Proceedings of the British Association. 583 



have a test object), one just within the bounds of audibility, as the 

 sound of expiration, or a faint cardiac murmur. The necessity for an 

 inclosed column of air was proved by making an opening in the side of 

 the pectoral extremity of a common stethoscope, the efficiency of which 

 was thus destroyed, but was instantly restored by closing the aperture. 

 Following the assertion of acoustic writers, that the pulses of sound 

 pass through air in straight lines, like rays of light, Prof. Williams had 

 formerly recommended the enlargement in the pectoral extremity of 

 the instrument to be made in the form of a straight cone, instead of the 

 parabolic hollow used by Laennec ; but subsequent experiment proved 

 to him that a trumpet or bell-shaped termination was the best ; this 

 enlarges the surface from which the sounds are collected, without 

 proportionally enlarging the cavity, which would give rise to a conchal 

 or tinkling echo. Another advantage may be derived from this form of 

 termination, in its being capable of being reversed; the aurile extremi- 

 ty serving to shut out diffuse sounds, when we wish to examine 

 one spot only. Prof. Williams concluded, by making a few remarks on 

 percussion, which he stated to be modified by the force adopted; thus, 

 gentle and flat percussion reaches and is toned by superficial parts 

 only, whilst, if forcible, it reaches and is toned by deep seated parts 

 also. He stated, that the strokes differed, not only in loudness, 

 but also in pitch, or musical tone. Disease, he stated, could frequently 

 be detected by percussion, before auscultation gave any indication. 



Seption F.— STATISTICS. 



Mr. Webb Hall read a paper by Mrs. Davies Gilbert, ' On the results 

 of Spade Husbandry, Small Allotments, and Agricultural Schools.' It 

 was a continuation of the communication made to the Section at 

 Plymouth (Athen. No. 721) ; and shewed that small allotments cultivat- 

 ed by the spade were profitable to the landlord and beneficial to 

 the labourer. Out of four hundred tenants during the space of eleven 

 years, not one was in arrear, and not one had been brought before a 

 magistrate. The school was self-supported, the labour of the boys 

 paying for their education. 



Mr. Porter stated that the system of small allotments and agricul- 

 tural schools had been established in Ireland, and had produced most 

 beneficial results, and that the adoption of it had been suggested by 

 Mrs. Gilbert's communication to the Plymouth meeting. — Mr. Felkin 

 directed the attention of the meeting to the happy condition of the 

 Saxon weavers who have small farms on which they can fall back 



