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THE ANNUAL DINNER

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It was sometimes said that the central meeting wasnot a meeting of representatives or of members ofthe Association, but of the whole profession, but ameeting open to the whole profession could hardlybe called into existence at the particular town inwhich the B.M.A. annual meeting is held.

Dr. HAWTHORNE, supporting the amendment, saidthat no one doubted that under the existing schemethe best possible representation had been secured,or that the active interest taken by the Associationin the election had given it a vitality previouslylacking. It was sought only to regularise procedureby some means. On this understanding the motionwas passed.

Miscellaneous Business

Many of the sections of the Council’s report wereadopted either with little comment or after discussionwhich led to no material results in amendment ofmotions, though often points of general interest

emerged. For example, a motion by Dr. J. COHEN(for Kensington) that though separate sessions forcontributing patients in V.D. clinics were open to

objection, the principle of payment for servicesrendered should be encouraged, was lost, the meetingaccepting the view expressed by Dr. NASH andDr. WILLOUGHBY that to exact a fee from anypatient would harm the work of the clinic.-Theannouncement by Dr. LE FLEMING, as chairman ofthe relevant committee, that the Report on Nutritionhad been an outstanding success, more than 12,000copies having been sold, was received with enthusiasm.For the first time, he said, the calorie had beentranslated (1) into terms of food, and (2) into termsof money, and this could be reckoned a great achieve-ment.-Mr. BISHOP HARMAN’S favourable report onthe progress of the National Ophthalmic TreatmentBoard also caused general satisfaction. Thememoran-dum of evidence tendered to the DepartmentalCommittee on Health Services in Scotland by theScottish committee of the Association was presentedby Dr. J. B. MILLER. The criticism that it shouldhave been submitted to the divisions for approvalwas fully met by an explanation of the time factor,and no other major criticism of its provisions wasoffered. Dr. WALKER’S description of the document asa better exposition of B.M.A. policy than any hithertoissued was received with good-humoured applause.

THE ANNUAL DINNER

Dr. S. WATSON SMITH, the President, took the chairat the annual Dinner held on Thursday evening. SirCRISP ENGLISH proposed the health of the countyborough of Bournemouth, expressing the appreciationof the Association of the hospitality it had received.There must, he said, be thousands and thousands ofpeople who would gladly join in this toast in gratitudefor the return of health. The Association wished him

particularly to express its recognition of thecooperation that existed in Bournemouth between theauthorities and the medical profession. He concludedwith a tribute to Sir Dan Godfrey, the director of themunicipal orchestra.-Alderman J. R. EDGECOMBE,mayor of Bournemouth, responded, attributing a

great part of the popularity of the town to the recom-mendations of doctors in years gone by. The townhad changed its character, from being a health resortonly to being also a pleasure resort. It put thefinishing touches to the healing work the medicalman had started.The EARL OF MALMESBURY proposed the health of

the Association, which he described as one of themost important bodies in civilisation. Laymenrecognised to the full the magnificent work that the

Association was doing.-Sir HENRY BRACKENBURYresponded, observing that the reply to this toast wasthe last duty of a retiring chairman of council andoffered congratulations to his successor, Dr. Kaye leFleming. He expressed gratitude to the towns ofBournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch for theirabundant generosity and kindness. There had beenof recent years two special features of the Association’swork : the number and wide extent of the overseas

representation and the activities of the Association asa great social service. The Association was not onlya great medical but also a great imperial concern.The interests of the profession were one and thesame as the interests of the public. The health of thepeople had become increasingly a concern of theState and of the local authorities, but there weremany overlapping interests and neglected oppor-tunities. The Association had always been in theforefront of the communal concern for health. It wasnot unreasonable to expect the authorities to consultand use the medical profession. The services of theState, though preventive in aim, had become largelyclinical in their expression. There were still somelocal authorities which had not been wise enough toaccept the aid proffered by the Association which, heassured them, was proffered in no wish to gain morework and emoluments for its members, but in orderthat it might play its part in social service.

Dr. F. W. BRODERICK proposed the health of theGuests, to which Sir HENRY PAGE-CROFT, M.P., andDr. D. M. EMBLETON (Melbourne) responded.

Dr. E. K. LE FLEMING proposed the health of theChairman. He said that the local division, recentlyin a great difficulty, had followed scriptural adviceto look to the hills for help, and had looked to Scotland,finding among themselves an exile from that land, bear -ing his lot with patience and fortitude. The positionwhich the president-elect had been unanimouslychosen to fill was no easy one; Dr. Watson Smithhad already undertaken many tasks in connectionwith the annual meetings, including the publication ofthe " Book of Bournemouth." For the first time in itshistory, the Association proposed to carry the flagright round the world during the President’s year ofoffice. The hospital question, in which he took keeninterest, was going to become of universal importanceduring the next few years.-The PRESIDENT, in reply,declared that he had not come South in search of

gold, but of something far more valuable-viz.,health. He had deliberately chosen Bournemouthto live in and later to work in.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGTHE new president, Dr. S. Watson Smith, was

formally inducted to the chair on July 24th at the102nd annual general meeting of the Association.Prof. T. G. Moorhead, in investing him with hisbadge of office, referred to the sympathy felt forMr. F. W. Ramsay, lately president-elect, whothrough ill-health found himself unable to proceedto the chair. At a moment critical for the Bourne-mouth meeting, he said, Dr. Watson Smith hadstepped forward and guided the organisation withevident success. The incoming president spoke ofthe gifts of intellect, manner, and heart that hispredecessor had brought to his year of office and, inreply to a vote of thanks moved by Sir HenryBrackenbury-" not merely as an expression of thanksto the president, but as a tribute to the man "-Dr.Moorhead referred to the help given him by hiswife and the consideration shown him by the officersof the Association. He expressed his hope that,during the coming year, a much larger and moreunited medical organisation would be formed inIreland than any now existing, and that it would bean integral part of the British Medical Association.