un 



METEOROLOGY. 



[CONCtTJDIMO REMAIIKS. 



u at Simla. This station is about 8,000 feet above 

 the Ma-level a height that, according to the laws we 

 explained at a previous page,* should afford a climate of 

 tho temperate character. It has now become a place of 

 general resort for mort Europeans resident in India ; 

 and its cool bracing air soon restores the sufferer, if he be 

 not already too far debilitated. Referring to the follow- 

 ing table of mean temperatures, &c., wo find that the 

 annual mean of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, is nearly 

 83 ; whilst, at an elevation of 7,000 feet, it does not 

 exceed 57 ; hence, by simply ascending to a compara- 

 tively moderate elevation, the cool climate is readily 

 reached. There are numerous other stations of this kind, 

 in various parts of the peninsula, equally adapted for 

 the alleviation of the effects of a climate almost intoler- 

 able, at times, to all but the natives. 



A very ingenious method of purifying the air of any 

 place especially calculated for India, for the hospitals of 

 which it was first proposed by Dr. Fojbes Watson has 

 been already described in the Section on Chemistry, t 

 Charcoal broken into pieces of the size of a pea, or a little 

 larger, is distributed on trays enclosed in an air-tight 

 case. The whole supply of air required in the establish- 

 ment, is driven or drawn through the charcoal by 

 suitable mechanical power. The moisture of the air is 

 removed by caustic lime, which is substituted for this 

 purpose, in another case, for charcoal ; but the two 

 arrangements can be employed, side by side, in combined 

 operation. This method we have repeatedly and con- 

 tiuuedly tested, and have found it exceedingly effective, 

 tho air being both purified and dried to any extent that 

 may be desired. Arrangements of this kind would 

 doubtless be of essential service in every tropical climate, 

 where excessive moisture and miasmatic exhalations are 

 usually so prevalent. We refer our readers to the 

 extracts, from the descriptive pamphlet published by the 

 Inventors (given at the page just named) for a description 

 of the modui opemiuli, and the benefits derived from 

 this method. Of course such plans are limited in their 

 operation, and can only bo used in buildings, <fcc. : but 

 in a city like Calcutta which, from its situation 

 amongst logunes and pools of standing water, can 

 scarcely be made more unhealthy than it is a contrivance 

 of this kind, or a similar adaptation of charcoal and lime, 

 so applied, cannot but prove of great benefit as a pre- 

 ventive of disease generally. 



Although the connection of meteorology with questions 

 of health and sanitary measures, is one of great interest 

 and importance, we cannot, for want of space, pursue it 

 further. The various matters urged already for the 

 consideration of our readers, have been selected with a 

 view of calling attention to palpable instances ; and 

 others, of less evident character, but of almost equal 

 consequence, we are compelled to leave untouched. It 

 would be almost impossible, in fact, to state the limits 

 of the subject, seeing, as we have, that so much of 

 the physical, intellectual, and even moral character of a 

 community, is so intimately connected with the con- 

 dition of the atmosphere, and meteorological phenomena 

 in general. It must be a matter of astonishment to 

 many reflecting persons, that so common and well-known 

 objects as air and moisture, should have such an 

 astounding influence on our individual and social wel- 

 fare ; but to one thoroughly acquainted with tho ordi- 

 nary laws of nature, that cause of surprise at once loses 

 its singularity; for it is but one out of thousands of 

 instances in which a comparatively simple agent is pro- 

 ductive of numerous and all-important results. 



COXCLCDIHO REMARKS. Perhaps it may not be out of 

 place to make a few remarks in reference to the desirability 

 of extending meteorological observations. Our readers 

 will have gathered from the earlier part of the section, 

 by Dr. Scoffern, a general knowledge of the science, 

 immediately followed by practical instructions from Mr. 

