69 
disease, in the relation of cause to effect. Nay, more, that the tendency of 
recent inquiries to seek for such causes, to the relative neglect of such as 
were by the older medical officers acknowledged as sufficient, namely, season, 
climate, age, habits, and temperament, have led to very grave and important 
results. For example, recent statistics show a very serious increase in the 
rate of mortality by fevers among our troops in that great country. 
In reference to the remark by Mr. Dent, I have only to observe that the 
smallness of the exceptions to the limited range of insects, noticed by that 
gentleman, shows how very general in its application is the rule alluded to 
in Section 24 of my paper. The remark by Mr. Dent in reference to the 
occasional abundance of the insects mentioned by him is valuable. It 
points to the importance of observations to be instituted on the subject, and 
it indicates how ’profitable a field for investigation this branch of natural 
science presents. 
ORDINARY MEETING, Decembee 4, 1882. 
H. C adman Jones, Esq. in the Chaie. 
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed, and the follow- 
ing elections took place : — 
Hon. Foreign Correspondent : — Professor L. Pasteur, F.R.S., Paris. 
Members : — The Eight Eev. H. H. Parry, D.D., Bishop of Dunedin ; T. A. M. 
Gennoe, Esq., India ; J. Stevenson, Esq., B.M., L.R.C.S.E., Ceylon ; 
J. Williams, Esq., Wales. 
Associates : — E. H. Bromby, Esq. (life), Victoria ; Eev. W. T. A. Barber, 
B.A., C. C. C., Kichmond ; Eev. H. S. Davies, New Zealand ; Rev- 
M. G. Goldsmith, India ; Eev. E. Hicks, B.A., Stoke-on-Trent ; A. H. 
Jones, Esq., Sydenham ; Eev. J. G. Neild, New South Wales ; C. 
Palmer, Esq., Q.C., Canada; Eev. T. Phillips, B.A., West Africa; 
Lieut, the Hon. H. N. Shore, E.N., Greenock; Eev. A. Thomson, A.M. 
D.D., Constantinople ; Rev. H. W. Taylor, New South Wales ; Ven. 
Archdeacon W. N. Willis, New Zealand ; Lady K. E. Barker, 
Gloucester. 
Also the presentation of the following Works for the Library : — 
“ Transactions of the Royal Society.” 1751 to 1799. From Rev. Sir T. H. B. 
Baker , Bart. 
A paper “ On the Testimony of the Cuneiform Texts to the Antediluvian 
period of the Mosaic History,” by the Eev. O. D. Miller, D.D. (United 
States) was then read. A discussion of a general character ensued, after 
which the meeting was adjourned. Communications were afterwards sent 
in by Professor Sayce, and other leading Assyriologists, and, as the ancient 
records just discovered by Mr. Rassam, one of the Institute’s Members, 
throw much light upon the question, the publication of the paper is 
necessarily postponed. 
YOL. XVII. 
G 
