hitherto not been of that healthy progressive character peculiar to temperate climates where its contributors have fixed abodes and are dependent in a great measure upon the position they can occupy in public journals; Calcutta once had a medical society with a numerous list of subscribers and a very creditable series of transactions, but, like most other societies it declined with the demise of its original members and long has ceased to exist. Since then, various journals conducted by individual enterprise have followed,but even these died prematurely.
Lately a valuable new journal, called the Indian Annals of Medicine, published half-yearly, has been established in Calcutta, and is at present the only representative of the profession in Bengal, its pages being occasionally enriched by official communications sent to and presented by the Medical Board.
About 20 years ago, the Supreme Government called upon the medical service for topographical reports of their respective charges holding out patronage and promotion to distinguished contributors. Contrary to what was expected, comparatively few came forward, and not more than half a dozen treatises met with approbation, the first of the series being the topography of Calcutta, by Dr. Martin. These were published at very considerable expense by Government, and distributed throughout the public offices of the pre-
