ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.

668 the membrane lining the nose, the eye-lids, the lungs, the alimentary canal, and the urethra, each discharging a puriform fluid when inflamed, and never adhering one part to another ; and if you found that there was a quantity of coagulable lymph cr febrine effused on theinflamed surface of the pleura, peritoneum, and vaginal coat, and adhesion of contiguous portions, would nct thaa point out to you an analogy or similarity of natural structure and function in these two classes of membranes2 You would readily suppose that all the first were phenomena peculiar to the diseases of mucous, and all the latter to the diseases of membranes of the serous class. Thus, if each of the elementary textures be made to form a class of diseases, you will find that there is scarcely a disease, I cannot mention the name even of one, the nature of which we are well enough acquainted with to arrange in any system, for which a place would not easily be found in that classification I have now

of the disease in each of those parts. We have long been accustomed to arrange in this manner the diseases of the skin, of the nerves, of the bones, of the absorbents, of the arteries, of the veins, of tbe cellnlar and muscular textures, and why should e not also apply the same method in arrangthose of what modern anatomists have denominated to be elementary textures’!

thing repeated

ing

FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.

Remarkable case of a lriple .Dentition calculated arrangement particularly - TnEfollowing curious case has been in= to facilitate and abbreviate the mode of aeserted in Omodei’s Journal, communicated quiring a knowledge of diseases, I hope by a Dr. Aimonino : you will have ample opportunities in this Elizabeth Morelli, who was a well formed course of Lectures, of convincing yourhad enjoyed good health, and had selves of its advantages. Instead of it being ]woman, never suffered any inconvenience, except necessary to enter into a minute detail of from a few attacks of tooth-ache, for which the morbid appearances of a particular texshe had been now and then bled. During ture in different organs or regions, it is only one of these attacks of which

proposed. As

an

°

tocth-ache, to give you a general account of occurred about the middle of March in 182], the morbid changes of esch of the different she was induced, from the severity of the textures, and thus, when you have acquired ’ ’ to have the two left molar teeth pulled a general knowledge of the various diseases out. Toward the end of October in the of all the textures, and want to know the same she felt some very acute pain ill diseases of any particular organ, you have the year, from whichthe teeth had been pulled part only to recollect the natural textures of that out, and soon after two new teeth made organ, and then transfer or apply to it the their appearance. In January 1826, the general knowledge you had obtained of the new teeth became loose, and, causing condiseases of its various elementary textures. siderable pain, she had them also drawn out. To explain more fully this important point, These teeth were very white and well take for example, any particular texture, as shaped, without the least appearance of the mucous. caries. On the 16th of July in the same If you wish to consider the disease called the patient consulted Signor Aimoyear, polypus, and you are told that it is an affec- nino, complaining of intolerable pain in the tion of the mucous membranes ; receive an same of the jaw as before. General part account of the various kinds of polypi which and local antiphlogistic measures were tried grow or. these membranes, and are told that without avail, and on the 18th, the patient such tumours are formed in the nose and that two teeth of the same figure perceived and intestinal in stomach canal, pharynx, and size as the former had again made their the bladder and uterus; when you wish to ; these teeth were seen by Aimobecome acquainted with the disease in any appearance nino, so that there can be no doubt of the one of these parts, in addition to the geof the report of the case. neral account of polypi, you have only fur- accuracy this has been called a case of Although ther to inquire into particular symp- triple dentition, it might with greater protom of the disease, when it grows in any of have been called a quadruple dentithe above mentioned organs. Whereas, ifprietysince the tion, temporary teeth are not iafind look at will you systematic works, you in the history of the case. clucled under rdiseases of the nose, a more or less elaborate description of polypi of that part, under diseases of the gullet, stomach, intes-

requisite

pain,

any

tinal canal,

bladder,

and uterus, the

same

* Annali Univers. di Medicina di Milano.

