^8 Public Parks. 



WEST WIND. 



The west wind is more common than any from the direct points 

 of the compass, and is most frequent in winter, when it is generally 

 the coldest and driest, owing to the tact that the ground is higher 

 and drier than in any other direction. The greatest mortality, when 

 this wind prevails in winter, is by acute inflammatory diseases, and 

 occasionally in autumn and spring ; but in summer a change to this 

 quarter from the south is cooling to the atmosphere and invigorating, 

 and its influence is marked in a great diminution in the number of 

 deaths. Generally speaking, less mortality occurs than from any 

 other direction, and it may be said to be the healthiest wind during 

 the entire year. 



NORTH-WEST WIND. 



The north-west wind might with propriety be called Boreas, as it 

 is a cold, fierce, and penetrating wind in winter ; in spring cold, 

 blear and bleak ; and in summer cool and refreshing. The topog- 

 raphy of the counti-y north-west of the City tends to the formation 

 of currents in this direction, at the same time there being no obstruc- 

 tions to their full sweep, their velocity is greater than from any other 

 quarter. In fact the character of the country over which it passes 

 is impressed upon it, as it is occasionally the coldest, but never the 

 warmest. It is pretty equally divided in frequency between winter, 

 spring, and autumn, and is least prevalent in summer. Its influence 

 on health is most marked in winter, and particularly in spring when 

 it causes great changes of temperature, resulting in pulmonary, 

 rheumatic, neuralgiac, and inflammatory diseases, while in the 

 summer it diminishes mortality, and exercises a wholesome influence 

 upon health. 



I do not wish to be understood as saying that winds alone are the 

 cause of death, but that owing to local causes they increase mor- 

 tality, which would not be the case if these conditions did not obtain. 

 While I fully appreciate the important part they play in purifying 

 the atmosphere, I do mean to say that in some seasons certain winds 

 increase mortality, or, in other words, that there are times here 

 when we have too much wind, as I have already shown that this 

 may be the case in winds from any direction. 



The following tables have been prepared with much care, the 

 facts having been obtained from all sources at my command, and 

 will corroborate what I have said with regard to the prevalence and 

 influence of winds. 



