g Proceedings of the Society. 



plant, or Blood root ; so named, I presume, from its colour. 

 This plant is, I dare say, known to the Society ; should it not, 

 I can easily procure other specimens, it being found in con- 

 siderable quantities in the black spruce swamps, in which the 

 island abounds. The medical properties of this plant are very 

 valuable to the natives, it being a mild, and at the same time, 

 an effective bitter, calculated to restore the tone of the stomach 

 and bowels ; it seems to be particularly applicable as a remedy 

 in the diarrhoea of children, and has succeeded when the com- 

 mon astringents have failed ; if its uses were properly under- 

 stood, it might, from what I have observed, be found valuable 

 in several diseases. The root is principally used by the natives, 

 although the leaves are active in their qualities. The method 

 used in preparing it, is by decocting the root, and drinking it as 

 you would chocolate ; and it is rather a pleasant beverage than 

 otherwise, so much so, that the country people, without any 

 regard to its medicinal qualities, use it as a common drink." 



Anniversary Meeting, January the \Qth, 1829. The 

 Secretaries' Report for the preceding year shewed an increase 

 of 5 Honorary Fellows, 14 Foreign Members, 56 Fellows, 158 

 Corresponding Members, and 12 Associates. 



The Librarian's Report shewed an increase of 78 Volumes 

 and several Pamphlets, 



The Conservator's Report shewed an increase of 7795 Spe- 

 cimens of Plants, with other Specimens of Materia Medica, &c. 

 The following persons were elected to form a Council, and to 

 be Officers for the ensuing year: 



Philip Henry, Earl Stanhope, President. 



George Henry, Lord Bishop of Bath and "Wells. 



Henry Brandreth, Jun. Esq. M. A. Librarian. 



"William Burnett, M. D. 



John Frost, Esq. Director. 



Humphrey Gibbs, Esq. Secretary. 



Thomas Gibbs, Esq. Treasurer. 



Theodore Gordon, M. D. 



Philip, Earl of Hardwickc, K. G. 



