CHAP. 8. VARIETIES OF WEATHER. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



FURTHER INVESTIGATION OP PECULIARITIES 

 OF WEATHER. 



IF it can be shown, as above, that there are 

 varieties in the state of the atmosphere, with 

 which the prevalence of disease seems conjoined, 

 so that the said diseases may be referred to its 

 agency, analogy would lead us to ascribe other 

 diseases, for which no particular cause could be 

 assigned, to some other peculiarity in the air, 

 which, however, might not be demonstrable by 

 any meteorological instruments : and our inqui- 

 ries will be directed to discover in w r hat such 

 peculiarities may consist. I have already shown 

 that the peculiarities of weather alluded to as 

 being accompanied by the great prevalence of 

 disorders, do not appear to consist in the damp- 

 ness, dryness, heat, cold, levity, or gravity of 

 the atmosphere, nor in the combination of any 

 two or more of these, or any other qualities of 

 the air, demonstrable by meteorological instru- 

 ments ; but that, in many instances, they appear 

 to be marked by the peculiar character and 



