(a) In addition to the examinations for degree of M.B.

3

Thesis

21

(b) Of these, 3 were amongst the candidates who proposed to go through the examination with the exclusion of Physiology, and 1 was amongst those who, having previously passed the examination with the exclusion of Physiology, presented himself to be examined in Physiology only.

(c) Of these, 10 availed themselves of the option of reserving their examination in Physiology for a future year, and 4, who had previously exercised the same option, passed in Physiology only.

(d) Of these, 44 took M.B. and C.M., 8 M.B. alone, and 3 did not graduate; 1 took M.D. only.

(e) Of these, 67 took M.B. and C.M., 4 M.B. alone, 2 took M.D. (each of the last two having given in a Thesis), and 4 did not graduate.

in July, 1873, the Society renewed their application to the Lord President for support to their Bill equal to that which had been afforded to that of the London University, and to this request his Lordship acceded. He now moved that those letters be entered on the minutes.

Dr. STORRAR Seconded this, and it was carried.
The letters are as follows:-

Apothecaries' Hall, July 19, 1873. My Lord,-The Society of Apothecaries has desired me to communicate with you on the subject of a Bill introduced by the University of London into the House of Commons for removing certain disqualifications which prevented it from uniting with any two or more bodies in a conjoint examining board under the Medical Acts.

This Bill was brought in on the 7th instant, was read a second time on the 11th, passed Committee without amendment on the 15th, and was read a third time and passed on the 16th. No doubt appears to be entertained of its being passed by the House of Lords this session.

Under these circumstances, the Society desires me respectfully to draw your Lordship's attention to the correspondence which passed between the Society and the Medical Department of the Privy Council in 1872 and during the present year, and particularly to the letters addressed to the Society by the direction of your Lordship on June 14, 1872, and March 24, 1873. In deference to the suggestion contained in the letter of June 14, 1872, the Society did not proceed with the Bill which it was about to introduce that session.

Vide foot note (i)

53(k)

72

(f) There were 28 candidates for the degree of M.D. Of these, 24 passed and 4 were remitted in consequence of their theses having been insufficient. (g) Of these, 38 took M.B. and M.C.; 5 M.B. only. (h) Passed M.B. and C.M. also.

(i) Half M.B. Examinations:-Anatomy (Descriptive), of 56 candidates, 18 were rejected, and 38 passed; Chemistry, of 66 candidates, 7 were rejected, and 59 passed; Botany, of 69 candidates, 4 were rejected, and 65 passed; Materia Medica, of 64 candidates, 18 were rejected, and 46 passed; Physics, 47 candidates, all of whom rassed.

(k) Of these, 11 passed at a subsequent examination within the year. (1) Of these, 7 passed at a subsequent examination within the year. (m) Eight of these passed at a subsequent examination within the year.

Acting in the same spirit, the Society, as your lordship will see on referring to the correspondence of 1873, before taking any further steps itself, consulted the Government as to what its own intentions were, and received in reply the communication from the Privy Council of March 24, 1873. Not only did the Society attach the greatest importance to this communication (which was received at the time of the session of the General Medical Council, and laid before that body), but it was regarded by the representatives of the whole medical profession as indicating the policy of the Government on the subject of medical reform.

The Society admits that this letter did not go beyond an expression of what the Government itself was prepared to do; but undoubtedly an inference was drawn from it that the Government would not approve of any measure inconsistent with its own policy.

It would appear from the ease with which the Bill introduced by the University of London is being passed, that the inference drawn by the Society was incorrect.

I am desired, under these circumstances, respectfully to intimate to your Lordship, that the Society will introduce early next year the Bill which it had proposed to introduce last session, but which it refrained from doing in deference to your Lordship's suggestion.

The Society further desires me to express the hope, that in promoting this measure it will receive from the Government the same facilities as have been accorded to the University of London during the progress of their Bill. I have the honour to be, my Lord,

your Lordship's very obedient servant,
(Signed) JAMES RICHARD UPTON,
Clerk of the Society of Apothecaries.

