step to take. What we should do is to endeavour to obtain mobility, and that will only be carried out by early movement and that in a painless fashion, as pain indicates that something is wrong, and therefore the patient, and the patient alone, is able to perform those movements satisfactorily.

The illustrations shown are a few selected ones from many in my possession, and those in connection with fractures are selected only with a view to showing those wonderful changes in the bone which time produces. About the elbow-joint and shoulder they are very remarkable.

DISCUSSION.

Mr Cathcart said: I remember when the slightest movement of a broken bone during the healing process was considered likely to result in non-union. At that time an injured joint had also to be kept at absolute rest. This was for fear of increasing traumatic inflammation. Professor Chiene was one of the first in Edinburgh to adopt massage and movement for sprains. His former pupil, the late Dr Laing, had studied massage for injuries of joints abroad, and had worked in. Professor Chiene's wards on his return. After some discussion he offered to treat a sprained ankle by the new method, if Professor Chiene would treat a similar case by the old one of fixation for comparison. The challenge was accepted, and the result was so clearly in favour of the new method that Professor Chiene, from that time, adopted it.

Some years afterwards, I had the pleasure of seeing Professor Lucas Championnière in Paris demonstrate a series of cases of fracture which had been treated by his method of massage and early movement. The excellent results obtained by methods we had been taught to abhor astonished me. I became a convert, adopted his methods in the wards under my charge, and have never seen reason to regret it. In some ways Mr Dowden has acted as a pioneer in carrying this line of treatment even further than Professor Championnière, but his results as shown to-night in the lantern slides of photographs and X-ray plates fully justify his action.

Mr Dowden is to be congratulated in having so admirably demonstrated fresh proofs of the vis medicatrix naturæ. I hold that those who say that a good physiological result after fracture entirely depends upon a good anatomical result, base their statement upon theory not upon observation. They have ignored the compensating power of nature, of which such excellent illustrations have been supplied to-night.

In the report of the inquiry into the results of the treatment of

X-Ray of Fracture 5 years after injury, showing practically complete restoration of the bone

Supracondylar Fracture of the Humerus 15 months after, showing formation of new shaft and

absorption of the projecting fragment of humerus.

Compound Fracture of the Phalanges of the Fingers from saw cut on the back of hand. First and second phalanges cut into but not completely severed. Extensor tendons sutured with catgut and active movement begun in 24 hours. (Dr Morrison's Case).

Compound Comminuted Fracture-lower end of radius-with division of all the extensor tendons on back of wrist. Suture with catgut. Active movements in 24 hours. Resumed work as a miner in a few months. Extension and flexion 3 years later.