937SIR JOHN MACALISTER.-THE BUDGET.

apparent difference in the capacity of differentpatients to resist the poison of nicotine, and also thefact that while abstinence from tobacco in most casesis followed by complete restoration of vision, in othersthe cure is at best but partial.

THE LATE PROFESSOR O’SULLIVAN.SHORTLY after the death, last year, of Dr. A. C.

0’Sullivan, professor of pathology in the Universityof Dublin, a committee was formed to collect fundsin order to perpetuate the memory of his connexionwith Trinity College and especially with the Schoolof Pathology, of which he was for nearly 30 yearsthe head. Over 21000 has been collected and with thissum a scholarship has been founded in the School ofPhysic. The O’Sullivan scholarship, valued at about;&bgr;48 a year, is to be awarded, on the nomination ofthe School of Physic Committee without examination,to the most deserving candidate, consideration beinggiven to his record in the medical school, in theUniversity generally, and also to his financial circum-stances. In addition to the foundation of thescholarship a bronze tablet has been erected in theSchool of Pathology which bears the followinginscription :-

Alexandro Carlo O’SullivanHuius Collegii Socio

Qui in Hac Schola Scientiae Pathologicae CathedramPrimus Obtinuit

Viro Magnanimo Omniumque Artium Capacissimo I

Lugens UniversitasHoc Monumentum Posuit

MCMXXIV.

The tablet was unveiled by the Provost of TrinityCollege on April 21st, when Dr. W. G. Smith,emeritus professor of materia medica, on behalfof the subscribers, presented the scholarship andtablet to the College. ____

SIR JOHN MACALISTER.WE announced last week the resignation of Sir

John MacAlister from the post of Secretary to theRoyal Society of Medicine, which he has held sincethe foundation of that Society by the amalgamationof its constituent bodies. At the meeting of theCouncil of the Society last week the following resolu-tions were proposed from the chair by the President,Sir StClair Thomson, who said that no formal resolu-tions could be too generous in making public acknow-ledgment of the affection felt towards MacA1Ü:ter,and the regret which all had experienced on realisingthat his state of health compelled his resignation. Thefollowing are the resolutions submitted :-

1. That the Council of the Royal Society of Medicine

Idesires to express its profound regret that ill-health hascompelled Sir John MacAlister to resign his office of Secretary,which he has held since the year 1887. In accepting hisresignation the members fully realise that the Society as atpresent constituted owes its creation to his organisingpowers ; that its growth and success are chiefly due to his-zealous devotion to his duties ; and that its welfare andreputation have been his life’s work.

2. That the Council unanimously offers its most sincerethanks to Sir John MacAlister for his 38 years of ungrudgingand loyal service to the Society.

3. That the Council sends its affectionate good wishesfor Sir John MacAlister’s restoration to health and vigour.

4. That the Council has great pleasure in inviting theSociety to elect Sir John MacAlister as an Honorary Fellowof the Society.

Sir StClair Thomson went on to recall MacAlister’sthree great achievements in connexion with theSociety. The first, he said, was the move of the oldMedico-Chirurgical Society from Berners-street to abuilding in Hanover-square, large enough to house it,to lodge its increasing library, and to supply meetingrooms to many kindred societies. The second was thefederation of these 18 societies into the Royal Societyof Medicine, the largest society of its kind in thekingdom, and with the most complete medical libraryin the Empire. The third great feat was the erectionof the Society’s house in Wimpole-street, the movethere and the consolidation of success. The words of

Sir StClair Thomson and the resolutions referring tothe work of MacAlister were immediately endorsed bytwo previous Presidents of the Society, Sir HumphryRolleston and Sir William Hale-White, and THELANCET desires to be associated with this tribute toMacAlister’s staunch and devoted service to themedical profession. We are informed that Sir JohnMacAlister feels that he has no longer the vigournecessary to the adequate performance of his duties,but his resignation does not take effect till the end ofJune, and we hope that, when it has taken place, hewill long continue to enjoy his leisure ; we are certainthat his old friends will frequently see him among them.During MacAlister’s absence much of the adminis-trative work has been admirably carried on by thehon. secretary, Mr. W. Girling Ball, whose assistancewas warmly acknowledged by the President.

THE BUDGET.Mr. Churchill’s first Budget is both personally and

professionally interesting to the medical man. Six-pence off the income-tax will afford welcome reliefto practitioners whose income is so largely earned bypersonal exertion, and the increase in the allowanceon earned income from one-tenth to one-sixth will beof special benefit to the increasing number of medicalmen and women receiving fixed salaries from localauthorities. Professional interest centres around theproposals for old age and widows’ pensions. It haslong been foreseen by medical statisticians, andpointed out more than once by Dr. J. Brownlee inour own columns, that the number of old people in30 years’ time will be vastly greater, possibly twiceas great, in proportion to the working population thanit is at present. No one but the medical man in anindustrial area knows so well what the anxiety offailing means in old age and of the resulting economicpressure on the family circle may mean to the healthof the community. Mr. Churchill’s proposal willultimately provide a pension at the age of 65 years foreveryone coming at present within the scope of theNational Insurance Acts, and will abolish the presentrestrictions and tests on pensioners at the age of 70.The cost is to be met by a weekly contribution offourpence a man and twopence a woman in additionto the present rate of health insurance contribution,with further additions after the tenth year, ultimatelyincreasing the man’s weekly contribution to seven-pence. At the end of 80 years the Chancellor calculatesthis scheme will have become entirely self-supportingwithout any contribution from the State, which inthe meantime can recoup itself out of the steadily

I diminishing cost of war pensions. Pensions of 10s.a week for widows of all men under National HealthInsurance will come into force at the beginning ofnext year, with additional sums for children under theage of 14. The whole scheme is a useful instalment

of social insurance which should make for nationalhealth. ————

THE first Lister Memorial Lecture of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons of England will be delivered onThursday, May 14th, at 5 P.M., by Sir William WatsonCheyne.

INCORPORATED ASSOCIATION OF HOSPITAL OFFICERS.The annual Congress is to be held at St. Thomas’s Hospital,London, on Friday, May 15th, when an address of welcomewill be given by Sir Arthur Stanley at 10 A.M. The Congressopens with an address by the President, Mr. W. H. Harper,at 10.15, and at 10.30 Dr. F. N. K. Menzies will read apaper on the Rôle of the Auxiliary Hospital or Home ofRecovery in the Voluntary Hospital Organisation, Mr.E. W. Morris and others taking part in the discussion.At 2 P.M. Mr. A. G. E. Sanctuary will open a discussion onthe Effect of Hospital Savings and Contributory Schemes onVoluntary Contributions, Dr. H. L. Eason being in the chair.At 4 P.M. there will be an official reception at the House ofCommons. The annual dinner will be held at the HolbornRestaurant in the evening, and visits to London hospitalsare being arranged on the following day. Inquiries may beaddressed to Mr. J. E. Stone, Hon. Secretary, 28, Bedford-square, London, W.C. 1.