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Association to the ancient Guildhall, as indicatedin a handsome keepsake, might be regarded as a

visit to the ancestral home, for it was in the City ofLondon that the three great -medical corporationshad their origin. In spite of the numbers presentthe instruction to the guests to keep to the right whencirculating through the building proved unnecessary,as there was ample space and air throughout anevening crowded with interest.

CENTENARY DINNER

Nearly two thousand members and guests attendedthe centenary dinner of the Association held in theAlbert Hall on July 28th. Lord DAwsSON, thePresident, took the chair, and the principal guestwas the PRINCE OF WALES, who, after the loyal toastshad been honoured, proposed the health of theAssociation. He said -that the King and Queen werevefy pleased that he had the privilege of being presentat this celebration ; they had always taken thegreatest possible interest in all the activities of themedical profession. When the members had visitedWorcester to honour the memory of their founder,their thoughts must have ranged from the Association’svery humble beginning to the position it held to-day-a very important cog in the medical machinery of thecountry. It had also imperial aspects.. No partof the Empire could remain separate in medicineany more than it could in history and economics.He would like personally to welcome the delegatesfrom overseas. In proposing that toast and

congratulating the Association on its achievementsin a century, he asked it to bear in mind not onlythe success that .lay behind, but also the bearing ofthat success on the future. Such success must carryincreased responsibilities, expanding opportunities,and the risks of both.

In work and play he had fallen into the hands ofmany doctors in many parts of the world, but when-ever and wherever he had turned to doctors for treat-ment or for advice he had found common sense andfriendliness as well as professional skill. He had hadso much advice, and had learned so far how to keepfit, that he had to some extent become his own doctor.That this was a good thing was illustrated by thestory of a doctor who had suffered from acute lumbagoand had tried a Turkish bath. There he had obtainedgreat relief, and on emerging from the building hadnot been able to refrain from remarking to theattendant, "And to think that I am treating 40patients for lumbago! " His Royal Highness hadhad many opportunities of watching the work ofdoctors in every part of the world. It would bedifficult to find any country, any place or community,any service or profession, any industry or occupationin which doctors were not called upon to functionin every line of medicine and under every kind ofclimate and condition. He had first really under-stood what doctors were capable of on active serviceduring the war, and those who were not membersof the profession had never ceased in their admirationof the work of the medical officer in the front line.Supposed to be non-combatants, many of thempeople who had never thought of war and had beenlooking forward to practice, they had suffered thesame hardships as the combatants and worked verymuch harder when the battle was over. The regi-mental medical officer was one of the finest men thatthe war had produced. There was to be considered,he continued, the wonderful record of preventivemedicine and the reduction in death from epidemic I

diseases. In the years since the war His RoyalHighness had watched the innumerable activities ofthe profession ; at work among the poor, in generalhospitals-great and small-in institutions andclinics for cripples and the tuberculous, for mentalcases, for the blind, deaf, and dumb, and for sickchildren. It was always the same story of highendeavour, public service, and great responsibility.The doctor was always a very good friend indeed toevery section of the community, and he was gladto have the opportunity of expressing his abidinginterest, admiration, and sympathy with the medicalman in practice.Two points about the British Medica Association

impressed him a great deal. The first was the publicservice which it had rendered to English medicineall over the world. It had been the advocate ofcertain special movements such as vaccination, theuniversal and accurate certification of -the cause

of death, the creation of adequate medical servicesfor the poor, the establishment of the public healthservice for all, the passing of medical acts whichregulated professional training and discipline, andthe effective way of carrying out health insurancework. The goal would only be reached when everymember of the community could obtain wise andpractical preventive medicine, and the most skilfulhome or hospital treatment at a cost in keeping withhis purse. Insurance against sickness seemed tobe the only way for people of limited means, and asa contribution to this end the King Edward’sHospital Fund supported the British ProvidentAssociation and the Hospital Saving Associa-tion. All this insurance against sickness was

definitely a great step in the right direction. Hewished to pay tribute to all who were helpingto maintain the high level of the voluntary hospitalsystem.The second point that impressed- him-was the way

