126 EIGHTH REPORT — 1838. 



gene Aram ; secondly, that the development of the mental faculties, 

 as indicated by the skull, corresponded remarkably with the character 

 of Aram as recorded in history. 



On the Chemical Analysis of the Liquor Amnii. -By Dr. G. O. Rees, 

 F.G.8., S^c. 



The author related his experiments on four specimens of the fluid 

 procured from diffiei-ent individuals, all drawn off at 7^ months of utero- 

 gestation. The specific gravities varied from I'OOTO to 1-0086, .the 

 proportion of solid contents being much the same in each specimen : 

 the solid ingredients varied, however, in relative proportion. Urea was 

 found in all the specimens, the other ingredients being albumen, fatty 

 matter, lactates, alkaline chloride, traces of sulphate, carbonate, and 

 phosphate of lime, with oxide of iron. 



On Mr. Farr's Law of Recovery and Mortality in Cholera. By Robert 

 D. Thomson, M.D. 



The principal facts elicited are the following : 



1. The probability oi recovery can be determined at everj' stage of 

 disease by a simple tabular construction. 



2. Tlie mean future dui-ation can be determined at any given point. 



3. The rate of mortality, deduced day by day, shows that the fatality 

 increases up to a given point, then becomes stationary, and afterwards 

 decreases, according to a determined law. The rate of mortality attains 

 its maximum at different periods in different diseases : in cholera it is 

 at its maximum in twenty-two hours (eighteen to twenty-four hours) ; 

 in small-pox in ten to fifteen days ; in phthisis pidmonalis in six to nine 

 months. When the disease has attained its acme and begins to decline, 

 the rate of mortality on any day being given, the rate of mortality on 

 any future day can be calculated, and vice versa. In cholera the rate 

 of mortality declines nearly 12 per cent, daily, from the 4th to the 30th 

 day : in its course the diagram describes a regular curve, which will 

 represent in space what takes place in time. The rate of decrease va- 

 ries in small-pox, but tiie variation is regulated by a certain law. 



4. The mortcdity no doubt increases according to a determined rate ; 

 but in cholera it attains its maximum so rapidly, that the law of in- 

 crease cannot yet be determined. The rate must be determined at four 

 or five equal periods in succession before the law of its changes can be 

 ascertained : this has not yet been done in any disease. 



5. The rate of recovery, like the rate of mortality, follows a pre- 

 scribed rule : it increases according to a determined laAv, which has to 

 a certain extent been determined in cholera and small-pox. 



For the purpose of this investigation, the cases of each disease should 

 be recorded in the following form ; 



