Abstract of State Society Proceedings, 
No,. 2. 
Minutes of the Fifth Annual Meeting of 
the Louisiana State Medical Society, held at Bcgel’s 
Hall, 3h:svep:rt, La., April 4-5-6, 1833. 
Annual Report cf 1883 cf the Standing Committee on 
Medicine. 
Report of the Committee on Medical Organization. 
Report of the Corresponding Secretary. 
Roll and Post Office Addresses of Members of the 
Louisiana State Medical Society. 
Regulations of the Louisiana State Medical Society. 
Regulations for Parish Medical Societies. 
Reprinted from N. O. Medical and Snrgical Journal June, I1J8U. 
NEW ORLEANS: 
L. Graham Son, Printers, 127 Gravier StreStr 
18 83. MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE 
FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING 
OF THE 
Louisiana State Medical Society, 
HELD AT 
BOGEL’S HALL, SHREVEPORT, LA., APRIL 4, 5 and 6, 1883. 
First Day’s Proceedings. 
The Society was called to order by the President, A. A. Lyon, 
M. 1)., of Shreveport, at 11 o’clock. Twenty-one members 
present: Dr. C. J. Bickham of .New Orleans, announced that 
Dr. L. F. Salomon, the Recording Secretary, would not be pres, 
ent and moved that Dr. P. B. McOutchon of New Orleans, be 
elected temporary Secretary. Carried. 
Prayer was offered by W. C. Dunlap, D. D., of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 
Dr. T. G. Ford, Chairman of the Arrangements Committee, 
then introduced Hon. Andrew Currie, Mayor of Shreveport, 
who in a few appropriate remarks welcomed the delegates on 
behalf of the citizens. 
After which, Dr. T. G. Ford, introduced Dr. T. J. 
Allen, President of the Shreveport Medical Society, who wel- 
comed the delegates on behalf of the Shreveport Medical Society. 
Dr. C. J. Bickham moved that the reading of the minutes 
of the last meeting be dispensed with, they having been 
published in pamphlet form. Carried. 
Dr. moved a suspension of the rules, so that the Sec- 
retary could get the names of the members present, and that 
each member should hand in his name and parish to the Secre- 
tary. Carried. 
The following members registered their names : 
Allen, T. J., of Shreveport; Ashton, W. W., Shreveport ; 
Bemiss, S. M., Bickham, C. J., New Orleans; Billiu, D. H. 
Booth, A., Shreveport; Cliaill6, S. E,, New Orleans; Clay, D., 2 
M., Shreveport; Davidson, J. P., New Orleans; Day, R. H., 
Baton Rouge; Dillard, H. T., Eagan, J. C., Ford, T. G., Shreve- 
port ; Fox, D. R., Plaquemines parish ; Gray, R. A., Hilliard, W*, 
Lyon, A. A., Shreveport; McCutchon, P. B., New Orleans; 
Schuppert, M., New Orleans; Scott, J. J., Shreveport; 
Scruggs, S. O., Cloutierville, Natchitoches parish. 
Twenty-one members (21'). 
Credentials from the following delegates were received 
L. H. Fisher, J. W. Allen, Shreveport Medical Society. 
Dr. Fox, Plaquemine Medical Society. 
J. P. Davidson, C. J. Bickham, M. Schuppert, P. B. Me 
Cutchou, New Orleans Parish Medical Society. 
T. G. Newton, Morehouse Parish Medical Society. 
Reading of Communications. 
The Secretary read a communication from Dr. A. B. Snell 
of Bayou Goula, Iberville parish, suggesting the formation of 
a Tri-State Medical Society of the States of Louisiana, Texas, 
and Arkansas, similar to that now existing between the States 
of Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. 
Tabled subject to call. 
Also a communication from Dr. J. D. Hammonds, of Lind 
Grove, Morehouse parish, suggesting Monroe as the place for 
the next meeting. Tabled, subject to call. 
From Dr. J. E. Duffel, of Donaldsonville, Ascension parish, 
suggesting the formation of Parish Boards of Health, etc. 
From Louisiana State Pharmaceutical Association, through 
President Jas. S. Thibodeaux, with reference to a proposed 
“ Pharmacy law.” 
On motion of Dr. S. E. Cliaille, these were referred to the 
Committee on State Medicine and Legislation. 
Proposals for Membership. 
The following names were proposed : 
Allen, J. W., Shreveport; Armstrong, R. L., Jr., Pleasant 
Hill, DeSoto parish ; Baird, W. J., Collinsburg, Bossier parish; 
Benson, R. F., Mansfield, DeSoto parish ; Buck, W. P., Ever- 
green, Avoyelles parish ; Calhoun, T. L., Coty, H. C., Shreve- 3 
port; Crain, P., Compte, Natchitoches parish; Dickson, W. 
L., Dickson’s Cross Eoads, Bossier parish; Dunn, J. A., 
Cotile, Rapides parish; Dunn, M. A., Montgomery, Grant 
parish 5 Easly, B. A., Cotile; Egan, W. L., Fisher, L. H., 
Shreveport; Formento, F., New Orleans; Gibbs, E. T., 
Mansfield; Griffin, J. F., Cloutierville, Natchitoches parish; 
Harrison, T. J., Montgomery; Milling, J. S., Dickson’s 
Cross Eoads; Mosely, W. X., Keacni, DeSoto parish; New- 
ton, I. J., Jr., Bastrop, Morehouse parish ; Owens, C. D., 
Homesville, Avoyelles parish; Sutherliu, W. K., Mansfield; 
Turner, W. M., Shreveport; Walker, S. F., Mansfield; Wal- 
ters, G. W., Collinsburg; Wise, B,, Greenwood, Caddo parish 
(27;. 
Upon motion of Dr. S. E. Chaillb, duly seconded, it was 
moved and carried that the rules be suspended, and that the 
above applicants be unanimously elected. 
Upon the question being put, the above named gentlemen 
were elected to membership. 
It was moved and carried that the members present com- 
ply with Sec. 1, Art. III., of the By-Laws before participating 
in the proceedings. 
Dr. Thomas J. Allen moved that the following dispatch be 
sent to the Kentucky State Medical Society, now in session 
at Louisville, which was unanimously carried: 
Shreveport, La., April 4, 1883. 
To the President of the Kentucky State Medical Society : 
The Louisiana State Medical Society, now in session in this 
city, sends fraternal greetings to its brethren of the Kentucky 
State Medical Society at Louisville, and trusts that they stand 
shoulder to shoulder with it in upholding the time honored 
code of ethics of the American Medical Association. 
A. A. LYON, 
President La. State Med. Society. 
The Seeretary forwarded the dispatch. 
Dr. R. A. Gray moved that the Eev. W. T. D. Dalzell, D. D., 
of the Episcopal church, be elected an honorary member. 
Unanimously carried. 4 
Dr. Dalzell returned thanks for the honor conferred. 
Dr. S. E. Chaille moved that all members having reports or 
essays to be read be requested to hand them to Dr. W. Hil- 
liard, also giving the time that each paper would require. 
Carried. 
Dr. A. A. Lyon, Chairman of the Committee on Organiza. 
tiou, requested Vice-President J. P. Davidson to take the 
chair, and read the report of the committee. Dr. S. O. Scruggs 
moved that the report be accepted. Dr. Chaille ottered as an 
amendment, that the report bo received and be referred to a 
special committee of three. Dr. S. O. Scruggs accepted the 
amendment, and as amended the motion prevailed. Dr. Da‘ 
vidson appointed as the committee, Dr. S. E. Chaille, chair- 
man, Dr. T. J. Allen, Dr. B. H. Day. 
A motion was carried, under a suspension of the rules, that 
the morning session commence daily at ten instead of eleven 
o’clock. 
The Secretary read the report of the Corresponding Secre. 
tary, Dr. S. S. Herrick, of New Orleans, who was absent. 
The report shows there are fifteen parish societies, ten of 
which are in active operation. Total number of physicians in 
the State, 1042; regular, 792; irregular, 190; doubtful, 60. 
The report was accepted. 
Dr. C. J. Bickham made a statement for the Treasurer, Dr. 
Geo. K. Pratt, of New Orleans, statiug that the society was in 
debt to him in the sum of fifteen dollars. 
The resignation of Dr. L. F. Salomon, as secretary, was read 
and accepted. Dr. T. G. Ford stated that the committee of 
arrangements would be ready to report at the eveuing session. 
On motion of Dr. Chafll6 the society adjourned till 7:30 
P. M. 
EVENING SESSION. 
The society was called to order by the President, A. A. 
Lyon, M. D., at 7:45 P. M. 
Dr. T. G. Ford, chairman of committee of arrangements, 
made his report, which was accepted. 
After which Dr. A. A. Lyon addressed the society. 
Dr. A. A. Lyon introduced Kev. W. T.D. Dalzell, D. D., who 
delivered the annual oration. 5 
Vice President J. P. Davidson moved that the thanks of the 
society be tendered ltev. W. T. D. Dalzell, D. D., for his able 
and interesting address. Unanimously carried. 
On motion the society adjourned to meet on Thursday at 
10 A. M. 
Adopted at evening session, April 5*. 
P. B. McCUTCHON, M. D , 
Temporary Recording Secretary. 
Second Day’s Proceedings. 
Thursday, April 5, 1883, 
The Society was called to order by the President, Dr. A. A. 
Lyon, at 10 A. M. 
Prayer was ollered by Kev. C. F. Evans, D. D., of the Meth- 
odist Church. 
The Secretary read an invitation from the Shreveport 11 Cot- 
ton Exchange,’’ and “ Harmony Club,” tendering the u use and 
privileges ” of their rooms to the Louisiana State Medical 
Society during its stay in the city. 
Dr. Chaille moved that they be accepted, and the thanks of 
the Society be ieturned for the same.—Carried. 
The following telegram from the Kentucky State Medical 
Society, was read: 
Louisville, Ky., April 4tli, 1883. 
To the President of the La. State Medical Society: 
The Kentucky State Medical Society cordially reciprocates 
the greeting of their brethren of the Louisiana State Medical 
Society, and emphatically endorses the sentiment of allegiance 
to the Code, and devotion to the honor and dignity of Amer- 
ican Medicine. L. S. McMurtry, SecVy. 
Telegrams from Dr. J. W. Dupree, Secretary of the Baton 
Iiouge Medical Association, extending an invitation on behalf 
of the Baton Rouge Medical Association to hold the next 
meeting of the Louisiana State Medical Society at Baton 6 
llouge, and J. S. Charotte, Mayor of Baton Rouge, extending 
the same invitation on behalf of its citizens, were read. 
These telegrams were tabled subject to call. 
The election of members being iu order under a suspension 
of the rules, the following gentlemen were elected : 
Allison, L., Kingston, DeSoto parish ; Armstrong, R. L., Sr., 
Pleasant Hill, DeSoto parish; Clarke, A. F., Shreveport; 
Courtney F., Graud CarrO, DeSoto parish ; Moss, J. R., Rob- 
son, Caddo parish; Powell, M. B., Natchitoches, Natchitoches 
parish ; Roberts, A. V., Mansfield ; Tillinghost, E. S., Moore- 
ingport, Caddo parish; Wise, G. A., Benton, Bossier parish. 
Dr. R. H. Day stated that on account of the haste in ad- 
journing last evening, the thanks of the Society were not ex- 
pressed to the President for his interesting address, and he 
now moved, that the thanks of this Society be expressed to 
President A. A. Lyon, for the same; Dr. J. P. Davidson, Vice- 
President, seconded the motion, and requested that the Society 
express its thanks by a risiug vote. Carried. Dr. Lyon 
thanked the Society for their expressed appreciation of his 
efforts. 
Dr. Chaille moved that a committee of five be appointed as 
“ Nominating Committee,” to facilitate the election of officers. 
Dr. Bemiss moved as an amendment, that this committee be 
composed of the members from each parish here represented. 
Upon the vote being taken, the motion as amended, prevailed. 
Dr. C. D. Owens, of Avoyelles parish, moved that the mem- 
bers from each parish select a member to serve on the com- 
mittee, and that a recess be taken to allow the parish delegates 
to make the selection. Carried. 
When the Society was called to order, the following names 
were handed in and announced by the President as the com- 
mittee to nominate officers for the ensuing year, to be voted 
for by the Society. 
Dr. S. M. Bemiss, Orleans parish; Dr. D. R. Fox, Plaque- 
mines parish ; Dr. R. H. Day, East Baton Rouge ; Dr. Thos* 
J. Allen, Caddo; Dr. J. S. Milling, Bossier parish; Dr. 0. D. 
Owens, Avoyelles parish; Dr. S. F. Walker, DeSoto parish; 
Dr. M. A. Dunn, Grant parish ; Dr. I. J. Newton, Jr., More- 7 
house parish; Dr. d. F. Griffin, Natchitoches parish ; Dr. J. 
A. Dunn, Rapides parish. 
Dr. ChailR, Chairman of the special Committee to take into 
consideration the report of the Committee on Organization 
read the following : 
Report of Drs. Chaille, T. J. Allen and R. 11. Day, on the 
Annual Report of the Committee on Organization, Chairman, 
Dr. A. A. Lyon. 
Dr. Lyon’s report contains four recommendations, viz: First. 
That some steps be taken to secure the prompt organization of 
affiliating parish societies, and as a means to this end, that 
copies of the Constitution of the State Society, together with 
the recommended Constitution for Parish Societies, be pub- 
lished in sufficient numbers for distribution. 
Resolved, That this recommendation be adopted as far as the 
funds of the Society may permit, and as may be consistent 
with other publications, which maybe required by the Society. 
Second—It is recommended that medical societies shall not 
adopt a list of fees, obligatory on members. 
Resolved, That the Louisiana State Medical Society has neither 
adopted nor proposed to adopt any such course, and that ac- 
tion on this matter is left to each parish or local society. 
Third—It is recommended that the annual fee of $5 for per- 
manent members should be reduced. 
Whereas, any reputable physician in Louisiana can now be- 
come a member ot a parish society, and thereafter paying only 
$1 per annum to the State Society; be it 
Resolved, That it is inexpedient to adopt this recommenda- 
tion. 
Fourth—It is recommended that the society should elect the 
most efficient officers without regard to geographical or other 
considerations. 
Respecting this recommendation this committee concurs 
therein, believing, however, that the Vice Presidents should be, 
as heretofore, chosen from Congressional districts and charged 
with the special duty of organizing parish societies in the par- 
ishes constituting said districts. 8 
Dr. J. F. Griffin, of Natchitoches, moved that this report be 
received and adopted. 
Dr. A. R. Booth moved as an amendment that each recom- 
mendation be voted upon seriatim. Carried. 
On motion of Dr. Booth the first resolution was adopted. 
The other three resolutions were also adopted. 
Dr. Griffin then renewed his motion to receive and adopt the 
report as a whole. Carried. 
Dr. Chaille, chairman of the committee on State Medicine 
and Legislation, read his report, which was received and adopt- 
ed as a whole. Dr. Chaille then read several resolutions which 
would facilitate the execution of the recommendations sug- 
gested. 
Dr. C. D. Owens moved that the resolutions be received 
and adopted. Unanimously carried. 
Dr. Chaille also read a communication from Dr. J. E. Duffel, 
about the formation of local boards of health, etc.; and also 
one from James Thibodeaux, concerning a pharmacy law, etc. 
Dr. J. C. Eagan moved that these communications be re- 
ferred to the committee on State medicine and legislation, 
with power to act. Carried. 
Dr. R. H. Day offered the following preamble and resolu- 
tions which were adopted : 
Whereas, our Treasurer, Dr. Geo. K. Pratt, has failed to 
make his report to this body at its present session, as required 
by the regulations, leaving it in total ignorance of the amount 
of moneys received and expended by him, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the Treasurer is hereby requested to make out 
his written report as early as possible, and transmit it to the 
Recording Secretary. 
Dr. Bemiss read an “Abstract from the Report of the Yellow 
Fever Epidemic iu La. in 1878.” 
On motion of Dr. D. R. Fox, Dr. Bemiss’ paper was re' 
ferred to the Publishing Committee. 
Dr. W. W. Ashton read an essay on “Alcohol: Its Uses and 
Abuses.” 
On motion of Dr. J. C. Egan, the essay of Dr. Ashton was 
referred to the Publishing Committee. * 
On motion the Society adjourned to 7.30 P. M. 9 
Evening Session. 
The Society was called to order at 7.45. 
The minutes of the first day’s proceedings were read and 
adopted. 
Report of Committee on Nominations. 
Dr. Bemiss, the Chairman, reported as follows, stating that 
the Committee had unanimously adopted the report: 
For President: Dr. J. P. Davidson, New Orleans. 
For Vice Presidents: 
1st Congressional District. .Dr. D. R. Fox, Plaquemines parish. 
2nd “ “ Dr. J. C. Bickham, Orleans parish. 
3rd “ “ Dr. C. M. Smith, Franklin, St. 
Mary’s parish. 
4th “ u Dr. T. J. Allen, Caddo parish. 
5th u Dr. I. J.Newton, Morehouse parish. 
Cth 11 u Dr. R. H. Day, East Baton Rouge 
parish. 
Recording Secretary : Dr. P. B. McCutchon, Orleans. 
Corresponding Secretary : Dr. S. S. Herrick, Orleans. 
Treasurer: Dr. F. W. Parham, Orleans. 
The Committee recommend Baton Rouge as the place for the 
next meeting, and the 2nd Tuesday in May, 1884, as the time. 
Dr. Challi6 moved that the report be divided, and a vote, 
first, be taken for the officers, and then for a place of meeting. 
Carried. 
Dr. Challi6 then moved that the officers recommended by 
the committee be elected unanimously. Carried. 
Dr. Scruggs moved, that Baton Rouge be selected as the 
place of meeting. 
Dr. R. L. Armstrong, Sr., suggested New Orleans. * 
Upon the question being put Baton Rouge was selected as 
the place of meeting. 
Some discussion ensued as to the time of meeting, and finally 
a motion by Dr. CliaillS fixing the 22nd day of May, 1884, or 
such a day as the President may determine for the best in- 
terests of the Society, prevailed. 
An opportunity was here offered the President elect, Dr. J, 10 
P. Davidson, of thanking the Society for the honor conferred, 
which the Doctor did in feeling remarks. 
Dr. Chaille took occasion to thank the Society, on behalf of 
the medical fraternity of New Orleans, for the honor conferred 
upon them by selecting one of their number as President. 
Dr. S. O. Scruggs offered the following resolutions: 
Resolved, That the Vice-Presidents of the Louisiana State 
Medical Society, shall appoint a committee of five physicians 
from each congressional district whose duty it shall be to urge 
upon the representative of each parish the great necessity 
there is for the passage of a law which will not only protect 
the interests of the physicians of the State, but the great in- 
terests of its citizens. 
Further, That the Vice-Presidents shall report to the Chair- 
man of the Committee on State Medicine and Legislation as 
early as practicable the results of their efforts in behalf of the 
objects of this resolution. 
Dr. R. A. Gray, B. M. Clay, C. J. Bickham, S. O. Scruggs 
and S. E. Chaille (who offered amendments accepted by Dr, 
Scruggs) took part in the discussion. 
The above resolutions were finally adopted. 
Dr. Day read an essay on the “ Surgical Treatment of 
Wounds.” 
Discussion by Drs. Clay and Day. 
On motion of Dr. W.W. Ashton,Dr. Day’s essay was referred 
to the publishing committee. 
Dr. Bickham read a paper by Dr. S. S. Herrick, on “ Some 
Debatable Points of Small-Pox.” 
On motion of Dr. Bemiss the discussiou ou the above paper 
was postponed until Friday morning. Dr. Clay stated that 
there were several papers to be read by physicians from abroad 
and he would yield his hour as fixed in Friday’s programme to 
Dr. M. Schuppert, if there was no objection. There being no 
objection, the President so ordered. Dr. Billiu read an essay 
ou “Perimetric Inflammation in the Non-Puerperal Woman.” 
On motion of Dr. Scruggs, Dr. Billiu’s paper was referred to 
the publishing committee. Dr. Scruggs made a verbal report 
Of a case pf diabetes. 11 
Several members took part in the discussion. 
The Morehouse Parish Medical Society, through its delegatej 
Dr. I. J. Newton, Jr., presented its application for admission 
to this Society as an affiliating society. 
It was moved and seconded that the application be granted. 
Carried. 
On motion of Dr. T. G. Ford the society adjourned to meet 
on Friday morning at 10 o’clock. 
Adopted at morning session, April Gth, 1883. 
P. B. McCUTCHON, M. D., 
Recording Secretary. 
