PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES.'' 139 



Baden, Powell, Wilson, Sir Charles Throckmorton, Bart., Sir 

 Charles Bell, Drs. Barlow, Baron, Billing, Carrick, James, 

 Clarke, Conolly, Forbes, Hastings, Hodgkin, Holme, John John- 

 stone, Prichard, Robertson, Sims, Somerville, &c., Messrs. Costello, 

 Crosse, Griffiths, Hebb, Hetting, Tuchwell, &c., &c. 



Dr. Kidd, the President, having been called to the chair, deliver- 

 ed an eloquent address, in which he expressed his gratification 

 at receiving the Association within the walls of so majestic a monu- 

 ment to the munificence of an individual belonging to the medical 

 profession, as the RadclifFe Library. After a well-merited compli- 

 ment to the skill, enterprise, and talent of provincial practitioners, 

 and an appeal to the literary works of the illustrious dead, as well 

 as of the no less illustrious living, with which the shelves of the 

 edifice were loaded, as an evidence of its truth, — he ably pointed 

 out the claims which the profession has upon public estimation and 

 gratitude, by their unwearied and gratuitous exertions in the cause 

 of philanthropy, by their self-devotion to the duties of their calling, 

 though often rewarded with neglect, — and by the high standard of 

 moral excellence and intellectual ability to which, as a body, they 

 have attained. '' Such" observed the learned Professor, in conclud- 

 ing his address, ^' Such are the claims of those two members of the 

 Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, on whom this Univer- 

 sity has lately conferred the highest honour which it has the power 

 of conferring. Long may those individuals enjoy an honour, to the 

 possession of which I know they attach a due value; and in the 

 mean time may Oxford meet with further opportunities of enrolling 

 among its members, by means of similar honours, names as distin- 

 guished as those of Abercrombie and of Prichard. Gentlemen, — 

 It would now become my duty immediately to propose that Dr. 

 Hastings should be requested to read the report of the Council ; 

 but before doing so, I have a most pleasing duty to perform, the 

 pleasure arising from which would have been doubled, had both the 

 individuals been present to whom I refer. Dr. Abercrombie would 

 most willingly have attended the meeting of the Association, had it 

 been in his power ; but when we consider that he resides at the dis- 

 tance which divides Edinburgh from Oxford, and when it is consi- 

 dered, also, what his duties are, I could neither ask nor expect it. 

 But I have it in my power to present to Dr. Prichard, which I do 

 with unfeigned pleasure, that testimonial of his merit which the 

 University has conferred upon him. — [[The diploma was now pre- 

 sented to Dr. Prichard, who on receiving it was greatly ap)>lauded.] 

 Gentlemen, — though I do not wish to over-rate an honour which 

 has been conferred by a body to which I have the honour to belong, 

 yet, at the same time, I naturally wish that it should not be under- 

 rated; and as many persons may not be aware of the extent of the 

 honour thus conferred, I will state that it gives to the individual to 

 whom it is presented, not only all the privileges which he would 

 acquire by the strictest compliance with the rules of the University, 

 by a residence of many years, and by passing through several de- 



