THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE UPOX HEAt-Ttl AXD DISEASE. 117 



APPENDICES. 

 Appendix I. 



Memoranchim on the CUmatic and other Geographical Data for the 



Investigation, 



The success of any specific inquiiy into the relations between 

 physical environment and health or disease depends ultimately upon the 

 initiative and skill of the person who conducts it. The precise course 

 of the inquiry must be regulated by the particular circumstances 

 of the case, so that no rules of general application can be laid down. 

 It may be necessary for the investigator to organise for himself the 

 special series of observations required for the particular object which he 

 has in view, but at the same time it is well to remember that there are 

 already in existence extensive organisations in the form of official depart- 

 ments or scientific societies which are engaged in the collection of climatic, 

 demographic, and other geographical data for general purposes, and that 

 advantage may be taken of these collections either for the direct pur- 

 pose of the inquiry or for the discussion of important collateral issues. 



Further it may be remarked that the connection between the 

 incidence or development of disease and the physical environment is 

 often indirect. Climate may be regarded as the dominant variable, but 

 its effects may be produced through consequent alterations of surface and 

 ground water, or through its influence upon plants or animals, or in 

 consequence of the conditions of the ground and of the human settle- 

 ments upon it. 



The compilation of a special body of data concerning all these points 

 is generally beyond the power of the investigator with limited time and 

 opportunity at his disposal, and the following suggestions are drawn up 

 to enable him to bring the results obtained by the ordinary agencies for 

 collecting such information into co-operation with those obtained in the 

 course of the special inquiry. 



The organisation of meteorological observations is well advanced. It 

 is therefore possible to give an effective statement as to the nature and 

 extent of the data which are already available and where they may be 

 found. The information about the other factors cannot be so easily dealt 

 with. Demographic statistics and other information of an official cha- 

 racter can be obtained from the reports of various Government Depart- 

 ments, but there is an enormous body of information on other points 

 Avhich must be sought in the libraries and collections of scientific 

 societies. In Section 11. of this memorandum the various heads of 

 information are enumerated, and a brief indication is given of the sources 

 which are most likely to prove useful. 



Appendix I (a). 

 Climatic Data. 



Tlie preparation, collection, and publication of meteorological data 

 have been conducted, more or less effectively, for a long series of years 

 and for nearly all parts of the world, in accordance with practices which 

 have been codified and organised by international agreement. The 



