PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. Vll 



into suitable compounds for plant food, and in their relation to such 

 diseases as anthrax in the lower animals, and diphtheria and cholera in 

 the human race. The author described the general methods of bacterio- 

 logical work, the modifying modes of culture by which vaccines are pro- 

 duced, and showed the several forms of apparatus and appliances used. 

 The whole subject was admirably illustrated by preparations and live 

 cultures shown under excellent microscopes. The water supplied to the 

 City of Halifax had been examined, and was found to be remarkably 

 free from deleterious bacteria ; the author, however, offered suggestions 

 as to keeping the lakes clear of decaying vegetable matter that might at 

 any time menace the health of the city. The animated discussion that 

 followed was a feature of the meeting. Dr. A. H. Mackay, who had also 

 studied the subject, showed by calculation the prodigious rate at which 

 bacteria multiply, and enforced upon the audience the object lesson of 

 necessity for scrupulous cleanliness in the kitchen which the fleeting 

 life-histories of the bacteria tanght us. Dr. Somers expressed his belief 

 that the investigation of bacterial phenomena was of scientific interest, 

 but he could not admit that the germ theory oft disease had been estab- 

 lished. Dr. A. P. Reid, on the other hand, regarded bacteriology as of 

 vital importance to the medical profession, and to the people, and con 

 gratulated the Institute, on being the means of presenting to the com- 

 munity an exposition and illustration of this subject that every one could 

 appreciate ; to-night, he said, for the first time in the history of medical 

 science in Halifax, -the living and moving bacillus of cholera had been 

 shown. 



The May meeting, being the last of the session, was overcrowded 

 with papers ; eight were brought forward, several having lain over from 

 previous meetings. Some had to be read by title only. The first was 

 t notice of a new test for Antipyrine, by the President. Antipyrine is 

 the therapeutical name and that commonly used, for the chemical com- 

 pound properly called oxy-phenyl-dimethyl-pyrazole, or phenyl-dimethyl- 

 pyrazolon ; it belongs to the great class of aromatic compounds, of which 

 Benzene CH 6 is the type ; but it differs from the benzene derivatives in 

 containing a pentagonal in place of a hexagonal nucleus, The chemical 

 constitution of the compound was explained by means of diagrams of the 

 graphic formula of related compounds, and the several known tests were 

 shown. The special test referred to for detecting, or confirming the 

 detection, of this compound, is the re-action obtained by prolonged boil- 



