BIOLOGY AND THE STATE 



It has become the custom for the presidents of the 

 various Sections of this Association to open the pro- 

 ceedings of the departments with the chairmanship of 

 which they are charged, by formal addresses. In re- 

 flecting on the topics which it might be desirable for 

 me to bring under your notice, as your president, on 

 the present occasion, it has occurred to me that I 

 might use this opportunity most fitly by departing 

 somewhat from the prevailing custom of reviewing the 

 progress of science in some special direction during the 

 23ast year, and that, instead of placing before you a 

 summary of the results recently obtained by the in- 

 vestigations of biologists in this or that line of inquiry, 

 I might ask your attention and that of the external 

 public (who are wont to give some kindly considera- 

 tion to the opinions expressed on these occasions) to 

 a matter which is even more directly connected with 

 the avowed object of our Association, namely, " the 

 Advancement of Science." I propose to place before 

 you a few observations upon the provision which exists 

 in this country for the advancement of that branch of 



