CLIMATE 905 



awakens an interest and zest and produces a cheerful serenity and happi- 

 ness that permit the physiological climatic effects to more completely re- 

 store health. Unquestionably both physiological and psychological con- 

 ditions influence physical well-being; a patient worried about financial 

 resources and family cares rarely secures the full advantage of the physio- 

 logical effects of climate, because of the absence of serenity and 

 cheerfulness. 



The only way to use a climate is to give it every chance to help in the 

 cure. Careful and intelligent attention to personal hygiene and to the 

 psychical side of the environment are essential. Climate does not cure, 

 but it is an important help to the body in overcoming weakness and disease. 



The Variety of Climate. The physical factors have served as a basis 

 for classifications of climate. It has long been recognized that there are 

 four factors that enter into the production of the climate of any locality: 

 (1) Distance from the equator; (2) distance from the ocean; (3) height 

 above the sea-level; and (4) the prevailing winds. 



The classic zones, tropical, temperate and polar, recognize the relation 

 to the sun and are based on sunshine distribution. Irregularities in the 

 distribution of land and water and the prevalence of particular winds 

 break the uniformity of these zones and lead to a more rational scheme 

 of classification. "The great differences in the climatic relations of land 

 and water, recognizes a first large subdivision of each zone into land 

 and water areas. Then as continental interiors differ from coasts, and as 

 windward coasts have climates unlike those of leeward coasts, a further 

 natural subdivision would separate these different areas. Finally, the 

 control of altitude over climate is so marked that plateaus and mountains 

 may well be set apart by themselves as separate climatic districts." 



A maritime climate is equable, that is without extremes of tempera- 

 ture, with a prevailing high relative humidity, a large amount of cloudi- 

 ness and a comparatively heavy rainfall. The continental climate is more 

 severe; the annual temperature ranges increase, as a whole, with increasing 

 distance from the ocean ; the regular diurnal ranges are also large, reaching 

 35 or 40 F., and even more. The humidity is lower and cloudiness, 

 as a rule, decreases inland, reaching its minimum in the arid plains and 

 deserts. The evaporating power of a continental climate is much greater 

 than that of the more humid and cloudier coast climate. A climate with a 

 relative humidity up to 50 per cent is unusually dry, with 50 to 70 per cent 

 relative humidity is dry, with 70 to 85 per cent relative humidity is 

 moist, and with 85 to 100 per cent relative humidity is unusually moist. 



General Considerations in the Choice of Climate. While climatic 

 studies are difficult to evaluate certain things now stand out somewhat 

 clearly. The humid tropics are disagreeable and hard to bear. Energetic 

 physical and mental actions are difficult or even impossible. "The monot- 

 onously enervating beat of the humid tropics weakens, so that man becomes 



