Dr. P. S. Hayes said that, from his costly experience in a malpractice suit, he felt that an association such as suggested by Dr. Doering would be of great service. The lawyer employed by such an association would speedily acquire such a fund of medical knowledge that he would be considered an expert in malpractice cases. He would not require an amount of coaching necessary to prepare for any given case, as would be requisite in the case of a lawyer who had no experience in such cases. His opportunity for obtaining information in a given case would be largely extended, for each member of the association to whom he might apply would be interested in giving him the desired knowledge. He would soon become acquainted with medical witnesses and know which would give the best testimony in any case. An association of the character suggested by the paper might be a means of educating its members in regard to laws bearing on the rights of physicians and their patients, now not generally understood. For one he is heartily in favor of such an association, and should give it his hearty support. Dr. G. C. Paoli said Dr. Doering's paper is not only a valuable one, but contains such a high, noble, charitable feeling that the Society ought to be grateful to him. He wondered that such steps had not been taken before, because so many of our professional brethren have not only suffered annoyance, but pecuniary loss as well. How can we expect, from an ignorant jury, a decision based on scientific knowledge and justice? Dr. F. M. Weller said that the subject of the paper was worthy of consideration; that the discussion of the formation of an association with an object so widely different from the Medical Society seemed out of place; the one essentially scientific, the other in the nature of an insurance. The right to form such an organization was unquestioned; the policy should be considered by each individual. That while any one might be made the object of blackmail, he believed that charges of malpractice more frequently arose from the ignorance of physicians of the statutes affecting the practice of medicine, especially those of the criminal code, and of the rulings of the courts in cases. ---------- PROCEEDINGS OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, NOVEMBER 5, 1885. [Reported for the Gazette by L. B. Tuckerman, M. D., Cor. Sec.] COMPULSORY VACCINATION. Dr. Himes presiding.