PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 13 



the slightest intention of creating any invidious dis- 

 tinction, it being evident that the names selected 

 could not be considered as representing all the 

 gentlemen who rank high in the profession, there 

 being many not included, who are equally well 

 qualified, and equally respected as intelligent practi- 

 tioners, as any among those to whom the invitation 

 to join the society was sent. 



And now, gentlemen, our society being formed, 

 and having met together for the first time under 

 such favourable auspices, it only remains for me to 

 urge upon you the necessity of holding together, and 

 doing the utmost in your power, individually and 

 collectively, to promote the objects for which it was 

 founded, by contributing papers of interest, and 

 joining in free and friendly discussion on points of 

 practice, and ungrudgingly communicating to each 

 other the results of our individual observation and 

 experience. The adoption of such a course will 

 elicit, both in the form of written and oral com- 

 munications, many valuable facts which, when 

 collected, will concentrate and thus render perma- 

 nently useful to all, the knowledge and talent 

 possessed by the members of our profession. The 

 annual publication of a volume of Transactions will 

 place before the members of the society the matter 

 brought forward at its meetings ; and it wiU, I feel 

 confident, be an object of ambition to those who have 

 information to impart, that it should appear through 

 the medium of a society, the main purpose of which 