The Lord President of the Privy Council.

Medical Department of the Privy Council Office, July 31, 1873. Sir, I am directed by the Lord President to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th inst., informing his Lordship that the Society of Apothecaries intends early next year to introduce the Bill which it had preposed to introduce last session, and expressing the hope that, in promoting this measure, the Society will receive from the Government the same facilities as have been accorded to the University of London during the passing of their Bill

In reply, his Lordship directs me to inform you that, if such a Bill were introduced by the Society next session, no general measure of medical referm being then before Parliament, the Government would take the same course with regard to it as they have taken with regard to the University of London Bill of this session.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant, The Clerk to the Society of Apothecaries.

(Signed) JOHN SIMON. Mr. BRADFORD said he had another resolution to move, but before doing so he would give the Council a résumé of the further proceedings of the Society of Apothecaries. In April of the present year the Bill as drawn by Mr. Archibald in 1872 was introduced into the House of Commons by Sir John Lubbock, and they were very fortunate in securing the services of so able and generous a supporter, of whose kindness and that of Dr. Lyen Playfair and Mr. Plunkett, he could not speak too highly. The Bill was scarcely introduced into the House when Mr. Stansfeld proposed an amendment which had a most important bearing on the success of the Bill; for if the Society had resisted the amendment of Mr. Stansfeld, there was no doubt the Bill would have been wrecked. The English Branch Council was, on May 26, summoned to consider the Bill, and some important changes were suggested, which were for the most part accepted by the Society. The Bill was, in fact, recast; and Mr. Stansfeld's amendment having in a modified form been introduced into it, power being reserved to the Privy Council, the Bill passed through the House of Commons. Then a letter was written to the President of the Medical Council, pointing out the motives which had guided the Society in their action. That letter was as follows:

Apothecaries' Hall, London, E.C., June 5, 1874.

My Dear Sir,-The Society of Apothecaries has given the fullest consideration to the views expressed on the part of the Branch Medical Council, as to the Society, in their present Bill, obtaining a similar power to that obtained by the University of London last year, namely, the power to make examination by the conjoint board an indispensable condition of being qualified to be registered as an apothecary under the Act of 1858. I may state that the personal feelings of the members of the Society would probably be entirely in accordance with the views entertained by the Branch Medical Council on this point. The Society as a body, are, however, for the following reasons, in a position of considerable difficulty. Before any intimatien of the views of the Branch Medical Council had been made to the Society, they had been obliged to deal with an amendment of a serious nature, proposed by Mr. Stansfeld, with the view of protecting the alleged rights of women: and the Society had succeeded in coming to a satisfactory arrangement with Mr. Stansfeld in reference to that amendment. I will presently point out the difference which exists between the cases of the University of London and the Society of Apothecaries. But I will first -explain that if the Society were to attempt now to introduce a proviso in their Bill, similar to that which exists in the University of London Act, it would be regarded by Mr. Stansfeld as an attempt to take away with one hand what had been conceded by the other, and would be resisted accordingly. I should add, that Sir John Lubbock concurs in the opinion which I am now expressing. The Society is, therefore, unwilling (whatever the personal feelings of the members may be) to run the risk of opposition to their Bill by an attempt to introduce a proviso which does not appear to be an essential feature in their Bill. The following are the distinctions which exit between the position of our Society and the University of London:-(1.) The fact of no woman having obtained a degree or licence from that body, would have rendered it difficult for that sex to obtain a locus standi before Parliament, so as to insist on the preservation of rights the existence of which could not be even alleged. (2.) As regards the two bodies in question, a comparison of the number of persons likely to be affected, on the one hand in the case of the University of London, and on the other hand in the case of our Society, will make it clear, that what could and did pass sub silentio in the former instance, might rouse strong opposition in the latter. It has, I understand, been urged that the two Colleges have pledged themselves, on the completion of the conjoint board, to abstain from conducting separate examinations. That pledge the Society is equally ready to give if they become part of the conjoint board; a pledge in fact that, having joined, they will not (except under compulsion of a mandamus) admit anyone to a separate examination. The two colleges themselves have at present done nothing more. The Society, therefore, for the reasons I have mentioned, are unwilling to imperil their Bill in order to secure what does not appear to them an essential feature of it. I take this opportunity of laying the Bill before you in the form in which it is proposed that it should go through committee, and trust that it may appear in some respects considerably improved by the alterations which have been made, principally at the suggestion of the Branch Council. I must, for obvious reasons, ask you to regard this letter as a private communication, and as not intended for publication. Yours, very faithfully,

