SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 355 



of cataloguing scientific publications, as more fully explained by the 

 Harvard University Council. Each society should accompany its own 

 publications with duplicate card catalogues, and request them with all 

 exchanges. 



In looking over some of the past volumes of our Proceedings a lack 

 of uniformity is seen in the system of measurement adopted. It is said 

 that one of the greatest reforms of the Nineteenth Century is the adoption 

 of the metric system, legally adopted by this and many foreign coun- 

 tries. This uniform system should be used exclusively in scientific 

 work and publications and should be made an imperative requirement 

 in papers accepted for publication. 



At the first meeting of the Academy, December 14, 1867, among 

 the honorary members elected was Prof. Charles Valentine Riley, whose 

 career has but recently been brought to a sudden close with seemingly 

 many years before him for useful scientific work. In Prof. Riley the 

 Academy loses an interested friend and the world a distinguished ento- 

 mologist. 



During the past year the regular membership has been somewhat 

 increased, and new as well as old members should be reminded that 

 they are expected to take an active interest in the Academy. It is 

 hardly necessary to further dwell upon the needs of the Academy ; 

 suffice it to say, that an institution such as ours, to do efficient scien- 

 tific work must have funds at its disposal to carry on explorations and 

 investigations. 



election of officers — 1896. 



President — Edward S. Hammatt. 



Vice-President — Dr. A. W. Elmer. 



Recording Secretary — Edward Borcherdt. 



Corresponding Secretary — Prof. W. H. Barris. 



Treasurer — Frank Nadler. 



Curator — Prof. W. H. Barris. 



Librarian — C. E. Harrison. 



Trustees for Three Years — Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam, George P. Mc- 

 Clelland, Rev. A. M. Judy, W. C. Putnam. 



Prof. Frederick Starr was proposed as an honorary member of the 

 Academy and was unanimously elected. 



At the close of the business session Dr. Edward Gudeman read an 

 able and instructive paper on " Old Theories in Chemistry," present- 

 ing a scholarly review of the growth of chemical science. 



Jajiuary 2j, i8g6. — Trustees' Meeting. 



President Hammatt in the chair ; eight members present. 



