As the national delegate for Canada to the Administrative Council of the International Society, I was privileged to represent the Canadian members at the 36th International Congress in Tunisia. The council holds its annual meeting at the biennial congresses in congress years and in Paris in the non-congress years. Attendanc is, incidently, at the delegate’s own expense. Among the items discussed at the council meeting in Tunisia in September 1998, the following will be of interest to Canadian members. First: it was confirmed that the international Congress in 2000 will be held in Galveston, Texas, 10-15 September, with Dr. Chester Burns in charge of local arrangements. Second, Dr. Jean-Pierre Tricot of Belgium has been elevated from Secretary-General to Vice President. Dr. Alain Lellouch of Paris will assume the office of Secretary-General. Third:Dr. John Cule of Wales, co-editor of the Society’s journal, Vesalius reported that the journal is now in a sound financial position and has established itself as highly credible with the membership.

Canada was represented at the Tunisian congress by Drs. Robert E. Beamish, Toby Gelfand, Sotiris Kotsopoulos and myself. Bob Beamish and Toby Gelfand presented papers that were very well received. A major focus of the meeting was on Arabic medicine which proved particularly interesting and educational for those of us from Western countries. Also of special interest was an excellent symposium on the teaching of the history of medicine to undergraduate medicalstudents by representatives from Great Britain, Italy, Japan,Russia,Turkey, and the United States. Fortunately, the simultaneous translation was of excellent quality. As with most international meetings, glitches did occur in relation to "no shows," late starts, and speakers exceeding their allotted time but we Canadians agreed that, on the whole, it was a good scientific meeting.

As is customary, the third day of the five-day meeting was taken up with aill-day general-interest tours of which one had a choice between two. Our tour included the port and ruins of ancient Carthage, the National Institute of Archaeology, the Bardo Museum with its collection of ancient Roman mosaics which are considered the most extensive and best preserved in the world, and the Medina (old city) and Souks (market) of Tunis. Predominantly Islamic, but apparently without any extremist element, one felt completely safe in Tunisia and enthralied by its historic past. The convention hotel, situated on the shore of the Mediterranean, was palatial but reasonable in price. The evening receptions, closing banquet, accompanying persons program and Hie hospitality of our Tunisian hosts were exceptional.

Although the Society’s annual membership fee ($50.00 U.S.) is high, largely because of the weakness of the Canadian dollar, it includes a subscription to Vesalius, reduced rates at congresses, and an opportunity to become a part of the world-wide community of medical historians. Attendance at the international congresses also provides an opportunity to visit many of this world’s exotic historical destinations under circumstances are not available to the average traveller.