2 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Monday , 2 d December 1872. 
Sir Robert Christison, Bart., ’the President, read the 
following Opening Address : — 
The Society now enters into its 90th session since its foundation. 
During the session recently concluded the number of its Ordinary 
Fellows has increased from 331 to 343. Twenty-two members 
were admitted during last session. In the twelve months ending 
with the 30th ultimo, death has laid his hands sparingly upon 
our brethren. During the former year we lost by death ten 
Ordinary and three Honorary Fellows, several of whom occupied 
during their lives a very high position in science. Last year 
has deprived us of only four Ordinary Fellows, and one on our 
Honorary list ; and although these were all men of great esti- 
mation in their several professions, our Honorary Fellow alone, 
among them all, was widely known as a successful scientific 
labourer. Therefore the duty I have now to discharge as their 
biographer is evidently on two accounts a brief one. 
The Ordinary Fellows who have disappeared from amongst 
us during last year are, Dr Thomas Barnes of Carlisle, Dr Patrick 
Miller of Exeter, Dr John Addington Symonds of Clifton, and 
the Right Reverend Charles Hughes Terrot, Bishop of Edinburgh 
in the Scottish Episcopalian Church. Our only deceased Honorary 
Fellow is Hugo von Mohl, Professor of Botany in the University 
of Tubingen. 
The three first were graduates of the University of Edinburgh, 
each of them distinguished during a long life by his successful 
cultivation of medicine, and the pursuit of medical practice in 
an important district of England. It has often been remarked 
that there is scarcely in all England an important county town, 
where for almost a century past the leading physician of the 
town and surrounding country has not been a graduate of the 
University of Edinburgh. Drs Barnes, Symonds, and Miller 
illustrate a fact which the University has always regarded with 
allowable pride. 
