114 Prof. Rudolf Virchow. The Position of [Mar. 16, 



March 16, 1893. 



(In the Theatre of the London University.) 



The LORD KELVIN, D.C.L., LL.D., President, in the Chair. 



Professor Rudolf Yirchow, who was elected a Foreign Member in 

 1884, signed the obligation in the Charter Book and was admitted 

 into the Society. 



The Ceoonian Lecture was delivered as follows : — 



" The Position of Pathology among Biological Studies." By 

 Professor Rudolf VlRCHOW, For. Mem. R.S. Received 

 March 3, 1893. 



(Translation.) 



It is now nearly ten years since this illustrious Society con- 

 ferred on me the unexpected honour of electing me one of its Foreign 

 Members. Not only so, but last autumn it held me worthy of a 

 further honour, in awarding me the Copley Medal, — a sign of the 

 highest recognition of my work, the significance of which far 

 exceeds the distinctions which the passing favour of political 

 powers is accustomed to bestow. Nevertheless, deeply as I appre- 

 ciated this mark of its constant and increasing esteem, I was 

 not in a position to offer my thanks personally to the Society. 

 Numerous duties, official and private, the weight of which has 

 increased with each year, kept me to continuous work at home, 

 and even during the vacations the freedom of my movements has 

 been for some time past restricted by international engagements, 

 which yearly become more numerous and more pressing. 



With great indulgence, which I fully know how to appreciate, the 

 Couucil has allowed me to postpone the date of my appearance in 

 your midst. Hence, it is only to-day that you see me among you, 

 and that I am able to tell you in person how very grateful I am to 

 this Society, and how great an incentive to new efforts your recog- 

 nition has been to me. 



Who of us is not in need of friendly encouragement in the 

 changing events of life ? True, happiness is not based on the 

 appreciation of others, but on the consciousness of one's own honest 

 labour. How otherwise should we hold our ground in the midst of 

 the turmoil of the day ? How should we preserve the hope of 



