for adding new serials or books, in numbers at all adequate to demands, and for service to bring the collection to full efficiency, the library must wait for a larger appropriation, for which we hope in the near future.

When the first annual appropriation was made, in 1895, a library council of three Albany physicians, consisting of Doctors Charles E. Jones, Samuel B. Ward, and Willis G. Tucker, was appointed by the Regents to advise on the selection of books, and in accordance with their recommendation many leading periodicals, both American and foreign, and some of the most important treatises, were ordered; but when the appropriations were cut off there was nothing for the committee to do. When the appropriation was increased to $3,200, a librarian was appointed and also a medical book-board of five, consisting of Doctors Albert VanderVeer, Samuel B. Ward, Henry Hun, George E. Gorham, and Arthur W. Elting. This board meets on the first Tuesday of each month, to select books and advise in other matters pertaining to the library. They go over the weekly lists of medical books, printed by the Library of Congress, consider suggestions of readers and subscriptions to new periodicals.

The council, composed of our most prominent physicians, has faithfully attended monthly meetings, and their advice and deep interest have done much to further the interests of the library.

A regular library department in the Albany Medical Annals, publishes lists of new books, periodicals, gifts, and any other items of interest to the profession.

With an income so small and uncertain, more has been done in building up the library than could have been expected. Gifts have come from physicians in Albany, from medical societies, and from heirs of deceased physicians, so that the library now contains 12,870 volumes, 6,500 pamphlets, and regularly receives 300 current periodicals. This does not include books on chemistry, biology, zoology, biography and other allied subjects, which are shelved in the general library and are available to physicians and students. There are also many duplicates, but owing to lack of space for shelving, many are packed in boxes, and others stored outside the capitol with other duplicates of the State Library, and we are unable to get at them.

There is a complete author and subject catalogue of books and periodicals, and we are starting a catalogue of complete sets of periodicals not yet in the library, but in the private collections

of Albany physicians willing to loan them to the State Library when needed.

The reading room is on the main floor of the State Library, and in it are shelved the current numbers of the periodicals, the most used reference books and books published during the last ten or twelve years. The older books and bound periodicals are shelved in adjoining rooms. The reading room is open every week day, for readers and borrowers, from eight in the morning till ten at night. It is well patronized by physicians, students of the Albany Medical College, nurses and to a certain extent by the general public, for while the library is intended primarily for the use of the medical profession, the general public is freely admitted.

Outside Albany registered physicians and institutions willing to comply with the rules may borrow books by paying the postage or express. There can be no doubt that when the library can furnish the best literature on the subject, its great public value will be realized by physicians throughout the State and it will be freely used.

We have the nucleus of a good library and the active interest of the leading physicians. All that is now needed is more room and larger appropriations which, without doubt, will come soon.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE RUSH MONUMENT.
By ALBERT T. HUNTINGTON,
Brooklyn, N. Y.

Twenty years ago, at a meeting of the American Medical Association, held in Washington, D. C., Commodore Albert Leary Gihon, medical director, U. S. Navy, presented the following resolution:

"Resolved, That a Committee of seven be appointed to report next year on the subject of the erection of a monument to Dr. Benjamin Rush, in Washington."

The following year, in 1885, the Committee, of which Dr. Gihon was Chairman, reported that the proposed monument would cost approximately $45,000 and offered the following resolutions:

"Resolved, That this Association undertake to erect a statue to Dr. Benjamin Rush in the city of Washington by members of the profession of medicine in the United States;

"Resolved, That the necessary funds for this purpose shall be obtained by subscriptions limited to one dollar from each

physician and student of medicine in the United States; and by voluntary donations of such additional sums as may be tendered by persons interested in the work."

Five years later, in 1890, only $1,000 had been raised, and Dr. Gihon stated in his report:

"Your Committee find themselves, unfortunately, not able to report progress, measuring the actual progression during the past year by their several expectancies of life. They cannot beguile themselves into the belief that, at the present rate, any of them can ever hope to see the work completed upon which they set out with such enthusiastic confidence five years ago.

