OTAGO INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2164, 15 August 1895, Page 32

OTAGO INSTITUTE.

The usual monthly meeting of the Otago Institute was held at the museum on Tuesday night. Mr A. Hamilton (president) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance.

Mr J. S. Tennant, on behalf of the Dunedin Field Naturalists' Club, laid on the table a catalogue, wbioh the club intended publishing shortly, of the indigenous flowering plants noted within a radius of 25 miles of Dunedin, exclusive of the cryptogamic plants. Dr Roberts gave an address on " The Antitoxin Treatment for Diphtheria." He described the methods adopted of discovering specific kinds of b&cteria producing certain diseases, and also the methods of devitalising these bacteria so as to render them fit for introduction into a subject for the purpose of making it immune. He referred to the success of the anti-toxin treatment for diphtheria as being remarkable, and stated that the proportion of successful applications was 100 per cent, where anti-toxin was administered on the first day, 90 per cent, on the second, 75 per cent, on the third, and 50 per cent, on the fourth day. Professor PAnKEn. contributed an interesting and appreciative paper on " Professor Huxley ; from the Point of View of a Difciple." He spoke chit-fly of the great scientist's work ss a teaoher and a writer, and guve some amusing, personal reminiscences of his old professor. He also said that Huxley was not naturally a scientist as Datwin was, but simply became a biologiit by force of circumstances, and would have achieved eminence in any other sphere of life had his energies been directed otherwise. He further alluded to the breadth of his sympathies, and pointed out that he took a keen interest in politics, religion, psychology, and social problems.