The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-10
FORTY YEARS AGO.
AETEoRoLoGY AND HEALTH
NOTES OF 1856.
Interesting Statistics From DR.
Logan's Estate Medical Jour-
naP' for That. Year.

The following data from the "Califor-
MIA Medical Journal" gives DR.. T. M.
Logan's weather summary for eacn
month in 1856, and in addition thereto
health and mortality Of Sacramento for
each month Of that year:
JANUARY.
The mean of the barometer and Their
mometer were above the average Of the
three preceding years; the former
by O.254 inches, and the latter
by 3.59 degrees. The minimum
of the Acknowledgment occurred
on the LIST and was 30 degrees.
and the maximum on the 10th, which
was 60 degrees. On the Sd frost re-
manned all day unthawed in the shade.
The rainy days exceeded the average
to the number Of seven. There were five
days Of more or less fog. The quantity
of rain was 4.92 inches. The mean
temperature of the river was Al
degrees. while that of well water at the
same distance below the surface az
feeD read So degrees. The sanitary con-
ditton of the city remained excellent, the
total deaths numbering only twenty
seven. Of which five were from unascer-
tanned causes. There were also five
deaths put down to consumption, which
covers always great variety Of fatal
forms Of disease contracted elsewhere.
The ages OF greatest mortality were be-
tween 30 and 40 years.
FEBRUARY.
There was but slight variation from
the average results Of the readings OF
the barometer, while the mean temper
allure was la degrees warmer than
normal. The thernometrograph reached
its maximum on the Oath, SO degrees;
minimum 81. Spring opened early. On
the 7th' the willow was in full blossom;
on the 10Th mallow was seen leafed out
on our, verdant plains. and on the 10th
the shoots Of the elder were found
swelling into leaves. Next in order fol-
lowed the buttercup, and on the 18th the
wild violet, at which latter date the
peach and apricot were putting forth
the month amounted to O.69 inches. The
temperature Of river and wells did not
vary materially from that of the pre-
vious month.
The city perhaps was never so free
of this month, but accidents of all kind
were rife, swelling the bill of mortality
to more than double what it would
otherwise have been by proving fatal in
five other instances besides those occa
stoned by the collapse Of the boiler of a
river steamer. The number of deaths
IN the second vicennaid Of life has al
ways been disproportionally great in
California, owing to the fact that the
majority of the population is composed
of such as have attained the age when
the disposition to enterprise and adj
venture mostly predominates. Thus, of
the total number of deaths this month,
viz, thirtytwo, seventeen were be-
tween the ages of 20 and 40.
MARCH.
The early spring developed in F'ebru-
airy progressed rapidly during this
month under the influence of a high
temperature exceeding the average by
3.12 degrees. The barometer varied
very little from the average Highest
temperature 20 degrees, lowest 81 de-
grees. The temperature of the river
and wells We're the same as the proceed
ing month.
The effect of the genial weather on
the health of the city was displayed in
the mortuary report. Only 16 deaths
occurred. and each from a different and
distinct disease-except two-stil1born.
Ten out of the 16 were between the
ages Of 20 and 80.
APRIL.
The barometer and thermometer were
both considerably below the average
this month Two heavy frosts, the last
of the season, occurred on the mornings
of the 26th and 10Th. The highest and
lowest temperatures were 20 degrees
and 43 degrees, although the amount Of
rain was small, still enough fell to pre-
vent the ruinous consequences Of the
drought Of the preceding month upon
the cereal crop of the whole country.
On the LIST the barn swallow made its
appearance, and toward the close of
the month wild geese were seen wend-
ing their way northwardly-a certain
indication Of the end of cold weather.
Salmon and sturgeon, also, began to as
cend the river in considerable quanti-
ties to oviposit. The temperature of
the river stood at about 81 degrees, be-
dng degrees below the average of well
water u feet below the surface.
Although the number of deaths this
month exceeded that of the last by IA,
still the sanitary condition of the city
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