Two Birthdays a Hundred Years Ago

As President, it is my great privilege and honour to propose the toast of the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. The Association has only once previously met in Belfast; in 1927, twenty-two years ago to this very day (3rd June, 1949). The dinner on that occasion, presided over by the late Professor James A. Lindsay, a great clinical teacher, philosopher and classic, was rendered memorable by a presentation to Sir William Hale White, who had held the office of treasurer for twenty years, indeed from the first meeting in 1907. The passing of Sir William in February last, full of years and honours, brought a very real sense of personal loss to our older members. He had had a large share in the founding of this Assoclation. The story is recorded in his own words in the memorial volume to Sir William Osler: "Many years ago, Kanthack, Garrod, and I considered the publication of papers, which, although of interest to those working at the scientific aspect of medicine, did not appeal to the majority of those in practice. The untimely death of Kanthack put an end to our plan, but when Osler became Regius Professor at Oxford the two of us left asked his help to revive it. He threw himself into the matter with enthusiasm and suggested that at the same time an Association of Physicians should be formed." I remember the delight with which Sir William visited the Giant's Causeway on the Sunday following the meeting and recalled, but only to refute, the saying of the great Samuel Johnson, "The Giant's Causeway is worth seeing, but not worth going to see." The second meeting in Belfast happily coincides with the hundredth birthday of The Queen's University of Belfast. In this hall, in December, 1849, with great pomp and ceremony, the formal opening of the College took place. And 1849 witnessed also, on the other side of the Atlantic, the birth of one-destined to leave an imperishable impress on Canadian, American, and British medicine, the man whose mind first conceived the foundation of our Association-\VTilliam Osler. Tonight , for a few minutes, I should like to speak of these two birthdays and of the medical background of a hundred years ago.