1877 THE PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 53 



I cannot say anything about the feeling with regard 

 to the Bill. Sanderson and Foster think it ' stringent,' 

 and so I suppose will all the Physiologists. The 

 former wants me to write articles in the ' Fortnightly,' 

 ' to make people take more sensible views on vivisec- 

 tion : ' but I cannot see that it would be of any use. 

 The heat of battle is not the time for us to expect 

 fanatics to listen to ' sense.' Do you not think so ? 



I am sure the Physiological Society will be very 

 pleased that you like being an hon. member, for it 

 was on your account that honorary membership was 

 instituted. At the committee meeting which was 

 called to frame the constitution of the Society, the 

 chairman (Dr. Foster) ejaculated with reference to you 

 — ' Let us pile on him all the honour we possibly can,' 

 a sentiment which was heartily enough responded to 

 by all present ; but when it came to considering what 

 form the expression of it was to take, it was found 

 that a nascent society could do nothing further than 

 make honorary members. Accordingly you were 

 made an hon. member all by yourself ; but later on 

 it was thought, on the one hand, that you might feel 

 lonely, and on the other that in a Physiological 

 Society the most suitable companion for you was Dr. 

 Sharpey. 



Perhaps a * secretary ' ought not to be giving all 

 the details about committee meetings, but if not, 1 

 know you will take it in confidence. It seems to me 

 that you never fully realise the height of your 

 pedestal, so that I am glad of any little opportunity 

 of this kind to show you the angle at which the 

 upturned faces are inclined. I am glad, too, to sea 



