INTERCOLONIAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10597, 18 February 1896, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.

THE FOURTH SESSION,

Patrons : Their Excellencies the Governors of New Zeilmid, New South Wales, Victoria, Sonth Auatralia, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Administrator of British New Guinea, the Chancellor of the New Zealand University, and the Chancellor of the University of Otago. President: Dr F. C. Ba.tcb.elor (Dunediu). Retiring president: Dr P. S. Jones (Sydney). Vice-presidents: Dr G. R. W. Adams (Mel-" bourne), Dr J. Ahearne (Townsvilie), Dr E. Anderson (Melbourne), Profosjor H. B. Allen (Melbourne), Dr R. S. Bright (Habart), Dr J. M. L. Davies (Dunediu), Dr F. J. Dr;4:e (Launceston), Dr \V. Fell (Wellington), Dr X. N. Fitzgerald (Melbourne), Dr W. Gardner (Melbourua), Dr W. H. Goode {Sydney), Dr W. P. Grigor (Invercargill), Dr JS. Hinchclitf (Sandhurst), Dr J. Hudson (Nelson). Dr T. K. Hamilton (Adelaide), Dr H. lv Harvey (Perth, W.A.), ..Dr J. Hill (Brisbane), Dr E Sandford Jackson (Brisbane), Dr E. J. Jenkins (Sydney), Dr P. S. Jones (Sydney), Dr IS. JenniDg* (Christchurcb), Dr S. T. Knaggs (Sydney), Dr P. B. Muskett (Sydney), Dr G. L. Mullins (Sydney), Dr W. J. R" Nickson (Newcastle, N.S.W.), Dr B. Poulton (Adelaide), Dr R. D. Pinnook (BalUrat), Dr F. H. Quaite (Syduey), Dr W. Snowball (Melbourne), Dr W. 1. Spencer (Napier), Dr G. Sprott (Hobart), Drß. C. Stirling (Adelaide), Professor T. P. A. Stuart (Sydney), Dr H. Swift (Adelaide), Dr G. A. Byrne (Melbourne), Dr J. C. Verco (Adelaide), Dr H. Walker (Auckland), Dr R. D. Ward (Sydney), Dr J. E. Wulfaagen (Hpbart), and Dr P. M. Wood (Sydney). Executive Committee : Drs Alexander, Burnett, Batchelor, W. Brown, Closs, Colquboun, Cunningham, Davies, H. Lindo Ferguson, A. J. Ferguson, Fulton, Hocken, Jeffcoat, MacpherBon, R. Martin, Ogston, Roberts, Scott, W. M. i Smith, and Stenhonse. Reception Committee: The President, Drs Colquhouo, Hocken, Roberts, and the general secretaries. Batertainment Committee: The President, Drs W. Brown, Davies, H. Lindo Ferguson, W. M. Smith, sod the general secretaries. General Treasurer, Dr J. O. Closs (Danedin). General Secretaries: Professor J. H. Scott (Dunedin) and Dr'L. E. Barnett (Danedin). j ''':■■ FIRST DAY. The fourth session of the Intercolonial Medical Congress of Australasia wag opened in the University buildings on the 3rd inst. Dr Batchelor, the president, on entering the room with Professor Scott and Dr Barnett, the general secretaries, was greeted with loud

The President thanked the members very | kindly for the warm reception they had sccorded to him. . It was not his intention to make any lengthened remarks at that stage, for they would be more appropriately made later on in the day; bat he felt it would be hardly gracious on his part to take the chair without attempting to express his heartfelt gratitude at the great honour which had been conferred upon him in his election to the important position of President. Oae felt grateful for honour of any kind, but fchofe honours which came from his professional brethren were, he always thought, the very highest which could be conferred upon a professional man—(applause),—and they had conferred on him the very highest honour the profession in Australasia could confer on one of their colleagues when they elected him to that important office.—(Applause.) He had great diffidence in accepting the position, but he trusted they would overlook hia »any shortcomings, and he knew that he could depend upon them for their loyal and kind support in helping him through any difficulties that might arise, arid that they would help him to carry out to the best of his ability the most important trust they had reposed in him.—(Applause.) DEPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Professor Scott (Dunedin) read the report of the Executive Committee, the adoption of which was moved by the President. j Professor Allen (Melbourne) had mooh pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report,.iml thought the songress might add j their approval of the appointments made by the j Executive Committee. The visiting members were much indebted to the executive for all the trouble they had taken to promote the discharge of the business of the coDgreßS, and also for the great trouble the? had taken to promote the comfort and enjoyment of the visitors.— (Applause.) The motion was then put and carried. A DENTAL SECTION. The. President mooted the desirability of Adding a dental section to the congress. Dr Sphinothoepe (Melbourne), as a member of the Dental Board of Victoria, remarked that it was partly with the idea of raising the status of dentistry that the proposal for the addition of a dental section was made. NothiDg could, however, be done now, and perhaps the best thing would he to instruct the next congress to take up some actual action in the matter. Ha moved—"That,the question of the establishment of a dental section be transmitted to the Executive Committee of the next congress with power to take action in the matter." Dr Knaggs (Sydney) seconded the motion. DrO'HAEA (Melbourne) thought it would he sn advantage not only to dentists in raising j their standard, but. also to the profession generally if dentists were admitted to the congress as a section. He thought, however, that dentists ebonld be brought to a certain standard before being admitted. The motion was carried without dissent. . CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACT. Professor Scott (Dunedio) laid on the table a memorial from the Women* Christian Temperance Union of Victoria on the subject of the Contagious Diseases Act. ■ The memorial was referred to the Public Health Section. *' IHTEBCOLONIAL MHDICAL JOURNAL. j3r Baknhtt (Duoedin) introduced the question of the desirability of establishing an intercolonial medical journal. In the course of a general discussion, it was moved by Dr Coequhoun (Dunedin) — "That a committee be appointed to consider the question of forming a union of the Australasian medical associations, and to report to next congress."

Professor Allen (Melbourne) moved ai an amendment—" That the congress again affirm the desirability of securing a fully representative medical journal of Australasia, and urge that negotiations to this end ba continued and brought to »n issue as speedily an possible, and that the Executive Committee of next session be invited to give special attention to this and cognate matters."

The amendment was carried by 42 votes to 26. .