"When the American Medical Association convened in Washington in 1884, its members from every State and Territory almost forgot the professional reason of their assembly in gazing upon the objects of interest presented to them in that most beautiful of cities. Not by any means the least attractive and admirable of these objects, which appealed to the national pride of the visitors from whatever quarter and corner of the Union, were the statues of the men whose lives are part of the nation's history, and whose names are household words in every village that boasts a school. These effigies of heroes and patriots had been judiciously distributed over widely distant parts of the city, in conspicuous sites at the intersections of great thoroughfares whose admirable topographical arrangement, giving the eye full sweep in every direction, enabled them to be seen from many far points. Here the stranger was confronted by a monument in marble or bronze or some one of the famous executive heads of the government; there by the martial figure of a military chieftain or naval captain. The contour of the Corcoran Art Gallery, embellished with marked appropriateness with marble statues of the world's great artists, had prominent among them their American compeer, Thomas Crawford. At the portals of the Supreme Court of the United States sat the counterpart in bronze of its own greatest Chief Justice, John Marshall, the Law's illustrious exponent; and on the green mall before the halls of Science stood, in silent dignity, the form of the scientist, Joseph Henry, American by nativity, cosmopolitan in fame. Besides these and others already there, were soon to be, the visitor was told, Religion's testimonial of Wesley and Philanthropy's tribute to Peabody, while even a few deaf-mutes were planning, and have since completed, a statue of their great teacher, Thomas Gallaudet, exemplifying Education's contribution to our national renown.

"But nowhere was to be seen, nor had yet been suggested, any evidence in stone or metal that our profession had had its memorable man. Even within the Memorial Hall of the Capitol, among the eminent citizens whose statues had been contributed, two by each State, there was no physician. So notable was this lack that the query suggested itself, Is it a fact that among the builders of this nation Medicine has not furnished one? Have only painters and sculptors, presidents and lawmakers, generals and admirals, scientists and discoverers, teachers and divines, philanthropists and politicians, deserved this recognition from our country? Has there been no great doctor in medicine whose life. has been as exemplary as theirs? None who has, like them, merited the crown of the patriot? None whose name has been known beyond the narrow circle of his own home?

"Probably the medical residents of Washington felt the more keenly the omission of which they were daily reminded, of a memorial of a member of their own fraternity; and when, as one of these, your reporter, broached the matter to several of his fellow members, he was urged by them to bring it at once before the Association, which he accordingly did in the resolution that led to the establishment of the Committee who are now before you.

"It was beyond question that the medical profession of the United States had within its fold in the first days of the Republic, as it has to-day, at the opening of its second century, men who were and are the peers of those in any other profession or vocation in life; but it is unfortunately true that our profession is strangely indifferent to the assertion of its proper exalted place in the social system. While in this country the physician does not meekly acquiesce in the priority of rank and precedence elsewhere given to others of far less noble occupation, we, nevertheless, do join in hurrahing over generals and admirals, and neglect to do conspicuous honor to the equally great men in our own ranks. Yet where can there be found among the patriot heroes of the Revolution a grander figure than that of Benjamin Rush? Who so preeminently worthy of representing the profession of medicine among the mighty men of mark of the era of our own independence? In honoring him medicine is honored and ourselves, as members of that profession, each also honored."

Year after year the medical profession was appealed to with the result that only about $3,000 was added to the fund in seven years. In his presidential address before the semi-centennial meeting of the Association at Philadelphia, in 1897, Dr. Nicholas

Senn said, "I have mentioned Benjamin Rush in this address in various connections, but I feel constrained to refer to him once more regarding a movement initiated by Dr. A. L. Gihon to erect to his memory a suitable monument in the city of Washington. . It is only recently that the disciples of Hahnemann have erected a beautiful statue to the memory of the erratic renegade of the regular medical profession, the founder of a medical sect. What have the people done to immortalize the name of the greatest physician this country has ever produced, the man who had the honor and courage to sign the Declaration of Independence? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Is it not time that the American Medical Association should take hold in earnest to correct this wrong and remove from the medical history of this country a blemish that has been permitted to remain too long? Can we afford to let this semi-centennial celebration go by without securing sufficient funds to erect a suitable monument to the memory of Benjamin Rush? No! a thousand times no! Loosen your purse strings and let the people of this country know that the profession is loyal to one of its greatest lights. See to it that the capital city will soon be graced by a magnificent statue of the idol of the American profession, the patriot-physician, and one of the greatest benefactors of our country-Benjamin Rush."

This stirring appeal, coupled with Dr. Gihon's report, resulted in a motion that the Association proceed at once to raise $100,000 for the Rush Monument Fund. Colorado pledged their State for one-fiftieth of the amount, namely, $2,000, and on a roll call of all the States each one pledged its quota of the total amount, many of the pledges being for $2,000 from each State.

Yet two years later, after fifteen years of persistent, earnest effort, Dr. Gihon's report, embodying his resignation as Chairman of the Committee, is pathetic. He wrote as follows:

"You may remember the enthusiasm which prevailed at the meeting of the Association at Philadelphia when the sum of $100,000 was fixed by common consent as the amount which should be contributed by the profession to erect a suitable memorial, not alone of the great medical patriot of the Revolution, but of the part which the profession of medicine represented by him had had in the foundation of this great Republic, and as the expression of the patriotic sentiments and love of country of the medical men of the present day. You must also recollect how the delegates from State after State rose and pledged their several constituencies, each for its quota for this commendable project.