IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A :/. I/. & z- 1.0 I.I "-1^ 12.5 |50 l"^" ■■■ 40 mil 2.0 2.2 L25 i 1.4 1.6 V 7; •V ■>' Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRECT WEBSTER, N.Y. MSaO (716) 872-4303 ■1>^ V ^\ ,%0 '4^^ ADDRESS OF DR. WILLIAMS, RETIRING PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURC.EONS OF ONTARIO. Genj-lemen of the Council,— It is my pleasing duty to welcome you to your labour for the ensuing year. With you I deeply regret that one member, a representative of the Homoeopathic branch of the profession, Dr. Oliphant, will not meet with us again. For him, trouble and strife in the medical profession are over. With his more intimate friends, we join our sorrows that in the morning of life—a life full of promise for future usefulness— his sun has set. " From toil he wins his spirit's light, From busy day the peaceful night ; Rich, Irom the very want of wealth In heaven's best treasures— peace ami health." In his place we welcome back to the Council our former colleague, co-worker and esteemed friend, Dr. Vernon, of Hamilton. The year that is now drawing to its close has not been without con- siderable anxiety to the medical profession. The legislation which you secured in 1891, and which you believed to be in the interests of the public and the profession, has been very largely misunderstood. Efforts have been m.ade, not only to have that legislation repealed, but to have other -changes made in the Medical Act, some of which would be of very great detriment to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, if they did not entirely destroy its usefulness. (Hear, hear.) It is to be regretted that there should be any members of the profession, who would think for a moment that the Council— the representative body of the profession— should have any interest to serve other than that of the public and the profession ; but so long as we have representative in.stitutions, we must expect to come under the same influences as other representative bodies. If, for instance in a municipality we select twelve of the most estimable men, elect them as municipal councillors, before the first year is ended, they are incompetents and noodles ; and if they unfortunately continue in power for three years or more, they need not be surprised to learn from the cnticisuig public that they are murderers, or worse. Mem- bers ot this Council must not hope to escape from a like fate We think that one reason why the actions of the Council are mis- understood, is because of a want of inter-communication between it and the profession. As you are aware, it is not possible to get any considerable number of the medical men together, for the purpose of allowing their representatives to address them on the questions likely to come before the Council. The public press can scarcely be expected to deal with these subjects to any great extent, because it caters to the entire public, and can not be expected to sive -reat space to questions interesting only to some 2,100 medical rnen. ^Ve w-ould think that the medical press would be placed in a somewhat different position ; that their highest interests would be to afford such information as would be beneficial to the members of the profession But while we, as outsiders, think so, the editors, upon whom rests the responsibility of managing the papers, apparently do not look at the question in the same light; for we find the merest epitome of the Council proceedings is all that goes out to the profession ; and they are left without that light, on the proceedings of the Council, which they are anxious to get and ought to receive. Because of this want of publicity, or largely because of it, a miscon- ception exists with the public, as well as with many members of the profession, as to the utility of the College of Physicians and Surgeons It IS not uncommon to hear from the public, that it is a huge mon- opoly gotten up and maintained for the benefit of the profession, to the detriment of the public ; and from the profession, we not infre- quently hear that free trade in medicine is a desideratum I need not say to you, that this is a great mistake, not only in so far as the public are concerned, but also the profession ; for the public are the