206 Transactions of the Society. 



of many scientific societies, and as this change, be it for better or for 

 worse, is progressing, and seems likely to extend, it may be well for 

 us to take note of it, more particularly as the change in question has 

 been much fostered, if indeed it did not actually originate, in societies 

 like our own, whose raison d'etre, it may almost be said, is the pro- 

 motion and encouragement of observation. In former days, when 

 the study of natural knowledge was practically restricted to a select 

 few, it was natural that they should meet and converse from time 

 to time concerning their achievements and encourage one another 

 to prosecute their several studies. But now, when, instead of a 

 select few, we have thousands, even in London alone, the prosecu- 

 tion of research has of necessity been much divided and subdivided. 

 Where at one time the scientific workers of England in all depart- 

 ments of science might have sat round a good large table, those 

 interested in a subsection of a department of scientific investigation 

 require in these days a large room for their accommodation. 



As the zeal for science spread and the desire for scientific inves- 

 tigation increased, there arose a demand for instruction in technical 

 scientific processes, and I believe that the great success of most of 

 our learned societies at this very time is due as much to their value 

 for teaching purposes as to the advantages they afibrd as associa- 

 tions for publishing and recording the results of new scientific dis- 

 coveries. It seems to me that a microscopical society is and 

 ought to be, above all things, a teaching, demonstrating, observation- 

 encouraging body, and as time goes on we shall probably find that 

 the demand for this part of our work will increase, while its advan- 

 tage to students will be appreciated and acknowledged more and 

 more. 



It is especially in the manner I have indicated that a large 

 number of societies in difierent parts of the world, many of which 

 are associated with us, are doing such very useful work. It may 

 seem paradoxical to say so, but the true way to encourage new 

 original inquiry is to explain and repeat to others old observations, 

 and to demonstrate over and over again what has already been 

 proved. The difficulty of ascertaining and exactly appreciating 

 what has been already done, destroys the hopes of many a would-be 

 observer and investigator. Now this repeated showing of specimens 

 and illustrating delicate and difficult methods of investigation 

 appears to me to be the very work which a society like our own is 

 able and eminently qualified to perform well. Technical skill is 

 required for the successful prosecution of any department of micro- 

 scopical inquiry, and it often happens that what appears at first 

 sight to be a somewhat roundabout or rule-of-thumb method is suc- 

 cessful in enabling us to bring out peculiarities of structure and to 

 demonstrate certain arrangements which are not to be otherwise 

 made out. The authority who tries to persuade you that the best 



