NOVEMBER, 1896. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 409
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
A N ENDEAVOR TO DISCOVER ELECTRODYNAMIC
RADIATIONS FROM THE SUN.
By Prof. JOEN TROWBRIDQE, Director of the Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Cam- bridge, Maass.
J. Wilsing a d J. Scheiner, of the Astrophysical Observa-
tory a t Potsdam, give in the Astrononbisclte Nnchrirhton, Band
142, No. 3386, a review of the various ways of detecting elec-
trical waves, and conclude by a short description of the
method they have adopted to detect electro-dynamic radia-
tions from the sun. Passing over the elementary account of
the various forms of Hertz oscillators, in which, by the way,
Lebedews apparatus for obtaining short electric waves is de-
scribed without reference to Rhigis earlier work in the same
direction, we come to the form of apparatus which the authors
used. It consists essentially of a Wheatstones bridge with
variable contacts, the resistance of which is modified by elec-
trical oscillations. This form of apparatus has been iised hy
various investigators, especially by Lodge. In the hands of
Wilsing and Scheiner i t was competent to show the existence
of electrical oscillations arising from a source many feet dis-
tant. Notwithstanding the effects of direct heat radiatims
were exclnded, and also the disturbing effect of vihrations,
no deflections were observed which could be attrihiited to
electro-dynamic radiatians from the sun. It is doubtful if
such radiations can he detected by the arrangement adopted
by the authors, unless I t is made extraordinarily sensitive.
In this condition it would he afected by slight jars and
mechanical vibrations. One shonld repair to an isolated
mountain peak to carry out such experiments.
SUNSTROKE WEATHER OF AUGUST, 1896.
By W. F R. PmLLIpq, M. D , iu charge of the Section of Climatology.
The abnormal heat that prevailed over the eastern two-
thirds of the United States during the last few days of July,
and the first twelve days of Angnst, 1896, suggested to the
Chief of the Weather Bureau, the propriety of studying the
subject of sunstrokes, in so far as it is connected with arid
dependent upon meteorologic conditions.
With this object in view he directed that the following cir-
cular, asking for information, be sent to different hospitals
located in the affected region, and also to others from whom
useful information might be secured.
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
WEATHER BUREAU,
Waelinghn, D. C., A t i g ~t 2 0 , 1536.
The large number of casualties reported by the newspaper press as attributed directlyito the effects of thk recent hocspell d b f weather that prevailed extensively over the country, especially the eastern part, has suggested to the Weather Bureau the propriety of studying the subject of sunstroke in so far as i t is connected with and dependent upon the meteorohpgic conditions, in order that the weather forecasts isvucd by the Bureau may, if possible, he:given an.ad11itional general value. With this object in view, the Bureau would request those into whose hands this circnlar,may come to give the information, if any, in their posbession, provided for in the subioined blank as completely as practi- cable, and to return the same in the,addressed franked envelope, here- with inclosed.
sufficient value, they will be published for pulAic distribution. Should the results ofthe contemplated investipat,ion be deemed of
WILLIS L. MOORE, Chief of Bureau, and Acting &c.relicry of Agriculture.
The information obtained seemed to be of such importance
that he gave specific instructions to the writer to make com-
pilation and study of the same, with the result as herein
stated. In this paper and the accompanying statistical tables the
term sunstroke is used to include a variety of morbid condi-
tions, in accordance with the general practice of physicians,
as defined by the following quot,at,ion frnni t,he article on
 Sunstroke, contributed by Sir Joseph Fnyrer, to the work
entitled A Systein of Medicine, edited Iry T. C. Allbutt:
Under the designation sunstroke, heat stroke, insolation, etc., a va- riety of morbid conditions, from the simplest to the gravest, are included. However these conditions may he modified by personal suscept~ilrility, local surror~nclings, and climat.ic influences, they are essentially due to heat and are the result of direct ex osure to the rays of the sun or to a high atniospheric tenilterature in tge shade.
