The herald., 1895-08-04
Effect of Heat on the Body in
California
AN INTERESTING TREATISE
By Trained Observer, Who Treats tht
Case Clearly
Scientific Explanation of Phenomena Which
Arc Not Generally Understood.
Climate Explained

b. S. Pague of the weather bureau
office. San Francisco. is the author OF
the following dissertation on sensible
temperatures and the effect OF heat on
the body in California. The matter is
well worth careful reading and study. To
thoss living IN the state it furnishes an
explanation OF phenomena which to them
are tamilia but not widely understood and
to those living in the east who nave
heard much that is incredible of the
GLORIOUS climate of California, it will
offer scientific reason for the climatic
conditions existing here, and OF which
the people feel pardonably proud. The
article is as follows:
Much has been SAID and written OF the
climate of California, OF its sunshine. its
rainfall its temperature, and of all phases
Of the weather, but seldom Is anything
SAID OF the effect of the heat in Califor-
MIA. 1t is well known that on account of
its long sea coast. its noun tain ranges
and its latitudes, that within the confines
of the state may be found any climate
that may be desired. The snow-capped
and higher mountain regions have tenn
peratures equal to the Arctic regions. the
plains and valleys. especially of the
southern portions. have tempera cures at
times of the torrid zone. The greater
portion of the state has pleasant mean
between the two. while the immediate
coast has 4 climate free from heat aud
free from cold
Over the great valleys OF the Sacramen-
to and San Joaquin and over tnat large
area OF the state removed from the i'm
mediate coast and south of the Tehachepi
mountains, maximum temperature OF
from 106 deg. to 113 deg. is experienced
during the summer months, ana as hlgh
as 120 deg. has been recorded in Death
valley in July. These abnormally high
TEN peratures are sufficient to kill hui
man being, and would kill if it we're not
for the safeguards with which nature has
provid ad all FORMS OF life. The tempera-
lures noted are from weather bureau rec
ords, and show the TEN perature OF the
air, the thermometer being in the shade
in a standard ermometer shelter. The
reason tnat these temperatures do not
kill is that while the degree of heat noted
is that which Is actually recorded. due to
causes whicn will be explaind that which
is known as the sensible temperature is
about 40 deg. less. dependent upon the
amount of moisture in the air, and 1T is
this sensible temperature (which affects
life
By sensible temperature is menat that
which Is felt at the surface of the skin,
where the skin is exposed, as on the face
or hands. The body, when in healthy
state, is constantly furnishing moisture
to the skin. which in casese exudes and
called beads of perspiration." This
moisture is evaporated by the air, and
hence the cooling of the skin. The cool
ing effect of the evaporation is the safe
guard against luxurious effects by ex-
treme heat. This cooling of the skin
then subjects the body to the direct effect
of the sensible temperature. This tenn
perature is obtained from what is known
as the wet bulb thermometer-i. e., ther-
mometer having its bulb incased in a
piece of muslin to which is attached a
piece OF wIcking. which latter. ending in
a cup of water, by the capillary of the
cotton wicking the bulb is kept moist
ened, hence Its name-wet bulb ther :
m ometer. Dope ndent upon the dryness
of the air does the evaporation from the
wet bulb ensue, and the temperature
shown by the wet bulb thermometer 10
the sensible temperature. For example,
at San Francisco on June %, 1891, tenn
perature of 100 deg. was recorded; at the
same time the wet bulb tbermomeie er
showed a Temperature of 62 deg. VIII le
he air surrounding the body h ad a ten
perature of 10J deg. yet the air being
dry and the evaporation from the body
great, the body, OF the blood OF the body
was subjected to a temperature Of but 81
deg. This of course, to a person in nor
NAL health and in the shade.
When water is changed from the liquid
to the vapor condition certain quantity
OF heat is utilized, which. on evapora-
ton. is changed to latent heat and is
thus no longer sensible. feeling o
GOODNESS therefore results from the
change, and as long as evaporation con-
tinues the surface where It takes place is
cooler than the general temperature of
the surrounding air. When one is heated
fan is used to give relief and make one
comfortable. The motion of the fan
causes a more rapid movement of the air.
This air moved by the tan against the
face, has the same temperature as that
which is not so disturbed. The cooling
effect comes from the more rapid move
ment of the air produced by the motions
of the fan, which causes more rapid evap-
Grafton of the moisture on the face and
exposed portions of the body, hence a
more rapid cooling effect, and the tenn
perature Of the air felt by the face under
the influence of the tanning is the SEN
sible temperature,