1890 - 91 .] 
Chairman's Opening Address. 
7 
his having quarrelled with Simpson had a heavy, and in many 
respects unjust, effect on his prospects, and he was not appointed. 
His failure, however, had no discouraging effect upon him, and he 
went on bravely and with ever-increasing success with his practice 
and his teaching. 
In 1877 he was offered and accepted the appointment of Teacher 
of Midwifery in, and Obstetric Physician to, St Bartholomew’s 
Hospital, and he accordingly removed to London, to the widespread, 
we may say universal, regret of his brethren not only in Edinburgh 
but throughout Scotland. The reputation which led to his call to 
London was founded, and that justly, on the number, practical 
value, and, above all, the scientific character of his writings. 
Numerous honours were bestowed upon him. He became a Fellow 
of the Royal College of Physicians of London ; a Fellow of the Royal 
Societies of London and Edinburgh; LL.D. of Edinburgh and 
Cambridge; and an Honorary M.D. of the University of Dublin. 
In London lie soon acquired a very large practice, having gained 
the confidence and esteem of the profession and the public in the 
English, as he had done in the Scottish, metropolis. 
Duncan’s writings were numerous and important, and all partook 
of that scientific character which was apparent in all that he did, 
both as an author and practitioner. Many of them were purely 
practical, and chiefly concern those who are engaged in the same 
line of practice. Beyond this large circle he is best known by his 
Treatises on Fecundity, Fertility, and Sterility, which have an 
interest not only to the practitioner but to the statistician and 
political economist. 
What was the source of Matthews Duncan’s marked professional 
success ? It was the genuineness of his character, personal and 
professional. Assuredly it was from no blandishments in his 
hearing or demeanour, for though a perfect gentleman in the 
truest sense of the word, he was, as the Countess of Rousillon 
says in “All’s well that ends well,” “an unseason’d courtier.” 
There was a certain dryness and abruptness in his manner which 
at first repelled some people, hut a short knowledge of him, whether 
as patient or casual acquaintance, showed that under this somewhat 
dry shell there was a soft kernel of kindness and true courtesy 
which made him trusted, relied on, and beloved. It was all founded 
