CIV 



Last winter was also remarkable for the uniformity of its low tempera- 

 ture; in December the mercury fell below zero on five days (between the 

 22d and 27th), in January on seven days (loth, 17th and between the 25th 

 and 30th), and in February once (on the 2d). The highest temperature in 

 December (54°) was reached on the 7th, in January on the 12th (53° -S) 

 and once in February (i8th) it rose to 65.5°, only to fall nearly 40 degrees 

 before the following morning. The masses of snow spread uniformly over 

 the northern and northwestern plains are believed to be the cause of this 

 uniformity of cold. 



The cold winter has destroyed our prospects of a peach crop for this and 

 perhaps for the next year, and has treated almost as badly the grape crop ; 

 and has belated the development of spring : it is believed that this will in- 

 clude all the material damage done. The lateness of spring will, agricul- 

 turally speaking, be rather an advantage than otherwise. 



In regard to human health, the severity of the winter has been injurious 

 in many respects, and diseases of the respiratory organs particularly were 

 prevalent and often fatal, while typhoid fevers were observed much less 

 frequently than in other more open winters. 



Mr. Gage, of the Geological Survey of Missouri, read a paper 

 on "Iron," which he illustrated by the aid of numerous specimens 

 of ores and irons which were donated to the museum. The paper 

 was referred to the Committee on Publication. 



Mr. E. H. Singleton, U. S. Signal Observer at St. Louis, com- 

 municated his meteorological observations with a daily series of 

 weather-charts for the last month. 



On motion of Dr. Enno Sander, it was voted to print 100 

 copies of the diploma of membership of the Academy for the use 

 of such members as desire to procure them, on payment of the 

 usual fee of $3.00. 



Dr. H. Johnson of Jacksonville, Ills., was elected a correspond- 

 ing member, and Messrs. J. L. Tracy, J. L. Watkins, J. Thrail- 

 kill and Dr. A. Galney were elected associate members. 



March 17, 1873. 

 The President, James B. Eads, in the chair. 



Eleven members present. 



The Corresponding Secretary laid upon the table various pub- 

 lications received from other societies, together with meteorologi- 

 cal reports and weather-charts for the last month received from 

 E. H. Singleton, U. S. Signal Observ'^er at St. Louis. 



