Before addressing you, I have formally, however imperfectly, to express my full appreciation of the high honour conferred upon me at your hands in thus placing me in the Presidential Chair of your beneficent Association. I say beneficent advisedly, for when men have banded themselves together for the cultivation of science and the improvement of the condition of the insane, they associate to fulfil these functions as practical philanthropists. These good intentions have been realised in fruitful performance in words and deeds, and we hold our Annual Meeting to-day with a desire, an ability for good work that cannot fail to mark the year as one of humane progress.