388 Beck on Salt Storms, &c. 
PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, &c. 
LF 
Any, XIU. Observations on Salt Storms, and the Influence of Salt 
and Saline Air upon Animal and Vi egetable Lafe. Read before 
the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, March 1, 1819, 
by Jomn B. Beck, M. D. 
(Communicated for this Journal.) 
Mlerrorotocy is a science of so much general concern, 
that it seems to be incumbent upon every member of society 
to aid in augmenting the stock of facts, which the labors of 
ingenious and scientific men have already accumulated on that 
subject. Under this impression 1 propose to devote the fol- 
lowing paper to some’ observations on salt winds or storms, as 
they have occurred in. this country and in Europe—@ subject, 
which although presenting many phenomena of a more than 
temporary interest, has as yet excited But little attention. 
Indeed, the opportunities for observation have occurred so 
rarely as readily to account for its having in a great measure 
escaped the philosophical.acumen of the present age. — 
It must haye been early observed that the atmosphere in 
the vicinity of the sea frequently becomes impregnated with 
saline materials; but the first. and only. account of a salt storm 
that I have met with, is to be found in the Transactions of the 
Linnean Society of London. The 8th volume of that work 
gives an interesting narration of the effects of a storm of this 
description, which occurred in England in January, 1803. 
was occasioned by an east wind, which blew for some days, 
and which in its passage over the ocean, had imbibed large 
quantities of salt water, which were afterward deposited upoP 
the land. In most cases these depositions proved fatal to the 
plants and vegetables which received them. S0 extensive 
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