Gentlemen,—Allow me in the first place, on my own part and that of my confrères, to thank you for the very great compliment you have paid the members of the Medico-Psychological Association who are in the Irish asylum service, through me, by doing me the honour to select me as your President for the ensuing year. For myself personally, I regret your choice has not fallen on one better able to fill such a high position; and I feel I have no claim whatever beyond your kindness in wishing to extend your friendship to your fellow-workers in this country. In their name, therefore, I bid you a hearty welcome to the fair city of the South, and trust that your visit may not only be attended with present pleasure, but that you may carry with you pleasing reminiscences of your stay amongst us.

It has long been recognised that a sympathetic connection exists between the body and the mind; irritability of temper from a sluggish action of the liver, and the hopeful view phthisical patients frequently take of their ultimate recovery (the “spes phthisica” of some authors), are familiar examples of the influence of abnormal conditions of the body upon the mind.

A. B., a prisoner with two or three aliases, aged 40, strongly-built, of short stature, with dark complexion and pockmarked face, was admitted into the observation ward at H.M. gaol, Darlinghurst, early in August, 1884, with the following history. He had served one sentence certainly, and perhaps more, in the neighbouring colony of Victoria, was reported to be an old offender, and was sentenced to seven years for arson in U.S.A., in March, 1884. He was sent at once to undergo the usual nine months' solitary and separate treatment with which all long sentences commence in Berrima—the special gaol set apart for this—and at the beginning of May was reported by the visiting medical officer of that gaol as unfit for this treatment, because he was an epileptic.

When I was at the Kingston Asylum, Ontario, last August, a male patient had just escaped from the institution, and made a criminal assault upon a little girl in the neighbourhood. From the inquiries I made, I found that the case was one of much interest in its bearing on moral insanity (or imbecility), and I was allowed to read the notes in the well-kept case-book of the asylum. Dr. Metcalf, the medical superintendent, has very kindly permitted me to make use of them, and the farther particulars of this patient's history and acts, which he has given me. A photograph was subsequently taken, which I have had reproduced by the London Autotype Company. (See Plate.).

Case I—B., æt. 53, son of a highly-respected and well-to-do city merchant. One paternal uncle was insane for a short time after business losses; another uncle married a servant, and among his children was a “ne'er-do-well.” Other members of the family have decided musical and artistic genius.

Case I.—Susan D., æt. 33, single, was admitted into Rainhill Asylum on Dec. 13th, 1884.

Between the clinical features of the following cases are. found differences flowing from two sources—one, the situation of the more marked changes following the injury; the other, the habitudes, tendencies, spread of, and line of action pursued by the morbid intracranial process eventually existing and dependent upon the injury.

Albert Royal Asylum.—The report presented by the Managers to the subscribers is a fall and satisfactory record. It shows how liberally the institution is supported by the public and how deserving it is of such assistance. The short history given is one continuous record of success and progress. A detached infirmary has been built and furnished at a cost of £5,670, of which 455,000 were contributed by a gentleman and his wife. The benefactions lavished upon this place are very creditable to human nature.

Our readers can scarcely have forgotten Dr. Franz Tuczek's studies upon Ergotism which were reported in the German Retrospect of the Journal (October, 1883, p. 426). This treatise upon the Pathology of General Paralysis (“Beiträge zur Pathologischen Anatomie und zur Pathologie der Dementia Paralytica.” Berlin, 1884) shows the same power of careful observation rewarded by important results.

The annual meeting of the Medico-Psychological Association was held on Tuesday, 4th August, 1885, at the Examination Hall, Queen's College, Cork, Dr. J. A. Eames presiding.

President: D. Yellowlees, M.D., Glasgow. Vice-Presidents: C. J. Hoarder. M.D., Carmarthen; G. E. Shuttleworth, M.D., Lancaster. Secretaries: C. Pegge, M.R.C.S., Vernon House, Briton Ferry, Glamorgan; A. Strange, M.D., County Asylum, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury.