32 Transactions of the 



Almost all the cretins are confirmed beggars. They never lose 

 an opportunity of showing their empty pockets, and holding out 

 their hands to travellers, though what they do with the money I 

 cannot conceive. It is said that they will take anything, even a 

 bit of cardboard of the same shape as a coin, and be just as 

 delighted with it as if it were real. Whether this is true or not 

 I cannot say. 



It is remarkable that at Martigny, where the proportion of 

 cretins used to be very large, the present generation is almost 

 entirely exempt from the malady. To show the numbers of 

 people who are afflicted by these diseases in certain valleys, it is 

 sufficient to say, that there is one village in Switzerland where 

 three-quarters of the males are more or less goitred, and one in 

 fifty is a cretin. In some valleys in Savoy the increase is trifling, 

 though the number of cretins is great. The definite cause of 

 cretinism is, as I said, entirely unknown ; but any doctor who 

 may in future times bring forward a cure for this mysterious and 

 distressing ailment will, I am sure, be looked upon as a bene- 

 factor to his species. 



On this paper Messrs Greene and Grenfell spoke. 



J. Hewson next read a paper on the Silkworm, on which Messrs 

 Greene and J. Stone made a few remarks. On the proposal of J. 

 Stone, seconded by C. C. Stevenson, C. T. Blanshard, O.C., was 

 elected a corresponding member of the Society. During the latter 

 part of the evening, the chair was occupied by Eev. J. Greene, the 

 President being unavoidably absent. 



MEETING, November 24, 1871. 

 The President in the Chair. 



The fourth meeting for the term was held on 24th November. 

 Forty-six members and visitors were present. 



The following donations to the Museum were acknowledged by 

 the President : — A Fossil Trunk of Tree, two large Shells, and a 

 Piece of Coral, by W. Webb,- Esq. ; Slab with Fossil Plants from 

 Bedminster Colliery, by J. Barker, Esq. ; a complete collection of 

 polished Cubes, illustrating the Clifton Rocks,' purcliased with 

 Miss Wills's donation of £5 ; a large Crystal of Iron Pyrites by 



