INFLUENCE OF THE WEATHER UPON CRIME. 659 



respiratory processes, but probably, as shown by these curves, more 

 largely to the dryness of the atmosphere, as indicated by low hu- 

 midity. I hope at some future time to verify or disprove this sup- 

 position by a comparative study made at some lower altitude. 



CHARACTER OF THE DAY.* Fig. 6 shows the relation between 

 the expectancy of crime, based upon the actual per cents of cloudy, 

 partly cloudy, and clear days (records of nineteen years), and its 

 actual occurrence. The disagreements are very slight, although 

 a slight excess of murders is shown for cloudy days. 



SUMMARY. Fig. 1 shows at a glance no generally prevailing 

 meteorological conditions to which can be ascribed, with any degree 

 of certainty, the monthly variations of crime. 



Fig. 2 shows that high velocities of wind seem to increase to 

 a marked extent the tendency to crime. For the highest velocities 

 increasing the probability twenty times (two 

 thousand per cent). 



Fig. 3 shows that high temperatures seem 

 to have the same effect, that of between 90 

 and 100 increasing the probability one hun- 

 dred per cent. 



Fig. 4 fails to show that barometric 

 changes are accompanied by any marked ex- 

 cesses in crime. 



Fig. 5 shows that low conditions of rela- 

 tive humidity are attended with very marked 

 excesses, those below thirty increasing the 

 probability of suicides eleven times (eleven 

 hundred per cent). 



Fig. 6 fails to show that the character of 

 the day has any considerable effect. 



Considering briefly, in conclusion, the 

 results of the foregoing study, and compar- 

 ing them with a somewhat similar one for children, f we may safely 

 conclude that the tendency to homicide varies with those meteoro- 

 logical conditions which bring about an emotional state necessi- 

 tating a considerable discharge of motor stimulus. The same con- 

 ditions which bring about irritability and unruliness on the part of 

 the child accompany suicidal tendencies. 



This supposition is upheld by the fact that suicide is less common 

 in the colder climates, where the metabolic processes are slow, and 



* By the United States Weather Bureau days are characterized as " cloudy " when for 

 0.8 or more of the possible hours of sunshine the sun is obscured; "partly cloudy" when 

 from 0.4 to 0.7 inclusive is obscured; and " clear" when 0.3 or less. 



f- See The Child and the Weather, Pedagogical Seminary, April, 1898. 



FIG. 6. 



