ignorant persons will not avail themselves of laws, under which their children might be vaccinated at the public cost.

The undoubted testimony of the whole medical profession proves that vaccination, in almost all cases, prevents small-pox, and in all cases mitigates the evil. But that testimony further proves that if vaccination were universal, small-pox would wholly disappear; and that is the reason why vaccination is now compulsory.

The sciences and arts cannot be carried forward except in a country where the laws of God are respected, where justice is upheld, where intellect generally is diffused.

With this retrospect of science and medicine, I may safely congratulate you, as members of the medical profession, upon the rapid progress of all the sciences relating to medicine and surgery. Chemistry, both inorganic and organic, and its effects upon digestion, assimilation, production of animal heat, motion of the juices of the human body, and all its relations and phenomena in physiology, are daily becoming better understood, and is now an indispensable power in the hands of the student of the laws of nature or of medicine; and with it he wields an influence and controls disease.

In the study of anatomy and pathology, the microscope and micro-photography, with their gigantic powers, have reduced every liquid and tissue of the human body, both natural and morbid, into their constituent parts; so that they are not only named and described, but by the mightier powers of the photo-microscope, their elements are accurately and indelibly displayed on paper, and are as distinguishable from each other as the birds of the air, fishes of the sea, or herbs of the field. By the aid of these instruments, assisted by electrical lights, pathology, in our hands, becomes a readable and demonstrated science, and furnishes for all who will use it, a

sure foundation for diagnosis, prognosis and the treatment of disease.

So far as relates to surgery, no one can question its rapid progress. The late war furnished abundance of opportunities. for the physician, the younger members in particular, to become well acquainted with almost every variety of gun-shot wounds, and quite familiar with the most approved operations and dressings, as well as the most successful and comfortable mechanical appliances.

The result of the labor of the army surgeons, most of whom were taken from the ranks of our young men, regular graduates and practitioners, will be a treasure and a stimulus to future generations of medical students; and demonstrates beyond a question that the attainments of medical men of the day were equal to all emergencies, equaling all demands, either in the field or in the hospital. By their superior skill and industry, the Army Medical Museum at Washington was supplied with the most valuable specimens, and has now the most complete collection of wounds and fractures in the world.

May we not fairly and in a practical point of view conclude that notwithstanding we live in a most rapidly progressing age, medicine and surgery, with its collateral branches of science, are fully up to the times?

To return to the younger members of the profession, and our duty towards them, I will say a few words more. While all would take the greatest pleasure in seeing the medical profession attain the highest standard, and would have our medical institutions conducted so as not to be continually flooded with charlatanism, we must leave the discussion of that subject to the professors and managers of the recognised medical colleges. They have all the power; they establish the curriculum of study, and practically determine the re

quirements for the degree of Doctor of Medicine. We have only to deal with them after they graduate at a college in unity with the National Medical Association.

With such a diploma we find them, licensed by the government, State and County, to practice their profession. They may or may not have had the advantages of a classical education; but among them are men of moral worth, who have made great sacrifices, and are now beginning, in an honorable and determined way, to make for themselves a position in society among respectable and scientific men.

The best minds and the strongest characters that the world produces, are self-made and self-educated men, and the architects of their own future.

Do we not owe it to this Society, to ourselves, and to the young physician who may locate in our neighborhood, or who is already there, to take him by the hand, acknowledge his claim to a share of business, extend to him the courtesies of the profession, offer him the use of books and instruments, that he is yet unable to purchase for himself? By little attentions keep the object of his life always before him; and with daily application to the subject in all its minute features he will, sooner or later, show a perfectly developed character. The longer we live, the more sensible are we of the value of little things, and their importance to ourselves and to others. A little courtesy-a mere trifle in itself, and almost too insignificant to notice-may, at some future day, prove of the greatest importance. In a word, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Be just and fear not. Be faithful in the discharge of your duty to this Society, to yourselves, and to the young men in the medical profession, and my word for it the Medical Society of New Jersey will be an enduring monument.

REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE.

The year under our review has been characterized by much uniformity in its climatic conditions. The early months of the last summer were marked by a heavy rain-fall. During August and the most of September, there was an unusual absence of rain, causing a drought which seriously affected the crops, and dried up the springs and low lands usually covered with water. During the months of autumn, and throughout the winter, the rain-fall was abundant. The temperature of the winter months was unusually high. In January the mean temperature in East Jersey (observations at Newark) was 7° above the average of the previous 26 years. Only one year, that of 1858, presented the same features of mildness. As in January, so with the other winter months the weather was mild. No ice of any consequence was harvested within the State, nor as far north as Albany, on the Hudson. There were some falls of snow, but they were comparatively slight. The storms, which were frequent, were chiefly rain.

The popular expectation of a sickly season, as associated with an open winter, was not realized. The District Societies of the State unite in the report of a very general immunity from serious disease. Pneumonia, scarlatina, diphtheria, fevers, and rheumatism, with the minor exanthemata, have called for professional attention. To only a very limited degree have any of these proved to be severe.

Reports have been furnished to the Standing Committee from all but two of the District Societies.

A growing interest in the local Societies, and an appreciation of the benefits of association, is very apparent. Societies which formerly met only once a year to transact their routine business, now hold monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly meetings, and the spirit of scientific enquiry thereby stimulated, is manifest in the valuable papers furnished to the Committee, and which are submitted herewith. The recommendation made a few years since that the local Societies should appoint a permanent Reporter, has had a good effect where it has been adopted. The Committee urge its adoption by all the Societies, and would remind them of the by-law of this Society, adopted last year, whereby the Reporter becomes ex officio a member of this Society, with delegated powers, provided he furnishes his report to the Standing Committee, 20 days before the annual meeting of the Society.

Bergen County is reported as having been very healthy and remarkably free from the graver forms of epidemic disease. During the early spring and summer a few cases of scarlatina occurred in different parts of the county; fifteen cases in the practice of Dr. Hasbrouck, of Hackensack, very malignant and of fatal tendency, several cases being complicated with diphtheria. About the same number of cases came under the notice of Dr. Neer, of Pascack, all of which were mild. In the latter town, there were during the last three months, an unusual number of cases of pneumonia, and other forms of inflammatory pulmonary diseases, together with parotitis, in which was manifest a strong tendency to metastasis to the bowels. In one case, in a girl 12 years of age, inflammation of the ovaries and womb, rapidly extending to the peritoneum and bowels, proved fatal in a few days. In Carlstadt, during