his shoes torn off, but no further injury. Areola, N. J., 14th, ice-
houses fired and destroyed; one laborer was struck and thrown 40 feet.
Elizabeth, N. J., 14th, while two persons were fishing in a sail boat
upon Newark Bay one of them was killed instantly, leaving the other
uninjured. His clothing was stripped from him and his left boot ripped
open as if it had been cut with a knife. The lightning after leaving
the body tore a large hole in the bottom of the boat. Anne Arundel
County, Md., 10th, a barn containing 15 or 20 people was struck, kill-
ing four persons and severly injuring several others. Two of the victims
:};,(•, THE -WEATHER.
were fearfully burned, while the others showed only a purple scar where
struck. Reistertown, Md., 10th, a young man killed while working in
the field, his companion standing very close to him was only knocked
down, but with no resulting injury. Henrietta, Tex., 9th, two ladies
instantly killed while riding along in a carriage. Peoria, 111., 11th, a
fanner while crossing the iron bridge over Kickapoo River was instantly
killed; his son close beside him was not injured. Hunnewell, Kan.,
12th, a farmer instantly killed while unsaddling his horse in the barn.
His clothes were completely torn from his body, his watch-chain melted,
and his face and body badly mangled. The horse was killed, and one
end of the barn torn out. Clinton Valley, Ohio. 20th, boy instantly
killed while riding horseback. His body bore no marks, but the horse
on which he rode was torn to pieces. Jamaica, X. Y., 23d. a young girl
while seated under a tree was struck and knocked a distance of 10 feet,
but not seriously injured ; three other persons near by were fatally in-
jured. Detroit, Mich., 16th, a house struck, blackening the walls and
tearing off picture-mouldings. At the marine hospital a 40-foot flag-
staff situated on the roof was shattered to within 20 feet of the base.
where the electric current was conducted down the iron braces, making
two small sharply cut holes in the corrugated iron roof. Ohio, 16th,
the most destructive electric storm ever known was experienced through-
out central and northern portions of the State. Dubuque, Iowa, 18th,
a man while seeking shelter in an ice-house was struck, the lightning
scorching one of his legs severely and tearing off his shoe and stocking.
A brakeman leading two dogs within the yard of the Illinois Central
Railroad Company had both of them killed while he escaped the slight-
est injury. At the Norwegian Plough Works the lightning made such a
terrific display as to drive all the employes out of the buildings. At the
Illinois Central freight office balls of fire were constantly shooting from
the telephones. TVarwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wis., 16th, during a
light rain the lightning descended tbe chimney of a house, killing one
of the occupants. The room in which the person was killed had the
plastering torn from the walls; a heavy bedstead was jerked into the
middle of the room, shivered into long pieces, and set on fire. A stove
was smashed to atoms, and crocks, pans, and other wares were broken
and twisted into all kinds of shapes. The other rooms of the house
were not in the least affected, and six children sleeping in the mam part
were undisturbed.
Atmospheric electricity interfering with telegraphic communications.
—Fort Sill, 6th, Tth. 9th; Jacksborough, 7th, 9th; Stockton, 1st, oth,
6th, 8th, 26th, 2 Tth: Decatur, 9th.
Auroras. — There were no unusually brilliant displays during the
month, and no continuous observations on a single date embracing a
considerable extent of territory.
CHAPTER XX.
THE SEASON-.
Certain' disease.-, and the mortality arising from them, are so com-
monly identified with particular seasons of the year, as to have long since
attracted the attention of observers to the influence of the seasons upon
health in general, insomuch that the four seasons in temperate lati-
tudes have come to be more or less identified with the preponderance of
some diseases, and the absence of others to such a degree as to be a mat-
ter of common observation. Moreover, many people, and particularly
chronic invalids, are so sensitive to the influence of the seasons, that in
order to maintain a comfortable standard of health, they are constrained
to avoid particular seasons by a change of climate. And thus it has
come about that the identification of certain diseases with the season has
not infrequently led the way to the more permanent conditions identified
with climate.
In England, especially, where the mortality returns have attained a
high degree of accuracy, more than thirty years ago Dr. Benjamin
"Ward Richardson made an analysis of the seasons in relation with 139,318
cases occurring during the years extending from 1838 to 1853, from small-
pox, measles, scarlatina, whooping-cough, croup, diarrhoea, dysentery,
cholera, influenza, ague, remittent fever, typhus, erysipelas, quinsy,
bronchitis, jaundice, and carbuncle.
