PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 13 



valuable experience both as a teacher and as an investigator. 

 His published papers comprise a thesis for the D.8c. degree, 

 "The Mineral Oil from the Torbanite of New South Wales," 

 published separately (Sydney, 1906) and also in a somewhat 

 abridged form in the Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, 

 (Vol. xxiv., 1905), and "The Stinging Property of the Giant 

 Nettle-Tree" {Laportea gigas Wedd.) in the Society's Proceedings 

 for 1906. Dr. Petrie is now engaged upon important investiga- 

 tions upon the composition of Piturie, and upon the occurrence 

 of strychnine in the native Strychnos tree of New South Wales; 

 and at our last monthly meeting he was able to show a sample 

 and to make a preliminar}'- announcement concerning his isolation 

 of a new midriatic alkaloid from the leaves of Solawlra Icevis 

 Hook., a tropical American solanaceous plant cultivated in 

 gardens. There is a very large and important field of work open 

 for investigation in Australia, in the branch chosen by Dr. Petrie; 

 and we look forward with the greatest interest to the results of 

 his investigations. It is not expected that the volume of work 

 should be great, for if it is to be useful it must be thorough, 

 and thorough work in biochemistry can only be carried on at 

 the expenditure of much time and labour. 



The 23rd May ensuing will be the two-hundredth anniversary 

 of the birth of Linnseus, the great Swedish naturalist. The 

 University of Upsala has taken steps to commemorate this 

 interesting event in a manner worthy of the occasion; and has 

 honoured the Society by inviting it to send an official representa- 

 tive to participate in the rejoicings. Our geographical remoteness 

 and the shortness of the interval may possibly prevent the 

 acceptance of the letter of the invitation. But the Council has 

 accepted its spirit by deciding to hold a Special Meeting, in 

 honour of the occasion, on 2.3rd May, so that, as Members of a 

 Society bearing the name of the illustrious Swede, we may have 

 an opportunity of refreshing our memories upon such points as 

 the salient features of his life, his teaching, and his influence; as 

 well as upon the significance of our name, and the nature of the 

 bond which unites us in a Society bearing that name. Fuller 

 particulars will be announced at the next Meeting. 



