An inaugural address on some of the relations of meteorological phenomena to man : delivered before the Society of Medical Officers of Health, October, 1882 / by John W. Tripe.

  • Tripe, John William, 1821-1892.
Date:
[1882]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inaugural address on some of the relations of meteorological phenomena to man : delivered before the Society of Medical Officers of Health, October, 1882 / by John W. Tripe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    at the following conclusions. Firstly, that a mean monthly tempe- rature below 44.6 deg., is adverse to the progress of scarlatina ; whilst a mean temperature above 44.6 deg., is coincident with an increase in the mortality from the disease. Secondly, that the greatest mortality from scarlatina, occurred in the months which had a mean monthly temperature above 44.6 deg., and below 57.0 deg. Fahr. Thirdly, that during the nine years 1839-48, the greatest increase in the mortality of one month, as compared with that of the next, happened when the mean monthly temperature was the same as that just mentioned ; and the greatest decrease in the comparative monthly mortality, happened when the mean tempera- ture of the month was below 40.0 deg. Fourthly that the increment in the mortality, did not occur in the same ratio with the increase of temperature, nor did the diminution in the temperature correspond with the ratio of decrease in the number of deaths ; but the closest correspondence occurred in the months of December, January, and February, when the mean monthly temperature was 40.0 deg. or below. As regards the effects of humidity on scarlet fever, I found that the comparative mortality was, with the exception of the month of March, lower in those months in which the degree of humidity was above the average of the month. In March, there was a higher comparative mortality when the humidity of the atmosphere was plus than when it was minus. These results are shown in detail in the following table :— Comparative Mortality, Humidity of the Air being Plus. Minus. January 57 .... 58 February 91 .... 190 March 99 .... 83 April 80 .... 90 May 108 129 June 106 .... 137 July 112 .... 121 August 105 .... I09 September 114 .... 14° October 120 .... 121 November 85 .... 99 •December 77 • • • > 77 By comparative mortality, I mean the mortality of one month when compared with that of the preceding, say of February com- pared with that of January, which would be termed the com- parative mortality of February.