" Out of the 139,318 cases thus chronicled, as occurring from the
above-named diseases, and estimating the gross mortality, according to
the season, without reference to particular years, the percentage of mor-
tality in the different quarters ran as follows:
In January, February, and March, ... 25 per cent
April, May. and June, . . . . . 25 "
July, August, and September, .... 14 "
October, November, and December, . . . 28 "
" Having learned thus much, I set about ascertaining, on the same
large scale, whether the fatal diseases were in any way special to the sea-
sons. The answer to the inquiry was to this effect:
" Whooping-cough, croup, small-pox, and bronchitis were most com-
mon in the first quarter.
THE SEASONS.
1st Quar.
2d Quar.
3d Quar.
4th Quar.
27,352
24,551
22,824
25,272
. 82,704
27,825
17,116
22,354
27,523
25,100
19,919
27,456
. 36,793
20,301
10,327
32,570
10,196
10,717
58,519
20,567
15,638
13,541
42,460
28,340
24,877
24,030
26,967
24,109
358
Small-pox,
Whooping-cough, .
Croup,
Bronchitis,
" Pneumonia, I believe, might very properly have been added here.
' In the second quarter quinsy only stood ahead. Thus:
1st Quar. 2d Quar. 3d Quar. 4th Quar.
Quinsy 21,762 30,595 21,231 26,410
" In the third quarter, diarrhoea, dysentery, and jaundice took the
lead.
1st Quar. 2d Quar. 3d Quar. 4th Quar.
Diarrhoea,
Dysentery,
Jaundice,
"In this third quarter, Asiatic cholera, when epidemic, assumes a
greater mortality and prevalence than at any other season.
"In the fourth quarter, influenza, ague, remittent fever, measles,
erysipelas, and carbuncle took the lead.
1st Quar. 2d Quar. 3d Quar. 4th Quar.
Influenza, 23,539 12, 171 4,502 59,785
Ague 22,857 24,285 20,006 32,851
Remittent le*er, . . . 23,077 26,315 23,481 27,125
Typhus, 25,740 24,825 22,919 26,521
Scarlet fever, .... 20,809 18,978 26,234 33.976
Measles, 19,864 21,466 26,234 32,434
Erysipelas 25,144 23,444 22,337 29,174
Carbuncle, 26,771 19,685 24,409 29,133
" In the first quarter the diseases of the respiratory system — croup,
whooping-cough, and bronchitis — stand forth prominently, while in the
fourth quarter a large family of diseases of the febrile or inflammatory
order take the first position.
"It is not by mere accident that these divisions occur; they are the
effects of fixed, though nearly unknown, physical or chemical laws.
"It is worthy of special remark that the fourth quarter of the year is
that in which the number of diseases causing a prominent mortality is,
as a general rule, greatest, and that next to it is the quarter commenc-
ing with the New Year. As the cold of winter more decidedly sets in,
we begin to see developed, almost of necessity, an increase of death from
pulmonary diseases, and of low fever amongst the poor, if provisions be-
come high in price or deficient in quantity or quality/' 1
In the same work the author has also summarized:—
'" The Field of Disease," p. 530-523.
mi -i vsons. :;.")'.»
THE INFLUENCE OF WEATHER ON MORTALITY FROM DIFFERENT
DISEASES SlND AT DIFFERENT AGES IN LONDON AND NEW
STORK.
BY ALKXANDER BUCHAN, F.R.S.E., AND ARTHUR MITCHELL, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S.E.
(From the Journals <>f the Scottish Meteorological Society, 1875-1878.)
PERIODS OF MORTALITY IN VARIOUS CONDITION'S OF DISEASE.
Irritation. Teething.
London. — Maximum. — January to middle of June and end of July; ab-
solute, March, April.
Minimum. — Middle of June to end of December, with excep-
tion of last week in July; absolute, October, November.
Dropsy.
London. — Maximum. — November to April; absolute, February, March.
Minimum. — June to October; absolute, July, August.
Atrophy.
London. — Maximum. — July to September; absolute, August.
Minimum. — October to end of June; absolute, May, June.
Curve is allied to that for tabes, mesenteric and bowel dis-
eases.
Mortification.
London. — Maximum. — Beginning of December to beginning of May;
absolute, March, April.
Minimum. — June to beginning of December; absolute,
August and September.
Senile Decay ; Old Age.
London. — Maximum. — Close of November to end of April; absolute,
January.
Minimum. — May to close of November; absolute, July to Oc-
tober.
Very rapid rise in this curve in November.
PEKIODS OF MORTALITY IN DISEASES RUNNING A DEFINITE COURSE IN
BOTH SEXES AND ALL AGES.
