XXV 



3. Case of Primary Spastic Paraplegia. 

 Dr. Ireland. 



4. Case of Tubercular Synovitis of the 

 phalangeal joints. Dr. Walch. 



5. Two ruptured hearts. Dr. Spark. 



6. Brain with Hydatid Cyst. Dr. Sprott. 



Library.— A considerable number of the 

 latest medical woi'ks have been added to 

 the Medical Library, and several hand- 

 some contributions were made by mem- 

 bers, and especially by Drs. Crouch and 

 Clarke. 



Cordial relations continue to exist be- 

 tween the Launceston Medical Society 

 and the Section, with the result that many 

 matters of mutual interest have been dis- 

 cussed, and important decisions arrived at. 



In conclusion, the members of this Sec- 

 tion desire to place on record their hearty 

 appreciation of the liberality which the 

 Royal Society has so generously extended 

 to them by the monetary grant to assist in 

 establishing a Medical Library, and also 

 for the use of the Royal Society's room for 

 the meetings. 



To Mr. Morton for his kind assistance 

 we owe a special vote of thanks. 



The President of the Medical Section, 

 R. S. Bright, M.R.C.S.E., thanked the 

 Society for its generous support to the 

 Medical Section, which was now univer- 

 sally recognised. 



The Chairman moved the adoption of 

 the annual report. He spoke of the loss 

 the Society had sustained in the death of 

 Sir Lambert Dobson, Mr. Matthew Seal, 

 and Lieut. Beddome, C.E. Sir Lambert 

 Dobson was a most energetic and useful 

 member, a good friend and patron of 

 the Society. Mr Seal was also a useful 

 and practical member. During the past 

 year 19 new members had been elected, 

 and only six had resigned, so that 

 the Society had been strengthened 

 by 13 members independently of those 

 just elected. The funds were also in a 

 very satisfactory condition. He regretted 

 that the Government had given the 

 Society no assistance. In the other 

 colonies the Royal Societies were recog- 

 nised as public bodies which conferred 

 benefits on the community, and they were 

 assisted, more or less, by the local Govern- 

 ments. Now that the finances of Tas- 

 mania were in a better condition than for 

 some years past, perhaps if the Govern- 

 ment were approached on the subject they 

 might be induced to give the Society the 

 financial recognition which was afforded 

 to the societies in the other colonies. 

 The reception given to the Antarctic 

 Expedition was no more than they de- 

 served. He hoped success would attend 

 the efforts of the members. They heard 

 of a German and other expeditions, but 



the British one would have priority in the 

 w^ork of the examination of the South 

 Polar regions. He hoped that when chey 

 returned to Tasmania they would bring 

 advanced news from the far south. Sir 

 George Newnes deserved credit for the 

 liberal expenditure he made on the ex- 

 pedition. There was an element of com- 

 mercial speculation in the enterprise, but 

 the expenditure was much to risk for an un- 

 certain end. A new Historical Section was 

 about to be created with the assistance of 

 Mr. J. B. Walker, and, beyond doubt, the 

 section would be of great interest to the 

 Society. The collection of historical facts 

 would be of great advantage to the colony. 

 The Society's list of exchanges showed that 

 their papers extended over a very wide 

 area. They were in communication with 

 200 societies, and were therefore favour* 

 ably known to the scientific world. 



Mr. J. B. Walker, F.R.G.S., seconded 

 the motion. He said that, following 

 the example of the medical profession, 

 the members interested in the geography 

 and history of Tasmania were desirous 

 of founding a section in which thej^ 

 might be able to discuss questions 

 specially interesting to them more pro- 

 fitably than they could at general meet- 

 ings of the Society. Our history was 

 not long, nor our geography extensive, but 

 there was a good deal to be done. The 

 object of the new section was to gather 

 materials for the history of Tasmania, 

 and it was a pity that some efforts in 

 that direction had not been made 

 earlier. He was aware that already 

 valuable public records had been lost to 

 the colony, and it was not creditable to the 

 keepers of the records that such things 

 should happen. The Hobart Public 

 Library was disgracefully deficient in 

 works relating to Tasmania. Not one- 

 tenth of the books written on Tasmania 

 w^ere to be found there. Our young people 

 and all educated people ought to know 

 something about the history of the colony. 

 A short and brightly-written school his- 

 tory of Tasmania ought to be in existence. 



Discussion followed, in which Mr. J. W. 

 Beattie, Colonel Legge, R.A., and Mr. R. 

 M. Johnston, F.L.S., took part. 



The Secretary mentioned that in most 

 of the other colonies the scientific societies 

 got £1 for £1 aid from the Government, or, 

 at all events, 10/ or 15/ for every £1 raised. 



The report was adopted. 



MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. 



The following retiring members of 

 Council w^ere re-elected : — Messrs. T. 

 Stephens, M.A.; J. B. Walker, F.R.G.S.; 

 R. S. Bright, M.R.C.S., T?.; and A. G. 

 Webster. 