Third Day’s Proceedings. 
Friday, April 6, 1882. 
The Society was called to order at 10:30 A. M., Dr. A. A. 
Lyon, presiding-. 
Prayer by Rev. J. A. Hackett, of Baptist Church. 
Minutes were read and approved. 
Communications were read from Dr. J. H. Ferguson, repre- 
senting Tilden & Co., Manufacturing Pharmacists, N. Y., and 
from Aug. J. Bogel, representing the Mallinkrodt Chemical 
Works, St. Louis. 
Both firms had displays in the hall where the Society met. 
Dr. J. P. Davidson, the newly elected President, announced 
the following standing committees : 
1. Committees of Arrangements —Drs. «J. W. Dupree, R. H. 
Day, T. J. Buffington. 
2. Committee on Organization—J. P. Davidson, Chairman, 
D. R. Fox, C. J. Bickhain, C. M. Smith, R. H. Day, T. J. 
Allen, I. J. Newton, Jr. 
3. Committee on Necrology—The Vice-Presidents. 
4. Committee on State Medicine and Legislation—S. E. 
Chaille, Chairman, J. P. Davidson, J. B. Wilkinson, P. B. 
McCutchou, J. W. Dupree, S. S. Herrick, R. A. Gray, F. W. 
Parham. 
5. Committee on Reports and Essays—L. F. Salomon, 
Chairman, T. G. Ford, S. M. Bemiss, R. T. Gibbs, J. D. Ham- 
monds. 12 
6. Committee on Publication—W. H. Watkins, Chairman, 
S. S. Herrick, P. B. McCutchon, F. W. Parham. M. R. Richard. 
7. Judiciary Committee—A. A. Lyon, Chairman, J. B. 
Wilkerson, T. G. Richardson, A. B. Snell, S. O. Scruggs, 
O. P. Langworthy. 
Dr. Griffin offered the following resolution: 
Resolved, That this Society, recognizing the importance to 
the family of each member in the event of his death, of a pro- 
vision being made for them in cases of need, recommend that 
a Mutual Aid Association be formed upon the assessment 
plan, under the supervision of the Louisiana State Medical 
Society. For the purpose of carrying out the plan, the Chair 
be authorized to appoint a committee of five members to draft 
and recommend a plau and Constitution to be presented at 
this meeting. 
Dr. Bemiss objected to the resolution thinking it was out of 
the line of business. Dr. Day agreed with Dr. Bemiss. After 
some further discussion, participated in by Drs. Booth and 
Griffin, the resolution, on motion of Dr. Bemiss, was tabled. 
Dr. Bemiss offered the following preamble and resolution 
which was seconded by Dr. J. C. Egan and unanimously 
adopted. 
Whereas, the facilities of transportation now existing and 
in process of construction will shortly cause the Charity Hos- 
pital of New Orleans, to become the receptacle for the iudi- 
gent sick of a large portion of the State, therefore be it 
Resolved, That this Society express its approval of the efforts 
to enlarge the accommodation for the sick in that hospital and 
pledge its encouragement and aid in the futherance of that pur- 
pose. 
Under a supensiou of rules, the following were elected mem- 
bers by acclamation : Dr. A. H. Herring, Redlaud, Bossier par- 
ish ; Dr. Jas. D, Wilie, Caddo parish, postoffice, Centennial, 
Texas. 
Dr. Chaill6 spoke of the great success of the Alabama State 
Medical Society and the cause of its success. He thought if 
the Louisiana Society would adopt the same plan, it would 
meet with the same success. The great difficulty he said was 13 
the lack of funds to publish and distribute papers of general 
importance to the fraternity and people. 
Dr. Chaill6 then moved that each member of the Society 
obligate himself to pay ten dollars ($10) per annum, and at the 
same time obligate himself to attend its sessions at least once 
in three years. Seconded by Dr. A. R. Booth. Dr. T. G. Al- 
len favored the motion, but suggested as au amendment, that 
the subject be divided. Wheu put to a vote, viz: (1) Those who 
obligate themselves to pay ten dollars ($10) per annum and 
attend the meetings of the Society once in three years—Aslitou 
W. W., Baird W. J., Bemiss S. M., Benson R. F., Bickkam C. 
J., Booth A. R., Buck W. P., Cliaille S. E., Clay D. M., Crain P., 
Davidson J, P., Dicksou W. L., Dunn J. A., Dunn M. A., 
Egan W. L., Fox D. R., Harrison T. J.; Hillard W., Mosely W. 
X. Xewton I. J., Jr., Sckuppert M., Walters G. W.—22. 
For obligating to pay ten dollars ($10) annually for perpetu- 
ating this Society: Allen T. J., Alison L., Billiu D. H., 
Clarke A. F., Dillard H. F., Egan J. C., Lyon A A., Moss J. 
R., Scott J. /., Turner W. M., Wise G. A., Wylie J. D.—12. 
Dr. Bemiss offered the following resolutions, which were 
adopted and referred, as stated therein— 
Resolved, That the pledge given by thirty-four members at 
the present session, shall mature at the present session. 
Resolved, That at the next session (18S4), some changes 
should be made in the Constitution of this Society, conferring 
special powers or privileges upon such members as may fully 
redeem their pledges annually aud perpetually. 
Resolved further, That these resolutions be referred to the 
Standing Committee on Organization for consideration and 
action. 
Dr. M. Schuppert read a paper entitled “Anti-Vaccination,” 
which was referred to the “ Publishing Committee,” but the 
Doctor objected, stating that if the Society wished it published 
they could order it by vote—He refused to have it referred to 
the “ Publishing Committee,’’ which consisted of five mem- 
bers. # 
Dr. Bemiss discussed the paper, stating that he was a firm 
believer in vaccination aud re-vaccination. 14 
At the conclusion of Dr. Beiuiss’ remarks, he introduced the 
following resolutions, which were adopted. 
Resolved, That this Society emphatically affirms its strong 
confidence in the efficiency of vaccinations and re-vaccinations 
as the surest and only practical means of preventing the 
spread of small-pox. 
Whereas, This Society is informed that it is the practice 
of one or more practitioners in this State to iuocculate human 
subjects with lymph or pus taken from small pox patients, 
previously mixing it with milk or cream, therefore be it 
Resolved, That the practice of inocculatiug small pox by 
mixing any product whatever from the body of a small-pox 
patient with milk, cream, butter or any fluid obtained from 
the cow, is productive of no modification, beyond that of 
direct inocculation from one person to another. 
It does not deprive the person thus inocculated of that 
power to communicate the disease through the atmosphere 
which natural small-pox possesses and is therefore dangerous 
to the public health. 
Dr. W. J. Baird introduced the following resolutions which 
were adopted and referred to the Committee on State Medicine 
and Legislation. 
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Society that all per- 
sons, whether male or female, practicing obstetrics or mid- 
wifery, should be required by law to have the same kind of 
preparation and the same evidence of such preparation as is 
now required of physicians practicing the other branches of the 
medical profession. 
Resolved, That the Committee on State Medicine should con- 
sider the propriety of preparing for presentation to the next 
session of the Legislature of Louisiana a proper bill having 
for its object the carrying out of the purpose'of the foregoing 
resolution, and to urge the passage of such a bill through the 
Legislature. 
On motion of Dr. W. W. Ashton the Society adjourned 
till G:30 P. M. 15 
Evening Session. 
Society called to order at 7 P. M., by Dr. A. A. Lyou, 
president. 
Dr. D. R. Fox read a paper on Health Ordinances, etc. 
On motion of Dr. Bickham, Dr. Fox’s paper was referred to 
the committee on State Medicine and Legislation. 
Dr. S. O. Scruggs introduced the following preamble and 
resolutions in regard to the death of Dr. Warren Stone, Jr., 
prefacing them with a few eulogistic remarks. 
Whereas, Death, that busy archer with uuseen quiver and 
arrow has invaded the dominion of medicine and has sent to 
that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler 
returns, Dr. Warren Stone, Jr., the rising surgeon, the emi- 
nent physician, the true gentleman, the high-toned man of 
honor, the once breaching impersonation of charity, thus ex- 
hibiting to the world that the unstained mantle of a noble sire 
had fallen upon a noble son; be it therefore 
Resolved, That in the death of Dr. Warren Stone, Jr., the 
medical profession has lost one of its brightest and noblest 
ornaments, and society an exalted citizen. 
Resolved, That we, his confreres, mourn the loss of one 
whose life was so full of promise, and who, although com- 
paratively young in years, already had thrown over the litera- 
ture of his chosen profession the electric light of his genius; 
and when the historian, with appointed pen, shall come to 
write the history of medicine in Louisiana, whilst twining the 
laurel and the cypress, will sigh around the melancholy page 
and leave a garland of immortal homage lingering about the 
record of his death. 
Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolutions be 
sent to the widow of our deceased brother and that they be 
spread upon the records of this Society. Adopted. 
Dr. D. M. Clay read a paper, “ Lacerations of the Cervix 
Uteri—Causes, Pathology, Diagnosis and Treatment.” 
On motion of Dr. C. J. Bickham, the thanks of the Society 
were tendered to Dr. Clay for his interesting paper, and it was 
referred to the Publishing Committee. 
The Secretary read a paper ou “ Contagion: its Nature and 16 
Seat,” by Dr. Chas. Hardy (who was absent), of St. Laundry 
parish. \ 
On motion of Dr. Ashton, it was referred to the Publishing 
Committee. 
A communication from Dr. J. S. Meng, of Concordia, was 
also read by the Secretary. 
Dr. Ashton called attention to Dr. A. B. Snell’s communica- 
tion, which was called up, and on motion of J. C. Egan was re- 
ferred to the Committee on Organization. 
On motion of Dr. J. C. Egan, the paper of Dr. S. S. Herrick 
the discussion of which had been postponed, was referred to 
the Publisming Committee, with a request that it be published, 
provided the author consented. 
Dr. Ashton offered the following which was unanimously 
adopted: 
Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be and are hereby 
extended4to the press of Shreveport, the Shreveport Daily Stand. 
ard and the Shreveport Daily Times, for zealous interest mani- 
fested in the accounts of our daily proceedings and to the re- 
porters of both journals for active and impartial interest and 
energy displayed in giving reports of said proceedings to the 
public through the medium of these valuable journals. 
Dr. Bickham offered the following resolutions, which were 
unanimously adopted : 
Resolved, That this Society extend to the Shreveport Medi- 
cal Society, and the citizens of Shreveport, its high apprecia 
tion and its heartfelt thanks for the successful efforts made by 
them to render the Fifth Annual Session of this Society emi- 
nently satisfactory ; and for thus infusing new life into the 
efforts to organize the medical profession, and to secure the 
co-operation of all the reputable physicians of Louisiana, in 
wise measures for the good of the public and of the profession. 
Resolved, That this Society notes with pleasure in this hall, 
in which our sessions have been held, the elaborate display of 
chemicals from the Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, presented 
under the direction of Mr. A. J. Bogel, druggist and pharmacist, 
of Shreveport; also, of instruments from Aloe Hernstein & 
Co. of St. Louis, presented by T. H. Morris & Co., wholesale 
and retail druggists, also of Shreveport, and of many elegant 17 
pharmaceutical preparations from Tilden & Co., of New York, 
by J. H. Ferguson, M. D. 
Our thanks are also due and extended to Mr. A. J. Bogel, 
for various courtesies at his hands. 
The election of the annual Orator having been omitted in 
the proper place, it was now taken up. 
Ou motion of Dr. D. R. Fox, Prof. J. W. Nicholson, Presi- 
dent of the Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, was 
unanimously elected Orator for the next annual meeting of the 
Society. 
On motion of Dr. W. W. Ashton, the President was author- 
ized to appoint delegates to the American Medical Associa- 
tion. 
By a vote of the Society, the privilege of thanking the 
Society for various courtesies, was granted Dr. J. U. Ferguson 
(who was not a member), representing Tilden & Co., New 
York. 
On motion of Dr. A. R. Booth, the thanks of the Society 
were tendered to Dr. A, A. Lyon, President, and to Dr. P. B. 
McCutchon, Secretary, for the satisfactory and impartial man- 
ner in which they had fulfilled their duties. 
On motion of Dr. J. F. Griffin, the Convention, at 9 o’clock, 
adjourned till the next regular meeting, to be held at Baton 
Rouge, in May, 1884. 
P. B. McCUTCHON, M. D., 
Recording Secretary. ANNUAL REPORT OF 1883 
TO THE 
LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY, 
OF ITS 
STANDING COMMITTEE ON^MEDICINE. 
BY THE 
Chairman: Stanford E. Chaillk, M. D. 
Members : Drs. J. P. Davidson, S. S. Herrick, C. J. Bickham, P. B. 
McCutchon, F. W. Parham, J. W. Dupree, G. A. B. 
Hayes, and'fHOS. J. Allen. 
Organized in 1878, this society held three other regular an- 
nual sessions in 1879, 1880 and 1881. The widespread aud 
disastrous overflow having prevented the meeting in 1882, the 
present assemblage in 1883 becomes our fifth session and is 
notable by the fact that it is the first meeting ever held out- 
side of New Orleans by the physicians of the whole State. 
The annual publications of its four previous sessions amply 
prove that the chief object of this society has been to bind 
together the reputable physicians of Louisiana, first into 
parish societies, and then these into this State society, in 
order that the just influence of an enlightened profession may 
be concentrated upon well considered and practical ends in- 
stead of being frittered away, as is still largely done, in idle 
complaints and ill-digested views, in discordant and impractica- 
ble ends. This society has constantly declared, that the most 
important purpose of its organization was to promote State 
Medicine, that is, the numerous'and important interests which 
involve the welfare of the public as well as of the medical pro- 
fession. And in as much as partial laws for the benefit ex- 
9 
clusively of doctors, or class-legislation, do not appertain to 
State medicine, such laws have not been aud should not be 
advocated by this Society. 2 
In as much as two years have now elapsed since our last 
effort to influence legislation, aud in as much as some mem- 
bers have forgotten aud many physicians have never known 
what has been attempted,—it seems desirable to preface, 
what it is hoped to accomplish with the General Assembly in 
1884, by a brief review of what this society has attempted and 
of what it has done or helped to do. Such a review will show 
that, although less has been done than has been attempted, 
yet, fully as much has been accomplished as could be expected 
by those who realize how gradually are developed all lasting 
reforms and human progress. Such a review will also serve 
to enforce the needed lesson that, since the results already at- 
tained have been effected by a weak organization in this soci- 
ety of less than one-tenth of the reputable physicians of Lou- 
isiana, all of these, if united in one strong organization, could 
accomplish far more satisfactory results. The varying effi- 
ciency of bodies of men to organize and thus to co-operate for 
the common good, is a test of the degree of their enlightenment; 
and those physicians of Louisiana who neglect to organize 
and to co-operate, and who still complain of the ignorance, indif- 
ference aud lack of public spirit of the people and of their 
representatives, deserve the pertinent iuquiry: u Why behold- 
est thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eyes, but perceivest 
not the bean that is thine own eye V1 
The most important interests of State Medicine were detailed 
by this society in the first year of its existence. Aided by 
able lawyers, it adopted in 1879 its platform for reforms. 
This should be reiterated until familiar to every physician. 
Initiated by us, the realization of this platform should be 
persistently prosecuted, even though it should require, as is 
possible, generations to carry it into satisfactory execution. 
Adopted in order to introduce it into our present constitution, 
this platform is as follows : 
11 The Legislature shall provide for the interests of State 
Medicine in all its departments, for public hygiene or preven- 
tive medicine, for medical education, for institutions for the 
sick and infirm, and for medical jurisprudence: for the 
establishment and maintenance of a State Board of Health 3 
and Vital Statistics for the whole State, with parish or muni- 
cipal boards subordinate thereto: for the protection of the 
people from all contagious and infectious disease, and from all 
preventable causes of disease and death : for the protection of 
the people from unqualified practitioners of medicine, surgery, 
midwifery, pharmacy and dentistry: for the maintenance of 
the University of Louisiana, and its three departments of 
literatuie, medicine and law: for the care, education and 
maintenance of the destitute, sick and afflicted, of the blind, 
of mutes, of idiots and feeble minded children, of the insane 
and inebriates, in hospitals or asylums, constructed with 
proper regard to health as well as comfort and the interests of 
morality, such institutions being reudered as nearly self- 
suporting as is consistent with the purposes of their creation : 
for the protection of confidential communications made by 
patients to physicians: for preventing the advertisement and 
sale of all foeticidal drugs or instruments, and of all drugs 
detrimental to the interests of health and morality: for the 
adequate compensation of scientific experts in all cases: for 
the separate trial of criminals alleged to be iusaue on each 
issue—first, that of insanity—and that adequate time and op- 
portunity shall be given to medical experts to test the question 
of insanity : no persons shall be allowed to tesitify as expert 
witnesses to matters of scientific opinion, except those recog- 
nized as competent experts in such matters by their own 
profession, as organized under the laws of this State: only 
qualified practitioners shall be expert witnesses in the courts 
to medical facts; the legal duties of coroners shall be assigued 
exclusively to experts in law, and their medical duties ex- 
clusively to experts in medicine. 
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE. 
If any article of the Constitution of 1879 provides that 
privileges, to have effect agaiust third persons, must be 
recorded, the following proviso should be made : 
Provided, That the fees due physicians and surgeons, the 
wages of nurses, and the bills of druggists and apothecaries, 
for professional services rendered, and medicines furnished 4 
during the last illness, shall enjoy the privilege conferred by 
law even as to third persons, without recordation.” 
In addition to the first introductory generalization in this 
platform, there are thirteen sentences devoted to specifications. 
In regard to these, the laws of Louisiana were either sileut, or 
detective, or insufficient. What gains have been made since 
our platform was adopted ? 
By our eflorts, the Convention was induced to include, in 
our present Constitution of 1879, substantially our introduc- 
tory generalization, also three of our thirteen specifications ; 
and, in addition, our last or thirteenth specification was 
disposed of so satisfactorily, that it was removed from our 
platform. A detailed report of the important gains secured 
in our Constitution was published in the proceedings of our 
third session (1880), and special reference will hereafter be 
made to the three specifications introduced into said Constitu- 
tion, and particularly to those two of these which still remain 
unregarded by our legislators. It should not be forgotten, 
that our General Assemby has full power to enact the laws, 
which all the specifications in our platform would necessitate, 
even, as to those specifications, the execution of which is not 
commanded by the Constitution. Hence, while much was 
gained, nothing was lost, and our efforts for progress should 
be persisted in before every General Assembly which may 
hereafter meet. By incessant reiteration of our just demands 
for the common welfare, the public, their representatives and 
our own profession, will eventually be educated to appreciate 
these demands, and, year by year, progress will be made. 
While this Society has good cause to congratulate itself 
upon what it accomplished with the convention of 1879, it has 
no cause for gratification in what was done for State Medicine 
by the General Assembly of 1880. Effort was made to induce 
this assembly to enact, not only such laws as were required 
by the new constitution, but also such laws as were required 
by those specifications in our platform which were omitted from 
said constitution. But, the assembly of 1880 was so over- 
whelmed with the work forced upon it by the constitution of 
1879 that apparently no time could be found for, nor was any 5 
encouragement given to those laboring in behalf of the still 
inappreciated interests of State Medicine. However, three 
laws were enacted which deserve recording, viz.: 
“ Act No. 20. To prevent the adulteration of articles used 
as food; to prevent the sale of unwholesome and tainted 
provisions, the slaughtering of cattle, etc., for food when in 
au unhealthy condition, and to prevent the lauding of dis- 
eased animals within certain described limits. Approved 
March 3, 1880.” 
“ Act No. 32: To regulate the practice of dentistry in the 
State of Louisiana. Approved March 10,1880.” 
“ Act No. 129 : To give physicians, legally authorized to 
practice their profession, a lien and privilege [limited to $15], 
for medical services rendered to any person on the crop of said 
person, etc. Approved April 10th, 1880.” 
Excepting these three acts, nothing of interest to State 
Medicine was accomplished by the General Assembly of 1880. 
It should not be forgotten, however, that the Third Annual 
Session of this society was not held until near the time of 
adjournment of the General Assembly of 1880, therefore that 
this society had no opportunity to exercise any other influence 
than that inaugurated at its second session (1879) which was 
in truth its first workiug session. 