LONDON AND NEW YORK.
Small-Pox.
London. — Maximum. — Last week of May.
Minimum. — Last week of September.
Above the average from Christmas to end of June.
360 THE SEASONS.
New York. — Maximum. — May.
Minimum. — September.
Above the average from January to July.
Measles.
London. — Maximum. — Larger, November, December, January; smaller,
May and June.
Minimum. — Larger, August, September, October; smaller,
February, March.
New York. — Maximum. — Larger, July; smaller, February.
Minimum. — Larger, September; smaller, April
Scarlet Fever.
London. — Maximum. — September to end of year.
Minimum. — February to end of July
Highest death-rate through October and November.
New York. — Maximum. — December to June; absolute, April.
Minimum. — July to November; absolute, September.
Typhus.
London. — Maximum. — January to beginning of May.
Minimum. — Middle of May to end of September. Except
hot season of July and beginning of August, typhus is be-
low average from middle of May to end of September.
Typhoid Fever.
London. — Maximum. — October and November.
Minimum. — Middle of May to end of June.
Falls below average last week of February; begins to rise
gradually in July.
New York. — Maximum. — August to November; absolute, September.
Minimum. — Nearly equal over other months of the year.
Remittent Fever.
London. — Maximum. — Larger, April to June; smaller, middle of De-
cember.
Minimum. — September.
Diarrhoea.
London. — Maximum. — Middle of July to beginning of August.
Minimum. — Absolute, March and April.
Maximum commences slowly in June; after August decreases
(at a slower rate than it rose) until December.
New York. — Maximum. — July and August.
Minimum. — December, Januar}', February, and March.
Death-rate begins to increase in April, two months earlier
than in London.
I 111 -I \.-.-\-'.
861
Simple Cholera.
London. — Maximum.— July and August.
Minimum.— March and April.
M<il iij mi nl Cholera.
London. — Maximum. — September.
Minimum. — April and May.
Mortality begins to rise in June, rises rapidly in July, main-
tains high ami steady position in August, inns up to abso-
lute maximum in September, and then rapidly falls.
Diphtheria.
London. — Maximum. — September to end of the year.
Minimum. — Middle of March to beginning of September.
Deaths remain above the average from September to the begin-
ning of March.
New York. — Maximum. — December.
Minimum. — August.
Deaths above average from October to February; below it
during the rest of the year.
Whooping-cough.
London. — Maximum. — February, March, and first half of April.
Minimum. — September and October.
Death-rate above average from middle of December to begin-
ning of June.
New York. — Maximum. — Larger, September; smaller, February.
Minimum. — Larger, November; smaller, June.
The two maxima occur from August to September, and
from February to April.
The two minima are from October to January, and from
May to July.
Lnjluenza.
London. — Maximum. — November, December and January, March and
April.
Minimum. — Other months of the year.
Owing to the rarity of epidemics and the suddenness with
which the disease appears and disappears, this cannot be ac-
cepted as the true curve of influenza.
Erysipelas.
London. — Maximum. — November.
Minimum. — Middle of June to middle of September.
Deaths from erysipelas are above the average from the middle
of September to end of March; below for the rest of the
â–¼ear.
362 THE SEASONS.
Puerperal Fever.
London. — Maximum. — November to March.
Minimum. — From middle of June to 4th week of September.
The curve of mortality tallies closely with that for erysipelas.
Hydrophobia.
London. — Maximum. — June. July, August, September, December- ab-
solute, December.
Minimum. — February, March, April, May.
Calculation is based on fifty-six deaths in thirty years, twenty-
three of which occurred in 1865-6?.
Fevers in General.
London. — Maximum. — Beginning of September to end of January.
Minimum. — From April to August.
This curve has a well-marked character, though the departure
from the average is never great.
PEEIODS OF MORTALITY IX GENERAL DISEASES OF CONSTITUTIONAL
TYPE, BOTH SEXES AND ALL AGES.
Rheumatism.
London. — Maximum. — End of Xovember and beginning of December.
Minimum. — August and beginning of September.
The large Xovember-December maximum is j)rolonged, but
in a diminished form, to the spring months.
Gout.
London. — Maximum. — Middle of March to end of April.
Minimum. — Beginning of June to end of year; absolute, Sep-
tember.
A large increase takes place in last week in year. Another in
middle of March ushering in annual maximum.
Cancer and Cancrum Oris.
London. — Maximum. — Xone.
Minimum. — Xone.
Scrofula.
London. — Maximum. — Larger, middle of April to first week of August;
smaller, in October.
Minimum. — January, February, September, Xovember, De-
cember.
