xxii President's Address 



connected with our health, well being, and our very lives 

 than are the mathematical and many of the physical sciences, 

 they should be subjects of paramount public interest. That 

 such is not the case, however, is pretty well known. Never- 

 theless, earnest men plod away with investigations in these 

 fields of research, and gradually but surely accumulate 

 knowledge, which is of far more benefit to mankind 

 generally than to those who work for and obtain it. I do 

 not mean to say that those who so benefit mankind do it 

 from pure philanthropy, for few work in science with that 

 alone as the goal. The pleasure and expectation which 

 accompanies the actual process of investigation is with many 

 ample compensation for time and labour given, and others 

 gain a direct reward in the acquisition of extended know- 

 ledge during their research, but where the result is some 

 elucidation or discovery which not only intellectually enables 

 the worker, but confers a substantial benefit on his fellow- 

 creatures, it is a " game" indeed " worthy of the candle," 

 whether the prime mover to the investigation was kvSos or 

 philanthropy. We have already amongst us many who devote 

 time and brains to scientific research in medicine and 

 sanitation, and it would occupy me too long to recount how 

 large an increment in the power to prevent and alleviate 

 disease and suffering has been earned in our small colony. 



The past year's history of medical science here is promi- 

 nently marked by two circumstances — namely, a most 

 important discussion and a new literature concerning the 

 origin and propagation of the fatal fever known as typhoid, 

 and a controversy as to the prevalence of phthisis in Aus- 

 tralia generally, and especially in this colony. In some of the 

 recent numbers of the Lancet two reviews appear of a work 

 by Mr. William Thomson on " Typhoid Fever," which I 

 referred to in my last address, and which has been re-issued 

 with additions. The reviewer stamps the book as a most 

 valuable contribution to the knowledge of the cause and 

 manner of propagation of this disease, but he does not 

 agree with all the writer's views. Mr. Thomson vigorously 