In order to influence the meeting of the General Assembly 
in 1882, your Committee on State Medicine presented, at your 
fourth sessiou (1881) its Annual Keport, which was unani- 
mously adopted as a petition to the General Assembly. This 
report or petition covers twenty-six pages of your published 
proceeding for 1881. It advocates the adoption of laws on 
fourteen subjects and, in most instances, specifies in detail the 
laws advocated. Laws were enacted on four of these fourteen 
subjects, and there were four additional laws enacted on sub- 
jects of interest to State Medicine, but not advocated specially 
by this Society. These eight laws deserve record, and the 
four, which were not specially advocated and which benefit 
only two special localities and not the State at large, will be 
first recorded. 
“ Act No. 40: To amend and re-enact Section 1, Art. 14 of 6 
1877, entitled “ An Act to provide for the disposition of offal, 
garbage, night soil and dead animals within the parishes of 
Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard, and to provide for the dis- 
position of offal droppings of slaughter houses and dead 
animals in said parishes. Approved June 26th, 1882.”—pp. 
52-3, Acts of 1882. 
“Art. No. 85: Enlarging the powers and duties of the 
Board of Health in the city of New Orleans, requiring the 
inspection of all buildings and premises tcithin the city limits, 
and enforcing cleanliness and an adequate water-supply on all 
premises. Approved July 5th, 1882.”—pp. 106-9, Acts of 
1882. 
“ Act No. 115 : To provide for the punishment of person or 
persons removing, tearing down or destroying small-pox or 
yellow fever flags, in premises where such cases may' be. 
Approved July 6th, 1882.”—p. 165, Acts of 1882. This law 
applies, apparently", solely to the parish of Orleans. 
“ Act No. 121: To establish a Charity Hospital in the city 
of Alexandria. Approved July 6th, 1882.”—pp. 168-170, 
Acts of 1882. 
The remaining four of the eight laws, enacted in 1882, in the 
interest of State Medicine and specially advocated by this 
Society, were as follows: Act No. 31 (approved June 26th, 
—pp. 44_6, Acts of 1882), regulates the practice of medicine 
and surgery in Louisiana, after December 31st, 1882; Act 
No. 69 (approved July 1st,—pp. 89-90), regulates quarantine 
charges at the Mississippi Biver Station; Act No. 82 (ap- 
proved July 5th,—pp. 103-5), defines and punishes the 
adulteration of drugs, food and drink within this State; and 
Act No. 92 (approved July 5th,—pp. 114-5), provides for the 
organization of local boards of health in the State of Louisi- 
ana. This last Act is verbatim the one advocated by this 
Society, as the best practicable law under present circum- 
stances for inaugurating a system cf local boards. 
The Act for regulating quarantine charges is not as recom- 
mended by this Society. Our recommendation was that, in 
as much as the existing tax on tonnage had been declared 
unconstitutional, vessels should be taxed proportionately to 7 
the number of persons on board ; but Act No. 69 regulates the 
tax by the classification of vessels, into steamships, ships? 
brigs, schooners, etc. Judge Monroe, of Orleans parish, has 
decided (see Times-Democrat, January 8th, 1883), that this 
Act is also unconstitutional, and this decision, together with 
several others in the United States, to similar effect, render it 
probable that the Act, recommended by this Society, would, if 
adopted, have met with the same fate. In fact, it seems that 
courts are not likely to sustain laws imposing any quarantine 
fees on a vessel, unless the fees be for services exclusively to 
benefit the vessel, and not for services which benefit the pub- 
lic rather than the vessel. If these decisions and this 
conclusion prove to be correct, then the Legislature will be 
forced, in order to maintain our quarantine stations, to make 
an appropriation therefor out of the taxes paid by that pnb- 
lic which demands these quarantine stations to protect them 
from communicable diseases. 
Of the fourteen subjects embraced in our petition to the 
General Assembly of 1882, it was understood that the influence 
of this Society would be exerted specially and chiefly iu favor 
of a law regulating the practice of medicine, not only because 
of the importance of this subject, but also because the Con- 
stitution commands the General Assembly to enact such a 
lawT; this command being one of the three specifications 
introduced from our platform iuto the Constitution. The 
result of this effort of our Society was the enactment in 1882 
of “ Act No. 31,—relative to the practice of medicine and 
surgery,’’ which Act is, with a few trivial exceptions, verbatim 
as recommended by this Society. Those who may be disposed 
to criticize this Act, are referred for our justification to our 
published Annual Reports of 1880 and 1881, and are again 
reminded that, usually, there is a very wide difference between 
the desirable and the attainable, and that lasting reforms have 
very modest beginnings. 
Having now completed the proposed review of what this 
Society has attempted and accomplished, since 1878, iu behalf 
of State Medicine, it is claimed that the results have been 
fully as great as could have been reasonably expected and are 
sufficiently satisfactory to encourage new efforts, 8 
Consideration must now be given the chief object of this 
report, which is expressed in the important question :—What 
shall be done at this and what at our succeeding sessions to 
influence our next General Assembly, which will not meet 
until May 14th, 1884, aud, therefore, after even our next 
session ? Your Committee on State Medicine advises you 
as follows: 
A petition to our next General Assembly should be adopted 
now : this petition should be published in sufficient number to 
distribute one copy to every member of the General Assembly 
and to the most influential physicians in every parish of this 
State, whether they be members of this Society or not; every 
physician should be urged earnestly to use his influence with 
his own legislative candidate or representative, in order to 
secure his support, in the General Assembly, in favor 
of the measures advocated in our petition: this petition 
should be published promptly aud long prior to our next 
election, in order that candidates may be duly informed of our 
demands,—demands which they can be induced to heed better 
before than after their election, which is not to take place 
until Tuesday, April 17th, 1884: our petition should renew 
those demands, which, though unanimously approved by us, 
have not yet been acted upon by the General Assembly : and, 
in as much as we are not likely to secure favorable action upon 
all of our demands, either at the next or at any other single 
session of our Legislature, we should choose therefrom those 
deemed of greatest immediate consequence, and use our 
chief influence in favor of these preferred measures. The 
petition should present our various demands in their order of 
preference, founding this on their practicability as well as on 
their importance. 
None of these demands are deemed of greater consequence, 
than the renewal of our unanimous advocacy in 1881 for a 
bona fide State Board of Health, in place of our present so- 
called “ Board of Health of the State of Louisiana,” whose 
power and membership have been thus far limited almost ex. 
clusively to one single parish out of the total fifty-niue parishes 
of this extensive State. In this connection, all should be 9 
reminded, and especially physicians who reside elsewhere than 
in the single parish referred to (Orleans), that our present law 
gives to the Governor the nomination of four out of the nine 
members of the present Board of Health; that this law does 
not require that these four appointments shall be made from 
citizens of Orleans or other special parish ; that, nevertheless, 
our present Governor, though not a citizen of said parish, has 
followed the precedent established by his predecessors, and 
made his appointments solely from citizens of New Orleans; 
and, finally, that no complaint has ever been made by citizens 
or physicians of the country parishes, respecting this limitation 
of the Governor’s patronage to a single parish. It is idle to 
expect a veritable State Board unless the country parishes 
can realize its utility and will insist upon their unquestionable 
right to adequate representation upon such a Board. Hence, 
whether Louisiana is to have a veritable State Board or not 
depends chiefly on the physicians and citizens of other parishes 
than Orleans. 
There will now be submitted for your consideration and 
action the following petition to the General Assembly of 
Louisiana. 
[The action of the Louisiana State Medical Society on this 
petition renders it more convenient for the publishers to in- 
terpolate at this place, as a preface to this petition, the 
following circular letter authorized by said Society.] 
CIRCULAR LETTER TO THE LEGISLATORS, REPUTABLE PHYSI- 
CIANS AND OTHER ENLIGHTENED CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA, 
INTERESTED IN THE PROGRESS OF STATE MEDICINE. 
The succeeding petition of the Louisiana State Medical 
Society was unanimously approved, not only by said Society 
at its Fifth Annual Session at Shreveport, April 5th, 1883, but 
also on March 30th, by the Orleans Parish Medical Society, 
and, on April 21st, 1883, by the N. O. Medical and Surgical 
Association. 
The object, of forwarding copies of this petition to those 
who may receive it, is to give timely information of what it is 10 
desired shall be accomplished by the General Assembly, which 
holds its next session at Baton Kouge, on May 14th, 
and the members of which are to be elected on the preceding 
April 17th, 1884. Confidence is felt that, if no other citizens 
of this State than its reputable physicians should unite in 
bringing their influence to bear on those personal friends who 
are yet to be elected members of the next General Assembly, 
satisfactory, if not complete, success would be secured. The 
progressive prosperity of Louisiana depends on the capacity of 
its intelligent citizens to co-operate for the common welfare. 
It would be specially discreditable to the medical profession, 
which claims superior enlightenment, if the reputable physi- 
cians of this State should prove their incapacity to co-operate 
in behalf of measures which are calculated to benefit every 
citizen of Louisiana, as well as every physiciau. 
Every physician and every citizen, who may receive this 
petition and approve it, is earnestly urged to manifest his 
approval by his works, which will be appreciated, and not by 
his words which will be little valued. In order that what 
each one may effect may be best utilized, every recipient of 
this petition is requested, by the Louisiana State Medical 
Society, to report to the undersigned, as promptly as practi- 
cable after the election of April 17th, 1884, the names and 
addresses of those members elected to the next General 
Assembly who will, as also of those members who will not, 
favor by voice and vote the measures advocated in the 
petition. 
STANFORD E. CHAILLE, M. D., 
Chairman of the Committees on State Medicine of the 
Louisiana State Medical Society and of the 
Orleans Parish Medical Society. 
New Orleans, May, 1883. 
P. O. Box 1689, New Orleans. 
PETITION OF THE LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY TO THE 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 
Reputable physicians of Louisiana, convened at the Fifth 
Annual Session of the State Medical Society, held at Shreve- 11 
port, April 4tli to 7th, 1883, respectfully submit to the 
members of the General Assembly, the succeeding considera- 
tious and petition in behalf of the public welfare, as involved 
in the important but neglected interests of State Medicine. 
The General Assembly’s attention to this petition is specially 
well deserved tor the two obvious reasons that, in the first 
place, the medical profession is most interested in and better 
informed on this subject than is any other class of citizens; 
and, in the second place, while each member of the General 
Assemby is required to “solemnly swear” that he will 
support the Constitution, its Article No. 178,contains a clause, 
neither permissive or advisory, but mandatory, aud as fol- 
lows : “ The General Assembly SHALL provide for the 
interests of State Medicine in all its departments.” 
The present xietitiou embraces nine subjects, which unques- 
tionably appertain to one of the four recognized departments 
of State Medicine, viz: Public Hygiene, Medical Education, 
Medical Jurisprudence and Public Institutions for the sick 
and infirm,—and these nine subjects are as follows: 
1. State Board of Health. 
Article No. 178 of the Constitution specially commands that 
“The General Assembly shall provide” “for the establish- 
ment and maintenance of a State Board of Health.” Although 
there is a “Board of Health of the State of Louisiana,” in 
name, still, in fact, the General Assembly has never yet 
established, much less maintained, a veritable State Board of 
Health. The following facts render this obvious: March 
15tb, 1855, the law organizing the present board was enacted; 
its purpose was specially to establish a quarantine for New 
Orleans; this board was composed of nine members—six to 
be appointed by the Governor and to be confirmed by the 
Senate, and three to be elected by the New Orleans City 
Council; and, although the jurisdiction of this board was 
limited to New Orleans itself and to the three quarantine 
stations which command its maritime approaches, yet said 
board was entitled “The Board of Health of the State of 12 
Louisiana.” Front i855 to 1883, fifteen additional laws have 
been enacted in reference to this board $* however, all of these 
laws, with two exceptions, specially to be referred to, have 
merely increased the power and efficiency of the board as a 
quarantine and municipal board of health for New Orleans 
alone, without extending its jurisdiction. Successive govern- 
ors and senators, from 1855 to the present day, have shown 
their appreciation of the fact that this#board was a municipal 
and not a State Board, by invariably appointing and confirm- 
ing solely citizens of New Orleans as its members, thus 
uniting with the City Council to form a board exclusively of 
such citizens. The General Assembly likewise showed its 
appreciation of the same fact by Act No. 80 of 1877, which 
decreased the slight resemblance to a State Board, then pre- 
sented by the present board, in as much as it reduced the 
appointees of the. Governor from six to four members, and 
increased the appointees of the City Council from three to 
five, thus giving the city appointees a majority on a board 
which our governors have continued to form exclusively of 
citizens of New Orleans. It is a legislative fiction to denomi- 
nate a board, thus restricted in membership and power to a 
limited section of this State, the “ Board of Health of the 
State of Louisiana,” and it is a legislative abuse to confer on 
a board, thus constituted, authority over the extensive and 
numerous population and the diversified interests of this great 
State. 
However, in spite of the Constitution, the last General As- 
sembly protracted this fiction and perpetrated this abuse, by 
enacting two laws which gave to the present board, for the 
first time since its origin, authority which should be exercised 
Solely by a veritable State Board. For, Act No. 31 of 1882, 
regulating the practice of medicine throughout the State, 
makes this board the executor of this law ; and Act No. 92 of 
1882, providing u for the organization of local boards of 
health in the State of Louisiana,” requires these to be “auxil- 
* The total sixteen laws referred to are Acts Nos. 336 of 1855; 4, 215, 269 of 1858 ; 14 
(Extra Session) of 1870; 68 of 1876; 14, 37, 80,84 of 1877; 40,85 ofl880; 31,69, 82, 92 of 1882. 13 
iary to and to act in harmony with the State Board of Health 
and to make thereto their annual reports. These two Acts, 
thus extending the authority of this municipal board through- 
out the State, render it all the more imperative that the 
General Assembly shall obey the Constitutional mandate to 
establish and maintain a veritable u State Board of Health.” 
And, in as much as Act No. 92 of 1882 empowers NewOrleaus, 
as every other locality, to organize its own local board, there 
remains still less excuse for designating its municipal board 
as the State Board, and for substituting the former, which is 
not required by the Constitution, with the latter which is so 
required. 
The facts and views now stated justify the following 
Eecommendations. 
A veritable State Board of Health should be at once estab- 
lished. To this board should be transferred all the power aud 
authority outside of the parish of Orleans, which existing 
laws confer on the present so-called “ Board of Health of the 
State of Louisianaaud, to a New Orleans Board of Health, 
organized exclusively by the city authorities, should be trans- 
ferred all the power aud authority which existing laws permit 
the present Board of Health to exercise within the limits of 
the parish of Orleans. The members of a State Board should 
represent every section of the State, either by congressional 
districts or by other sub-divisions, which should not be less 
than seven, aud to no single locality should be given a more 
numerous representation than its relative population aud tax- 
ation entitle it to. A large minority certainly aud probably 
a majority of the members should be reputable physicians, 
and there should be a civil engineer, a lawyer, aud a represen- 
tative of commercial interests, as members of this board. 
All members should be selected for, among other considera- 
tions, their knowledge of aud interest iu sanitary matters j 
and their term of office should not be less than four years. 
While the governor or other State authorities should have 
the appointment of all members, it is believed that the 
medical profession, as represented by the Louisiana State 14 
Medical Society, should have the nomination or a potent 
influence in the selection of the medical members of the State 
Board, as is the case in Alabama, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, South Carolina and probably some other States. 
The State Board should be authorized to select a small 
executive committee, whose members could, because of 
proximity of residences, readily assemble at any time; and 
this executive committee should be given, especially in 
emergencies, all the power and authority of the full board, 
until such time as a quorum thereof should hold ameetiug. 
Such a State Board should be established, and would require 
for its maintenance an annual appropriation, adequate for an 
efficient quarantine, for all other duties imposed by law, and 
for the salaries of the President and Secretary of the Board, 
as also for the travelling expenses unavoidably incurred by 
the members. An appropriation, inadequate for these purpo- 
ses, would result necessarily, in a State Board, representing 
solely another legislative fiction. If established and main- 
tained, as indicated, then, and then only, will be fulfilled the 
solemn oath of members of the General Assembly to support 
that Constitution which declares that this Assembly u shall 
provide for the establishment and maintenance of a State Board of 
Health.” In addition, Louisiana will then have a State Board 
which would command the respect and confidence of its 
neighbors, a board which would develop a strouger and more 
wide spread iuterest in sanitation throughout the State, and a 
board which would eventually greatly promote the vital cause 
of public health and, therefore, of public wealth. 
In any case, whether the General Assembly coincides or 
not with the views above advocated, it is respectfully insisted 
that there are two provisions of our present laws which 
should be amended. 
First Appointment of Members of the Board of Health. 
The first sentence, Section 1, Act No. 80, p. 110, of the Acts 
of 1877, reads : “ The Board of Health of the State of Louis- 
iana, shall hereafter consist of nine members, four of whom 
Two Amendments. 15 
shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate, and five of whom shall be elected 
by the Council of the City of New Orlaans.” It is earnestly 
urged that this sentence shall be so amended that the last 
fourteen words shall be made to read, u five of whom shall be 
appointed by the Mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Council of the City of New Orleans.” The same principle is in- 
volved in the selection of both State and city members, and 
the method adopted in the former should be also applied to the 
latter. It has long been proverbial that u corporations have 
no souls,” all contrivances by which official responsibility is 
divided and diminished are most objectionable, and while the 
election of city members by the Council is wrong in theory, ex- 
perience proves it to be mischeivous in practice. 
Second—The Resident Physician of the Mississippi River Quar- 
antine Station and his Salary. 
Misplaced responsibility, as well as divided responsibility, is 
most objectionable. A striking instance of misplaced respon- 
sibility occurs in the tirst sentence, sections 3042 and 3039, pp. 
592-3 Rev. Stats., 1870, wherein the law directs that the resident 
physician of the Mississippi River Quarantine Station shall 
be appointed by the Governor; that his salary shal be $5000 per 
annum, and that he shall be authorized to employ an assistant 
at $2000 per annum. It is urged that public opinion, and 
also the fundamental principle on which depends the existence 
of a board of health, unite in lixing on the Board of Health, 
rather than on the Governor, the responsibility for the ad- 
ministration of the Mississippi River Quarantine Station 5 and 
therefore that the law should be so amended, that the Board 
of Health should have the same power to appoint, fix the 
salary of, and control the officers and employes at this sta- 
tion, that said Board has, in respect to all other sanitary 
officers and employes, whether these be located in New 
Orleans or at all the Quarantine stations other than the 
one at the Mississippi River. (See Sec. 3041, p. 593, Rev. 
Stat., 1870.) It is deemed important that,—if the present laws 
should be so amended as to confer on the Board of Health the 16 
power to appoint the Resident Physician of the Mississippi 
River Quarantine Station, and also his assistant—the amended 
law should not fail to confer on the Board, at the same time, 
the power to fix their salaries; for, if this were neglected, there 
is reason to fear that the appointment even of the members of 
the Board would be politically so managed as to be dependent 
on and subordinate to their pledges in behalf of some favored 
candidate for the office of Resident Physician of the Missis- 
sippi River Quarantine Station,—an office which now has a 
salary of $5000, now confers another salary of $2000, and now 
distributes other patronage; so that this one office rivals, in re- 
spect to patronage, that Board to which it should be entirely 
subordinate. 
II. Confidential Communications. 
Art. 178 of the Constitution also specially commands that, 
11 the General Assembly shall provide’’—“ for protecting con- 
fidential communications made to medical men by their pa- 
tients while under professional treatment, and for the purpose 
of such treatment.” 
Several States have laws which secure this protection. 
Among these States are New York and Iowa, and their laws 
are as follows, the law of Iowa deserving the preference. 
The New York law reads: “A person duly authorized to 
practice physic or surgery shall not be allowed to disclose any 
information which he has acquired in attending a patient in a 
professional capacity [without the consent of such patientj, 
and which information was necessary to enable him to attend 
in that capacity.” 
The Iowa law reads: “No practising attorney, counselor, 
physician, surgeon, minister of the gospel, or priest of any 
denomination, shall be allowed, in giving testimony, to disclose 
any confidential communications properly entrusted to him in 
his professional capacity, and necessary and proper to enable 
him to discharge the functions of his office according to the 
usual course of practice or discipline. Such prohibition shall 
not apply to cases, where the party, in whose favor the same 
are made, waives the rights conferred.” See the u Code of 
Iowa, 1873,” p. 565, Sec. 3643. 17 
Among many criticisms on the operation of these laws, 
none have been observed unfavorable to them. 
III. Sanitary Instruction 
All men, who have devoted study to the subject, have be- 
came, convinced that not only public wealth but also public 
morality depend to a large extent on public health, and that 
the progress of this depends on gradually replacing the pres- 
ent gross ignorance and baneful prejudices of the people with 
sound knowledge of at least the elementary laws of Hygiene. 