caries who had not the qualification of the College of Surgeons If that was so they must be very old members; but, on the other hand, there were many members of the College of Surgeons who had only that one qualification. He had taken the pains to ascertain the number of certificates granted by the Society of Apothecaries during 1865-66, 1866-67, and 1867-68, the result of which was that in those three years 747 persons obtained licences, of whom 721 held other qualifications entitled to registration. Not less than 620 were Members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, about 100 had Scotch or Irish qualifications, only twenty-six appeared to hold no other qualification than that of L.S.A., and not more than ten or eleven of them were found to be resident. In that state of things he thought it would be very unbecoming in the Society of Apothecaries to attempt to set up an examination in surgery. He would now move that the letter from the Society to the President be entered on the minutes, the objection to the publication of it having ceased to exist.

Dr. STORRAR Seconded this, and it was carried.

MR. MATTHEW BASS SMITH.

Dr. ANDREW WOOD asked the representative of the Royal College of Surgeons of England if the name of Matthew Bass Smith, which was removed by the Medical Council from the "Medical Register" at its last session, is still on the roll of Members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Mr. QUAIN stated that the Council of the College of Surgeons in June, 1872, resolved to remove the name of Matthew Bass Smith from the list of its members, in consequence of circumstances which occurred in a trial for manslaughter; but having referred the case to the solicitor of the College, they were informed that the only by-law of the College under which the case could be included did not authorise the Council of the College to take that step. Then in April, 1873, after the action of the General Medical Council in the case, the solicitor of the College of Surgeons, when again applied to, gave his opinion to the same effect. He was, however, glad to say that the Council of the College have had a by-law framed to enable it to attain the object desired; but that delays occurred in obtaining any new by-law, as all such laws required the sanction of high official persons. The Council of the College, however, earnestly desired to obtain power to remove the name of that person and of others in similar circumstances hereafter. Mr. BRADFORD said that Mr. Matthew Bass Smith had had the audacity to summon the secretary of the Society of Apothecaries and the secretary of the Royal College of Surgeons to prove in a court that he was still on their lists. The Council adjourned at six o'clock.

NINTH DAY.-SATURDAY, JULY 18. The Council reassembled at two o'clock.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND.

Dr. APJOHN moved-"Trat the President be requested to ask Mr. Macnamara, for the information of the Medical Council, whether the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has or has not withdrawn from the scheme of conjoint examination adopted by the King and Queen's College of Physicians (June 28, 1872), and agreed to by the University of Dublin, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the Apothecaries' Hall of Ireland, and sanctioned by the General Medical Council (March 31, 1873)."

Mr. MACNAMARA said it was essential for the Council, in order to be in a position to understand his answer to Dr. Apjohn's question, that he should give a brief sketch of the constitution of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. By its charter, its affairs are to be administered by a President, Vice-President, and nineteen members of Council, annually to be elected by the Fellows on the first Monday in June. On the first Monday in June the entire Council went out of office, but were eligible for re-election should they so wish it, and should it so seem fit to the electing body, the Fellows at large. When once the Council was sworn into office it became the executive body of the College for its year of office, and the Fellows at large had no other power than that which he would describe. By a requisition signed by not less than twelve Fellows, and addressed to the President, they might convene a general meeting of the Fellows, and then pass resolutions recommending such or such a course to the Council. Of this privilege the Fellows availed themselves, and at a meeting of the College, held on March 19, passed this resolution "That neither the interests of the profession nor those of the

