312 



DR R. E. SCORESBY- JACKSON 



We may test the months of December in a similar manner by ascertaining the 

 character of the exceptional years. 



Year. 



1859, 

 1862, 

 1860, 

 1858, 

 1861, 

 1657, 



Maximum 

 Mortality. 



263-4 

 259-0 



257-7 

 250-0 



Major 

 Mortality. 



241-4 



Minor 

 Mortality. 



Mean 247 9. 



215-7 



December 1861. — Registrar-General: "From the returns it appears that the 

 month of December, in the important feature of mean temperature, has been 

 nearly normal, and thereby between three and four degrees warmer than the two 

 last Decembers." 



December 1857. — Registrar-General: " During the quarter the weather was 

 unusually mild, — so much so, indeed, that even sprigs of hawthorn in full blow, 

 and several spring flowers, were gathered at Christmas ; and in the north, a second 

 and abundant crop of cranberries was gathered the second week of December." 



The months of November present only one exceptional year, and that alone 

 contributes to the maximum section ; it will be suflBcient to ascertain whether it 

 is remarkable for its " severity." 



„ Maximum 



^ ^''''- Mortality. 



iFajor 

 Mortality. 



1858, . . . 266-1 



... 



1859, 



236-0 



1862, 



234-7 



1857, 



231-3 



1860, 



230-0 



1861 



224-5 



November 1858. — Registrar-General : 



" During 



Mean 237-1. 



temperature of the month was 2°.2 below the average, and severe, stormy 

 weather, accompanied by keen frost and falls of snow, prevailed during the third 

 week of the month." 



We have, however, an anomaly in November 1861, in which, with the lowest 

 death-rate of all the Novembers, we find the following description of the weather : 

 — " Hence it appears that the month of November has been cold, wet, and windy, 

 to an unprecedented degree. The barometer was lower, and more uniformly low 

 than in any month of the last six years. The mean temperature was lower than 

 in any November through the same time." It will be noticed, however, that 

 there is not a great difference in the death-rate between the several years entering 

 into the major section. And, lastly, concerning the months of August. One of 

 these months only presents an exceptional death-rate ; it is that of the year 1857. 

 The months of September present also an exceptional month, likewise that of 



