478 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinhurgh. [july 16 , 
Physiological Laboratory recently instituted by the Eoyal College 
of Physicians. A¥e look forward to the work to be there accom- 
plished in the full expectation that it will show the wisdom as well 
as the munificence of the founders of the Laboratory, and greatly 
contribute to maintain and increase the renown of the Society 
in this department of research, for which Edinburgh has long been 
famous. 
During the past Session the Society owes not less than in former 
sessions to those whom we here gladly and proudly recognise as our 
chiefs ; and it owes perhaps more than on almost any former Session 
to the exertions of our younger scientists. For this most satisfactory 
and encouraging fact none of us can desire to deprive the latter of 
any particle of the credit so justly due to themselves ; but I am 
sure that they will be the readiest to acknowledge that no little of 
the credit of it is also due to some of their seniors. The debt of 
gratitude which the Society owes to men like its President, its 
Secretary, Professor Crum Brown, Dr Murray, Sir William Turner, 
and others whose names will at once occur to you, for their own 
invaluble contributions and services is, perhaps, hardly greater than 
that which it owes to them for what they have done in forming 
that large body of zealous and talented young scientists, to whom 
we already owe so much, and from whom we can reasonably look 
for so much more. 
It has always been a principle of the Society that no one should 
be admitted a Fellow who has not been certified, to the satisfaction 
of the Council, to have a taste for and a knowledge of either scientific 
or literary subjects. This rule is, I believe, as honestly acted on at 
present as at any former period ; and therefore I can also, without 
any reservation, congratulate the Society on the rate at which its 
members are increasing. During the four years previous to 1884 the 
average number of Fellows admitted was 20; during 1884-5 the 
number was 25; during 1885-6, 36; during last year, 35; and during 
the present year, 38. It is obvious that there is a growing demand 
for admission to Fellowship among those whose ' admission is 
desirable. Many of our recently elected Fellows are men of high 
promise, and some of them have already given us valuable 
communications. 
We have had a prosperous Session. We have also, however, to 