On this subject, that profound philosopher, Herbert Spencer, 
teaches as follows: 
“ Knowledge which subserves direct self-preservation by 
preventing loss of health is of primary importance. We do 
not contend that possession of such knowledge would, by any 
means, wholly remedy the evil. For, it is clear, that in our 
present phase of civilization,men’s necessities often compel them 
to transgress; and, it is further clear, that even in the absence 
of such compulsion, their inclinations would frequently lead 
them, spite of their knowledge, to sacrifice future good to 
present gratification. But we do contend, that the right knowl- 
edge impressed in the right way, would effect much; aud we 
further contend that as the laws of health must he recognized be- 
fore they can be fully conformed to, the imparting of such hnowl- 
edge must precede a more rational living—come when that may” 
On this same subject the distinguished moralist, the Rev. 
Clias. Kingsley, declared that, 11 the art of keeping one’s self 
alive and well,’’ “ will, in some more civilized age and country, 
be held a necessary element in the school course of every child, 
just as necesary as reading, writing and arithmetic.” 
In fine, at the present day all those most eminent as stu- 
dents of educational problems unite with sanitarians in 
insisting that the knowledge of Hygiene should be popular- 
ized ; that it should be taught sufficiently to convince men 
that health and disease are, to large extent, in their own 
hands; that, among other means, to this end, there is one 
which is indispensable ; and that this one is the teaching of 
Hygiene in all schools, and especially in the public schools, 18 
A beginning must be made and the sooner the better for 
the common weal of Louisiana, More thau thirty years ago 
Massachusetts* made its beginning. Inasmuch as this has 
borne good fruit, the Geueral Assembly of Louisiana is 
respectfully urged to adopt some such law as the one enacted 
by Massachusetts in 1S50, which law is as follows: 
“ Section 1. Physiology and Hygiene shall hereafter be 
taught in all the public schools of the State, in all cases in 
which the School Board shall deem it expedient. 
“ Sec. 2. All school teachers shall hereafter be examined in 
their knowledge of the elementary principles of Physiology 
and Hygiene, and in their ability to give instruction in the 
same. 
“ Sec. 3. This act shall take effect on and after the 
day of , 18—.” 
IV. Compensation of Experts. 
The quostiou, whether a court can force a medical expert to 
testify without securing him adequate compensation, has in 
recent years excited so rnnch interest that medical societies 
have even resolved to raise the issue and force the courts to a 
decision. This was done in Indiana, and the following facts 
are pertinent to this question. English courts have decided 
that a scientific expert need not attend a subpoena, that his 
testimony cannot be forced, and that he must be compensated. 
In 1877 the Supreme Court of Alabama decided to the con- 
trary; but also in 1877, a circuit court of West Virginia con- 
curred in the English view; in 1878, Judge Clark, in the case 
of the ‘‘State of Texas vs. Jasper Weathers,” decided that he 
“ knew of no law to force a physician to attend court, and tes- 
tify as an expert, without compensation;” and, also in 1878, 
the Supreme Court of Indiana, reversing the decision of a 
lower court, maintained the expert’s right to compensation. 
The Iowa Code of 1873, page 593, sec. 3814 (and probably the 
laws of some other States), wisely provides that “ witnesses 
called to testify only to an opinion, founded on special study 
and no doubt other Statea require the study of Physiology and Hygiene in 
public schools. 19 
Or experience in any branch of science, or to make scientific of 
professional examinations, and to state the results thereof, 
shall receive additional compensation, to be fixed by the court, 
with reference to the value of the time employed, and the 
degree of learning or skill required.” This law grants all the 
medical profession demands, and its enactment by the General 
Assembly of Louisiana is urgently recommended. 
V. Medical Expert Testimony. 
All authorities on this subject, whether medical or legal, 
have long united in denouncing the inefficient methods, per- 
petuated by Anglo American laws, for securing the “best 
attainable evidence ” respecting the opinions of skilled wit- 
nesses, in reference to the conclusions which medical science 
may be justified in drawing from the medical facts in the case. 
Under our laws, not only are plaintiff and defendant permitted 
to summon such expert witnesses as each may see fit and as 
each may find susceptible to prejudice and even to bribery, 
but also to summon so-called experts, who, notoriously to their 
own profession, are not experts in any proper sense of the 
word. The inevitable result is that nearly every great trial, 
whose issue depends on the evidence of medical experts, brings 
to light proofs of scandalous partisanship on the part of these 
witnesses, and disgraces the science of medicine as well as of 
law. Although this evil has been often and justly denounced 
and although many remedies have been proposed, it is none 
the less true that neither Great Britain nor any one of the 
United States have yet succeeded in adopting any satisfactory 
remedy for the evil. 
A solution of this problem deserves the consideration of the 
statesmen and legislators of Louisiana. It is believed, by 
those who have given most study to this subject, that justice 
would be better promoted by limiting expert witnesses to 
those selected by the courts or to those selected by the mutual 
agreement of the parties to the suit. 20 
YI. Trial op Persons Accused of Crime, and Al- 
leged to be Insane. 
The legal methods adopted for the trial of persons accused 
of crime when alleged to be insane are faulty, and the follow- 
ing consideration are urged upon the attention of the General 
Assembly: 
It is conceded that, within this century, unfortunates have 
been legally murdered for illegal acts, the product of disease 
and not of a <c vicious will.” To prevent these “ bitter mock- 
eries of justice,” Auglo- American law, so jealous of the “liberty 
of the subject,” fails not only to provide him, when his life is 
imperiled through brain-disease, with competent experts, but 
also to provide these with proper time and opportunity to 
decide a question so difficult as doubtful sanity. It is not 
strange that decisions reached through such defective means 
should cause constant dissatisfaction, nor that this should 
have been more serious prior to the establishment of State 
Lunatic Asylums; for it then occurred that he who might be 
acquitted of homicide, because of insanity, was freed by the 
law, and permitted to live a constaut danger to society. 
Maine, in 1847, wisely enacted that “ when any person is 
indicted for a criminal offense, or is committed to jail on a 
charge thereof, . . . any judge of the court before which 
he is to be tried, when a plea of insanity is made in court, or 
he is notified that it will be made, may . . . order such 
person into the care of the superintendent of the insane hos- 
pital, to be detained and observed by him till the further 
order of the court, that the truth or the falsity of the plea may 
be ascertained.” New York, in 1874, enacted laws which pro- 
vide for “ an investigation of the sanity or insanity of the 
accused, as a separate and independent proceeding from the 
trial of the indictment,” and, after such preliminary investiga- 
tion, “ leave the question of the guilt or innocence of the ac- 
cused to be tried by itself. Thus have Maine and New York* 
lessened the frequent difficulty of choosing between “ inhu- 
*See Sec. 1, Chap. 137, p. 898, “Rev. Stat. Maine, 1871,” anil “ Laws of New York,” 
Chap. 446, pp. 5(17-571 of 1874, and the amendment thereto, viz.; Chap. 574 of le75, and 
Chap. 207 of 1676. 21 
manity to disease, and indulgence to crime;” and the action 
of these States deserves the serious consideration of this and 
of other States destitute of equally wise laws. 
VII. The Coroner and His Duties. 
The office of coroner, with the duties thereon imposed, owe 
their persistent existence chiefly to hereditary prejudice 
and to barborous medieval precedent. The proper discharge of 
these duties require, at the present day, much special medical 
knowledge as well as considerable knowledge of the law. 
Those most expert in the former, are almost necessarily the 
least expert in the latter and, in fact, ourcoroners are generally 
inexpert in both. A remedy for the incongruous and in- 
efficiently discharged duties of the coroner was first adopted 
by Massachusetts, in 1877. The coroner was abolished and 
the u Medical Examiuer ” was substituted in his place : to the 
medical examiner were transferred all of the medical duties 
previously imposed on the coroner while all of his legal duties 
were transferred to the court. This reform has given universal 
satisfaction, it has greatly promoted the administration of 
justice, it has proved more economical and it has stimulated 
the culture of medical jurisprudence. 
The General Assembly has the power to confer on Louisiana 
these same benefits. Eminent lawyers of this State unite in 
the opinion, that the Massachusetts “ Act to Abolish the 
Office of Coroner,” etc., of May 9th, 1877, can be readily so 
modified, that articles 118, 120 and 147 of our Constitution, 
with the clause therein that the coroner u shall be a Doctor of 
medicine” would not be violated, and yet, that the fundamental 
principle of said Act viz: the restriction of medical duties 
to doctors and of legal duties t<J lawyers—would be established. 
Such a modification of the Massachusetts Act and of the 
subsequent amendments thereto is respectfully urged upon the 
General Assembly. 
VIII. Public Institutions for the Sick and Infirm. 
Respecting these institutions, the following views, urged in 
the report of 1881, are again insisted upon : 22 
“ The two principal needs are, funds adequate for their pro- 
per maintenance, and competent as well as experienced officers 
who can never be permanently secured as long as their ap- 
pointment and continuance in office depend in any wise on 
partisan politics. It is monstrous, that even the chief of a 
charitable institution should depend, for his appointment to 
office, upon the political support he may have given to this or 
that candidate.” 
In addition, the following recommendations of the Louisiana 
“ Prisons and Asylums Aid Associations” are fully endorsed 
by the Louisiana State Medical Society, as deserving the favor- 
able consideration and prompt action of the General Assembly. 
These recommendations are embraced in the following official 
communication : 
Prisons and Asylums Aid Association 
New Orleans, La., March 14, 1883, 
Dr. Stanford E. Chaille, Chairman Committee on State Medicine, 
Louisiana State Medical Society. 
♦ Sir : Iu the matter of State Medicine it occurs to me to 
suggest, that there is pressing need of legislation of a reform- 
atory kind touching the prisons and asylums of Louisiana. 
The sanitary condition of all the lock-ups, jails, prisons and 
asylums, public and private, should be ascertained by medical 
men, not officially connected with them, and reports made to 
the Governor of the State at least quarterly. The physicians 
making the reports should be required to show the actual 
sanitary condition of the institutions as to persons, buildings, 
appurtenances and supplies, according to a form covering the 
subject iu the minutest particular. The appearance of typhoid 
fever or other filth or preventable disease should be noted as 
well as the supposed cause thereof. The Governor should have, 
under certaiu defined restrictions, power to dismiss officers who 
may, through ignorance or inattention to proper rules, cause 
sickness or death to befall any inmate of a locked institution ; 
and he should have power to correct evils arising from im- 
proper construction, defective drainage, etc., of buildings for 23 
the detention of persons under city, parish or state authority, 
where police juries or similar organizations fail to remedy the 
evils complained of after having had proper official notice. 
liules and regulations for the government of prisons and 
asylums should be enacted in law. Not more than one person, 
on sanitary ground, should be allowed in one cell at the same 
time in any place where arrested persons are detained or 
criminals are undergoing the sentence of a court. Punish- 
ment of a prisoner by a keeper, for tt\e infraction of rules, 
should be limited by law to restriction of food, drink and light; 
and should only be administered under the supervision of the 
attending physician, who should be required to make a record 
of the date, severity of the infliction, and the after ill effects, 
if any, in a book kept for the purpose. Physicians, officially 
attending prisons and asylums, should be required to see the 
inmates daily and make a permanent record of all prescrip- 
tions. 
All insane persons should be removed from jails, parish 
prisons and other places, except duly licensed private asylums, 
to the State Asylum at Jackson ; and it should be unlawful 
to detain any insane person in a parish prison or other similar 
place more than ten days. 
ltespectfully yours, 
W. 11. LYMAN, 
President Prisons and Asylums Aid Association. 
IX. Practice of Pharmacy. 
Finally, the General Assembly is respectfully solicited to 
enact the “ proposed pharmacy law adopted at a special meet- 
ing of the La. State Pharmaceutical Association, Monday 
May 15th, 1882.” It is “ An act to prevent incompetent or 
unauthorized persons from engaging in the practice of phar- 
macy : also to regulate the sale of poisons: to prevent and 
punish the adulteration of drugs, medicines, medicinal prepa- 
rations and chemicals: and to create a Board of Pharmacy 
for the State of Louisiana.” The abuses implied in this title 
are well known to the medical profession, and it is believed 
that the proposed act is wisely designed to abate them. 24 
The preceding Annual Report of the Committee on State 
Medicine having been submitted, the society thereupon unani- 
mously adopted the following resolutions: 
1. Resolved, that the Annual Report for 1883 of the Stand- 
ing Committee on State Medicine be referred to the Commit- 
tee on Publication for publication in the Annual Proceedings, 
and that so much of said report, as is devoted to the petition 
to the General Assembly, shall be published in separatepam- 
phiets to the number of 1000, provided that the funds of the 
association prove to be sufficient to defray the expense thereof; 
and, if insufficient, then such number of extra copies shall be 
published as can be paid for. 
2. The revision and proof-sheets of said petition shall bo 
submitted to theChairman of theCommittee on State Medicine, 
and lie is authorized to add to it any manifestly needful pre- 
face and amendments. 
3. Copies of the petition shall bo distributed by the Cor- 
responding and Recording Secretaries to each member of the 
General Assembly of 1884 and to the most influential physi- 
cians in every parish of Louisiana. Not less than 200 of the 
1000 proposed copies shall be reserved for distribution to the 
members of the General Assembly of 1880. 
4. The Chairman of the Committee on State Medicine is 
authorized to have those copies of the petition, to be distributed 
to physicians, accompanied by a circular letter, requesting them 
to use their influence on legislative candidates in favor of the 
objects of the petition, and to report to said Chairman the 
results anticipated as soon as practicable, and it is earnest- 
ly requested that such reports may be made not later than May 
1st, 1884. 
Ordinances Recommended to Local Boards of Health. 
The following report by Dr. D. R. Fox, of Plaquemines 
Parish, having been referred to the Committee on State Medi- 
cine, is approved, and is respectfully referred to the appro- 
priate committee for publication. 
STANFORD E. CHAILLE, M. D., 
Chairman. 25 
“ I herewith present, to the Louisiana State Medical 
Society, a report of the Health Ordinances, which were laid 
before the local Board of Health of Plaquemines Parish by the 
chairman of its committee. I submit them for your approval, 
and for your recommendation, to the police juries of the different 
parishes of the State (acting as local Board of Health), that 
said boards adopt them. 
Ordinance I. 
Section 1. The local Board of Health shall appoint a 
registered physician as Health Officer of the parish. 
Section 2. The Health Officer shall be authorized to appoint 
any and every registered physician as a distinct health officer. 
Ordinance II. 
For the prevention of smallpox and other contagions diseases. 
Section 1. The local Board of Health shall request planters 
to provide a suitable dwelling for quarantine, in case of the oc- 
currence of small pox or other contagious disease ; said build- 
ing to be furnished with articles necessary for the sick. 
Section 2. The Health Officer shall be authorized to provide 
a suitable place for quarantine in any settlement or on any 
plantation, where the affected person, head of family or planter, 
is unable to furnish necessary appartments; the expenses of 
such place to be defrayed by the local Board of Health. 
Section 3. On the occurrence of small-pox or other con- 
tagious disease, the head of a family, planter or agent of a plan- 
tation, shall be required to report immediately to the district 
Health Officer, who shall visit the premises and cause the 
affected person to be removed to the quarantine prepared, 
over which he shall place a yellow flag and he shall 
provide suitable attention at the expense of the local Board of 
Health, if the affected person be not able to defray such ex- 
pense. If able to defray the expence, he may be quarantined 
at his own dwelling, in which case the attending physician 
shall immediate notify the Health Officer, who shall visit the 
patient, quarantine him and raise the yellow flag over the 
dwelling. 26 
Section 4. Should the head of a family, planter or agent 
fail to give notice as required by section 3, he shall be fined 
by the local Board of Health not less than nor more than 
dollars; said fine to be collected before the nearest Justice 
of the Peace, and to be appropriated to the defrayment of the 
expenses of the local Board of Health. 
Section 5. The employer or property-owner shall require 
every employs to show evidence of vaccination ; if he cannot, 
the employer shall require him to apply to the Health Officer 
for vaccination, 
Section G. It shall be the duty of the Health Officer to 
visit the public schools and vaccinate all those who cannot 
show evidence of vaccination. 
Section 7. The fee for vaccination shall be fixed at 
cents. 
Ordinance III. Vital Statistics. 
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Health Officer of 
each district to keep a book for the purpose of registering the 
births, marriages and deaths in his district. 
Section. 2. Every head of a faui’ly shall, in case of the 
death of any of its members or of any one residing on his prem- 
ises, procure a mortuary certificate from the attending physi- 
cian. If there was no attending physician, the death shall be 
reported immediately to the district Health Officer, who shall, 
after due'inquiry into the cause of death, furnish the certificate 
and register the same. If it be known or there is reason to 
Buspeet that death has been produced by criminal cause the 
Health Officer shall notify the coroner. 
Section 3. If a mortuary certificate is signed by an un- 
registered or illegal practitioner of medicine, the Health Offi- 
cer shall report the same to the local Board of Health. 
Section 4. The birth of every child shall be reported by 
the head of the family, within thirty days of its occurrence, to 
the Health Officer for registration. In case of failure to comply 
with the above law, the delinquent shall be fined not less than 
$ , nor more than $ . 
Section 5, The certificate of each marriage shall also be 27 
reported to the Health Officer, for registration, within thirty 
days. In failure whereof, the parties shall be fined not less 
than five, nor more than ten dollars—these fines to be collected 
by any justice of the peace, and turned over to the local 
Board of Health for defraying its expenses. 
Section G. The fee for the registration of each birth, mar- 
riage and death, shall be fixed at cents, to be paid 
to the Health Officer. 
Section 7. The Health Officer shall make quarterly reports 
to the local Board of Health, whose secretary shall furnish, 
every quarter, a copy of the same to the State Board of Health. 
Ordinance IV. 
Section 1. Should any practising physician meet with a 
case whose diagnostic symptoms resemble those of yellow lever, 
he shall immediately report the same to the Health Officer, woh 
shall visit the patient and consult with the attending physician ; 
if the case be decided to be u yellow fever” or to be a suspi- 
cious case, the Health Officer shall report the same without 
delay to the State Board of Health. 
Ordinance V—Quarantine. 
Section 1. Should any one visit a person while in quarantine, 
thereby exposing himself to contagion, he shall be lined not 
less than , and not exceeding dollars, and shall 
be placed in quarantine not exceeding a period of fourteen 
days. 
D. R. Fox, M. D., 
Delegate of Plaquemines Parish Medical Society.'1'1 29 
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 
—ON— 
MEDICAL ORGANIZATION. 
A. A. Lyon, M. D Chairman. 
Gentlemen of the Louisiana State Medical Society: 
Your Committee ou Medical Organization beg leave to offer 
tbe following report: 
We regret to acknowledge that but little lias been done in 
tbe way of increased organization in tbe State since our last 
session in 1881, so far as bas been reported to us. Tbe 
President of tbe Society, ex-ojjicio chairman of this Committee, 
on or about, tbe 1st of January last, issued a circular to tbe 
Profession in Louisiana convoking tbe present meeting iu tbis 
city, and in that circular made an earnest appeal to tbe 
medical men in tbe State to organize themselves into local or 
affiliating societies as provided for by tbe Constitution of 
State Society, so as to be in position to report at this 
meeting. He likewise wrote to each of tbe Vice-Presi- 
dents, bis co-laborers of tbe Committee, urging their co- 
operation in their respective districts. As yet, no society 
formed uuder tbis appeal, bas been officially reported. 
Your Committee is profoundly impressed with the im- 
portance of a thorough organization of tbe profession in tbe 
State, in order to place tbis (tbe State) Society upon a perma- 
nent basis, inasmuch as it is plain, tbe superstructure cannot 
stand unless its foundation is firm and deep. Tbis foundation 
is found alone, in subordinate co-operating societies. Without 
them tbe existence of tbis organization must of necessity be 
very precarious. 
We do not feel that we assume too much when we claim for 
Louisiana a measure of medical talent and ability second to 
no other State. Among her physicians, are to be found men 30 
eminent in the various departments of their profession ; men 
■whose impress is strongly felt on the popular miud, and who 
are to-day giving tone and direction to medical thought in this 
country. We have too, in our State, confessedly and without 
a peer, the first medical institution in the South, whom hun- 
dreds of our representative physicians delight to honor as their 
Alma Mater, an institution that, we are proud to note, has un- 
swervingly resisted the tide of demoralization in the unseemly 
scramble for patronage—that in the recent past, has swept 
over the land, and is still exerting the weight of its influence. 
