160 
the sign plus; while during the remaining six years they 
have all the sign minus. The average value of the differ- 
ences in the first eight years was + 3 ‘8 4 ; and the last six 
years — 5 ’ 08 inches. The returns from the other stations 
of the Manchester Corporation Water Works exhibit similar 
results. It is evident, therefore, that at the end of 1862, a 
marked change took place in the character of the climate 
of this locality ; the spring and summer seasons becoming 
much drier, and the autumn and winter months wetter than 
they had been during the previous eight years. I may add 
that this altered character of the seasons was continued 
through the last year, 1869, the total rainfall at Arnfield 
during the spring and summer months having been only 
12-48 inches against 27'57 inches in the autumn and winter 
months — thus showing a difference of — 15 09 inches. 
In considering the differences in the temperature, humi- 
dity, and pressure of the atmosphere, and in the direction 
and force of the wind in the two periods, as indicated by 
this marked difference in the distribution of rainfall, it 
seemed to me highly probable that corresponding differences 
would exist in the state of the public health, and that the 
mean rate of mortality during one period would be sensibly 
different from that during the other. I therefore extracted 
from the annual reports of the Registrar General the rates 
of mortality in Lancashire, Cheshire, and the West Riding 
of Yorkshire during the years included in the two periods, 
omitting the last year of the series,- 1868, as the report for 
that year has not yet been published. These rates are as 
follows r — - Annual Rate of Mortality per cent, in 
Lancashire. 
Cheshire. 
West Riding. 
1855...... 
2-680 ..... 
2-197 ... 
2-223 
1856 
2-464 
2-048 ... 
2-212 
1857 
2-628 
2-269 ... 
2-368 
1858...... 
2-719 
.... 2-267 ... 
2-491 
1859 
2-454 
2-169 ... 
2-396 
1860 
2-371 
2-173 ... 
2-360 
1861 
. 2-592 
.... 2-164 ... 
2-321 
1862 
2-560 
2-246 ... 
2-364 
1863 
2-629 
.... 2-396 ... 
2-573 
1864 
2-718 
2-300 ... 
2-656 
1865 
. .. 2-832 
..... 2-328 ... 
2-667 
1866 . 
.. 3-016 
2-538 ... 
: 2-684 
1867 
2-688 
..... 2-252 ... 
2-443 
