August i, 1885.] The Australasian Scientific Magazine 
33 
The Medical Association. 
On Wednesday, 22nd July, the annual meeting of the Victorian branch 
of the British Medical Association was held at the Royal Society’s Hall ; 
the President, Mr. J. T. Rudall, was in the chair. 
The Honorary Secretary, Dr. Neild, read the report of proceedings of 
the Council during the past year ; and the annual balance-sheet was sub- 
mitted by the Honorary Treasurer, Dr. Graham. During the year ten new 
members had been elected, which, added to the revised list, brought the 
effective strength to a total of seventy- four. Eight general meetings had 
been held, and seventeen subjects brought before them j also numerous 
interesting exhibits had been submitted. 
The Medical Defence Association had been absorbed into the branch. 
There had been held ten meetings of the Council. The financial condition 
of the Society was satisfactory ; the Treasurer’s report showing the income, 
including last year’s balance, at ^129 13s. pd., and the outlay as 
^92 2s. lid., leaving 7 10s. rod. in hand. 
Both report and balance-sheet were adopted. 
The election of officers for the ensuing year then took place with the 
following results: — 
President, Dr. Henry; Vice-President, Dr. WHlmott; Honorary Treasurer, 
Dr. Graham; Honorary Secretary, Dr. Springthorpe. Council, Drs. Neild, 
McMillan, Cutts, and Simmons, and Messrs. J. T. Rudall, and W. Barker; 
Auditors, Drs. Haig and Stewart. 
The chair was then taken by Dr. Henry, newly elected as President, who 
returned thanks for the honour done him. He felt especially proud of 
being the first Victorian elected to that important office, and while occupy- 
ing it would endeavour to follow the many bright examples afforded by his 
predecessors, and would do all in his power to develop Medical Science 
and obtain a proper representation of the profession in medical politics. 
Mr. J. T. Rudall, the retiring president, then read an address. He first 
referred to the many advantages which in modern times were derived from 
the improvements made by medical science in the use of preventive 
medicines, and the necessity for altering the method of imparting clinical 
instruction to students in the colony, so as to make it similar to the home 
system, which provided for such teaching by the appointment of officers 
whose duty it was to instruct the students in the diagnosis and treatment 
of the common and less severe kinds of injury, such as make up the bulk 
of practice. He regretted that the absence of satisfactory relations between 
the Medical School at the University and the Hospital was again apparent, 
and hoped the University Council would regard its dignity, and not compro- 
mise its position by consenting to recognise, as lecturers in the University, 
all those who were, or might be under present regulations, elected physicans 
or surgeons to the Melbourne Hospital ; for by such conduct the Council 
would only lend its aid to perpetuate a vicious system, and, in all probabi- 
lity, if the present difficulty as regards the clinical lectures was surmounted 
in such a manner, other, and possibly greater, difficulties would confront 
the Council in the future. It could be truly said that for years past the 
election of physicans and surgeons to the chief hospital of the colony had 
been a periodical scandal; had put a premium on dishonourable and 
undignified practices, and was detrimental to the best interests of the 
hospital, the profession, and the community at large. But there was more 
still to be done to redeem the Hospital from being full fifteen years behind 
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