She has not bowed the knee to Bael nor prostrated herself at 
the feet of Mammon, but steadfastly maintains the high 
standard that in the past has given her the proud distinction 
she now enjoys. Fit compeer of our University, and but little 
less important as a medium of medical education, stands 
the great Charity Hospital. Domiciled too, in Louisiana, is 
the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal, an 
ably conducted periodical, through whose pages all matters of 
interest connected with the profession are disseminated 
throughout the States. There are many other superior advan- 
tages enjoyed by the medical profession of Louisiana, which it 
is not withiu the compass of this paper to mention. In short, 
it would seem that we possess in marked degree almost every 
element to beget a dashing esprit de corps among our medical 
men and to place our State in its professional relations fully 
abreast in every respect with the most favored of our sisters. 
And yet in the important matter of medical organization we 
have not been altogether true to ourselves, and our State 
Society thus far has not developed as highly as we had hoped 
for, or borne fruit as fully as we had wished. While, how- 
ever, we deplore our deficiencies we would not loose sight of 
the benefits to the profession that have resulted even in our 
feebleness and to which we would respectfully bear testimony. 
To this Society is due the origin of several articles affecting 
the interests of the profession and the public it serves, that 
were incorporated into the Constitution of the State, by the 
Constitutional Convention, that sat soon after the adjourn- 
ment of our Society in 1879. Under Article 178, State Con- 31 
stitution, an act for “regulating the practice of medicine and 
surgery in Louisiana” was prepared and presented by the 
Committee on State Medicine aud Legislation, of which Dr. 
S. E. Chaille was the able and efficient chairman, at the 
session of this Society in 1881. It has since, through the 
efforts of Dr. T. J. Buffington, a member of the State Senate, 
and also of this Society, become the law under which the 
present system of medical registration is operated. In addi- 
tion to this there are other enactments the offspring of this 
Society, awaiting legislative action. We do not feel that it 
would be invidious or out of place, parenthetically, here to 
state that to Dr. Chailld is very largely due the success that has 
thus far attended our efforts iu this direction. 
We make this brief recapitulation of what has been done 
under the disadvantages that have hitherto attended our efforts 
iu order to give, in some faint measure, an idea of what 
might be accomplished by the united action of the entire pro- 
fession of the State. 
The report of the Corresponding Secretary at the last session 
of this Society in 1881, showed but fifteen local societies 
within the territory of Louisiana, composed, as it is, of fifty- 
eight parishes. Of these fifteen, five were reported defunct, 
probably defunct, or partially disorganized, but six had a 
regular time of meeting, aud the aggregated number of mem- 
bers, i. e.f in organization, was but one hundred and seventy- 
three as against eight hundred and fifty, more or less, in 
the State. Now it must be admitted that after making due 
allowance for sparce population, deficient means of transporta- 
tion and topographical difficulties, and other opposing influ- 
ences, that this is rather a discreditable showing, especially 
when we remember that between two and three hundred of the 
number aboved named reside in the great city of New Orleans. 
But let us notfurtherenlargeupon our shortcomings. The bus- 
iness of the hour is not one of fruitless lamentation, but of ag- 
gressive action, of courage, of boldness and determination. 
Jjet us then gird ourselves for the work before us and bravely 
enter the arena. Now it is easy to estimate what power for 
good eight hundred and fifty intelligent men could wield, if 32 
their energies vvere concentrated, and directed through syste- 
matic organization. Our present complete, even elaborate 
Constitution and By-Laws are framed for a State Society based 
upon a system of subordinate affiliating societies, which are in- 
tended to be tributary to the central organization and nothing 
can be more plain than the necessity for such sub-organiza- 
tions, in order to reach the highest efficiency as a State 
Society. 
Your Committee would therefore recommend that this 
body take some step at this session to secure the prompt 
organization of affiliating societies, in as many of the parishes 
of the State as is possible, and as a means to this end, that 
copies of our State Society Constitution and By-Laws and of 
the appended form for Parish Societies be printed and dis- 
creetly distributed throughout the State. 
Second. And in order to secure the permanency of such local 
societies as may be organized, or rather to prevent the intro- 
duction of a destructive element, your Committee would fur- 
ther recommend that it is not advisable for a society even to 
incorporate into its law any fixed system of charges known as 
a “fee bill.” Experience has demonstrated the utter useless- 
ness of such a provision in the first place, and in the second, 
its direct harmfuluess. We feel bold to say, that the agitation 
of this subject and the disturbances growing out of it, has proved 
the entering wedge, that has rent and destroyed more medical 
societies than all other causes combined. Many good reasons 
could be adduced in substantiation of the position, but we 
deem it unnecessary to occupy your time and attention further. 
Suffice it to say that the fee bill is rapidly becoming a relic of 
the past. The State association of Alabama, in our judgment 
the most efficient and best ordered society in the country and 
in many ways worthy of imitation, has unqualifiedly disap- 
proved fee bills within its jurisdiction, while the medical soci- 
ety of the great State of New York goes still further and pro- 
hibits any subordinate society from adopting a fee bill upon 
penalty of exclusion from the State Society. 
Third. There exists a provision in the Constitution of our 
society that we feel has operated, and still continues to operate» 33 
against its growth. It is the present high charge for annual 
dues. We would submit that while live dollars does not seem 
extravagant as an initiation fee, the annual assessment of that 
sum seems heavy and may in some instances prove burden- 
some, and tends, in our judgment, to militate against the inter- 
ests of the society. We would, therefore, recommend that the 
Constitution be so amended as to make the annual assessment 
for dues dollars. 
Fourth. Your Committee further recognizes as of the utmost 
importance, in order to ensure the advancement of this society, 
that its officers should be men qualified not only as regards 
administrative ability and professional character, but who 
possess the requisite zeal and industry to address themselves 
largely to the work before them. This latter should be 
decreed a sine qua non in the men you elevate to office, and 
such members as possess these requisites we should select 
regardless of geographical points or any other minor con- 
siderations. 
With a fixed and united purpose on our own part to accom- 
plish the work before us, there can be no reasonable doubt 
that the Louisiana State Medical Society will speedily take 
and hold the place that properly belongs to her, in the front 
rank of State medical societies. 34 
Report of the Corresponding Secretary. 
S. S. Herrick, M. I). 
The main facts of this report are embraced in two tables, 
one intended to give a classified list of all tbe medical prac- 
titioners in the State by parishes, and tho other, some partic- 
ulars of such medical societies as have been organized within 
a recent period. Nothing more than an approximation to 
accuracy is claimed for either table, as they have been made 
up almost entirely of second-hand information. The regula- 
tions of our Society make it the duty of the Vice-Presidents 
to furnish the Corresponding Secretary with the data for this 
report, but experience has shown that he can best carry out 
the work by direct correspondence with physicians in all the 
parishes, as has been the custom from the beginning of this 
undertaking. 
In the preparation of the present report, I have been aided 
by physicians in most of the parishes, as I have met them in 
the course of making the registry of medical practitioners 
under Act No. 31 of 1882, which imposes this duty upon the 
Secretary of the State Board of Health. • Nor this reason it has 
not appeared necessary to send out the usual circulars of 
inquiry, which have been issued for preparing the previous 
reports. 
The first columu of table A. is intended to show the actual 
number of practitiouers in each parish on January 1st, 1883, 
excluding those who have died or removed during 1882. 
With this explanation the other columns will also be under- 
stood. 
Table B. is intended to give such particulars of the medical 
societies of the parishes as our regulations require. Its imper- 
fections are owing to want of data, from failure of some of 
my correspondents to furnish answers; and, besides, it 
appears that several of the societies are partially or wholly 
disorganized. 
While no one undertakes to deny that effectual orgauiza- 35 
tion of medical men might be accomplished in all the 
parishes by united effort, and that such organization could 
bring all the relief which the profession so much need, yet we 
witness unanimity in no part of the State, and in most par- 
ishes a complete dissociation. In general where our physicians 
are lacking in action they abound in complaints, though they 
have no right to complain of any body but themselves. Many 
amuse themselves with a vague hope, which partakes more of 
desire than expectation, that the General Assembly or Divine 
Providence will come to their aid. Providence is said to help 
those who try to help themselves, and the report of our Legis- 
lative Committee shows that the efforts of our organization 
have not been altogether fruitless with our General Assembly. 
This should encourage medical men to organize local societies 
in their own parishes, with a view to command respect and 
influence in every community, such as no individual efforts, 
however harmonious, are ever capable of attaining. 'Table A. 
Ctasijied Table of Physicians in the Several Parishes of Louisiand 
Names of 
Parishes 
Total 
Number 
Regu- 
lar. 
Unknown 
or 
Doubtful. 
Ii reg- 
ular. 
Came 
in 
1882. 
Left 
in 
1882. 
Died 
in 
1882. 
13 
9 
1 
3 
1 
1 
15 
12 
0 
1 
1 
21 
18 
3 
1 
14 
9 
5 
1 
1 
15 
13 
2 
1 
33 
31 
2 
1 
2 
9 
2 
1 
7 
5 
2 
3 
5 
3 
2 
13 
8 
5 
1 
30 
27 
3 
6 
4 
2 
T»«Sr>tn 
25 
20 
4 
1 
1 
East Baton Rouge... 
18 
15 
3 
1 
1 
1 
9 
8 
1 
18 
17 
1 
1 
13 
8 
1 
4 
10 
6 
4 
16 
13 
i 
2 
2 
2 
12 
11 
l 
1 
1 
8 
5 
l 
2 
1 
8 
5 
l 
2 
1 
1 
15 
12 
i 
2 
1 
1 
11 
10 
1 
1 
1 
11 
11 
9 
2 
7 
1 
14 
11 
2 
1 
25 
23 
1 
1 
2 
1 
2 
29 
18 
11 
278 
195 
24 
59 
14 
18 
7 
26 
22 
2 
2 
10 
8 
1 
1 
18 
17 
1 
1 
17 
14 
2 
1 
1 
7 
5 
2 
14 
13 
1 
1 
1 
17 
11 
6 
2 
2 
3 
2 
1 
10 
7 
2 
1 
9 
9 
1 
1 
3 
3 
1 
1 
50 
43 
2 
5 
1 
3 
9 
7 
1 
1 
1 
2 
15 
13 
2 
1 
7 
5 
2 
6 
4 
2 
1 
1 
1 
14 
13 
1 
6 
6 
2 
26 
11 
3 
12 
5 
2 
6 
4 
2 
2 
Washington 
5 
3 
2 
9 
7 
2 
1 
1 
West Baton Rouge... 
4 
2 
2 
6 
5 
1 
10 
10 
16 
5 
11 
Total 
1042 
792 
60 
190 
42 
39 
22  
Names 
When 
Meetings Held. 
No. ot 
Principal Officers. 
Parishes. 
OF 
Found- 
Mem- 
Eemarks. 
Societies. 
KD. 
Where. 
When. 
hers. 
President. 
Secretary. 
Ascension Medi- 
1879. 
None for seve- 
Hopes of re-organiza- 
cal Society. 
ral years. 
tion- 
Avoyelles 
1878. 
No report. Supposed 
to be extinct. 
May, 
No repoit. 
1878. 
Shreveport Medi- 
cal Society. 
1866. 
Shreveport. 
Monthly. 1st 
22 
T. J. Allen, M. D. 
J. W. Allen, M. D. 
Tuesday. 
East Baton Kouge.. 
Eaton Bouge Me- 
dical Associan 
Beorga- 
nized, 
1874. 
According to 
adjounment. 
Monthly. 
15 
Rich’d H. Day, M. D. 
J. W. Dupree, M. D. 
Organized before the 
war. 
No report. Supposod 
to be extinct. 
Montgomery Me- 
dical Club. 
1879. 
Montgomery. 
Monthly. 
M. A. Dunn, M D. 
N. T. Willims, M . D. 
The successor of the 
Grant Parish Medi- 
cal Society. 
Keorga- 
St. Martinsville 
Attakapas Medi- 
Grand Coteau, 
First Tuesday 
Attakapas Parishes. 
dical Associa- 
nized 
New Iberia, 
in May and 
26 
Frank Thomas. M. D. 
r. G. Blnchet, M. D. 
tion. 
1876. 
Franklin. 
Morgan City. 
December. 
Iberville Medical 
1878. 
None for three 
“ Supposed to he de- 
funct." 
Association. 
years. 
No Beport. Supposed 
to be extinct. 
Madison Parish 
, 1880. 
Tullnlah. 
At Call of Pre- 
G. T. Trezevant, M. D. 
Wm. Kelly, M. D. 
Medical Society 
si dent 
Orleans ParisL 
April, 
Uniuersity of 
Monthly. Last 
55 
C. J, Bickhain, M. D. 
Dr. P. B. McCutehon, liec. 
Medical Society 
1878. 
Louisiana. 
Monday. 
Dr. S. S. Herrick, Gorresdg 
N. 0. Med. an3 
Snrg. Associa’u 
Decern. 
University oflWeekly. Satur- 
52 
D. C. Holliday, M. D. 
A. Nolte. M. D. 
Has not adopted Code 
1873. 
.Louisiana. 
day. 
of Ethics. 
Plaquemines Par- 
ish Med. and 
Surg. Associa’n 
Medical Aseoci'n 
Point© Coupee 
Parish. 
Noy.15 
Pt.-a-la-HaChe 
Quarterly. 
J. B. Wilkinson. M. D. 
Peter Eandolph, M. D. 
Geo. A. B. Hays, M. D. 
A. Tircuit. M. D. 
1875. 
May, 
and Buras. 
New Texas and 
6 
Meetings rare, on ac- 
count of overflows 
1878. 
New Eoad. 
and bad roads. 
St. Landry Medi- 
Beorga- 
nized, 
1872. 
Opelousas. 
Monthly. 
12 
Vincent Boagni, M. D. 
James Bay, M. D. 
Founded1 in 1860. In- 
cal Society. 
corporated, 1852. 
Table B. 
Table of the Local Medical Societies in Louisiana. 38 
Roll and Post Office Addresses of Members of the 
Louisiana State Medical Society, brought down to 
the close of the Session of 1883. 
A. 
1. Aby, T. Y., Monroe, Ouachita Parish. 
2. Alison, II., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
3. Alison, L., Kingston, DeSoto Parish. 
4. Allen, J. W., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
5. Allen, T. J., u 11 u 
6. Armstrong, R. L., Sr., Pleasant Hill, DeSoto Parish. 
7. Armstrong, R. L., Jr., “ u “ 
8. Ashton, W. W., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
9. Austin, W. G., 178 Jackson street, New Orleans. 
B. 
10. Baird, J. W., Collinsburg, Bossier Parish. 
11. Beard, J. C , 146 Caroudelet street, New Orleans. 
12. Bemiss, S. M., University Building, NewT Orleans. 
13. Benson, R. F., Mansfield, DeSoto Parish. 
14. Bezou, n., 169 North Rampart street, New Orleans. 
15. Bickham, C. J., 220 Jackson street, New Orleans. 
16. Billiu, D. H., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
17. Blanchet, L. G., Now Iberia, Iberia Parish. 
18. Booth, A. R., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
19. Booth, W. B., Buras, Plaquemines Parish. 
20. Brumby, G. McD,, Delhi, Richland Parish. 
21. Buck, W. P., Evergreen, Avoyelles Parish. 
c. 
22. Calhoun, T. L., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
23. Carrington, P. S., 297 Chippewa street, New Orleans. 
24. Carter, J. H., corner 2nd and Camp streets, New Orleans. 
25. Chains, S. E., 24 South Rampart street, New Orleans. 
26. Chastant, A., 180 Common street, New Orleans. 
27. Clarke, A. F., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
28. Clay, D. M., “ u “ 
29. Coty, H. C., “ “ “ 
30. Courtney, F., Grand Cane, DeSoto Parish. 
31. Crain, P., Campte, Natchitoches Parish. 39 
D. 
32. Dabney, T. S., 388 Magazine street, New Orleans. 
33. Davidson, J. P., 1 Baronne street, New Orleans. 
34. Davis, J. L., Providence, East Carroll Parish. 
35. Davis, J. T., , Bossier Parish. 
36. Day, R. H., Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish. 
37. DcRoaldes, A., 415 Decatur street, New Orleans. 
38. Dicksou, W. L., Dickson’s Cross Roads, Bossier Parish. 
39. Dillard, II. T., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
40. Driefus, E., 150£ Baronne street, New Orleans. 
41. Dunn, J. A., Cotile, Rapides Parish. 
42. Dunn, M. A., Montgomery, Grant Parish. 
43. Dupree, J. W., Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish. 
41. Duval, C. A., liouma, Terrebonne Parish, 
E. 
45. Easly, B. A., Cotile, Rapides Parish. 
46. Egan, J. C., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
47. Egan, W. L., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
F. 
48. Faget, 0., 281 North Rampart street, New Orleans. 
49. Faget, J. 0., 281 North Rampart street, New Orleans. 
50. Fish, J. S., Alexandria, Rapides Parish. 
51. Fisher, J. A. G., 168 Felicity street, New Orleans. 
52. Fisher, L. II., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
53. Ford, J. S., New Orleans. 
54. Ford, T. G., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
55. Formento, F., 81 Esplanade street, New Orleans. 
56. Fox, D. R., Jesuit’s Bend, Plaquemine Parish. 
57. Fiaucez, J. P., Yeruiillionville, Lafayette Parish. 
58. Freidrichs, A. G., 155 St. Charles street, New Orleans. 
59. Freison, W. F., Keachi, DeSoto Parish. 
GO. Gates, A, S., Franklin, St. Mary Parish. 
61. Gazzo, J. B. C., Sr., Thibodeaux, Lafourche Parish. 
62. Gazzo, J. C. B., Jr., Thibodeaux, Lafourche Parish. 
03. Gibbs, R. T., Mansfield, DeSoto Parish. 
G. 40 
61. Griffin, J. F., Cloutierville, Natchitoches Parish. 
65. Givens, Alonzo, Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish. 
66. Gourier, A. K., Bayou Goula, Iberville Parish. 
67. Gray, K. A., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
68. Guilbean, F., Grand Coteau, St. Landry Parish. 
H. 
69. Hammonds, J. D., Liudgrove, Morehouse Parish. 
70. Harrison, T. J., Montgomery, Grant Parish. 
71. Hays, G. A. B., Happy Jack P. O., Plaquemine Parish. 
72. Hebert, N. M., Point a-la-Haehe, Plaquemine Parish. 
73. Henderson, J. B., 505 Magazine street, New Orleans. 
71. Henry, S. L., Carrollton, New Orleaus. 
75. Herrick, S. S., 127 Carondelet street, New Orleans. 
76. Herring, A. H., Kedland, Bossier Parish. 
77. Hilliard, W., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
78. Hines, C. T., Summerlield, Claiborne Parish. 
79. Holliday, D. C., 27 Camp street, New Orleans. 
80. Holt, Joseph, 107 Prytania street, New Orleans. 
J. 
81. Jamison, David, 250 Baronne street, New Orleaus. 
82. January, D. P., St. Joseph, Tensas Parish. 
83 Jones, Joseph, corner of Washington and Camp streets, 
New Orleans. 
81. Johnson, John, Chemist, Charity Hospital, New Orleans. 
K. 
85. Kelly, Win., Tallulah, Madison Parish. 
L. 
86. Langenbecker, C. O., corner Napoleon Avenue and Jer- 
sey street, New Orleans. 
87. Langworthy, O. P., Clinton, East Feliciana Parish. 
88. Larcade, J. A., St. Gabriel P. O., Iberville Parish. 
89. Layton, Tlioruas, 67 Chartres street, New Orleans. 
90. LeMonnier, Y. K., 59 St. Louis street, New Orleans. 
91. Lewis, E. S., 61 Esplanade street, New Orleans. 
92. Loeber, F., 161 Baronne street, New Orleaus. 41 
93. Logan, S., 42 Baroune street, New Orleans. 
94. Love, A. C., Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish. 
95. Lyon, A. A., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
90. Lyons, J. J., 219 Carondelet street, New Orleans. 
M. 
97. Maguire, A., Jeannerette, Iberia Parish. 
96. Matas, R., 19 Baroune street, New Orleans. 
99. McCullough, R. C., Waterproof, Tensas Parish. 
100. McCutchon, P. B., 973 Magazine street, New Orleans. 
101. Mercier C. S., Carrollton, New Orleans. 
102. Miles, A. B., Charity Hospital, New Orleaus. 
103. Milling, J. S., Dickson’s Cross Roads, Bossier Parish. 
104. Milner, U. R., Marengo, near Camp street, New Orleans 
105. Minvielle, G. P., Jeannerette, Iberia Parish. 
100. Mitchell, W. S., 193 Louisiana Avenue, New Orleans. 
107. Mosely, W. X., Keaclri, DeSoto Parish. 
108. Moss, J. R., Robson, Caddo Parish. 
N. 