now before the College." This resolution of the Fellows was brought under the notice of the Council of the College-the executive body of the College at a special meeting of the Council held on March 23, when it was proposed and seconded "That, as the Councils of the College elected in 1871, 1872, and 1873 agreed with the University of Dublin, the King and Queen's College of Physicians, and the Apothecaries' Hall, to form a conjoint scheme of examination for Ireland, which scheme has been confirmed by the existing Council; and as the Council of 1872 has, in the most direct manner, conveyed its sanction and approval of the scheme above noticed to the General Medical Council, which body has declared its approval of it, it is not competent for this Council to recede from its obligations to the medical authorities above named, and to the General Medical Council, without incurring a charge of a breach of faith. That, under such circumstances, this Council, as the executive of the College, feels bound most respectfully to dissent from the recommendation of the College at its meeting held on the 19th inst." To this the following amendment was proposed and seconded:-"That the consideration of the subject be adjourned till after the meeting of the College in May." The amendment having been put from the chair, was declared lost. The original motion having been put from the chair as a substantive motion, was declared carried, and it was then resolved-" That, as this Council is prepared to give its most earnest consideration to the opinions expressed by the Fellows, it is now remitted to a special committee to consider the objections which may be urged against certain of the details set forth in the report of the Committee of Reference, and to state to the Council how far those details may be amended without prejudice to the general principles of the scheme." There seemed to be the most intense difficulty in conveying to the minds of his Irish friends the difference between the conjoint scheme and the plan for the working out of the details of the conjoint scheme. The conjoint scheme and everything connected with it had been sent forward in report after report during the whole time they were negotiating to the Fellows of the College. It was but due to the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons that he should mention that the report was always in the hands of the Fellows several days before the annual meetings took place. Those meetings were always held in May, and the election of the Council took place in June. A week or ten days before the annual meeting they rendered an account of their stewardship in a form which was sent forward, and one of those forms which he held in his hand stated that the conjoint scheme was ready for their inspection, and to carry out the details of the scheme referees were required. The Fellows wrote to the Council calling upon them to appoint referees. Some members of the Council were hostile to the conjoint scheme; others were hostile to the plan of working it-the details-which had never been brought before the General Medical Council, and he had always been under the impression that it was not necessary to bring them before that Council. He tried to impress that upon his friends in Dublin, and he was very happy to find that the opinion he expressed in Dublin had been amply corroborated by what had passed at the Council Board. The referees appointed in pursuance of the direction of the College of Surgeons were himself and another member of that body, and after careful deliberation they brought up a plan for working the conjoint scheme. That plan did not please a number of the Fellows, and they called for a meeting of the College at large, at which they discussed, not the scheme, but the working details of the scheme, and took exception to them, as they had a perfect right to do. Exactly a similar course had been pursued at the College of Physicians. They had taken up the working details of the scheme sanctioned by the General Council. They were only completed on the 7th of the present month, and were put into his hands for the first time during the sittings of the Council. They had not yet been discussed in the Council of the Royal College, but they would be when he returned, and the probability was that they would have conferences to try and adjust the minor difficulties. At their meeting of which he had spoken the resolution proposed and seconded was-"That it would be a breach of faith to go back from what we have done; that under such circumstances this Council, as the executive of the College, feel bound to dissent from the recommendations made to them." (Cheers.) That resolution was put to the vote. Seventeen out of twenty-one members were present; one of whom happened to be the President of the College, who is debarred from voting, except to give a

