2 
Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
The Eight Hon. LORD KELVIN, President, 
in the Chair. 
Chairman’s Opening Address. 
(Read December 4, 1899.) 
The President, on opening the Session, said — During the past 
Session 62 papers have been read. Of these, 14 belong to the depart- 
ment of Physics, 10 to Mathematics, 6 to Chemistry, 4 to Ocean- 
ography, 1 to Geology, 5 to Natural History, 4 to Comparative 
Anatomy, 3 to Anatomy, 6 to Physiology, 6 to Meteorology, and 1 
to Literature. 
Since the commencement of the Session 21 Fellows have been 
added to our numbers. Of these, 3 are Doctors of Laws or 
Doctors of Science, 5 are Doctors of Medicine, 4 are Professors. 
But during the same period 18 Fellows have been taken from 
us by death. They include : 
Sir John Fowler, who was a representative of modern railway 
achievement by his works in England, India, and Egypt, and in 
conjunction with Sir Benjamin Baker designed the Forth Bridge, 
the greatest railway bridge which the world has yet seen. 
Professor Allman, who held the Chair of Natural History in 
the University of Edinburgh, whose magnum opus is on the 
Gymnoblastic or Tubularian Hy droids. 
Professor Rutherford, who for twenty-five years held the Chair 
of Physiology in the University of Edinburgh, and whose eminence 
as a teacher of that science was duly recognised, and led to an 
extraordinarily large attendance at his lectures. 
Sir John Struthers, who was appointed to undertake the 
duties of the Chair of Anatomy in Edinburgh University in the 
absence of Professor Goodsir, and who afterwards was Professor of 
Anatomy in the University of Aberdeen. 
Dr John Moir, who discharged the duties of the Chair of Mid- 
wifery in Edinburgh University in the interval which elapsed 
between the death of Professor Hamilton and the appointment 