109. Newell, D. S. , Tensas Parish. 
110. Newton, I. J., Jr., Bastrop, Morehouse Parish. 
O. 
111. Owens, C. D., Holmesville, Avoyelles Parish. 
112. Parham, F. W., Hotel Dieu, New Orleans. 
113. Patton, G. F., 13 Carondelet street, New Orleans. 
114. Perkins, L. G. Clinton, East Feliciana Parish. 
115. Pope, B. A., 152 Canal street, New Orleans. 
110. Postell, P. S., Plaquemine, Iberville Parish. 
117. Powell, M. B., Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish. 
118. Pratt, G. K., Chartres, street near Canal street, N. O. 
119. Pugh, T. B., Napoleouville, Assumption Parish. 
R. 
120. Randolph, 1\, Pointe Coupee Parish. 
121. Richardson, T. G., University Building, New Orleans. 
122. Richards, M. R., 19 Baroune street, New Orleans. 
123. Roberts, A. V., Mansfield, DeSoto Parish. 42 
124. Sampson, , Madison Parish. 
125. Saudell, Wm., Monroe, Ouachita Parish. 
126. Salomon, L. F., 19 Barouue street, New Orleans. 
127. Sauvage, B.., 223 Canal street, New Orleans. 
128. Schmidt, II. D., Charity Hospital, New Orleans. 
129. Sclmppert, M., 179 Carondelet street, New Orleans. 
130. Sclmppert, W. E., 179 Carondelet street, New Orleans. 
131. Sell wing, S. 1)., Plaquemine, Iberville Parish. 
132. Scott, J. J., Shreveport, Caddo Parish. 
133. Scruggs, S. O., Cloutierville, Natchitoches Parish. 
134. Shepard, E. T., cor. Napoleon Avenue, & St. Charles sts., 
New Orleans. 
135. Sigur,,N. L., Morgan City, St Mary Parish. 
136. Smith, C. M., Franklin, St. Mary Parish. 
137. Smith, Howard, cor. Josephine and St. Charles sts., N. O. 
138. Snell, A. B., Bayou Goula, Iberville Parish. 
139. Sutherlin, W. K., Mansfield, HeSoto Parish. 
T. 
140. Tebault, C. IL, 7 North street, New Orleans. 
141. Tillingliast, E. S., Mooringsport, Caddo Parish. 
142. Turner, W. M., Shrevepert, Caddo Parish. 
u. 
133. Underhill, G. B., 1 Baronne street, New Orleans. 
y. 
144. Vance, Thos. J., Minden, Webster Parish. 
145. Yeazie, H. A., 159 Baronne street, New Orleans. 
146. Yon Seydewitz, P., 377 Customhouse street, New Orleans 
w. 
147. Walker, S. F., Mansfield, DeSoto Parish. 
148. Watkins, J. M., 57 St. Charles street, New Orleans. 
149. Watkins, W. H., cr. Franklin and Josephine sts., N. O. 
150. Watters, G. W., Collinsburg, Bossier Parish. 
151. Whitworth, W. T., Greenwood, Caddo Parish. 
152. Wilie, J. D., Centennial, Texas. 43 
153. Wilkinson, J. B., Buras, Plaquemines Parish. 
154. Wilkinson, C. P., Buras, Plaquemines Parish. 
155. Williams, A. B., Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish. 
15G. Wise, B., Greenwood, Caddo Parish. 
157. Wise, G. A., Benton, Bossier Parish. 
158. Wise, J. H. P., Morgan City, St. Mary Parish. 
159. Woolf, T. J., New Iberia, Iberia Parish. 
Alphabetical List of Parishes Represented in the Louisiana 
State Medical Society, the Membership of each 
Parish being also Alphabetically arranged. 
No. 
Parishes. 
Doctors. 
No. 
1. Ascension Love, A. C 1 
2. Assumption Pugh, T. B 1 
3. Avoyelles Buck, W. P.; Owens, C. D 2 
4. Bossier Baird, J. W.; Davis, J. T.; 
Dickson, W. L. ; Herring, A. 
H.; Milling, J. S.; Watters, J. 
W.; Wise, G. A 7 
5. Caddo Alison, H.; Allen, J. W. 5 Allen, 
T. J.; Ashton, W. W.; Booth, 
A. R.; Billiu, D. H.; Calhoun, 
T. L.; Clarke, A. F.; Clay, D. 
M.; Coty, H. C.; Dillard, H. 
T.; Egan, J. C.; Egan, W. L.; 
Fisher, L. H.; Ford, T. G. ; 
Gray, R. A.; Hilliard, W. 5 
Lyon, A. A.; Moss, J. R.; Scott, 
J. J.; Tillingliast. E. S. ; Tur- 
ner, W. M.; Whitworth, W. T.; 
Wilie, J. D.; Wise, B 25 
6. Claiborne Hines, C. T 1 
7. East Carroll Davis, J. L 1 
8. DeSoto Alison, L.; Armstrong, R. L., 
Sr. 5 Armstrong, R. L., Jr. j 44 
No. 
Parishes. 
Doctors. 
No. 
Benson, R. F. ; Courtney. F.; 
Frieson, W. S. ; Gibbs, R. T.; 
Mosely, W. X.; Roberts, A. V. ; 
Sutherlin, W. K. ; Walker, S. F. 11 
9. East Baton Rouge. .Day, R. H. ; Dupree, J. W.; Wil- 
liams. A. B 3 
10. East Feliciana Langwortby, O. P. ; Perkins, L. G 2 
11. Grant Dunn, M. A.; Harrison, T. J 2 
12. Iberia Blancbet, L. G.; Minvielle, G. P. ; 
Woolf, T. J 3 
13. Iberville Gourrier, A. R.; Larcade, J. A. ; 
Postell, P. S. ; Snell, A. B. ; 
Scbwing, S. D 5 
14. Lafayette Francez, J. P 1 
15. Lafourche Gazzo, J. B. C., Sr.; Gazzo, J. B. 
C., Jr 2 
1G. Madison Kelly, Win., Sampson 2 
17. Morehouse Hammonds, J. D.; Newton,I. J., Jr 2 
18. Natchitoches CraiD, P.; Griffin J. F.; Powell, 
M. B.; Scruggs, S. 0 4 
19. Orleans Austin, W. G.; Beard, J. C.; Re- 
miss, S.M.; B(zou,H.; Bickham, 
C. J.; Carrington, P. S.; Car- 
ter, J. H.; Chaille, S. E.; Clias- 
taut, A.; Dabney, T. S.; Da- 
vidson, J. P.; DeRoaldes, A.; 
Driefus, E.; Faget, C.; Faget, 
J. C.; Fisher, J. A. G.; Ford, 
J. S.; Formeuto, F.; Friedrichs, 
A. G.; Henderson, J. B.; Hen- 
ry S. L.; Herrick, S. S.; Hol- 
liday, D. C.; Holt, Joseph ; 
Jamison, D.; Joues, Joseph; 
Johnson, J.; Langenbecker, C. 
O.; Layton, T.; LeMounier, Y. 
R.; Lewis, E. S.; Loeber, F.; 45 
No. 
Parishes. 
Doctors. 
No. 
Logan, S.; Lyons, J. J. ; Mc- 
Cutchon, P. B.; Mercier, 0. S.; 
Miles, A. B.; Mitchell, W. S.; 
Matas, R.; Milner, U. R.; Par- 
ham, F. W.; Patton, G. F.; 
Pope, B. A.; Pratt, G. K.; 
Richardson, T. G.; Richards, 
M. R.; Salomon, L. F., Sau- 
vage, R.; Schuppert, M.; Scliup- 
pert, W. E.; Schmidt, H. D.; 
. Shepard, E. T,; Smith, How- 
ard; Tebault, C. H.; Uuder- 
hill, G. B.; Yeazie, H. A.; Yon- 
Segdewitz, P., Watkins, J. M.; 
Watkins, W. H 59 
20. Ouachita Aby, T. Y.; Sandel, W 2 
21. Plaquemines Booth, W. B.; Fox, D. R.; Hays, 
G. A. B.; Hebert, N. M.; Wil- 
kinson, J. B,; Wilkinson, 0. P. 0 
22. Point Coupee Randolph, P 1 
23. Rapides Duud, J. A.; Easly, B. A.; Fish, 
J. S 3 
24. Richland Brumby, G. McD 1 
25. St. Landry Guilbeau, F 1 
2G. St. Mary Gates, A. S.; Maguire, A.; Smith 
C. M.; Sigur, N. L.; Wise, J. 
H. P 5 
27. St. Tammany Givens, A 1 
28. Tensas January, D. P.; Newell, D. S.; 
McCullough, E. C 3 
29. Terrebonne Duval, C. A 1 
30. Webster Yance, P. J < 1 
30 Parishes represented. Total number of Doctors 159 46 
REGULATIONS 
OF THE 
LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
CONSTITUTION. 
PREAMBLE, TITLE AND OBJECTS. 
The Louisiana State Medical Society, reorganized January 
15, 1878, shall have for its objects : 
(1) The union in this Society of all the reputable members 
of the regular medical profession in the State, and co-opera- 
tion with the medical profession throughout the United States, 
in sustaining the American Medical Association; 
(2) The advancement of State Medicine, i, e., of Public Hy- 
giene (or Preventive Medicine), of Medical Education, of Med- 
ical Jurisprudence, and of Public Institutions for the sick, and 
the infirm; 
(3) The cultivation of medical knowledge, and particularly 
of such parts thereof as may be of special importance to this 
State; 
(4) The elevation of professional character and attainments, 
and the promotion of the welfare, in all matters relating to 
medical science, of the profession, and of the public. 
ARTICLE I. 
Mode of Government. 
Section 1. This society shall be governed by such regula- 
tions as shall be specified in its Constitution, By-Laws and 
Ordinances (or Resolutions) ; and, as to matters not so speci- 
fied, it adopts the Common Parliamentary Law and the Code 
of Ethics of the American Medical Association. 
Sec. 2. Any suspension or alteration of the Constitution 
shall require a unanimous vote, unless proposed in writing at 
a preceding annual session, in which case a vote of two-thirds 
of the voting members present shall be required ; provided 
that an amendment germane to the subject, shall be in order, 
and may be adopted, though not submitted, at a preceding 
annual session. 
The By-Laws may be suspended or altered by a vote of two- 
thirds, and the ordinances by the vote of a majority at auy reg- 
ular meeting. 47 
ARTICLE II. 
Members. 
Section 1. (Qualifications.) Every physician fo be a mem- 
ber of this Society, must be (1) a graduate of a reputable med - 
ical college, (2) socially and professionally in good repute, (3) 
obedient to the Code of Ethics, and (4) a subscriber to the 
regulations of this society. 
Sec. 2. Men of worth and culture, occupied in pursuits cal- 
culated to directly promote the objects of this society, may, 
though not graduates in medicine, be elected members of this 
Society. 
Sec. 3. There may be five classes of members, viz.: (1) Dele- 
gates, (2) Permanent members, (3) Associate Members, (4) 
Honorary Members, and (5) Members by Invitation ; provided 
that whenever more than one-half of the parishes of this State 
shall each have an Affiliated Medical Society, and shall be rep- 
resented in this society by not less than one hundred delegates 
present at the annual session, a majority of said delegates 
shall have the power to prohibit the election of any additional 
permanent members. 
Sec. 4. All members shall have the right to take part in the 
proceedings, but only delegates and permanent members shall 
have the right to vote. 
Honorary members and members by invitation shall not be 
assessed. 
Sec. 5. (Delegates.) Every Affiliated Medical Society, State 
Medical College, and State Medical Institution—in this State 
and in good standing—shall have the privilege of appointing 
one delegate, and one additional delegate for every five phy- 
sicians, regular members of said society, or of the medical 
staff of said public institutions. 
No delegate shall be received unless the dues, of his Society 
or institution, to this society shall have been paid; and the 
sum total to be paid for a delegate shall be equal to the amount 
annually assessed on each permanent member. 
Sec. 6. (Permanent members.) (1) Delegates and such other 
persons as possess fully the qualifications for membership in 
this society, may be elected permanent members, 
(2) Permanent members, resident in parishes having no affil- 
iated medical society, are charged with the paramount duty of 
aiding to organize such a society ; and, no physician shall be a 
permanent member, who has been refused membership in the 
affiliated society of his parish, uuless there be satisfactory evi- 
dence that such refusal has not been due to his disqualification 
to be a member of this society. 
Sec. 7. A delegate, who may be a permanent member, or 
vice versa, shall cast but one vote. 
Sec. 8. (Associate Members.) Every member of an affiliated 
medical society, which has paid its dues to this Society, shall 
be an associate member thereof. 48 
Sec. 9. (Honorary Members.) Honorary Members shall 
never exceed twenty in number, and shall require the ballots 
of three-fourths of the voting members preseut at an annual 
session. 
Sec. 10. (Members by Invitation.) Members by Invitation 
maybe elected, to hold connection with this society only dur- 
ing the session at which they were elected, on the recommend- 
ation of the Committee of Arrangements. 
ARTICLE III. 
Officers. 
Section 1. The officers of this Society shall be, one Presi- 
dent, a Vice-President for each Congressional District of Louis- 
iana, provided that each of such districts be represented by a 
delegate, or a permanent member, whom this society may deem 
it advisable to elect to the office, one Recording Secretary, one 
Corresponding Secretary, and one Treasurer, who shall also be 
Librarian, until such time as the society, by a vote of two- 
thirds of the voting members present at an annual session, 
may determine to elect a Librarian, as well as a Treasurer. 
Sec. 2. Only physicians who are delegates or permanent 
members shall be elected officers; and the President, the Sec- 
retaries, and the Treasurer must be chosen from those in at- 
tendance at the annual session. 
Sec. 3. The President and Vice-President shall serve for the 
term of one year; the Secretaries, and the Treasurer and the 
Librarian shall serve for the term of three years. But every 
officer shall continue in office until his successor is duly elected 
and installed. 
Sec. 4. The election of officers shall be on a day preceding 
the last day of each annual session, but their term of office 
shall not begin until the close of the last day, except, so far as 
the cooperative action of the President elect may be required 
for the transaction of business at the ensuing annual session, 
such as in the appointment of the committees. 
ARTICLE IV. 
Section 1. Such Standing and Special Committees may be 
appointed as this society may deem necessary, for the purpose 
of preparing and arranging business for the annual sessions, 
and for carrying into effect the orders of the society not other- 
wise assigned. 
Sec. 2. The following Standing Committees shall be ap- 
pointed at each annual session, viz.: 
1. Committee of Arrangements. 
2. Committee on the Organization of the Medical Pro- 
fession. 
3. Committee on Necrology. 
Committees. 49 
4. Committee on State Medicine and Legislation. 
5. Committee on Scientific Essays, Reports, Original Papers. 
G. Committee on Publication. 
7. Judiciary Committee. 
Sec. 3. Committees shall be appointed as follows : 
The Chairman, by the President with the approval of the 
President elect or of the society ; and the remaining members 
by,the President, the President elect, and the Chairman; except 
in the cases following, viz: 
(1) The Committee on Organization shall consistof the Presi- 
dent (as chairman), the Vice-Presidents, and the Corresponding 
Secretary; 
(2) The Recording Secretary, the Corresponding Secretary 
and the Treasurer and Librarian, shall be members of the Com- 
mittee on Publication ; 
(3) And said committee shall have power to appoint sub- 
committees of experts ; 
(4) The President shall have power to appoint members on 
sub-committees of the Judiciary Committee, and to fill all 
vacancies on committees. 
Sec. 4. Members of a committee shall be responsible for 
the work assigned it in the order each name on the list is an- 
nounced ; and inaction of the chairman shall not justify the 
inaction of other members of the committee. 
ARTICLE V. 
Section 1. The society shall select annually an orator, whose 
duty it shall be to deliver at the ensuing annual session a pub- 
lic address designed to interest a non-professional audience in 
the objects of this society. 
Annual Orator. 
ARTICLE VI. 
Section 1. Delegates to the American Medical Association, 
and those State Medical Societies and other scientific bodies in 
which this society may deem it advisable to be represented, 
shall be elected annually : or, otherwise, shall be appointed by 
the President. 
Delegates from this Society. 
ARTICLE VII. 
Section 1. Funds shall be raised by the society for meeting 
its current expenses and awards. Thse funds may be obtained 
by an equal assessment upon each of the permanent members, 
and by assessment of a like sum upon every afliliated society 
and medical institution for each delegate to which said society 
and institution is entitled, by au equal assessment on all the 
members of affiliated societies ; by fines j by the sale of its 
publications ; and by voluntary contributions. 
Funds and Appropriations. 50 
Sec. 2. The funds may be appropriated (1) for defraying the 
expenses of the meetings, (2) for enabling the officers and the 
committees to fulfill their respective duties, conduct their cor- 
respondence, and procure the materials necessary for their cor- 
respondence and reports ; (3) for publishing the proceedings, 
memoirs and transactions of the society ; (4) for the salaries of 
officers ; (5) for the establishment and support of a library ; (6) 
for the encouragement of scientific investigation by prizes and 
awards; and (7) for defraying the expenses incidental to scien- 
tific investigations under the instruction of the society, where 
such investigation have been accompanied with an order on 
the Treasurer to supply the funds necessary for carrying them 
into effect. 
ARTICLE VIII. 
Section 1. While it is deemed advisable that there should 
be only one Parish Medical Society, for the purpose of uniting 
in a single organization, all reputable physicians resident in 
each parish ; there may, none the less, be established several 
societies in one parish, each society to be composed of members 
residing in a political subdivision of the parish ; and there 
may be established one society for physicians resident in sev- 
eral adjaceut parishes (i.e., district societies), or in subdivisions 
of two or more adjacent parishes. 
Sec. 2. (1) No physicians shall be members of affiliated 
societies, except those qualified to be members of this society. 
(2) Any physician refused admission to, suspended or ex- 
pelled from an affiliated society of his parish, shall have the 
right to appeal to the State Medical Society, but he shall 
neither become nor continue to be a member of said society, 
unless the facts in the case have been duly investigated by the 
Judiciary Committee of said society, and favorably decided by 
said society. 
Sec. 3. An affiliated society may adopt any regulations 
which contain the provisions required by the State Medical 
Society, and do not contravene any of its regulations. 
Sec. 4. Every affiliated society aud institution shall pay to 
the State Medical Society its assessment, which shall not ex- 
ceed tor each delegate, to which said affiliated society or insti- 
tution is entitled, the amount assessed on each permanent 
member of the State Medical Society. 
Affiliated Societies. 
ARTICLE IX. 
Meetings. 
Section 1. A regular animal session shall be held at such 
time and place as the society may select, and the president 
may call a special meeting for the transaction of business of 
paramount importance. 
Sec. 2. This society shall adopt an “ Order of Business” 
and such “ Rules ” as maybe necessary to conduot the pro- 
ceedings of the meetings. 51 
BY-LAWS. 
Mode of Government. 
ARTICLE I. 
Section 1. (Quorum.) 
Twelve members entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum. # 
Sec. 2. (Mode of voting.) 
Permanent members, members by invitation and officers, 
shall be elected by the ballots of a majority of the voting mem- 
bers present. The mode of voting in all other cases—except 
where differently specified in the constitution—shall be by the 
viva voce vote of a majority; provided that one-third of the 
voting members present shall have the right to demand the 
record of the yeas and nays. 
ARTICLE II. 
Members. 
Section 1. Every member, in attendance at the annual ses- 
sions, shall, prior to the permanent organization of the session, 
or before taking part in the proceedings after the session has 
been organized, sign the regulations of the society, inscribing 
his name and address in full, the title of the medical institution 
by which and the year when graduated; and, if a delegate, the 
title of the affiliated society or institution from which he re- 
ceived his appointment, and shall pay all sums due to this 
society. 
Sec. 2. Every delegate must present a written appointment 
from the affiliated society or institution which he represents. 
Sec. 3. No person shall be elected a member of this Society 
unless recommended by two members as possessing fully the 
qualifications for membership; and, at the request of two mem- 
bers, a recommendation to membership shall be submitted to 
the Judiciary Committee for investigation and report, before 
action shall be taken thereon by the Society. 
Sec. 4. Any member may resign, provided that he has paid 
all dues, and that there be no charges against him. Any mem- 
ber neglecting two successive years official notifications to pay 
his dues, shall forfeit membership, and shall not be re elected 
until said dues shall have been paid. 
Sec. 5. No voting member present shall be excused from 
voting, except by a majority of those present. 
