Proceedings of Societies. 
191 
1831.] 
mode of living, grief, mental anxiety, hard study, and more than all, exposure 
to an atmosphere loaded with marsh or jungle exhalations. With the exception, 
of the Exanthematse, he has not observed any of the diseases of this country to be 
of an infectious nature. He considers Malaria under two distinct points of view- 
first, as a noxious principle disengaged in the decomposition of animal and vege- 
table substances, and held in solution or suspension by water or atmospheiic air, 
and by its action on the human frame, under circumstances favourable for the 
developement of its powers, producing local or endemic diseases : and, secondly, 
as the same principle disengaged by grand atmospherical changes, producing 
extensive Epidemic disorders. Of the insalubrity of surrounding vegetation, 
Mr. Hutchinson feels perfectly satisfied. Shrubberies about houses, are also objec- 
tionable. The circulation of air is interrupted by their branches ; the surface of 
the ground is kept wet; to add to their beauty and luxuriance, their leaves drop and 
become decomposed, while on the tree they perpetually attract moisture and 
vapour, and perhaps evolve a principle detrimental to animal life. Mr. Hutchinson 
gave an original theory of the constitution of the atmosphere, which our limits 
will not admit of our more particularly referring to. Indeed, from the length of 
the paper, it is impossible for us to give even an abstract of it. How is the spread 
of Epidemic diseases to be accounted for ? That there is an essential difference 
in the constitution of the atmosphere of this country from that of our own, Mr. 
Hutchinson expresses himself satisfied of. It may not be improbable, he supposes, 
that its state is modified in every different situation on the surface of the globe. 
In what this difference consists in, he confesses himself unable to explain. I er- 
haps it is a better conductor of caloric, than in more northern latitudes, or pos- 
sesses a greater capacity for latent caloric, and consequently for retaining moisture 
and malaria in solution. ‘ But be the cause what it may, every one who has 
attended to the subject will confess, that we feel the cold of winter more intensely 
in this country than the state of the thermometer would seem to warrant. Thus 
with the thermometer at 65° in this country, we shall feel the cold as intensely as 
we should at 35° in England. Now this cannot depend entirely on our own feelings, 
for it is proverbial that Indians who return home, are particularly insensible to 
cold for some years after their arrival. This and other circumstances mentioned 
in the paper would seem, Mr. H. thinks, to indicate a power in the atmosphere 
of this country, of removing animal and vegetable heat, to which we have nothing 
similar in England, and he appears disposed to connect it with a peculiarity in its 
electrical constitution. He divides the Endemic of Bengal into three distinct vari- 
eties, viz. simple, idiopathic, and ardent fever ; the same disease complicated with 
local' inflammation, and the congestive or jungle fever. Into the details of the morbid 
phenomena of these, as well as of the treatment, we cannot enter here. The ma- 
jority of fevers in this country are, he conceives, produced by Malaria, and the 
severity ot the symptoms will generally be in proportion to the activity or con- 
centration of the poison to which the patient has been exposed. He strongly 
condemns the large and indiscriminate use of calomel. 
2. — Asiatic Society. — Physical Class. 
At a meeting held on Wednesday, the 8th June, G. Swinton Esq. in the 
Chair. — . .... 
1. A series of Geological specimens of the rocks in the Tennassenm Archipelago, 
were presented in the name of Lieutenant R. Lloyd, H. C. N. > 
2. Also specimens of vegetable impressions in the coal and shale of Raniganj 
transmitted by the Reverend R. Everest. , 
3. A sample of the petrefied wood of Van Diemen’s Land was received, with a 
note in explanation, from Dr. J. Henderson. 
4. A report from Dr. Strong announced, that the borer in the Fort had attained 
an additional depth of five feet since the last meeting, in all one hundred and 
sixty-five feet, and was still at work in a soft sandy clay. t , _ 
5. A paper was then read on the Sandstone of India y by the Reverend 
R. Everest 1 99 
6. A notice by Captain Herbert was read, on the Himmalayan Fossil Remains , 
explaining, in general terms, the structure of that great mountainous range, and the 
circumstances of the discoveries in Fossil Mineralogy made therein during the 
last few years. 