To those unacquainted with medical affnirs i t may he stated
that the general incli~iation ainoiig pathologists is to consider
excessive atmospheric heat, n:ltura,l or artificial, as the chief
extririsic factor i n the causation of sunstroke, using the term
as dwve defined. As to the relative importance of the other
atmospheric conditions, they are regarded as auxiliaries that
may be more eficieiit a t one-time than a t another, depending
upon the physical state of the individunl. The particular
degree of heat that can be endured without injury or that
may he required to produce snnstroke Iins not been defiiii tely
established. Both will depend upon contingencies, which will
be mentioned further on.
It is generally accepted that the iiijurioiis action of heat is
primarily exerted upon the nervous system to disarrange, in
one way or another, t,he complex and nice adjustments exist-
ing he tween the pliysiologic processes concerned in the pro-
duction of heat and the loss of hwt. The nianifest,atJions
of the inorhid etfects of heat,, as seen in sunstroke, pay he
broadly divided into two categories. I n one there is a fall
of the temperature of t,he body below its normal ; the skin is
pale and cool aud covered, inore or less, with a clammy pers-
pira.tioii. This is the general class-heat eshaustion or pros-
tration. The other class is characterizecl hy a rise i n the
temperature of the body shove the normal to a state of fever ;
the skin is usually red, hot, and dry. .This is the general con-
dition to which sonie writers would alone restrict the term
sunstroke; i t is prohhly hest described as thermic or heat
fever. Between these two categories there is no hard and fast
line of deniarc,ation, and cases may l e seen which present some
of the cliaract,eristics of each class, or which primarily fa.lling
in one category suhsecluently pass over to the other.
I n connectiou with the following statistics of sunstroke
ca.8es and mortality, i t should be stat,ed that every effort has
been made to avoid duplication of facts, and it is believed
that whatever errors, if any, have crept in through this ave-
nue they are too small to vitiate the general result,. Perhaps the most serious source of doubt will be found siibsisting in
the matter of diagnosis; but ~~nssihle error of diagnosis is a
defect inherent to all statistics dealing with disease, and
which can not be avoided in the present ca.se any more than
in the great number of other cases where shtistics are in-
voked to throw light upon the relation of health to environ-
ment.
It must he borne in mind that the meteorologic data,
though determined by instruments of precision can not be
assumed to represent all the variations of the weather to
which the human being may he subjected in the course of the
day, even though both may be in the same neighborhood, be-
cause meteorologic instruments are exposed under fixed con-
ditions, whereas man is continually changing his local sur-
roundings, and with each change either of place or occupa-
tion, he alters more or less his meteorologic environment
and its effects upon him. It is this difference in the circum-
stances of exposure that renders it impracticable to state
410 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. NOVEMBER, 1896
Place.
Boston, Mass ............................................
Philadelphia, Pa ........................................ Baltimore, Md ........................................... Washington, D. C ...................................... Worcester, Mass.. Rochester, N. P .............................................................. Buffalo, N Y ............................................ Pittsbnrg, Pa ............................................ Cincinnatl. Ob!o ........................ .................. C!olumhus. Ohio .......................... ............ Chicago. I11 ..............................
NewYork. N. Y .......................................... Brooklyn, N. Y ..........................................
...............................................................
Muskegon. Mich ............ .................
St. Paul, Minn .......................................... St. Louis Mo.. .. :. ...............................................................
New Orleans, La ........................................ Phtenix, Ariz ...................................................
Dawn Ort Iowa ............. ............................ Iieokut, rdwa.. .............. ...........................
aattandoga, lenn ............................................
Total ..............................................
Add newspflpers ................................................................ Add special reports.. ............................................................
Total .................................................................
precisely by means of ordinary meteorologic records the
atmospheric conditions actually experienced by the living
being. The consideration of this, as well as other matters of
a more purely physiologic nature, should prepare the reader
not to expect to find any attempt made in this paper to give
minute details as to the relation between sunstroke and
weather.
From such soiirces as were accessible to the writer there
have been collected 2,038 instances of death during August,
1196, directly attrihuted to sunstroke. This large number of
fatal cases was collected a s follows : 1,817 deaths reported by
health officials of the cities named in Table 1 ; 207 from
newspaper notices aid not included in the foregoing; 14 from
special reports. Large as this namber is it must fall far short
of the actual number of victims.
