MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND AllT. 
91 
will then devote its energies to more intellectual pur¬ 
suits. The studeut of medicine by finding Ins way 
through the intricacies of the tissues, and revealing the 
dark doings of disease amidst the complexity of our 
frame, may gain triumphs greater than that of the 
Geometer of Syracuse, which gave utterance to tha 
memorable Eureka; or, that of the analysts of wes¬ 
tern Europe, when simultaneously they nlunged on the 
wings of mathematical science, into the illimitable 
void, and laid their hand upon the disturbing planet 
in its wild career through space. While, however, I 
hold out these encouragements, T must not hide all the 
difficulties he will have to contend "with, which, for 
reasons hinted at, the Australian mind may find harder 
to surmount. I need scarcely allude to the bearing 
that the writings of many of the continental men of 
science have upon revealed religion, and those, too, 
with which the student of medicine is most immediately 
concerned $ for barely will he be able to lay his hand 
upon the writings of any of the continental Physiolo¬ 
gists that will not lead him astray. In their regenera¬ 
tion of Philosophy they have sought to eliminate 
God, not only from among thu phenomena of matter, 
but also from among the phenomena of life; and by 
making the science of Ethics Physiological and not 
Divine, they have left for themselves no other than the 
withering conclusion, that Theology and Metaphisics 
are things doomed to pass away,* loath, however, 
would we be to suffer our “ hereafter,” to be taken from 
us by these, the perverted inferences of fallen man; 
for we have the innate conviction of an Immortal Prin¬ 
cipal within us—a consciousness of a future responsi¬ 
bility for our thoughts and actions, and we have men of 
the highest intelligence and scientific attainments all 
agreed, that in the whole range of the sciences, from 
mathemathics to biology there is absolutely nothing 
sufficient to warrant us in setting at nought the truth of 
Revealed Religion; and the history of man has proved 
that with his present organisation he cannot live without 
a God ; for surely no one would revere the memory of 
the impious, though benighted heathen, that he 
burned the statue of his household god. It may be 
that some truths held sacred by good men, are by the 
revelations of science destined to be received in differ¬ 
ent acceptations; but the student of medicine will do 
well to commence and prosecute his labours with this 
much ever in his thoughts, that all man’s knowledge 
should tend not to sap’ tho foundation of Immortal 
Hope, but to the Glory of God, and Honour of His Son. 
He can look with satisfaction and encouragement to the 
many examples of piety and benevolence in the lives of 
the most distinguished men in the medical profession ; 
for, although our forefathers combated the symptoms of 
disease with ruder implements of warfare, we have 
still to draw upon them for all our medical Ethics. 
The life of the “ Good Eoerhaave ” is an example for 
the physician of the-present time to follow, and the 
simple inscription, written on the tablet erected to the 
memory of the Father of Modern Chirargy, ought to 
be a lesson of humility to the surgeon of modern 
times, clothed in all his pride and enlightenment. 
The advent of my departure for Europe must neces¬ 
sarily terminate any further observations; but I feel 
assured that the health of the people will always en¬ 
gage the attention of the Government of this country ; 
as also that further investigations on this subject will 
fall into abler hands than mine. If in future it should 
come to my knowledge that any decided .amelioration 
has taken place, either in a sanitary or social point of 
view, and it should appear that I have in any way laid 
too much stress on the deteriorating effects of this cli¬ 
mate, nothing will give me greater pleasure than to be 
able to revoke any opinion that I may have wrongly, 
though conscientiously, expressed. 
I have dwelt on this subject longer than was iny first 
intention, but I have done so from a conviction that 
danger to the people may arise from over-confidence in 
the merits of an Australian climate. 
If I hare departed somewhat from the topics more 
immediately connected with health, I trust I have not 
departed from truth, as my only object has been to 
invest the subject with some little amount of that in¬ 
terest and importance which the health of people ought 
at all times to claim. 
I am not aware of having drawn inferences that will 
materially, if in any degree, militate against the re¬ 
corded opinions of the various medical officers that from 
time to time have been in charge of the troops in New 
South Wales. I have found it, however, necessary to 
differ, in some measure, from the opinion entertained 
regarding phthises by my “zealous and talented” pre¬ 
decessor, Mr. Marshall, now Surgeon of the 65th Foot, 
in the diseases of the stomach and bowels, especially 
those tabulated under the ill defined name of diarrhoea. 
I have adhered to the classification of Dr. Heffeman, 
whoso precision in diaynosis and success in treatment 
is generally admitted. My best thanks are due to 
Major James, the officer in charge of the military 
prison, for his readiness in supplying me with every in¬ 
formation connected with it, also to Mr. Rolleston, 
Registrar-General, for his kindness in allowing me the 
use'' of statistical tables, and supplying me with other 
information. 
RAILWAYS OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
By Captain- Douglas Galtoh, K. E. 
From a recent English scientific journal 
we extract the following valuable descrip¬ 
tion of the Railways in use in the United 
States. It is compiled by Captain Douglas 
Galton, of tlio Royal Engineers, who was 
sent out especially by the English Govern¬ 
ment to report on this subject. The infor¬ 
mation contained is especially important, 
in this colony, as we have uow become 
convinced that the costly mode of construc¬ 
tion adopted in England is quite out of the 
question here. We are sure that many 
practical hints may be gleaned by the 
managers of colonial railroads from the 
perusal of the following paper. 
Construction of Road. 
ran character of American railways, so different in its 
irominent features from that of railways m England, 
s tho result of the want which they have been called 
ipon to supply. A means of communication was re- 
luired which could he laid cheaply and rapidly through 
brests and uncultivated districts, where high speed was 
>f far less consequence than certainty of commumca- 
ion. A railway was the instrument best adapted to 
Itipplv this want, and it would afford a hotter means of 
:oin in unication, at a less cost of maintenance, than an 
irdinary road. 
As the first cost of a railway was a more important 
onsideration than tho after expense of working the line 
rken made, sharp curves and steep gradients were un- 
esitatingly adopted, and the railways wore opened with 
minimum of accommodation. The Baltimore and 
)hio Railway affords a striking illustration of a line 
pened with steep gradients, which have since been un¬ 
loved. In order to avoid for a time an expensive tun- 
el, which has since been constructed, tho line; was. 
arried by a series of 'zig-zags, ascending over a lull by 
gradient of 1 in 18 at its steepest part. Each zig-zag 
srminated in a short level space, so that tho train was 
un up one zig-zag on to this level space, and then 
acked up the next zig-zag, and so on. 1 he load which 
onld ascend in this case was of course very small. 