beneficiaries in the first place, and the medical men, in a secondary sense, receive more than compensation for all they have been called upon to contribute to the funds of the College That we may understand to what extent the public and the profession are interested, it may be wise to hastily review some steps which have led up to the present status, and to mention some of the difficulties that vve have had to overcome. To understand this fully, we must look to the status of the profession previous to 1865, the date of the first Act by which the Council was established. We practically had free trade in medicine, though not in the letter of the law. We had three medical schools in Ontario. We had three licensing boards, including Eclectic and Homceopathic. Each one of these had its own standard 3 and each its own curriculum ; and each vied with the other to turn out the greatest number of students. The Province of Quebec sen" up a goodly number, and the American schools of all shades Eclecdc Homcxopathic and Regulars, not a f.v.-, while Europe drenched up^r; us h,r surplus graduates. Thus this Province was more than full wkh impe^ectly qualified medical men. Under these circumstance t^e chools sought legislation, each thinking the other a greater culprit han Itself, m letting loose upon the country poorly crualified men and they hoped by legislation to restrain the offenders, while ?he> had a common desire to pre.serve the Province for the jractice of their own graduates to the exclusion of foreigners The Medical Act of Upper Canada, passed in 1865, was the result I his Act established "The General Council of Medical EduSn Councn'"-^'?r" "' ""'''' ^'^"^^''^" subsequently known as "S Council. It was .1 compromise Act. The universities and schools p\r Lrto'thh '^ teaching medicine, were either con.sent?ng parties o this Act, or were compelled to come under its provisions hrCot^'^HnT^'h ""'T'f^ ^' '''''' ^^'"« ^'-^ represenmir n isheSbv tL M r,^ '1 f""her provision, that any curriculum estab- lished by the Medical Council, must receive the approval of the Governor-in-Council, and be published once in the Canada GazlTe before it became binding on the universities and schools. Provision was also made for the election of twelve persons for a period 0?/^ ^C^Za ^^k^"^' the registered practitioners of medicine in Upper Canada. 1 hese with* the representatives of the universities and schools, made up the entire Council. The taking into the Council of the territorial men was viewed differently by different parries To one Ihri; mlftTf "^ '■^P.^^^'^ntadon to the profession in the Council! other. T/^ r \u'^^^^ '" •'' "^°"''"°' ''^"d management ; while t J others ,t was a further guarantee that one school should get no f::T^VC"''\^"."'^^l'''^'''''t^^^^^^^^ "^^" holding the bala^^^of fnrT 7^ '?'''^' u""''""' ^'^^^ ^cc^v^^6. were those estabh.h -d for the election of members of the Legislative Council. These were convenient in those days, and perhaps as fair as any could have be'n It was before the science of gerrymander had secured a footing 1 he Act provided for registration. It stipulated what the qualifica- tion should be, and the fees to be paid, and gave to the Counc the general control and management. *-ouncii the The Council was given power to establish a uniform standard nf matriculation, and also to "fix and determine from timT to time the medical curriculum, though it was not allowed to conduct the exam' nations. Each individual school conducted its own examinations 'i V f .T'l^^'h'""- ^ "^^'^y ^^" y^"^ '-attention to the fact ha the Thf Hotf ofc'^' '" only reached this stage up to the' prSen" Ihe House of Commons in Great Britain refused to take from the schools the nght to hold examinations, which should qualify for obtaming the necessary license to practise without their con^e.U ^ When th.s Act came into operation in 1866, it made a wonderful s . rmg up among the practitioners. Those with foreign degre^were obliged to return to the country of their profession, ortnter tne o the schools and quahfy here. Some presented themselves to the licet ' boards, and m many cases secured licenses and returned to practice' The less fortunate who were practically without qualificatio 7 were compelled to complete their medical