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PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, 1914-1915. 
Ihe Philosophy of Vitalism in Modem Biology. 
By 
W. J. Dakin, D.Sc., F.L.S., F.Z.S., 
Professor of Biology in the University of Western Australia, 
(Delivered June 8, 1915.) 
The Session 1914-1915, which ends with this meeting, and which 
has been the first year of the Royal Society of W.A., will be for ever 
remembered in the history of the world. I feel, therefore, that I 
cannot pass to the main theme of my address without some refer- 
ence to those events which have cast a cloud over all. 
Just at the mo.ment when we were congratulating ourselves that 
culture and the study of the Arts and Sciences were breaking down 
the barriers oi distance and almost of nationality — just when we 
were receiving’ in our midst as our guests the delegates of the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science (the Australian meeting, 
1914), and several prominent German, French, and other foreign 
scientists, hell seemed to break loose. Europe, since last August, has 
been torn to the heart by fighting such as the world has never before 
seen, and to the horror of civilised peoples war has appeared in a 
form which very few, indeed, ever expected. Our much-vaunted 
civilisation seems for a moment to be a thing of nought; science and 
art, except in so far as they may be useful in the service of butchery, 
seem to have been relegated to the background, and in some cases, 
even, education has been looked upon with suspicion. We may truly 
comfort ourselves with the heroism, the valour, and chivalrous con- 
duct generally of the men and women of the British Empire in this 
time of trial. At least the spirit of courage and honour which built 
up our Empire lives to-day. Whilst recognising this, let us look at 
another aspect of the matter. I should fail in my duty as President 
of this society, whose aim is to advance the study of science in all its 
branches, if I did not emphasise the important part which has been 
played by science in the progress of our enemies. This is, however, a 
truth which has been hurled at the Britisher for many years now. 
Unfortunately the warnings have been practically unheeded. At the 
present time, commercial men are telling us that we must capture 
Germany’s trade, and Chambers of Commerce are trying to suggest 
means. We should never have allowed Germany to gain much of 
this trade. We are told, for example, that the value of the colouring 
matters consumed in the United Kingdom per annum is £2,000,000, 
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