Presiden t's A ddress. 
Ill 
ation in the class." Dr Coldstream was elected one of 
the Presidents of this Society on the 7th of January 1852, 
and delivered the opening address on the 23d November 
1853. His valuable contributions to zoophytology are recorded 
and gracefully acknowledged by Dr George Johnston in his 
classic work on the " History of British Zoophytes/' and 
this gave rise to a frequent correspondence and a lasting 
friendship between these two congenial and excellent men. 
Dr Coldstream contributed several articles to the " Cyclo- 
pedia of Anatomy and Physiology — on the Acalephse, on 
the Cirrhopoda, on Electricity, and on Luminousness or 
Animal Phosphorescence. These papers are alike char- 
acterised by extensive and accurate information on the 
subjects treated of, by a fair and impartial criticism of the 
labours of other writers, and by much original observation. 
Had it been our purpose to attempt a full biography of this 
eminent physician, earnest philanthropist, and distinguished 
savant, many other papers of great value published by him 
in various periodicals might be added to this list. His 
biography, indeed, might be summed up in a sentence — He 
was continually doing good. I trust this brief notice will 
suffice to show that Dr John Coldstream deserves to rank 
with those honoured names belonging to this Society, who 
like Forbes, Miller, Fleming, and many other great men, 
ha.ve by their scientific labours increased the common stock 
of knowledge, and by their lives have upheld the dignity of 
human nature. 
It has been customary for some time past with my prede- 
cessors in the opening address to confine their remarks, in 
a great measure, to some particular department of natural 
history which they have themselves made a special object of 
study. I shall deviate somewhat from this excellent prac- 
tice, and also from another one, which, indeed, is almost 
a fundamental principle with our Society — namely, to 
observe and record facts, rather than to indulge in theory 
and speculation. Accordingly, I will, on this occasion, occupy 
a portion of the time at my command in tracing the origin, 
and in recapitulating some of the facts and arguments that 
have been adduced in support of — 