education. The result^^s the number of practitioners in the country was very materially dec eased to the great advantage of both public and profession. But this Ac! was not found to be satisfactory. Though the standard for g aduation was the same for all the schools, yet, each controlling and conSn Its own exammations, the attainments of the graduates as r^ krht e expected, were widely different. ^ Then, again there were two legalized branches of the profession the Homoeopathic and the Eclectic, whose status was in no w^ a?bwed to be effected by this Act, a special clause being introduced forTis tCTheT "Tr '' *'^"" ^''''''' '-^"^ ^^''^h a' view to remed>h^^ theni, the Legislature was again approached in 1868, in this instance not by the .schools, but by the Council; and the 1868-69 Ac ^th; Act but th '"'""' "' *''^ ^'^^ ''-''' '" "^'^">' ^-P^^^' like t, : ^5 Act, but theie were some very important advances. The Council was Sronf '" ""^"'^ matriculation and .^o professional lam! berara'fixed'Sc't Ih' """'^T- '^""^"''^ °^ '^'-^^'^''^' examinations Decanie a fixed fact the same being exacted from all students from all brai^ches of the profession. This provision rendered it nece ary tha f he Homc^opathic and Eclectic students were to pass the same^exam nation and be subject to the same pains and penalties, these bodies should be repre.sented in the Council and on the Exaninin' Boa d And It became necessary that the different medical Acts be%onsot dated, and the medical profession of Ontario incorporated. Tw" was Sur^^rs'^rO^t'anV'^"' ''''' ^^ "^^^ ^^"^^^^^ Physicians and To induce the schools, as well as the Eclectic and Homoeopathic branches of the profession, to consent to submit their studenTs o the one common exammation, in so far as applicable, it became necessary o so organize the Council and Examining Board that their i Sual nterests would be protected. The Homceopathists and the EcSc were each allowed five representatives in the Council and DrovH-^-i sTude'nf ' ^TV'^'^^r' ^' ^''T'''' ^° ^^^^^ ^^e ime^estfof rhei' on th. Rn i f T?°'' ^^'■' """^ given the right to have one member on the Board of Exammers, in addition to continuing the reoresen tative in the Council, and the provision that the Curriculum sha^l the receive "the approval of the (iovernor-in-Counril " h.-fnr. u obligatory on either schools, universities or students 'I h °"-'"^ txamuie that appliances were not necessary. The halls of Tornnfn le ; aces tl'alUo '""' '^ "^H ""'■ ^^"^^"^"^'^ '^^^^ Quebec and no" hdrT il w In r ^■'<-:'""""-' «'•■>■' blani^'d. but tl,e fault >va! ccm•;r;:dVl■T86Vto^8;^xr4"hT;Th'1•°"''^r"''^''• ™'^ furthe?ti"si':i:t/dt::r"'i'(r;L'::n^^^^^^^^^^ right to hold chMtf I, .,K Teil e* t, th ■ ' ""-^''l '="•''"' >'°" "''= ination. This irin "/h i ' ' >'"" "'">' >"=*" )0'"' «'im- interest ■» Bu ,h' T )'' P"'?''u '"'"'^" '■"* «" •■•» ""^ professional l^e fim benefit tdTf" °^ '^^ l-rofe.ssion are themselvL receiving nor more than $2 per year, upon each member of the profession the and after the establishnietu Ld ™Xt of eraSa.To,; Vu'.S the 6 t^lt!Tt\^V" '^''^ '''' ^^^^'^^^ "^'•^ "°^ ^^"-' to the annual services Th f "'''T T'* ''""^'"'"g "^ compensation for his inlnffi. ■ H .^embers of the Council complained that they were nsufficently paid and as a matter of fact, the Council was not ab e to pay for what it honestly and legitimately should. After 1874 the e was an influx of funds, partially owing to fees from members tnd.n inrfn ';; ''^r y?-^'**"^ ^^^^ professional examinationr Fmm iha tm.e forward the Council had funds at its command and were enabled to make provision for conducting more thorough and more complete exammat.ons. These were more satisfactory to l,oth Coun ol and students, and more beneficial to the public and the n ofes^ on' etc^^'vir^l^' TTk''"^"' °^ '^'' ^^"'' ""' t° representation, registration etc ^vere largely the same as with previous Acts with this mateHa'l advance. 