When you paid me the honor of asking me to present this lecture, you will remember that I did not delay in my acceptance of your invitation. Aside from the distinction enjoyed by your society, the realization that I was following men like Thayer, William Mayo, Charles Martin, Walter Cannon, George Minot and Ludvig Hektoen, who, in addition to their eminence in medicine had been, and are, much esteemed friends, gave me a thrill of pleasure. The pleasure, however, was tinged with fear—that I should prove a very unworthy follower of colleagues whose names will pass into history as having contributed to the greatness of medicine.
To some who listen to me and wonder that I choose so topical a subject for my address as the relations between the doctor and the state, I would excuse myself by saying that I believe the present situation in respect of these two