Bibliographical Notices, 295 



[The zootomical labours of Delle Chiaje have now been 

 familiar to the anatomists of Europe for nearly a quarter of a 

 century, and they reflect great honour on him and on his 

 country. It must therefore be gratifying to all foreigners to 

 observe the zeal and candour of his fellow- labourers at Naples, 

 in thus reclaiming for their distinguished countryman the 

 merit of originality to which he is so justly entitled. — 

 R. E. G.] 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



The Climate of the South of Devon and its influence upon Health ; with 

 short accounts of Exeter, Torquay, Babbacombe, Teignmouth, Daw- 

 lish, Exmouth, Budleigh-Salterton, Sidmouth, 8$c. By Thomas 

 Shafter, M.D., Physician to the Exeter Dispensary, Lying-in- 

 Charity, &c. Pp. 258. 12mo. Churchill : London, 1842. 



In this work, although chiefly embracing statistics and medical topo- 

 graphy, there are many interesting observations relative to natural 

 history, and on that account it may with propriety be noticed in 

 this Journal. 



The work was written " in accordance with the suggestion of Sir 

 James Clark, that in order to determine the true character of the 

 climate of the south-western part of England, observations should be 

 made in some of its principal localities." 



This has been already done in regard to Bristol and Clifton by 

 Drs. Carrick and Symonds, and in regard to the Land's End by Dr. 

 Forbes. Dr. Shafter's publication is a continuation of the subject. 



The work is divided into two parts ; the first treating of the cli- 

 mate and diseases of South Devon, and the second of its geology, 

 natural productions, ceconomical history and statistics. 



The climate of Devon generally is warm and moist : this depends 

 partly on its latitude and partly on its position as regards the ocean, 

 nearly half of its circumference being sea- coast. The mean annual 

 temp, of South Devon is 51°'29', or nearly 1° higher than that of 

 London ; one of its most striking characteristics is equability of tem- 

 perature. The indications of the barometer, although not very dis- 

 similar from those of London, yet show that the atmosphere of the 

 district is both less dense and less liable to changes in its density 

 than is the case in the metropolis. It is charged with, moisture, and 

 a slight depression of temperature causes deposition of dew or a fall 

 of rain. In general language it may be stated, that from March to 

 September the climate is dry, and during the remainder of the year 

 humid. The mean annual fall of rain amounts very nearly to 32 

 inches, being about 7 inches more than fall in London. The average 

 number of wet days (t\ e. days in which a fall of rain, however slight, 

 takes place) amounts to rather more than 1 G2, while in London it 

 amounts to 178. 



Frost is not unfrequent during winter and spring, but is rarely of 

 long continuance. Snow rarely falls in any great quantity, or re- 



