12 SIR ALFRED ROBERTS. 



many persons is associated with Inspectors o£ Nuisances and 

 plumber's work. It will not however be denied that the aims of 

 medical and sanitary science, or hygiene, are the reduction of the 

 rate of mortality by the prevention of disease, and the improve- 

 ment of the physique of mankind, both of which must be mainly 

 attained through hygiene, based upon scientific principles. When 

 I look round and observe the terrible ravages of typhoid, diphtheria 

 and other preventible diseases, the deplorable ignorance which 

 apparently exists among us, and the melancholy apathy with 

 which these evils are tolerated, I can but feel that instead of 

 being our weakest, this should be our strongest section, and I 

 venture, to suggest that closely related as this subject is to 

 medical science, it should in some way be associated and co-operate 

 with it. 



The microscopical section has done much good work, and its 

 members display an energy and interest wihch augur well for the 

 future success of the section. 



The Treasurer has kindly furnished me with the following 

 particulars of the present condition of the Society : — The number 

 of ordinary members of the Society on the 1st May, 1888, was 

 482. Twenty new members were elected during the past session, 

 and one was transferred from the list of corresponding members. 

 Against this increase the Society has to regret the loss of seven 

 members by death, eight resigned, and fourteen were struck off 

 the roll in accordance with Rule XIV., so that the present total 

 is 474, being a decrease of eight since the beginning of last session. 

 The income of the Society has been fully maintained, owing to 

 the greater number of members paying the increased subscription 

 of two guineas, and the liberality of the Government and Legis- 

 lature, who in consequence of the withdrawal of the free printing 

 of the Society's proceedings, have generously increased the annual 

 subsidy to a maximum of £500 instead of £400, on the condition 

 of £1 for every £1 being subscribed by the members. 



The gross receipts were £1,356 16s. 4d., of which £63 was for 

 entrance and composition fees, and about £45 for repayments for 



