176 



CEYLON BRANCH 



which is certainly greater than I should have expected. The 

 low temperatures have been observed on bleak rainy days when 

 squalls from the north-east were prevalent. From these data, 

 and calculating by a well known formula which appears to be 

 true, or nearly true, for all localities, it results that the general 

 mean temperature of Putlam during these months has been 

 79*363°. As regards the weight of the atmosphere I have 

 indeed registered it, but unfortunately having only one sympie- 

 someter, and that not quite trustworthy, I refrain from giving 

 the results, only remarking that the variations, though constant, 

 are yet confined to an extremely small range. 



In now proceeding to enquire what influence the various 

 seasons have on the human species, it will be necessary to make 

 a few preliminary remarks. 



The persons on whom the observations have chiefly been 

 made form the detachment stationed at Putlam; the men are 

 for the most part of Mozambique origin, more or less inter- 

 mixed with Singhalese, Tamil, and impure Dutch and Portu- 

 guese blood. They are strong, rather tall, well made and ro- 

 bust; they are provided with comfortable lines, draw good and 

 regular pay, and live better than the natives. They are on 

 the other hand a good deal addicted to drunkenness. It is also 

 to be observed that of course the troops generally consist solely 

 of able-bodied men, young boys, old men, and all persons unfit 

 for duty from chronic disease or otherwise, being necessarily 

 excluded. 



It appears then that observations on these troops will not 

 be quite conclusive regarding persons, natives of other coun- 

 tries, and having other habits, but may yet be valuable as 

 shewing that the insalubrity of Putlam has been greatly ex- 

 aggerated, and that by taking reasonable precautions, persons 

 living there are not more exposed to disease than those who 