1 here were three branches of the profession halg 'en e sentation m the Council. There were no students 4>rLnting them selves who wished to follow the Eclectic svstem Tt wnJ tK ? concluded, that after five years, therr'^uTd b^no LTh r n:e?;f their having representation in the Council, nor a member on the 'rZS ^^^privIS^ '''' — ^-^-^- - -5" t submitted for, and obtaining the approval of the Go™ n Councif as required in both the '65 and '68 Acts overnor .n Council, feaTu'r:s""T{t'fim't''th!t T'' " '' 'k" ^^^^ ^"° °^ ^^ree prominent ion in ihe Coiinr 'lU u'' " '" "^'"^"^ "^"^^ '" ^^e representa- fmnVp! <-0""ciI This change was to allow a representative each from Regiopohs and Ottawa Colleges respectively. This wS broS about, not at the instance of the Coundl, or of the collies th?m tht'c^ll "' '''";'' T •?'? "' ^^^ Council. The Council be fevedthTt" he colleges already had all the representation they should have bu the Legislatuie thought otherwise, and introduced these names as colleges to have representatives. I mention this particubrh to show that, when you go to the Legislature to secure a^ny Measure ?or the ni^dcal profession, you are not exactly certain whit you will brng a^a> V^ou may get what you want. You may come iwiv with additions that you did not desire. You are r.ot approaching a body of professional men, but in the main laymen, who look with suspidon on the professions. It is therefore important that, when 3 do approach the Legislature, you do so as a united profes ion working .n the rnost perfect harmony, otherwise the results may be dLrtrous^ t^ertd in'Tif "^"^'."- ^/ '^'' ^^^ '^' ^ "citation Vs put to the period in which a medical man might be prosecuted for malpractice Previous to its enactment, I beli(n-e, the only limit was something like SIX years. In some cases, a medical man had been obliged to defend himself years after the witnesses were out of the way, and when the points \vere dititicult to meet. This clause was obtained at the instance at the Council, and for the i)urpose of freeing the profession from an injustice of that kind. The third feature of the Act was to give the profession a right to say who should continue to remain members. Hitherto you could not strike a man from the list of practitioners unless for some serious crime. This Act of 1887 allowed the Council, by a committee of medical men, to try members of their own i)rofession on charges of infamous or di.sgraceful conduct in a professional sense. They take the evidence in the case, both for and against, and if, in their judg- ment, the person is unworthy to practise, the Council has a right to order his name erased from the register. The effect of this 1887 Act was^ to give the medical profession entire control of themselves It niade them completely self-governing. It has now a right to say who shall enter the profession, and the line of conduct the^' must pursue if they wish to remain in it. In a word, the profession established its own matriculation, its own medical curriculum, without its being submitted to the Governor-in-Council, and its own methods of con- ducting the examinations ; it can hold the requisite chattels to make the examination efficient; and the necessary real estate to provide halLs, and such premises as may be reqvired for the purpo.ses of the Act; It may determine what is disgraceful and infamous conduct in a professional sense, may try the practitioner charged with such, and if found guilty, expel him as unwcrthy to belong to an honourable pro- fession. But for these privilege.s, we must tax ourselves not less than one nor more than two dollars per year each. The next Act we come to is that of 189 1. . „,., ,. to considerable misunderstanding and dissatisfaction. It has a num- ber of prominent features. Previous to this time, you will remember, any person who was a matriculate in arts in any university in Her Majesty's dominions, had a right to be admitted as a matriculate in medicine. It was felt by some, that this was opening the door too wide, that in some parts of Her Majesty's dominions, there might be universities whose matriculation standard was not sufficiently high. The Legislature concurred in that view, and the Council was given power to say just what the standard shall be, anywhere, up to a degree m arts. It was finally arranged that it should be the Pass University Departmental Arts Matriculation examination, with Physics and Chemistry. There is a feeling with some, that the Council is blameable for not being willing to accept arts matriculation from any part of Her Majesty's dominions. It is feared a standard may be set up which This