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because it embodied the views which he had held from the time of the first meeting that had led to the origination of the College of Dentists. It had long been regarded as a desideratum that the Dentists of this country should be more intimately acquainted with each other, that they should have a rallying point round which they could meet and discuss matters of common interest to them all, and that they should have a something to which they could refer as a proof of their ability to practise their Profession. With these views they succeeded in making a very fair start two years and a half ago, and they had great hopes of success, but he thought that they had made rather a mistake in relying too much in the first instance upon what were called the "heads of the Profession," whose own status was of such a character possibly that they didn't feel much interest in elevating the body at large in the social scale. However that might be, or whatever the motives-into which he would not too nicely inquire-those gentlemen deserted them when they most stood in need of assistance and united action. Then came the abortive attempts at an amalgamation, which failed because those who adhered to the College were determined in the first place that they would have an educational institution of their own under the name of a College," and in the second place, that they would be entirely independent of the College of Surgeons, and of every other body whatsoever. (Hear, hear.) had been asked, "What's in a name?" But they knew very well that names were employed to describe the things which they were intended to represent; and as it was their determination to have a College, they were resolved that it should be called a College. Those were the two points of contention-the name of the institution and entire independence of action-and upon them they split. Calmly reviewing now all the proceedings with respect to the amalgamation, he really believed that the gentlemen who had abandoned them never sincerely desired that it should take place; for had they remained with them, and had they been animated by a desire to raise the status of the Profession, they might have joined the College at once with great honour to themselves, they would have been a great assistance to its promoters, they would have been the means of bringing the whole Profession into one body, and they might even have had the glory of founding the whole affair. Instead of adopting this course, however, those gentlemen had done their best to injure the College, and those from whom he should have expected better things had resorted to coaxing, to clamour, and to trickery, in order to crush them. He had always been strongly opposed to going to the College of Surgeons for a Dental diploma, for he considered that it was a degradation to insist upon men who had taught others to be Dentists going to the College of Surgeons, which did not pretend to make Dentists. These had been his views all along, and he believed that, unless

they reverted to their original intention of being an educational body, they would not succeed in the main objects which they had in view. An educational and an examining body they must be, and he thought that in the first instance, at all events, it would be no discredit to them, but quite the reverse, to engage the services of gentlemen of eminence, whose Professional training qualified them to teach anatomy, physiology and kindred branches of science. (Cheers.) Then, having appointed those Professors, let them teach and examine, and let diplomas be granted under proper regulations. These were all matters of detail which must be matured hereafter, but he repeated that they must go back to their first principles, and must rescind entirely those regulations which were agreed to in September last. He admitted that he had agreed to those resolutions at the time, but he did so in the hope of securing unanimity, and, having failed in that, he called upon them to adhere to their original intentions, and to be content to shine by their own light, and not by the reflected lustre of even so bright a luminary as the College of Surgeons. If they shone truthfully and faithfully by their own light, they must succeed, but if they shone only by a reflected light, it would be at best but a sham; and if any man practised the profession of a Dentist who had only the diploma of a College established to instruct in other avocations to show, he might be said, to a certain extent, to be sailing under false colours. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, he suggested that if they would be a little more liberal in their views with respect to the admission of members, they might possibly enhance the strength of their position. They must not, of course, admit disreputable practitioners, but they should not refuse a respectable man because he did not happen to have sufficient capital to practise on so grand a scale as some members of their body. "Rome was not built in a day," and they had begun with the day of small things. However lofty the edifice to be raised, it must be based upon the ground. It was low at first, but time and perseverance raised it high; and so let them trust to themselves, work with energy, do what was right, regardless of others, and they would be sure to prosper. (Applause.)

Mr TIBBS (of Cheltenham) said, as none of the requisitionists had yet spoken, and as he had been called from a distance of 120 miles to attend the meeting, he should be glad to hear from one of themselves the precise object that they had in view in convening it.

Mr THOMSON: One of the reasons for calling the meeting was that a statement had gained currency that a proposition was about to be made to dissolve the College, which I think would be very impolitic and unjust, after the position which we have attained. (Cheers.)

Mr TIBBS: No such intimation has ever reached me. It must

be only a rumour, and it can scarcely be necessary to summon a general meeting to refute every idle rumour one hears.

Mr THOMSON: It was not an "idle rumour," I assure you.

Mr TIBBS: It did not reach me, and I am a member of the College who has no desire certainly to see it dissolved. (Hear, hear.) I never had any other wish than that it should be a self-supporting and independent institution. I thought that the Dentists of England were sufficiently numerous and influential to stand alone, having no borrowed light, and that they would be held in more respect, even by the Medical Profession, if they stood alone, than they would be if they were attached to any other body, let it be what it will. (Cheers.)

Mr CHAPMAN: I am one of the requisitionists, and I beg to state that I signed the document in question because I thought that the laws passed on the 22nd of September were quite unsuited to the College, and that they ought to be rescinded.

Mr TIBBS That is a very good reason no doubt, but, unfortunately, you have not stated that in the circular.

