The Pi^esidenfs Address. 
65 
The President then delivered the following address : 
The President's Address for the year 1858. 
By George Shadbolt. 
On reviewing our microscopic achievements during the 
past twelve months^ I have much pleasure in being able to 
congratulate you, both with regard to the number and the 
interest of the papers that have been read at our usual eight 
ordinary meetings ; and that pleasure is materially enhanced 
as regards myself, by the reflection that our microscopical 
brethren of the medical profession have most kindly re- 
sponded to the invitation I addressed to them at our last 
anniversary meeting, by contributing the results of their 
investigations in a direction in which I had occasion to 
notice that there was a marked deficiency during the pre- 
ceding year. To these gentlemen 1 consider it is therefore a 
duty, as well as a satisfaction, to tender my special thanks. 
At the eight monthly meetings the papers that have been 
laid before us amount to fourteen in number, some being 
very elaborate and of considerable importance ; and in 
addition to these papers, we have had some verbal commu- 
nications, together with numerous discussions, in which 
much valuable information has been conveyed. It will no 
doubt have been noticed with satisfaction, that in one or two 
instances an attempt has been made to record the substance 
of these discussions, and I cannot forbear again pressing 
upon your notice the great advantage likely to accrue to 
microscopical science from carrying out as much as possible 
this plan, which may, by the aid of some little assistance 
from the members, be readily accomplished, without the 
necessity of employing a regular reporter, the limited funds 
of the Society not admitting of our indulgence in such a 
luxury ; and in using this term I speak advisedly, as it is 
not upon every occasion that there would be work for such 
an officer to perform. I trust I may be permitted, without 
offence, to state that we are, as a body, sometimes guilty of 
neglect of our duty touching this same matter of discussion,, 
for it does not always happen that the most universally inter- 
esting paper elicits the greatest amount of it, not from being 
unappreciated, but because very many of our members, well 
able to throw additional light upon the subject under con- 
sideration, suffer themselves, from a want oif confidence in 
their own powers, or natural diffidence, to be deterred from 
giving utterance to remarks, which I am confident would 
always be received with gratitude : it therefore frequently 
