Ceded Dis
tricts.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.
1870.
1871.
1872.
Mean Barometric Pressure (Inches)...
...
...
26.910
26.927
26.911
Do, Temperature of Air
...
...
...
...
72.°8
72.9
73.8
Do.
do.
of Wet Bulb
...
...
. . . .
. . . 66.°2
66.2
66.2
Do. Observed Extremes
Maximum ...
...
•..
...
84.2
84.4
82.8
Minimum
...
...
...
64.5
64.7
64.3
Do. Range
...
...
...
...
...
...
19 . 7
19.7
18.5
Do. Dew Point
...
...
...
...
...
...
61.7
62.0
61.7
Do. Humidity per cent.
...
...
...
...
73 . 0
72.0
72.6
Do. Maximum Solar Heat in Vacuo...
...
...
... 133.2
13.2
129.8
Do. Minimum on Grass
...
...
...
...
...
61.5
61.9
62.1
Prevailing Winds
...
...
...
... . . . S.S.E.
S.S.E.
S.E.
Do. Daily Velocity, Miles ...
...
...
...
...
81
100.5
168.6
Depth of Rain in Inches
...
...
...
...
...
39.255
29.058
39.911
Number of Days in which Rain fell ...
...
...
...
121
107
92
3. The general features closely resemble those of the year 1870. The rainfall is rather
in excess of that year (+.656), but it will be observed that it fell only on 92 days, against 121
in 1870, and 107 in 1871. The advent of the south-west monsoon was rather late ; for
although showers fell early in June, it was not till the end of the month that the rains fairly
set in, and, even then, the weekly falls were small in amount, and continued so through July
till the beginning of August.
The north-east monsoon was also late in its accession, but the period between the
two monsoons, called by sailors the " Doldrum'' months, was marked by very heavy rainfalls
and floods.
The north-east monsoon did not fairly set in in Bangalore till the 14th November,
when there were many continuous days of heavy rain, and the tanks acquired larger supplies
of water than had been known for many years. The rainfall of the year then was marked
by unusually heavy downpours for a few consecutive days, instead of the usual more equa-
ble distribution. The average fall for the station being 35 inches, the excess is 9.911, or say
10 inches.
In consulting table A., Appendix, I think it necessary to remark that small reliance can
be placed upon the velocity of the wind (a very important element in meteorological research
in connexion with the spread of disease, especially in relation to Dr. Bryden's theory of
the dissemination of cholera by aerial currents), inasmuch as that, notwithstanding repeated
representations, no proper provision has been made for the location of the anemometer.
Last year, however, pains was taken to place it in position in relation to the prevailing
monsoons, so as to ensure its registering as correctly as possible the force and velocity of the
wind.
4. Ceded Districts.—The only returns I receive of recorded meteorological observations
for the Ceded Districts are from the Observatory at Bellary, and these are neither reduced
nor corrected. The observer has not been furnished with reduction tables, but his unreduced
observations are transmitted to the Government Astronomer, and the results of that
functionary's labors in this department are not available.
The Sanitary Commissioner for Madras, in his report for 1871, brings to notice the
delay, on the part of the Government Astronomer, in publishing the results of observation at
the different observatories. Dr. Cornish was able to obtain abstract statements for his 1871
report ; but Deputy Inspectors-General are not so favorably circumstanced. I see no reason
why observers, who are moreover supervised by Civil Surgeons who are paid for the duty,
and who consequently are presumably capable of checking their work, should not reduce
and correct their observations daily, and so record them ; and I think Deputy Inspectors-
General ought to be furnished with copies of the monthly registers as soon after the close
of each month as possible.
The returns from Bellary are so imperfect, that I do not give them a place in this report.
Moreover the observations were interrupted for considerable periods from many of the
instruments having been stolen.
The following are the annual results to be accepted with the reservation above made :—
Mean Barometric Pressure (Inches) ...
...
...
...
...
...
28.505
Do. Temperature of Air
...
...
...
85°.2
...
...
...
...
Do.
do.
Wet Bulb
...
...
...
...
...
69.3
Do. Observed Extremes Maximum
...
...
95°.2
...
...
...
Minimum
...
...
...
...
...
70.4
Do. Range ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
24°.8
Do. Minimum on Grass
... ...
. ..
...
...
..
65°.6
Do. Velocity of Wind
•..
...
...
...
...
...
132.8
...
Depth of Rain in Inches
...
...
...
...
•••_.
._
15.97
38
Although the rainfall, contrasted with that of Bangalore, is small, it is really consider-
ably above the average for the station for some years past, which for the four years, 1863 to