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Sect. XIV.] MEDICINE AND MEDICAL STATISTICS, 



451 



the circiirriference of the chest at several places. Tt v. Ill 

 also be necessary to note the height, age, sex. and colour 



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of the person examined, and whether in a standiug or 



sitting pasture at the time of examination. 



The extent to which terrestrial miasmata may be con- 

 veyed by the wind has been so variously estimated, 

 that correct information on the subject would tend not 

 only to the benefit of the public service, but al^o to the 

 credit of the medical profession. In selecting a proper 

 position for an encampment, or for the anchorage of 



vesbcls of war, the greatest discretion and judgment are 



required, particularly in those countries which abound 



lluric agencies inimical to man ; and 



althouofh it mav 



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are matters with 



which the medical officer has little to do, and although 

 necessity and the exigencies of the service may render 

 the selection of any spot but that which is the best suited 

 in a healthy point of view inevitablcj still, dreading the 

 suffering, loss of life, and the inefficiency that may accrue 



to the force from a position badly chosen, the ext 

 geological features of any coast or island off which 

 squadron mtiy require to be concentrated cannot fail to 

 attr-^^t b'" attention. 



In connexion with terrestrial emanations, atmos 

 currents, depending on local causes, together with a de- 

 scription of land and sea breezes, are also subjects deeply 

 interesting to all classes of men, whether employed in Her 



Majesty's naval service, or otherwise engaged in maritime 

 pursuits. It is, therefore, much to be desired that the coun- 

 try contiguous to any unfrequented creek or bay, or tlie 

 eoibouchures of tidal rivers which are hkclv to become the 



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