The title of this brief paper will be familiar to many of you as the heading to letters which have recently appeared in several successive numbers of the British Medical Journal. Some of the letters have been signed with the full name of the writers, others with a pen name. They have all been characterised by moderation of language in the presentation of the case in which the writers and many others are deeply interested. For some time past I have felt strongly that something should be done to improve the position of assistant medical officers of asylums, and am in full accord with the work of the Committee of this Association, who have recently furnished an interim report upon this subject. A further report will doubtless soon be forthcoming upon the financial and social position of assistant medical officers, and it is this view of the case which I desire to place very briefly before you this afternoon.