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ANALYSIS OF THE OBSERVATORY RECORDS FOR 

 NOVEMBER, 1866, IN CONJUNCTION WITH 

 THOSE OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, &c. By E. Swarbeeck 

 Hall. 



Though the IMeteorological phenomena this month, were in many 

 respects abnormal, the deaths were nevertheless below the average of the 

 previous nine years' Novembers. The air was pure and the rainfall large, 

 80 that in the Zvinotic class of diseases there was not a single death re- 

 corded. On the other hand, atmospheric pressure underwent frequent and 

 extensive daily perturbations ; temperature, also, was considerably below 

 the average, with wide daily ranges. The diseases, therefore, most in- 

 fluenced by the latter phenomena, were more fatal proprotionately to the 

 whole mortality than usual. 



Atmospheric pressure mean, 29794, differed very little from the 20 

 years' adopted standard mean, being only + -069 higher. The maximum, 

 30-139, occurred on the 5th. No year since 1854 had so low a maximum. 

 The minimum, 29-259, was noted on the 22nd, and was in no way remark- 

 able. The month's range -880, in 17 days was smaller than has been 

 recorded since 1854. Nevertheless, the daily perturbations were more 

 than usually great, the highest being a rise of + *680 of an inch on the 3rd. 

 The next in amount was a fall of — -588 on the 22nd. Altogether, there 

 were 15 days on which the movements of the barometer exceeded one 

 fifth of an inch. These facts show how much an enquirer might be led 

 astray in weighing the influence of atmospheric pressure on health and 

 life, by depending on monthly averages, instead of scrutinising the daily 

 variations. Persons suffering under hopeless diseases of long standing 

 succumbed in great numbers to the rapid and extensive mutations of 

 atmospheric pressure and temperature, as the analysis of the mortuary 

 records from cancer, consumption, heart, and other chronic diseases will 

 hereafter show. 



Wind-force had a total of 75-68 lbs., ""which is — 36-65 lbs. less than 

 the November average of the previous nine years, and — 61-22 lbs. less 

 than 1865 had. Nevertheless, when the frequency and force of the winds 

 from the different points of the compass are examined in reference to their 

 salubrity, it is evident that the present month, with a force so much below 

 what is usual, on the whole had a preponderance from those quarters from 

 which the purest (most highly ozonised) winds blow. South-east, southy 

 south-west, west, were noted 44 out of the 90 observations, but with 43-95 

 lbs. of the 75-68 lbs. total force, or considerably more than one half. Last 

 year the three first of these winds had not so much force as in the present 

 year, by 14-81 lbs. The greatest force noted was, 5-21 lbs. pressure to the 

 square foot, recorded twice, one being a south, and the other a north-ivet- 

 wind. Only 6 calms were registered being — 3-67 less than the nine years' 

 average, and two less than 1865 had. Constant but moderate winds, prin- 

 cipally from the healthiest quarters, characterised the present month, 

 and had a neutralising effect on other less propitious meteorological 

 phenomena. 



Temperature mean, 56-46 degrees, is — 1-33 below the 20 years' mean, 

 and — 2-77 less than 1865 had. November 1863 was nearly a degree 

 colder, but no other November since 1854 was nearly so cold as the pre- 

 sent year's. The mean of the self-registering maxima and minima 

 thermometers, was again lower than the observed ones, being only 55-32 

 degrees. The maximimi was 80 degrees, noted on the 6th. Last year the 

 maximum was 95 degrees. Only four times in the previous 25 years, were 

 there lower maxima than the present month had. The mean of all the 



