30 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Nov. 30, 



In Medicine, I learn that researches on the injurious effects of ab- 

 normal temperature o£ the body (as in fevers), and on the way of 

 neutralizing them, have been prosecuted with favourable results. The 

 Sphyginograph has, I believe, been successfully employed as an instru- 

 ment of diagnosis. The alteration of the form of blood-corpuscles under 

 special circumstances appears to have attracted attention. 



I may well appeal to the enumeration which I have made for proof of 

 the assertion that science is not standing still. 



Por convenience, I will take the present opportunity of making a state- 

 ment, of personal character, which in strictness ought to be offered at a 

 later stage of this day's proceedings. 



The Council of the Society, in their circulated house-list of Officers 

 proposed for the Session now commencing, have done me the honour 

 again to offer my name as President. Should this be confirmed, 

 Gentlemen, by your votes, I will, to the best of my powers, endeavour 

 to discharge for a period the duties of the office. But experience has 

 convinced me that it was no unfounded fear which I expressed to the 

 deputation of the Council who first conveyed to me the flattering invita- 

 tion to the Presidency, that official and other circumstances might make 

 it difficult for me to give proper attention to the interests of the Society. 

 I will therefore ask you, Grentlemen, to permit me in any case to lay 

 down my office at the next Anniversary Meeting. It may be possible, if 

 business threatens to press me with the same severity in the autumn of 

 1873 as in 1872, that I may desire to be liberated from my engagement 

 at an earlier date ; this, however, I shall not contemplate so long as I 

 can avoid doing so. Meantime I will express to the Society my feeling 

 that the position in which they have placed me is the proudest which a 

 man of science in this country can occupy ; and that the labour which 

 accompanies it, so far as I am able to support it, is only a just debt from 

 me to the Society. 



I proceed now to announce the award of the Medals. 



The Copley Medal has been awarded to Professor Priedrich Wohler, 

 of Grottingen, Por. Memb. U.S., for his numerous contributions to the 

 Science of Chemistry ; and more especially for his researches on the pro- 

 ducts of the decomposition of Cyanogen by Ammonia ; on the Derivatives 

 of Uric Acid ; on the Benzoyl Series ; on Aluminium (discovered by 

 him), Yttrium, and Beryllium ; on Boron, Silicon, and their compounds ; 

 on Titanium ; and on Meteoric Stones. 



Peofessoe Millee, 

 In the name of the Council, I request that you will transmit this 