TABLE I.-shotainng the nurnbsr of deatfbs frons aunatroke during A?rg?csi,
1696, as T e p r U d by tha hcenllh oflcic~b of emtuin cities.
Week ended August-
3
8 1 5 2 2 2 9  E
.~
~~
~-
~ ~
0 64 2 2 66 11 648 4 1 i !!
5 315 99 0 319
13 7fl I 9P
7 29 0 36
1 1 ........ 2
3 3 ........... 5
10 3 ...... 13 3 .................. 2
................................... l i E 1 ............ 1
1 ...... 1 1 .................. 1
132 1 ............ 1
3 ...... 6 ..... 9 1 ........... 1
50 1,!?24 2% 2 1,817
W; 14
7.0%
6 I73 3? ll 3lP
;
2 ...... 2
--__--
-
The numher of cases of siiiistroke that clid not end fatally
must have heen something enormous, but cmly a limited at-
tenipt was made to collect statistics of this class, owing to the
difficulty of getting satisfactory data. From illformation so
far received, there have been collected 841 caws of siiiistrokp
treated either in hospitals or in private practice of physicians
(see Table 2). Of these 841 cases i t appears that 140, or
16.6 per cent, terminated fatally. If this mortality rate he
assumed as an idex of the general mortality rate froin sun-
stroke, ohtaining, in general, during this epidemic, then the
3,038 fatali ties would represent the occurrence of 12,277 caws
of sunstroke of varying degrees of severity, a i d even this may
he far below the truth.
Tables 3 and 3 show the number of hospital cases and of
deaths due to siinstroke on each clay. It will he seen from
these tables that by far the greater part both of hospital
cases and of deaths from sunstroke happened upon the 9th,
lOth, l l t h , 12th, and 13th of August, and in the region indi-
cated in the first paragraph of this paper. The period from
August 9 to 13 may, therefore, he regarded as having heen in
that region particularly favorable for the operation of the
causes producing sunstroke, and i t may perhaps he admissihle
to speak of the weather during that period as heiug  sunstroke
weather. More than 75 per cent of the hospital cases were
admitted during August 9-13, and more than 80 per cent of
the sunstroke mortality that could be located by weekly pe-
riods occurred during the week August 9-15.
For convenience of reference the region already indicated
of maximum number of recorded cases of sunstroke may be
subdivided into a coastal region and an interior region, the
area included in each will be sufficiently indicated by the
stations selected to represent it, as shown in Tables 2,3, and 4.
These tables show that a few sunstrokes occurred in the int,e-
rior region on August 3 and in the coastal region on August
4, but that it was not until three or four days later that the
number in either region began to assume portentous propor-
tions. The last cases may be virtually said to have occurred
on Aiigiist 15. The weather during the interval, August 3-15,
was characterized by intense heat, which became evident in
the interior region on the 4th and in the coa,stal region on the
5th. In both regions the temperature rose from 3c or 4O
to loo or 1 3 O above the normal during the hottest part of
the period. which was from the 8th to the 10th in the inte-
rior, and from the 9th to the 12th on the coast; i t then fell
during the following two days in both regions to about t.he
norma,l. In both regions the absolute atmospheric humidity
was considerably above the average and varied with the tem-
perature, though less rapidly. On the other hand, the rela-
tive humidity was suhject to frequent flnct.uations both a,bove
aiid lrelow the average. The atmospheric pressure was above
the averrige during the entire period. There does not appear
to have heen anything characteristic about the winds, or the
c1earn(?ss of the atmosphere from what is usual during pro-
tracted spell8 of fair and somewhat rainless weather.
At,tent,iori has I)een called to the interval from Augnst 9 to
12 as the specia.1 period of ~unstroke occurrence, and as being
what the writer has ventured to call sunstrolie weatlicr.
Takiug this period as affording a promising field for studying
the causal rela,t,ions of meteorologic concli tions and sunstroke
i t would appear that: The daily mean temperatures were high-
est during this period, being from loo to 1 3 O above the normal
in hoth regions, or, the average temperat,ure for each of these
twenty-four hours equaled or esceeded the normal tempera-
ture of the hottest hour of an average August day. The ab-
solute humidity was greatest in both regiona during these four
days, and the relative humidity was above the average in the
in t,erior, hat considerably helow the average in the coasta,l
region. There does not appear to he any other noticeable or
characteristic meteorologic feat,ure during this period.
