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Societies. It was thought that the latter plan would havethe fewer advantages, especially since some steps in thatdirection had, it was understood, been taken several yearsago without any result. It was held that the sole objectionto a separate special Society was that it might tend to en-courage narrowness of view and work; but that this objec-tion might fairly give way before the greater facilities foiwork which it would afford, more particularly as the Societyalready contained amongst its members a number of phy-sicians and surgeons who were not specialists. An earnesthope was expressed that in the active co-operation of suchcolleagues the Ophthalmological Society would find much oiits strength. In conclusion, it was not to be forgotten-itwas indeed to be insisted upon-that of all the subdivisioneof medicine, ophthalmology more than any other exemplifiedthe means and methods which all should strive to masteiand employ who aimed at becoming worthy practitioners ofthe healing art.The Chairman then proposed to the meeting, as the basis

on which the Society should be formed, the following reso-lutions :-That the Society publish Transactions, and meetabout five times a year, ordinarily in London ; that the sub-scription be one guinea a year ; that members should infuture be elected by ballot; that the management be in thehands of a committee consisting of the President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Secretaries, and nine other members.

It was proposed by Mr. Critchett and seconded by Dr.Hughlings Jackson, and carried unanimously : "That anOphthalmological Society of the United Kingdom be formed," "a hope being entertained that it would also embrace amongits members those practising in India and the Colonies.

It was next proposed by Mr. Brudenell Carter, secondedby Mr. Henry Power, and carried ne1n. con.: " That honorarymembers, whose number shall not exceed four, be electedfrom gentlemen pre-eminently distinguished in ophthalmologyor in the sciences bearing upon it."

It was proposed by Mr. John Couper, seconded by Dr.Allen Sturge, and carried nem. con., that the followinggentlemen form the Committee of the Society for the firstyear :-President : Mr. Bowman, F.R.S. Vice-Presidents :Mr. Critchett, Mr. Hutchinson, Dr. Hughlings Jackson,F.R.S., Mr. Teale (Leeds), Mr. Walker (Edinburgh), Mr.Swanzy (Dublin). Treasurer: Mr-Streatfeild. Secretaries:Dr. Stephen Mackenzie, 26, Finsbury-square, E.C. ; andMr. E. Nettleship, 4, Wimpole-street, W. Other Membersof Committeee : Mr. J. E. Adams, Dr. Barlow, Dr. Brailey,Mr. Brudenell Carter, Dr. Gowers, Mr. Higgens, Mr.Hulke, F.R.S., Mr. Henry Power, and Mr: Waren Tay.As an amendment, Mr. Vose Solomon, whilst entirelyapproving the selection of names as regards London, moved,and Mr. Lloyd Owen seconded : " That, in order to make thecommittee as representative as possible, the number be in-BJJ.t:(1<<::it;U Vy vuc auumavm Vi.. umc IVAtJJ.Gi-u.n:::tJ.uIJV.luJaou lUvlllUt:iU’hMessrs. Couper, Brudenell Carter, and Adams were opposedto the enlargement. Mr. Henry Power, agreeing in themain as to the disadvantages of large committees, sug-gested that three members might be added to the com-mittee representing ophthalmic centres out of London.This suggestion was accepted by Mr. Solomon, and put fromthe chair, but lost.

It was proposed by Mr. Frederick Mason, and secondedby Mr. Spencer Watson, and carried nem. con. " That thecommittee be empowered to draw up rules, to be submittedto the Society at its second meeting in the autumn of thepresent year."A vote of thanks to the Council of the Medical Society of

London, for the use of their rooms, was moved by Mr.Streatfeild, and seconded by Mr. Higgens. The proceedingsterminated with a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman,proposed by Dr. Gowers and seconded by Mr. WarenTay.Applications for membership, and intimations of intended

communications, should be sent to the secretaries.

THE SERVICES.

THE AFGHAN ZVAR-CABL L FORCE.

OUR correspondent at Sherpur, writing last mail, reportsthe general health of the troops in Sir Donald Stewart’sDivision as very good. The force in the Logar valley underSir Frederick Roberts, V.C., were in excellent conditionand spirits, and although they had so far not exchanged a

shot with the enemy the "outing" had done them good.The days, although somewhat hot, 84:&deg; being registered in atent at noon, were followed by cold nights, when a blanketwas still a necessity.A large number of Cabulees and Ghilzais wounded at

the late action of Charasiab have been despatched to Cabul,and are treated by the medical officers in the dispensary,which is in the full swing of useful and humane work in thecity.Deputy Surgeon-General A. Smith, C.B., who arrived

with Sir Donald Stewart, has, by virtue of seniority, becomePrincipal Medical Officer of the army in Afghanistan,Deputy Surgeon-General H. Hassard assuming medicalcharge of General Roberts’ Division. Men and officers arealike eager for a return to India as soon as the weather issufficiently cool to allow of a return march through theKhyber ; one and all are heartily sick of Cabul and the wargenerally.By the retirement of Surgeon-Generals C. A. Gordon, C.B.,

and E. Gilborne, two more Deputy Surgeon-Generals willobtain promotion to the higher grade, Deputy Surgeon-Generals Sir A. D. Home, V.C., K.C.B., and W. A. Mac.kinnon succeeding to the vacancies. Sir Anthony Homeremains at Madras, as Principal Medical Officer, and Dr.Mackinnon, who is at present in Hong Kong, will proceedto Malta, to assume the medical administration of that im-portant station.Surgeon-Major John Warren has been appointed to themedical charge of the Battery of Royal Horse Artillerystationed in St. John’s Wood Barracks.ADMIRALTY.-Staff Surgeon Alexander Turnbull, M.D.,

has been promoted to the rank of Fleet-Surgeon, withseniority of 2nd June. Fleet-Surgeon Thos. Browne, toYarmouth Hospital, to date from the 1st July ; Fleet-Surgeon Dr. Duncan Hilston, to Yarmouth Hospital, incharge, to date from the lst July ; Surgeons Henry T. Cox,to Bermuda Hospital; Robert F. Yeo, to Haslar Hospital; 9and Thos. M. Sibbald, to the Northampton.

Correspondence.A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION OF

DISEASE IN HOSPITALS.

"Audi alteram partem."

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SlE,&mdash;The importance of the subject of registration ofdiseases in hospitals has not received the attention it meritsfrom the governing bodies of these institutions. A con-siderable amount of very valuable information might begathered from the large number of cases which must of newcessity pass through the hospitals in the course of a year ;and, from experience, I can state positively that a very con-siderable portion of this information is wasted, owing to thevariety of the systems of registration at present in vogue.It is true that the subject is not entirely neglected, but onlythose who are brought into immediate contact with thecases are able to derive any benefit from them. The workof registration should be conducted in such a manner thatthe profession at large might be able to obtain satisfactorystatistical and general information on any class of cases-Every hospital has at present an independent method moreor less theoretically perfect, but in few cases capable ofbeing carried out in detail. By a little pressure they can hereduced under one of two heads-the first, in which theregistrars themselves record the cases; the second, in whichthe students perform the same duties subject to the super-vision of the registrars-a work in many cases of super-human labour. It is impossible at the present time toobtain satisfactory data from more’than one or two hospitalowing largely to this want of uniformity in method, a wantwhich has already made itself felt, as the following quo-tation from the report of the special committee appointed toinquire into the subject of pyaemia, septicaemia, and purulentinfection, will show :-

"Before passing from this part of the subject we wouldobserve that, considerable as the number of cases collectedin these statistics may be, still, spread as they are over a