direction of the wise and good. He practically demonstrated over and over again that by dwelling together in harmony and in brotherly love, we could accomplish far more in building up the cause than when fighting each other.

Another characteristic was his real kindliness of heart. He delighted in helping others along. He always had the outstretched hand for the relief or advancement of many in the profession, for which they will ever feel grateful.

Many, many other noble traits and good qualities have to be omitted from this tribute for lack of space and time. Those of us who have known him well have loved him, have respected him, have admired him. We have lost a true friend, we have lost a nobleman.

ACTION TAKEN BY THE CONSULTING

BOARD OF

WESTBORO INSANE HOSPITAL UPON THE

DEATH OF DR. I. T. TALBOT.

We, the members of the Consulting Board of the Westboro Insane Hospital, shocked and profoundly saddened by the sudden loss of our honored chairman, Dr. I. Tisdale Talbot, desire to express our grief and our sense of personal bereavement in the sundering of the close ties which have so long united us as men, as physicians, and as coworkers upon this Board; as well as our keen realization of the loss to this institution of his wise counsels, his ever-active interest, and his ripened experience.

We desire, also, to tender to her who labored with him for the welfare of this hospital, as in many other fields of usefulness, and to the other members of his family, our sincere and heartfelt sympathy.

HOWARD P. BELLOWS,
CHARLES L. NICHOLS,

JOHN PRENTICE RAND,

For the Board.

Boston Homœopathic Medical Society, and the Massachusetts Surgical and Gynecological Society. This meeting was presided over by Dr. Frank C. Richardson, President of the Massachusetts Homœopathic Medical Society, assisted by Dr. Windsor of the Boston Society and Dr. Briggs of the Massachusetts. Surgical and Gynecological Society. After briefly stating the reason of the meeting, Dr. Richardson called upon Dr. Conrad Wesselhoeft for remarks appropriate to the occasion. Dr. Wesselhoeft was followed by Drs. Benjamin West, Horace M. Paine, Francis H. Krebs, J. H. Sherman, Alonzo Boothby, H. C. Clapp, Adeline B. Church, Henry E. Spalding, H. L. Chase, Martha E. Mann, Sarah S. Windsor, J. Emmons Briggs, A. L. Kennedy, Emma J. Peasley, and Frank A. Davis.

In these remarks references were made to Dr. Talbot's enthusiastic devotion to homoeopathy, to his wonderful ability as an organizer, to his skill as a surgeon, to his tact as a peacemaker, to his warm-heartedness as a friend, to his indomitable will, tireless energy, and optimism.

Committees on resolutions were then appointed for the three societies, after which it was voted to make the Executive Committees of these societies a joint committee, with representatives of other institutions and societies to formulate plans for memorial services to be held some time in the future, the time, place, and program to be settled at a later date.

The funeral services were held in Trinity Church, Boston, July 5, which the Faculty attended in a body.

SOCIETIES.

REPORT OF AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHY.

The fifty-fifth annual meeting of the American Institute opened auspiciously on June 20 at Atlantic City, the meeting opening in the Casino on the steel pier at 4 P.M.

The afternoon session was occupied chiefly by the report of the Treasurer and various committees. The exercises in the evening, with President Bailey in the chair, began with an invocation by the Rev. William Aikman, D.D., of Atlantic City, after which Miss Isabella H. Rotholz sang a solo from Meyerbeer's "Robert Le Diable."

Mayor Thompson made a graceful speech extending a hearty welcome to the visitors, and a second address of welcome was delivered by Dr. Alfred W. Bailey, chairman of the local committee. Both created a good impression.

The principal address of the evening was that of the President. It was listened to throughout with deep interest, and when he concluded the speaker was greeted with hearty applause.