Act has given rise 8 WO-; , d shut out some honest, industrious young men, and leave the profession open only to those born with ' did not collect it they were negligent of their duty. Many have paid annually, or at least peri- odically, their entire indebtedness. Some there have been, who have taken all the advantages, and have not contributed their share. Is this just to the others ? The Council did not make collections as fully as they should. What is our excuse ? Simply this : When we attempted to collect, the costs .consumed nearly the whole amount, and the process through the Division Court was vexatious to those from whomwe collected. Let me read you some figures. In the medical year 1887-88, an expenditure of $434.00 collected $630.00 in fees. In 1888, an expenditure of $319.00 collected $376.00. Now these are the excuses and the only excuses the Council can offer, why it did not compel every member of the profession to contribute his fair and honest share as he should have done, in justice to his fellow-practitioners. Finding this difficulty in the way, and knowing that every member of the profession was alike responsible, and knowing, too, that this was part of the revenue to meet current expenses, the Council came to the conclusion that it was time steps be taken by which the payment should be eciualized, and every man made to pay his ecjuitable share. To receive a fee from one part, to use that money in the interest of the profession, to allow others to pay nothing, was laying an unequal burden on the shoulders of the medical men, and could not be justified. This clause was in- serted, that it might be impossible for any to enjoy the advantages at the expense uf others. Is that not right? That the amendment will meet the object desired, I need only mention that, since it came intO' operation, nearly $6,000 in fees have been paid, with no expense 10 other than postage. In connection with this same provision, the Act was made retroactive ; this is said to be an unprecedented thing. What does this retroactive feature mean ? It simply means this : That men who have been taking advantage of their fellow-practitioners for years, shall now be compelled to pay their fair share. It means, that they shall notbe allowed to plead the Statute of Limitations, but at this late day, they shall pay as others have done. Could justice demand less ? It has been urged very strongly that the taking out of an annual certificate is derogatory to the profession— that it is humiliating— that it is placing you on a par with the hackman who requires to take out an annual license. The members of the profession are supposed to be so very dignified in their make-up, that they should not be asked to pay their just debts, and get a receipt, under the more genteel title of a certificate. Yet, some of these gentlemen, but yesterday so pachydermatous in their make-up, that they could be pierced only m the Division Court, now^ so sensitive, cannot stand this provision ! Are we children ? Are we hypercritical wise-acres ? Or are we men? Gentlemen, we are not the only incorporated body, the members of which are required to pay promptly an annual fee. The druggists have a provision by which every man who keeps a drug store must pay $4 per annum for his license. To pay this he is allowed till the first of May, otherwise he loses his license. Then, there is the legal profession. \Ve have never found members of the legal profession backward in looking after their rights. We have never found them backward in standing up for liberty. The annual fees in their pro- fession amount to about $i8, and they are allowed to the last day in Michaelmas term to make payment and obtain the annual certificate. II after that time the amount is not paid, the right to practise is lost and they are subject to fine. We hear no outcry about their being humiliated or their liberties curtailed. Now, gentlemen, surely members of the medical profession are not so much more sensitive than those I have mentioned, that they should object to being asked to contri- bute their professional fee after being given twelve months in which to pay it, and two months' notice being required before any action can be taken. The annual certificate is objected to because they say we