into contiguity with her precious person by some pertinacious beggar ; ignorant all the while that her sebaceous follicles give board and lodging to a host of parasites, whose number may equal that of the various kinds of "small deer" that nestle in the matted hair and tattered garments of the fellow-being whom she regards with such loathing. "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise;" and some, perhaps, of Mr. Wilson's fair readers may not thank him for enlightening them on the subject. But we consider that such knowledge ought not to be withheld from deference to fastidious delicacy; and that, besides the immediate inducement it affords to the adoption of such habits as may free the sebaceous system of those unwelcome inhabitants, it may also have the beneficial moral use, of aiding in the demolition of those barriers between the classes of society on which we are thankful that every day is now making some fresh inroads.

The structure and development of the hairs, constitute the next subject of discussion; and these are described in accordance with the most recent microscopical observations. We cannot but think, however, that the comparison of the structure of the human hair with that of other animals might have been carried out a little farther, with much interest to the reader; and that it might have advantageously superseded the detailed account, than which nothing could possibly (in our estimation) have been more dry and purposeless, of the direction or set of the hairs on different parts of the body, occupying between five and six pages. This variety in the direction of the hairs can only be well observed in the down of the new-born infant; as the hairs soon cease to be developed on the greater portion of the surface, except in occasional instances. This down must be regarded as a rudimentary condition of the complete hairy covering of the lower mammalia, and particularly of the monkey tribe, in which the set of the hairs is obviously a matter of consequence, even serving in one instance to distinguish species that are otherwise nearly allied. But in the human species it cannot be regarded as of the least import; as the character disappears so early, and is restricted to hairs of such minuteness. The following observation is new, so far as we know, and of some interest.

"The short hairs of the skin are not unfrequently disturbed in their growth by a cause previously referred to in connexion with the hairs of the head; namely, deficient oleaginous qualities of the product of the oil-tubes. When this happens, the dry scales and cells of the oil and hair tubes collect at the aperture of the latter, and become a source of impediment of growth to the hair, which, as a consequence, assumes a coiled and twisted appearance. But sometimes this closure of the hair-pore takes place after the fall of the old, and previously to the growth of the young hair, in which case the latter is imprisoned in the tube, and there grows, although unable to escape I have occasionally seen nearly the whole of the hairs of a limb thus imprisoned, and forming little spiral circles, (can such things be?) which are visible through the then horny scale of desiccated cells, which covers them, and keeps them down. The obstruction occasions, as may be anticipated, a good deal of itching and uneasy feeling in the skin, and is more or jess alleviated by tearing up the filmy covering." (p. 80.)

The itching of the dry scalp is referred by Mr. Wilson to a similar cause; the hair not being positively kept in, but being retarded, by the accumulation of the hard unctuous matter poured into the tube; and being thus caused to make pressure on the bulb at its base, which is supplied with sensory nerves. "A natural remedy for the unpleasant sensation is at

hand; the nail is conveyed to the seat of inconvenience, it disturbs the impacted matter at the aperture of the tube, probably dislodges it, and the hair resumes its accustomed state." Prevention is better than cure, however, in this and other cases; and the proper use of soap and towel, comb and brush, will generally suffice.

It seems from the following observations that we have more hairs about our persons than we are commonly aware of:

"The invisible or downy hairs of the body rarely appear above the level of the skin, for when they do they necessarily fall into the category of the short hairs, and may best illustrate them by referring to a position in which their presence is invariable, although seen in that situation as an exceptional occurrence: I allude to the nose. The nose is ordinarily bald; but if the unctuous product of the oilgland be squeezed out of its tube, and examined beneath the microscope, one or more of these little hairs will constantly be detected in the centre of the mass. Indeed, when the unctuous matter has been detained in the oil-tube for any length of time, the number of hairs may be considerable, as, for example, twenty, thirty, or even forty. Now, the whole of these hairs have, as far as we at present know, been produced by a single pulp, and having attained maturity, have been shed, to be carried out of the oil-tube with the unctuous substance; but the latter being retained, they have had time to collect, as we have seen, in astonishing numbers. I should be inclined to infer, from this circumstance, that these little hairs grow very quickly, and are shed at short intervals of time. On no other hypothesis can their numbers be satisfactorily explained. In their normal state and position, these little hairs are colourless and transparent, having rounded blunt points and brush-like roots; but under the influence of augmented action of the skin, they are susceptible of growth to a considerable extent, both in length and bulk, in fact, of becoming equal in dimensions to the short hairs of the body. Of this we have an example in the occasional growth of visible hairs upon the nose." (p. 82.)

