As it was in the beginning . . .the British Medical Association (Victorian Branch).
Branches of the British Medical Association arose throughout the Commonwealth, one of the later being in Victoria, one of the smaller and thickly populated of the States. There were the usual causes. Dissatisfaction led to cliques, views of ethics varied with age and position and ambitions clashed. But the immediate causa causans was the blackballing of a candidate whose merits were his own, but whose ancestory was condemned. His "fidus Achates", with many traits in common who had been 20 years the mainstay, and 18 years the Editor, of the existing and repellant Medical Society of Victoria, promptly resigned, and refused repeated offers to return even at the price of a testimonial. SoDr Neild and Dr Louis Henry came together and between them ran the Branch for years and in process of time took prominent positions medically, musically and many ways.