Gentlemen,—My first duty is to convey to you my grateful appreciation of the honour you have done me in placing me in this chair. I am not unmindful of the great names which, in the course of more than half-a-century, have gone to make up an honourable tradition in the history and work of our Association. That tradition has assuredly lost none of its dignity whilst in the keeping of Dr. Conolly Norman, our retiring President, who has just now placed in my hand the “hammer” of office.