Year: 1879

| From the Philadelphia Times.


The climate of the United States, and
especially the Eastern portion of it, is sub
ject to great and rapid changes. These
are caused, in many instances, by the
large extent Of land surface over which the
Territory extends, and the difference in the
amount Of solar heat receiTed in different
parts. When large bodies of snow have
| been deposited in the north the wind
sweeping over them is deprived of its heat,
and a lower temperature is the result
When winds from southerly latitudes oc-
cur, the reverse takes place. The vicinity
OF the large oceans which margin on the
continent of North America, on the east
and West, also tend to produce change,
water parting with ITS heat less rapidly
than the land. In addition to these the
current of warm water thrown along the
east coast of the United States by the Gulf
Stream, and in the Pacific by the Sea Of
Japan, also exert q powerful influence on
the climate of the United States. That
waves Of heat and cold travel in certain
directions, and often with increasing ra-
pidity, is generally caused by the course of
chains of mountains and the vicinity Of
oceans and lakes. In the States east of
the Alieghenies clouds loaded with rain or
snow generally come from the east or
north, while in the great valley Of the
Mississippi the cold wave usually has its
origin in the ice and snow-covered coun-
tries directly north, and periods Of drouth
by winds from the South.


In European countries the cultivation Of
the soil and the removal of timber have
produced important climatic changes, and
the same has been noticed in the United
States. Our winters, probably, have not
SO much severe weather as occurred in tho
early settlement of the continent, but it
takes place much more suddenly and to a
greater extent. This is easily accounted
for, as the land, when denuded of timber,
presents less obstruction to the advance of
storms, and also greater diversity of ex-





sun, and becomes more readily and differ
emily heated. Air is we'll known, wind is
nothing more than wind rushing in to re-
store the equilibrium which has been dis
turbed by heat, and when the air thus
moving is loaded by snow or other vapor,
this when meeting with air of a different
temperature, condensation takes place and
rain or snow is deposited.


The influence of these sudden changes
on health is subject for the investigation
of medical men and philanthropsts That
it has much to do in causing physical in
firmities cannot admit of doubt. A
change of forty degrees Of temperature,
such as occurred on the ID inst, must sg-
gravate all diseases of the pulmonary or
gans, and hence, perhaps, the extent and
fatal effects of consumption in the Eastern
and many OF ting Western States. :


Countries in which the temperature is
nearest uniform, whether it be of a high or
low temperature, are generally least
afflicted by diseases which arise from expo
sure to the extremes OF heat and cold, while
almost every portion of the habitable
globe is subject to visitations from maladies
which produce disease and death. These
generally arise from local causes, such as
stagnant water, and large quantities of an
imai matter undergoing decomposition.
They do not extend to large areas, and in
stances of longevity in such countries are
not uncommon.


The lengtheniug day and the restoration
to state of rest of the disturbed atmos-
phere will cause the present cold wave to
be in manner temporary, but 50 long as
large bodies Of ice and snow are spread
over the Great Lakes, and large portions of
the East and West, the recurrence of SINH
lar waves Of cold, though not Of equal in
tensity, may be expected to prevail.