnished to him; and also a first- 
class mechanic, skilled in brass and glass work; and a good 
practical phonographer. 
This is a broad scheme which will require a very large en- 
dowment, but it is my firm conviction that it only outlines the 
future of the Academy, even if it demands a million of dollars. 
The liberality of FTew York is as boundless as its wealth, 
when convinced of the worthiness of its object. But large 
wealth is subjected to perpetual annoyance from solicitations, 14 
DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
and to criticism from those who have some pet end to promote, 
which they deem the most important above all others, This 
kind of discipline trains wealth to the exercise of discrimina- 
tion and judgment, and besides it has its own convictions as to 
how its surplus can best be employed. 
The position of the possessors or representatives of great 
wealth in this country is peculiar and anomalous, and the 
thinking men of this class, and there are many, perfectly com- 
prehend this. 
There is no reason to suppose that there will be any excep- 
tion in this country to the general experience of the world in 
the past, which is, that those who have but little or no property 
will always greatly outnumber those of large wealth. The po- 
sition of the owners of great wealth is at once peculiar and 
anomalous with us. Heretofore, property has protected itself 
through its representatives, by monopolizing or controlling 
the law-making and the law-administering power. With us 
the condition of affairs, if not actually reversed, has certainly 
been brought within the possibility, if not the calamity of abso- 
lute reversal; inasmuch as through universal suffrage, untram- 
meled by conditions of property, and absolutely (in theory at 
least) free elections, the control of all law-making bodies and the 
appointment of all law administrators, has come to be possible 
with those “ who have not ” rather than “ to those who have.” 
Property or its representatives, and more especially the rep- 
resentatives of very large wealth, are therefore exposed to dan- 
gers in the future with us, through arbitrary or destructive leg- 
islation, which have not existed or do not now exist in any 
other country. The possessors of great wealth, in virtue of 
their superior education and knowledge of the use of methods, 
may be able to guard themselves in the future, as they have in 
the past, but this will turn on the fact whether they have a 
clear perception of the situation, and the sagacity to avail them- 
selves of the two strictly legitimate methods for protection 
open to them for adoption. 
The first of these is to bring to the masses, in whom all po- 
litical power rests, a full realization of the fact, that nothing DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
15 
so undermines the prosperity of a state, or so quickly impover- 
ishes the people, through the arrest of industrial growth, as 
the impairment or the menace of impairment of the rights of 
property. 
The second is the demonstration by the possessors of wealth, 
by liberal contributions to every object that can benefit hu- 
manity, relieve suffering, prolong and preserve human life, 
improve education, aid scientific investigation and promote a 
higher development of art, that they regard their wealth in a 
great degree as in the nature of a trust, to be used by them 
for the benefit of humanity and the elevation of the masses. 
Happily we have abundant proof that this view has been 
adopted by many in this city. 
The foundation of the Astor Library and the Cooper Insti- 
tute are a corroboration of this statement as regards the past. 
The splendid gift to the College of Physicians and Surgeons 
by Mr. W. H. Vanderbilt, the munificent endowment of the 
Hew York Cancer Hospital by Mr. John Jacob Astor, and the 
generous and liberal contribution of Mr. Andrew Carnegie for 
a pathological laboratory in the Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- 
lege, are recent evidences of the correctness of my assertion. 
Such noble examples are sure to be emulated by many others 
in the future. 
The wonderful material growth and development of this 
country is unparalleled by anything in the history of the past, 
and they are certain to go on in even more rapid strides for 
years to come. Its educational and scientific institutions will 
be placed on a corresponding plane, as compared with other 
parts of the world, with its industrial, its financial, and its polit- 
ical relations. 
There is another point worthy of remark. Men of wealth, 
in common with other men of intelligence, like those devoted 
to literature and science, have a desire to be remembered after 
death. They have a dread of having their names and the record 
of their lives pass into utter forgetfulness or oblivion. To 
avoid this, the resting places of the dead are everywhere crowded 
with cenotaphs and memorials, and in this country especially, 16 
DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
by tlie erection of some of the most expensive monuments and 
mausoleums of modem times. They crowd each other in some 
of our cemeteries to such a degree that they lose all their in- 
dividuality by their multiplicity; and the names which they 
are intended to keep alive are forgotten in the comments and 
criticisms as to the comparative merits of the architect or stone- 
cutter who has erected them. The frequent question asked is, 
“ How much did it cost ? ” and the only suggestion is that of 
vulgar wealth. “Yet all here,” to quote from quaint old Sir 
Thomas Brown, u are but Babel vanities. Time sadly over- 
cometli all things, while her sister Oblivion reclineth somnifer- 
ous, making puzzles of titanic erections and turning old glories 
into dreams.” 
The only lasting monument a man can build for himself is 
the reputation he makes during life, and the memory of the 
benefits which he has, in some form or other, conferred on those 
who live after him. 
“ But the good deed through the ages, 
Living in historic pages, 
Ever gleams and grows immortal, 
Unconsumed by moth or rust.” 
From all these considerations I feel justified in expressing 
the belief that the ideal of the future of the Academy which 
I have given, will at no remote period prove to he history. I 
hope to live to see it well begun, and 1 have the strong con- 
viction that some now present will see it in full accomplish- 
ment. Some man of wealth, fully comprehending the import- 
ance of this Academy, not merely to the profession, but still 
more to the public, will esteem it a privilege to have his name 
prefixed to our new hall by furnishing the requisite sum to 
build it and perfectly equip and support it; others will con- 
tribute the necessary amount to give their names to each of the 
special museums that I have mentioned, and others will place 
their names on an alcove in the library. 
I here crave indulgence for one remark, the only one per- 
sonal to myself: DR. BARKER’S ADDRESS. 
17 
I trust tliis evening will end, on my part, all official connec- 
tion with any medical societies. The remainder of my life, 
except the time necessary for bread-winning, will he devoted to 
putting on record the results of more than forty years of study, 
observation, and experience, with the hope that this may be of 
some value to the younger men of the profession, and to doing 
all in my power to urge forward that future of our Academy 
which I have anticipated. 
I have but a few words to add before introducing my suc- 
cessor. 
Some years ago, when elected to a similar honor in another 
society, I remarked : “ Scientific societies seem to be governed 
in their selection of office-bearers by one of two principles. One 
is to confer honor on those who, by their contributions to liter- 
ature and science, have won a right to it. The other is to select 
such as will most efficiently perform the duties which pertain 
to the office.” 
In the election of my successor, the Academy has most hap- 
pily combined both of these principles. His literary and 
scientific work have won for him an enviable fame and high 
distinction equally in this country and in Europe. His ability 
as a presiding and executive officer has already been successfully 
tested by his former service as President of the Hew York 
County Medical Society, and of the Medical Society of the State 
of Hew York. Thus he begins his career with a prestige 
which is a promise of great success. 
I now have the great pleasure of presenting to him the “ lov- 
ing cup,” on which his name has already been engraved, and 
which is to be transmitted to his successors in turn. It is orna- 
mented with the symbol of friendship and love, and on it is 
the sentiment engraved, “ May peace and love be multiplied 
unto us.” 
Some years ago the phrase was very current in the political 
wTorld, “ let us have peace.” It is as wise a sentiment for the 
medical as for the political world. I sincerely hope that my 
successor will never have to qualify this with the paradoxical 
appendix, “ Let us have peace, even if we have to fight for it.”