 Lowe, so well known by his ability as a scientific 

 observer. In this chapter, it has been our endeavour to 

 supplement the teachings of those gentlemen, by an 

 account of all the new discoveries in the science, together 

 ft* nit, p. 1 1W. t ge, aittt, p. 417. 



with results, which a somewhat lengthened personal 

 experience has enabled us to gather; so that, taken 

 together, the reader will obtain full instructions, and an 

 adequate knowledge of the science as it exists at the 

 present day. We have enlarged on the popular branch 

 of the subject, in the hope of inducing many of our 

 readers to commence making observations; and li.uv 

 shown how much each individual has a personal interest 

 in it, both in respect to his own health and comfort, and 

 of the welfare of the community at large. Towards 

 tho close of the year 1863, perhaps the most terrific 

 storm which has visited these islands during this 

 century, spread its ravages both on land and water, 

 and many valuable lives were sacrificed. It was 

 one of the peculiar cyclone class,! in which no skill 

 of our seamen seemed to be of avail : but, disastrous as 

 have been its effects, they are trifling to what would 

 have occurred, had not an almost universal deference 

 been paid at our ports to the warnings given by 

 Admiral Fitzroy, some time preceding its commence- 

 ment ; and by which many fleets of vessels were conse- 

 quently detained in our harbours. Now, so valuable a 

 result is simply the consequence of careful deductions, 



I from an extended series of iii'liridual observations of 

 meteorological phenomena, carried on, as yet, for a few 

 years only. The more numerous these become, and the 

 more widely-spread the observers, the nearer shall wo 

 arrive at a proper estimate of the changes in the 

 weather, so incessant in our variable climate ; because 

 all correct deductions must be drawn, not from any one 

 set of observations, but must depend, rather, on the 

 check against error, which a multiplicity of them alone 

 can ensure. 



It hence follows, that all who possess a degree of 

 intelligence and education beyond many of their fellows, 

 have morally imposed on them a duty, which, from its 

 nature, they can share, but never justly resign exclusively 

 to others, provided they have the means and knowledge 

 sufficient for its performance. The amount of know- 

 ledge required has been pointed out in the various parts 

 of this section ; and, from the other portions of this 

 volume, it is believed that such may be easily acquired. 

 In the Section on Heat, for example, the laws of con- 

 duction, radiation, absorption, temperature, &c. , are 

 fully explained : in that of Light, refraction, (tc., may 

 be studied : the nature aud causes of natural electric 

 phenomena may be examined in the Section on Elec- 

 tricity : of magnetic disturbances, in that on Magnetism : 

 and the conduction, <fcc., of sound, in the Section on 

 Acoustics. In the Section on Chemistry, the chemical 

 properties of air and water, ozone, the various i 

 found in the atmosphere, derived from all sources, A:c., 

 are discussed : and the chapter on the sanitary applica- 

 tions of the science, will be found to have a connection 

 with many of the subjects treated of in the present 

 section. In the Mathematical Section, decimal no- 

 tation, &c., may be studied, as required in setting 

 down meteorological facts. In the Mechanical Sections, 

 Statics aud Pneumatics will bo found to have an 

 intimate connection with the science of meteorology : 

 and in the Section on Astronomy, some facts as to the 

 places of the constellations will be highly useful, in 

 watching and noting the direction of meteoric bodies, the 

 Aurora Borealis, &c. 



Thus the intelligent reader may readily gain sufficient 

 information from this volume, to enable him to become 

 fully competent to undertake a series of meteorological 

 observations, in all their different branches. The instru- 

 ments he will at first require, are the barometer, ther- 

 mometer, and hygrometer ; others of minor importance 

 can bo afterwards added. Instructions for the purchase, 

 and management of, and fur making observations by 

 them, are plentifully supplied in this section, together 

 with hints as to gathering various collateral indications, 



! afforded constantly around us. Tho best form of i 

 tration for the barometer and thermometer, is that 

 described and illustrated at page 1189 ; but a ruled book 

 should also be kept, in which the figures obtained at 

 1 3ceon(<r, p. 1175. 



