30 Transactions of the 



but only in the valleys. Goitre is not at all confined to Switzer- 

 land ; it is known in Italy, and even to a certain extent in England. 



In Derbysliire, Somerset, Hants, Surrey, and especially at Settle 

 in Yorkshire, it is known, but not to anything like the same ex- 

 tent as in Italy and Switzerland. Various theories have at dif- 

 ferent times been proj^ounded to account for the phenomena of 

 goitre. First, the practice of carrying heavy weights on their heads. 

 Secondly, the abominable state of filth and wretchedness among 

 which some of the peasants live. Thirdly, the snow-water which 

 they drink. Let us see how far each of tliese theories will hold. 



With regard to the first, it seems to me that if goitre were due 

 to the carrying of heavy loads on the head, the same would happen 

 to many English porters, and to colliers, who, I believe, frequently 

 carry their loads hour after hour on their heads; besides, this would 

 notaccount for the goitre being found in certain valleys, and being 

 more prevalent in them than in others. 



The second theory is no better, for what can be more wretched 

 or miserable than the filth of some of our great manufacturing 

 towns ? Yet goitre does not prevail in Liverpool or Bristol, or 

 even in London. 



The practice of drinking snow-water seems more likely to hold ; 

 for the water which runs down from the glaciers must be very 

 unhealthy. The glacier was originally snow, and snow was ori- 

 ginally cloud, and the cloud was originally evaporated from the 

 surface of the earth. The water, then, that runs down from the 

 glacier may be looked upon as rain-water. No water is healthy 

 unless it contains a certain amount of impurities. The impurities 

 in rain-water are chiefly nitric and carbonic acid and ammonia. 

 Whereas the hard water which we are accustomed to drink con- 

 tains nitrates now and then, but rarely in any quantity, also 

 chlorides and sidphates of calcium and iron. Carbonate of cal- 

 cium is present as well, held in solution by carbonic acid. Rain- 

 water must be entirely deficient in iron and calcium salts, for 

 they are not volatile, and hence cannot be vaporised with the 

 water. Nitrate of ammonia and carbonic acid exist in exceed- 

 ingly small quantities, and therefore snow-water may be looked 

 upon as nearly pure. It is always coloured, but I believe that 

 this is merely due to its having passed over sandy and light beds 

 in its course. 



To return to the goitre. A serious objection to the last- 

 mentioned theory of its origin lies in the fact, that in some parts 

 one side only of the valley is affected, the other being entirely 

 free from it. This was first observed by Sir Astley Cooper in 

 1834, and taken notice of scientifically. 



Two more theories I have to mention ; one of which ascribes 



