The Presidenfs Address. 83 



am glad to learn that under the presidency of one of our 

 Fellows, Mr. Hall, a Microscopic Section has* been formed 

 in connection with the Mutual Improvement Society at 

 Hackney. The earnest uniting together for the purchase of 

 microscopes and microscopical literatui'e is a gratifying proof 

 of this new Society's progress. While speaking of Societies, 

 I think it is a matter of regret that we have no relation or 

 connection with the many good Microscopical Societies 

 which are in existence in nearly all our large towns, and 

 mutual benefit, I think, would follow if some sort of con- 

 nection could be formed, by which we might afford accommo- 

 dation to their members when visiting the metro23olis, and 

 they, in turn, might communicate to us important informa- 

 tion, and enrich our cabinet by the contribution of duplicate 

 slides. 



During the past year, the wide acceptance of the germinal 

 theory of disease has given fresh vigour to the emplojanent 

 of the microscope as an agent in the work of the sanitary 

 reformer. The Board of Health Privy Council have had 

 many clever men at work with the microscope investigating 

 the cattle plague, cholera, «&c. Many of our zymotic and 

 epidemic diseases will receive much light from the instrument 

 our Society has done so much to place in the hands of every 

 one, and taught how to make use of to good pui'pose ; but in 

 this department the instrument is only in its infancy. 



I will now advert to a subject ultimately connected with 

 our future prosperity. 



The growing importance of the Royal Microscopical 

 Society, and the increasing demand for records of its transac- 

 tions, have led your Council to take into their serious con- 

 sideration the mode in which they have been published for 

 some years past. It is not consistent with the dignity of a 

 Royal Society that its proceedings should exclusively appear 

 in a publication over which the President and officers of the 

 Society have absolutely no control. The arrangements entered 

 into with the editors of the ' Quarterly Journal of Micro- 

 scopical Science ' take the mode and form of publication, the 

 quantity of illustrations, and other important particulars 

 entirely out of the hands of the Society's officers, which 

 precludes the Society from obtaining, except at a very heavy 

 expense, the number of copies required for presentation and 

 exchange. Considering these and other difficulties arising 

 from that arrangement, your Council decided upon giving 

 notice to terminate the agreement after the publication of the 

 October number for the current year, which will complete the 

 volume for 1868. 



VOL. XVI. g 



