The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-02
From the Washington Star.

Does the weather regulate human
conduct, and do atmospheric conditions
have a marked effect upon the crimi-
nally inclined?
These are the startling questions
which the meteorological experts at
Washington have been asked to grapple
with and solve. The direct results of
their investigations, so far as they
have progressed, disclose some ex-
ceedingly interesting facts.
That mans mental functions are to
a greater or lesser extent governed by
his physical condition is a fact long
ago discovered by psychologists. But
to what extent the shortcomings or
evil doings of mankind are directly
traceable TO conditions of the weather
It has remained until today for ply
sicians. scientists and laymen interest
ed iii such,research TO find out. Indeed,
the majority of normal persons, what
ever their occupation, are swayed in
tellectually and physically by the pre-
vailing state Of the weather, and the
police records disclose a corresponding
increase or decrease of crime with the
falling and rising barometer And these
statements are not haphazard, nor are
hey founded upon supposition; they are
matters of record and scientific fact,
vOuched for by the best-known and
most capable authorities of the land.
A CRIMINAL BAROMETER.
When Professor Emil Dauchncy of
Paris recently made the assertion that
the record Of murder, burglary and
other crimes could be shown by
barometer mathematiCally constructed
for the purpose just as accurately as
the weather is now shown by the COM
mon barometer the writer set out upon
a little journey of inquiry among the
meteorological sharps to ascertain just
how much of truth and how much of
the zeal of a scientific specialist was
contained in Or. Dauchney's statement.
In what degree the French savant
was right can best be decided after a
perusal of the facts in hand.
The statistics of the weather bu
reaus prove, first, that men and wo-
men who live in high lattiudes have
in their mental and physical makeup
much more of the animal than have
their brethren of the south. and in
consequence. while the southerner is
easily discouraged and losing heart
takes to suicide. the man who was
born and lives in the north revcnges
himself upon his fellow beings rather
than upon himself; and, secondly, that
crime is generally premeditated in
warm, cloudy weather, while the deed
Itself is executed under clear and
bracing meteorological conditions. The
reports of the department of agriCul-
ture on this subject. though not as
exhaustive as one might wish, are at
y-ith nd tc
and figures of the same kind our ma
tive investigators say that during eX-
ccssvely hot weather, when there is Il
great deal of humidity in the atmO-
sphere and persons perspire more
freely, when there is little or no relief
for sweltering humanity. the mind be-
comes to certain extent deranged
and the commission of crime results.
DARK DAYS AND MURDER.
After a thorough study of the ques-
tlnn, Professor Dauchney says: when
very moist the atmosphere is a much
better conductor of electricity than at
any other time. Then the natural
electricity is drawn from the body, and
this has tendency to destroy vitality
and weaken the mental faculties. Dark
days and mugEy weather means an in
CIeHSE ol muFuCf, fODDelS, rape, arson
and suicide" ur. S. A. *. Strahan,
who, next to Lombroso. ranks az one
OF the foremost criminologists of the
Gays, says, relative to the effect of
weather upon those who are morally
oblique: The popular belief is that
the winter months, and especially
dreary November, is the season in
which crimes occurred most frequent
Is. Like some other popular beliefs
this has proved upon inquiry to be
without foundation In fact. The eX-
animation OF a large collection of sta
tistics, although not establishing a
constant proportion for each season.
shows clearly that in all countries from
which statistics can be obtained the
maximum is attained in one or other
Of the spring or early summer
months"
DR.. Strahan further states that Il
IS when skies are lowering and there
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