My desire and aim have been to utter nothing but the truth. I have no love for error in any form or in any field of knowledge.Hiram Christopher

The Medical Herald.

Discussion of Current Topics invited in this department.
for the views expressed by correspondents.]

The Editors assume no responsibility

THE PORTLAND

MEETING OF THE AMERICAN MEDI-
CAL ASSOCIATION.

Portland, Oregon has placed herself in the list of cities of the firstclass. She has given additional evidence of that enterprise and indomitable push characteristic of the thrifty cities of the Western coast. The good people of the Far East looked askance when told that Portland, a city of less than 150,000 population, would promote an International Exposition, and entertain the American Medical Association at the same time; think of it! Over two thousand miles from the center of population, and more than three thousand miles from New York, and yet a registration of 1714! However, every one of this number will bear testimony to the fact that never before has the Association been entertained so lavishly, nor has it been so comfortably quartered, excepting of course, in Atlantic City. The hotels and boarding houses, augmented by the opening of hundreds of private rooms, afforded accommodation for all. Hotel Portland, beautiful in its appointments, and nearly perfect in service, was the headquarters, while the New Eaton, the American Inn and the New Oregon sheltered many who enjoyed their quiet elegance and seclusion. Portland has a number of good cafes and grill rooms, where excellent meals were served at reasonable rates.

The Arrangement Committee and its many auxillary sections certainly deserve full measure of praise for the perfect performance of its manifold and irksome duties. Dr. K. A. J. Mackenzie, general chairman, Dr. Henry Waldo Coe, president of the Portland Medical Society, and chairman of the Finance Committee, their charming wives, and many others, were untiring in their efforts to please the visitors, and the spontaneous welcome received from every hand will always be prominent in our fond recollections of Portland.

We heard but one discordant note, and it should be recorded for the benefit and protection of the next committee of arrangements. It seems

that the hotel and rooms committee placed its arrangements in the hands of Mr. Bowers of the Portland, and in place of inviting co-operation on the part of all other hotel managers, he engaged in advance all the private rooms within a radius of ten blocks and placed his overflow in them, charging from $2.00 to $3 00 per day (European), the same rate charged those who roomed in the hotel proper. Many who engaged rooms, presuming them to be in the Portland, or in the "Annex" found themselves domiciled many blocks from the center, and paying hotel rates, but with none of the comforts of hotel service. Many of these people could have found good rooms in other quarters at from 50 cents to one dollar per day for the same service. This element of "graft" was a disgrace and should never have been permitted to mar an otherwise enjoyable meeting. The rooms in private houses engaged by Mr. Bowers, at a rental of 50 or 75 cents per day were sub-leased by him for $2.00 to $3.00 per day, while good rooms were obtainable in first-class hotels, but a short distance from the Portland, at a rate of $1.50 per day. We hope this last experience may be a warning to committees in the future. Not since the association met in Denver have we had occasion to criticize hotel managements, on the score of "grafting."

THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

As time goes on the wisdom of reorganization is more clearly shown and the work of the House of Delegates becomes more and more important. It was evidenced this year by the smoothness with which its business was transacted and the facility with which the large number of important measures were handled. The importance of re-electing delegates for second terms is most apparent. A man becoming familiar with the business and with the members of the house is able to render better service the second term than during the first. Re-elect your delegates!

Several important measures were acted upon which will prove to be of benefit. The placing of all arrangements for future meetings in the hands of the Board of Trustees with power to appoint a local committee, which shall remain under control of the Board, is a wise move. Steps were taken for the publication of a medical directory giving all the licensed practitioners of the United States, and designating therein those who are members of their county and state associations. The movement inaugurated for the suppression of the nostrum evil has taken definite form and will no doubt work out to the advantage of honest pharmacy and scientific medicine. The Council on Medical Education will, through the appointment of a salaried secretary, be enabled to carry forward its work with renewed energy and satisfaction.

Among the amendments to the by-laws, one providing for the oral nomination of all officers excepting the treasurer, thus doing away with the nominating committee, is one of the most important.

Another amendment enacted was the provision changing the meetingplace if necessary, and placing the power in the hands of the Board of Trustees.

