PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE 
ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY. 
SESSION OXXV. 
Wednesday, 20th November 1895.—Professor J. STRUTHERS, 
M.D., LL.D., President, in the Chair. 
The retiring Vice-President, Dr WitiiAM RUSSELL, 
F.R.C.P.E., delivered the following opening address, on 
“The Light thrown on some Biological Processes by the 
Investigation of Disease” :— 
GENTLEMEN,—In thinking over the fact that, at the con- 
clusion of my term of office as one of your vice-presidents, 
it would be my duty, in accordance with the custom of the 
‘Society, to address a few valedictory words to you, I had 
to realise the fact that for some years past the demands of 
the purely practical side of my profession as a physician 
have driven me completely from those investigations which, 
had I had the opportunity of continuing, might have formed 
a suitable and satisfactory theme on which to address you 
on this occasion. As the results of original investigation 
were awanting, I thought that it might be interesting to 
you if I could convey to you some of the thoughts which 
occur to me when I contemplate the advances, which are 
being made in our knowledge of many disease processes ; 
tell you something of the investigation of these undertaken 
‘with the object of saving life or mitigating suffering; and 
VOL. XIII Kis 
