1892 - 93 .] 
Chairman’s Opening Address. 
7 
cessful treatment profound thought and the resources of the higher 
mathematical analysis ; whilst Professor Knott dealt with some 
interesting phenomena of circular magnetisation. 
Dr Muir, Professor Tait, and Lord McLaren contributed new and 
simpler solutions, obtained by different methods, of what is known 
as Sylvester’s Elimination Problem, from its being first solved by 
that mathematician. 
Sir William Turner, continuing his valuable papers on the Cetacea, 
favoured us last session with a communication on the Anatomy of 
the Eorqual; and Mr Malcolm Laurie, though only commencing 
his career as a naturalist, has given a paper of much local interest 
“ On some Eurypterid Kemains of the Upper Silurian Rocks of the 
Pentland Hills.” 
Professor Blackie’s paper shows how the latest phases of literary 
style in Greece approximate more and more to the purity of the 
ancient classical language. 
Dr Felkin favoured us with a long and interesting account from 
personal observations of the 'Wanyoro Tribe, which has a population 
of two and a half millions, and is in close proximity to Uganda. 
In a remarkable paper Dr Noel Paton has reinvestigated the 
question of how the auriculo-ventricular valves are closed, and how 
they prevent the regurgitation of blood into the auricles. He thinks 
it possible that these valves might fulfil their function of preventing 
regurgitation in just as perfect a manner and without the severe 
strain which, according to the presently accepted theory, they must 
sustain with each systole, if, instead of being raised to form a 
horizontal septum, their cusps are simply applied face to face with 
one another. 
During the past session twenty-one candidates for admission have 
been elected Fellows of the Society ; and during the same period 
eleven of our Fellows have died. I shall here advert briefly to the 
career of each of the deceased. 
Sir James Brunlees was born at Kelso in 1816. He was 
educated at the University of Edinburgh, and subsequently in the 
Scottish capital had a considerable practice as a surveyor. In 1838 
he became assistant engineer to Mr Alexander Adie in the construc- 
tion of the Bolton and Preston Railway, one of the first lines laid 
down in this country. Between 1844 and 1850, under Sir John 
