THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 
145 
on the other hand, which, as before stated, have great vitality, 
will remain alive even in distilled water for ninety days. In 
polluted well water, Meade Bolton has found that the bacilli 
of anthrax persist for upwards of ninety days, and the spores for 
nearly a year ; whilst Wolffhugel has found that in polluted river 
water (the river Pauke, in Berlin), even when diluted tenfold 
with distilled water, the anthrax bacilli undergoes extensive 
multiplication. 
I trust I have not wearied you with the account I have 
given of these minute forms of life. I hope I have made it 
evident what an important bearing they have on the health 
of the community. I should also like to lay stress on the fact 
that from various causes the researches into the different forms of 
disease caused by them, and the method in which they may 
be combated, cannot be so well carried on in England as abroad. 
One great cause, to which I have already alluded is, the 
legal difficulties thrown in the way of research, and again the 
want of funds. Pasteur is aided in his researches by the State, 
and this is the case in almost all instances on the Continent, 
scientific researches, as is well known, being but an indifferent 
method of finding even the necessaries of life. 
I will conclude then by quoting the resolve of Descartes : 
" Never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly know 
to be such; and comprise nothing more in my judgment than 
was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude 
all ground of doubt." 
CONVEKSAZIONE. 
(4th October, 1888.) 
An account of the proceedings at this Conversazione will be 
found among the Reports. 