casting vote. He, however, spoke loudly and determinately upon the point, saying that their honour would be sacrificed if they receded; and upon the vote being taken, only two out of the sixteen capable of voting were against the resolution, whilst fourteen nailed their colours to the mast, and determined to maintain the honour of the College. Then came the month of June, when the Council were to be re-elected or rejected. If the Fellows had been serious in their opposition to the conjoint scheme they would have sent the councillors about their business; but what was the result? Of the fourteen who were determined to uphold the honour of the College, three, for various reasons unconnected with the conjoint scheme, determined not to seek re-election, so that, including the President, twelve went for re-election, and only one of them was not re-elected, and that not on account of his supporting the scheme; but one of the two who opposed it was not reelected so that the opposing sides came out of the battle-two men having lost one; and fifteen men having lost one. Nothing could demonstrate more clearly than that the determination of the Council to uphold the conjoint scheme. During the number of years that he had been a Fellow of the College he had never seen such a large attendance of Fellows, upwards of 200 having recorded their votes, and thereby returned to their posts the men who were determined to uphold the honour of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. (Cheers.)

:

Dr. APJOHN moved, and Dr. PARKES seconded-"That the Council thank Mr. Macnamara for his reply to the inquiry of the President, and are glad to find there is a fair prospect that the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland will eventually give its influential co-operation in carrying out the Irish scheme of conjoint examination, which has been sanctioned by the Medical Council."

The motion was carried.

PHARMACOPOEIA COMMITTEE.

On the motion of Dr. SHARPEY, seconded by Dr. PYLE, it was agreed-"That the following report of the Pharmacopoeia Committee be received and entered on the minutes ":

Report.-1. The Pharmacopoeia Committee beg to report that the resolu tions adopted by the Council, at its last meeting, in reference to the publication of a reprint of the Pharmacopoeia, and of certain additions in the form of a supplement, have been carried out. 2. Five thousand copies of the reprint have been prepared, and with them a corresponding number of the additions have been bound up for sale, without any addition to the price of the work. 3. Ten thousand copies of the additions have been bound separately. The price of these copies has been fixed by the Executive Committee at 9d. each. 4. The cost of printing the reprint and the additions, together with the amount paid to Dr. Redwood for preparing and seeing both works through the press, amounts to £738 18s. 6d. 5. Nearly 1000 copies of the reprint, and 6500 copies of the additions, have been sold since publication; realising the sum of £376 13s. 6d., and leaving on hand stock the value of which is estimated at £891 168. 6. The Committee beg to recommend that the Pharmacopoeia Committee be reappointed, and that it consist of five members. 7. They also recommend that the duties of the Committee be to superintend all matters relating to the Pharmacopoeia, more especially to consider the publication hereafter of a new edition of the work, and of the steps which should be taken for its preparation. 8. The Committee beg to state that there are no outstanding liabilities on account of the Pharmacopoeia. 9. A statement of the debtor and creditor account of the reprint and additions of the Pharmacopoeia is appended.-W. SHARPEY, Chairman, July 16, 1874. Statement of "Pharmacopoeia" Account (1867) with Additions (1874). Expenditure.

Reprinting 5000 copies of the Pharmacopoeia, 1867
Printing 5000 copies of Additions, and binding in cloth,
lettered, etc.
Ditto
ditto
Paid Dr. Redwood

£

...

s. d. 488 5 0

...

105 13 6

95 09

50 0 9

The report was then adopted, the words in paragraph 7 more especially" to the end of the paragraph being struck out; and the following committee was named:-Dr. Quain (chairman), Dr. Begbie, Dr. Bennett, Dr. Sharpey, and

Dr. A. Smith.

On the motion of Sir DOMINIC CORRIGAN, seconded by Dr. AQUILLA SMITH, it was agreed-"That the attention of the

Pharmacopoeia Committee be requested to the desirability of correcting, in any future edition of the Pharmacopoeia, the approximate solubilities of salts and other substances, under the head of Characters and Tests,' instead of the present indefinite information afforded in the present Pharmacopoeia." APOTHECARIES' HALL, IRELAND.

Dr. LEET moved-" That this Council consents to the proposal that the Apothecaries' Hall of Ireland be allowed to appoint three examiners, instead of one, in practical pharmacy, under the scheme for the formation of a conjoint examination in Ireland, bearing date June 28, 1872."

Dr. QUAIN seconded this, and it was carried.

EXAMINING BODIES.

