1889.] Presents. 303 



interesting points. In calculating this, the sagittal diameter of the 

 different vertebral bodies is taken as the standard and compared with 

 the axial vertical diameter. This index is observed to present a direct 

 relation to the proportion of bone and cartilage which enters into the 

 construction of the lumbar column. The higher the index the 

 smaller is the amount of intervertebral substance, and vice versa. 

 This has been tested in the European, Australian, Chimpanzee, 

 Baboon, Macaque, and Orang. The European excels all these in the 

 amount of cartilage as compared with bone in the lumbar region of 

 the vertebral column. In the erect attitude of man this greater 

 amount of cartilage lessens the shocks transmitted upwards through 

 the column. In the prone or semi-prone position of the trunk the 

 same provision is not so necessary.* 



Presents, January 24, 1889. 

 Transactions. 



Baltimore : Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of 



Maryland. Transactions. 90th Annual- Session, 1888. 8vo. 



Baltimore. The Faculty. 



Cambridge : Philosophical Society. Proceedings. Vol. VI. 



Part 4. 8vo. Cambridge 1888. The Society. 



Frankfort-on-Main : Seuckenbergische Naturforschende Gesell- 



schaft. Abhandlungen. % Bd. XV. Heft 3. 4to. Frankfurt-am- 



Main 1888. The Society. 



Leipsic : Konigl. Sachs. Gesellschaft der Wissenschaf ten. Ab- 



handluDgen (Math.-Phys. Classe). Bd. XIV. Hefte 10-13. 



8vo. Leipzig 1888 ; Vierteljahrsschrif t. Jahrg. XXIII. Heft 3. 



8vo. Leipzig 1888. The Society. 



London : British Pharmaceutical Conference. Year-Book of 



Pharmacy. 1888. 8vo. London. The Conference. 



Entomological Society. Transactions. 1888. Part 4. 8vo. London. 



The Society. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Proceedings. 1888. No. 3. 



8vo. London. The Institution. 



London Mathematical Society. Proceedings. Vol. XIX. Nos. 



328-332. 8vo. London 1888; List of Members. 1888. 8vo. 



[London.] The Society. 



Odontological Society of Great Britain.. Vol. XXI. No. 2. 8vo. 



Transactions. London 1888. The Society. 



Pathological Society. Transactions. Vol. XXXIX. 8vo. London 



1888. The Society. 



* The spine of the aboriginal Australian referred to in the foregoing abstract was 

 obtained from Professor T. P. Anderson Stuart, of Sydney University. 



