XXXVi Annual Address. [February, 1912. 
searched Dr. Fayrer’s inaugural address in the hopes of finding 
some lead for my address to-night, but the search was un- 
successful. Forty-five years ago the Society. was somewhat 
as he goes on to say) ‘‘ thus 
associating itself with the inchoate Imperial Museum, and 
giving an impulse to the progress of science in this country 
that can hardly be over-estimated.’’ I have recently heard 
vague rumours of a contemplated transference of the Museum, 
its contents and staff to ‘‘ another place’ (if I may be allowed 
the parliamentary phrase) which is variously described as dear, 
delightful, dirty, dusty, dismal and dilapidated (the adjectives 
are not mine), but I trust that it is only rumour. Regarding 
myself as only a student and seeker after knowledge in the fields 
of pure and applied science; knowing little or nothing about 
such abstruse subjects as philosophy and philology ; not having 
been “‘scientifically trained’? in any of the wide range of 
subjects included under the heading of Anthropology, and 
although deeply interested in all that concern the history and 
antiquities of this great Empire and the education of its peoples 
—particularly their medical education—I would not venture to 
address the learned members of this Society on any of these 
subjects, and therefore, I have finally decided on the principle 
of ne sutor ultra crepidam to devote the greater portion of my 
address to some subjects which are closely connected with 
my own life-work in India now extending over thirty-two years, 
have therefore the merit of novelty. Before, however, going 
melancholy duty. Ihave to inform you, with regret, that the 
reaper with his scythe’’ has been unusually busy with our 