Mr. Wilson expresses himself with great incredulity as to the rapid change in the colour of the hair, which has been alleged to take place not unfrequently, especially under the influence of strong mental emotion; and not content with expressing his entire discredit of the statements on record, as to the occurrence of such a change in a single night, he does not admit that even in a whole week anything more can take place than a whitening at the roots of the hairs. In fact, he considers it impossible, that the part of the hair which has once emerged from the hair tube can be affected by any subsequent changes in the condition of the body. We must confess that we cannot share with him in this incredulity; since there is nothing to our minds so imposssible, in the transmission of a chemical agent capable of effecting the change, from the base to the tip of the hair. What we know of the nutrition of other extra-vascular tissues fully warrants this idea; and it is further sanctioned by the fact, that the change in the colour of the entire fur, which takes place in some animals under the influence of cold, may be effected, under peculiar circumstances, within the time specified by Mr. Wilson. Thus a lemming, caught in the summer during one of the Arctic voyages, and kept in the cabin of a ship at a warm temperature, retained its summer coat far beyond the usual time; but when taken on deck on the 1st of February, and exposed to the intense cold of 30° below zero, the colour of its fur began to change in a few hours, and it was turned to a pure white in the course of a week. Now as we have no reason to believe that the direct influence of cold upon the pigmentary

matter of the hair could produce any such effect, we must attribute the change to some chemical influence propagated from the bulb. It would be interesting, however, for the sake of obtaining satisfactory proof of this position, to repeat this experiment, with the additional test of exposing a small quantity of hair, cut off before the animal had been subjected to a change of temperature, to the same degree of cold. If this should remain unaffected in hue, it is evident that the alteration must really take its origin in the growing point of the hair.

We cannot regard Mr. Wilson as justified in expressing his complete incredulity of the statement of Bichât, that he has seen hairs growing from mucous membranes. We cannot regard the assertion as by any means destitute of à priori probability, the relation of the skin and mucous membrane being kept in view; and we see no reason why the evidence of an observer so well qualified as Bichât should be set aside so unceremoniously. The chapters on the maintenance of the health of the skin almost constitute a complete system of hygiène; the precepts given in regard to diet, exercise, clothing, &c., being just such as would lead to the maintenance of the health of the body in general, and therefore that of every one of its component organs. Therefore, the author's warnings aginst over-feeding, against the injurious practice of "converting the inside into a medicinechest," with the view of expelling one evil by the introduction of another; against excessive, improper, or insufficient clothing; against excessive or insufficient exercise, &c. &c., all tell as much on the health of the stomach, the liver, &c., and numerous other organs, as on that of the skin. This we consider to be one of the unfavorable results of the isolation of this subject from general hygiène. The recommendations in regard to ablution as a prophylactic, and to the more systematic use of water in the cure of disease, fairly belong, however, to this department of the special hygiène. Mr. Wilson's remarks on these subjects are written with force and spirit; and his chapter on hydropathy contains what appears to us a fairer view of the merits of that method of treatment, than we have elsewhere seen from the pen of a regular medical practitioner. The following is its commencement:

"The advantages to health of a judicious and sound system of diet, clothing, exercise, and ablution, cannot be better illustrated than by reference to what has been termed the water-cure.' The water-practice has effected important results in the treatment of disease, and will, I trust, be instrumental in restoring to medicine one of her most valuable and important auxiliaries. Medical men may be jealous that these benefits have been conjured from the vasty deep' by other hands than those of the high-priests of Therapeia, but they have no just reason of complaint; the treatment of disease by water had been improperly neglected; now, however, its merits may be tested, and the test, aided by public encouragement; moreover, the remedy will revert to those who are alone qualified to employ it; and we may fairly hope that a correct system for its use will be established by their labours." (p. 136.)

The remaining part of the volume does not fall within our province. When we discuss medical topics, we like to call things by their scientific names; and we do not consider ourselves bound to take cognizance of the many pages of Mr. Wilson's book headed by St. Anthony's Fire, Mattery Pimples, Branny Tetters, and other old women's nomenclature. Any rules for the general management of skin diseases would be quite in keeping

with our sense of propriety; but to encourage the public in the belief, that the treatment of erysipelas or rupia, to say nothing of impetigo and lepra, may be undertaken by unqualified domestic practitioners, appears to us a very injudicious, not to say dangerous measure.

When we next meet with Mr. Wilson we hope that it will be upon less doubtful ground. We shall with pleasure welcome him back to his own proper path,—that of accurate observation and clear description.

ART. XVIII.

1. Saggio Illustrativo le Tavole della Statistica Medica delle Maremme Toscane. Compilata per ordine di S.A.R. il Gran-Duca di Toscana. Da ANTONIO SALVAGNOLI-MARCHETTI Medico ispettore della provincia di Grosseto.—Firenze, 1844.

Essay illustrating the Tables of the Medical Statistics of the Tuscan Maremma. Compiled by order of H.R.H. the Grand Duke of Tuscany. By ANTONIO SALVAGNOLI-MARCHETTI, Medical Inspector of the Province of Grosseto.-Florence, 1844. Folio pp. 89.