[ AR the taldes of mean temperature and maximum tem-
peratme seem t.0 be more important than those of hnmidity,
wind, and rainfall, therefore, these latter are reluctantly
omit,ted from the present publication.-ED.]
From t,he givem tables i t must be concluded :
(a ) That the number of sunstrokes follows more closely
t,he excess of the temperature above the normal (see Tables 5
and 6) than it does that of any other meteorologic condi-
t,ion :
(h ) That the number of sunstrokes does not appear to BUS-
tain any definite relation t.o the relatire hiimidity, the mrtxi-
miim fatalities having occurreci in one region with a relative
humidity al)ove t.he average, and in the other region with a
rrlat,ive humidity decidedly below the average.
(c ) That although the ahsolute humidity was greatest dur-
ing t,he maximum of sunst,rokes, yet it does not a.ppear t,hat
t,he variations influenced the ~iumber of cases.
If i t be taken in to consideration that the maximiim quan-
tity of aqueous vapor in a giveii spnce is limited by the tem-
perature of the vapor, and that the relative humidity is rea.lly
not a simple metwrolngic element, hut an expression of a
ratio that depends on both the aqueous vapor and the temper-
ature, it, would seem that the statistics herein collected con-
firm the proposition t,hat sunstroke is ultimately due to ex-
cessive atmospheric temperatmure. I n other Words, sunstroke
will not occur unless the atmospheric temperature be mwh
greater than that to which the individual is accustomed, no
matter what may he the slate of the other nieteorologic ele-
ments. The important point to be determined from our statis-
NOVEMBER, 1896. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 41 1
-~
Place.
~~
Manchester, N. H ,.
Rochester: N: Y. Boston Mass New H;ven,Conn NewTork,N.Y ....................
Brooklyn N P NewBru&wick,N.J.. Philndelphia.Pa
Washington, D.C
Albany N Y
Coastal group ................
Pittsburg, Pa Cincinnati,Oliio ...............
Cleveland,Ohio. Detroit Micli Holland, Micii. ............... Chicago Ill ....................... Springfihd,Ill. Loulsvllle, Ky ................ Cairo Ill Handbal Mo ...................... Columbii, Yo.. Kansas City, Mo. Des Molnes, Iowa.. ........... St. Paul, Minn .................
Columbus. Ohio.
Interiorgroup ............. - Raleigh. N. C Charleston, 9. C.. Mobile, Ala Dallas. Tax ........................ Pslertine, Tex. ........ 1
_- Grand total ....... 1
~
..
~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
TABLE 2.-TlU daily number of eases of sunatrokd admitlled lo cmtuin hoyitule or in tho pracliee of eerluin plbyaieima from Auguel1 lo 2Q, iwlueive, 1896, logelher with the remlling mrlalily.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 f L I 3 1 4 1 5
-
~
- ~__
~~~
-
~ ~
............................................ 1
...................................... 1 .... 4 5
.............................. 2 ............ ............................................. 4 8
........................................ 2 2
3 3 9 6 12 15 49 78
............................. 3 4 8 5 11 26
................... 1 ........ 1 .... 3
....................... 1 9 11 13 8 ?L 30
..................... 1 1 2 3 0 5 1 __ - .- __-____ 2 6 22 22 39 31 97 164 ................. ___ ===========
...................................... 1 ............ 3 3 2 4 2 8 4 9 7
..................................... 1 ....... .................................... 4 4 1
.............................................. 1 1 1 ............ 1 ................ 2 1 1 1 6 3 1 1 ........................ 1 .................... 1
2 1 .... 3 1 .... 2 ........ ........................................... 1 ............ 1 ........ 3 ................
......................... I ........ 3 ........
1 ................ 1 ........
....................................................
................................
___-___--__
6 7 4 9 8 16 17 16 11
............................................... 1
............................................... ..................................................... 1 ........... 1 .......... ... ....I ................... ....I.. ......
.... G 10 9 31 30 6G 48 '112 16G
___--___-__ _ - - - - - - - __ _
-.I1
I 1 I _________. .-
-
qo. of eaths
__ -
Authority (hospital or physician).
