rise and fall is 1557 feet, of which 223 were overcome by locks, and the remaining 1334 by inclined planes. We were told that this painfully slow method of transportation was, indeed, a very great factor in freight traffic competition, and is to this day; and that the rights of the canal before the different legislatures have ever been held inviolable—the legislator who would exhibit the temerity to raise his voice against the vested rights of the canal, in New York or Ohio, is condemned, for all time, to private life.

We arrived at our destination at 4: 30 P.M., Monday. Rooms were hurriedly secured, and the act of registration was completed and each member was in proper affiliation.

The resident population of this village, according to the census of 1900, was 12,500; this, it is said, in the summer, is increased to something like 50,000 by the month of August.

"Fairly well authenticated tradition assigns to Sir William Johnson, the redoubtable Indian tamer, accomplished American baronet and far-seeing colonial statesman, the distinction of being the first white visitor to the springs. In 1767, he was borne by his faithful Indian carriers to the High Rock Spring to partake of its healing waters, according to some reports, because of serious disease, and according to other reports, to aid in his recovery from wounds received in battle. That this first discovered of Saratoga mineral fountains had long been esteemed by the red men of the country, there is indisputable evidence. Just how far back the Indians were accustomed to resort here it is, of course, impossible to determine, but in the misty past some of the seekers for health at the fountain left behind them unimpeachable testimony of their presence.

"Although the altitude of Saratoga is but moderate, it is surrounded on all sides by forest-clad hills and mountains, which serve to protect the region from the violence of storms and to modify profoundly the temperature conditions of both summer and winter, and insure against extremes of heat and cold. To the northward stretch the vast domains of the Adirondacks; to the west lies the Kayaderosseras range; to the east are the wooded slopes of Washington county across the Hudson; while a few miles beyond the Green Mountains

tower in majesty. To the southward, the northern branch of the Catskills limit the horizon.”

It might be of interest to discuss some of the reasons why the springs appear at this particular spot in the earth's crust. It is said by the geologists that the Adirondack range is the very backbone of the continent, and represents, probably, the first dry land of the world. The systems represented here are the Laurentian or granite, and the few strata resting upon the Laurentian at Saratoga, of the lower Silurian age. They comprise from below upward the Potsdam sandstone, calciferous sand rock, Trenton limestone, and Utica or black slate. In some mighty seismic disturbance there resulted a fracture of the strata extending in the general direction from northeast to southwest, followed by the upheaval of the rocks upon one side of the fracture or by the subsidence of those upon the the other, so that the various strata of like formation are no longer upon the same level. This condition is known as a "fault," and is not inaptly characterized by George Alfred Townsend as a "geological indiscretion." The existence of this fault determines the appearance of the springs in this neighborhood.

There are at least two theories offered to account for the mineralization of the waters and the notable saturation with carbonic acid gas, but their mention would cover more space than I am allowed, so I will spare the reader.

The general meetings were held at Convention Hall on Broadway, after the following order:

Opening meeting, Tuesday, June 10-11, A.M.

Call to order by the President, Dr. John A. Wyeth, New York.

Opening prayer-Rev. T. F. Chambers, Saratoga.

Address of welcome, by Hon. S. F. Nixon, Speaker of the New York State Assembly, and Senator Edgar T. Brackett, of Saratoga.

Report of Committee of Arrangements-George F. Comstock, Chairman, Saratoga.

Address of the President of the American Medical Association—Dr. John A. Wyeth, New York.

Abstract: International Medical Congress. A new era in the history of the American Medical Association. Uniform standard for all States. The sections. Branch organizations. Permanent places of meeting. The Committee on Medical Legislation. The United States Health Service. Army Medical Department. Vivisection. Smallpox. Medical profession not what it should be. Necessity of better system of education, and of more thorough organization. Code of ethics.

TUESDAY EVENING, 7:30 P.M.

Oration in surgery, entitled: Suture of Heart WoundsHarry M. Sherman, M.D., San Francisco.

Abstract: The recorded sutures of the heart. Review of these cases. Results of these cases. Slow advance in heart surgery. Experimental results. A method to hold the heat during suture. Diastolic suture unnecessary. Causes of death. Success of the closure of heart wounds. Interference of the pleura. Sepsis and drainage. Other points to consider. Conclusion. Memorandum of experiments. Closing remarks.

WEDNESDAY EVENING, 7:30 P.M.

