July 23, 1891] 



NATURE 



285 



paper read before the Scottish Meteorological Society on March 

 31, 1890, by Sir Arthur Mitchell and Dr. Buchan (an abstract 

 of which appeared in Nature, vol. xli. p. 596), it is quite 

 evident that the recent epidemic of influenza has been the most 

 severe we have had in London since the first publication of weekly 

 records of mortality some forty-five years ago. As the figures 

 are of great interest, we make no apology for reproducing the 

 brief table given in that paper, showing the number of deaths 

 which occurred in the five principal epidemics experienced since 

 the year 1847. It will be observed that the number given for 

 last year is considerably in excess of that quoted above, the 

 period selected by the authors of the paper comprising the whole 

 of the three months January to March. In the month last men- 

 tioned, the epidemic was certainly not of any great severity, but 

 as the figures do not clash in any way with the general argu- 

 ment, I have not thought it advisable to alter the results. An 

 addition has, however, been made to the table, by including the 

 figures of mortality reached during the epidemic of the present 

 year. 



Deaths. 



December 1847 to April 1848 1631 



March to May 1851 258 



January to March 1855 130 



November 1857 to January 1858 123 



January to March 1890 545 



May to July 1891 2027 



It will be seen from the table that the mortality recently 

 experienced has been far greater than at any other period during 

 the forty-five years, the nearest approach to so severe an epidemic 

 being in 1847-48, when the deaths amounted to about 400 less. 

 Taking into consideration the fact that the population of London 

 45 years ago was very much smaller than it is now, it may at 

 the first blush appear that, as regards severity, there was 

 not very much to choose between the two visitations. It must 

 not be forgotten, however, that in the earlier period the ravages 

 of the disease extended over five months, while in the latter 

 they were confined to about two and a half. 



A very striking feature in the disease to which the somewhat 

 misleading name of influenza has been given, is its peculiarly 

 weakening effect upon the lungs and bronchial tubes ; and as the 

 epidemic is invariably attended by a high mortality from respira- 

 tory diseases, I have included in the diagram a series of curves 

 showing the number of deaths from these attendant disorders. 

 As regards the epidemic of 1890, it may at once be confessed that 

 the curve is somewhat misleading. During the last few days of 

 1889 and the opening of the following year a sharp touch of 

 anticyclonic cold was experienced over England ; and in the 

 metropolis this was accompanied, as is so commonly the case, by 

 thick fog. Under such circumstances a high mortality from 

 respiratory diseases followed as a matter of course, so that when 

 we examine the curve we find that, at the time when the epidemic 

 of influenza was only just appearing, the deaths from lung dis- 

 orders were at their maximum. After the first week in January, 

 however, the weather became unusually mild for the time of year, 

 a long period of south-westerly winds setting in, with abnormally 

 high temperatures. There can be little doubt, in fact, that at the 

 time the influenza epidemic of 1890 was raging the effects of tem- 

 perature and weather were so strong as to obliterate the influences 

 of the miasmatic disorder upon diseases of the respiratory 

 system. This year, however, the meteorological element may 

 almost be eliminated from account, for, although cold winds were 

 very frequent in May and the early part of June, the severity of 

 the weather was not such as to lead to any material increase of 

 mortality from the class of diseases in question. The spread of 

 influenza was, however, soon followed by a serious rise in the 

 death-rate, and in the course of the fortnight ending June 6 the 

 mortality from respiratory complaints amounted to more than 

 twice the' average, the large excess being due chiefly to deaths 

 from pneumonia and bronchitis. The subsequent decline of in- 

 fluenza was accompanied, as will be seen from the curve, by a 

 corresponding decline of fatalities from respiratory diseases, but 

 it was not until the last week of the period that the deaths fell 

 short of the average. Taking the eleven weeks as a whole, it 

 appears that the total mortality from respiratory disorders 

 amounted to 5138, or about 75 per cent, more than the average. 

 During the epidemic of 1890 the actual number was far larger, 

 but in the winter months the average is also very much higher, 

 and as a matter of fact the excess above the normal only amounted 

 last year to 26 per cent. 