1 3
8
a 62
2 16
......
za
1
......
2
6
2
4
......
...... ......
...... ...... ...... 1
1
1
......
......
Elliot Hospital. Albany Hospital. Homeopathic Hospital. Boston City Hospital. New Haven Hospital. Hudson Street. Roouevelt, and New Tork hos-
St. Jolrn's, St. Mary'% and Brooklyn hospitals. Doctors Williamson and Smith. St. Agnes, Epi6copal. Nedico-Chirurgical, and Hairneinaun 1io.ipitals. United States Government Hospital for Insane Garfield, Providence, and Reedman'shospitals:
pi t a1 Y.
S. S. Huspital. United States Marine Hospltal, St. Mary's and
St. Francis' Hospital. St.Alexis', St. Jolm's,and Huron Street huspitals. United States Marine Hospital. Dr. Henry Kremeis. St. Luke's, Nercy, and Michael Reese hospitals. City uhmiciau. Wabarlr EnlD Hosvital.
Cincinnati hospitals.
c:ity HuipitaI. Dr. W. F. Grinsted. Drs. R. H. Uodiu. S. Q. Smith, P. L. Kabler. Dr. W. A. Norris. Drs. W. 8. Wheeler, L. A. Berzer. c'. L Hall. Dr. F. L. Wells. C'ity aiid C'uuuty Hujapital.
...... ...... ...... ...... 1
140 _-
.
P
11
IC
27
-.
~
I6
-
4
3
6
~
__~
2 3 4 5
.......... 4
1 .... 6 5
1 .... 5 9
- _____
I 1
August, 1Y96.
Coastal group.. ................................. (Massachusetts Cuiinwticut Rhode Island, New ' Tork. Pann&lvania. Maryland, District ol('o1umbiii. aud Virginia). Iuterior group .................................. (Ohio Kentucky Tennessee ludiana llliiois, Yichi~an.Wircousin. Minuel Rota Iowa Yin~ouri.aiidokialioina~. Total: C o a s h arid Interior groups.. ...........
Newspaper clippings, health officer*' re- laorts, special reports. ph sicians and oth- er? (The information y h i i which this table is ctmyiled i5 far fruni complete J
~-
1
1
3
-
17 -F 1 3 Place. 4 5 9 11 14 15 16
0
7ti 71
74
75
i 8
78
I8
Y!
e.3
YO
7H
r C
-.,
'A.
0
75
74
7Y
2: 4 -
I C
76 86 n0
SO w
w)
76 71
__
0
74 74
73 73
78 i 9
70
ilj
w Iw
H2
74 74
I"
~
Coaalicl rrgiorc. 0
Albany. N. T .................. .......... ??
Boston, Mass . ........................... 71
............................ 71 New York N. T .............................. 74 Philadelplha, Pa.. .................. Washingtun, I). C ..................
Chicago, I11 ... ................... I , Yt. Louis Mo . ........................... 8" Cincinnati, Ohio.. .............................. 78
Charleshn, S. C ............................... Lu Jacksonville Fla.. ........................... .' 8.6 New Orleans: La .............................. tt!
Denver, Colo ................................... , , Los Angeles, Cal ............................... 70
I C
Iibtesim wgioir.
3mdho.n region.
Weeslrrn region.
_____
I -
tical tables is the atmospheric temperature that will produce
sunstroke. Referring ngaiii to these talBles, i t will be observed
that, for instance, in the city of Boston a number of people
were prostrated and some killed by sunstroke when tlie mean
tempertiture of the day rose to &!O, or 1 3 O :hove the August
normal ; but there were thuusniids o f people livingthere a t the
same time that were unhurt hy this high temp~rature as far as
can be told ; i t is, therefore, evident that ~utiie people c a ~i with-
etand a higher temperature than others ; in other words there
is a personal equation to be taken into consideration. Again,
i t will be seen that while a tiienn teniperature of 8 Y w m fatal
or iiijiirious to a large tiutnlm- o f people i n Bostoti, yet the
samr degree CJf heat is the custoiiinry Augnst temperature
which tlie inhabitants o f New Orleans eiidure without mn-
stroke UP any particular inconvenience. Evidently there
must enter iiitu the case anothtjr factor, namely, the nccoti1-
modation of the individual to average physical environment,
or the cliiiintic eqnation, mid i t is apparent therefrom that
4 12 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. NOVEMBER, 1896
TABLE G -T h cltprkrs of tli.5 daily man tSqeratur8 from the noi*mal al cmtain slntwns from August 3 lo 18 inctuaive, 1896.
