Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-20
THE HEATED TERN AND SUN.
STROKES.

There is something terribly suggestive
and startling conveyed in the kilograms
we receive nightly from eastern and
northern cities Of the totals Of deaths
from sunstroke during this the heated
term: In New York city, on Monday
Of last week, over fifty csses were re-
ported (nine-tenths OF them FATAL J,
reaching the highest number record
ed in thirty-five years, except on Febru-
airy q, 1872, when there were sixty-eight
cases; ia Philadelphia twenty-four cases
in enc dsy; in Baltimore, tweuty-seven
victims on neutrality-suspicious. con-
SANITY defiling the streets in aid OF the
sufferers; and Chicago, Cincinnati and
st. Louis have contributed literally to
swell the moucniul list. And yet, in our
own city, 50 far, we have not to report
fatal case; snd, notably, in years past
we have been peculiarly exempt from
this distressing visitation. Mainly, this
may be attributed to the fact that in our
semi-tropicsl belt warm weather is
ushered in much esrlier-shsding al
most imperctptibly from milder winters
than ia higher ATTITUDES; and although
the thermometer ranges quite as high
with us, still our thermal maximum and
minimum does not vibrste with such
catsclysmal energy as in more north
ern climatic divisions. W receive, in
the aggregate a considerable excess of
solar heat, it is true, but this excess is q
good deal "thinned out" aud equalizsd
by the extended time embraced in its
influx. Another advantage which we
OF the middle and lower Miss ssippi
valley enjoy is that our nights are al
most universally rendered cool and re.
freshing by pretty stiff breezss from the
gulf or southwest. From q compare
tive statement furnished by the signal
service bureau, we see that since June
24sh the thermometer in New York
has ranged from $50 on the 29th to q
maximum Of Gle on July l5th-a degree
OF heat thai has not been experienced
in that city since 1872. But the signal
services thermometer from which obser-
vatioas are taken, is located on the top
of an elevated building, away from the
hot psYements, says the Tribune, and
the hot men aud women that walk
them, and has also the bsnsfit Of every
cooling breezs; aud on the streets the
thermometer registered, on July 9th,
10l0-a temperature that we have not
realize by six degrees. OF course this
prolonged term OF extraordinary heat
(twenty-four days up to yesterday,
maintained with such remarkable uni
fOrmity of temperature aud fatal effects
to life, has awakened general attention,
aid challenged an explanation OF the
causes that have given rise to this ex-
ceptionai climatic phenomena. The
Tribune quotes Prof. LOOMS as author
ity for the conclusion that in any given
place the mean temperature of one year
issbout the same as that Of another; that
this mean "does not naturally change in
two thousand years" The first state
ment We can readily grant, elsa we
could have no well-established thermal
lines Of average temperature; but what
grounds Prof. Loomis can have for the
assertion that the mean temperature of
any place does not naturally change in
tlOo thousand years, is not so easy OF COM
preheusion. II he had referred to the
rythmetic cycle OF temperate seasons
aud seasons of extreme cold through
which each planet passes, consequent
on the changing direction Of its axis of
Notwithstanding in the case OF the
earth an epoch OF tsOenty-one thousand
yeGrs-we could readily admit the va
lidity Of his conclusions, although PRO.
testing that it requires stronger
imagination than we are poss sssed Of to
derive any comfoTt-with the thermome.
ter at 95'-from the contemplation of
the pro liability that the " coming man"
of ten thousand years hence "a. D.
ii S76) will be buffeting boresl breezes
and barking his shins on glaciers in the
Mississippi valley. Rather an aerial
hobby the professor strides, We sppre-
bend. And quite as satisfactory are q
multitude OF other guesses and by
pho he1es going the rounds. But, of a
certainty, the cheated term" is here,
and it will prove far more profitable
and satisfactory to gather what
suggestions we may that shall |
assist US in counteracting the
morbid effects Of this high temperature.
The healthy human DOdy has q temper
sture which varies but little either way
from So Fahrenheit, and although able
to maintain this balance In spite Of ex-
treme vicissitudes Of climate and season,
still 1t eeds but comparatively few de
grees rise or fall in temperature to in
duee disease by suddenly checking or
increasing the normal supply Of animal