Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-01
CLIMATE AND HEALTH
A New Publication Just Issued by the
National Weather Bureau.
EndeavOrine to Establish Scientific
Relations Between the MeteOrologi-
cal Conditions and Sickness.


the weather bureau, the first number of
new official periodical that will henceforth
be one of the features of the literary work
turned out by the government every month.
1t is called Climate and Health" and is
edited by w. F. r. Phillips, NJ. D., of this
city Its purpose Is to establish a scientific
connection between the mortality and
meteorological statistics, SO as to make ac-
curate ratios between the weather and the
health of the ration. 1t Is the outgrowth
of letter sent i'm December. 1898, by the
Secretary of Agriculture, j. Sterling Nor
ton, to the then chief of the weather bu-
reau in which he expressed the hope that
certain work done in Cornwall, england, IN
this direction, might be duplicated ana am.
plified here. Communication was ndu az
Cnce with prominent sanitarianS and physi-
clans throughout the country, inviting them
to express their views as to the feas1oiEty
of the project, and the consensus OF OPINION
was decidedly favorable Accordingly err
cular issued by the bureau in January last
announced the decision to inaugurate the
publication of a monthly magazine devoted
to such matters, and preparations were
made to cons, inmate the enort.
The First Issue.
The first issue is devoted to the statistics
for the month of July, and is now ready for
distribution. 1t consists Of mortality and
Gated in every section of the country,
coupled with the meteorological conditions
existing there during the four weeks COW
cred by the reports Five charts are also
given. The first shows the average baro-
metric departures from the normal, the an
sOlute pressure ranges, the prevaIing WINDS
for the week, and the normal wind d.rec-
tons. The second chart indicates the mean
temperature of the week, the mean wet
bulb, or sensible temperature; the mean de-
plrture from the normal, and the difference
between the atmospheric and wet-bulb
mean temperatures. Chart No. 3 shows the
average daily departure of precipitation OF
moisture from the normal and the average
and absolute relative hum.dities. The fourth
chart gives the highest and lowest tenn
peratures of the week, and the fifth chart
shows the total mortality by states. with a
diagram. presenting the average climatic
charts and tables there are two pages de-
voted to a complete Est of definitions and
references. giving the reader a clear under
standing of the entire work.
Editors Preface.
In the preface the EDITOR states that this
first number is wholly experimental in the
scrt of information which 1t contains and in
the manner and plan in which the various
statistics are published. 1t is said also that
the data as to mortality and morbidity (sick-
RESI- are incomplete, and can only be made
more perfect and satisfactory by hearty CO.
operation by every collector of statistics in
the country.
Statistics of mortality the editor contin-
ues, though easier to obtain than those of
morbidity. are not SO well adapted as the
latter to show etiologic connections between
Sickness and weather changes and condi-
tons. 1t is very evident that disease may
terminate fatally, and most probably does
so terminate. under decidedly different me-
teorologic conditions from those prevalent
at its inception. II 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, 1t would probably be of con-
siderable value to the physician in the treat
ment of the disease, but it is doubtful If this
sort Of knowledge could be of service in the
prevention of the disease. On the other
hand, If the prevalence of given atmos-
pheric condition should be found to be coin
cident with the greater or less frequency
| OF certain disease, the knowledge will be
useful to both the physician and the general
public In indicating an insisterce upon the
observance of more or less stringent pre-
ventive measures.
Prevention and Cure.
Prevention is assuming in the medical
thought OF today a value coordinate with,
If not greater than, that of therapeutics,
and attempts. even though they appear
but feeble efforts, tending to add something
to our knowledge of the etiology and pre-
vention Of disease may expect to receive
considerate attention. Therefore, it is
hoped that the medical profession will ex-
tend to this endeavor of the weather
bureau. to be of service 10 it in particular,
and to mankind in general, a cordial CO.
operation, till time may show either the
value of continuing the endeavor, or the
advisability Of abandoning it.
THE statutory organization of the wealth
er bureau confines its work to climate and
meteorology, and 1t can employ it's ac-
tivity in other fields only in so far as they
are directly related to, or affected by, these
sciences. Therefore, it must not be ex-
peeted, nor is IL contemplated, that the
weather bureau shall enter into competition
with either state or federal establishments
on medical or sanitary affairs, nor dupli-
cate the work done by them. The general
aim of the weather bureau In this new
field of work will be to collect the meteor
ologic and hygienic statistics that may be
considered by santarians and medical eli
matologsts of the greatest correlative i'm
portance, and to publish them in the shapes
most acceptable and useful to these pro-
LESSONS. Criticisms and suggestions tend
ing to the attainment Of these ends are
invited and will be accorded careful con.
s:derat.on."