INFLUENCE OF SEASONS ON GENERAL PARALYSIS 283 



The above statistics, we may note, are calculated from the 

 returns of the Paris Prefecture infirmary for the years 1886-88, 

 and given by us in Tables A and C. 



Summing up the result of our inquiry into the influence of the 

 seasons on insanity in general, on alcoholic insanity, and on 

 general paralysis, we note, in the first place, that the minimum 

 of all three rates is reached in February ; while the maximum 

 is reached in June for the first two, and in May for the last. 

 Although the minimum is actually reached in February, this 

 month is altogether exceptional ; for the general movement of 

 all three rates shows an advance during the first six months of 

 the year, and this reaches its culminating point in June, or, in 

 the case of general paralysis, in May and June. This increase 

 is followed by a decrease in the rate during the latter half of 

 the year — from July to December. 



If we add to these results those already obtained as to the 

 influence of seasons on suicide — which likewise reaches its 

 maximum in Jime, and is followed by a decrease from July till 

 December — can we draw from these results any conclusions as 

 to the influence of seasons on conduct in general, or as to the 

 relations existing between social phenomena and thermal varia- 

 tions ? 



We may reply that, if seasons have an influence on conduct, 

 they do so through the medium of the social milieu. Between 

 social phenomena and thermal variations there exist definite 

 relations, and according to the influence which these thermal 

 variations exercise on social phenomena — according as, owing 

 to the state of the weather, the conditions of social life are of 

 greater or lesser intensity — will individual conduct be affected 

 by thermal variations. 



Thus the individual, considered as a social being, is deter- 

 mined in his evolution by the evolution of society ; and climatic ' 

 variations, themselves governed by immutable and iron laws, 

 nevertheless react on different societies in different ways, ac- 



