161 



2. "Descriptions of South Australian StapliylinidaD," Trans- 

 lated by Mr. S. E. Holder. 



3. "A Supplement to tlie Census of South Australian 

 plants," by Professor E. Tate. 



4. " Description of two New Species of Plants," by 

 Baron P. von Mueller. 



The annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted, 

 and ordered to be printed (see p. 163). 



During the discussion which ensued — 



Mr. Charles Todd, C.M.G-., said he hardly agreed with the 

 paragra2:)h with respect to the popular lectures having been a 

 failure, and he thought the Society should not be discouraged 

 with a single attempt, because it proved a failure. The Society 

 might take up other matters of interest apart from purely 

 scientific subjects. It was a pity that other Societies more or 

 less competed with the Eoyal Society, and tended to detract 

 from its interest. There were matters taken up by the Chamber 

 of Manufactures and the Microscopical Society which could 

 fairly claim the attention of the Eoyal Society. 



Dr. Dayies-Thomas considered that the Society might be 

 made more popular in various ways. The hour of meeting — 

 half-past seven — was considered inconvenient. The Society 

 might be popularised by means of lectures of an entertaining 

 character ; it could show the public that the Society could deal 

 with outside subjects and practical evils. Last year an interest- 

 ing debate took place at the Society regarding the mortality o£ 

 young children. The matter was one concerning the general 

 vrelfare, and the exertions of the Society could perhaps do 

 much good in bringing out practical ideas in that direction. 

 There was one disease very prevalent here, viz., hydatids, and he 

 had been investigating the subject. The Society might seek in- 

 formation and invite discussion on the subject. He intended to 

 bring the matter before the Society. He found that South Aus- 

 tralia had by far the largest proportion of the disease. In Mount 

 G-ambier Hospital, for instance, one patient out of lifty-six had 

 hydatids. The Society might take steps to ascertain the condi- 

 tions leading to that disease — if the attention of the intelligent 

 observers in the South-East were drawn to certain points, for 

 instance, to what extent diseased sheep and oxen distributed 

 the disease. The ova might gain access to the himian system 

 through infected water imbibed by persons while quenching 

 thirst, and there were other ways by which hydatids could reach 

 human beings. 



Mr. EowLA^'D Eees thought that it would be the means of 

 doing much good if the subject initiated by Dr. Thomas were 

 discussed at length, and at the earliest convenient opportunity. 

 Subjects connected with earth, air, fire, and water could be 