The list of examining bodies whose examinations fulfil the conditions of the Medical Council, as regards preliminary education recommended by the Executive Committee, was submitted to the Council, viz.-"The Committee recommend that the list be the same as last year, with the addition of 'the Oxford and Cambridge Schools' Examination Board.'

The recommendation of the Executive Committee was agreed to, provided the subjects examined on shall be such as are required by the General Medical Council.

Dr. HUMPHRY moved-"That in addition to the examinations already recognised by the General Medical Council, the junior local examinations conducted by the English universities should be recognised for the preliminary education of medical students, provided that Latin and mathematics, and also one of the following optional subjects-viz., Greek, French, German, natural philosophy, including mechanics, hydrostatics, and pneumatics are among the subjects included in the pass certificate." He said it was desirable that this permission should be given without delay. The local examinations were so well known and so highly esteemed throughout the country, that he need make no remark upon their efficiency. The junior examinations of Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham fulfilled the requirements of the General Medical Council, and the schoolmasters of the country were very anxious that the number of examinations required by the several licensing bodies should not be increased. A report by a committee of the school examinations which he held in his hand called special attention to that point. It spoke of the variety of the examinations creating a difficulty in school work, partly by the diversity of subjects and partly by the irregularity of the times at which boys were to be examined; and it recommended that it would be better to adopt a system already in use than a new one. The Committee of Reference desired that as far as possible these local examinations should be used by medical students to qualify them for entrance into the profession, and it would be far better than that there should be several examining boards instituted by the examining authorities, which would be less likely to take up the subject in a large and liberal style. They were therefore anxious that the sanction of the Council should be given to the recognition of the junior as well as the senior examinations of the English universities, with the proviso stated in the resolution.

Dr. STORRAR seconded this.

Mr. QUAIN objected to competition being compulsory in examinations, and to the arrangement of the names of men who were not seeking honours, in the order of merit with which they passed their examinations. By that course many were branded for life; but he had no objection whatever to a pass examination with voluntary competition for honours afterwards. He wished to know whether in these examinations there was any compulsory competition or classification of the students in first, second, and third class, or if there was a pass examination to which a person might submit himself without any statement being made as to the position he occupied.

Ďг. HUMPHRY said that the regulation in the Cambridge examinations was this-"The names of the boys who pass with credit will be placed alphabetically in three honour classes. The names of those who pass to the satisfaction of the examiners, yet not so as to deserve honours, will be placed alphabetically in a separate class." He believed that substantially the same rule was adopted by the other universities.

Dr. PYLE read the following Durham regulation :—“ All who pass any of these examinations will be classed. Those who pass with distinction will be arranged at the discretion of the examiners, in classes not exceeding three in number. The rest will be placed together in one class. The names in each class will be arranged either alphabetically or in order of merit."

Dr. ACLAND read the Oxford regulation :-" The names of the successful candidates will be published, arranged in three divisions: those in the first division will be placed in order of merit; those in the second and third divisions alphabetically." The motion was carried.

CONJOINT EXAMINING BOARD FOR ENGLAND.

Dr. BENNETT moved-" That the Council do express their satisfaction at learning from the statement of the President, and from the documents laid before them by the representative of the Royal College of Physicians of London, that the arrangements for carrying out the scheme for a Conjoint Examining Board for England are so far advanced as to render it probable that the scheme will be in operation during the present year, and that, with the exception of the Society of Apothecaries, all the English licensing bodies have concurred in the scheme, and have appointed their representatives on the Committee of Reference, by whom the necessary regulations have been framed. The Council are further pleased to learn that the Society of Apothecaries have obtained by a recent Act of Parliament the means they required to enable that body also to join the scheme, and thus to fulfil the desire expressed by the Council in their minutes of March 1, 1872, that the scheme as sanctioned by them should be rendered a complete scheme for a Conjoint Board for England."

Mr. BRADFORD seconded this.