had a right under our diplomas to practise without a fee during good behaviour. Unfortunately, uiplomas do not undertake to cover every- thing. Previous to 1865 as now, each of the universities granted diplomas. These diplomas did not entitle to practise medicine, but they were received by the Government as proof that the person had the required professional knowledge, and upon the piuducliun of other testimonials "required by law in that behalf," the Government granted a license. The licentiates of the Medical Boards obtained licenses to 11 i practise on proof of the same nature. Under the old diploma itself, there was no right granted to practise medicine at all. Some have said that the diploma of the College of Physicians and Surgeons was a diploma giving the right to practise for all time, and that it contains nothing about an annual fee. Look at the exact wording of that diploma. It simply sets forth that a certain gentleman has completed the curriculum, that he has passed the requisite examination, and that he has become a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and is thereby entitled to practise medicine, surgery and midwifery. This is simply an acknowledgment that he is a member of the College, and if a member he must be registered, and if registered he has a right to practise. But when registered, he is sub- ject to the provisions of the Act respecting registration, and under that same Act he is required to pay an annual fee of not less than $i, nor more than $2 ; and that fee is due on the fir.st day of January each year. The Council does not undertake by that diploma to grant any privilege whatever, either to practise or anything else, and it would be of no use if it did. There is no provision in the Statute to allow of it doing so, and its duty is not to make law but to carry out the provision of the Statute provided. This section 41, "A" had in view the equalizing of the burdens of the profession ; the avoidance of an accumulated amount of back fees, and the vexatious process of collecting through the Division Court ; the saving of the expense necessarily incurred (a waste of funds) in collection ; and the placing on the practitioner the onus of deciding whether or not he wished to practise, and if to practise then to make payment, and not on theCouncil to make collections. All of which it bids fair to accomplish, and all of which fair-thinking medical men will consider equitable and just. Very serious objection has been taken to the Council for the u.ses to which this building is put. It has been said that the profession at large are being made to pay for a great mass of brick and mortar in Toronto, that the city medical men shall have a grand home at their expense. If we look carefully into the matter we find this is not true. The city practitioner does not use it unless he pays for it, and receives no advantage any more than the country practitioner. It is said the Council established a library for the exclusive benefit of the medical men of the city of Toronto. I need not tell you that the Council have not expended one solitary dollar on the library. While there is a library in the building, the owners of it pay a rental for the space they occupy, as any other person or persons would be required to do. Then we are told, too, that the Toronto Medical Association have a rather fine time ; that they were paying one hundred dollars a year rental for another building, but that they now use our hall, in the building of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, without cost 12 The Council has no Vl™?^^^^^^ '" ^'^^'■'" ';^^^''^'->' «"^'^ '-^ ^eek. they contribute, nor ^^ Toro r I.H ^''''T' ' ""^'^^'- ^« cent's worth of benefit fVomTk r'^' "'"-'" ^^'"'^'^ one single benefu every olr'p;StioL;dele'"'''"^'' ""'''' ^^^^" ^'^ '"^'-^ This needs very 1 tie in The wt of r" H '"" n ^'^ '^"^^ "^"'■^' ^''^-^P'y- from 1869 to 1874 and wnsS^ , J/' ^ hl^^^P^nn^ent was tHed and obtained to otn pro '^^ Z f7^' '^^^ Po^ver was sought would willingly return^ om^n. tl '^' profession if they those who do not Tani bv elSi ' ^'-Wiment again. There are profession ^ experience : they are not of the medical Ac^!;r^8^r's::;di;!f^L; ti^^^^r-^ of ti. at the earliest practicable^^on ent w^ •"tuLed fo^^^^^^^^^^^ until about 1886. It was foi.nr • .''