1906.] Anniversary Address by Lord Rayleigh. 85 



made. It has been ascertained by the Society's Commission in Malta that 

 the main source of propagation is the milk of infected goats. When this 

 discovery was made the authorities of the island were at once warned of the 

 danger in the milk supply, and the necessary precautions were taken. Since 

 then the number of cases of fever in the hospitals has so greatly diminished 

 as to afford good hope that this disease, which has been so great a scourge in 

 Malta, may ere long be reduced to insignificant proportions or altogether 

 exterminated. 



I observe that a movement has been been started in this country in aid of 

 the Greek Anti-Malaria League. Professor Eonald Eoss, than whom there 

 is no higher authority, bears witness to the unexpected prevalence of the 

 infection in most of the localities examined, and he is confident that 

 practical results of the highest value would follow expenditure in combating 

 the disease on lines already laid down. Although 1 speak only from general 

 knowledge, I cannot let this opportunity pass without emphasising my sense 

 of the enormous importance of this class of work. If men knew where their 

 real interests lie, our efforts in this direction would be doubled or quad- 

 rupled. In this way discoveries, which the future will certainly bring, 

 might be accelerated by decades, giving health and life to thousands or 

 millions who now succumb. Willing and competent workers would soon 

 offer themselves ; the principal obstacle is the want of means. 



The preparation of the ' Eoyal Society Catalogue of Scientific Papers ' for 

 the remaining portion of the 19th century, which has proved a task so much 

 more gigantic than can have been contemplated by the originators of the 

 Catalogue nearly half a century ago, has been actively pushed forward. In 

 consequence of the increased expenditure, now at the rate of nearly £2000 

 a year, the funds available are again approaching exhaustion. The difficulties 

 of the President and Council and of the Catalogue Committee on this subject 

 have once more been promptly resolved by the action of our Fellow, Dr. Ludwig 

 Mond, who, after consultation with the Officers, has again made himself re- 

 sponsible for a further subsidy amounting to £2000 a year for three years. It 

 is hoped that with the balance in hand and other sources of income, including 

 the Handley Fund of the Eoyal Society, the income of which is devoted 

 to this purpose, this subvention will suffice for the preparation of the work 

 and for passing it through the press. Since the Eoyal Society took this 

 great national task in hand there has already been spent on it over £23,500, 

 while on each occasion of financial stress Dr. Mond has come forward with 

 the means of relief, his direct contributions, including that just promised, 

 now amounting in the aggregate to £14,000. This great work when published 

 will thus be a tangible memorial of Dr. Mond's practical insistence on 



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