266 Organisation of the American Biological Society [Jan. 



than this, but it will certainly amount to half that sum, since there 

 must be fifty libraries subscribing at the old rate. 



How to get the necessary 2000 members. As a nucleus of 

 the Society all members of the biological societies would probably 

 join. There are 1,500 names in Cattell's American Men of Science 

 vvho would be eligible and upon whose support we might confidently 

 count. In addition probably 300 have joined the ranks of biology 

 since that publication was issued or whose names were omitted 

 through oversight. Let us say, at a liberal estimate, 1,800 all told. 

 There probably could be found in addition 500 intelligent and public 

 spirited physicians, and others sufficiently interested in biology, to 

 join such a society with such great advantages in the matter of Jour- 

 nals. These figures are maximum figures but they suffice to show 

 that we could count on perhaps a thousand members at the start; 

 and there is no doubt that the numbers would increase rapidly, just 

 as they have done in the Chemical Society. We might also soon 

 Start a Journal of Biological Industries, or in other ways increase 

 Cooperation between the practical applications of biology and the 

 science itself. 



Other arguments might be presented, but these suffice to show 

 the great advantages of Cooperation and to make it evident that, in 

 this way, we could attain these desirable objects: increase the in- 

 fluence of biology, increase Cooperation; knit the science together, 

 strengthen its practical applications; start a Biological Abstract 

 Journal; provide for the support, and enlarge the usefulness, of 

 our present Journals, and provide for new ones as the need arises; 

 and diminish the cost, to each one of us, of subscriptions and dues. 



We should also accomplish more than this, for, by such an Organ- 

 ization, we should be providing for the future, and organizing with 

 the object of attaining certain well defined ideals. Whatever Organ- 

 ization is attempted at this time should have in view the practical 

 attainment of these ideals and should not be a mere repetition of 

 what we have, with no definite plan and without foresight. 



In view of the foregoing facts I move the adoption of the fol- 

 lowing: That the American Physiological Society expresses its ap- 

 proval of the objects sought in the plan presented for the forma- 

 tion of the American Biological Society; and it recommends. 



