New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-17

AZ the Menfai and Physiological Effects Of
G Genni1 i,saseT Fb D. professor of Education
IN the University OF illinois with an introdnG-
ton by Professor Cleveland Apoe- o'O' pP
81 The Macmillan Company
IL has long been obvious that something be-
sides inconvenience and discomfort results from
changes I'm the weather. The ability to perform
manual end mental labor and ones cheerfuiness
and amia bility are sensibly affected by meteoro-
logical conditions. The painstaking inquiry
made by Professor Dexter therefore. viii serve
many useful purposes Never before has the
matter been studied as thoroughly as by him.
His comparisons embrace. on the one hand, six
hundred thousand instances of abnormal con-
Duct" in New-York and Denver. extending
through an interval Of ten years, and, on the
other hand the temperature, barometric reading
humidity and wind velocity on the correspond
ing days The data have been obtained from
official sources. and relate to the behavior OF
school children: department in penitentiaries ar
rests for assault and battery, insanity ana
drunkenness: clerical errors in banks. sickness
and mortality On some accounts it might have
been wiser 10 ignore the question of health, be-
cause different diseases prevail different sea
sons. Many % them are promoted by unfaVor-
able weather. but their number is so great that
no sound Inference is practicable when the net
result alone is considered. Again. outside an
fuences operate so extensively to inspire indul-
gence in liquor that the share which the weather
has must be somewhat obscure. Fewer COM
plications enter into the other departments of
Professor Dexter's research. and his conclusions
regarding them deserve careful examination.
II has been found that children are more easily
controlled COOL clear, calm days, whereas in
extremely hot weather they become less man
sgeable. Generally speaking. they more
restless in n dry air than when the humidity is
excessive Wind has a singularaly aggravating
effect especially iii Colorado. Professor Dexter
attributes that fact largely to the increased
amount of atmospheric electricity which is gen
Grated under such conditions. The effect seems
TO be excessive stimulus to nervous discharge.
While teachers at such times find their patience
and ingenuity taxed to the utmost. mental
workers discover that they can perform their
tasks more readily than usual. although the re-
action is greater in consequence. Even race
horses seem to make better records on such days
than on others. Crime and insanity show
cess in hot weather. as do INSTRUMENTATION in
penal institutions and mistakes in accounting in
banks. The latter show a rather puZzling gain
in the late autumn and early winter. but as the
development does not continue past the holiday
season il is conceivable that social distractions
may possibly produce the observed effect. HUI
nudity seems to have little influence on bank
errors. but wind dminishes them perhaps be-
calns." says Professor Dexter. those life phe
nomena which due TO excessive vitality
deficient I'm number"
Both the emotions and the reserve energy de-
veloped from day TO day respond 10 meteoro-
logical changes. Professor Dexter thinks that
the stimulus TO the spirits is less conspicuous
than that impaired to the working capacity and
physical welfare, but they all move in harmony.
He also finds that those conditions which in
a broad sense productive of health and mental
alertness also productive OF misconduct.
Hence he feels warranted in adding that mis-
conduct is the result Of excess Of reserve
energy not directed to some useful purpose"
This book may he studied with profit by physi
clans, teachers. the superintendent Of schools
and penitentiaries. and by persons who have
large number Of employees. 1t will clear up
number Of mysteries like the fiuctuation in the
daily output Of factory and eccentricties of
behs TiOr I'm children and convicts and will sug-
gest the adoption OF certain precautions which
might net otherwise be taken.