NEW ZEALAND 'MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 4162, 29 June 1876, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND 'MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of members ©f tke medical profession was held at Watson's Hotel yesterday evening, for the purpose "of forming ah Otago branch of the New Zealand Medical Association. Those present were Professors Coughtrey and M'Gregor, and Drs. Hocken, Richardson, Copland, Fergusson, Sorley, M«Brearty, Martin, Thomson, Murphy, Brown, Gillies, Bachelor, Alexi ander, Reimer, Niven, and Deck. Professor. Coughtreywaß called to the chair. The Chairman stated the reasons which had urged him to advocate the forming of a local branch of a New Zealand Medical Association. He had frequently • received letters from medical men in the Colony, regarding medical ethics and practice in the Colony, or communicating interesting and rare cases and novel modes of treatment, and he felt these Would have been better dealt with by a Medical Society. He was in favor of one General Association, with working branches in the chief populous centres, believing they would then have a far more effective organisation than ever could be accomplished by purely local Societies with local interests, and consequently of narrowed sympathies. He , purposely made himself responsible for promulgating the project, and he would, therefore, take the blame of any faults or omissions. The interests He had endeavored to serve were those of the members of the medical profession, for if he had studied, his own personal tastes, ease, and comfort he would be a bitter opponent of the formation of the organisation proposed. After referring to the generous feelings- fostered amongst members of the profession by sucV associations, the speaker said it should be noted that in the Colony there are now no] less than 270 registered practitioners (in practice), and about fifty british qualified, medical men besides, not in practice. In Wellington a provincial branch is already formed; while in Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, and Auckland steps were being taken to co-operate with the proposed Dunedin society He had received letters expressing sympathy with the movement from the following gen ? tlemen:—Dr Newman, secretary of the Wellington Branch, Drs. Menzies, Sterling, Brown (Palmerston), Whiting, Drysdale, Kennedy, Douglas, Fleming, Witners, Jackson, Blair, Cowie, and Lake. He had drawn up a series of rules based on those of the British Medical Association and the Victorian Medical Society. It rested with the meeting to say whether or not a branch of the Society should be formed in Otago. Dr Ferguson moved, and Dr Rwmer seconded, "That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to form a branch of the Medical Association."—Carried unanimously. Dr Brown moved, and Dr M'Brbajot seconded, " That any qualified medical practitioner whose name is on the New Zealand Register, and who shall be recommended as eligible by any two members, may be eleeted an ordinary member at any meeting succeeding the one at whioh he was nominated; and that all medical practitioners whose names arc on the New Zealand Register, and* who are present tcnight, shall form the original members of this branoh of the Aa« sociation."

After some discussion as to the admission of homoeopathists as membersfof the society, the motion was carried by eight votes to three.

On the motion of Dr Mubphy, seconded by Dr Richardson, it was agreed that ," the Branoh Sooiety of Otago be upon a similar basiß to that of the Medical Society of Victoria."

It was resolved that the rafctttfotloa lor town members be L2 2 B per annum; and for membpra residing out of aradiufxrf ten miles from punedin LI Is { also that the Society should meet on the fourth Wednesday in every month, at 8 o'clock in tbi etihiwr. President, Dr Hocken; HcjWresidents, Drs Richardson and Drysdale; Treasnier Dr Ferguson; Secretary, Professor Coughre/i..,c,?mmittee» Dl * Brown, Batchekr, and Gill'es.