36 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
slaves of circumstances, journeying in the beaten path, applying remedies by 
statute; not investigating Vegetable Physiology; because general practitioners 
obtaining their chemicals and foreign drugs from Apothecaries’ Hall, and their 
simpler medicals from Covent-Garden, consider it superfluous to pursue such 
investigation, not reflecting on the different properties, and their altered seat, in 
the same plant at different times—now in the root, then in the foliage, and then 
in the flower and seed; nor on the temptation of a great demand to substitute 
the plant gathered at improper seasons; and because the compounder feels no 
interest, no responsibility attaching to him, the mere trader cares not for such 
knowledge. How much, however, do such attainments raise their possessor 
above the common members of the profession ! To facilitate the acquirement of 
extensive knowledge, how desirable is the division of labour, how advantageous 
the co-operation of numbers ! Mr. Johnson called upon the practitioner to 
reflect what numbers were rushing to the Temple of Knowledge, now open to all, 
with no longer Mystery for porter. What was the object of this Society’s in¬ 
vestigation ? Respite from pain and death.—The Chairman coincided with the 
learned professor, commented upon the immense advantages of exploring the me¬ 
dicinal qualities of plants, the nature of therapeutic agents; and mentioned a 
few of the numerous and valuable additions to the materia medica by the labours of 
the society whose records abound with similar instances. An interesting discus¬ 
sion ensued on the qualities of the different Sennas, as imported from Alexan¬ 
dria, from Tripoli, and from the East Indies, the change in its efficacy by the 
mixture of leaves and stalks, &c., in which Drs. Farr, Macreight, Sigmond, 
and others took part. 
LINNiEAN SOCIETY. 
Nov. 21. —A letter was read from the Duke of Somerset, resigning his ap¬ 
pointment of president, which he has held since the resignation of the Earl of 
Derby in 1833. A special meeting was appointed for Saturday, Dec. 2, for the 
choice of a successor, who, it is understood, will be Dr. Stanley, Bishop of 
Norwich, who, in addition to his other high intellectual acquirements, is well- 
versed in the different branches of Natural History. An address of congratu¬ 
lation to her Majesty, with a request that she would become the patroness of the 
Society, was also agreed to; and it is an interesting coincidence, according to 
The Atlas , that the anniversary of the Queen is that of the immortal naturalist 
after whom this Society is named. 
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF CHELTENHAM. 
The Zoological Gardens have, within the last six weeks, made rapid progress, 
A large portion of the lake has been excavated, and many of the surrounding 
