CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 163 



NOTES ON THE CLIMATE AND SALUBKITY OF 

 PUTLAM. 

 By Alexander Oswald Brobie, Esq* 



(Read 26th February 1848. J 



It is a matter not only of scientific interest, but also of prac- 

 tical utility, to oh serve and to descrijbe the climate aqd sana- 

 tory condition of places hitherto neglected or little known. The 

 attainment even of a mere approximation to the truth is not 

 to be despised where circumstances seem to forbid the hope of 

 procuring perfectly accurate results for some time to come. To 

 give a short, and it is hoped tolerably correct account of the 

 climate and sanatory phenomena of Putlam, is the sole objecf 

 of the present remarks. The data on which I have relied are 

 partly my own observations — in a greater degree however, va- 

 rious registers which have been kept by the late Comman- 

 dant — the present Government Agent, and the various Medical 

 Sub- Assistants at the station ; they extend throughout a period 

 of eight years (1839- — 1846) and though not recorded with that 

 minute accuracy and regularity which is desirable will yet it 

 is supposed yield tolerably correct results — owing to the length- 

 ened period which they include. 



It will be necessary in the first place, shortly to describe the 

 topographical position of the place. 



Putlam (in lat. 8^—2'— 50"— long. 79°-— 53'— 38") is situate 

 on the eastern shore of the gulf of Calpentyn, an arm of the 

 sea about eighteen miles in length, and from two to four in 

 breadth, which to the north communicates with the ocean by 

 an opening about two miles in breadth— and which a short dis- 

 tance to the south of the town contracts, but is continued by 



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