THE l'RESJDENT'8 ADDRESS. 18 ( J 



the prizes adjudged in its Medical College, deprecated, in the most 

 eloquent terms, certain (notable) forms of specialism in professions, 

 as well as divisions of labour in trades, setting forth his reasons as 

 follows : — 



But there was another topic present to the minds of those whom he was 

 addressing connected with the medical profession, which was the activity of 

 speculative thought. That activity had undoubtedly reached a point in this 

 age which they were not aware of in former times. In this activity of specu- 

 lative thought, with all the hopes and with all the efforts it might tend to 

 excite, he could not help seeing that an opportunity was given to the medical 

 profession to exercise increased influence, and assume a greater share in the 

 leadership of thought at large. He would give his reason for this. If he 

 were asked what was the besetting danger of this age in the region of 

 thought, he should venture to answer it was thought which was known pro- 

 fessionally by the name of " specialism," which generally, in the world of 

 industrial production, was called the " division of labour." These were 

 excellent things, and we would not get rid of them if we could ; but, at the 

 same time, few of the goods which came to us in this world came unmixed 

 with some drawback or besetting hazard, and the besetting hazard in the 

 division of labour in the industrial world, and in the description of thought he 

 had mentioned, was that it might tend to disproportionate development in the 

 faculties of the mind, and consequently to a diminution, and not an increase 

 of its aggregate power. With regard to the division of labour, there was no 

 doubt of this at all. Unless there were counterpoise and a diligent use of 

 the general means of improvement which the present age supplied — unless 

 a man pursued more than a special branch of labour, he was in danger of 

 becoming a stunted and deformed human being (hear, hear). Limited con- 

 templation tended to diminish the -general aptitude and ability and the com- 

 mand of resource which was so valuable to all persons in all the positions 

 of life. 



Yet I think you may notice that his observations refer more to 

 specialty of thought than of pursuit or research. 



Be that as it may, however, it cannot be said of our Society that 

 we are mere specialists, for this evening are here assembled mathe- 

 maticians, physicists, chemists, and zoologists, the teacher of natural 

 science, and the physician, the technologist and the amateur who 

 finds in scientific pursuits relaxation from other occupation. And 

 what is our bond, if I may so call it, of association ? We are called 

 a Microscopical Club, but what does that title mean to us ? Is 

 microscopy an art or is it a science ? How shall we who desire very 

 honourably and properly to be classed as experts, describe our occu- 

 pation ? A question which may not at first sight be very easy to 

 answer. My attention shall therefore be directed to the search for a 



