6 MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY. 



the diseases of animals, made the fDNowing report: — The 

 commiilee, in fiilfihneiit of the directions of the trustees, 

 applied to Dr. Brooks, a promising yoinig man of this city, and 

 invited him to acquaint himself with the diseases of this ani- 

 mal (the horse) and the mode of cure, with reference to a 

 course of lectures. This gentleman readily undertook the 

 task, and, after devoting some time and attention to the sub- 

 ject, returned to Boston, and began iiis lectures. While pre- 

 paring to continue them, he was suddenly and violently attacked 

 with a disease which proved fatal. Since this unfortunate 

 event, they have not made any effort as yet to supply the [)lace 

 of Dr. Brooks; but the Committee are happy to say, that a 

 young physician now in Europe, has spontaneously offered to 

 devote such attention to the subject as he may be able, and 

 they have reason to hope that by his intelligence and assiduity, 

 the course may be resumed and completed in a satisfactory 



manner. 



J. C. WARREN." 



At a meeting of the Trustees of the Society, Dec. 13th, 1851, 

 after some discussion in relation to a communication from the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society, respecting a mode of 

 ripening fruit, practised by D. J. Curtis, of Boston, Dr. Warren 

 offered the following resolutions, which were accepted: — 



Whereas, the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of 

 Agriculture, having understood that a valuable discovery has 

 been made by Mr. Curtis, relating to the preservation of fruits, 

 the retardation of their period of maturation, and the retention 

 of delicate summer fruits in a state of perfection, have appoint- 

 ed a committee to investigate the same, and that committee 

 have reported in part ; 



Resolved, That the Trustees desire this committee to con- 

 tinue their investigations as to the value of Mr. Curtis's dis- 

 covery, that they may ascertain particularly what fruits can be 

 preserved, for how long a time, and at what expense ; also, 

 whether the mode of accomplishing the preservation will be 

 made known to the public, and if it will be made the subject 

 of a patent. 



