58 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE 



requirements of practical medicine, together with his scientific 

 papers, will remain a lasting heritage to students of experimental 

 physiology and medical men ; but his mind was active in other 

 directions, as was proved by his selection of the theme of 

 'Science and Modern Civilization' for his Harveian oration 

 delivered as late as 1897. As a literary man he contributed 

 articles to Eeynolds's and to AUbutt's ' System of Medicine,' and 

 to ' Quain's Dictionary.' As an author Sir W. Roberts is famous 

 by his well-known ' Practical Treatise on Urinary and lienal 

 Diseases ' ; and in the ordinary walks of life he was manly and 

 sincere, and ready of wit. In the field of pure biology, he will 

 behest remembered as one of the most ardent among the English 

 investigators who, fired by the classical researches of Pasteur, in 

 the early seventies entered the field of experimental bacteriology, 

 and his " Studies of Biogenesis," published in the ' Philosophical 

 Transactions' for 1874, contains records of novel observations 

 and methods which awakened the ingenuity of a Tyndall, among 

 those at the time engrossed in the mighty deeds of the great 

 Prenchman. 



He followed up the line of this work in an Address to the 

 British Association in 1877, while in 1895 he was President 

 of its Section of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. lie received 

 the Cameron Prize in 1879, two years alter his election as a 

 Pellow of the Eoyal Society. Medals had fallen to his lot 

 during his student career in the University of London, and he 

 was in 1892 appointed a Fellow of that Institution, becoming a 

 Member, and afterwards Chairman of its Brown Institution 

 Committee, which post he retained until 1898. He represented 

 the University of Loudon on the General Medical Council, and 

 was appointed a Member of the London University Statutory 

 Commission. He was also a Member of the Opium Commission 

 which visited India in 1893; and in these responsible vocations, 

 as in all others, he by Lis amiability of disposition, combined 

 with strong ibrce of character, earned the affectionate regard 

 and implicit confidence of all with whom he came into contact. 

 Grout, dyspepsia, dirt, were the foremost enemies of mankind 

 with which he <\aged warfire. He triumphed over each, and 

 for this, if for nought else, we revere his memory. 



Sir AV. Eoberts was elected a Pellow of the Linnean Society 

 on 17th December, 1896. 



Thomas Eogees, of West Dulwich, was the eldest son of Joseph 

 Eogers, of Nottingham, where he was born 15th April, 1820. 

 On 9th November, 1843, he came to London, a young man of 28, 

 and within three years, on 11th August, 1846, married Emma 

 Ashwell, who predeceased him a few years ago. 



In business he was a partner of Eogers, Black & Co., hosiery 

 manufacturers, with premises in Nottingham and a wholesale 

 house in London, which was managed by our late Fellow. After 

 a successful business career, he retired about 1887, finding plenty 



