The New International Encyclopædia/Massachusetts Medical Society

MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY. An association with headquarters in Boston, established in November, 1771, and incorporated November 1, 1781, making it the oldest State organization of the kind that has met regularly from the date of founding. Its charter was signed by Samuel Adams as president of the Senate, and John Hancock as Governor of the Commonwealth. Its fellows may include all respectable physicians and surgeons of the State, and in 1884 the motion was carried to admit women to membership. Its charter gave it authority to examine all candidates for the practice of medicine and surgery. The society has issued a number of valuable publications, including The Medical Communications, and The Publications of the Massachusetts Medical Society, a Pharmacopœia, and many reports and essays.