in which the Association had concerned itself in the

well-being of the medical practitioner. It was

impossible to have effective public services and soundand scientific private practice unless the doctor himselfwas a reliable man, a well trained, competent, andskilful man, whose position and function were properlymaintained and safeguarded. There was a closepersonal relationship between the patient and the,doctor; the patient was not a disease but a person.It was essential to preserve this relationship. Inconclusion, His Royal Highness urged the professionnever to dissociate its professional interest from theparamount interest of the public, for the two wereinseparable. As it made its service as wide as theneeds of humanity, it would be an example and aninspiration throughout the whole of the civilisedworld. ,

Sir HENRY BRACKENBURY, in reply, said that theBritish Medical Association, with the closely affiliatedCanadian Medical Association, represented in largemeasure the medical profession throughout theEmpire. Science knew no frontiers, but the Associa-tion was a powerful force tending to knit more closelythe nations of the commonwealth. It was also a

unifying force in that it comprised every variety ofmedical practice. It was more comprehensive andmore widely spread than even Sir Charles Hastingshad dared to hope, and was fulfilling the objects hehad had in mind : the spirit of friendliness, honour,and service. As century followed century theprofession would still be found maintaining its honourunsullied and giving itself freely to the service of thecommunity.

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THE GUESTS

Mr. H. S. SOUTTAR (President of the MetropolitanCounties Branch) proposed the health of the guests.He said that their presence was the visible proof ofthe solidarity of medicine. The fraternity of medicinewas one of the most powerful factors that had everarisen for the unity of the world. Each memberwas an ambassador for peace and goodwill, and itwas fitting to have as the principal guest the greatestambassador England had ever known. If each in hissmall way followed the Prince of Wales’s example,there would be no need for a League of Nations.He welcomed by name the Home Secretary, theMinister of Health, and the Bishop of London, andsaid that to the guests from the colonies the hearts ofall the hosts went out; he hoped they would go awaywith some feeling of the affection and admirationfelt for them. Speaking in French, he then welcomedcontinental representatives, and he concluded witha reference to the spirits of great men who must bewith them on that occasion.

Sir HERBERT SAMUEL, replying, thanked theAssociation for the inestimable services rendered byan illustrious profession. Any government facinga general election and wishing to gain the confidenceof the electorate asked at once for a doctor’s mandate.If afterwards the doctors differed, there was proverbialprecedent for that. The great thing was that thepatient seemed to be slowly recovering-whetherbecause of or in spite of the doctors might, in thisinstance only, be considered doubtful. More thanone department of government was concerned with Ihealth ; the Ministry of Health was devoted primarily ’’,to prophylaxis ; the Board of Education was caringfor the minds and bodies of the children ; the HomeOffice was concerned with health in industry ; andeven the Prison Service was bringing the countrynearer every day to the conditions of

" Erewhon."He expressed his congratulations to the Associationon its organisation-a power which seemed inherent inthe British Isles. Though a hundred years old, theAssociation showed no signs of senility ; it was not

suffering from arterio-sclerosis or brain anaemiaor paralysis agitans. The triumphant march of thebattalions of science had conquered disease after

disease, and whoever took arms in that war was thefriend of mankind. This was certain : that healthwas better than sickness, and life than death.Members of the medical profession could feel sure,therefore, that their work was worth doing. The

guests mingled congratulation with their thanks.Sir HENRY NEWLAND (President of the Royal

College of Surgeons of Australasia), also in reply,spoke of the magnificence of the hospitality that hadgreeted them ; the guests had not been allowed toremain in the suburbs of their hosts’ hearts. They hadcome, they had seen, but only time would show whetherthey could survive ! ____

DINNER GIVEN BY THE "PRACTITIONER"

