PRESIDENTS ADDRESS lil 
of acquisition, and admiration for showy experiments no longer attract 
our older members, they should not lose their potency with the students 
of our high schools and academies. 
The older members should, however, have some compensation in 
those departments of science, a practical knowledge of which is every 
day opening up mines of national wealth ; for our love of money is 
supposed to grow with our advancing years and we should be willing 
to make great sacrifices for what tends so greatly to enrich our country. 
During the past year we admitted two new members ; but on the 
other hand, we lost by death three of our most prominent men, concern- 
ing whom you will permit me to say a few words. 
JouN Somers, M. D., died on the 13th of March. He was born 
in Newfoundland, came to Halifax in early infancy and received a 
fairly good education. 
In conducting a drug store he acquired a taste for the study of 
medicine. One year before the close of the American civil war he was 
graduated from Bellevue in time to spend a year in active service as an 
army surgeon. He then returned to Halifax where he remained in the 
practice of his profession until his death. 
He took an active part in the establishment of the Halifax Medical 
College in which he lectured for many years as Professor of Physiolog 
and Examiner in Medicine. He was an active and useful member of 
society. In 1879 and 1880 he was a member of the Halifax Schoo} 
Board. He also served for some time as Chairman of the Public 
Charities Board. 
In January, 1875, he was elected member of this Institute, and one 
year after, he read his first paper on his favorite subject, Botany. Of 
his 18 published papers, 14 related to Botany, 3 to Zoology, and 1 te 
the use of the Microscope. He had three papers in course of prepara- 
tion when he died. He was an authority on the Mosses and Fungi of 
Nova Scotia and an accomplished microscopist. From a busy pro- 
fessional life he managed to snatch enough time to become fairly 
proficient in many departments of science. He was an omnivorous 
reader, had a good memory and well-trained powers of observation, so 
that whatever subject might be under discussion at our meetings he was 
always able to add something of value and interest. He was always 
ready to assist those engaged in scientific study. I first met him at one 
