173 MESSRS. RANSOME AND VERNON ON THE INFLUENCE 



average. Lastly iu the week ending November yth the 

 onward course of the disease does not seem to be checked 

 by the temporary but unusual heat. 



In the spring of 1858 the very close accordance between 

 the two curves is not observed. Although the mean tem- 

 persiture falls lower than it has yet done, and the number 

 of cases of pneumonia is still very great, yet it never again 

 reaches the height that it did in November. 



It must, however, be observed that the highest point of 

 the curve this season corresponds with the period of the 

 greatest cold, the week ending March lo^th having a tem- 

 perature of 35° (6° below the average), the preceding week 

 being still colder (32° or 8*5° below the average). The 

 waves of the disease curve apparently lay behind those of 

 the mean temperature. (The humidity is now diminishing, 

 and N.E. winds very prevalent.) 



The mean temperature now begins to rise, and the 

 disease diminishes in prevalence on the whole until August 

 21 St, many fluctuations intervening, until with the ad- 

 vancing cold of the autumn an increase again takes place. 

 In the lesser modulations of the two curves from April 

 koth to June 26th (eleven weeks) there is again a very 

 close correspondence, there being only one exception in 

 the week ending May '^th ; the disease curve then falling, 

 after a short rise, while the mean temperature continues 

 to diminish. 



From June 26th to July 24^/^ there is apparently an 

 important departure from our rule. In the weeks ending 

 June 26th, July oprd, while the mean temperature is falling, 

 the number of cases of pneumonia continues to diminish. 

 It seems probable, however, that this may be owing to 

 the unusual heat of the preceding week (69° or 8'^° above 

 the average), and the discrepancy in July seems to be due 

 to the disease curve rolling up behind that of temperature, 

 the rise in the pneumonia curve following the unusual fall 



