^6 Ptiblic Parks. 



has been hanging, as it were, " in the balance." It also increases all 

 infantile and bowel atfections. The most marked change that I have 

 noticed, occurred on July i6th, 1868, when the wind blew from the 

 north-east, and the mortality was 21 ; on the 17th it changed to the 

 south-east, and 38 died ; iSth, wind continuing from the same direc- 

 tion, 63 deaths (the highest mortality in a single day for two years,) 

 occurred, the mean temperature of the two days being nearly 86 

 degrees. On the 19th, the wind changed to the north-east, and 

 the mortality diminished to 35, with a mean temperature of 77.66 

 degrees. It was at this time that the greatest mortality occurred in 

 the 1 2th ward, in the extreme north-western ward of the city. This 

 fact clearly shows that its poisonous qualities, were added to the nox- 

 ious emanations of the city, increasing in its intensity as it progressed 

 north-westward. This wind carries with it the plague to Constan- 

 tinople and various parts of Russia and Poland, in fact, to all the 

 countries of Europe bordering on the Mediterranean. It produces 

 an unfavorable influence on the health of London and Dutch Guiana. 

 At Burlington, Iowa, in July, 1S50, the wind was in this direction 

 dvu'ing the prevalence of the cholera as an epidemic, but upon its 

 changing to the north-west, the disease immediately abated, and the 

 cholera re-appeared a few days after, when the v^ind changed again 

 to this direction. Here the wind passed over the Mississippi bottom 

 on the Illinois side. In 1851 the cholera broke out at Oquawka, 

 Illinois, fifteen miles above Burlington, while the wind was from 

 the w^est. Here the low lands and swamps are on the Iowa side. 

 At this time there was no cholera at Burlington. 



SOUTH WIND. 



The south wind is more common than either the east or north. It 

 is most frequent in winter, and it is rarely that it is for a day from this 

 quarter, and then only when the wind is shifting from the south-west 

 to the south-east, or from the south-east to the south-west. The 

 ground directly south of the city is unfavorable to this current, as 

 the surface of the country rapidly rises beyond Blue Island, forming 

 depressions both east and west. In winter the south wind exercises 

 a beneficial influence in moderating the extreme cold of the westerly 

 winds, diminishing the mortality, and the same result is observable 

 in spring. In the summer it prevails only when great changes have 

 taken place, and its influence is quite marked, as between the damp 

 south-east, and the dry south-west. In autumn its eti'ect on health is 

 not apparent. 



