768 INFLUENCE OF WINTER ON HEALTH. 



aged people, and all individuals of feeble consti- 

 tution, the mortality is from 30 to 50 per cent, 

 greater during winter than summer, that when- 

 ever the mean temperature in London falls below 

 50-5, the mortality increases progressively, that 

 cold destroys a certain number of persons rapidly, 

 and produces in others maladies which prove 

 fatal in a month or six weeks, so that the effects 

 of a low temperature go on accumulating, and 

 continue to be felt for thirty or forty days after 

 the extremes have passed away. (Third Report, 

 p. 108. Letter of Mr. Farr.) 



The truth is, that the healthy growth of all 

 young animals is retarded by cold, which is the 

 great enemy of infants, old people, and all indi- 

 viduals whose power of obtaining caloric from the 

 atmosphere by respiration is imperfect. There 

 is reason to believe, that nearly all infants are 

 born with a sound organization, and therefore 

 might be reared to maturity, if always maintained 

 at an agreeable temperature, supplied with suit- 

 able nourishment, pure air, and allowed plenty of 

 moderate exercise. Owing to improvements in 

 wealth, science, diet, clothing, habitations, &c. 

 the mean duration of life has augmented from 20 

 to 30 per cent, in the middle latitudes of Europe, 

 within the last 100 years ; and the mortality of 

 infants has diminished nearly 100 per cent, in 

 the same time ; for it has been estimated by 

 statisticians of high repute, that between the 

 years 1730 and 1750, it was about 740 per 1000 



