“E. PERKINS, _President_. COLUMBUS BIERCE, _Secretary_.” “LICENSE. “Know all men by these presents, That I, ----, President of the Second Circuit Court of Common Pleas in the State of Ohio, by the authority in me vested, do license Giles S. B. Hempstead to practice physic and surgery within this state. “In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal of the County of Scioto this, the twenty-third day of November, A. D. 1818. [Illustration: SEAL] __________________________ “_President Court Common Pleas._ “I do hereby certify the above to be a true copy of the license granted to Giles S. B. Hempstead. “COLUMBUS BIERCE, _Secretary Third Medical District._” Each medical district kept a record of all certificates and licenses issued within the area designated for public inspection, that all might know who were qualified to assume the responsibility. The censors and members licensed composed a list of the learned and able men of Ohio. Almost every one licensed brought with him a certificate of qualification from state censors of some state east, which was copied into the records kept by the censors in Ohio. These “Diplomas” were quite similar in character and expression, the following being a fair sample: “DIPLOMA. “We, the President and other officers of the Incorporated Medical Society of Dutchess County, in the State of New York, having received from our censors full assurance of the competent knowledge of Columbus Bierce in the theory and practice of medicine, and from Doctor John Cooper and others, his former preceptors, the like assurance of his standing and moral deportment, do by the powers vested in us confer upon him, the said Columbus Bierce, license to practice physic and surgery and midwifery in any part of this state, and recommend him to the confidence of our fellow-citizens, and the friendly attention of our brethren, as a person of good morals and liberal attainments. [Illustration: SEAL] “In testimony whereof we have subscribed these presents with our names and caused our seal of incorporation to be annexed. “Done at Poughkeepsie, this, the 15th May, A. D. 1816. “JOHN THOMAS, _President_. “Attest: JOHN BARNES, _Secretary_. “I certify the above to be a true copy from the original. “C. BIERCE, _Secretary Third Medical District, Ohio_.” The censors and society of the third district met semi-annually, alternately at Athens and Marietta, and the place of meeting was generally at the residence of some citizen, who volunteered in advance to entertain the doctors. An applicant for a certificate or license to practice medicine was required by law, to file with the Board of Censors a certificate of good moral character and a fee of ten dollars.