Dr. A. Wood said they were called upon to express their gratitude for favours to come, and were told that however complete the scheme might appear it could not get on till some hitch about the College of Surgeons (of which he did not know the nature) was got over. The Scotch bodies had been told they were doing nothing, and that the success of the English Conjoint Board would put them all to shame. He wanted to know whether they might congratulate themselves upon the prospect of this matured English scheme starting during the next year.

The PRESIDENT said he had heard, though not officially, the nature of the difficulty felt by the College of Surgeons. Some time ago the College received legal opinions of the very highest character as to their power of joining in the scheme, and those opinions being favourable, there seemed to be nothing in the way. Lately, however, some doubt had been thrown upon the soundness of the opinions.

Dr. BENNETT added that it was simply with reference to the appointment of the examiners in surgery.

Mr. MACNAMARA said they had been sadly discouraged in Ireland from prosecuting their efforts to establish a conjoint board by the persistent statement that there was no such thing in existence in England, and that, therefore, it was premature to talk about one for Ireland. Sir D. Corrigan had said, on more than one occasion, that there was no conjoint scheme sanctioned by the Council, and he was convinced that was true. The Council, on March 1, 1872, passed a resolution expressing its desire that means might be found by which the University of London and the Apothecaries' Society might be enabled to join in a scheme so as to render it a complete scheme for a conjoint board for England. It was clear, therefore, that the Council had not yet sanctioned the adhesion of those two bodies. The PRESIDENT said he had already called attention to the scheme which was set out in the minutes of February 29, 1872, and the first resolution was a complete answer to Mr. Macnamara's statement-"That a board of examiners be appointed in this division of the United Kingdom by the co-operation of the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and of such other of the medical authorities in England mentioned in Schedule (A) to the Medical Act, as may take part in its formation," and so on. By that resolution the Council approved the subsequent adhesion of any English bodies which had not then joined.

Mr. MACNAMARA thought he had done good service by having brought out that point so clearly.

Dr. BENNETT said the University of London had actually joined, and had taken a prominent part in drawing out the regulations, and now the Apothecaries' Society were in a position to fulfil the desire expressed by the Council in 1872. There was no further necessity for the Society to apply to the Council, as they had full liberty from the authority already derived from the Council.

The motion was carried.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The following report was read and entered on the minutes :Report.-The Finance Committee beg leave to submit to the Council, in the annexed table, a statement of the income and of the expenditure of the

Council during each of the years 1872 and 1873, and of the estimated income and expenditure for the year 1874. It will be seen that the actual income for the year 1873 was less by the sum of £768 168. than that of the year 1872. This difference is almost entirely due to the exceptionally large amount of fees received for registration by the several Branch Councils in 1872, and not to any special decrease in the income of the year 1873, which was not below the average. It will also be seen that the balance in favour of income in 1872 was £2260 3s. 7d., whilst in 1873 the balance amounted to only £212 17s. 6d. This difference is due to the fact of the Council having sat during only five days in 1872, whilst in 1873 the sittings of the Council extended to nine days; further, it will be observed that a sum of £598 10s. has been expended in 1873 on account of the Visitations

of Examinations. On this point the Committee think it may interest the Council to know that a further sum of £301 188. has been paid on account of these Visitations, which will be included in next year's account, making the entire cost of the Visitations £900 8s. With respect to estimate for the present year, the income will probably not be less than that of the preceding year, whilst the estimated expenditure has been necessarily increased to meet the charges which will accrue in connexion with the occupation of the new premises. The Committee beg to mention that they have received a letter from the Clerks to the Council, Messrs. Bell and Roope, which they have referred to the Executive Committee, who have authority to deal with the subject of the letter, in accordance with the Minutes of the General Council, April 3, 1873.-RICHARD QUAIN, M.D.-July 17, 1874.

Scotland

724 10 0

800 0 0

Ireland

Dividends received by

Branch Council for England

5033 5 0

4249 0 0

4000 0 0

Scotland Ireland

Sale of Registers

Sale of Pharmacopoeias

Penalties...

...

800 19 0

852 10 7

835 0 0

The Report was then adopted.

