reviews and notices of books

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physician said derisively of the obstetrician, that his métierwas to undertake everything, and that the witty saying of a Ilate divine, in regard to Lord John Russell, applied equally tohim-" that he would deliver a woman with child, cut a manfor the stone, or take the command of the Channel Fleet." Now, he believed that the obstetrician would, indeed, in thepractice of his art, undertake and accomplish anything that Irequired boldness, energy, talent, and presence of mind. He had great pleasure in seconding the resolution.

Mr. FERGUSSON, in proposing the third resolution, statedthat he had been requested to do so since entering the room.It was hi;; duty to read the names of the gentlemen who hadbeen selected as office-bearers in the new Society for the en-suing year; but before doing so, he would, in accordance withthe example already set by the gentlemen who had justspoken, take the liberty of making a brief address on such aninteresting occasion. It might seem curious that one in thatdepartment of the profession to which he had chiefly devotedhis attention should come to such a meeting. At one time inhis own history he should have had such a feeling, but years,which bring experience, had led him to think differently onsuch matters than he did formerly, and he was now convincedthere was no man more useful in his walk in life than such as

practised that department in which the generality of thosepresent were so much interested. Their respected Chairman,the veteran Dr. Granville, Dr. Tyler Smith, and others, hadstated the objects of that evening’s gathering, and it was notfor him, in such company, to attempt further enlightenment.He could not, however, let the opportunity pass without con-gratulating the gentlemen present on the objects of the meet-ing. He thought the proposed Society highly desirable, par-ticularly in London. If it were desirable to have specialities,there was no place like London for such professional divisions;and if such societies as that contemplated flourished in smallercommunities, it was certainly needful that this metropolisshould be thus represented. There were already societies forphysicians and surgeons, but he thought the department ofmedicine to which most of the gentlemen present were de-voted, deserved a higher representation than that hithertoaccorded to it. In the progress of time, obstetric medicinehad acquired a high position, and in his opinion this was astrong mark of the progress of civilization. Should the talentedauthor of the work devoted to that subject require a newtheme for his pen, he would humbly suggest this one as worthyof his attention. As civilization advanced, the attentions ofthe masculine sex to the female became more marked. In

savage life, the female was left almost to her own resources.He would not enter upon the question of mortality in civilizedor savage life on such occasions, but he would not hesitate toaffirm that attention to the female in her hour of trouble andperil was a strong characteristic of civilization. No depart-ment in medicine had made such rapid strides in modern timesas that in which they were interested; and it was gratifyingto perceive how, in the progress of time, the position of theobstetrical practitioner had at last been recognised by theColleges of Physicians and of Surgeons in London. The

youngest man in that room might perhaps know of the

frightful results attendant upon the practice of the midwivesof former times; and all the gentlemen present, with thenumerous body of their contemporaries in the same depart-ment, might congratulate themselves that the step now aboutto be taken would go far to shake off all such dangers in timeto come. In offering his hearty congratulations on the proposalsof the night, and in reading over the names of the proposedoffice-bearers, Mr. Fergusson stated that, amongst the Lyentle-men named, he had a personal knowledge of many; and onthat account, as also from the high professional repute of thosewhom be did not know individually, he could not hesitate tosay that in his opinion the office-bearers would prove highlyefficient members of the Society.

Dr. RouTH, in seconding the resolution, gave his cordialsupport to the Society. To none did woman, in the time oftrial allotted by the Creator, owe more than to the accoucheur.Every man might not have a wife, but most had sisters; surely,then, that midwifery should be well understood and practisedwas greatly to be desired. He felt that many in the room hadobligations to other accoucheurs which nothing could repay.He hoped that in the new Society the political element wouldnot be entirely lost sight of. How many lives of young and

interesting children were daily sacrificed by prescribing che-mists and druggists. By pointing out the difficulties in thetreatment of children’s diseases, this source of evil might beremoved. With regard to midwives, again, he considered that,as on the Continent, it should be made obligatory on them to

go through a regular course of study, and that the State wasguilty in allowing them to practise midwifery without sucheducation. There was, therefore, still much room for politicalintervention. If the Society not only sought to advance thescience of the art, but also endeavoured to extend the know-

ledge thereof amongst those who practised it, a great servicewould indeed be performed, and immense good would be de-rived by all classes.

The list of office-bearers was published THE LANCET of lastweek. The names of Frederick Bird, M.D.; Robert Druitt,M.D.; and Samuel Griffith, M.D., have been, we are given tounderstand, since added to the list of the Council.The next resolution, empowering the Council to frame laws,

and to draw up and circulate a prospectus setting forth theobjects of the Society, was proposed by Mr. SPENCER WELLS,and seconded by Dr. MACKENZIE.

, On the proposition of Dr. TANNER, seconded by Dr. GRAILY. HEWITT, a vote of thanks to Dr. Rigby, for his kindness in

presiding and for his able conduct in the chair, was carried byacclamation, and the proceedings terminated.

Reviews and Notices of Books.Les Climats de Montagnes considérées au point de vue Médi-

cale. Par le 1)octeur H. C. LOMBARD, Chevalier de l’OrdreImperial de St. Stanislaus de Russie, Ancien Medecin del’H8pital General de Geneve, &c. pp. 182. Paris.

The Climccte of Mountains considered in regard to their MedicalAspect. By Dr. H. C. LOMBARD, &C.

THE high and deserved reputation which Dr. Lombard hasacquired, both as a writer on medical science, and as a prac-titioner, well known especially to English visitors on the Con-tinent, must necessarily lead us to examine with attention hisviews upon the important subject of which he treats, for theproper treatment of which his long residence at Geneva haspeculiarly fitted him. The work treats of the climate of moun-

tains, and gives an excellent summary of what is known of thephysical phenomena which mountainous regions present. Underthe heading of "Physiological Influence of Mountains," theeffect of high elevations on the normal system are described.The increased frequency of the pulse and respiration experiencedin the ascent of mountains is not due solely to the efforts ofthose who ascend; it is felt in balloons, and, what is curious,to a greater extent on a snowy surface than on a bare rock;the haemorrhage from the nose and mouth, and congestion ofthe mucous membranes, are due to removal of the atmosphericpressure to a great extent. The most frequent disease of moun-taineers is pneumonia; then catarrhal affections of the larynxand bronchi, and asthma. Ophthalmic affections are verycommon in the highest Alpine regions. Rheumatism is verycommon, and, in general, all affections which partake of asthenic character. Goitre and cretinism are never found above2000 metres.* *

The effect of elevation on different animals is very different.Cats cannot live above 4000 metres. "Transported to thisheight they invariably perish, after having presented very re-markable tetanic spasms. At first they only show irregularmovements, as if they had St. Vitus’s dance; but later thespasms become stronger and stronger. They make prodigiousleaps, and seem as if they wished to climb walls, and grasp therocks. Finally, they fall down from fatigue, and die in a

paroxysm of convulsions." Dogs resist longer than cats.

- Rabbits can live at great altitudes, but they are said to becomebarren. Horses and mules become acclimatized to a certain

extent, although they lose strength. Amongst the larger quad-rupeds, the highest altitudes are abandoned to the chamois and

’ the bouquetins; and, amongst birds, to the condor and theeagle.

Dr. Lombard gives a medical topography of Switzerland,’ which must be highly interesting to the tourist.’ The work is unquestionably the best that has yet appeared’

on the subject, and is simply and elegantly written.> * A metre is three feet three inches.