Mesenteric Disease and Scrofula.
London. — Maximum. — Middle of July to middle of September.
Minimum. — End of December to beginning of February.
The mortality follows curve of temperature very closely.
i ill BEAB0N8.
New York. — Maximum.- — Inly. August, and September.
Miiiiiiiuin. December t<> early part of June; absolute,
December and January.
Diabetes.
London. — Maximum. — None.
Minimum. — Nunc
Purpura and Scurvy.
London. — Maximum. — March to July.
Minimum. — December to beginning of January.
PERIODS OF MORTALITY OF LOCAL DISEASES IN BOTH SEXES AND ALL
AGES.
DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
Thrush.
London. — Maximum. — Last week in July to third in August.
Minimum. — For the rest of the year; absolute in April and
May.
The °,urve is identical in chief features with that of bowel
complaints.
C ynanche- Quinsy ; Tonsillitis.
London. — Maximum. — Middle of October to end of March; absolute,
end of December and beginning of January.
Minimum. — August and beginning of October.
Maximum period is attended with a fall during February.
Gastritis,
London. — Maximum. — None.
Minimum. — None.
Enteritis.
London. — Maximum. — End of June to beginning of October; absolute,
first week in August.
Minimum. — January, February, March, April, May, Novem-
ber, December.
Dysentery.
London. — Maximum. — June to November; absolute, second week in
September.
Minimum. — April and May.
From November to June, death-rate under the average.
364 TIIK REASONS.
Intussusception.
London. — Maximum. — March, August, December, and first half of
January.
Minimum. — End of May and beginning of June.
Below average from May to middle of November.
DISEASES OF THE HEART AND CIRCULATION.
Pericarditis.
London. — Maximum. — Middle of October to middle of May; absolute
November.
Minimum. — Middle of June to middle of September.
Cu ve resembles that for rheumatism.
Heart Disease Generally.
London. — Maximum. — November to March; absolute, December and
January.
Minimum. — Middle of April to middle of November; absolute,
middle of August to middle of September.
New York. — Maximum. — November to May, with fall in February; ab-
solute, December and January.
Minimum. — Middle of June to middle of October.
Curves for London and New York correspond closely.
♦
RESPIRATORY ORGANS.
Croup.
London. — Maximum. — Middle of November to end of April; absolute,
February and March.
Minimum. — Middle of May to end of September; absolute,
middle of June to middle of August.
Absolute maximum is in early spring; absolute minimum in
middle of summer.
New York. — Maximum. — From October to April; absolute, November
and December.
Minimum. — May to September; absolute, July and Au-
gust.
The curves for London and New York essentially agree.
Laryngitis.
London. — Maximum. — Beginning of December to end of May; absolute,
last three weeks of March.
Minimum. — June to November; absolute, second week in
September.
Sharp fall in January in maximum.
I 111. B] L80NB. 365
Bronchitis.
London. — Maximum. — November to March; absolute, second week in
January.
Minimum.— April to October; absolute, August.
Above the average from November to April; below from May
to October.
New York-. — Maximum. — November to March; absolute, middle of
March.
Minimum. — June to middle of November; absolute, first
week in August.
The number of deaths from bronchitis in New York is only
one-twentieth of the whole deaths, wiiile in London it is
one-eighth of the whole.
Asthma.
London. — Maximum. — From November to April; absolute, second week
in January.
Minimum. — The beginning of May to end of October; abso-
lute, August.
• Pneumonia.
London. — Maximum. — November to April; absolute, December.
Minimum. — Beginning of May to end of October; absolute,
August.
The curve generally the same as for bronchitis, but absolute
maximum earlier.
Neiv York. — Maximum. — Beginning of November to middle of May;
absolute maximum, March.
Minimum. — Middle of May to beginning of November; ab-
solute, July and August.
Phthisis.
London. — Maximum. — January to middle of June, and middle of No-
vember to middle of December; absolute, middle of March.
Minimum. — Middle of July to middle of November; absolute,
fourth week of September.
The deaths from this disease are nearly one-eighth of all the
deaths that occur.
New York. — Maximum. — Middle of December to middle of May; abso-
lute, March.
Minimum. — Middle of May to middle of December; abso-
lute, June.
The deaths from this disease in New York are greater than
in London, viz., one-seventh of the whole.
366 THE SEASONS.
Pleurisy.
London. — Maximum. — Middle of November to second week of June;
absolute, December and January.
Minimum. — Beginning of July to end of October; absolute,
July and August.
