The Development of Neuro-Surgery

A LITTLE over 154 years ago a small dispensary, dedicated to the care of the sick poor, was opened in Smithfield. From this modest, but most worthy, beginning, our present noble heritage, the Royal Victoria Hospital, has been evolved by the zeal and gelf-sacrifice of an illustrious band of workers. Our meeting together here this morning marks the one hundred and nineteenth anniversary of the devotion of this institution to the teaching of medicine. 'It has long been customary at the opening ceremony .of each winter session to extend a hearty welcome to the students of all years, but more especially to those who are about to walk the Hospital for the first time. On behalf of the medical staff, this I most cordially do, and I am persuaded that in the capacity in which I stand to-day I have the honour of addressing many who, in fullness of time, will look back on a life enriched by good service to their fellow-men, or, perhaps, even one who, by his genius, may introduce a new principle in the treatment of disease which will make humanity his debtor for all time. We record with deep regret the death during the past year of two members of our consulting staff, Dr. Victor G. L. Fielden and Mr. Henry Hanna. Dr. Fielden, after many years of devoted service as senior anaesthetist to the Hospital, retired from the honorary visiting staff in 1932. At the time of his death he was our senior consultant. Generation after generation of medical students passing through the "Royal" were instructed by him. A man of sterling character, there dweltbeneath his rugged exterior a spirit of the very greatest kindliness. Mr. Hanna was connected with our Hospital for a period of nearly forty years. As a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose, and throat, he has bequeathed to us a memorial of the most eminent and devoted service. The high esteem in which he was held by his colleagues is indicated by his election to the presidency of the Irish Ophthalmological and the Ulster Medical Societies and also of his special section of the British Medical Association in 1937. He was chairman of the honorary visiting staff of the Royal Victoria Hospital at the time of his retirement. We honour and respect the memory of these two great men, and wish to extend to their families our deepest sympathy: Let us linger for a few moments to pay tribute to the memory of three gallant young medical men, Humphrey Thomson, Robert Marshall, and Norman Purce, sons of members of our visiting staff, who, on the threshold of a life of the richest promise, made the supreme sacrifice in answer to the call of duty. To-day it gives us great pleasure to welcome home and to the honorary medical staff, Lieutenant-Colonel Eric McMechan and Surgeon-Lieutenant Maurice Brown. We also extend a hearty welcome to two newly-appointed members of the honorary