Sec. 6. No member shall be required to read his own manu- 
* As amended from fifteen at Annual Session of 1881. 52 
script; provided that a member known to be a good reader, 
be ready to act as his substitute. 
Sec. 7. Medical men, or men learned in the collateral 
branches of science, on a visit to the place of the Annual Ses- 
sion, may be permitted to attend meetings, on being introduced 
by a member of this society. 
Sec. 8. Any person desiring to become a member, during the 
interval between the Annual Sessions, shall forward his appli- 
cation, endorsed with the recommendation of two members, and 
accompanied with the annual fee, to the Recording Secretary, 
who shall record the name on a special list for “ temporary 
members.” All privileges of the society shall be granted to 
such temporary members until the first meeting of the society, 
when the Constitution and sections 1 and 3, Article II, of 
these By-Laws shall be enforced. 
ARTICLE III.-DUTIES OF 
President. 
Section 1. (1) The President shall a, preside (assisted by the 
Vice-Presidents) at all meetings; b, appoint all committees as 
provided in sec. 3, Art. IV, of the Constitution; c, suspend 
until the next meeting any officer guilty of flagrant malfeasance 
or neglect of duty, and fill ad interim any such, and all other, 
vacancies that may occur ; <Z, call special meetings ; e, approve 
or disapprove all requisitions on the funds of the treasury; /, 
give a casting vote when necessary; g, act as chairman on the 
committee tor the efficient organization of the medical pro- 
fession of the State in tliis society; h, direct and control, dur- 
ing the intervals between the Annual Sessions, the general 
policy and business of this Society, transmitting to officers and 
members such information and documents in his possession as 
may be needful for the discharge of the duties of each, and 
requiring reports of progress from all those appointed to do 
any special work for the ensuing session, to the end that he 
may, if needful, take such action that the Society shall not be 
deprived of this special work because of the inaction of any 
member; i, deliver at the Annual Session an addressdesigued 
to promote the objects of this society and report what has been, 
and is likely to be, accomplished during his presidency to 
promote these objects; and, k, perform all such other duties 
as this society, custom and parliamentary usage may require. 
(2) The President shall have power to delegate his author- 
ity in whole or in part to one of the Vice-Presidents. 
Vice-Presidents. 
Sec. 2. (1) Such Vice-President, as the President or the so- 
ciety may select, shall in the absence of the President from the 
meeting or from the chair, discharge his duties 5 but, in the 53 
event of his death, resignation or disability, the Vice-Presi- 
dents in their order of number by congressional districts shall 
discharge all the duties of the President. In the event of the 
absence of the President and of the Vice-Presidents, the society 
shall elect a President pro tempore. 
(2) Each Vice-President shall be a member of the committee 
on the efficient organization of the medical profession in this 
State, charged with the special duty of aiding in the organi- 
zation and in promoting the efficiency of an affiliated medical 
society in every parish of his district; and also a member of 
the Committee on Necrology. 
(3) Each Vice-President shall report to the President an- 
nually in the month of February, the following facts as they 
existed on the last day of December, as to every affiliated so- 
ciety in his district, viz.: the title; regulations ; place of meet- 
ing; name of officers and members, alphabetically arranged, 
together with the postoffice address of each, the title of the 
medical institution in which and the year when graduated. 
(4) Each Vice-President shall also report to the President 
at the same time and for the same date, a register of all the 
practitioners of medicine in his district, recording in said reg- 
ister, as to each one of said practitioners, the name (alphabeti- 
cally arranged); the post office ; the place and date of gradua- 
tion (if a graduate); and shall airange the names of said prac- 
titioners in three classes, viz.: 1st, practitioners of unques- 
tionable good standing ; 2d, practitioners of doubtful or of un- 
known repute, stating which; 3d, irregular practitioners, 
specifying whether homoeopathic, eclectic, Thompsonian, etc., 
and to this register shall be added a list of all practitioners 
who, during the year, may have died, removed from their pre- 
vious postoffice addresses, or come to reside in the congres- 
sional district reported upon. 
(5) It shall be the duty of the Vice-President of the Con- 
gressional District in which the records, archives, etc., of the 
society may be kept by the Recording Secretary, the Treasurer 
and Librarian to inspect said records, archives, etc., and to 
report annually any inaccuracies and delinquencies therein. 
Recording Secretary. 
Sec. 3. (1) The liecordiug Secretary shall keep not less than 
three books of record (A) for the regulations of this society 
and any future changes thereof arranged for ready reference 
thereto, together with the inscription of the names of mem- 
bers to said regulations as required in Section 1, Article II of 
the By-Laws, and with a register of the members of this 
society alphabetically arranged, (B) for the minutes of the 
proceedings of this society, and (C) for the minutes of the 
proceedings of the Committee on Publication, of which he 
shall bo a member. 54 
(2) For two days prior to and during each day of the annual 
session he shall have notified office hours, during which he, or 
the Corresponding Secretary, or the Treasurer, acting as his 
assistants, shall register members and collect for the Treas- 
urer, the assessment on each member as registered. 
He shall refuse to register any person whose status or cre- 
dentials are unknown or questionable, and shall refer all 
doubtful questions of this nature to the Judiciary Committee- 
(3) He shall notify all members individually of the time and 
place of each annual meeting. The notification shall be 
mailed not more than six weeks nor less than one month prior 
to the date of said meeting. He shall notify members of any 
special duty imposed, and shall give notice to applicants of 
their election to membership, with the fee required. 
[As amended at Annual Session of 1881,] 
(4) He shall distribute the annual volume of Transactions, 
(a) to all members who, by the Treasurer’s report, have paid 
their fees, (b) to such State Medical and other societies as 
exchanges with would be desirable, and (c) to Medical Jour- 
nals and Libraries. 
Sec. 4. The Corresponding Secretary shall keep not less 
than three books of record, viz.: (d) for the copy or for the 
minutes of all the correspondence of the society ; (e) for the 
record of the regulations, of the names, etc., of the officers 
and members of every affiliated society and institution as 
directed in (3) Sec 2, Art. Ill, of the By-Laws; and (f) for the 
registration of all practitioners of medicine in this State, as 
directed in (4) of Sec. 2, Art. Ill, of these By-Laws. The 
facts for the two last books of record, (e) aud (f) should 
be furnished by affiliated societies to the Vice-Presidents, and 
by these to the President, who should transmit them to the 
Corresponding Secretary ; but the Corresponding Secretary is 
required, independently of these societies and of these officers, 
to render these records as complete as may be in his power; and 
shall recommend to the Vice-President a blank form for the uni- 
form registration in each district of practitioners of medicine. 
(2) The Corresponding Secretary shall be a member of the 
Committees on Organization and on Publication. 
(3) He shall present an annual report, 
Corresponding Secretary\ 
Treasurer and Librarian. 
Sec. 5. (1) This officer shall have custody of all moneys, 
books, and other property not assigned to the charge of any 
other officer 5 and he shall keep two books of record; one (g) 
for receipts, expenses, debts and credits, aud one (h) for the 
catalogue of all books and other property of the society. 55 
(2) He shall collect all fees and other sums due to the 
society, notify delinquents, within thirty days after each 
annual session, of the necessity of prompt payment, and shall 
report the names of persistent delinquents to the society. 
(3) He shall within sixty days after each annual session fur- 
nish the Recording Secretary with a list of the names of all 
members, affiliated societies, and institutions which have paid 
their dues, as a guide to said officer in the distribution of the 
Transactions. 
(4) He shall disburse no money except ou the written order 
of a member, approved either by the President, or by a Vice- 
President to whom the President has delegated this authority. 
(5) He shall lend no books or other property for more than 
one month, and to no one except a member who has given a 
written receipt for the same and such other reasonable secu- 
rity as may be required. 
(6) He shall permanently retain in the library not less than 
five copies of the Transactions of each year, and shall take 
possession of copies for exchange and for sale. 
(7) He shall be a member of the Committee on Publication* 
(8J He shall give security for the property in his custody? 
and for the faithful discharge of his duties, whenever the 
society shall judge this requisite. 
(9) He shall at each annual session report the condition of 
the library, and of the finances of the Society, stating its 
receipts, expenses and debts due to and by it, and the number 
of deceased and delinquent members as well as of those w'ho 
have paid their dues; and he shall add to his report and esti- 
mate of the receipts and expenses of the society for the ensu- 
ing year, and recommend such measures as he may deem neces- 
sary to raise the funds needed to meet the estimated expenses. 
ARTICLE IV—COMMITTEES. 
Committee of Arrangements. 
Section 1. (1) This committee shall consist of not less than 
three members, who shall, if no sufficient reasons prevent, be 
residents in the place where the annual session is to be held. 
(2) It shall provide suitable accommodation, and make all 
necessary arrangements for the annual session. It shall pro- 
vide a suitable hall for the delivery of the President’s address, 
and of the annual oration, and invite thereto the public and 
especially those learned and interested in medical science. 
It shall supervise the introduction of all business, and pre- 
pare, in accord with the order of business, Sec. 2, Art. IX, 
JBy-Laws, a programme of the proceedings. For this purpose, 
it shall require from each officer, committe and member having 
business for the society’s attention, the nature of said business 
and the probable time required for its transaction. 56 
(3) It shall, at the opening of the session, report its action 
and a programme of the proceedings as arranged by it, subject 
to the pleasure of the society. It shall post, in the hall, where 
the meetings are held, a notice of any arrangements important 
for the information of the members. 
(4) It shall have the privilege of inviting any distinguished 
medical or scientific men to attend the session, and of recom- 
mending them to the society as members by invitation. 
Sec. 2. (1) This committee shall consist of the President, the 
Vice-Presidents and the Corresponding Secretary, and three 
members shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum. 
(2) It shall be its duty to use all practical means to organ- 
ize the medical profession in local societies throughout this 
State, and to increase the efficiency of this society ; and it shall 
be guided in its action by these regulations as specified in Art. 
VIII, of the Constitution, and iu (3), (4), Sec. 2, Art. Ill; (1) 
Sec. 4, Art. Ill, By-L aws. 
(3) £t shall present an annual report of what has been done 
during the year, and recommend such measures as it may deem 
necessary, to promote the more efficient organization of the 
medical profession throughout this State. 
Committee on Organization. 
Committee on Necrology. 
Sec. 3. This committee shall consist of the Vice-Presidents. 
It shall report annually brief biographical notices of deceased 
members of this society. Each member of the committee shall 
report to the chairman at least thirty days prior to the annual 
session. 
Committee on State Medicine and Legislation. 
Seo. 4. (1) This committee shall consist of not less than five 
members. The chairman shall assign not less than one mem- 
ber to investigate, and report to him upon the condition, needs 
and prospects in this State of each one of the four branches of 
State Medicine; and the chairman shall present an annual 
report to the society on all of these branches. 
(2) It shall consider propositions to repeal, modify or enact 
any law relating to medical interests, provided that such pro- 
positions be presented in proper language and form lor legis- 
lative action. 
(3) It shall be its duty to recommend to this society its influ- 
ence in behalf of the enactment of such laws as it may deem 
desirable, and shall accompany its recommendations with the 
words and form of the law proposed to be enacted ; for this 
purpose, this committee shall have authority, with the 57 
President’s written approval, to employ, if this be indispensa- 
ble, a competent lawyer. 
Committee on Scientific Essays, Reports, etc. 
Section 5. (1) This committee shall consist of not less than 
five members. It shall be its duty to appoint from the members 
of the society a list of essayists and reporters, and to recom- 
mend subjects for their consideration. 
(2) It shall particularly encourage scientific essays, reports, 
and original papers upon the following subjects, and if practi- 
cable limit them thereto, viz : 
a. Subjects peculiar to, or of special importance to this State ; 
b. Positively new facts, modes of practice, or principles of 
real value; 
c. The results of well devised original experimental researhes ; 
d. Reviews, so complete, of the facts on any particular sub- 
ject, as to enable the writer to deduce therefrom legitimate con- 
clusions of importance. 
(3) All scientific essays, reports and original papers, whether 
from appointees of this committee, from affiliated societies, or 
from volunteers, shall be presented to the society through this 
committee, which shall have authoriiy to require that all such 
manuscripts shall be submitted to it at a definite date prior to 
the annual session. 
(4) All manuscripts submitted to this committee shall be dis- 
posed of as follows: Those which the committee does not deem 
it desirable to submit to the consideration of the society, sha/ 
be returned to the author, provided the attending expense be 
paid by him. Those deemed suitable for the consideration of 
the society, shall be assigned the order in which they shall be 
read ; provided that none requiring over thirty minutes for 
the reading, shall be so assigned, unless recommended as par- 
ticularly meritorious, or unless summaries of, or abstracts from, 
manuscripts exceeding thirty minutes for the reading shall be 
so prepared that these summaries or extracts can be read in 
thirty minutes. All manuscripts deemed suitable for the con- 
sideration of the society shall, whether assigned for reading or 
not, be finally referred in full to the Committee on Publication. 
(5) This committee, as also the Committee on Publication, is 
prohibited from giving publicity to the names of authors of re- 
jected papers. 
Committee on Publication. 
Sec. G. (1) This committee shall consist of not less than 
three members, and the Recording Secretary, the Correspond- 
ing Secretary, and the Treasurer and Librarian, shall be mem- 
bers thereof. 
(2) It shall supervise all publications of this society, and 
shall publish an anuual volume of Transactions, which, so far 58 
as the funds of the society may permit, shall consist of the fol- 
lowing contents, viz.: 
a A disclaimer of the society’s responsibility for the opinions, 
theories, criticisms, and alleged facts contained in the pub- 
lished papers of its members. 
[“ The society, in publishing papers, does not thereby en- 
dorse their contents.”J 
b A table of contents, and an alphabetical index. 
c Regulations of this society, and the Code of Ethics. 
d A list of the officers and members of this society and of all 
affiliated societies. 
e A register or list of all practitioners of medicine in Louisi- 
ana on the preediug31st of December, arranged as directed in 
(4) Sec. 2, Art III, of the By-Laws. 
/ The minutes of the daily proceedings of the annual session, 
or a summary thereof. 
g The annual official reports, or summaries thereof. 
h All such scientific essays, reports, and original papers re- 
ferred to it by the Committee on Scientific Essays and Reports, 
as a Committee of Experts may decide should be published. 
i Advertisements admitted at the discretion of the com- 
mittee. 
It The permanent address of the society, with request to ex- 
change, to occupy a prominent place on the cover. 
(3) The Committee on Publication is authorized, at its discre 
tiou, to appoint a Committee of Experts on the subject matter 
of any scientific address, essay, report or paper ; and of these, 
it shall publish only such as a Committee of Experts—whose 
names shall not be disclosed—shall recommend for publication. 
(4) The society may order the publication of any such papers, 
provided that a two-tliirds vote by ballot be cast in its favor. 
(5j All papers which are not placed by their authors com- 
plete in the bauds of the Committee on Publication within 
thirty days after the close of the annual session, may be ex- 
cluded from the annual volume of Transactions. 
(6) No paper printed by the society shall be otherwise pub- 
lished, unless the author obtains the consent of the Committee 
on Publication. 
(7) This committee shall report annually, through the Treas- 
urer and Librarian, and shall present an estimate of expenses 
for the ensuing year. 
Judiciary Committee. 
Sec. 7. (1) This committee shall consist of not less than as 
many members as there may be Congressional Districts in this 
State. It may apportion itself in sub-committees, one lor each 
Congressional District, and the President may, at any time, 
appoint additional members on any sub committee which may 
be called upon to investigate a case of serious importance. 59 
(2) It shall take cognizance of and report upon all questions 
of an ethical or judicial character that may arise in connection 
with this society ; it shall, when desired by the society, investi- 
gate the status of any member, or of any person proposed for 
membership, and it shall consider all questions of a personal 
character, including complaints, protests and questions on cre- 
dentials. 
(3) A charge against a member of this society must be made 
in writing (and may be made and investigated while the society 
is not in session), to the President, or to the Vice-President of 
the Congressional District in which the accused member re- 
sides. This officer shall refer the charge to the Corresponding 
Secretary, who shall forthwith notify thereof the accused mem- 
ber, and the members of the Judiciary Committee. This com- 
mittee, or with the President’s approval a sub-committee 
thereof, shall then proceed, after due notice to the accused 
member, to investigate the charge; shall keep an accurate 
written record of the facts and evidence in the case; and shall 
prepare a written summary of the chief facts—agreed to by 
both parties—and of those in dispute with the evidence pro 
and con thereon, adding thereto the recommendation of each 
member of the committee or of the sub-committee, which re- 
commendation shall be to dismiss the charge against, to ex- 
onerate, to fine, to censure, to suspend, or to expel the accused 
member. All the proceedings of a sub-committee shall be 
referred to the Judiciary Committee for its action thereon, 
and this committee shall refer all the proceedings to this so- 
ciety for final action at the auuual session. A vote of two- 
thirds (by ballot or by yeas and nays) of all members present 
shall be required to expel a member; and the vote of a majority 
by recorded yeas and nays shall effect the decision, if expul- 
sion be not the question for decision. 
(4) Three members of this committee, or of a sub committee 
thereof, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. 
(5) If, after due notification, an accused member fail to ap- 
pear at the time and place of trial, he shall, unless satisfactory 
excuse be rendered at the time, be considered as admitting the 
truth of the charges against him, and shall be liable to sen- 
tence accordingly. 
(6) Any member convicted of crime by a court of law may 
be sentenced, without trial, by this society. 
ARTICLE V. 
Armual Orator. 
Section 1. The Animal Orator may be chosen from any one 
of the live classes of members. 60 
Delegates from the Society. 
ARTICLE VI. 
Section 1. Any Delegate from this society shall, if unable 
to discharge the duty, give the President prompt notice there- 
of, and otherwise aid the President to appoint a substitute. 
Funds and Appropriations. 
ARTICLE VII. 
Section 1. The annual assessment on each permanent mem- 
ber, shall be, until otherwise ordered by a two-thirds vote at 
an annual session, five ($5) dollars; and on each member of an 
affiliated society one ($1) dollar, provided that the sum due 
for each delegate to which an affiliated society or institution is 
entitled shall not be less than five ($5) dollars. See section 4, 
Article II, By-Laws. 
Sec. 2. Funds may be disbursed by the Treasurer, upon a 
requisition signed by a member and approved by the President 
or by a Vice-President duly authorized, for the necessary ex- 
penses (1) of the meetings; (2) of officers and committees ; (3) 
of publication. Funds shall not be disbursed for other pur- 
poses unless ordered by a vote of the Society. 
ARTICLE VIII. 
Affiliated Societies. 
Section 1. Three physicians shall suffice to organize an affil- 
iated society, provided that all qualified physicians (see Art. II, 
sec. 1, Const.) residents of the same parish, or of the same 
neighborhood, shall have been invited to unite in said organ- 
ization. 
Sec. 2. A medical society seeking affiliation with this so- 
ciety must submit to the Vice-President of the congressional 
district in which it is located for reference to the President, or 
if there be no such Vice-President, then directly to the Presi- 
dent of this society, two copies of its regulations with a list of 
its officers and members; and when one of these copies is 
returned approved by the President and Corresponding Secre- 
tary of this society, thereupon the aforesaid society shall be 
affiliated to the Louisiana State Medical Society, and entitled 
to delegates, to the Transactions, and all other privileges, so 
long as said affiliated society conforms to the regulations of 
this society. 
Sec. 3 An affiliated society, failing for two successive 
years to pay the fees due this society, shall after due official 
notification be denied all the privileges of this society until 
said fees have been paid. 61 
Sec. 4. Every affiliated society shall meet at least once 
annually, and whenever notified by the President of this so- 
ciety, or by the Vice-President of its congressional district. 
Every affiliated society is recommended to hold an annual 
meeting in January to choose delegates to, and otherwise aid 
this society ; atid to appoint one standing committee on State 
Medicine and Legislation, and one on the efficient organization 
of the medical profession. 
Sec. 5. Every affiliated society shall rep >rt annually in 
January to the Vice-President of its district (or if there be no 
such officer then directly to the President ot this society), the 
following facts as they existed on the preceding last day of 
December, viz: 1st, any changes in its regulations, its general 
condition, the names alphabetically arranged, of its officers and 
members, their postoffice addresses, institution, where and 
year when graduated, and cessation and refusal of member- 
ship during the year with the causes thereof; and 2d, a regis- 
ter of all practitioners of medicine of the parish or of the politi- 
cal sub-division in which said affiliated society is located, in 
accordance with the directions in (4) sec. 2, Art. Ill, of these 
By-Laws. These reports shall be forwarded by Vice-Presi- 
dents to the President, and by him to the Corresponding Sec- 
retary. 
