The International Medical Congress

Abstract

AFTER an interval of thirty-two years, the International Medical Congress returned to London, and was opened at the Albert Hall on August 6 by Prince Arthur of Connaught on behalf of the King. The number of members ran far into the eighth thousand, as compared with 3182 a generation ago. Before this unprecedented assemblage the foreign delegates, whose names are given below, were presented to Prince Arthur, and each said a few words, the fewest and most appreciated, apparently, coming from Dr. Wu, representing the Chinese Republic. After Sir Edward Grey had welcomed the foreign members, Sir Thomas Barlow, the president of the congress, gave his address, which took the form of a retrospect of the progress attained since 1881. The president recalled the supreme names of Pasteur, Lister, Virchow, Huxley, and Koch, remarking that there were giants in those days; but he showed how their pioneer work has been, and is being, followed up by the many devoted workers of our own time. He took occasion, also, to defend vivisectors, especially in this country, from the charges of cruelty and futility commonly brought against them by malice and ignorance.