TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. l77 



person experimented upon is now to close the nose with his finger and thumb, and 

 (the mouth beino^ shuy to force air into the tpnpanmn. Immediately this takes 

 place, the water is seen to descend in the inner portion of the elbow and to ascend 

 an the outer portion. The fing-er and thumb are now to be removed from the nose, 

 when no movement of the water is observed to take place in either elbow ; but as 

 soon as the act of swallowing is perfonued, the water is observed to retm-n to its 

 original position, the dnmi having receded on the opening of the Eustachian tube. 



On the Physiological and Medicinal Properties of SaljyJiate of Aniline, and its 

 Use in the Treatment of Chorea. By Dr. J. Tuenbcxl, Liverpool. 

 The author obseiwed that medical men had not acquired a knowledge of new re- 

 medies commensm-ate with the improvements which had been made in other branches 

 of medical science. The progress of organic chemistry had brought to light many 

 new bodies worthy of investigation, and there coidd be little doubt that many of 

 them would, if their properties were examined, be found to prove remedies of utility. 

 The artificial alkaloids were a numerous class, and from their resemblance in che- 

 mical constitution to the vegetable allraloids, it might reasonably be expected that 

 some of them should have powerful and useful properties. He had been led to 

 make trial of the sidphate of the artificial alkaloid, aniline, in cases of nei"\'ous dis- 

 order, and had ti-eated with it successfully six cases of chorea, or St. Vjtus's dance. 

 In regard to its physiological action, he stated that aniline appeared to act directly 

 on the nervous system as a sedative. The most remarkable ettect, however, which 

 it produced was a transient alteration in the colour of the skin and lips, which be- 

 came of a bluish hue ; and this he attributed to oxidation of the aniline and the 

 formation of a colouring-matter in the blood. As a therapeutic agent, he expressed 

 the opinion that it would be foimd by the profession to be a valuable new remedy. 



GEOGEAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



On the Connexion hetiueen Ethnology and Physical Geography. 

 By Joim Ceavvfued, F.B.S., President of the Section. 



It has been the practice of my predecessors to open the meetings of this Section 

 by a short address, and I gladly follow their example, choosing for my subject one 

 which I hope you will consider suited to the occasion — the connexion between eth- 

 nology and physical geography. JMan will be found savage, barbarous, or civilized, 

 in proportion to the quality of the race to which he belongs, and to the physical 

 character of the coimtry ia which his lot has been cast. Beginning with the con- 

 ditions least favourable to his progi-ess, and rising to those which are most auspi- 

 cious, I proceed at once to illustrate this pi-inciple by a few examples : such a step 

 may perhaps be useful in showing the scope of om- science — the Imowledge of the 

 earth considered as the habitation of man. Mere intemperance of climate, inde- 

 pendent of any other obstacle, is sufficient to prevent man from making any advance 

 towards civilization, and to hold him permanently in the savage state. The con- 

 dition of the iahabitants of the Arctic, sub-Arctic, Antarctic, and sub-Antarctic 

 regions are examples. The Esqiumaux is the most strildng : dwelling where the 

 year consists but of one day and one night, where snow and glaciers are substituted 

 for the gi-een earth, where no plant yielding food for man vnW grow, and, save the 

 dog, no domestic animal live, advancement is impossible. The Esquimaux alone 

 can live in such a region, and this only as himters and fishemien, leading a nomadic 

 life over its vast surface. Under such adverse circiunstances, we only wonder at 

 the progress they have made in the arts, with stones, bones, sinews, skins, and 

 drift-wood their sole appliances. 



There are lands, indeed, which, from mere inclemency, seem incapable of sup- 

 porting human life at all, and which seem never to have been inhabited. The 

 islands of Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla within the Arctic, and New Shetland within 

 the Antarctic Circle, are examples, Even more temperate Iceland had no abori- 



1861. 12 



