to cold some time previous, showed marked signs of empyema about June 5th, 1870. There was dulness over the whole of the left chest with loss of respiratory sounds and vocal fremitus, with displacement of the viscera, sweating, &c. On June 16th the chest was tapped through the sixth intercostal space with a syphon trocar. An india-rubber tube was affixed to the canula and carried into a basin of water. About thirty ounces of pus passed at the time. The canula with the tube was retained for twenty-four hours, a piece of elastic catheter with a smaller india-rubber tube1 was then inserted through the canula, which was withdrawn. The patient's health was much improved immediately after the operation. After eight or nine days the discharge ceased, but the tube was retained till June 21st, that is, fifteen days, when it was withdrawn. The heart had come over considerably to the left, and breath sounds could be heard more or less all over the left chest. The patient had an excellent appetite, taking two meat meals a day with stout. The patient now passed from my charge temporarily. The chest refilled and the pus made its way through the chest wall near the left nipple. He has made a slow but good recovery. Dr. SEDGWICK approved very much of Dr. Playfair's plan of subaqueous paracentesis. He had himself occasionally, during the last fifteen or sixteen years, carried out the same principle. He had used a canula, the tube of which projected externally an inch beyond the shield, on which he slipped a long indiarubber tube, with the other end dipping into a dish of water. Dr. Playfair's plan of introducing the india-rubber tube into the chest was very much better than leaving the silver canula in, as possible injury to the lung was thereby avoided. Dr. Sedgwick had adopted the same plan as that described above in a case of paracentesis abdominis, where the patient was exceedingly weak and the abdominal walls were almost as thin as parchment. The enormous collection of fluid was creating great distress, but the patient was so weak that there appeared no possibility of her bearing a rapid removal of the fluid. The withdrawal was extended over a period of a week, the free end of the tube being always under water. The plan succeeded well. The rapidity of the flow was entirely under control by means of pressure on the tube. The pus was allowed to flow under a valve of carbolic oil on lint. ANNUAL MEETING. The report of the scrutineers of the ballot for the election of officers (Dr. Geo. Granville Bantock and Dr. W. C. Grigg) was read, from which it appeared that the following list of office-bearers recommended by the Council had been unanimously adopted. Honorary President.-Sir Charles Locock, Bart., M.D. President.-John Braxton Hicks, M.D., F.R.S. Vice-Presidents.-John Clay (Birmingham), Henry Gervis, M.D., Henry M. Madge, M.D., Gustavus C. P. Murray, M.D., David Lloyd Roberts, M.D. (Manchester), John Scott, F.R.C.S. Treasurer.-Edward John Tilt, M.D. Honorary Secretaries.-W. S. Playfair, M.D., J. J. Phillips, M.D. Honorary Librarian.-Alfred Wiltshire, M.D. Honorary Members of Council.-William Tyler Smith, M.D., Henry Oldham, M.D., Robert Barnes, M.D., John Hall Davis, M.D., Graily Hewitt, M.D. Other Members of Council.-James H. Aveling, M.D., James Watt Black, M.D., John Brunton, M.D., J. Brendon Curgenven, M.R.C.S., James Fowler, M.R.C.S. (Wakefield), George Gaskoin, M.R.C.S., Samuel Day Goss, M.D., Thomas Taylor Griffith, F.R.C.S. (Wrexham), William Edmund Image, F.R.C.S. (Bury St. Edmunds), John Rutherford Kirkpatrick (Dublin), Draper Mackinder, M.D. (Gainsborough), John Baptiste Potter, M.D., Adolphus A. F. Rasch, M.D., William Richard Rogers, M.D., Henry Savage, M.D., Leonard William Sedgwick, M.D., Heywood Smith, M.D., Henry Wilson Sharpin, F.R.C.S. (Bedford). The Report of the Auditors of the balance sheet for 1871 (Drs. Squarey and J. Meaburn Bright) was then read, from which it appeared that the income of the Society during the past year was £774 17s. 2d., and its expenditure £634 7s. 9d., leaving a balance of £140 9s. 5d.; of this £128 3s. 5d. had been invested in consols, increasing the amount of the Society's funded property to £1284 8s. 9d. The adoption of the report was proposed by Mr. SCOTT, and seconded by Dr. AVELING, and carried unanimously. The following report of the Honorary Librarian was then read and adopted on the motion of Dr. MEADOWS, seconded by Dr. ROGERS. Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN,-I am happy in being able to assure you of the increasing usefulness and satisfactory condition of the Library and Museum. Since the last Annual Meeting the term for which the Society originally held the rooms has expired; a new agreement has, however, been entered into with Mr. Barkentin for a like period of three years at a slightly increased rental, which is rather nominal than real. The salary of our efficient sub-Librarian, who is a member of the profession, has also been slightly augmented. Owing to the deplorable war between France and Germany, the number of foreign works added to our collection has been smaller than usual; but care has been taken to procure all that were obtainable. The additions to the Library have amounted to 175 volumes; 33 of which were purchased, and the remainder presented. A very valuable donation of a few rare works on the pelvis has been promised by Dr. Arthur Farre, F.R.S. The number of visitors to the Library continues steadily to increase. It may be remarked that, besides its ordinary uses, the Library is additionally useful to the Society for the purpose of holding extra-council meetings and meetings of special committees, such as the Temperature Committee, the Pelvis Committee, the Educational Committee, the Library Committee, &c. It is also valuable as enabling the obstetricians of the metropolis to show a graceful courtesy to foreigners and other strangers visiting London; and I am authorised to say that many gentlemen who have availed themselves of the advantages the Library affords have highly appreciated the privileges they have enjoyed. It is further valuable as affording means for the formation of a museum which promises to become both important and, in course of time, extensive. The Council has liberally made arrangements for the reception of select specimens, and it is hoped that many such will in due course be presented to the Society. A few necessary articles of furniture have been procured at a trifling cost. The following plan for the examination of midwives recommended by the Council, and involving an addition to the bye-laws, was then considered. BYE-LAWS-CHAPTER XVI. I.—That an Examining Board be formed, consisting of Six Members; viz. :-A Chairman, three ordinary Members, and the Honorary Secretaries, ex officio. (The Two Non-official Members of the Board longest in office to retire annually). II. That Examinations be held at the Society's Library, on the second Wednesdays of the months of January, April, July, and October, at Eight o'clock p.m., or at such times as the Board of Examiners may from time to time determine. III.-That Candidates for admission to the Examination be required to submit to the Honorary Secretaries of the Society Certificates of the following qualifications at least fourteen days before the date of the Examination : (a.) A Certificate of moral character. (b.) A Certificate showing that the candidate is not under Twenty-one years of age, and not over Thirty years of age; but that up to the year 1877, Candidates above Thirty years of age be admitted to Examination under special circumstances satisfactory to the Board of Examiners. (c.) Proof of having attended the practice of a Lyingin Hospital or Charity for a period of not less than six months; or of having personally attended not less than twenty-five labours under supervision satisfactory to the Board of Examiners. (d.) Proof of having attended a course of Theoretical Teaching by Lectures or Tutorial Instruc tion, the details of which must be submitted to, and receive the approval of, the Board of Examiners. IV. That the Candidates be required to pass— (1) A Written Examination.-(2) An Oral and Practical (b.) The Symptoms, Mechanism, Course and (c.) The indications of Abnormal Labour, and the (f.) The conditions as to Air, Food, Cleanliness, (g.) The duties of the Midwife with regard to the Patient, and with regard to the seeking of Medical advice. V. That, on satisfying the Board of Examiners as to her qualifications, the Midwife should receive a Diploma certifying that she is a skilled Midwife, competent to attend natural labours. VI. That the Fee for this Diploma be one Guinea; and that unsuccessful Candidates be required to pay a Fee of Five Shillings. The adoption of the proposed addition to the bye-laws |