the sanitary condition of the metropolitan dairies.

"Many tuberculous cows have been weeded out, and as time permits he will devote special attention to this disease among cows.

Thus it will be seen that, notwithstanding Koch's dictum as to the small importance of this portion of the work, steps are being taken to minimise whatever risk exists, at least within the metropolitan area."

Already the Act has been fruitful, and the clauses compelling notification and disinfection will prove each year more fully their inestimable value.

In the fight against tuberculosis we would

place as of prime importance, sanitation and legislation, and second to that we would place the institution of sanatoria. More than six years ago a home for consumptives was opened at Belair, seven miles from Adelaide. It was founded and endowed by the late Mr. and Mrs. James Brown. Originally built to accommodate 16 patients, it has been increased till at the present time there are 28 inmates, and when two new wings-one in process of construction and one contemplated-are complete, we will have a sanatorium to accommodate 50 patients, situated in one of the best climates possible, and constructed and equipped for the most part in the most approved manner, second to none in the Australian States.

A private sanatorium is contemplated, and will probably be opened by the end of the

summer.

The results obtained at the Belair sanatorium cannot be compared with those of German sanatoria, for patients are taken in all stages, and many have been allowed to remain to the end rather than send them to unsuitable homes. Nearly 250 patients have been treated, the average stay being four months, only about 40 patients have been discharged as cured, the greater number of which have remained well ever since, while a great many more have been so much improved as to be able to return to their work. It is impossible to exaggerate the value of such a sanatorium. Not only are patients isolated and many cured, but it serves as a centre for the dissemination of knowledge concerning the treatment and prevention of consumption, not only the patients, but their friends also have firmly impressed upon them the value of fresh air and cleanliness, and have an object lesson as to the amount of exposure that the human body can endure with advan tage.

The medical profession cannot alone carry on the fight to a successful issue, they must have

the assistance of well-informed laymen, and for this purpose a society, on the lines of the National Society for the Prevention of Consumption will shortly be inaugurated.

Another matter of prime importance is the care of incurable cases, especially those having no suitable homes. The Government have the matter under consideration, and intend shortly to provide the necessary accommodation.

When these various schemes are in full working order, South Australia will be prepared to carry on the fight against tuberculosis in real earnest.

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION NEWS.

PROCEEDINGS OF AUSTRALASIAN BRANCHES.

Victoria

THE annual meeting of the Victorian Branch of the British Medical Association was held at the Vienna Café on 20th December. The President (Dr. Neild) was in the chair.

The TREASURER (Dr. Cuscaden) read a statement of

accounts, which showed a balance to the credit of the Society of £192 2s. 4d., with an increase of 20 new members.

The election of office-bearers then took place, with the following result-President, Dr. Macansh (Brighton); Vice-President, Dr. Weigall; Council. Dr. Neild, Dr. Willis, Dr. Dyring, Dr. Ramsay; Hon. Treasurer, Dr. Cuscaden; Local Editor Australasian Medical Gazette, Dr. Bryant; Hon. Secretary, Dr. Vance.

The report of Council for year 1901 was then presented by the Secretary, and the business of the meeting concluded with the address of the retiring President (Dr. Neild). See page 1.

On the invitation of Dr. Neild, the members partook of a nicely-arranged supper, at which the healths of the retiring President (Dr. Neild) and the newly elected President were proposed and received with great good will. The healths of the other office-bearers were also honored in a similar fashion, and with the expression of feeling that all old troubles might pass away, and the profession, as a whole, might come into closer communion for their common good, the meeting broke up.

REPORT OF COUNCIL FOR YEAR 1901.

"In presenting the annual report to the members of the Victorian Branch, your Council have very great pleasure in congratulating them on the very successful year which the Association has passed through. Not only have a large number of new members been elected, but several old members, who saw fit some time ago to resign their membership, have again rejoined the

Branch.

"Many events of national importance have happened during the year, not the least of them being the visit of His and Her Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York to our shores. Your Council, on behalf of the

Branch, presented them with an address of welcome, which we learned was greatly admired by them.

"The Ballarat and Launceston Branches have had a most successful year. Their numbers are steadily increasing, and they are doing an immense amount of good.

"In July last a new sub-Branch was founded in the

Western District. Some 14 or 15 members have already joined, and the Branch promises to be a great success. Your Council takes this opportunity of congratulating the medical men in the Western District on their spirit, and to wish them all success in their endeavour.