The recommendations made by the President for the good of the Homœopathy were as follows: "I recommend the appointment of a committee by the American Institute of Homœopathy and the placing of a reasonable amount of money at their disposal to make a beginning in the work which we have reviewed by carrying on, during the coming year, the reproving of a certain number of our old remedies, the same to be done with a view to studying by the microscope and by the chemical laboratory. In order that this may be done accurately, I recommend that there be enlisted. in the work the most careful observers, and that the provings be carried on through the use of subjects selected on account of their special fitness, kept under proper surveillance and paid for their use. In this way, and this only, can we improve our materia medica.

Believing that our work should be more definitely outlined, that we should thresh less old straw and seek more to improve, becoming better conquerors of disease, it seems to me that it would be wise if the American Institute of Homoopathy would determine something of the work that it desires. its sections to do, outlining for them certain lines of investigation which they desire them to make during the year, that we may hear their reports and learn something truly new as the result of original investigation, when we meet in annual

sessions. That this may be carefully considered, so that we may become an advancing body as well as the strongest upholder of the old faith, is my recommendation.

"It should be the duty of the American Institute to gather together and publish each year the statistics of our results in all public institutions as compared with the results in like institutions of the old school. This should be done in absolute fairness, and no record should be used which could not be taken from those records which may ever be opened to the public, which are in themselves abundant proof and which cannot be gainsaid. It is at the present time almost impossible for the individual practitioner to secure conclusive statistics in regard to the different public institutions of the country without the expenditure of more time and money than is at his command when the smoke of battle is in the air. I am aware that the chairman of our statistical committee has done remarkable and efficient work. I am aware that the best of work was done in compiling the vital statistics of several cities by Dr. Strickler, of Denver; but the latter was not carried over years enough, for it should have been perpetual, and the former is not comparative in its nature. Let the American Institute take this work in hand, and place at the disposal of its members comparative statistics which are absolutely reliable, which can always be corroborated and never proven false, and regardless of political affili ations or of prejudiced officials, we can demand and receive recognition in our proportionate share of the public institutions of the country. This, if we are refused by the officials the expenditure, if necessary, of a small amount of money, will enable us to cause vigorous agitation and to so place these matters of record before the public that they will demand, and officials must accede; and if we are driven to this necessity the very agitation and publicity which we are forced to give to the honest records of our school, together with the positive statement which I hope we may be able to make, that the American Institute, our national organization, the oldest in the United States, is the only one which is making original and well-defined research, will give to the

people such a new regard and appreciation of the value of our work that it can but redound to the benefit of every individual practitioner of our school.

"Further than this, we must as good citizens, to a certain extent at least, sacrifice self and become politicians and see to it that men who are unjustly inimical to our school are not elected to positions of trust which they may abuse. It is not that we wish to detract from the old school; it is not that we malign them; it is not that we lack a friendly interest in their work; but self-preservation becomes our duty, and the memory that the honest convictions of experience lead us to believe that we bear in our hands a God-given message to mankind, which it is our dearest duty to bear as good tidings to the world. It is not merely for self-aggrandizement, nor merely for personal preferment and profit, but a sacred trust. At the same time that we extend this help to our brethren in the United States it is our duty to remember those who are fighting for recognition and a foothold in our neighboring countries and in the newly acquired possessions of our own country. Only great men and true, who have within their hearts the divine ideals, can go forth and by self-denial and long struggles fight for the establishment of a truth amid persecution and malignment. To them we should give our help. We have fought the good fight, we have won the battle, and to-day homoeopathy is the strongest in our country of any country in the world. During the last year our own country has acquired new possessions, not as conquerors, but as protectors of the oppressed; and it is the destiny of the English-speaking people to reach out and make the lives of those about us better for our presence and our national fraternity. In no one thing can greater work be done for a betterment of conditions than in the promulgation of the doctrines of our school in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. In order that this may be done, and that we may fulfil our entire duty, I would recommend that due consideration be given this subject, bearing in mind that for the present, at least, this subject is closely interwoven with that of our recognition in the army, navy, and marine corps of the United