TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 



and extending the joint. In respect to the changes which take 

 place between the osseous surfaces after the operation of exci- 

 sion, he stated that anchylosis could not be induced unless the 

 limb was kept perfectly motionless ; and that the bones almost 

 invariably became united, not by any structure analogous to a 

 joint, but by means of a fibrous substance possessing such 

 thickness, strength, and flexibility as to preserve the shape and 

 firmness of the limb, and allow a proper degree of motion in 

 the seat of the joint. A specimen of this structure was exhi- 

 bited in the case of an elbow-joint which had been dissected 

 about twelve months after the performance of excision. Having 

 made these remarks, he submitted to the meeting the positive 

 evidence afforded by several persons in addition to those already 

 exhibited, in all of whom the operation of excision had pre- 

 served limbs hardly if at all less useful than they were before 

 suffering from the disease. 



Abstract of a Registry kept in the Lying-in Hospital of Great 

 Britain-street, Duhlin, from the year 1758 to the end of 

 1833. By the late Dr. Joseph Clarke, of Dublin. 



■ This communication illustrated in a very striking manner the 

 ijnportance of thorough ventilation, and the great dimimition of 

 mortality among the children in this hospital since that object 

 has been attended to. It appears that during the 75 years men- 

 tioned, relief has been afforded to upwards of 129,000 poor wo- 

 men ; that in 1781 every sixth child died within nine days after 

 hirth, of convulsive disease ; and that after means of thorough 

 yentilation had been adopted, the mortality of infants, in five 

 successive years, was reduced to nearly one in twenty. 



STATISTICS. 



Statistics of Glasgow. By James Cleland, LL.D. 



The parochial register of births in Glasgow beh]g so defective 

 that no reliance could be placed on it. Dr. Cleland obtained the 

 necessary information in the following manner : 



Concerning Births. — On 6th December 1829, he addressed a 

 letter to each of the seventy-five clergymen and lay pastors in the 

 city and suburbs who baptize children, requesting to be favoured 

 with the number they might baptize from 14th December 1 829, to 

 15 th December 1830, both days inclusive, being the year previous 