"Turning to the work proper of the Association, many matters of importance have engaged the attention of your Council. First, regarding medical ethics. Several unfortunate cases of this nature have been considered during the year. The decisions which your Council saw fit to give have in all cases, we have learned, given satisfaction.

66

"A determined attempt was made by the proprietor of a so-called Drink Cure to sell the same to the Victorian Government for a large sum of money. The prompt action taken by your Council in the matter not only prevented this, but at the same time caused a Board of Investigation to be appointed. Although the Board is not all that might be desired, we are sure it will enter upon its duties fully resolved to investigate the matter thoroughly, and not be deceived by 'humbug.'

"The opinion of the various medical societies throughout the States is to be asked at the next Congress in Hobart regarding the advisability of forming an Australasian Medical Association. As you are aware, the Victorian Branch has resolved to give a full measure of support to so desirable an object.

"Last October a request was received from the medical men practising in Inverell, New South Wales, asking for the support of your Branch in the action they were taking against the clubs of the district. Your Council conveyed to them their sympathy, and at the same time resolved to do all in their power to assist them in their struggle.

"Coming to the internal affairs of the Association, we have great pleasure in informing you that the Branch is in a strong financial position, having close upon £200 to our credit. This desirable state of affairs is in a very large measure due to the great care exercised over the funds of the Association by your Hon. Treasurer. On the removal of the Austral Salon from their rooms, your Council made a most advantageous arrangement with the Architect's Society for the use of their premises for our meetings. These both, as regarding situation and convenience have given the greatest satisfaction. A large number of most interesting papers were read during the year. The attendance of members, however, was not as large We well know that the time as we should like to see. of medical men is fully occupied with professional duties; surely however, it is not asking too much from them to give only two hours once a month to the affairs of the Association. Your Council cannot close their report without referring to the valuable services rendered to the Branch by the retiring President, Dr. Neild. His time and advice have always been available to further the interests of the Association. and we trust he may be long spared to be a source of strength to the Council of the Victorian Branch. Your Council, in conclusion, trusts you will give to their successors the same measure of honest support as you have been pleased to accord to them during the year." (Signed)

"J. E. NEILD, President."

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"W. B. VANCE, Hon. Secretary."

Queensland.

A GENERAL meeting of the Branch was held on Friday, January 3rd, 1902, in the rooms, Treasury Buildings, the following members being present:Dr. P. Bancroft (President), Drs. Hopkins, Taylor, Marks, Robertson, Wield, Sutton, Hawkes, Culpin, Espie Dods, Eleanor Greenham, Flynn, Francis, Lockhart Gibson, Wilton Love, Halford, Connolly, Clowes and Brockway (Hon. Sec.).

Dr. HAWKES exhibited a uterus removed for fibroid, shewing calcareous degeneration.

Dr. FLYNN exhibited a large body, which weighed 460 grains when fresh, passed per rectum by a patient who had suffered from gallstones for eighteen months, and who had been without symptoms for four months since its passage. The treatment of the case had been

by olive oil.

The SECRETARY exhibited, for Mr. Rands, GovernGuinea, and read the following notes :ment Geologist, specimens of edible clay from New

NOTES ON CLAY EATEN AS A RELISH WITH FOOD BY THE NATIVES OF THE BETURA RIVER, BRITISH NEW GUINEA.

IN the annual report on British New Guinea for the year 1899 to 1900, Mr. Robert Bruce, who resides at Gebaro Island, at the mouth of the Fly River, reports to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor on this subject as follows:

"I got a curious thing here this time. There was hanging from the roof what looked like a string of white sausages. I asked by signs for them and they were brought to me. I found they looked like pipeclay, moulded, with a string running through their centre, which joined a lot together. After a lot of inquiries as to its use, I found that it was scraped down with a shell and used as relish to food. I tasted it, and fancied it contained arsenic. They gave me one, which, unfortunately was lost in the boat. Lots of the natives of Torres Straits and New Guinea eat red-fat earth, which contains iron. The women of the Straits eat it when pregnant so as to make the child light skinned, etc. This is the first time I have seen white clay eaten in New Guinea."

The Betura River is a tributary of the Fly River, and joins the latter on its southern side, opposite Canoe Island, between thirty and forty miles up from the mouth. It is situated towards the south-west of British New Guinea in latitude 8° 20' S., longitude, 148° 45'. The earth was analysed by the Government Analyst, and it proves to be practically a silicate of iron and alumina. The following is the analysis :Silica (SiO2) 62.0 per cent. Iron and Alumina (FeOg, Al2O3) 307 per cent. Traces Lime (Ca O)... Magnesia (MgO) 1.8 per cent. Moisture at 100° C. 2.4 per cent. Loss at a dull red heat 4.3 per cent.