*One of these private rooms was visited by the writer, and found to be a narrow second-floor hallway, separated from the passage by a curtain and containing a small bed, washstand and one window! The rate charged for this "room" by the " Bureau" was $5 per pay, without meals! When we asked the landlady the rate on this "room" she refused to state and referred us to the "Bureau' of information in the Portland Hotel.

The report of the trustees showed assets of $213,467.00; the amount earned for advertising during 1901 being nearly $100,000, which suggests to us that it is not necessary for the Journal to longer carry advertising. A great reduction in the cost of publishing, and a Journal much. more satisfactory to the members could be produced by eliminating the advertising pages. We hope to see this matter agitated at the next meeting.

THE GENERAL SESSIONS.

The addresses of welcome delivered at the opening session by the Hon. M. C. George and Dr. Harry Lane, Mayor of Portland, breathed the sentiment of hearty welcome which pervaded the Oregonian atmosphere. Addresses also were made by Dr. George F. Wilson, president of the Oregon State Medical Society, and Dr. Henry W. Coe, president of the County Medical Society. President McMurtry's address on the "American Medical Association, Its Origin, Progress and Purposes" was a carefully prepared history, showing the steady growth of this society and its great possibilities for the future. In closing Dr. McMurtry said "the possibilities of the work before us are almost beyond calculation. In acting as the representative and agent of 120,000 physicians of the United States, the association is assuming great responsibility, which will increase from year to year. It will require administrative and executive ability of the highest order to meet these demands, but there is both prophecy and proof in the work already accomplished that men will appear as needed to discharge the supreme duties of a great profession in behalf of science and humanity."

Able addresses were delivered by Drs. Chas. G. Stockton, of Buffalo, on Medicine, Dr. J. Collis Warren, of Boston, on Surgery, and Dr. Geo. Bloomer, San Francisco, on State Medicine. Dr. Henry O. Marcy, of Boston, followed with a Memorial Address on Dr. Nathan Smith Davis, in which he paid a glowing tribute to the memory of the nestor of the American Medical Association.

The work in all the sections was most creditable, but the space at our command will not permit us to individualize. The usual number of auxillary society meetings were held, the principal ones being the American Urological Association, the Society for the Study and Cure of Inebriety, and the Association of American Medical Editors. Dr. Henry Waldo Coe was elected president of the latter society.

ENTERTAINMENT.

As stated before, the quantity and quality of the entertainment provided by the Portland profession has never been equaled at any previous meeting. It is true that the attendance at several of the functions was too large for comfort, but we are of the opinion that the too generous sprinkling of outsiders was responsible in a large measure for this unpleasant feature. However, every one was in a good humor and enjoyed the boundless hospitality provided by the committee. On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings a delightful trolley ride to Portland Heights, where a magnificent view of the city and surrounding mountains was obtained, especially by those who ascended the tower. On Tuesday evening a fete was given at the American Inn, located on the Lake at the Exposition

Grounds. Here a general reception was held, followed by dinner, dancing, launch riding on the lake, closing by a special performance of Kiralfy's Carnival of Venice on the "Trail." The picturesque fair grounds were beautifully illuminated and an exhibition of fireworks lent splendor to the occasion.

On Wednesday evening receptions were tendered by Mrs. R. B. Wilson, Mrs. K. A. J. Mackenzie, and Mrs. Wm. Jones at their residences, and a reception was given to President McMurtry at the Oregon building on the fair grounds by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Waldo Coe. At each of these charming places handsome women and sweet maidens fair, surrounded on every side by luxuriant and beautiful roses, made lovely pictures which will long be retained by the memory of those who as guests shared the glory of the occasion.

On Thursday evening a reception and musical was given at the “Oaks," a beautiful park in the suburbs reached by trolley line.

On Friday morning the crowning event took place. Four of the largest river boats were chartered and left the dock at 9 o'clock carrying upwards of 2,000 enthusiastic excursionists, proceeded majestically up the Williamette (accent on the "am" if you would be in favor) and Columbia rivers. At noon anchors were cast at Bonneyville where an enjoyable al fresco luncheon was served.