^^ ""'f*^' ^""^ <^ou"^'l purposes because of original const^l- Z , "r?^ H "k^^"" '^^ '^"'"f^^''^^' P^'^'-^'v time brought greater necessities ' ' '^' '^'"'"^^ ^^^ '^^^^"--^'^ "^ pu^::^^^a^Sm;^:;:^e^^^^;^- 5"*'^^ ^^-^-'^ --- ^'- would provide merely for yoS nXssitLrh:^' ""' ''^'^'^ /^^^^^^ ^^ IS because the larger buildinukS! S^ ''"''''^'' '' P'^'"- It the required halwoom o ar o^n? ^f 1^ '\'^' profession. To obtain medical schools in Om.Tio^r?' '^^ 'L"^^"^'^ ^'"""^ ^^e four together with thoTe ^ m i g ^2 ^X Tnd'^th^^''^',^ '°^ '^''^'^^ =c~^3?E^^^^ ^ Of = smaller building vv-ith no^^al^ntst^f^ '"' '''' '^^°^^^«'"" ^^^^^ '^ Co;!;:cil h^d f n^^in^Hjlitm r'f "n'^""n '^^^ «'"-' ^'^^ ^^e per annum. On ookZ im ' h ' '''">• '^ ''^''''''^' of $500.00 taken the TreaLers fatTnL T?.^^^^^ ^ ^^"^ ^ ^'^'^ '^i«- which I think are Torre t W K "''''' ^^'"'^ >'0" ■'^ome figures $60,000.00, be^;;:;;::^;, ^v^^;:r^:;rt?rc:sts^;;: ^f ^-^ '- making^ total annual Sptdi;ror$1.t'"' ^'°°' ^" ^^^^°' Now we will look at the recHnf*. tk!. 7~\ u r occupy this buildi. J we .n^f . / he last year before we came to l> 0""^'"^ ^^M^aul rents for premises required $750. We , 13 have a right to place to the credit that sum ; for while it does not come m, we have prevented it going out by owning this build nT We mher I^^mnvs^ -rh'- ' "' '' ''T'^ ^^°^ ''' be met annuall)^ from other source. . I his^ represents the burden of the building at present Ve nave st.ll a nuniber of rooms that may be leased, "if lia^^d at the sa,,e rate as those at present in usef they will bring n abou Ckv of Tn '"r"T '•'; ?'^^'''"" '? ''^'' ''' ^^^ ^^'^^^y ^--ceiving. The City of Toronto bmldmgs are being put up in the immediate vicinitV and offices m this locahty will be easily rented, in fact will be "t a premium, and I thmk we n.ay safely count that those apartments will be rented in a short time. ' Lucius l)JinnHr'"''^ '''" ''"^ ^°"^^^^r.'^e''^' *" the neighborhood of $7,840. educting our present expenditure, will leave us a margin of $ ,600 or so. I do not think this is calculated unfairly. It is what may reasonably be expected, and would be very satisfactory ^■ Gentlemen, there is just one other feature that I wish to brin^r to your attention. I pointed out in the early part of my remark \n^ an attempt had been made to secure the r'epeal of th^ LgStbn o 1891, and to make other amendments to the Medical Act as weH As I have already told you, while the profession has not secured a Medical Act as perfect in all particulars as we could wish yetTe have made j.rogress in our present status. Practically, the j^ofession has been given self governing power, and when we consider the diversify of interest to be gniarded, the progre.ss is perhaps as rapid a.s cou d be expected In 1865, when the first Act establishing the Council was passed, there was a hrge number of medical men in practice with a fhnn "TTlf qualifications ; and some with no qualificatioi^s o her han what they had acquired by time; there were several teaching schools and universities : there were three legalized branches of thf profession. Eclectic Homa>opathic. and Regular, each having peculiar rights to be guarded. When you consider the Legislature is ^it made up of medical men, or even of professional men, I think )ou will a.ree with me that the -profession is to be congratulated on the pro^-ess blg";aken"'''' '"' " '""' ^'^" '' '''' '""^^'^ ''' retrogressileX." .. Jr!''"'7I'K r^'"'' ''!r"^,J'^^ profe,ssion who are dissatisfied with the action of the Council. They are principally of those who have dven their own representative body the cold shoulder for the.se many tars thth '-^^ r '\"'^''' '-^'^ '^7 '^'' "-^ '°"fc^^'- ^^^'•"•■-' advantages fo; which others have paid that they take a lively interest in the profession and ,ts repre-sentative body. AVhile this is regrettable, it is still more to be regre ted that they make attempts to .secure^ alterations in the medical legislation of the Province, without the .sanction of the profession obtained through their representative body. Such attempts 14 are against our best interests. Thev are ignoring the fact that we have- soXr^h'" ""'f; r' f'-'^^ ^"^^'"^^"-^ '" our'constitution shouW be sought n the constitutional u-ay. Changes obtained in any other way will render the professional status insecure from year to year and "f^'^Tu-Tu^^ l^'""' ''^"^ ^^^'''' "f'^hose seeking notoriety or ihoe who think that through their influence in the Legislature they caa become the rulers of the profession. We need sci celv Inv th.