ABSTRACT OF PROCEEEIXGS. 
IX. 
Abstract of Proceedings, 28th June, 1943. 
The Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Society was held in the 
Department of Geology of the University on Monday, 28th June, at 
8 p.m., with Mr. F. A. Perkins (Vice-President) in the chair. About 
seventy members and friends were present. The minutes of the previous 
meeting were read and confirmed. Dr. Alan Lee and Mr. N. J. de 
Jersey w^ere elected to Ordinary and Associate Membership respectively. 
Mr. E. B. da Costa was nominated for Ordinary Membership. 
Prof. T. G. H. Jones gave an address on “Synthetic Rubber.' 7 
The properties of natural rubber were first of all discussed and 
the nature of the fundamental unit isoprene indicated. A brief 
account of the historical aspects of attempts to produce substances with 
the physical properties of natural rubber was given and the chemical 
structures of the various types of synthetic rubbers outlined. The 
importance of butadiene as a starting point and the use of copolymers 
along with this substance was stressed. Consideration w T as given to the 
possibility of producing synthetic rubber in Australia and the import- 
ance of alcohol as a raw material indicated. Comparison was made of 
the properties of natural and synthetic rubbers and the advantages and 
disadvantages of the synthetic products discussed. It was finally stated 
that extensive research which was being carried out at present would 
probably result in the production of new and better types of synthetic 
rubber, which might eventually result in the partial or even complete 
displacement of natural rubber for many purposes. 
Abstract of Proceedings, 26th July, 1943. 
The Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Society was held in the 
Department of Geology of the University on Monday, 26th July, at 
8 p.m., with the President (Prof. J. Bostock) in the chair. About 
thirty-five members and friends were present. The minutes of the 
previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. E. B. da Costa was 
elected to Ordinary Membership, and Misses Dorothy Haenke and 
Irene Tilse were proposed for Associate Membership. 
Three sound films dealing with the House Fly, the Louse, and the 
Mosquito respectively were shown. Each film dealt with the habits 
of the insect in relation to disease, and the preventive and remedial 
measures being utilised at present, especially under army conditions. 
Mr. F. A. Perkins gave a brief lecture on some of the developments 
with regard to mosquitoes during the ]ast two or three years. He drew 
attention to gaps in our knowledge of the systematics of Queensland 
mosquitoes and illustrated this by reference to the recent epidemic of 
malaria at Cairns, during which it wms discovered for the first time 
that the well-known carrier of malaria, Anopheles punctulatus var. 
moluccensis, is established in North Queensland. He also drew attention 
to the fact that one of the most successful methods of controlling 
mosquitoes is the use of pyrethrum sprays against adult mosquitoes. 
He pointed out that the effect of malaria on Australian and American 
troops, the recent epidemics of malaria and dengue in Queensland, and 
the heavy infestation of salt water mosquitoes in coastal towns during 
the last summer have drawn the attention of the members of the 
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