190 TRANSACTIONS OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
ancient and modern nations to ascertain the certainty of death, 
including certain religious usages relating to the subject. The 
precautions employed in France and England for that purpose, 
with especial relation to the registration of deaths and coroners' 
inquests. 
STKINGS. 
SYLLABUS OF LECTURE BY ROBERT SMITH. 
(Read 7th February, 1889.) 
Introduction. Strings the most useful and general means for 
producing musical sounds. Different modes of string-vibration : 
a, longitudinal; b, transverse — (i.) entire, (ii.) sectional. Experi- 
ments. Influence of sounding-boards. Different methods of 
exciting string-vibration — plucking with the ringers ; plectrum ; 
percussion ; air-currents ; friction. Bowed instruments. Con- 
clusion. This lecture was illustrated by an extract from one of 
Beethoven's string quartets, in which the following kindly assisted : 
Messrs. J. Pardew (violin), W. Wingate (viola), Frank Eeed 
(violoncello), and Miss Theresa Meeres (violin). Specimens of 
local handicraft in violins, violas, and violoncellos, and several 
valuable old instruments, kindly lent by Mr. Pardew, Mr. Codd, 
Mr. Weekes, Dr. Meeres, and others, were exhibited. 
