134 REPORT— 1869. 



tical. He discovered the important fact that in all persons over 70 its position was 

 vertical, without a single exception — a circumstance of the highest importance bear- 

 ing upon the attainment of old age amongst Europeans. In a number of instances, 

 where the age varied from 70 to 9.5, in all was this cartilage vertical. Man}^ of 

 these he cited as exaniples, such as the well-known statesmen, Lord Palmerston, 

 Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Campbell, and Lord Brougham. He also gave some among 

 old ladies still alive at ages from 76 to 92, whose epiglottis was vertical. But the 

 most remarakable was that of a gentleman still alive, 102 years old, in whom it 

 occupied the same position. His facts clearly demonstrated that longevity beyond 

 70 could not be attained with a pendent epiglottis. The author summed up his 

 views in the following conclusions : — 1. As a rule persons with a pendent epiglottis 

 do not attain a longevitj' bej^ond 70. Possibly a few may overstep it, but such 

 examples are exceptional. 2. With pendency of the epiglottis life verges to a close 

 at or about 70, and the limit of old age is readied. 3. A vertical epiglottis, on the 

 other hand, allows of tlie attainment of fourscore years and upwards, all other 

 things being equal, and affords the best chance of reaching the extremest limit of 

 longevity. Lastly, pendency of the epiglottis is an obstacle to longevity certainly 

 beyond the age of 70 years, and it is a peculiarity that occurs in 11 per cent, of all 

 ages amongst Europeans. 



On a Cause of Diminished Longevitif among tJie Jews. 

 By Sir "Dttncan Gieb, Bart., M.D., F.G.S. 



The author stated that a considerable portion of the Jewish race possesses a 

 physiognomy to which he gave the name of sanguineo-oleaginous expression, cha- 

 racterized by varying degrees of flushed face, sleepy aspect, greasy look, guttural 

 or husky voice, and fulness of body. The best examples of the class are to be 

 seen in the furniture auction-rooms of the metropolis. With this expression is 

 usually associated pendency of the epiglottis. As a rule longevity is rare among 

 such persons, for they are liable to those diseases of a congestive character which 

 influence the heart, brain, and liver. The cause of all this is eating food, especially 

 fish cooked in oil, which tends to the destructive formative processes in the system, 

 and induces premature old age, although the individual maj' appear to be tlie per- 

 sonification of comparatively good healtb. The extensive use of oil in the south of 

 Em'ope has the same effect in giving rise to congestive diseases and diminished 

 longevity. _ Pendency of the epiglottis, associated with the sanguineo-oleaginous 

 expression, is of serious import. The persistent use of oil, therefore, as an article of 

 diet, is pernicious, vmless in persons of spare habit of body, delicate constitution, 

 and liability to disease wherein its employment woidd prove usefid. 



On the Method of forming the Flint Flakes used hi/ the early inhabitants of 

 Devon, in Prehistoric Times. By Townshend M. Hall, F.G.S. Sfc. 



The flint flakes and chippings found distributed throughout the soil in several 

 parts of North Devon, and those associated with the submerged forest at Northam, 

 occur so abundantly that the question has sometimes been raised, whether or not 

 they may have been naturally formed, or whether they may not be the results of 

 some unknown kind of accidental fracture. 



In about ten different localities flint cores have been foimd buried with the 

 flakes ; and from a careful observation of them it appears that they are of great 

 importance in deciding this point ; for whilst a flake may possibly in some cases 

 be caused by an accidental blow, the cores show unmistakable evidence of design. 

 They show also that, owing to the extreme scarcity of flint all through the northern 

 parts of Devon and Cornwall, the early inhabitants appear to have adopted in these 

 districts a somewhat peculiar method of forming the flint flakes, which were pro- 

 bably used by them as knives and scrapers for domestic purposes, or as darts and 

 arrowheads for war and the chase. 



This method, the author stated, differed considerably from that which prevailed 

 in flint-producing countries, and it seemed as if the value of the material was such 



