Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-10
Misfellameoms.
Are Mild Winters Healthy!
A GREEN CHRISTMAS DoEsS'T MAKE A
FAT CHURCH YARD.

Considering the matter of the relative
healthfulness of mild and severe winters,
the Toronto Globe says:
One of the most common, but incorrect.
ideas expressed is that mild winters are
more unhealthy than colder ones. This
opinion has shaped itself in the saying,
a green Christmas makes a fat church
ward" Yet, though hoary with centuries.
and accepted by the people of all northern
countries, the systematic registration of
mortality returns goes to prove that "a
green Christmas makes a lean church
yard The old saying. however. must
have had something TO support it, Some
Of the most fatal diseases. whose presence
in an epidemic form awakening anxiety,
are more PREVALENT during the mild winter
than during a cold one. Typhoid fever is
one Of the class referred To. and the
absence OF severe frost in the early
months of winter seems invariably to
favor the continuance of this great au-
tnmnal disease long beyond its usual limit.
The present winter affords an instance in
point. the deaths from typhoid having
been unusually numerous for the month
of december. In addition to the preva-
lence of typhoid fever, there are
aches, pains and discomfOrts which
serve to confirm the popular opinion
that mild winter weather il unhealthy.
The atmosphere, If damp and oppressive,
"a il generally il in mild winter weather,
seems to take the snap out Of people.
while cold, bright. frosty weather acts on
ordinarily vigorous people ~ sort OF
nerve tonic, giving elasticity to their
bodies and cheerfulness TO their minds
Mild, damp weather adds to the usually
depressing effects list of discomiorts for
a numerous class of persons afflicted with
chronic complaints such as rheumatism
and asthma The complaints OF such
people appear to give weight to the popu-
lar notion referred to. But these diseases
are seldom fatal. so that typhoid and few
other miasmatic affections are really the
only diseases which, on examination.
would only tend to afford basis for the
green Christmas saving.
The publication of the Registrar Gener- /
ais returns for Great Britain first called
attention 10 the fact that frosty weather !
swells the number of deaths. London, |
Eng, especially was shown to be suscep |
tible to cold weather. a fact probably due |
10 the large number OF very poor people |
that great city contains. Improper cloth |
ing and shelter there add To the usual !
unfayorable effects of cold, and whenever
Il period of frost such aS would represent
the usual winter weather of Toronto occurs. /
The number of deaths is largely increased
above the normal. and is sometimes twice
as large as during mild periods. 1t is
only of recent years that accurate statistics
have afforded "A trustworthy basis on which
to found conclusions in regard to Ontario.
II province where the general comfort of
the people affords "A better opportunity to
eliminate the actual conditions, such rs
bad shelter and clothing. which swell the
mortality of cold weather in the British
metropolis. The meagre statistics obtain
able confirm the opinions formed by sta
tisticians elsewhere, that cold weather in
creases the mortality. In some years each
of the winter months shows larger num-
her of deaths than do any summer ones.
and, if the summer complaint, of children
especially are deducted from the sum To-
tai of deaths. the contrast between cold
weather and hot is extremely marked
Only when August is dry and hot. and
the germs of disease are easily tloatcd
through the air. does that month exceed
in mortality the monthly maximum of the
winter season. A comparison between
mild and cold winters reveals very plainly
the fact that mortality increases with the
cold. In the years 1871. rs and % the
latest for which returns have been pub
lished. the registrati of deaths was well
attended to almost everywhere through
ont the province.