^ thoughtful medical men will \.ot wish to put thl Son „ J emCefro^f^'frof^''^' "'""' ^■''^"^"^'" ^^^ organization sill emanate from the profession in some organized form. The consensus o opmion may then be secured, even should all details no'hmn oX with our individual wishes. The last session of the Legislature vis fruitful in attempts of this kind. There were no less than hree B M introduced to amend the Ontario Medical Act The first is, "an Act to amend the Ontario Medical Act" In this form, section 45 is amended by adding as follows : " But the a, phcation of a plaster or piasters, with the object of healing or rernovini cancers or other growths, shall not be considered as practis.ngnS cine or surgery within the meaning of this Act." The next Bill is to repeal section 27 of the Ontario Medical Act o her utZ T ""' "'^^'^l' "^"' "^' •" '^^'^ "^'^her was the other. It is therefore open to the same objections. To repeal this section means to strike off the fee that was found necessary Ld w^ imposed in 1874. ITie Council had the right, in making^S e i mates, to rely on this mcome from the profession ; and now when they have entered into obligations, this Bill comes forward, not from the medical men, but from outsiders, to take away the fund upon whch they have been relying to provide for their annual expenditure I is p^per'soutcf"" "'' ''' ''^"' '' '' ''^ "'^^ ^"^'-^-^^ ^^^^ ^^e We come now to the third Bill This unfortunately was intro- duced by a niedicalman. I say unfortunately, because it is a "reat misfortune when we have medical men in the Legislature, who shou d be the guardians of the professional interests, yet r . s verved from their plain duty, and who allow themselves to be useu to make attack^ on their own representative body. What is to be expected from lav Tnte'nnl ^''""^rT^ "^'\^" "°' ^^""^ ^y ^heir own professions ? In the Ontario Legislature, there are eleven members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Of these, nine worked man- Ih.rZ T1 representative body, and deserve the gratitude of the Co lege and of every individual member of it. To their exertions we are largely indebted for the throwing out of the three Bills we have . . 15 Gentlemen, the profession should watch this matter closely, and take the r^ IT ?1 ^' ""'l^'T'l ^° °PP°^^ ^" ^°-^^"^d amendments to the medical Acts, which do not emanate from the profession n organized form. It is difficult enough to secure the advancement of partr nulird- '' t", '%^'" T" ''^^"'^ '^ ^^^ ^'^^^^^ counSlTone party pulls down while the other strives to build up. If we do not stand manfully together, that retrograde movements iiU he made there from t'he"rnr^;- Ju' P^°'^^^'°"' ' ^^"^^' -" ^^ -P-^ too much f Z h^ u \ ^^y T'^ remember that its members are chosen from the human family with its usual frailties and its many infirmi" es and It IS not to be expected that its decisions can, in all cases, 2 of all the individual members of the Council Yet with honestv of purpose and a faithful determination to do its duty, we have con Now if' T-Tl' °^ '^' P."^"^ ^"^ ^he profession will be served amend'the vP^l rA'"""!,^" T^"'"^ ^>' ""^"thorized parties to amend the Medical Act, then the members of the College of Phv- sicians and Surgeons have no guarantee as to what their position ^^l be. 1 he only guarantee the profession can have, is to insist that \ntiZf':'-7T'l'' T""' ^'y ^^^"^ ^^^^'^ representative bod^ 'rejihrwav Th '"uV^Z '"-P^^^^ntatives, 'change them in the regular wav. I here will be differences of opinion as to what is best There must be compromises by individuals; there must be compro: m.ses by members of the Council ; each cannot secure his pShr Council i7i?th''"'H.^r^°-^°"^ '' ^^^ '^g''^^'-^^'- secured bMlS the public nndth"^ ?''"''""' """"r^ ^^^^^^^ *" ^he interests of .ppmSh / the profession, we should be satisfied. The public S ' nS .Hnf m"h ^'"""^ '.'^*^'^^'°" ^^^^"^h our represemative S'an;o;h'er source ^"P"'' '^"^^^^ ''' ''^'''''^'' ^"^-^-^^ i