Mr HOCKLEY: As I had some hand in the requisition, per haps I may be allowed to say a few words in answer to Mr Tibbs, who complains that it does not state what we are called here for. Now the requisition does state that those who have signed it are of opinion that the original principles on which the College was founded have been departed from. That is one reason. Another reason is that the observations which were made by Mr Matthews at our last annual meeting certainly did give rise to a rumour, which, although it did not reach Mr Tibbs, did reach a great many members, that the College was about to be dissolved. (Hear, hear.) And further, I am in a position to state that the subject did come under the consideration of the Council, in consequence of the number of seceders that we had. It was neces

sary that something should be done, for many members of the Council were so depressed at the state of our affairs that they would have been willing to have called a meeting to consider the propriety of dissolving the College; but the Council could not make up their minds to recommend the adoption of that course when they had 170 members and a large balance in hand. It was felt, however, that after the statement which was made by Mr Matthews at the annual meeting, it was necessary to bring matters to a crisis. I accordingly waited upon several members, and got the requisition signed; but that was not done at the instance of the Council; and until this evening not one of those gentlemen were aware of the resolution to be brought forward. (Hear, hear.) I took it entirely upon myself to obtain those signatures, because I thought it essential that something should be done. We have now an opportunity of discussing whether the regulations of September last are right or wrong, and if they are wrong, let us rescind them. If we had continued

to act upon these regulations, I believe that very few members would have paid up their subscriptions; but if we change our tactics, and revert to our original principles, I hope and believe that we shall go on.

Mr TIBBS still complained that there appeared to be a want of combined action, and observed that, even if carried, the resolution would have to come before them again for confirmation at a subsequent meeting.

Mr HOCKLEY: The gentlemen who signed the requisition met together last night, and determined upon the resolution which Mr Weiss has moved.

The CHAIRMAN: We have been called together upon the allegation, that our original principle has been departed from. Our original principle was, that we were to be independent, and we were not to be a parasitical body attached to any other body, or deriving light from any other body. We have departed from that because we now say that candidates for admission shall be compelled to produce a diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons. That is not our original constitution, and I am sure that Mr Tibbs fully concurs in the sentiment which has been expressed, that we ought to be an independent body. (Hear, hear.) We have quite enough light in ourselves; we are strong enough; we are an intellectual body, and therefore I contend that we ought to have a Dental College independently of every other college. I think, under the circumstances, that the meeting may be considered properly qualified to discuss this question, because we are told that we have departed from our original formation, and that we ought to go back to it. (Hear, hear.) Mr RYMER did not think that the meeting would be called altogether in vain, because it afforded them a legitimate opportunity for deciding what should be done with regard to the future of the College. With respect to the rumour of dissolution, although it had not reached the ears of many gentlemen in the country, it was very prevalent in London, and with good reason, for every post brought in resignations, and their meetings and lectures until recently had been but poorly attended.

Mr TIBBS: I am very sorry to hear that, for many years as I have been in the profession I should have considered it quite a privilege to have been able to attend these lectures.

Mr RYMER: I am sure, if Mr Tibbs had occupied the position which I have, that he would have been deeply depressed, after two-and-a-half years of anxiety, trouble, and loss of health, at the particular time to which reference has been made by Mr Hockley, and it was under that feeling that I myself was of opinion that it was not just to ourselves or to our families that we, as members of the Council, should be exerting ourselves to endeavour to carry out that which the Profession at large did not appear to be anxious to support them in. I therefore moved in the Council a resolution, which was carried, not absolutely to the

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effect that we should call a meeting to dissolve the College, but which would have enabled us, without any inconsistency, to assent readily to such a proposition. Since then I have been in communication with some eminent men in the Profession, unconnected with any public body whom the rumours in question had reached. And I found that there was a very strong feeling amongst them against the dissolution of the College. (Hear, hear.) I find, moreover, that when the probable dissolution of the College is talked about, that members come forward in greater numbers to attend our meetings. This is somewhat encouraging, and I am still sanguine that our institution may progress satisfactorily. I was only to-day reading the report of the sixty-eighth anniversary of the Medical Society of London, which, I say, has inspired me with hope. I read that when it was first formed it was under tolerably favourable auspices. After a year or two members fell off, but they came back again. Then there was a little unpleasantness, and another society was formed. Upon this several secessions, but at last the old members came back, and they all joined together. In one year during that time the attendance of members at the ordinary meetings was generally seven, but on one occasion it was only four. In one year the funds, which had been at 7007., amounted only to 221., and the society was deeply in debt; and yet I read a most able and most splendid oration by Dr Routh, delivered last Tuesday week to this Society, which is still existent, and in a flourishing and satisfactory state. (Hear, hear.) I am in a position to announce that a powerful re-action has unquestionably taken place in favour of the College of Dentists. It is looked upon as the only public institution founded on liberal principles which has any chance of effecting a legitimate organisation of the Profession. Therefore any

measure which would be likely to sweep away this institution, which, perhaps, could never be founded again, is viewed with feelings of apprehension and alarm. Whilst we have, then, all these satisfactory gleams of sunshine I think that we may safely go forward. (Hear, hear.) I do not assert that all our positions have been wisely taken. We very much regret that we have made mistakes, yet, when you have made a false step, the best plan is to retrace it. We are none of us perfect, either as individuals or as public bodies; and although there is no doubt that we have lost our road, there is a pretty plain sign-post a-head to direct us to the right path. (Cheers.) I think that, by recurring to our original principles, we shall arrive at the desired goal, and I am certain that we shall get back a great number of our old members. I have the original letters of resignation sent in by many of those gentlemen, and they state that they quitted us not because the amalgamation was not carried, but because we had departed from the principles on which the College was originally based. (Cheers.)