669

nishes

only 3.62, and England only 3.50. M. de Chateauneuf supposed that he would A curious case of malformation was pre- be able to determine the other causes by sented by Breschet to the Philomathic So- grouping in a table those countries of there were two from an taken adult ; ciety, Europe in which the produce of marriage yens cavae superiores of an equal size ; all is the greatest, and, according to his inves. the rest of the body was properly formed. tigation, the following is the proportion which each country affords: On the Fecundity of different European States. Children. In Portugal (to each marriage)....5.14. An interesting paper has been furnished In the province of Braganza......5.65 on this subject by M. Benoiston de Cha- ’, In Muscovy ...... 5.25 teauneuf to the Institute of France, from In the State of ..... 5.45 which we shall presently make a few exIn Bohemia.................... 5.27’ tracts. Numerous hypotheses have been In the Canton of Fribourg........ 5.35 from time to time advanced respecting the In Alsace (on the Rhine)........ 5.03 causes which favour or impede the increase In Morbihan (a part of Brittany)..5.52 of population. Some have sought to refer In a part of Vendee .....5.46 these causes entirely to a moral origin; 5.01 others have endeavoured to find them in the ’, In Jura 5.09 physical condition of the soil, and in diffe- I’ In the Marne In the division of rences of temperature. Some contending I:oire . , .... 5.68 In the Eastern Pyrenees .....5.17 that, as you advance from north to south, In a part of Dauphine (Iligh Alps) 5.39 the fecundity becomes increased with the In the Highlands of Scotland ....5.13 elevation of temperature; others, again, conIn this table there is a confusion of the sider the northern latitudes of the zone, as the very nursery of the human race. Northern with the Southern countries ; and Examining the question on the subject of of those bounded by the sea coast with those temperature, M. C. has remarked, that if in the interior. What conclusion then are Europe be divided into two climates, the we to arrive at from this table ? That of one commencing at Portugal and terminat- the sixteen countries mentioned, seven are ing in the Low Countries, that is to say, mountainous districts ; that is to say, Britthe Eastern Pyrenees; Scotland ; from the fortieth to the fiftieth degree of latitude ; the other beginning from the ter- the Savoy ; the Canton of Fribourg, and mination of the former, and extending to Jura; in which the territoiial productions Stockholm, or from the fiftieth to the sixty- are sufficient to ensure a sufficient supply seventh degree of latitude; we shall find, for the comfortable existence of man. All attempts of this kind are exceedingly that in the first division each marriage produces on an average ........ 4’57’ births difficult, and the inferences drawn even from statistical returns, are frequently fallacious. In the second division ...4’30 ditto. If the two extremes of temperature be com- From what we have been able to collect such authorities, ancient as well as pared, the difference becomes still modern, one fact appears very striking, that striking, affording In Portugal..5’10 children to a marriage ;°., proportion to the abundance of the necesandcomforts of life the fecundity of In Sweden ... 3-62 ditto. the population is abundant or otherwise ’ France offers another example of the fact, since, according to Mohean, the za- we may therefore esteem This as the princundity of the population increases gradually cipal if not the only source of national fecuiifrom north to south. Thus the average in dity, and lay aside as very secondary agenThe south ....5’3 children to a marriage; cies the influence of climate, temperature, The north ... 4.16 ditto. situation, aad the kind of nutriment conThese proportions were taken from the sumed, provided that nutriment be in s:lificensus returned in 1821, 1822, 18;3, and cicnt abundance. !lloreover, the productiveness of the population of a country ought 1824. Admitting these statements to be accu- not always to be calculated by its fecundity,. rate, it would appear that an elevation of but rather by the conservation of the offtemperature is one of the causes of the fe- spring ; because in those countries wherecundity of marriage ; but this is not sufficient local causes of destruction exist, so tcf to account for other statistical facts which speak as extensive marshes, giving rise to’ may be produced. For example, if 5.14 epidemic diseases, or in those where great children be the average produce of a mar- privations are occasionally eyp erienced; riage in Portugal, 5.20 is the average in although the fecundity may be at the maxBohemia, and 5.25 in Muscovy. On the imum, the mortality is sufficiently great to other hand, if, as is stated, the average is reduce the numbers of the population be4.31 in Moravia and Silesia, France, and the average adult produce of other couaTwo stipe)ior Venœ Caute in the human subject.

Venice

’

...................... ..................

the

temperate

tany ;

morefrom

inIBsaries

same !

Holland

produce only 4.20 ;Sweden

low

ftir- tries.