NO. II 34, VOL. 44] 



The influence of the weather upon the two epidemics seems to 

 have been exerted in entirely opposite directions. During the 

 epidemic of 1890 temperature was, as we have already seen, 

 for the most part very high for the time of year, and the pre- 

 valence of a strong current of south-westerly winds in January 

 doubtless aided in the dispersal of the miasmatic germs. The 

 weather was, in fact, as favourable as could have been desired, and 

 the ravages of the epidemic, severe though they were, were 

 doubtless much milder than they would have been had the winter 

 been cold and foggy. The recent epidemic has not had so many 

 foes to contend with, for in the earlier stages of its career the 

 weather was not only cold for the time of year but also calm and 

 quiet. The germ was therefore able to settle in our midst without 

 serious opposition, and the ungenial nature of the atmosphere has 

 doubtless been responsible for much of the lung and bronchial 

 disease which has followed in its train. Deluded by the know- 

 ledge that the spring season was upon us, and forgetful of the 

 fact that it had come in an unkindly guise, many a weakly con- 

 valescent has been emboldened to venture out into the chilly air, 

 and has contracted a serious cold, from which in too many cases 

 he has been unable to recover. Fredk. J. Brodie. 



THE MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION. 



T^HE Museums Association held its second annual meeting in 

 Cambridge on July 7, 8, and 9, under the presidency of 

 Mr. John Willis Clark, Superintendent of the Museum of 

 Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, Cambridge, and Registrary 

 of the University. 



The following representatives of Museums (outside Cambridge) 

 and associates were present : — The Rev. H. H. Higgins, Mr. 

 R. Paden (Liverpool) ; Mr. R. Cameron, Mr. J. M. E. Bowley 

 (Sunderland) ; Mr. G. B. Rothera, Mr. J. W. Carr (Notting- 

 ham) ; Mr. Councillor P. Burt, Mr. j. Paton (Glasgow) ; Mr. 

 T. W. Shore (Southampton) ; Lieut. -Colonel Turner, Mr. J. Tym 

 (Stockport) ; Alderman W. H. Brittain, Mr. E. Howarth 

 (Sheffield) ; Mr. Joseph Clarke, Mr. G. N. Maynard (Saffron 

 Walden); Mr. J. Storrie (Cardiff); Mr. Butler Wood (Brad- 

 ford); Mr. C. Madeley (Warrington); Mr. J. Lyon, Mr. J. J. 

 Ogle (Bootle) ; Mr. W. E. Hoyle (Owens College, Manchester); 

 Mr. H. M. Platnauer (York) ; Mr. F. W. Rudler, Mr. F. A. 

 Bather, Mr. A. Smith Woodward. 



The proceedings were opened by the Rev. H. H. Higgins 

 (Past-Pre4dent), who introduced the President, Mr. J. Willis 

 Clark. The President then read his address, and gave a short 

 and very interesting account of the early history of Cambridge 

 and of the foundation of a few of the older Colleges. On the 

 8th and 9th the following papers and reports were read and 

 discussed : — 



" On some old Museums," by Prof A. Newton, F.R.S. 



" On the desirability of exhibiting, in Museums, unmounted 

 skins of birds," by the Rev. H. H. Higgins. 



"On difficulties incidental to Museum demonstrations," by 

 F. W. Rudler. 



"On the Dresden Museum cases," by Dr. A. B. Meyer. 



"On the registration and cataloguing of Specimens" by 

 W. E. Hoyle. 



" Some recent Museum legislation," by E. Howarth. 



"On the arrangement of Rock Collections," by H. M. 

 Platnauer. 



" Fossil Crinoidea in the British Museum" (an attempt to 

 put into practice modern ideas of Museum arrangement), by F. 

 A. Bather. 



"On Tables and Chairs," by F. .\. Bather. 



The Report of the Committee appointed to consider the 

 question of securing the aid of specialists. 



The Report of the Committee appointed to consider the 

 question of labelling in Museums. 



The meeting was eminently pleasant and successful, thanks to 

 the untiring energy and exertions of the President and of Mr. S. 

 F. Harmer (Fellow of King's College), the Local Secretary and 

 Treasurer. Under their guidance several colleges, libraries, and 

 laboratories were visited. Prof. Middleton conducted a party 

 over the Fitzwilliam Museum, and, through the kindness of 

 Prof. Newton, a few of the members visited the Pepysian 

 Library. 



