The New York herald., 1921-07-24
Worse Things Than Heat.
Two Other Factors In the Discomfort
OF Hot Spell.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: It is not
often that the temperature Of a hot
spell in the eastern part Of the United
States remains for any length of time
above 100 degrees. In the southwestern
part Of the United States prolonged
spells with night temperatures not lower
than 100 degrees are common. ~
In June, 1877, a hot spell covered Ari
zona and southern California lasting the
whole month. At Fort Yuma. then q
military post occupied by a surgeon and
two or three attendants. the temperature
did not fall below 103 degrees during
tho month. Tho mean temperature fo1
the month, Weather Bureau observas
tions, was 10 degrees. At various
localities maxima ranging between 1as
degrees and 122 degrees were observed
at unofficial stations.
During the hot spell the writer made
a trip afoot Of nearly twenty miles with
out anything unusual happening ana
without any special discomfort. The
trip horseback would have been out OF
the question from tho fact that water
was not obtainAblA A man can get
along without watsr on such q trip: q
horse is likely to succu1nb. At tho time
Of starting tho shade temperature at
Fort Yuma was 112 degrees. The sun
temperature at such times Is anywhere
from 1913 degrees to lao degrees.
One not familiar with desert life would
naturally expect a very high rate Of
mortality during such q hot spell. A. q
matter Of fact the mortality was not
measurably affected by tho intense heat.
The low moisture content of the air per-
mits rapid evaporation from the skin:
the constant breeze increases evapora-
ton. Even with an air temperature OF
lao degrees q breeze Is cooling and re-
freshing.
On tho ,other hand. when the air 10
moist-and this Is almost always the
case In the eastern part of the United
States-evaporation from the skin Is
very slow and the Hrefreshing breeze
Ii usually absent The result Il IN
variahly the same--a marked increase
In mortality.
OF the three known factors which con-
tribute to the mortality OF hot spells
temperature, humidity and air move
ment-within certain limits temperature
seems to be the least important. With
a moderate air movement and humidity
between Is per cent. and 80 per cent q
temperature of 140 degrees. though un-
comfortable, Is not intolerable; indeed.
. temperature Of 100 degrees can be
borne for several hours without fatal
effecta But take away air movement
and increase the humidity to per-
centage which prevents evaporation from
the skin and human federation Is ex-
ceeded. A rapid rise in the death rate
IL the certain result
This result is observable also when
one considers the seasonal death rate.
Within our dwellings and schoolrooms
the temperature Is rarely more than
three or four degrees above the optimum
Of comfort. But the air Of dwellings
and schoolrooms Is dryer than that Of
desert Moreover. nowhere Is the air
out Of doors SO stagnant as It Is within
living rooms and schoolrooms. The re-
suit Is measured In terms OF human lifA
The death rate in January Is more than
double that Of July; and the death rata
among children under Is years Is about
three times that at the age Of 70 years.
]. w. REDwAY, f. R q. 8. |,
MOUNT VERNON, July %.