370 Memorias de la Sociedad Cientiñca 



the Cuernavaca rail-road, a little higher than the picturesque 

 fcowns o£ Mixcoac, San Ángel and Contreras, may be found 

 many most beaniiful sites adequate £or this object among the 

 sinuous gorges covered wíth the richest vegetation and ope-* 

 lúng betwen the decHvities o£ the cordillera o£ Ajusco. — The 

 cordillera or "Sierra de Ajusco" £orms the most elevatedmass 

 betwen the Sierra of Popocatepetl and Ixtacihuatl ( "Sierra 

 Nevada") and the cordillera of "Las Cruces." — The foot o£ its 

 castern slope, which belongs to the Valley o£ México, is £or- 

 med in most of its length by one or many mighty currents o£ 

 lava emanated from craters situated around this región and 

 for the most part from .the cráter of the mountain of Xitle, 

 attached to same moiiiitain of Ajusco and belonging to tho 

 eastern slope. This rocky superficial layer is commonly known 

 as the "Pedregal" (Stony) and forms in all this región from 

 Contreras to Tlalpam, a soil completely impermeable and very 

 broken as is to be supposd. In this cracks and roughnesses 

 has been deposited later the loam which nourrishes a rich, 

 varied and vigorous vegetation consistingmostly of Coniferae. 



The rich vegetation united to the precipitous nature o£ 

 the country at so great a height above the level of the Valley 

 gives this región the most enchanting aspect, indeed, there 

 are incomparable views, splendid and extended panoramas 

 and above all the best conditions for general health, and es- 

 pecialy for the establishment of a Sanatorium. 



The impermeable subsoil, stony, and absolutely useless 

 for the developement of bacteria; the permeable soil coverted 

 with rich vegetation, with considerable declivities which en- 

 tirely prevent the stagnation of the water, currents and cas- 

 cades of limpid springs of potable water leaping every where; 

 tiny valleys and ravines sowed with gigantic Coniferae, and 

 sheltered from the prevailing winds; — such is the aspect of 

 this delightful and healthful región. The multitude of abrupt 

 breaks in the country surprises at every moment, the gaze 