Oration in medicine, entitled: The Relation of Medical Science to Commerce-Frank Billings, M.D., Chicago.

Pro

Abstract: The broader application of medical sciences. Bacteriology. Parasites. Transmission of infection. tective inoculation. Serum therapy. Influence of bacteriology upon practical medicine and surgery. Prevention of infection. Smallpox. The plague. Yellow fever. Malaria. Typhoid fever. Value of medical science not recognized. Medical science should receive financial support.

THURSDAY EVENING, 7:30 P.M.

Oration in State Medicine, entitled: State Medicine, Past, Present and Future-J. M. Emmert, Atlantic, Iowa.

Abstract: The sanitary code of Moses. The Justinian law. Features of the Mosaic law. Pestilence and superstition. The first quarantine. Extension of quarantine. Quarantine in the United States. International sanitary conference. Epidemics in the United States. Growth of the hospital. Medicolegal beginnings. Growth of pharmacology. The first pure food laws. Early rules governing autopsies. Founders of medcal jurisprudence. Active growth of legal medicine. Knowledge of anatomy by the ancients. Early dissections. Human vivisection. Laws of dissection. Opposition to vivisection. Vivisection develops sympathy. Our debts to vivisection. Vaccination. Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis mortality. Bovine tuberculosis transmissible. What statistics prove. Illustrative

cases. Importation of diseased animals. Governmental control. Tuberculosis sanatoria. National board of health and examiners. Regulation of marriage. Prophylaxis against anarchy. Public baths. Restriction of venereal diseases. Detention of syphilitics. Abolish the coroner. Conclusions. CLOSING MEETING, FRIDAY, 12:00 M.

Report of House of Delegates.

Report of officers elected for the ensuing year.
Installation of officers.

Closing exercises.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

The House of Delegates, provided for by the reorganization plan adopted at St. Paul last year-Art. 4, sec. 1-2, New Constitution was duly assembled and called to order by the President, John A. Wyeth, M.D., New York, N. Y.

Under the regular order of business the President's address was read, after which a Business Committee was appointed, to which the President's address was referred: The duties of the Business Committee were to receive and consider all reports and resolutions and other papers which should be referred to it by the House, and act as an Advisory Committee. They should be continuously in session, and could report from time to time during each session of the House, and before the closing of each session of the House the President should ask the Business Committee if there was anything to report. This committee was composed of McCormack, of Kentucky, chairman; Foshay, of Ohio, Ferguson, of New York, Moyer, of Illinois, Murray, of Montana.

The reports of Treasurer, Secretary and Board of Trustees were next read and referred to the Business Committee. The most interesting item contained in either of these reports was the fact that the Association has a home of its own, paid for, and extra property sufficient to bring in more cash in rents per annum than was the former expense on this account. Much of this, we are glad to say, is due to the persevering endeavors of our greatly esteemed fellow-citizen, Dr. T. J. Happel, of Trenton, President of the Board of Trustees.

The reports of the committees of the regular order were read and referred to the Business Committee. Among the above reports was the one on the Senn medal; here there

were majority and minority reports, the former recommending no award, the latter recommending that award be made to "Fiat Lux"; the majority report was adopted.

The Business Committee here reported, recommending that the membership of the House be divided into nine grand divisions; the members of each division to elect a member to form a part of the Committee on Nominations, namely: 1. New England States.

2. District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Porto Rico.

3. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland.

4. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas. 5. Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana.

6. Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa.

7.

New Mexico, Indian Territory, California, Kansas, Arizona, Nevada.

8. Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma Territory, Texas.

9. Hawaii, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska.

There were a number of other standing committees provided for, the exact titles and order of which I do not now remember.

The banquets were enjoyable affairs, though not so elaborate nor so well attended as is the usual custom.

On Wednesday evening a complimentary reception and ball at the United States Hotel was tendered to the members and guests of the American Medical Association by Messrs. Gage and Perry, proprietors of the hotel.

On Thursday evening a very enjoyable reception was tendered to the President, Dr. John A. Wyeth, by the Medical Association of the State of New York.

The writer felt extremely gratified on this occasion in seeing his friend and compatriot in the Section on Practice sitting as its chairman. Reference is made to Dr. Frank A. Jones, of Memphis. Again, that our "Three States" was accorded the Secretaryship of the Section on Practice in the person of Dr. J. B. McElroy, of Stovall, Miss. He is also very proud of his