...

...

...

...

The clay evidently contains very ltttle organic matter in its composition-under 2 per cent. The sample was specially tested for arsenic, but none was found. A sample of the so-called "red fat" earth forwarded to me consists of steatite, which is a hydrous silicate of magnesia.

The Secretary was instructed to thank Mr. Rands for the very interesting specimens and notes.

The SECRETARY announced the resignations of Drs. Comyn and Dixon, in consequence of these gentlemen having left the State.

It was proposed, in reply to a letter from the collector of the Queen Victoria Memorial Fund, that the Branch do not subscribe to the fund.

Drs. TAYLOR and SUTTON thought that a sum of five guineas should be subscribed by the Branch, and moved to that effect.

Dr. HOPKINS questioned the right of the Branch to devote its funds to any such object.

He

Dr. LOCKHART GIBSON thought that individual members might be deterred from subscribing privately if a subscription were sent from the Branch. urged the importance of the fund, and stated that the medical profession was already very well represented in the subscription list.

Dr. WILTON LOVE considered that if any subscription were sent it should not be less than 25 guineas.

Dr. BROCKWAY thought it would be a good plan to collect private subscriptions from members, and to donate the sum thus collected as coming from the Branch.

It was resolved, after discussion, that a sum not exceeding £12 be devoted to the purchase of journals and periodicals for the library, provided that the journals were not removed from the room.

Dr. FRANCIS gave notice of motion to change the rules of the library to that effect.

The Curator of the library and museum (Dr. HAWKES) reported that seven journals had been promised by members of the Branch.

It was resolved that a sum not exceeding £10 be devoted to the purchase of necessary jars and material for the museum.

Dr. HAWKES suggested that a special effort should be made during the year to obtain specimens of intestinal parasites.

Dr. CULPIN introduced the subject of meeting in consultation the medical officers of the Brisbane Associated Friendly Societies' Medical Institute, and asked the Branch to endorse the resolution passed by the Queensland Medical Society in 1896, which was as follows: "That the Queensland Medical Society views with disfavour any of its members meeting the medical officers connected with the Brisbane Friendly Societies' Medical Institute in consultation, in view of the degrading conditions imposed upon their medical officers by this body.' He said that he had asked the Secretary of the Brisbane Associated Friendly Societies' Medical Institute to supply him with a copy of the agreement between them and their medical officers, but had not been granted one, as the Secretary stated that a new agreement was in course of preparation, which would not contain the terms objected to by the profession.

Dr. TAYLOR pointed out the difference between the Brisbane Associated Friendly Societies' Medical Institute and that of Toowoomba, to the advantage of the latter. He thought that, if medical officers of the Medical Institute were not met in consultation-and he refused to meet them-they should not be met after they had left their service with the Institute, until some number of years had elapsed.

Dr. WILTON LOVE reviewed the circumstances of the foundation of the Institute, and stated that its formation had enabled the Friendly Societies to dictate terms to the medical profession, and that many Friendly Societies were seceding from "private societies to the Institute. His chief objections to the Institute were (1) that the sum paid per member to its medical officers was less than that paid to medical officers of societies not connected with the Institute, (2) that no one was excluded from membership of the Institute, whatever his income or position. He said

that the officials of the Institute did not wish it to be known that their medical officers were not met in consultation by other members of the profession. He thought that to have been medical officer to the Institute was sufficient slur upon a man, and that further ostracism after he had severed his connection with the Institute was unnecessary.

Dr. CONNOLLY thought that some years should elapse before an ex-medical officer of the Institute was met in consultation by the profession, and that, in order to give every member of the Branch an opportunity of stating his views on the question before the Branch, the resolutions passed at the meeting should not be put into effect until they had been ratified at the next meeting; and was inclined to think that it might be wiser to defer any action until the new agreement spoken of by Dr. Culpin had been formulated by the Institute.

Dr. LOCKHART GIBSON agreed originally to the resolution of the Queensland Medical Society because of the degrading nature of the agreement, and thought that it might be wise to approach the Medical Institute in order to lay before them the views of the Branch. He thought that (1) The agreement should be so framed that it could be signed without loss of dignity by any member of the profession; and that (2) there should be a wage limit; and that, if ostracism were decided upon, it should be carried out by every member of the Branch, and was personally of the opinion that a medical man should not agree to act upon the medical staff of a Hospital which had upon its staff a member of the profession who was in the habit of meeting in consultation medical officers connected with the Institute.

