THE COAST REGION. 21 



still, it destroys the germs of disease, as of yellow fever and of numerous 

 skin diseases that flourish in similar regions elsewhere, preventing them 

 from becoming indigenous, and keeping them exotics forever, recjuiring 

 3'^early renewal from without. 



Table I, at the end of Part I, presents the leading features of tlie coast 

 climate, as preserved in the records of meteorological oljscrvations made 

 at Charleston, S. C. 



Notwithstanding the amount of rainfall and proximity to the sea, the 

 climate is not excessively moist, as might be inferred. This is owing to 

 the large number of clear days, averaging about two hundred and tliirty- 

 five during the year, against an average of eighty-six days in which rain 

 fell, and forty-four cloudy and rainless days. Fogs are of very infrequent 

 occurrence. Vegetation is usually checked by cold for not more than six 

 weeks in the year, from the middle of December to the first of February. 

 Nature, that does not allow the inhabitants of higher latitudes to become 

 purely agricultural in their pursuits, forcing them, during the snows and 

 ice of winter, to seek occupation in other arts and industries, here bares 

 her bosom the year round to furnish food and work for man, and seed 

 time and harvest occur in every month. 



HEALTH. 



By the U. S. Census for 1870, it appears that the minimum number of 

 deaths in South Carolina occur during the month of October. After that 

 month the number steadily increases during winter and spring, until the 

 month of May, when the maximum number of deaths take place. From 

 this date the mortality diminishes, more rapidly than it has increased, 

 until the minimum in October is reached. By the same authority it 

 is also shown that the groups of diseases most fatal during the month of 

 May are such as hydrocephalous, apoplexy, accidents and injuries, none 

 which can in any way be considered as due to climatic or local influences. 

 From this it follows that death, and, consequently, ill health, in South 

 Carolina cannot be attributed to the preponderance of any climatic or 

 local causes, but supervene from such causes as may and must exist 

 everywhere. The correctness of this negative conclusion may be safely 

 accepted as descriptive of the sanitary condition of the State at large. 

 There has been, however, and not Avithout some foundation, an idea 

 prevalent regarding the unhealthfulness of the coast region from malarial 

 causes, which requires mention, especially as occurrences of recent date 

 have greatly modified it. While the sand ridges between the rivers have 

 always been esteemed healthy ; while the w^ll-kept vital statistics of the 

 city of Charleston show that its health record will compare favorably 



