tistical researches on tlio distribution of mortality in certain Swiss cantons, 

 according to the months and seasons. At Geneva, where documents are extant 

 wliich go back to the IGth century, it is ascertained that the diflereuce IVoni 

 season to season has been but slightly sensible. The winter is the most unfavor- 

 able epoch, sununer the most salubrious ; spring approximates to the rate ot 

 wiuter, autumn to that of summer. Aubonne and Vevay furnish analogous 

 results. In the canton of Neuchatel winter is the most fatal season for the low 

 country, while spring is most fatal in the mountain region. The same is re- 

 marked as regards 43 conuuunes of the canton of Berne. Zurich, the city of 

 Hale, Thurgovia, Appenzell, show a slight predominance of mortality in si)ring. 

 In Aargau winter has the highest range of mortality. Everywhere the cases 

 of death are more numerous during the summer in cities, and during the wiuter 

 in the country. The cold of wint^jr is more homicidal as the altitude is higher; 

 the ratio is reversed for the mouths of summer and autumn. 



Such has been the scientific movement of our society during the year which 

 finishes to-day. The variety of the subjects to which attention has been devoted 

 e(pials' their importance. 1 may congratulate my colleagues on the part which 

 they have borne with so much zeal, a part which it is not for me to estitnate, in 

 the study, always novel and alwaj'S attractive, of the phenomena of nature. Our 

 cantonal and municipal authorities have recently added their efforts by 

 creating at Geneva a museum, laboratories, and a library on a level with the 

 progress of the age. Let us welcome cordially these new means of study pla(!ed 

 at our disposal, and continue w'ith ceaseless ardor to propagate the taste for intel- 

 lectual pursuits. At the moment of resigning the functions which you have 

 done me the honor to confide to me, 1 offer you, my highly esteemed and dear 

 colleagues, the expression of my gratitude for the assiduous co-oper<ition by wdiicl; 

 you have rendered the exercise of those functions as easy as agrei.a,ble. 



