8 
I’nESIDENT’S ADDRESS, 
I)lants. The line of demarcation in such forms of life has always 
been obscure ; but I see no reason why they should not belong to 
both. Certainly we are accustomed to regard a ferment, such as 
yeast, or the natural ferment contained on the skills of the grajie, 
as vegetable bodies; so also with microscopic Tungi. While on 
the other hand, the ferments existing in the animal body, such, for 
instance, as those in the pancreatic Iluid, or those constantly found 
associated with animal diseases, can hardly be looked upon as other 
than animal in their nature. 
])r. Trankland has boldly defined “ a j^lant as an organism 
performing synthetical functions, that is to say, the building up 
or putting together simple materials into complex compounds ; and 
an animal as an organism performing analytical functions, that is 
to say, the taking asunder more or leas complex compounds, and 
resolving them into simjder compounds at the expense of potential 
energy;” and he considers that the micro-organisms associated 
with zymotic disease, and ferraentive clianges of similar character, 
are distinctly animal in their nature. 
It is hardly necessary to say that this definition, as respects the 
bodies in (question, is not accepted generally by biologists, and at 
the present time there is no accepted classification, and in reality 
it is a matter of no consequence. What we really Avant to know 
is the conditions under which such organisms are produced, and 
their life-history ; and with the active and intelligent men now 
employed in this investigation, there is little fear of our being 
kept in the dark for any great length of time. 
One of the most extraordinary features in the history of these 
organisms is, their persistent vitality under conditions most trying 
to life in the higher forms. The Bacteria produced in an infusion 
of fresh meat, for instance, have been exposed to the influence of 
gases such as hydrogen, carbonic acid, carbonic oxide, cyanogen, 
sulphurous acid, sulphuretted hydrogen, nitric oxide, I'cc., for many 
days at a time, and have continued in the most lively and, 
apparently', healthy condition. At tlie same time it has been found 
that certain other substances, such as carbolic acid, spongy iron. 
