344 DR R. E. SCORESBY-JACKSON 



2. That a continued low temperature perceptibly increases the death-rate 

 amongst those between five and twenty years of age, though to a much less 

 extent than in infancy ; and the mortality curve does not rise so suddenly upon 

 the fall in the curve of temperature. 



3. That continued cold also raises the death-rate amongst adults, more per- 

 ceptibly than in youth, but less than in infancy. 



4. That in old age continued cold is prejudicial, but the death-rate does not 

 rise so suddenly as either in infancy or in adult life. 



5. It would appear from the foregoing remarks, that severe winter weather 

 induces acute inflammatory diseases in infancy and adult life, rapidly cutting oft' 

 its victims ; that it increases the death-rate of the aged by aggravating chronic 

 diseases ; and that it probably cuts off" only those in youth who are previously 

 debilitated by some exhausting disease, as phthisis. 



6. That a high temperature in summer, especially if long sustained, increases 

 infantile mortality. 



7. That such high summer temperature scarcely affects the death-rate in 

 youth. 



8. That it slightly increases the mortality in adult life. 



9. And that it also slightly increases the death-rate of the aged. 



10. That care ought to be taken to avoid exposure to the direct influence of 

 the weather when the mean temperature sinks below 39° in winter, or rises above 

 57° in summer. 



III. — General Resume. 



In the foregoing investigations I have employed as the standards of reference 

 either the means of the six corresponding months, or the means afforded by the 

 six years. In many instances I have drawn my conclusions from the com- 

 parison of two extreme years, factitiously constructed out of the whole term of 

 seventy-two months. I have been urged to such modes of investigation for the 

 sake of conciseness, having had to treat of a comprehensive subject within too 

 narrow limits. In conclusion let me place the data before the Society in one 

 other form, which will serve both as a check upon the previous inductions, and 

 also as a resume of the entire subject. 



I shall employ as the standards of reference, in this instance, the means of the 

 six corresponding seasons, and compare with them the major and minor readings, 

 respectively, of the eighteen months comprised in the several periods from which 

 the means are derived. It is unnecessary, or, at least, would occupy too much 

 space, to repeat the minor meteorological details; I shall therefore restrict the 

 present inquiry to the influence of mean temperature, the mean height of the 

 barometer, and the humidity as represented by the rainfall in inches. 



