286 ATMOSPHERE IN RELATION TO HUMAN LIFE AND HEALTH. 



Suicide predominates in the central part of Europe between latitudes 

 47 and 57 and longitudes 20 and 40. In the southwest and northeast 

 of Europe the tendency is much less. Italy, Spain, and Portugal have 

 a minimum number. The distribution appears to be little affected by 

 climate, and very largely by mental advance and cultivation, so that 

 the climatic factor, if existent, is concealed. But there is sufficient 

 reason in Europe, at least, to attribute an excess of nervous diseases 

 when other conditions are equal to periodic hot and dry weather and 

 alternations of heat and cold. Countries either very hot or very cold 

 are less subject to suicidal tendencies than the temperate region. But 

 inquiry is needed to dissociate the climatic factor from the many others 

 which confuse the evidence in civilized countries. 



The influence of climate upon health and upon national character 

 has never been very fully studied, and is worthy of the attention of 

 Government and of science. The effect of change of climate has 

 already been touched upon in another part of this essay. 



The degree of cold Avhich the human body can easily bear is surpris- 

 ing. A temperature of —70° E. with a dry and still air is less trying 

 than a temperature of 20° with damp and strong wind. The present 

 writer has had exx)erience on a mountain in Italy of a temperature of 

 17° F., with sunshine, which was quite pleasant and not too cold for 

 sitting out. Even invalids can sleep with windows open and sit out, 

 without very heavy clothing, when the thermometer shows several 

 degrees of frost. The purity of the air as well as the dryness seems 

 to invigorate the frame and prevent the sensation of chill. Voyagers 

 in the Arctic regions endure prolonged cold without in any way suffer- 

 ing in health if judicious in their mode of life, and mountaineers are 

 seldom the worse for exposure unless they have greatly fatigued them- 

 selves or have been overtaken by rain or snow. The tolerance of heat 

 is also very remarkable where the air is dry and pure and direct sun- 

 shine avoided. The temperature of the body rises about 0.05° E. for 

 every increase of 1° F. above the ordinary temperature. The amount 

 of air respired is less in hot than cold climates, in the proportion of 

 8.157 to 10 ounces of carbon. The total effect of heat and of cold on 

 the human body has never been fully investigated. The net result, 

 however, of a very complex series of changes induced by different tem- 

 peratures on the inhabitants of different lands seems to show that a 

 moderate or medium temperature is most favorable to health and 

 strength, apart from telluric and constitutional factors, and from diet, 

 training, and habits. Yet there can be no doubt that some race of 

 mankind may attain very great strength and health in any nonmala- 

 rious climate. 