The curve is subject to numerous fluctuations, and resembles
curve for rheumatism and pericarditis rather than bron-
chitis, pneumonia, or asthma.
Lung Disease Generally.
London. — Maximum. — From beginning of November to end of May;
absolute, December and January.
Miftimum. — June to November; absolute, July and August.
This group includes all diseases of the lungs not already speci-
fied.
DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.
Cephalitis.
London. — Maximum. — From beginning of February to end of July; ab-
solute, beginning of April.
Minimum. — From beginning of September to January; abso-
lute, September, October and November.
Curve fluctuates considerably.
New York. — Maximum. — Beginning of February to end of August; ab-
solute, July.
Minimum. — Beginning of September to beginning of Feb-
ruary; absolute, November.
Hydrocephalus.
London. — Maximum. — From second week in February to beginning of
August; absolute, March and April.
Minimum. — Second week in August to beginning of Febru-
ary; absolute, last week in October.
Mortality shows secondary increase in July as a constant
feature.
New York. — Maximum. — January to beginning of August; absolute,
April and July.
Minimum. — Second week in August to first in January;
absolute, October, November.
Apoplexy.
London. — Maximum. — Middle of November to middle of April; abso-
lute, December, January.
Minimum. — Middle of April to middle of November, with a
rise in the last week in June; absolute, third week of July
to beginning of September.
•mi. -i L80N8. 367
New Fork. — Maximum. — Beginning of December to end of May; abso-
lute, March.
Minimum. — Beginning of June to end of November; ab-
solute, July, August, September.
I'<i ni lys is.
London — Maximum. — Middle of November to end of April; absolute,
end of January.
Minimum. — Beginning of May to middle of November; abso-
lute, third week iii September.
Differs from apoplexy in having maximum fatality in mid-
winter.
Epilepsy.
London. — Maximum. — Last week of December to third week of April;
absolute, third week of March, first week of April.
Minimum. — Middle of July to first week of September; abso-
lute, last week in August.
Convulsions.
London. — Maximum. — December to end of April; absolute, February
and March.
Minimum. — Beginning of May to middle of November, with
a small secondary maximum in July; absolute minimum in
September, October.
Neio York. — Maximum. — June, Ju.y and August; absolute, July.
Minimum. — End of September to end of December; abso-
lute, November, December.
Slight maximum in July in London is much exaggerated
in New York curve.
Insanity.
London. — Maximum. — December, January, June, March, April; abso-
lute, December and January.
Minimum. — Beginning of July to November; absolute, Sep-
tember, October.
The curve is very irregular.
All Nervous Diseases.
London. — Maximum. — Beginning of December to close of April; abso-
lute, March, April.
Minimum. — Middle of May to close of November; absolute,
September, October.
New York. — Maximum. — February to end of May slight, and close of
June, July to middle of August; absolute, July.
Minimum. — Middle of August to middle of January; ab-
solute, November.
368 THE SEASONS.
Curve differs in New York from London owing to great
maximum in July from sunstroke.
Brain Diseases.
London. — Maximum. — From beginning of December to end of April,
witb slight increases in July; absolute, March.
Minimum. — From end of July to end of November; absolute,
September, October.
Curve almost identical with that for epilepsy. Includes all
brain affections, except convulsions, epilepsy, paralysis,
apoplexy, cephalitis, insanity.
DISEASES OP THE ABSORBENT AND GLANDULAR SYSTEM.
Hepatitis.
London. — Maximum. — Beginning of May to end of September; absolute,
August.
Minimum. — October to end of April; absolute, December,
January.
Jaundice.
London.— Maximum. — March slight, June, with a fall in July; through
July, August, September; absolute, August.
Minimum. — November to June, with slight rise above the
average in February, March, April; absolute, December,
January, February.
Curve much resembles that of hepatitis.
Briglifs Disease of Kidney.
London. — Maximum. — October to May; absolute, February, March, with
a dip in December.
Minimum. — Middle of May to end of September; absolute,
August, September.
Kidney Disease {General).
London. — Maximum. — End of November to end of April; absolute,
December, January, and April.
Minimum. — Middle of May to September; absolute, June,
August.
DISEASES OF THE MEMBRANOUS SYSTEM.
Skin Disease.
London. — Maximum. — October to middle of January; absolute, Novem-
ber.
Minimum. — End of May to beginning of September; absolute,
June.
This curve comprehends all skin diseases, except phlegmon
and ulcer.
Tin; REABOKB. ; ' ,; '''
DISEASES FROM NATURAL ACCIDENTS.
Childbirth. (Mother.)
London. — Maximum. — Second week of October to end of March; abso-