Dr. HOPKINS considered that the resolution passed by the Queensland Medical Society was not sufficiently stringent, in that no penalty attached to members who disregarded it. He emphatically thought that men who met the Institute men should themselves not be met. His great objection to the Institute was that money was being made by the Institute out of the work done by its medical officers, and he thought that there should be a time limit before an ex-medical officer of the Institute was met in consultation by other members of the profession, if, indeed, they should ever be so met.

Dr. SUTTON remarked that the objections to the Institute were (1) that the agreement was degrading, (2) the medical officers were exploited for the financial benefit of the Institute. He thought that the medical officers of the Institute should be ostracised by the profession, and this ostracism removed in each case only by a special resolution of the Branch.

Dr. HAWKES agreed with Dr. Hopkins, and related a similar condition of affairs as having existed in Rockhampton.

Dr. HALFORD thought that in fairness to the medical officers at present under agreement with the Institute a date should be fixed after which the resolution should take effect, in order that they might have an opportunity of severing their connection with the Institute if they wished to do so and if they were ignorant of the light in which their appointments were held by the profession.

Dr. BROCKWAY thought that it would be unwise to defer action until the Institute had framed a new agreement, but rather that it would be well to pass a stringent resolution and forward a copy of it to the officials of the Institute, since such pressure from the profession might produce real alterations in the present agreement. He cordially agreed with the suggestion that no ex-medical officer should be met in consultation

an

until a special resolution to that effect had been passed by the Branch. He suggested that whenever advertisement calling for applications for the position of medical officer to the Institute appeared in the lay press, an advertisement setting forth the resolution of the Branch should also be published in order to acquaint intending applicants of the attitude of the profession towards the Institute.

After further discussion of a general nature it was unanimously resolved :

1. That members of the Branch shall not meet in

consultation the medical officers of the Brisbane Associated Friendly Societies' Medical Institute.

2. That members of the Branch shall not meet in consultation medical men who meet in consultation the medical officers of the Brisbane Associated Friendly Societies' Medical Institute.

3. That, except by a special resolution of the Branch at a meeting called for the purpose, the members of the Branch shall not meet in consultation medical men who now hold, or shall have held, the position of medical officer to the Brisbane Associated Friendly

Societies' Medical Institute.

1. That resolution 3 shall also apply to medical men referred to in resolution 2.

5. That the foregoing resolutions be not put into effect until they have been ratified at the next general meeting (Friday, February 7th, 1902), and until each member of the Branch in Brisbane has been made acquainted with them.

6. That a printed copy of the foregoing resolutions be sent to every medical practitioner in Brisbane.

In consequence of the lateness of the hour it was decided not to read the paper on "Intussusception" contributed by Dr. Encas McDonnell, Toowoomba, until the next meeting.

New South Wales.

THE regular monthly meeting of the Branch was held at the Royal Society's Room, on Friday, 20th December, 1901, Dr. Rennie, Vice-President, in the chair. There were also present Drs. Crago, Freyer, H. R. Nolan, Charles MacLaurin, Hinder, Sinclair Gillies, Gordon Craig, Doak, Bowker, Maitland, Burge, Mills, Binney. Sandes, Litchfield, Abbott, Pockley, Cleland, Herschel Harris, M'Donagh, Sawkins, Dixson, G. A. Marshall, McMurray, McKay, E. S. Stokes, Corlette, Taylor Young, J. Morton, McLean, Bennet, Blackburn, MacPherson, Professor Anderson Stuart, the Hon. J. B. Nash.

Visitor Dr. Kate Hogg.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The CHAIRMAN announced the election of Drs. Tilley and Clatworthy and the nomination of Drs. Kate Hogg, W. J. Durack, and Kelly.

Dr. HANKINS read "Notes on a Case of Thyrotomy and Evisceration of Larynx for Epithelioma." (See page 14.) The patient was examined by the members. Professor STUART congratulated Dr. Hankins upon the simple contrivance made for the examination of

the cases.

