PRESIDENTS ADDRESS 111 



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. 



JOHN 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 Physiology 

 and Examiner in Medicine. He was an active and useful member of 

 society. In 1879 and 1880 he was a member of the Halifax School 

 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 to 

 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 



