PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, 111 



G. Menocal, Civil Engineer, U. S. Navj; Edward Clark, 

 Arcliitect of the Capitol, and Martin Francis Morris, as mem- 

 bers of the Society, was announced. 



The President announced the decease within a brief period of 

 Prof. F. B. Meek, Gen. A. B, Eaton, U, S, Army, and Rear 

 Admiral C, H. Davis, U, S, Navy, members of the Society ; and, 

 on motion of Mv. Parker, the President, Mr. Meigs, and Mr. 

 Newcomb were appointed a committee to prepare suitable com- 

 memorative resolutions respecting them and the late Rear Ad- 

 miral Bailey, 



Mr, E. B. Elliott made 



comments on the telephone, 



comparing the instruments and methods of Mr. Gray and Mr. 

 Bell. 



Some discussion followed, in which Mr. Taylor and Mr. Cop- 

 fin, participated, from which it appeared that the instrument of 

 Mr. Gray referred to by Mr. Elliott was not that exhibited by 

 him to the Society February 12, 18*16, but one of an earlier con- 

 struction, and like that of Mi-. Bell so far as employing th& 

 vibrations of a thin metallic plate. 



Mr. A. F. A. King read a paper on 



THE conservative ELEMENT IN DISEASE, 



defining disease as a tertium quid resulting from two factors : 

 1st, The impressions of new environing conditions; and 2d, The 

 responsive changes in the organism following and resulting from 

 Buch external stimuli. The new formations, instead of being 

 destructive, were designed to secure adaptation to the new envi- 

 ronment. Modifications of the organism, thus originating, were 

 analogous with physiological formations in the several particu- 

 lars of (1) having the same design of adaptation to environment ; 

 (2) in being gradual and latent in their development; (3) in 

 tending to follow a typical course ; (4) in requiring the same con- 

 dition to secure their designed completion ; and (5) in being 

 liable to attacks of acute inflammation on exposure of the body to. 

 cold during their evolution. 

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