MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASSOCIATION. 1^3 



derives from the surrounding hills, and the higher temperature of 

 the months of March and April, a season which is always found 

 to be the most trying to those suffering from ill health or natural 

 weakness of constitution, it is probable, that in respect of mere 

 climate, the valley of Worcestershire will be found more favourable 

 to the health of the mass of its inhabitants than the hundred of 

 Penwith. 



The mean height of the barometer at London and Penzance, as 

 obtained from observations carried on during three years, is stated 

 by Dr. Forbes, to be — Penzance, 29.61 — London, 29.8*2. At Wor- 

 cester, during the year 1832, Dr. Streeten spates it to have been 

 29.93. We might hence infer the great humidity of the atmos- 

 phere of the Landsend, and accordingly the annual average of rain 

 observed to fall at Penzance is as high as 44.7 inches, whereas at 

 Bristol it is not more than 24 inches, and about Worcester, agree- 

 ably to Dr. Hastings, about 27 inches. Dr. Forbes remarks in con- 

 nection with this subject, 



" I am unacquainted with any hygrometrical observation s'that have been made in 

 this part of the country ; I cannot, therefore, give any precise statement either of 

 the comparative or actual humidity of its atmosphere. There can be no doubt, 

 however, that this is much greater than in the interior counties. Its situation alone 

 may be deemed sufficient to prove this ; but the fact is further demonstrated by many 

 well-known peculiarities. There is much greater difficulty, for instance, of guarding 

 against the oxydation of iron at Penzance than at London : and of preserving 

 articles of dress, &c. from the effects of damp, a fact well known and admitted by 

 every one there resident. The great prevalence of westerly winds in this district 

 will be more particulai-ly noticed hereafter : now, this wind, if it does not always 

 bring rain, certainly has always qualities of great humidity, sufficiently cognizable 

 by the senses. The warm west winds often bring with them a sort of drizzly rain, 

 sufficient to wet thoroughly, grass and other vegetables, or the clothes of a person 

 exposed to it; while neither the rain-guage, nor the roads or streets, show any 

 indication of its^piesence, unless long continued," 



So that not only is the actual fall of rain nearly double the 

 amount of what is observed in the midland counties, and at 

 Bristol, but the light of the sun is obscured by almost perpetual 

 mist. Frost and snow, it appears, are of very rare occurrence 

 in this district. 



" It results from Mr. Giddy, sen.'s tables, that the average number of days on 

 which snow has fallen in any one year, is very little more than two and a half; and, 

 including the days on which hail showers are noted, it scarcely amounts to nme. 

 It appears, also, that of the fourteen years included in the tables, there have been 

 four on which no snow fell. Of course, the existence of causes to prevent the fall 

 of snow will prevent its continuance on the ground ; and the fact is, that snow never 

 remains on the soil in the vicinity of Penzance more than a day or two, seldom, 

 indeed, more than a few hours; and even on the highest grounds, in the centre of 

 the narrow peninsula, it seldom has been known to continue more thjin a week or 

 ten days." 



The passage just quoted, will apply equally well to the plains of 

 Worcestershire ; at least, for the last three or four years, we have 

 scarcely observed snow to fall, and in no instance during that period 

 do we recollect that it remained upon the ground more than a few 

 hours. The effect of this mildness of the climate of the Lands- 

 end, or rather of Penzance, (for we doubt whether, had corres- 



