and Bath as a Health Resort. 179 



nental type of climate ; and the fluctuations of this type are 

 often sudden and decisive. 



The hills around Bath afford wide scope for atmospheric 

 change. Altitude is equivalent to lessening of temperature, 

 with increase of ozone and circulation of air. The acute 

 bend (nearly a right angle) of the parallel ranges of hills 

 checks a " draught " through the valley, but makes the air 

 near the river close and hot during the latter part of July 

 and the greater part of August. There are, however, two 

 great points in which the climate of Bath is favourably dis- 

 tinguished when compared with that of Greenwich, and of 

 the Midland and Eastern Counties generally : — (a) in Spring 

 Bath has a higher mean temperature ; and the mean daily 

 range is less ; (p) in Winter the mean temperature is 

 decidedly higher ; and the extreme day and night tempera- 

 tures are higher also. 



Such are the general data for judging the climate of 

 Bath as a health-resort. Few places in the British Isles en- 

 joy so many bright and genial Winter days ; the excellent 

 way in which Bath is paved makes it quickly dry after 

 storms ; and the westerly gales of Autumn make the at- 

 mosphere more clear and pure. 



13* 



