REPORT OF THE TREASURER.

THE Treasurer has the honor to report a balance in the Treasury of $2008.46. The amount in his hands, at the end of each fiscal year, would, in his judgment, be materially increased, if the Association would expunge from its rules the paragraph which-constructively, but not intentionally-allows the memhers to pay but once in three years, and still to remain in good pecuniary standing in that body.

RICHARD J. DUNGLISON, M.D.,

Treasurer.

Richard J. Dunglison, Treasurer, in account with the American

June 7. By cash paid Dr. M. A. Pallen, Committee of Arrange

REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.

LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

MR. PRESIDENT:

I have the honor to present the accompanying catalogue of additions made to this library by donations, exchange, and purchase during the past year. A reference to its pages will show that, since my last report, there have been added 233 distinct titles, exclusive of yearly volumes of transactions of societies, reports of hospitals, boards of health, and volumes of medical journals, where these have been previously catalogued as such. This addition makes the library to consist, at present, of 1535 distinct titles, which comprehend, from a general estimate, about 3970 volumes, inclusive of pamphlets. The only donation deserving of special mention which has been made to this library during the past year comes from Dr. Abm. Gardiner Thompson, of Islip, Suffolk Co., New York, who has assisted very materially in completing the files of some of our medical journals, as will be seen upon reference to the catalogue.

I have no especial report to make in addition to the usual suggestions, that the home and foreign exchanges be continued, and that an appropriation of $200 be again made to meet the expenses of binding and purchase of periodicals and Society transactions, necessary to complete sets, where they cannot otherwise be obtained, this being additional to, and distinct from, the current expenses incurred for postage, stationery, and transportation. The appropriation of last year has been expended in a similar manner.

There is one matter which I deem of sufficient importance to be made a special reference; which is, how far we shall extend pecuniary aid to F. Leypoldt, as the publisher of the Index Medicus? This journal is now in its third year, and so far has entailed a serious pecuniary loss upon its publisher; it is questionable as to whether its publication will ever do more than pay its actual expenses; but its great value as a work of reference

has come to be recognized all over the world, and its suspension would be a serious loss; felt, not immediately and directly perhaps, by the general practitioner; but there are times when all of us personally desire access to just such a work, and the busy practitioner, almost unconsciously to himself, learns to rely upon the statements of others, to whom, in the collation of facts, such a work as this is indispensable. It therefore becomes us, as the national body of medical men, to take some step by which we may assist in the preservation of the journal. Up to the present time, as your Librarian, I have assumed the right of subscribing to a single copy, at whatever rate it be issued; have encouraged an increase of the subscription fee, and shall continue to do so until directed otherwise by the Association. But we should do more. Certain local medical societies, such as the Philadelphia County Medical Society, Philadelphia Pathological Society, and the Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia, have each voted $50 in aid of the publication. I, therefore, feel that we can do no less than to vote a similar sum; and, accompanying this report, will be found a resolution to that effect, drawn up for the consideration of the Association. As this report has necessarily been prepared in advance of the meeting, and I have not had the opportunity of ascertaining the sense of individual members upon the subject, I hesitate in making the sum larger, but hope that, in view of the large meeting of last year at New York, and the corresponding benefit to the treasury, an amendment will be offered to raise the sum to $100.

Respectfully submitted,

2111 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

WM. LEE.

Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to subscribe $50 out of the funds of the Association, to aid the publishers of the Index Medicus in the issue of that journal during the year 1881, this amount to be independent of that used by the Librarian in his subscription to a single copy, and to be used as a donation or guarantee fund.