101 



SECTION FOR SOCIOLOGY AND STATISTICS. 

 April 9tb, 186 U 



Mr. Arthur Ransome, M.A., M.B. Cantab., M.R.C.S., 

 read a Paper " On Atmospheric Pressure and the Direction of 

 the Wind, in Relation to Disease, especially Hoemorrhages 

 and Neuralgias." 



After noticing the important physiological effects of atmo- 

 spheric pressure upon the human body, and the influence of 

 changes in the degree of pressure observed by aeronauts and 

 mountaineers, and by others, as Vierordt, Lehmann, Junod, 

 Macleod, from special experiments, the Paper next treated of 

 the effects upon disease of the ordinary fluctuations of atmo- 

 spheric pressure, as shown by the barometer. Statements 

 made by Dr. Moffat and others upon the subject were quoted, 

 and from these it appeared that important effects were pro- 

 duced by these fluctuations upon such diseases as apoplexy, 

 menorrhagia, abortions, and neuralgias. 



Charts were exhibited which contained records of 286 cases 

 of hoemorrhage, 52 of abortion, 179 of apoplexy, and 697 ot 

 neuralgic affections. These had been gathered from medico- 

 meteorological tables, published in the " Medical Association 

 Journal," for the years 1853, 1854, 1855. 



The degrees of barometric pressure, on the days and at the 

 several places where the cases occurred, had also been recorded, 

 and reduced to the level of the sea, and a comparison between 

 the two series was obtained by means of curves. It was thus 

 found that of 



Cases occurred below Cases occurred at, or 



mean pressure, above, mean pressnre. 



Hoemorrhage 120 166 



Abortion ^3 29 



Apoplexy 86 95 



Neuralgic Affections 242 455 