Mr. CRAGO said he also congratulated Mr. Hankins on his device for demonstrating the interior of the larynx to a second person, and he could go further than Professor Stuart and say that it was a success, as he had had an opportunity of viewing the larynx through it. He desired to congratulate Mr. Hankins on the case itself. He (Mr. Crago) had a few weeks previously assisted another surgeon at a similar

operation which had also done well. He thought it the only efficient way of removing intra-laryngeal growths.

The CHAIRMAN said he would ask Dr. Bowker to read his paper, and then the discussion on Dr. Hinder's paper, which had been postponed from last meeting could be taken with it.

Dr. BOWKER read a paper on "A Case of cholecysto-colostomy, with some remarks surgery of the bile ducts." (See page 8.)

on the

illustrating the surgical treatment of gall bladder and Dr. HINDER read a summary of his paper on "Cases bile ducts." (See page 3.)

Dr. MAITLAND thought Dr. Bowker was to be congratulated on the success of his case. It was one which presented many difficulties, owing to the dense adhesions and matting together of the tissues. He had had the privilege of assisting him at the second operation. After listening to Dr. Bowker's remarks on the treatment of cholelithiasis, a branch of surgery in which he had had a large experience, there could be no doubt that he regarded the treatment of such conditions purely as surgical, and in this he was sure most of them would agree. Dr. Hinder had said that evening, and also in his paper which was read at the last meeting of the Association, that gall stone colic was always due to cholecystitis. This explanation of the colic given by Dr. Hinder was that given by Riedel and Kehr, Dr. Bowker, on the other hand, stated that the colic was due to the obstruction, and the efforts of the gall bladder to get rid of that obstruction. He would like to ask Dr. Bowker why he favoured the latter theory? it was this: Did he think the increased risk attached He would like to ask Dr. Bowker another question, and to the so-called "ideal" operation justified its being done, even if the conditions be favourable? The speaker's own experience was against it, but he would like to hear Dr. Bowker's opinion on the point.

Dr. MCKAY saw the profession was agreed upon the brilliancy of the operation described by Dr. Bowker. He remembered one case when he opened up he had found a considerable quantity of pus in the gall bladder. The patient had now a fistula, what was the best thing to do now, let the fistula remain, or operate with the chance of a peritonitis?

Dr. SINCLAIR GILLIES considered that in the majority of cases biliary colic was due to the attempted passage of a gall stone and not to catarrhal cholecystitis, though the latter sometimes produced mild attacks of colic. In favour of gall stones being the cause of the attack was their presence in the motions after an attack and the analogy to renal and vesical colic. If as Dr. Hinder held, biliary calculi were always secondary to septic infection and consequent catarrh of the gall bladder, and if biliary colic was due to cholecystitis and not to the calculi, how were the cases explained where after death calculi were found and no history existed of colic during life. Such cases formed from 7 to 20 per cent. of female post mortems. He asked Dr. Hinder what proof he had that in cases where cholecystitis was present at operations, the septic infection was not secondary to the irritation and blocking of the duct by the calculi as sometimes occurred in the renal and vesical calculus. He did not consider the position proved that catarrhal cholecystitis was always due to microbic infections. As regards medical treatment he considered the imbibing of large quantities of distilled water as the best solvent for calculi. Cold water enemata were often of use.

Dr. CHARLES MACLAURIN pointed out that the effect of morphia was not only to relieve the pain of gall-stones. but actually to cure the attack for the

time being. This seemed to him pretty conclusive evidence that the pain was not merely due to inflammation on which morphia would have no curative, but merely an anodyne effect; but was really due to muscular spasm, which the morphia would relax. Pain in biliary colic strongly resembled other pain found in hollow viscera; as for instance, the heat in certain aortic lesions, the uterus in parturition, etc. He saw no reason to postulate an inflammatory cause when a purely mechanical one seemed to suffice.

Dr. HINDER, in reply to Dr. Gillies, stated that it was the stone that caused the patient severe biliary colic. He advocated operation on the gall bladder whether there was stone there or not, to relieve any abnormal condition of that organ. As for the enemata of water, distilled or otherwise, he had not much faith in such treatment, owing to the time it wonld entail to get any effect. Dr. McKay's case had been treated in the best way under the circumstances. The speaker believed when there was stone in the gall bladder of duct to remove it at once. Dr. Bowker's was an extremely good case, admirably conducted.

Dr. BOWKER, in reply to Dr. Gillies, as to whether gall stones were the result of cholecystitis or occasioned cholecystitis. He had not stated that gall stones caused colic, or that cholecystitis caused colic; he said obstruction caused colic. The speaker did not think enemata of water would cause the gall bladder to contract. He considered that Dr. Hinder and he were both working from the same stand-point. A gall stone might be present in the bladder without causing much trouble.