_- -~
Place. 1 3 4 5 6 c 8 9 I 10 11 13 14 15 18 16 17
____
0 0
+1 $! TF
__.__
+:I $;
-4
$d 1;
$2 -6 -1 -6
+1 -7
+4 +c
+2 +? 0 +a
0 0
i 13
$;!
10 +I2 +s +13 +10
0
0
si
t;
+3 -t- 3
+5
+4 +2
- +:
0
-7 -1
-5
-2
-3
-
-
-6
-- 5
+I
+I
Albany, N. T ................................... Bostou, Mass ................................. New maren Conti.. ........................... New York N. T ................................
Woshingtou, D. C .. .............................
Chioaeo. 1 1 1 .. .................................. s t . Louis. nro .................................. Ciucinuati, Ohio.. .............................
Charieston, S.C.. ............................... Jauksunville. Ha.. ............................ New Orlenoa, La.. .............................
Denver, C'olo.. .................................. Lou Angeles, C'al.. .............................
Philadelpdia, Pa ................................
Boston Mass ......................... :fl .................... w ................... 82 Iw
New T h k , N. T .. Philadelphia, P a .. Waqhirigtou, 11. C ...................
C'liicngo, I l l .. ......................... +l5 +l4 -2 - 78
C'inciuuati. Ohio .....................
St. Louis, Mo. .......................
.................... .................... New Orleans: L a .. ................... + 2 +2 an
C'harlestnn. R. C ..
Jackaonvllle Fla
__ __ ~
____ -
terion iiiay be i n other cases. In the light of the data here
presented for August, 1896, the al)ove rule appears t(J be an
empirical one ; hit i t is hased (i n p1ausil)le hypotheses, and
can be readily applied ; especially is i t oiir that adapts itself
easily and naturally to every climate, ancl therefore em-
bodies a t least a part of what we have called the cliinatic
eclnatiun. As enunciatecl above, i t has the merit of express-
ing ti relation $vi th coiisidertible prrcisioa, that may lw ex-
pressed in other words as follows: Tlie liability to sunstroke
increases i n proportion as the niean trmperature of the day
approaches t h r iior mal m ax i UI 11111 teiii pera t 11 re fur t h n t d ay .
In addition to the iufluence of heat, the statistics furnished
by the hospitals and physiciaiis eiialile us to deteriniue
apl~roxiiiiately the general iiiflueiice of personal 1ialJi ts, and
of natj~mality and other peculiarities. instance, of the
841 cases collected in T:ible 4, the hirtory (Jf 465 :is t:i the use
of alcoliolic drinks is given a s follows :
Using to exress.. .......... 140 cases, or 30 per cent [Jsing motler:ttely. ......... 2:W " 60 "
Using nut nt it11 ............ 95 '' 211 "
-- --
Total.. .............. 4IR " 100 "
History uiilrnown. ........ 3iti
the temperature likely to came sunstroke varies with tho cli-
mate o f the locality ; heiiw, each particular locality has foi
its native or acclininted inhaI)itant a special local sunstroke
temperature or mnge of temperature.
As a provisional index to the " sulistroke temperature" vf
each cliniate the author proposes the use of the average or nor-
mal maximum daily temperature during the ~varni season of
the year, and as a working hypothesis derived therefrom, sub-
mi ts the following proposition : Sunstroke becomes iirimiiiriit
during the siiuinier nic~ntlis, when the ineaii temperature of
any one day, or of several consecutive days, I~ecomes equal, or
nearly equal, to the iioriiial iiinxiiiium tenilierature for the
saiiir period.
The following talinlar statement shows the result of tlir
app1ic:ition of this proposition to rceveral of the large cities
in the coastal regioti.
1. The number of sunstroke cases admitted into the lios-
pitrtls of the respective cities from the 3d to 18th of August,
incliisive.
