Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 4.djvu/190

 88

It is essentially requisite that every inquiry of this nature should em brace, first—the natural history and climate of the district to which it relates, so far, at least, as to comprehend all those influences producing any sensible effect upon the human frame; and, secondly, the statistical results, by which the effects of physical circumstances upon the health, and the moral and social conditions of the population, may be estimated.

1. Geographical Position of the Hills.—The Malvern hills are situated upon the border of the counties of Worcester and Hereford; they form a narrow undulating chain, in length about nine miles. The top of the ridge rises in many places into pointed conical peaks, giving it a picturesque and mountainous outline. The northern extremity of the chain is about seven and half miles south-west of the city of Worcester, and the southern about nine miles north or north-west of Gloucester, the line running pretty nearly north and south. The height of the several peaks varies from 8 or 900 to 1450 feet, the boldest and highest being situated above the village of Great Malvern.

2. Geology.—The Malvern hills belong to the sienitic trap formation, and are composed of hard irregular masses of sienite, quartz, felspar, mica, hornblende, greenstone, &c. either alone or disseminated with each other in very variable proportions. At the northern extremity of the chain are veins of crystallized sulphate of barytes; and near the Herefordshire Beacon, veins of carbonate of