METEOROLOGICAL SECTION. 



THE METEOROLOGY OF SUSSEX. 



The accompanying Meteorological Keport for the twelve 

 months, July, 1898, to June, 1899, shows that England, and 

 particularly its south-eastern portion, is still in the midst of the 

 cycle of dry seasons which have prevailed with slight inter- 

 mission since the end of 1886. This will be clear from the 

 following figures of annual rainfall from 1887 onwards, which 

 were as follows :— 22-10, 28-16, 27-15, 23-61, 34-38, 26-47, 

 24-13, 31-95, 25-19, 2784, 29-12, and 20-41. The annual 

 rainfall of ten of these twelve years was below the average for 

 1877-98 {i.e. 29.45 inches), the lowest of the series being 1898. 

 The total rainfall of the above twelve years was 320-8 inches. 

 The amount if the rainfall had been equal to the average amount 

 in the 22 years, 1877-98, would have been 358-4 inches. 



These annually recurring deficiencies of water have caused 

 considerable difficulties as to water supplies in the South- 

 Eastern Counties. The Brighton Corporation have taken 

 special steps to prevent the possibility of similar dearth in con- 

 nection with the large area supplied with drinking water by 

 them. New wells with large yields of purest water have been 

 secured, and still further wells are in contemplation. 



From the public health standpoint, years of deficient rain- 

 fall, which are nearly always associated with excessive heat, are 

 always accompanied by an excess of the diseases against which 

 hygienists have to combat. The elements in the last twelve 

 years have certainly fought in the opposite direction to the 

 preventive measures which have been in operation. The writer 

 has shewn elsewhere that such diseases as rheumatic fever and 

 diphtheria are more prevalent when dry seasons succeed each 

 other without long continued intervals of wet weather. The 

 same remark is true for scarlet fever, erysipelas, diarrhoea, and 

 many other diseases, as proved by the vital statistics of every 

 part of England and ^Yales. 



The present Meteorological Report is deficient in respect of 

 the absence of the usual comparison between the climatology of 

 Brighton and Crowborough. This deficiency is, I regret to say, 

 caused by the decease of Mr. Leeson Prince, who for a long 

 series of years had carried out complete meteorological observa- 

 tions, first at Uckfield, then at Crowborough Beacon. These 

 observations are probably the most complete and long continued 

 of any in this part of England, and it is a deep cause of regret 

 to all scientists, as well as to the personal friends of Mr. Prince, 

 that the series is now broken by Mr. Prince's death. 



ARTHUR NEWSHOLME. 



