exx The Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 
upon analytical results, advocated the introduction of a Food Adultera- 
tion Act. Three years later this Act was passed, and the whole country 
is at present enjoying its beneficial effects. 
In 1887, Dr. Ross read a paper on ‘ Bacteria in relation to Public 
Health,’ in which he strongly advocated the establishment of a 
laboratory for the purpose of investigating the various scourges which 
so greatly hampered farming in this country. 
In 1889 this much-needed institution was established at Graham’s 
Town, especially for the purpose of investigating the causes of the 
terrible disease which carries away thousands of horses every year. ‘The 
Bacteriological Institute has not restricted its work tv this particular 
question, but assisted in several other branches of bacteriological 
research, viz., pleuro-pneumonia of cattle, diphtheria, typhoid fever, etc., 
and it is most gratifying to learn from Dr. Edington, who is in charge 
of the institution, that the investigations for which it was specially 
created have been so far successful, that the preparation of the remedy 
for the combating of these diseases will soon have passed the experi- 
mental stage. 
The desirability of a geological survey of the Colony has been 
expressed from year to year from various sides, but from no one with 
more perseverance than by the South African Philosophical Society, 
especially by my predecessor in this Chair, our distinguished Astronomer- 
Royal. 
When Dr. Gill resigned his Chair two years ago, he had the pleasure 
of recording the completion of the geodetic survey of the Colony, 
another public work of special importance, in which he had a consider- 
able share. On that occasion he again referred to the necessity of a 
geological survey, and expressed the hope that under his successor the 
Society would be able to advance this object and bring it nearer its 
realization. Disclaiming any personal share in the exertions which led 
to the practical beginning of the task, I have great pleasure in render- 
ing the thanks of the Society to its former President, and to Dr. Muir, 
the Superintendent-General of Education, our new President, for their 
perseverance in this matter, which is now being crowned with success. 
Although I have referred at some length to these measures, I do not 
judge the value of the work of the Society by the share which it had in 
their promotion, for we have seen that the scientific results in themselves 
would fully justify the existence of the Society. There is, however, 
another most important function which the Society has fulfilled during 
its time of existence, viz., the beneficial influence which it has exerted 
on science and scientific pursuits in this country. 
There have been times in South Africa when this Society was the 
only one with a scientific object, and I do not doubt that the papers 