Dr. RENNIE said the meeting had been called at the suggestion of their late President (Dr. Coutie), who had written from Victoria directing attention to the proposed Australian Medical Association, and suggesting that the New South Wales Branch should hold a meeting and institute a full discussion on the matter for the instruction of those members of the Branch who would attend the meeting of the Medical Congress at Hobart, so that the views of the members on the matter might be expressed at the Congress. Accordingly the Council had decided to call the meeting that night. He (the speaker) would move a resolution, and they would then have an opportunity of discussing

it.

The General Secretary (Dr. Gregory Sprott) had communicated with the speaker, and stated that the time fixed for the discussion of this question was the last evening of the Congress. The discussion on cancer was to be held on the Tuesday and Friday evenings, then would be taken the proposed Australian Medical Association at the close of the discussion on cancer if time would allow, but it was quite possible that the question might not come on at all. The proposal, it had been intimated, had not received as much support as was expected, and it was not likely to be carried by a sufficient majority to make the scheme a success. The question had emanated from the Victorian Medical Society, the oldest society of the kind in Victoria. The Victorian Branch of the British Medical Association had never been so influential in that State as the older body, and there had always been a certain amount of antagonism between the two, and during the last

Dr. SAWKINS referred to a case where rupture of the diaphragm, and consequent diaphragmatic hernia ensued as a result of external injuries, but without any fracture of the ribs.

Dr. BOWKER considered that Drs. Clubbe and

Gillies were to be congratulated on the diagnosis of the case, seeing that according to statistics, only about five per cent. of cases of diaphragmatic hernia were diagnosed during life.

Dr. MILLS congratulated the authors on the diagnosis of their case. He remembered when he was House Surgeon at Prince Alfred Hospital admitting a man who had been crushed between a cart and a gate. He was collapsed and presented obscure symptoms, which were only explained at post-mortem examination as being due to diaphragmatic hernia.

Dr. SINCLAIR GILLIES considered Dr. Sawkins' case of great interest as showing the possibility of rupture of the diaphragm without injury to the ribs. He greatly regretted the enforced absence of Dr. Clubbe, to whom was due the greater part of whatever credit there was in the case.

A SPECIAL general meeting of the Branch was held at the Branch Offices, 121 Bathurst-street, Sydney, on Monday, 10th January, 1902. Present: Dr. G. E. Rennie (Vice-President) in the chair; Drs. W. G. Armstrong, Sinclair Gillies, Macpherson, Sydney Jones, Hankins, Arthur. J. M. Gill, Crago, West, Nolan, G. Hall, Pockley, Kirkland, Todd, Hinder, Mills, Abbott, G. A. Marshall, Read, Dixson, Worrall, Gledden, Bennet, Fiaschi, Shand, J. A. Dick, Flynn, Kate Hogg. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The CHAIRMAN announced the election of Dr. Kate Hogg and Dr. W. J. Durack.

the Victorian Branch of the British Medical Association, which had tended to increase the influence of the Victorian Medical Society. It was this Society that had proposed instituting this Australian Medical Association, which was to be established on the same lines as the British Medical Association-to hold annual

meetings, the Association to take charge of these Congresses instead of a shifting committee. In that connection, even in England, the annual meetings of the British Medical Association were controlled by local committees. He thought that most of them would agree that the suggestion to hold annual meetings instead of triennial ones would be a mistake, the latter being much more likely to be successful. Such

a proposal would necessarily destroy the existing branches of the British Medical Association in all the different States. Personally, he could not see what advantage was to be gained by this proposal, rather a loss all round by such a procedure. It would be far better to work on with the existing Branches of British Medical Association in the different States, carrying on the work as in the past. He moved the resolution, "That the New South Wales Branch of the British Medical Association, after discussion, is of opinion that the proposal to form an Australian Medical Association is premature."

Dr. POCKLEY inquired how the matter came before the members.

Dr. RENNIE stated that the General Secretary of the Congress (Dr. Gregory Sprott) had sent round a circular letter, asking for an expression of opinion on the subject.

Mr. CRAGO seconded the resolution. He said the federation of the colonial or State Branches into an Australasian Branch, which should hold its annual meetings in the different capitals, was brought prominently before them by the late Dr. Huxtable. He (Mr. Crago) had discussed the matter with Dr. Lendon, of