Presidential Address. 9 



aware, much, very much, can be done in the way of preventing its 

 spread. The Americans, ever quick at putting into practice what 

 they are convinced is for the good of their country, have long ago 

 set us an example in preventive legislation, and, what is even more 

 to the point, have put that legislation into force. We, I fear, have 

 been slow to follow their excellent example, but at present there are 

 not wanting signs of our awakening. The question of an active 

 campaign against the disease in South Africa was brought up by my 

 friend Dr. Ramsbottom at the South African Medical Congress held 

 here some two years ago. The various South African Governments 

 have been communicated with, and an endeavour is being made to 

 interest the public in the matter, particularly by means of public 

 meetings in the large towns. 



A Royal Commission has been considering the matter at Home, 

 and its findings go to confirm the idea that one of the chief agencies 

 for the spread of the disease is through the medium of milk. Dr. 

 Stanley, in this connexion, urges the sterilization of milk as one of 

 the most efficient safeguards against its spread, and caustically 

 remarks : " We pay far more attention to the purity of beer, which, 

 even when absolutely pure, slays millions, than of the purity of milk, 

 which, when impure, slays hundreds of thousands." 



Doubtless it will be a long time before an easy-going public 

 can be got to interest itself to any appreciable degree in such matters, 

 more especially as the evil is one which they cannot see, or easily 

 understand. All the more necessary, therefore, is it to invoke the 

 assistance of a scientific society such as ours in a matter fraught with 

 the most m.omentous consequences to the race. 



A very interesting and important investigation is at present being 

 conducted by Dr. Ford -Robertson, Pathologist to the Scottish 

 Asylums. In 1903 he advanced the hypothesis that the specific 

 etiological factor in General Paralysis — the one outstanding incurable 

 form of mental disease — is a diphtheroid bacillus, and, in a paper 

 read before the Medico-Psychological Association in May last (not 

 yet published), he mentioned having isolated two varieties of 

 diphtheroid bacilli, capable of producing General Paralysis, viz., 

 what he has called bacillus faralyticans longus and brevis respectively ; 

 also bactericidal sera corresponding to the two varieties of diphtheroid 

 bacilli have been produced and administered as therapeutic agents 

 with the most encouraging results. Should these researches — as there 

 appear to be reasonable grounds for hoping — lead to the successful 

 treatment of General Paralysis of the Insane, his work in this con- 

 nexion will rank as one of the most remarkable achievements of our 

 time. 



Turning to tropical medicine, the scientist has never been so 

 actively engaged in the investigation of diseases incidental to warm 

 climates, as within recent vears ; as may be instanced by the attention 

 given to such questions at Home, and the establishment of Schools 

 of Tropical Medicine at London and Liverpool. The discoveries 

 made, even within comparatively recent times, have not only been 



