NOTES ON THE METEOROLOGY AND MORTALITY OF 

 THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 1871. 



By Dr. E. Swarbreck Hall. 



The extreme purity of the atmosphere, very great aerial movement, with 

 strong t<^nsion and great prevalence of electricity, were the peculiar 

 characteristics of this month. Deaths were slightly lielovv the average, and 

 fell principally upon adults and old people, the deaths under 20 years old 

 being only about one-fifth of the total at all ages. 



Atmospheric-pressure mean, 29 891, was + 'lOZ above the 25 years' adopted 

 standard mean for October. The minimum was 29 •23.3 on the 12th; the 

 maximum was 30"242 on tlie 20th ; consequently the extreme range in the 

 month was 1.009 inches The greatest movement of the barometer in any 

 24 hours was a fall of —-519 of an inch on the 12th. On seven other days 

 the movements exceeded one-fifth of an inch. 



Wind-force total, 12().741bs. was -1-20.79 above the average for October, 

 and also above the average of any other month. North West had the 

 greatest numl)er aud the greatest force, though it is evident many recorded 

 for this point of the compass were really deflected AVest winds. 29 South 

 East winds out of the 93 ol'servations were registered, but with only a total 

 force of 12.741bs. ; nevertheless this is considerably in excess of the average 

 from this point of the compass, which in Hobart Town is the purest wind, 

 and most conducive to health. North, North East, and East winds were 

 scarcely appreciable ; but South West and West were above the average 

 number and strength. There was only one South noted, l»ut it had the force 

 of 2"601bs. to the square foot. The stroni2;est wind was a gale from the West 

 on the evening of the last day of the month, with a force of 15 "6211 is. to the 

 square foot. Hot winds of a moderate character were noted on the 10th, 

 24th, 31st. Calms were 12 in number, being 3 "22 below the average. 



Temperature, mean, .55"33 degrees, was -f-1'39 above the average, according 

 to the three daily ob.-ervations, but more than one degree less by the self- 

 registering maximum and minimum th rmometers. The extremes were : 

 maximum, 84 on the 24th ; minimum, 37 in the night of the 20th. The loet 

 6i</6 thermometer had the mean of 40 22 degrees, which is only -f "03 above 

 the average. 



DaiJy range of temperature mean, 20*39, was -1-1 "72 above the average. 

 The greatest range was on the 10th, being 35 degrees. 



Solar-intensity mesiU, ^o'll de^^rees, was only -F 00 'll above the average. 

 The hottest record was 117 degrees on the 24th. 



Terrestrial-radiation mean, 40'42 degrees was — 1'57 degrees below the 

 average. The coldest record was 32 degrees (freezing point) in the night of 

 the 3rd. On the day followiiig four deaths occurred, being double the 

 number for any other day of the month. 



Elastic force of vapour mean, 287, was — 13 below the average, ranging 

 from minimum 179 at the evening observation on the 4th, to maximum 413 

 on the evening of the 23rd. 



Humidity mean, 07, Avas — 6 below the average. The highest record was 93 

 on the morning of the 25th, but saturation (100) was never noted. 



Rain-fall amounted to 1*52 inches, which is —45 less than the October 

 average. There were 12 days on which rain was recorded, lieing — 2 "90 less 

 than the average. On three days the rain fell suflBciently to cleanse water- 

 courses, sewers, &c., the heaviest fall being 42 of an inch on the 25th. 

 Snoio was never absent from Mount Wellington during the month, and 

 received frequent additions, so copiously on the 3rd as to coat the mountain 

 to its base. There was a smart hail storm in the city on the 2nd, 



Spontaneous-Evaporation amounted to 3 '54 inches. 



Cloud mean, 5'90, was -|- 20 above the average. 



Ozone mean, 8 '47, was -t- 55 above the average. At 17 observations satur- 

 ation (10) was registered, which is without parallel in the Hobart Town 

 records. Deaths from diseases of the organs of respii-ation, consequently, 

 were above the average. 



Electricity had 17 positives, with tension from 5 to 8*5 ; and 45 negatives, 

 with tension from 4 to 9 ; no nils. 



