The Country Surgeon

I am full} aware of the very great honour done me by my electioni as President of the Northerni Ireland(13ranlich of the British Medical Associationi, but, at the same time, I am acutelyN conscious of mn inability to fill that positioni in thle manniier to whlich you have been accustomed. For the past twelve months I have been attending meetings of Branch Cotuncil, etc., endeavouring to learn m) job under the able chairmaniship of y our past President, Mr. Ian McClure, and each time I have envied him more andl more (1) His marvellous knowledge of me(lical affairs in all branches of the profession; (2) his ability to sum up a situLation or a wandering speech; (3) his remarkable energy and control; and (4) his power to get a maximum of work clone in a minimum of time. I will endeavour to follow in his footsteps, but I fear the standard an(d pace set by him, andl I may lag far behind. I trust, therefore, you will bear with me in my shortcomings, knowing that I am onlV a very lesser star in the medlical constellation.