60 EFFECTS OF ELEVATION ON CLIMATE. 



which few were able entirely to shake off, during the re- 

 mainder of their lives " * and " the number of sick which 

 were returned to England at various times, from Walcheren, 

 amounted to 12,863." t 



All this clearly shows that by neglect of sanitary 

 precautions even a European climate may prove 

 deadly. 



Of course, in considering the question of " climate, " 

 it would be impracticable to discuss that of each par- 

 ticular country, or region, separately. The most that 

 we can hope to do is to offer a few suggestions and 

 remarks, which we trust may contribute to a right 

 understanding of this important subject. 



The best index to a climate will of course be the 

 meteorological record of its weather, and the range of 

 its temperature, extending over a series of years; 

 because, as we know, in many places the climate 

 varies greatly from year to year and the further we 

 go away from the Equator, the more considerable as 

 a rule are these variations. It must also be remem- 

 bered that climate depends upon a number of different 

 considerations besides that of latitude among the 

 principal of which are elevation, and the quantity of 

 moisture contained in the atmosphere. Temperature, 

 which is such an all-important factor in the climate 

 of a place, is mainly dependent upon these circum- 

 stances. We propose therefore to say a few words 

 upon this question of " Elevation " in its relation to 

 climate. 



Now, the natural contour of the ground in every 



* Alison's History of Europe, 2nd Edit. 1885, Vol. xiii, Chapter 60. 

 f Parliamentary Papers No. 24 Parliamentary Debates xv. 23. 

 App. quoted from ibid. 



