PROCEEDINGS 



ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY. 



SESSION CIX. 



Wednesday, 19th Novemher 1879. — Eamsay H. Traquaie, 

 Esq., M.D., President, in the Chair. 



The Chairman delivered the following opening address : 



Gentlemen, — This evening the Eoyal Physical Society of 

 Edinburgh enters upon its one hundred and ninth session, and 

 I must heartily congratulate the members present upon the fact 

 that, old as the Society is — in fact, the oldest in Edinburgh — 

 it does not at present show any signs of disease or decay. Our 

 Society has indeed had its periods of sickliness, but has sur- 

 mounted them all, and now displays a greater amount of 

 vigour and health than it has done for many years. Includ- 

 ing ordinary, non-resident, corresponding, and honorary mem- 

 bers, our roll now musters 229 names. Mere numbers, 

 however, it may well be said, do not constitute any criterion 

 of the efficiency of a society whose object is supposed to be 

 the promotion of scientific study and research, although in 

 this case, as in the case of a private individual, the word 

 " prosperity " must always mean one thing, and that — a well- 

 filled purse. But the fasciculus of our Proceedings for the 

 past session, now in the press, will show when it appears 

 that we have amongst us a goodly number of members who 

 are devoting themselves heartily to practical work in the 



VOL. V. K 



