iii^ REPORtS O^ TliE StATE 0}? SCIENCE. 



*Ward, Dr. A. B., Bloemfontein. Woodhead, Prof. G. Sims, F.R.S., Cam- 



*Watkin6, Dr. A. H., Kimberley. bridge. 



'Weber, Dr., Berlin. *Woodhousp, Lieut.-Col. T. P., R.A.M.C., 



* Weber, Dr. Parkes, London. India. 



*Welsli, Fleet-Surgeon, R.N., London. *WutzdorlT, Dr , Berlin. 



*^^'^'' ,^if .^-^^°^- J- RA.M.C, British ,Y„le, Dr. Pratt, Bloemfontein. 



East Africa. 

 *WoekofiE, Prof., St. Petersburg. *Zuntz, Prof. N., Berlin. 



The study of the effect of climate upon health and disease for which 

 the Committee was appointed can be pursued by two methods — the 

 statistical and the experimental. In each case the work may be 

 subdivided into the preliminary consideration of the nature of the data 

 which would afford material for investigation, and the provision for the 

 acquisition and discussion of these data. 



In order to facilitate the collection of statistics of climate and disease 

 upon co-ordinated lines, forms for the tabulation of data with explanatory 

 memoranda were prepared last year. Specimen copies of these forms and 

 memoranda have been forwarded to each member of the Committee, and 

 to others as indicated in last year's report. The memoranda are printed 

 as appendices to this report. 



An inquiry is being conducted by the Committee into the coincidence 

 of diseases of the circulatory, nervous, and digestive systems respectively 

 with influenza in different epidemics of that disease. In the prosSbution 

 of this inquiry the Committee have to acknowledge its indebtedness to two 

 co-opted members of the Committee, viz., the Registrar-General, Sir 

 Wm. C. Dunbar, Bart., C.B., and Dr. J. F. W. Tatham, Superintendent 

 of Statistics, General Register Office, for their valuable assistance, with- 

 out which the inquiry would have been impossible. 



The Committee have no funds for the payment of the scientific staff 

 and clerical assistance that would be necessary for the organisation and 

 prosecution of researches of this character upon a permanent basis. 

 Although it can look forward to the continuance of the active support 

 afforded by Government departments and public bodies, such support 

 cannot take the form of money grants to the Committee. The grant of 

 the Association is absorbed in secretarial and incidental expenses, and 

 any expense incurred in the prosecution of researches falls upon indi- 

 vidual members of the Committee. 



The Committee cannot therefore contemplate extensive operations in 

 the direction of tlie compilation and discussion of the meteorological and 

 medical data, which would, in fact, afford sufficient work for a separate 

 institution. 



There are hoivever already in existence, within the knowledge of 

 various members of the Committee, large accumulations of statistics and 

 other data bearing upon various questions of climate and health, which 

 might form the subjects of valuable essays by competent students who 

 have time and opportunity for the study of the data, and special aptitude 

 for work of this nature. The Committee are of opinion that some of these 

 questions might be treated successfully as theses for the degree of M.D., 

 provided that the advice of persons who have devoted attention to one 

 or other aspect of the problems involved could be secured. They have 

 been in communication with the heads of various Universities and 

 medical schools with reference to this suggestion, and have received a 

 number of encouraging replies. They have accordingly drawn up a pre- 



