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of compressing the artery. I think there are few, whatever the provincial hospitals 5, of which number Leeds fur- may be their views or interests, who will not applaud this nishes 2, Manchester 1, Liverpool 1, and Portsmouth 1. splendid act of devotion. The profession of medicine and I The approaching election will be perhaps less exciting than must always rank as the most noble that men can have been many of the recent elections. As we have pointed adopt. The spectacle of a doctor in action among soldiers out above, no vacancies on the Council having occurred in equal danger and with equal courage saving life where all through death there are only 3 places to be filled at the others are taking it, allaying pain where all others are coming election. One of the retiring members of Council, causing it, is one which must always seem glorious, whether Mr. Mitchell Banks, does not intend to offer himself for to God or man. It is impossible to imagine any situation re-election, but the 2 others, Mr. Langton and Mr. Henry from which a human being might better leave this world and Morris, are candidates. 3 other Fellows have come forward, embark on the hazards of the unknown." Mr. Clement Lucas, of Guy’s Hospital, Mr. Bennett May The retirement down the Bara Valley was full of of Birmingham, and Mr. Richardson Cross of Clifton. We dangerous incidents. It was the rear of the column that was think there can be no reasonable doubt that Mr. Langton always the part the most fiercely attacked. It was there and Mr. Morris will be re-elected. They are two very that the wounded and the medical officers were placed, and distinguished , each attached to an important in repelling the numerous rushes made by a fierce enemy medical school, and it would be a distinct loss to every one had to fight for his own hand. Under such cir- the Council should either not be reappointed. Thus it cumstances it would perhaps be difficult to differentiate happens that there is practically only 1 vacancy on the between the combatants and the so-called non-combatants. Council and for this there are 3 candidates. In the If medical officers are non-combatants one might well present Council there are 5 provincial Fellows and 19 exclaim with the Frenchman: "Que diable allait-il faire London Fellows, and as Mr. Mitchell Banks does not seek dans cette galere." The great importance of an efficient re-election it follows that unless a provincial Fellow is army medical service is well shown in a report lately appointed there will be only 4 representatives from the received from an American who, writing of the provinces. It is difficult to decide exactly how many pro- War of Secession in 1862-66, said that the mortality from vincial representatives there should be, but it may fairly be disease alone had been 250,000, and he expressed the opinion said that 6 and 4 represent a reasonable maximum and that had their medical service been as complete in the first minimum. Of the 3 candidates for this single post three years of the war as it was in the last at least one-third Mr. Clement Lucas is the only London Fellow and should of these lives would have been saved. the voters think that 4 provincial representatives are Gentlemen, these are facts which tend to show that even sufficient they could not do wrong by voting for Mr. Lucas. in war, paradoxical as it may appear, the preservation of life He has already been a candidate for a seat on the Council may be as important as its destruction. and at the last election he received only 34 fewer votes than the lowest successful candidate. He is connected with a large medical school, is well in touch with current medical education, and would supply to the Council a further instal. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS ment of the reforming element which is so much wanted on OF ENGLAND. that body. If, on the other hand, it is felt that a provincial Fellow should replace the provincial representative who has retired, then a choice will have to be made between ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. Mr. Bennett May and Mr. Richardson Cross. Mr. May ON Thursday, July 7th, the election of members of Council is a well-known surgeon at Birmingham and the fact that he is all the Fellows of will take place. Every year at least three vacancies occur, as unanimously supported by the in tells in his favour. three members retire by rotation, and it not unfrequently College Birmingham greatly He was a candidate at the last election and was only 23 happens that by death more vacancies arise, but this year votes behind the last successful candidate. Mr. Richardson there are only the three regular vacancies. Cross is a distinguished ophthalmologist and is connected The following list of the 24 members of Council gives with the Bristol Royal Infirmary. He would prove a decided the date at which each member retires :- tcquisition to the Council. Retire in 1905: Mr. H. G. Howse, Guy’s Hospital (first elected 1889), Junior Vice-President ; Mr. Edmund Owen, St. Mary’s Hospital; and Mr. Rickman J. Godlee, University THE College Hospital. -retire in 1904: Mr. Bryant, Guy’s Hospital (first elected THIRTEENTH INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL 1880) ; Mr. Pickering Pick, St. George’s Hospital (first elected CONGRESS, . and Mr. 1888); Davies-Colley, Guy’s Hospital. AUG. 2ND TO AUG. 1900. .Itetare in 1903: Mr. Willett, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital 9TH, (first elected 1887), Senior Vice-President; Mr. Butlin, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; and Mr. Treves, London Hospital. . THE next meeting of the International Medical Congress Retire in 1902: Mr. Reginald Harrison (first elected 1886); will take place in Paris the of the exhibie Mr. Howard St. Bartholomew’s elected during year great Marsh, Hospital (first tion in 1900-from 2nd to 9th. Professor 1892) ; and Mr. J. Hardie, Royal Infirmary, Manchester. Aug. Lannelongue, Retire in 1901: Mr. Macnamara, Westminster Hospital ; the well-known surgeon and a member of the Senate,’ Mr. Mayo Robson, Leeds General Infirmary; and Mr. Watson has been chosen President and Dr. Chauffard (21, Rue Cheyne, King’s College Hospital. St. Guillaume) has been appointed secretary-general. The Retire in 1900: Sir Thomas Smith, Bart., St. Bartholo- committee of organisation has already been at work for mew’s Hospital; Mr. J. Tweedy, University College Hospital; some months and considerable progress in the arrangements, and Mr. Alfred Cooper. which will be on a large scale, has been made. The Presi- -retire in 1899: Sir William MacCormac, Bart., St. dent of the Republic has consented to open the Congress Thomas’s Hospital (first elected 1883), President; Mr. T. R. in person, and foreign countries are being invited to join Jessop, Leeds General Infirmary ; and Dr. Ward Cousins, in the work. Royal Portsmouth Hospital. Sir William Mac Cormac has received an official letter .Lletire in 1898: Mr. J. Langton, St. Bartholomew’s from the President and Secretary-General asking him to Hospital; Mr. Mitchell Banks, Liverpool Royal Infirmary ; organise an English national committee if possible before and Mr. Henry Morris, Middlesex Hospital. Aug. lst. They hope that England will take a large interest An analysis of these names shows that at present St. Bar- in the Congress which promises to be a great success. tholomew’s Hospital has 5 representatives, Guy’s Hospital No effort will be spared by our French confreres to make has 3 representatives, University College Hospital has it one and they are all the more stimulated by the great 2 representatives, London Hospital has 1 representative, eefect which attended the last meeting of the Congress St. Mary’s Hospital has 1 representative, St. George’s in Moscow. It is interesting to recall that the first Inter. Hospital has 1 representative, Westminster Hospital has national Medical Congress took place in Paais under the 1 representative, King’s College Hospital has 1 repre- Presidency of Professor Bouillaud in 1867. sentative, Middlesex Hospital has 1 representative, and A meeting of those interested in the matter will, we under- St. Thomas’a Hospital has 1 representative ; making a total stand, be held at some convenient time and place, to be of 17. Attached to the London medical schools are 17 announced shortly, in order to carry out the wishes of our representatives, to the special London hospitals 8, and to French colleagues.