A dinner was given on Friday, July 29th, by thePractitioner, to a large group of medical men, Britishand foreign, assembled in honour of the centenary,when the chair was taken by Sir Humphry Rolleston,controlling editor of the magazine in association withMr. Scott Stevenson. The speeches were limited tothe toasts of prosperity to the Association and healthto the chairman. The toast of " the Association " was

given by the Rt. Hon. J. W. Hills, chairman of thecompany which owns the Practitioner, who spoke 1briefly of the position which the Association now

enjoys. Sir Henry Brackenbury having responded,Mr. Brendan Bracken, M.P., proposed the health ofthe chairman and took the occasion to make an

optimistic speech in respect of the national healthin the financial world troubles. His clear and amusingreassurances were received with much approval.Sir Humphry Rolleston having replied, the gatheringinsisted upon hearing Lord Dawson of Penn, who hadbeen unable to be present at the dinner but hadentered at its close. Lord Dawson’s message to thecongressists, who are now disbanding to all parts ofthe Empire, was to the effect that the acknowledgedsuccess of the centenary meeting justified the powerof cooperation and the value of social intercourse.Many of the company then proceeded to a dance atthe Grosvenor which formed a close to the socialaspect of the centenary programme.

THE SERVICES

ROYAL NAVAL MEDICAL SERVICESSurg. Comdr. (retd.) H. H. Ormsby to be Surg.

Capt. (retd.).Surg. Comdr. H. D. Drennan is placed on the retd. list

with the rank of Surg. Capt.Surg. Lt. A. J. A. Gray is transferred to the permt. list.

ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE

Surg. Sub-Lt. J. F. M. Milner to be Surg. Lt.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

Majs. J. Hare and N. T. Whitehead retire on retd. pay.Maj. 0. D. Jarvis retires, receiving a gratuity.Lt. (on prob.) T. M. R. Ahern is restd. to the estabt.Lt. W. A. G. Bell (temp. commn.) to be Capt.The undermentioned Lts. to be Capts. : H. G. G.

Robertson, V. C. Verbi, H. C. Benson, and M. J. Malley.Lt. T. J. Moloney from a temp. commn. to be Lt. (on prob.).

ARMY DENTAL CORPS

Col. J. P. Helliwell (late A.D. Corps) is apptd. Col.Comdt., vice Lt.-Gen. Sir T. H. John C. Goodwin, whohas resd. the appt.

TERRITORIAL ARMY

Col. W. D. Watson, A.D.M.S., 54th (E. Anglian) Div.,having attained the age limit retires and retains his rank,with permission to wear the prescribed uniform.

Lt.-Col. J. H. Owens, from Gen. List, R.A.M.C., to beCol., and is apptd. A.D.M.S., 54th (E. Anglian) Div., viceCol. W. D. Watson.

Lt. A. L. Crockford to be Capt.ROYAL AIR FORCE

.

Flying Officer J. F. S. Wiseman is promoted to the rankof Flight Lt.

AUXILIARY AIR FORCE

No. 608 (North Riding) (Bmnber) Squadron.-FlyingOfficer J. E. Howell is promoted to the rank of Flight Lt., INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE

Capt. (prov.) J. H. Gorman is confirmed in rank.Lt.-Col. C. A. F. Hingston retires.Lt. (on prob.) P. E. Sweeney relinquishes his prob. appt

SOUTHEND NEw GENERAL HOSPITAL.-On July 26ththe Earl of Iveagh opened the hospital, the founda-tion-stone of which was laid by the Duchess of Yorkin November, 1929. The building will accommodate220 patients, including a special ward for 21 paying patients,with separate home for- 64 nurses. It was designed by thelate Mr. H. Percy Adams, F.R.I.B.A., and constructed byMr. John G. Gray, of Coventry. In the course of his speech,Lord Iveagh announced that the building would be openedfree of debt ; he has, in fact, made himself personally respon-sible for the outstanding liability of .850,000, bringing up histotal benefaction to 97,700. When fully equipped thehospital will take the place of the hospital inWarrior-squa.re,which was built as a memorial to Queen Victoria’s jubilee.Dr. L. Gordon Hopkins, chairman of the building committee,referred to three innovations : the introduction of a special-ised medical staff, the provision of pay-beds, and the settingup of a maternity service. The new hospital, which abutsupon Prittlewell Chase, was open to the public for inspectiondaily up to August 2nd.