Actual total expenditure Actual income ...6106 16 7 Balance in favour of income

2660 3 7

RETIREMENT OF DR. PAGET FROM THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT. The PRESIDENT: The time has now come at which I must carry out the intention expressed at an early part of these sessions.

Sir WILLIAM GULL: Allow me, Sir, on behalf of the Council, to interpose for a few moments. Before you express any opinion as to your continuance in office, I have to hand you the document which I hold in my hand, signed by all the members. It is the unanimous wish of this Council, and it would be very agreeable to this Council, that you should retain your office for the full term. (Cheers.) Sir William Gull then read the letter, and handed it to the President.

The PRESIDENT: I have known that this requisition has been circulated for some days, and I need not assure you that it has had my respectful consideration, and, more than that, my very earnest, long-continued, and most careful consideration. If it has not changed my purpose-and it has not,-I need scarcely tell you what feelings of pleasure I must have in the continued kindness of those for whom I feel so much esteem and regard. This paper which I have received-this sheet of autographs-I shall certainly preserve as one of the most precious of my worldly possessions. (Cheers.) Of course, at this moment, which is the moment of terminating my association with my colleagues, I must have some necessary pain in breaking association with colleagues with whom I have worked so long and so very happily. Though I cannot be so vain as to suppose that the Council will not go on very well without me, yet, knowing you so well, I am vain enough to hope at least that you will not cease to be friends of mine during the rest of our lives. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I cannot say any more. I will leave the insignia of my office, which are the keys of the strong box, in the hands of Dr. Stokes to give to my successor. (Loud cheers.)

Dr. Paget then took leave of the Council, and the chair was taken by Dr. Stokes.

Dr. ANDREW WOOD: I know well the services Dr. Paget has conferred on the Council, both as a member and as President; and I can honestly say I never recollect a single occasion on which Dr. Paget avoided any sacrifice he could make for the purpose of expediting our business. His manners have been always courteous, his conduct always impartial, and his judgment always discreet and able, and under his presidency we have enjoyed a period of peace and happiness which none of

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us will ever forget. I further say, that if our deliberations have been of use to the profession-and I have heard that they have,-Dr. Paget, as our President, has in a large measure contributed to that desirable consummation. I beg to move

"That this Council cannot part with their late President, Dr. Paget, without expressing to him their great obligations for his services as their President-services which have been so ungrudgingly devoted, at large sacrifices to himself, for the good of the Council and the profession,-for the uniform courteousness of his demeanour, for the impartiality of this decisions, for the discretion of his conduct in the chair, whch have secured for him the esteem and affection of the members of the Council, and have conduced greatly to the efficiency of the action of the Council in raising the status of the medical profession."

Sir DOMINIC CORRIGAN seconded this, and it was carried by acclamation.

Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and upon their re-admission Dr. STOKES announced that the Council had elected Dr. Acland to be President.

Dr. ACLAND upon taking the chair said: Dr. Stokes, Sir William Gull, and members of the Medical Council, I have now to thank you for the high honour which you have been so good as to confer upon me; and in saying so permit me to add that I confess there is one feeling which tempers that great honour with a certain sadness-it is that my presence in the chair should deprive you of the services of the able and estimable man who has just quitted our Council. Indeed, when I look upon the roll of presidents whom your votes have placed in this honourable and responsible position, when I remember the character and powers of Sir Benjamin Brodie, of Joseph Henry Green, of Sir George Burrows, and of Dr. Paget, who has just left us, I must truly say it would be an act of temerity to presume to succeed them, even at your desire, if it were not for the profound conviction I feel of the justice with which you treat your President, and the unceasing support which you accord to him. Many gentlemen over-estimate the duties and responsibilities assigned to them, whilst others err in under-estimating them; but I, who have served you from the time the Act of 1858 imposed certain duties upon us, am not likely to forget the responsible duty which your kindness has conferred on me. I can only say, in all sincerity, that after twenty-nine years of public life, as it has now towards the close of my