Sec. 6. Every affiliated society shall forward to the Record- 
ing Secretary (for reference to the Committee on Scientific 
Essays and Reports), thirty days before the Annual Session, 
any such original papers as it may deem worthy of the consid- 
eration of this society, and of publication in its annual Trans- 
actions, and shall also forward to the Recording Secretary, 
prior to the annual session, a list of its Delegates to this so- 
ciety. 
Sec. 7. Affiliated societies, through their Delegates, or 
otherwise, shall have the privilege of nominating the Vice- 
President of this society for the Congressional District in 
which said affiliated societies are located. 
N. B.—Recommend Constitution for Parish Societies, and 
form for Annual Reports. 
ARTICLE IX. 
Meetings. 
Section 1. The annual session shall begin on the 
, and shall continue from day to day, 
until all of its business be transacted. During the session 
there shall be two meetings daily, one at 11 A. M., and one at 
74 P. M. 
Order of Business. 
Sec. 2. The Older of Business shall at all times be subject 
to the vote of two-thirds of all the voting members present • 62 
and until permanently altered, except when for a time sus- 
pended, it shall be as follows : 
(1) Call to order. 
(2) Announcement of the members in attendance by the Re- 
cording Secretary. 
(3) Reading and correction of the daily minutes. 
(4) Reading the notes of absentees, provided these contain 
any facts of importance. 
(5) Election and registration of new members. 
(6) Report of the Committee of Arrangements. 
(7) Any business, requiring early attention, may, by permis- 
sion, be introduced. 
(8) Address of the President, and the annual oration at the 
time and place recommended by the Committee of Arrange- 
ments. 
(9) Reading and consideration of, with action on, the reports 
of officers; of Standing and of Special Committees] of Affiliated 
Societies, and of delegates from this society. 
(10) Election of officers, delegates, etc., and selection of the 
next, place of meeting. 
(11) Appointment of the chairmen of committees. 
(12) Reading and consideration of scientific essays, reports 
and original papers. 
(13) Unfinished business. 
(14) New business. 
(15) Announcement of committees. 
(16) Reading rough minutes of the session about to close. 
(17) Adjournment. 
Rules. 
Sec. 3. (I) The reading of no report, original paper, etc., 
shall, in its delivery, exceed thirty minutes, unless by special 
permission of the society ; provided tliat summaries of, and ab- 
stracts from such manuscripts as would exceed thirty minutes 
in the reading, may be read, and that such manuscripts shall 
be referred in whole to the Committee on Publication. The 
opportunity for debate shall be furnished immediately alter the 
reading of every paper, but the time for debate shall be limited 
to thirty minutes, unless extended by vote of the society. 
(2) No member shall be permitted to address the society un- 
til his name and residence have been distinctly announced, and 
any such member may be required to speak from the stand. 
No speaker in the debate of any one subject, shall, unless by 
permission of the society, exceed ten minute*, nor speak more 
than once, until every member choosing to speak shall have 
spoken, nor shall he speak more than twice without the per- 
mission of the society. 
(3) A member shall not interrupt another while speaking, 
unless to call him to order or to correct a mistake j aud such 63 
interruption shall not be considered as speaking in debate, to 
the violation of the above rule (2). 
(4) A vote shall not be reconsidered at the same meeting by 
a smaller number than was present at its passing. 
(5) When a question is before the society no other motion 
shall be received ; except, (a) to adjourn, (b) to lay on the table, 
(c) to postpone indefinitely, (d) the previous question, (e) to 
postpone to a definite time, (f) to commit, (g) to amend, or (h) 
the main question ; which several motions shall have prece- 
dence in the order they are arranged. A motion to adjourn, to 
lay on the table, and to postpone indefinitely are not debatable. 
(0) When the previous question is demanded, it shall take 
five members to second it; and when the main question is put, 
under the force of the previous question, and negatived, the 
question shall remain under consideration the same as if the 
previous question had not been enforced. 
(7) When a report is read, it is thereby received ; and when 
received, it may at any time be considered, and in whole or in 
part, may by vote of the society be accepted, and it is thereby 
adopted. 64 
REGULATIONS 
OF TUB 
PARISH MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
CONSTITUTION. 
PREAMBLE, TITLE AND OBJECT. 
The Parish Medical Society, organized 
shall have for its objects : 
(1) The union in this society of all the reputable members of 
the regular medical profession, residing in this parish, and co- 
operation with the medical profession throughout the State in 
sustaining the Louisiana State Medical Society. 
(2) The advancement of State Medicine—i. e., of Public 
Hygiene (or Preventive Medicine), of Medical Education, of 
Medical Jurisprudence, aud of Public Institutions for the sick 
and the infirm ; 
(3) The cultivation of medical knowledge, and particularly 
of such parts thereof as may be of special importance to this 
parish aud State; 
(4) The elevation of professional character and attainments, 
and the promotion of the welfare in all matters relating to 
medical science of the profession aud of the public. 
ARTICLE i. 
Mode of Government. 
Section 1. This society shall be governeed by such Regula- 
tions as may be specified in its Constitution, By-Laws and 
Ordinances (or ltesoiutious ;) and, as to matters not so specified, 
it adopts the Common Parliamentary Law and the Code of 
Ethics of the American Medical Association. 
Sec. 2. Any suspension or alteration of the Constitution 
shall require a unanimous vote unless proposed in writing at a 
preceding regular meeting, in which case a vote of two-thirds 
of the voting members present shall be required; provided 
that an amendment germaiu to the subject shall be in order, 
and may be adopted, though not submitted, at a previous 
meeting. The By-Laws may be suspended or altered by a 
vote of two-thirds, aud the Ordinances by a majority at any 
regular meeting. 65 
ARTICLE II. 
Members. 
Section 1. (Qualifications.) Every physician to be a mem- 
ber of this society, must be (1) a graduate a of reputable medi- 
cal college, (2) socially aud professionally iu good repute, (3) 
obedient to the Code of Ethics, aud (4) a subscriber to the 
Regulations of this society. 
Sec. 2. Men of worth aud culture, occupied in pursuits cal- 
culated to directly promote the objects of this society, maj, 
though not graduates in medicine, be elected members. 
Sec. 3. There may be two classes of members, (1) Regular 
Members, and (2) Honorary Members. Honorary Members 
shall not be assessed, shall not have the right to vote, aud 
shall require, for election, the ballots of three-fourths of the 
members present at a regular meeting, succeeding a regular 
meeting at which they have been proposed for Honorary 
Membership. 
ARTICLE III. 
Officers. 
Section 1. The Officers of this society shall be, oue Presi- 
dent ; Vice-Presidents, oue Recording Secretary who 
shall also be Treasurer, and one Corresponding Secretary who 
shall also be Librarian. 
Sec. 2. Only physicians, who are regular members, shall be 
elected officers. 
Sec. 3. The President and Vice-Presidents shall serve for 
the term of one year, and the Secretaries for three years, said 
term to expire at the annual meeting ; but in no case shall an 
officer vacate his place until his successor has been chosen. 
ARTICLE IV. 
C o m mittee s. 
Section 1. Standing Committees shall be appointed on (1) 
The Eflicient Organization of this society; (2) Judiciary; (3) 
State Medicine and Legislation ; (4) Scientific Essays, Reports 
and Discussions j (5) Publicatiou. 
Sec. 2. Special Committees, and additional Standing Com 
mittees may be appointed at the discretion of the society. 
Sec. 3. The chaiiman of any committee shall be appointed 
by the President, and the remaining members by the Presi- 
dent, with the consent of the chairman, or of the society ; ex- 
cept, as to the Committee on Efficient Organization, which 
shall be composed of the President, the Vice-Presidents, aud 
the Corresponding Secretary ; and as to the Judiciary Com- 
mittee, the members of which may be increased at the discre- 
tion of the society, by the election of additional members. 66 
ARTICLE V. 
Annual Orator. 
Section 1. The society shall elect annually an orator, whose 
duty it shall be to deliver a public address designed to interest, 
in the objects of this society, a nou-professioually audiouce. 
ARTICLE VI. 
Delegates. 
Section 1. Delegates to the Louisiana State Medical So- 
ciety, to the American Medical Association, and to such 
other scientific bodies, as this society may deem advisable that 
it should be represented in, shall be elected annually, or in 
default thereof, be appointed by the President. 
ARTICLE VII. 
Funds and Appropriations. 
Section 1. Funds shall be raised by this society for meeting 
its current expenses and awards, by an equal assessment on 
each of its regular members. 
Sec. 2. Funds may be appropriated, (1) for defraying the 
expenses of the meetings, (2) for enabling tne officers and the 
committees to fulfill their respective duties, conduct their cor- 
respondence, and procure the materials necessary for their 
records and reports, (3) for the payment of such equal assess- 
ments as may be imposed on affiliated societies by the State 
Medical Society for its support, (4) for publishing the pro- 
ceedings and transactions of this society, (5) for establishing a 
library, and (6) for the encouragement of scientific investiga- 
tions. 
ARTICLE VIII. 
Meetings. 
Section 1. There shall be not less than one regular meeting 
monthly, oue of which shall be the annual meeting, for the 
election of officers, the presentation of annual reports, the an- 
nual oration, and for such other proceedings as may be directed. 
Sec. 2. The President shall call a special meeting whenever 
he may deem proper. 
Sec. 3. The society shall adopt an u Order of Business” and 
such other u Rules” as it may deem necessary to conduct pro- 
perly the proceedings of the meetings. 67 
BY-LAWS. 
ARTICLE I. 
Mode of Government. 
Section 1. (Quorum.) regular members shall constitute 
a quorum. 
Sec. 2. (Mode of Voting.) Regular members and officers 
shall be elected by the ballots of a majority of the regular 
members present. The mode of voting in all other cases, ex- 
cept when otherwise specified in the Constitution, or when 
otherwise determined by the society, shall be by viva voce vote 
of a majority ; provided, that one-third of the regular members 
present shall have the right to demand the record of the yeas 
and nays. 
ARTICLE II. 
Members. 
Section 1. Every member must, before taking part in the 
proceedings, sign the regulations of this society, inscribing his 
name and address in full, and the title of the institution by 
which, with the year when, graduated ; and must pay all sums 
due by him to the society. 
Sec. 2. No person shall be elected a member of this society 
at the same meeting when his name may be proposed, or un- 
less recommended by two members as possessing fully the 
qualifications for membership. In any case, at the request of 
two members present, such proposal for membership shall be 
submitted to the Judiciary Committee for report at the follow- 
ing meeting. 
Sec. 3. Any member may resign, provided that he has paid 
all dues, aud that there be no charges against him. Any mem- 
ber neglecting two official notifications to pay his dues, shall 
forfeit membership aud shall not be re-elected until said dues 
shall have been paid. 
Sec. 4. No member present shall be excused from voting, 
except by a majority of those present. 
Sec. 5. No member shall be required to read his own address, 
report, essay, or other paper; provided that a member, well 
known to be a good reader, be ready to act as his substitute. 
Sec. C. Medical men or men learned in the collateral 
brauches of science, on a visit to Parish, may be per- 
permitted to attend meetings on being introduced by a member 
of this society. 68 
ARTICLE III—OFFICERS, DUTIES OF— 
President. 
Section 1. The President shall (a) preside, with the assist- 
ance of the Vice Presidents, at all meetings; (b) appoint all 
committees, as provided in Section 3, Article 10, of the Consti 
tutiou ; (c) fill ad interim all vacancies that may occur (d) call 
special meetings; (e) inspect the records and archives of the 
society and report any inaccuracies and delinquencies in refer- 
ence thereto; (f) approve or disapprove all requisitions on the 
funds of the treasury ; (g) give a casting vote when necessary ; 
(h) act as chairman ot the Committee on the efficient organiza- 
tion of this society; (i) report, at the close of his term of office, 
what has been accomplished to promote the objects of this 
society, recommending such measures as he may deem neces- 
sary to promote these objects more effectively : (j) and perform 
all such other duties as this society, custom and parliamentary 
usage may require. 
Vice-Presidents. 
Sec. 2. (a) Such Vice Presidentas the President or the society 
may elect shall in the absence of the President from the meet- 
ing or from the chair, discharge his duties, and if all these 
officers be absent, the society shall elect a President pro tern ; 
(b) each Vice-President is charged with the special duty of 
promoting the efficient organization of the society, and shall 
be a member of flie committee for this purpose. 
Recording Secretary and Treasurer. 
Sec. 3. (a) This officer shall keep one or more books for the 
record of (1) the regulations of this society (with any further 
chauges thereof arranged for ready reference), the names of 
members subscribed thereto (see Section 1, Article II, By- 
Laws), and a list of officers and members alphabetically ar- 
ranged ; (2) the minutes of the proceedings; (3) the receipts, 
expenses, debts, credits, and property of the society, (b) He 
shall give notice, when necessary, of meetings, of any special 
duty imposed on a member, of the fees due by each, and of 
election to membership in the society, (c) He shall collect all 
fees and other sums due, notify delinquents of the necessity 
for prompt payment, and report the names of persistent de- 
linquents to the society, (d) He shall report annually the 
financial condition of the society, recommending such measures 
as he may deem necessary. 
Corresponding Secretary and Librarian. 
SEC. 4. (a) This officer shall keep one or more books for the 
record of (1) the coirespondence of the society; (2) the cata- 69 
logue of its books and scientific property, and (3) the alpha- 
betical registration of all practitioners of medicine in 
Parish, on December 31st, of every year. The alphabetical 
list shall, as far as practicable, record the names, residence, in- 
stitution by which, and year when graduated, of every prac- 
titioner in Parish, dividing these into three classes, 
viz.: Practitioners of unquestionable good standing; practi- 
tioners of unknown or doubtful repute, designating which; 
and irregular practitioners, designating whether homoeopaths, 
eclectics, Thompsonians, etc. 
(b) He shall be a member of the Committee on the Efficient 
Organization of this society. 
(c) Pie shall present an annual report, which shall contain, 
among othtr tilings, a list of deaths, removals and arrivals 
(for permanent residence) of practitioners in Parish 
during the year, closing with the last day of the year. 
ARTICLE IV. 
COMMITTEES—DUTIES, ETC. 
Standing Committee on the Efficient Organization of this Society. 
Section 1. This committee composed of the President (as 
chaiman,) of the Vice-Presidents, and of the Corresponding 
Secretary, shall devise and recommend measures to promote 
the efficiency of this society ; ami shall report annually all 
measures necessary to be adopted, in order to support the 
State Medical Society, and to maintain affiliation therewith. 
Judiciary Committee. 
Sec. 2. (a) This committee shall consist of not less than .... 
members. 
(b) It shall take cognizance of, and report upon, questions 
ot an ethical or judicial character that may arise in connection 
vith this society ; shall investigate the status, if questionable, 
of any member, or of any person proposed for membership, 
and shall consider all questions of a personal character, such 
as complaints, protests, etc. 
(c.) A charge against a member of this society, must be 
made in writing to the President, who shall report the charge 
to the society, as also to the accused member, and refer it to 
the Judiciary Committee—the members of which may be in- 
creased at the discretion of llie society. The Judiciary Com- 
mittee shall, after due notice to the accused member, investi 
gate the charge ; shall keep an accurate written record of the 
facts and evidence in the case; shall prepare a summary of 
the chief facts agreed to by both parties, and of those in dis- 
pute with the evidence pro and con thereon, adding thereto 
the recommendation of each member of the committee; which 70 
reccommendation shall be to dismiss the charge, to exonorate, 
to fine, to reprimand, to suspend, or to expel the accused 
member. All the proceedings of the committee shall be re- 
ferred to the society for final action thereon, at a meeting to 
which all the members have been summoned, with notice of 
the special business to be disposed of. A vote of two-thirds 
by ballot, of all members present, shall be required to expel 
a member; a majority,* by recorded yeas and nays, shall effect 
the decision of any issue involved, other than expulsion. 
(d.) If, after due notification, an accused member fail to 
appear at the time and place of trial, he shall, unless satis- 
tory excuse be rendered at the time, be consulered as admit- 
ting the truth of the charges against him, and shall be liable 
to sentence accordingly. 
Committee on State Medicine and Legislation. 
Sec. 3. (a) This committee shall consist of not less than 
members, and shall, from time to time, report to the so- 
ciety upon the condition, needs and prospects in 
parish of each one of the four branches of State Medicine. 
(b) It shall recommend the enactment, repeal, or modi- 
fication of such State laws aud parish ordinances, relating to 
medical interests as it may deem advisable, presenting these 
recommendations iu the form aud words, which it is proposed 
shall be enacted. 
Committee on Scientific Essays, Reports, Discussions. 
Sec. 4. (a) This committee shall consist of not less than 
members, (b) It shall make provision for and have 
general supervision over the scientific proceedings of the meet- 
ings ; select a list of essayists, and reporters, aud of subjects 
for discussion, to the end that each meeting of the society may 
be made instructive and attractive to the members, (c.) It 
shall particularly encourage the consideration of all medical 
subjects of special importance to the parish, and to this State. 
Committee on Publication. 
Sec. 5. This committee shall consist of not less than 
members, and the Chairman of the Committee on Scientific 
Essays, etc., the .Recording Secretary and Treasurer, and the 
Corresponding Secjetary aud Librarian shall be members of 
said committee, with the Recording Secretary and Treasurer, 
as Chairman thereof. It shall discharge the duties usually 
assigned such a committee; and in the discharge of these 
duties it shall require that there shall be attached to the pub- 
lished reports aud origiual papers belonging to this society the 
following: “ The Parish Medical Society, although pub- 
lishing or recommending for publication the reports of com- 71 
mittees, original papers of its members, etc., holds itself irre- 
sponsible for the opinions, theories, and criticsms therein con- 
taired, except when otherwise decided by special resolution.” 
It may refer to to the Louisiana State Medical Society any 
specially meritorious report, essay, or paper. 
ARTICLE V. 
Annual Orator. 
Section 1. An orator shall be elected at a regular meet- 
ing to deliver an address at the succeeding annual meeting. 
He need not be a member of this society. 
ARTICLE VI. 
Delegates. 
Section 1. The Committee on Organization shall recom- 
mend to the society at appropriate times members for election 
-or appointment as delegates ; notifying the society of the num- 
ber, which this society is entitled to, of delegates to the State 
Medical Society, and to the American Medical Associaton. 
ARTICLE VII. 
Funds and A})propriations. 
Section 1. The annual fee due by each regular member 
shall be, until otherwise ordered by the society, 
Sec. 2. Funds may be disbursed by the Treasurer for the 
payment of (1) the necessary expenses of the meetings; (2) the 
necessary expenses of officers and committees; and (3) the 
assessment of the State Medical Society—upon a requisition 
signed by a member and approved by the President. Funds 
shall not be disbursed for other purposes unless approved by 
vote of the society. 
ARTICLE VIII. 
Section 1. The regular meetings shall be held, until other- 
wise ordered by a majority of the society, in 
, ou the 
The annual meeting 
shall be the regular meeting in the month of 
Meetings. 
Order of Business. 
Sec. 2. The order of business shall at all times'be subject to 
the vote of two-thirds of all the members present; and until 
permanently altered, except when for a time suspended, it 
shall be as follows: 72 
(1) Call to order; (2) reading and consideration of the min- 
utes; (3) reading of communications; (4) proposals for mem- 
bership; (5) report of officers and of committees and action 
thereon; (6) election of members; (7) unfinished business; 
(8) new business; (9) reading of original papers and discus- 
sion thereof; (10) debate on a subject selected by the Com- 
mittee on Scientific Essays, etc., and announced at a previous 
meeting, to be opened by a member appointed by the Presi- 
dent; (11) relation of cases and of medical news; (12) ar- 
rangement and announcement of scientific work for the follow- 
ing meeting; (13) adjournment. 
Rules. 
Sec. 3. (1) The reading of no report, essay, or original paper 
shall in its delivery exceed thirty minutes, unless by special 
permission of the society, and no speaker shall, in debate on 
any one subject, exceed ten minutes, nor speak more than 
once, until every member, choosing to speak, shall have 
spoken—nor shall he speak more than twice without leave of 
the society. 
(2) A member shall not interrupt another, while speaking, 
unless to call him to order or to correct a mistake, and inter- 
ruptions for these purposes shall not be considered as speaking 
in debate. 
(3) A vote shall not be reconsidered at the same meeting by 
a smaller number than was present at its passing. 
(4) When a report is read it is thereby received ; and when 
received it may at any time be considered, and in whole or in 
part may, by vote of the society, be accepted, and thereby is 
adopted.