The respective coluniiis show :
3. Tlie iiorxiial maximum temperature for August.
3. The consecutive dates on which the niean daily teniyra-
ture for August, 1596, equaled or exceeded the ~iormal masi-
iuiiui for August.
4. The nuui)~er of sunstroke cases admitted to hosl~itals
during these consecutive dates.
5. The percentage of the cases adniitted on these days rrla-
tivu to the total number of caws between August :;-Is, iii-
clusive.
I - I
Station.
Total ................ S-11
If the 140 deaths that occurred in these S4l cases be simi-
larly classified, the reunlting figures are :
Using to excess.. .......... 4 1 dentlis, or (;c) per cent. Using in04 lernt el y "'2 l d 31, "
Using not :ill 7 " 11) "
.......... .............. - - 'L Total ............... 74) 100 "
History uiikiiuwn .......... 71) !I
' * ""
1 30
Totd ............ .:. 1-11)
If these facts teach anything i t i H that the use of alcoholic
Leverages in hot weather is to I N reprolmted most strenuonsly.
Ta1)le 4 shows some iiitere~tiiig facts as to the iiationalities
that contriliuted to thcee 841 cases, lmt i t would not be safe
to argue much as to the relative liability of any natioriality
to sunstroke unless we could first compare these Iiunibers
FVashington ...........................................
F
I
111 thrse sp?cial cases, thert~fore, the nppronch of the i i i ~n i i
daily temperature to the nornittl niaxiiiiiiiii trmperature \vas
an excellrnt criterion of im~ieiiding danger, and i t remains
for accumulated statistics to show how trnstwortliy this cri-
NOVEMBER, 1896. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 413
m
5
l a "
with the general distribution of population by nationalities
One itetn gathered from the reports, but not shown by thiE
table, is that only 15 of these cases were colored people, and
the mortality among them was 2. As to sex, 100 cases were
females. So far as occupation was concerned all walks of
life were represented, but the greater number of cases occurred
among those engaged in occupations apparently requiring
physical rather than intellectual effort.
TABLE 4.-Ths 841 eases of siinstroh reported from Aoepitds or pivatc practice, arranged according tc, nativity ant1 fatality
' 37 44 a4 5
0
5
3 5
0
0
0
0
United States ................ Ireland ....................... German .................... En l a d ...................... It%. ......................... France ...................... Canada ....................... Norway and Sweden Russia ....................... Poland ...................... Scotland ..................... Switzerland ................
........
~
3u)
253
123
32 14
10 8
I!
5 3
Austria. ..................... 6 Denmark ..................... 2 Belgium ...................... 1 South America. .............. 2 Spain. ........................ 1 Holland ..................... 1 Australla .................... 1 Armenia. .................... 1 Greece.. ...................... 1 Unknown.. ................ 15
Total. .................. 811 -
HOW THE CHINOOK CAME IN 1896.
By A. B. COE, Voluntary Observer (dated I<il)y, Mont., December 10,1896).
Picture to yourself a wild waste of snow, wind beaten and
blizzard furrowed until the vast expanse resenildes a billowy
white sea. The frigid air, blowing half a gale, is filled with
needle-like snow and ice crystals which Rting the flesh like
the bites of poisonous insects, and sift through the finest
crevices. The sun, low down in the southern horizon, looks
like a frozen globe, with halves, crescents, and bright pris-
matic bars encircling it.
Great herds of range cattle, which roatn a t will and thrive
on the nutritious grasses indigenous to the northern Slope,
wander aimlessly here and there, or more frequently drift
with the wind in vain attempts to find food and shelter;
moaning in distress from cold and hunger, their noses hung
with bloody icicles, their legs galled and bleeding froiii
breaking tlie hard snow crust as they travel-they appeal to
the hardest heart for pity. It is sure death for human beings
to be caught out in one of these awful blizzards, with the
temperature down to SOo or 50 below zero, unless rescue
is speedy. Yet, such conditions frequently exist in this lati-
tude, as they did for fifteen days in November, 1596, when i t
seemed as if the elements had conspired to bring about
another ice age, and annihilate every living thing.
