TRANSACTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC SECTION. 265 



Where large masses of degenerated caseous tubercular 

 tissues are found the action of tuberculin causes it to 

 rapidly break down, and thereby hastening the process 

 and endangering the patient's life. If, however, tuber- 

 culin never cures a case of consumption the world owes 

 to Robert Koch more than to any other living man, for 

 liist in 1882 he showed us the nature of the disease by 

 his demonstration of the bacillus tuberculosis, and again 

 in 1891 he gave us a positive means of finding out disease 

 wherever it may lurk; for if tuberculin has not proved a 

 specific for the cure of all cases of consumption it was a 

 discovery that is likely to lead to greater results than 

 any discovery of the century. 



With the light that is dawning brighter and clearer 

 every day there can be no doubt that we shall soon be 

 able to place consumption with small-pox and leprosy 

 upon the retired list. 



The annual report of the Curator and Librarian was 

 received and placed on file. Officers were elected for the 

 ensuing year as follows : Chairman, D. B. Ward ; Sec- 

 retary, P. M. Barber ; Curator, C. N. Arnold ; Librarian, 

 C. N. Arnold. 



DECEMBER 10, 1895— FIRST REGULAR MEETING. 



Chairman W^ard presiding, with about sixty members 

 and guests present. Mr. Edward Elsworth read a paper 

 on 



THE SANITARY DISPOSAL OP SEWAGE. 



Mr. Elsworth spoke of the importance of the subject 

 in connection with the conservation of public health and 

 gave an historical description of many ancient sewers 

 built for the disposal of public waste. 



The contaminating devices of later times, such as cess- 

 pools and vaults, which still are used in many crowded 



203 