The return trip was most enjoyable, on account of the most beautiful view afforded of the snow capped mountains, including the peaks of St. Helens and the sublime Mt. Hood.

"See once Columbia's scenes; then roam no more;
No more remains on earth for mortal eyes."

THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPOSITION

attracted the attention of the majority of the visitors, many of whom remained over after adjournment of the meeting to take in the "Fair. While the Expostion does not compare in size with the World's Fair at St. Louis, it is the most beautiful of all in its location and setting, situated in a rose garden, on a natural body of water, and surrounded by a range of snow-capped mountains, the picture is one which will never be effaced. The government has a fine building and an excellent dis. play, while the foreign exhibits are very creditable. Missouri has an artistic building, centrally located and in which the various products of this imperial state are displayed to good advantage. Mr. E. E. E. McJimsey, of St. Joseph, one of Missouri's Commissioners, is keeping "open house and entertaining all who visit him in a style becoming to the traditions of this great State.

Anyone who is interested in the life of Abraham Lincoln may find much to engage his attention in the Illinois building which is an exact reproduction of the Lincoln homestead at Springfield, Ill., the only home. ever owned by the martyred President. In the front parlor the visitor is shown just where Lincoln stood on that day in the fall of 1860 when he was notified that he had been elected President of the United States.

During our visit to the Fair we also had the pleasure of meeting Joaquin Miller, the poet of the Sierras, who was given an ovation in the Oregon Building and a banquet at the American Inn.

THE NEW OFFICERS.

The unanimous election to the presidency of Dr. W. J. Mayo, of Rochester, Minn., whose portrait adorns our front cover, is a tribute to true merit and one very gratifying to the Western profession.

Dr. Mayo is a noble son of a worthy sire, his father, Dr. W. W. Mayo, who is now in his 86th year, came from England to this country before the war and located in Minnesota, where he practiced medicine and joined the other pioneers in fighting the Indians. Dr. Mayo gave his two sons, Drs. W. J. and C. H., the best education he could afford, and they were graduated from the University of Michigan. Dr. W. J. Mayo was born in Minnesota in 1861, thus making him the youngest man ever elected to the presidency of this association The history of the success of the Mayos is one with which nearly all doctors are familiar. Their reputation has become international and their contributions to medical literature are numerous and widely copied. Especial attention has been given by Dr. Mayo and his brother to the surgery of the stomach and of the biliary apparatus.

The other officers elected were as follows:

First Vice-President, Surgeon-General Walter Wyman, Washington, D. C.

Second Vice-President, Dr. K.A.J. Mackenzie, Portland, Ore.
Third Vice-President, Dr. Eugene S. Talbot, Chicago.
Fourth Vice-President, Dr. E. Denegre Martin, New Orleans.
General Secretary, Dr. Geo. H. Simmons, Chicago (re-elected).
Treasurer, Dr. Frank Billings, Chicago (re-elected).

Board of Trustees. Dr. E. E. Montgomery, Philadelphia; Dr. A. L.
Wright, Carroll, Ia.; Dr. H. L. E. Johnson, Washington, D. C.
Oration on Medicine, Dr. F. B. Shattuck, Boston.

Oration on Surgery, Dr. Joseph D. Bryant, New York.

Oration on State Medicine, Dr. W. H. Sanders, Montgomery, Ala. Boston was unanimously selected as the place of meeting for 1906, the date being left to the discretion of the general officers.

F.

MISSOURI VALLEY EXCURSION TO PORTLAND. One of the most delightful outings of the year was the trip to Yellowstone Park and Portland enjoyed by the members of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley. Special Pullman cars were provided, leaving Kansas City, St. Joseph and Omaha on the evening of June 29, joining at Lincoln, and proceeding over the Burlington and Northern Pacific railways to Yellowstone Park. Here we were taken in charge by the Wylie Permanent Camp Company for a delightful tour of five and onehalf days, viewing the beauty and grandeur of Nature's Wonderland, ccnsidered by all to be the grandest collection of the wonders of Nature to be found in the civilized world. The space at our command is too limited