The wind veered and
backed, now howling as i f in derision, and anon becoming
calm, as if in contemplation of the deeolation on the face of
nature, while the poor dumb animals continued their ceaseless
tramp, crying with pain and starvation. A t last, on Deceni-
ber 1, a t about the hour of suliset, there was a change which
experienced plainsmen interpreted as favorable to the coniing
of the warn1 southwest wind. A t sunset the temperature was
only -13O, the air scarcely in tnotion, but occasionally seemed
to descend from overhead. Over the mountains in the south-
west a great bank of black cloucls hung, dark and awesoine,
whose wide expanse was unbroken by line or break; only
a t the upper edge, tlie curled and serrated cloud, blown into
tatters by wind, was seen to be the advance courier of the
long-prayed for " chinook.'' How eagerly we watched its ap-
proach ! How we strained our hearing for the first welcome
sigh of the gentle breath ! But i t was not until 11.35 p. m. that
the first influence was felt. First, a puff of heat, summer-like
in cotiiparisoii with what had existed for two weeks, and we run
to our instrument shelter to observe the temperature. Up
Would the " chinook " never come 1
REV-3
goes the mercury, 34O in seven minutes. Now the wind has
come with a 25-mile velocity. Now the cattle stop travel-
ing, 'and with muzzles turned toward the wind, low with satis-
faction. Weary with two weeks standing on their feet they
lie down in the snow, for they know that their salvation has
come ; that now their bodies will not freeze to the ground.
The wind increases in strength and warmth ; it blows now
in one steady roar; the temperature has risen to 38O, the
great expanse of snow 30 inches deep on a level is becoming
damp and honeyconibed by the hot wind, and we retire satis-
fied that the " chinook " is a genuine and lasting one.
Twelve hours afterward there are bare brown, hills every-
where ; the plains are covered with floods of water. I n a few
days the wind will evaporate the moisture, and the roads will
be dry and hard. Were it not for the " chinook " winds the
northern Slope country would not be habitable, nor could
domestic animals survive the winters.
A METHOD OF FILLING A BAROMXTER
(datid November 12,1696). By Prof. EDWARD A. PARTRIDQE Central Manual Training School, Philadelphia
The tube selected for the barometer must he cleaned with
the utmost care. This can be effected conveniently before
sealing, as follows: After soaking for two hours in nitric
acid, the tube is washed thoroughly with wat4er. Then a wire
drawing a string after it is passed into the tube. I n the
middle portion of the string there is a loop carrying a wad
of cotton of suitable size. By drawing the string back and
forth the cotton is made to wipe off all dirt. The tube is
then washed with water, treated for a few minutes with a
3t)rong solutio11 of caustic alkali, followed by thorough wash-
ing with pure water. A wad of cotton filled with precipi-
tated chalk is next drawn through the tube. The precipi-
tated chalk is preferable to rotten stone, tripoli, emery flour,
x similar materials, since i t can lm entirely removed by sub-
3equent treatment with nitric acid and water. This polish-
ing of the tube is important, as i t tends to give a clean sur-
face, which allows the colunin of niercury to move with free-
loiii in the tube. After the last treatment with nitric acid
znd subseqnent careful washing with distilled water, the tube
is set on end to drain, then carefully dried by drawing air
(previously passed through sulphuric acid), through it, and
t t the same time heating it. After sealing the end the tube
is arranged as shown in Fig. 1.
P
FIQ. 1.
A B is the barometer tube, inclined a t an angle of about
15O. The inclination should not be made more than 15O,
hice if it is the mercury acquires considerable velocity in
diding down the tube and will fall into the mercury already
;here with a splash, thus entangling a very mipute portion of
air. With the inclination of 15c there is no such splashing.
C is a light glass retort which can be made by any one mod-
n t e l y skillful a t glass blowing. D is a tube for introducing
;he proper aniouiit of mercury to fill A B. E is a tube her-
netically sealed to a mercury air pump, preferably of the
Iteissler type. E should be a t least 10 inches long and in-
:lined downward toward the retort in order that the mercury
rapor may condense in i t and run back to C instead of going
;o the pump. After introducing the mercury the tube D is
ieated with the blowpipe and drawn of7 and sealed. Between