Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-10-08

there are two pages devoted to COM
plete list of definitions and references,
giving the reader clear understanding
of the entire work.
In the preface the editor states that
this first number is wholly experimental
in the sort of information which it con-
tains and in the manner and plan in
which the various statistics are published.
It is said also that the DATA as to mortel-
ity and morbidity (sickness) are incom-
plete, and can only be made more perfect
and satisfactory by hearty cooperation
by every collector of statistics in the
country.
statistics of mortality" the editor con-
tinues, "though easier to obtain than
those of morbidity, are not SO well adapt
ed az the latter to show etiologic connec-
tions between sickness and weather
changes and conditions. 1t is very evil
dent that a disease may terminate fatally,
and most probably does SO terminate,
under decidedly different meteorologic
conditions from those prevalent at it's in
ception. If the discovery should be made
that deaths from any given cause may be
expected to occur more frequently during
the manifestation of certain atmospheric
phenomena, it would probably be of con-
siderable value to the physician in the
treatment of the disease, but it is doubt
ed if this sort of knowledge could be of
service in the prevention of the disease.
On the other hand, if the prevalence of a
given atmospheric condition should be
found to be coincident with the greater
or less frequency of certain disease, the
knowledge will be usefnl to both the ply
stefan and the general public in indicating
an insistence upon the observance of
more or less stringent preventive meas
ures.
"Prevention is assuming in the medical
thought of to-day value coordinate
with, if not greater than, that of the
rapeutics, and attempts, even though
they appear but feeble efforts, tending to
add something to our knowledge of
the etiology and prevention of disease
may expect to receive considerate atten-
tion. Therefore it is hoped that the
medical profession will extend to this
endeavor of the weather bureau, to be of
service to it in particular, and to man
kind il general, cordial cooperation,
till time may show either the value of
continuing the endeavor, or the advis-
ability of abandoning it.
"The statutory organization of the
weather bureau confines its work to
climate and meteorology, and it can en-
ploy its activity in other fields only in so
far as they are directly related to, or
affected by, these sciences. Therefore, it
must not be expected, nor is it contem-
plated, that the weather bureau shall
enter into competition with either state
or federal establishments on medical or
sanitary affairs, nor duplicate the work
done by them. The general aim of the
weather bureau in this new field of work
will be to collect the meteorologio and
hygienic statistics That may be considered
by sanitarians and medical climatologists
of the greatest correlative Importance,
and to publish them in the shapes most
acceptable and useful to these profess
sions. Criticisms and suggestions tend
ing to the attainment of these ends are
invited, and will be accorded careful con-
sideration."