37 



Table I. gives the amount of sunshine in Brighton for each 

 month, the total amount being 35 per cent, of that possible, 

 somewhat lower than the average of tlie previous six years. 



Table II. gives the chief meteorological data for each month, 

 July, 1896 — June, 1897, compared with the corresponding averages 

 for the nineteen years, 1877-96. July was drier and on the whole 

 warmer than the average. August again showed deficient rain- 

 fall, its temperature being about the average. September had 

 <>"43 inches of rainfall, as compared with an average of 2*70 

 inches. In October the temperature was lower and the rainfall 

 rather higher than usual. November was colder and drier than the 

 average, while in December the temperature was an average one, 

 and the rainfall excessive. The first six months of the present year 

 have all been characterized by excessive rainfall, the excess being 

 greatest in March, in which month 4' 39 inches fell. About this 

 time a " Bourne " appeared in the Lewes Road valley near the 

 bottom of the slope leading fron: Falmer to Newmarket Inn. 

 This stretched across the road forming a lake on its south-eastern 

 side and then a stream running several hundred yards. The 

 occurrence of these " Bournes " is of importance as indicating an 

 overcharged condition of the neighbouring Downs. They only 

 occur after very protracted rains. In former years similar 

 "Bournes" have occurred in the Patcham valley, the water 

 running down it towards Preston. Similar "Bournes" are 

 recorded this spring in the Caterham valley. 



The relationship between weather and health is a close and 

 intimate one. Speaking broadly a mild winter and a cool 

 summer mean an immense saving of life^ or perhaps to speak 

 more accurately, one should say postponement of death. The 

 object of medicine, preventive and curative, is to postpone death, 

 and its efforts are frequently frustrated by unfavourable meteoro- 

 logical conditions. The statement that a mild winter means a 

 great saving of life is contradictory to the old proverb that " a 

 green Yule-tide means a fat churchyard." It is true, notwith- 

 standing this. A regular study of the obituary column of The 

 Times, demonstrates its truth, but exact statistical evidence could 

 be adduced if necessary. It is none the less true because the 

 excessive deaths very often coincide with the thaw following on 

 protracted frost. 



A wet cool summer, means in towns, a very marked 

 reduction in the annual death toll demanded by infantile 

 diarrhoea. The deaths from this disease occur chiefly in infants 

 under one year of age. They occur almost solely in hand-fed 

 children. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that bad methoils 