2. Versuch einer Medicinischen Topographie und Statistik von Berlin. Von DR. H. WOLLHEIM, praktischem Arzte, Wundarzte und Geburtshelfer. Mit einem Vorworte von DR. J. L. CASPER.-Berlin, 1844. Medical Topography and Statistics of Berlin. By DR. H. WOLLHEIM, with a Preface by DR. J. L. CASPER.-Berlin, 1844.

WE unite our notice of these works because they belong to one class, not because their subjects correspond.

I. The first work before us is one of a class which we are happy to say has greatly increased both in number and value during the last few years; recording the results of the application of medical science in ameliorating the condition of a people, reforming their habits, and not only remedying their diseases, but pointing out the means of avoiding them; thereby converting a miserable and unhealthy population, into a happy and prosperous community. Perhaps our author has been too intent upon his statement of what the country is, to give the necessary attention to the question of what it may become under scientific management, but his work still points out the evils to be remedied and their probable causes, which is a great step towards their removal.

The Tuscan Maremma, the principal part of which is the province of Grosseto, comprehends a large extent of territory, partly mountainous, partly hilly, and partly consisting of beautiful and very extensive plains. Its extent is 1,439,999 square agrarj, about 1,050,000 of which are hilly or mountainous, 380,000 are plains. Rivers, lakes, and water-courses occupy 54,000, and 344,022 are wooded lands. It lies on the shore of the Mediterranean from San Vincenzio to the river Chiarone, the boundary of the Papal States. Its elevation above the level of the sea varies greatly; part is at the same level, while one mountain is 5298 feet, and the summit of another 3211 above it. The insalubrity of the air is the greatest in the plains, slight among the hills, and altogether imperceptible in the mountains. Its effects are manifested, not only in the plains on the seashore, but also inland, along the courses of the rivers and in their prox

imity. The effects of the malaria are felt in villages, 714 and 975 feet above the level of the sea, while some towns at the sea level and along the coast are perfectly healthy.

The province of Grosseto lies between 28° 12′ to 29° 6' longitude, and 42° 22' to 43° 6' latitude. The climate varies with the elevation of the district. Twenty-two years' observation have shown, that at sun-rise and mid-day the thermometer is two degrees higher than at Florence in winter, and in summer one degree lower. Scarcely any difference is observed in the barometer. In April and May, the thermometer rises nine degrees in the three hours following sun-rise. The hygrometer exceeds by twenty degrees the limits to which it arrives in Florence, and generally in the evening marks from twenty-five to thirty degrees more than in the morning. Thus the climate of the plains is warm and moist. The scirocco wind frequently prevails, and during the warm season is very injurious. Healthy persons feel themselves depressed, the muscular motions languid, the head heavy and painful, somnolence continual and appetite diminished; convalescents readily suffer relapse, and sick persons become worse. These changes are so constantly observed in the hospitals, that no doubt can be entertained of their cause.

There is a board of health in this province composed of a royal commissioner, an officer of the board of municipal superintendence, and a medical inspector. This board superintends everything relating to the public health, and not only the hospitals, but also the medical men and druggists of the province. There are four large and five small hospitals. The province is divided into sixty-eight circuits, and ninety-three medical men perform the medical duties. There are seventy-two pharmacies, which are divided into two classes at the pleasure of the proprietors, and for each class there is a catalogue of medicines, with which they must be constantly supplied. Every medical man is obliged to return to the board of health, a weekly report of the number of sick entered under his care, and of those who have been cured, died, or have left the district. A similar report is made from the hospitals. The reports furnish the elements of medical statistics, and also give an exact idea of the sanitary condition of each district. Besides the resident practitioners, the government retains seven physicians and one surgeon, to afford their assistance in urgent cases, or during considerable extension of disease.

In 1841, the population was 73,966, of which 36,169 were males, 34,239 females, composing 15,598 families, the ratio being 4.83 to the family. About 12,260 inhabit the plains, and 61,906 the hills and mountains. In the summer 3358 emigrate; but this number varies with the salubrity of the season. In 1841, the legitimate births were 3123, illegitimate 132, marriages 817. The number of inhabitants to the square mile is 42-43 for the whole district. In the most unhealthy districts the proportion is from 12.15 to 18.8. In the most healthy, from 90-61 to 161-79, and at Giglio, a sterile but very healthy rock, 224.87. In the summer, 7539 males and 1433 females came to the plains for agricultural labour.

Before 1840, vaccination was altogether neglected, and in some districts inoculation was still practised with much ill effect. In 1840, laws were carried into effect to guard from inoculation and promote vaccination, and with segregation of every case of smallpox the disease soon ceased. In