The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-16

SHALL WE HAVE A HEALTHY SUMMERs-As
old, almost, as the English language, is the
quaint adage that "a green Christmas makes a
full churchyard;" and like most of these old
adages there is enough science and truth in Il
to keep it afoat on the steady tide Of Time. II
is natural that any violent reversal of the accus-
toned laws of nature, or vicissitudes of the sea-
sons, should produce, sooner or later, evil e.
fects upon public health; the human constitute
ton having been contrived for the purpose II
existence under and in obedience to these laws,
and in accordance with the regular revolution
of the seasons. Experience, 80 far as that goes,
certainly shows that those seasons are the
healthiest which are preceded by the least
unusual weather; that a wholesome summer il
naturally preceded by an ordinarily cold winter.
and so on.
. 1t is not unnatural, therefore, that the very
marked mildness of the weather this season
should excite remark and anxious inquiry az to
the hygienic prospects for the year. 1t is in or
der that the doctors should be overwhelmed
by questioners who want to know whether
the coming summer has a chance of being mede-
rately healthy, and whether or NO we shall have
yellow fever when the hot weather comes.
1t is doubtful whether any one, in or out Il
the faculty, can predict an epidemic with any
thing like respectable accuracy. Sdn
there are some facts patent and ~palpable.
from which any one may draw deductions. II
is obvious, for instance, that yellow fever is On
q period ofdncrease, that it has not-as many
supposed last ummer-reached its climax, and
begun to decline. 1t is now raging at Havana,
q very unusual occurrence at this time of year.
1t is in active operation, and peculiarly virv-
lent at Rio, Para, st. Thomas and the other
South American and West Indian ports where
its visitations have been usual. When the sum-
mer comes, it will, without doubt, advance
northward to its old haunts. Last spring every
body expected it here; everybody was disap-
pointed. 1t may be doubted, however, whether
1t usually advances regularly, in consecutive
| years; there are reasons for believing that it
often passes over q year in its progress, and re-
appears the second summer, to continue its desc
lation. Under the circumstances, though Of
course, nothing can be said as yet with even a
plausible appearance of certainty, it would
not be utterly prepOsterous to look out next
| June for another visit from terrible "Yellow
Jack"
There are persons who look to see the greea
Christmas revenged by a visitant from another
quarter. 1t has been calculated that the move
ments of Asiatic cholera are regulated by a fixed
law, according to which thought to come among
US this summer. The law is, to say the least.
purely conjectural; as in boys mathematical
calculations, as much allowance must be made
for ''foreign disturbance" as for the operation
of the law itself. But its temperance in
Europe last year was ominous.
Of all this we can only say that we are in
the hands of Providence. If yellow fever OF
cholera come, it must be met as manfuliy a.
possible; and we hope the doctors will try to
learn their business a little better than they
knew it year before last. 1t Is also to be hoped
that our new Mayor will bestir himself early to
see that no invitations are held out to disease to
settle among us, in the shape Of filthy streets,
accumulated garbage, or any other generator
Of efiuvia and miasma. The most ~virulent
attacks Of even the worst e~pidemics acquire
their severity Aon local causes. If these things
are done in the proper time, we can leave the
rest to the overruling Power in whose hands
We all lie.