being appointed to represent the Association of Medical Officers of Health. The committee so formed may be taken to represent the interests of between 7000 and 8000 medical men, and on Jan. 19th its first annual dinner was held at the Holborn Restaurant. A well-managed dinner and a wisely arranged programme of instrumental and vocal music lightened the proceedings without diverting the attention of those present from their main object-viz., the discussion of the disabilities which threaten the

more »

... edical profession at the present moment and which call for a wise and united action among part-time medical officers. Mr. H. Bott pre--sided over a representative company. After the loyal toasts, which were proposed by Mr. BOTT, had been honoured, Dr. MAJOR GREENWOOD proposed the toast of the evening, The Joint Committee of the Medical Officers' Associations." He said there never was a time when union among the -members of the profession included in this most important 'toast was more necessary. The part-time medical officer and the general practitioner formed a very large proportion of the profession, and their power would be great if they would stand together. Any jealousy existing between te con--stituent associations, and between them and the general practitioners who did not hold appointments, must be resolately suppressed, and the importance of combination kept constantly before them all. Like a destroying angel recent .legislation had fallen upon them, and indirectly, if not directly, most of the associations represented at that gathering would be affected. The joint committee could do nothing to avert the evil unless it was backed up by the' rank and file of the profession. He most sincerely hoped that the committee would receive whole-hearted support. Mr. BOTT, in his reply, said he was confident that the j oint committee, which had been inaugurated by the Association of Medical Officers of Health, would be a very powerful .engine in assisting not only part-time medical officers, but .also the general practitioners throughout the country. He then briefly sketched the history of the attempt to dispense with the services of part-time medical officers, who, he believed, served the interests of the public health better than the whole-time men; and pointed out that the part-time men knew the district in which they were engaged, they were more in touch with the community, and their comfparative financial independence gave them exceptional opportunities for securing acceptance of their views. If the part-time officer was abolished, sooner or later the medical -officer of health would have thrust upon him all the medical appointments of his district without being adequately remunerated.