The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-11-23
WEATHER AFFECTS THE MIND
Atmospheric Changes Are Instantly
Felt by Those in Mental
Pursuits.

Though it is now generally accepted
that the atmosphere is great gaseous
| ocean surrounding the earth, and that
we are walking about on the bottom of
this ocean-the science of the weather,
however, cannot be said to have sprung
up before the last half century.
To-day we know that the atmosphere
has its tides and pillows and whirling
eddies, but these are vastly greater
i than those of the watery ocean. At one
| time we are under the crest or rounded
portion of a mighty atmospheric wave,
at another the hollow between two such
waves is over our heads, eXerting an
| influence not only on the body, but also
on the mind. Some, indeed, may af-
feet to treat this with ridicule, and the
strong and robust may scarcely be SEN
sible of any minute changes which the
state of the weather may produce on
| their systems, but the more sensitive
and susceptible again are fully alive to
| the facts; so much so, indeed, as to be-
come in some measure living barom-
eters.
Who has not, in some part of his life
|
effect of dull and muggy rainy day on
his mind, on which he felt it his nat
ural prerogative to be "out of all sorts,'
or who, on the contrary, has not felt the
eXhilaration of dry air and a bright,
! glowing sunshine?
There are several circumstances,
said DR.. Latz a Chicago physician who
was asked to give his views on this sub
jcct, (which naturally affect the atmos-
phere as respects its influence on or
gained beings as its tempera-
ture, its moist or dry condition, its
purity as respects admiXture of other
gases, and its electric condition.
Hot air. DR.. Late added, lis always
depressing and relaxing to the whole
system, and as hot and highly rarefied
| air contains in the same bulk smaller
proportion of oxygen or vital air than
cold and denser air, the lungs are thus
effectively supplied with one of their
chief stimulants of life. Cold air on
the other hand, is bracing and highly
stimulating. Everyone must have eX-
| perienced the effects of these two eX-
tremes-the first in the languor and
lassitude and oppressed breathing of
sultry summer day; the other in the eX-
hilaration caused by dry, frosty day
in winter and the increased muscular
activity and the rudy glow of health
which such weather causes.
when the air is suddenly rarefied,
or when a change of its constitution is
about to take place, corresponding
impression is left in the animal system.
This is experienced before great
storms, hurricanes or heavy falls of rain
or snow.
Not only does man become sensible
of this, but even inferior animals,
throughout all their grades of exist
ence, manifest by some outward indica-
tons their feelings of the approaching
change The cattle leave their pastures,
often with a loud believing birds wheel
about in the air and other small ami
mails become unusually agitated. Physi-
clans attribute the prevalence of many
diseases to the different states of the
atmosphere. Thus, moist air gives rise
to bilious affections and in some locali-
ties and seasons to agues; dry sharp
of the chest and lungs. An irritable
state of the nervous system, and even
temporary insanity, may also occur
from extreme conditions of the sur
rounding atmosphere
Nearly all vocations-some. of course,
more than others are affected by
weather. Men of science are often as
much subjected to weather as seamen.
Some writer's must have the weather fit
the mood, character or scene and can
do nothing if they are at variance. An
adverse temperature brings them to a
dead halt. If one will but read poetry
attentiveiy he will he surprised to find
how much of it bears weather marks,
scattered all through it. Diverse wealth.
er states may be one cause of so much
diversity and even disagreement in
thought processes usually regarded as
scientific.
Miss Mighell, an experienced teacher
and principal of the Bryan school,
thinks there should be notifications of
school work and discipline to corre-
spond with the weather. Mr.. Kurowski,
a Chicago manufacturer, said:
1--WE reckon that a disagreeable day
yields us about ten per cent. less work
than delightful day, and we thus have
to count this as a factor in our profit
and loss account" Accidents are more
numerous in factories on bad days. A
railroad man never proposes changes
to his superior if the weather is not
propitious. Fair days make men ac-
cessible and generous and open to con-
slider new problems favorably. Some
even say that opinions reached in best
weather states are safest to invest on
Chicago Chronicle.
Luggage Arrived First.
As a train was moving out of a Scotch