outbreak of those which are usually considered epidemic sometimes occurs as an endemic, immediately upon the introduction of an active cause; as in cholera. It is probable that the two classes gradually shade into each other, and that here, as elsewhere in nature, there are no great leaps. On the whole, the Massachusetts disease appears to have followed the law of other epidemics, spreading for a time, while the epidemic influence lasted, and then disappearing without the apparent circumstances under which it arose being materially changed. If such be the case, it is obvious that we cannot expect any more good from indiscriminate slaughter of all deemed to be exposed to its influence than can be obtained by simply removing, even to a moderate distance, the well from the sick. We say removing the well from the sick, for in this way all causes of a local nature are removed as well as the emanations from the diseased. Especially should overcrowding be avoided; for if there is any thing well established, it is that overcrowding tends to produce disease among the healthy and increases its severity where it already exists. These precautions, with free ventilation, good nourishment, and a very moderate use of drugs, appear at present the principal measures we can bring to bear upon this exceedingly fatal epidemic, and with the judicious use of them, we have the testimony of distinguished veterinarians that a herd may be rid of it. The following is a summary of the facts and inferences with regard to contagion: 1. Contagionists admit that Pleuro-pneumonia often arises spontaneously in widely separated places; it has thus appeared on the continent of Europe and in England, where the duties prevented importation. 2. The most stringent measures of slaughtering and isolation have not, prevented its spread. 3. It has disappeared after a limited period without change of measures. 4. No Pleuro-pneumonia of man or animals is known to be contagious; it has been and is now prevalent among swine without evidence of contagion. 5. Two forms of Pleuro-pneumonia are admitted by contagionists; one contagious and the other non contagious; but these two diseases cannot be distinguished during life or after death. 6. The limits of the period of incubation are greater than those of contagious diseases. 7. It is believed possible by contagionists to eliminate by treatment the contagious influence during the period of incubation. 8. Animals purposely and fully exposed to the disease have not contracted it. 9. Experiments have not proved that it can be communicated by inoculation. 10. In Europe the question of contagion is still undecided. 11. The great majority of diseases the contagiousness of which has been fairly questioned have proved non-contagious. 12. Upon the grounds assumed by contagionists, the appearance of the disease in Belmont was probably spontaneous. 13. The disease may have been introduced into Brookfield, but disappeared spontaneously. 14. The evidence of contagion is similar in character and not greater in degree than that for the contagion of Cholera, and in both respects very different from that of small-pox. Months. Months. I. METEOROLOGICAL TABLES FOR PORTLAND,* ME." For the Year ending December 31st, 1859. By HENRry Willis. January, March, April, May, June,* inch. inch. inch. inch. 'inch inch inch. inch. inch. inch. inch. inch. 24 30.59 30 55 30 53 30.56 7 29.87 29.49 29.20 29.52 30.068 30.039 30.047 30.051 7 30.06 30.20 30.31 30.19 20 29.46 29 17 29.09 29 24 29.936 29.879 29.916 29.910 2 30.35 30 34 30 38 30.36 19 28 93 29.02 29.09 29.01 29.816 29.766 29.782 29.788 28 30.13 30.15 30.12 30.14 24 29.15 29.34 29.63 29.37 29.752 29.712 29.755 29.740 1130.22 30.26 30.31 30.26 829.70 29.59 29.55 29.61 30.024 30.021 30.009 30.018 12 30 27 30 20 30.13 30.20 30 29.57 29.78 29.88 29.74 29.949 29.909 29 913 29.924 5 30.31 30 29 30 31 30 34 22 29.65 29.53 29.44 29.54 29 883 29.865 29.868 29.872 23 30.15 30.12 30 12:30 13 19 29.64 29.58 29.78 29 67 29.891 29.856 29 885 29.877 September, 30 30.36 30 25 30 22 30.28 13 29.36 29.27 29 34 29 32 29 932 29.916 29.937 29.928 October, 1630.10 30.22 30.30 30 21 27 29.36 29.26 29.31 29.31 29.833 29.786 29.826 29.815 November, 730.55 30.54 30.51 30 53 13 29 66 29.30 29.17 29.38 30.045 30.016 30.028 30.030 December, 330.36 30.55 30.70 30.53 20 29.87 29.72 29.31 29.63 29.996 29.957 29.983 29.979 29.52 29 42 29.40 29.45 29 927 29.893 29.912 29.911 July, An. Mean, 30.29 30.31 30.33 30.31) 16 32.5 43.0 33.5 36.33 11 March, 13 39.0 48.0 39.0 42.00 2 April, May, June, 45.0 54.0 57.5 66.5 52.0 49.0 68.0 57.0 38.0 50.5 42.0 22.5 33.5 25.0 24.0 31.0 32.0 -8.0 6.0 21 41.0 42.0 39.0 40.66 11-23.0 -9.0-100-14.00 16.32 24.09 19.65 20.02 8.66 19.39 28.02 23.71 23.62 10.83 29.74 37.33 33.24 33.44 31.00 35.95 45.02 38.02 39.61 43.66 51.37 59.74 51.16 54.09 48.66 59.28 65.18 57.66 60.48 58 66 64.73 73.21 63.48 67.19 58.00 61.67 72.75 62.48 65.71 43.50 51.88 62.52 54.12 56.62 27.00 40.48 49.67 42.21 43.76 29.00 35.55 41.73 36.65 37.85 0.0-0.50 16.79 22.71 18.34 19.23 12.0 10.5 31.0 42.0 47.0 An. Mean, 53.8 66.5 54 6 57.79 23.3 34.4 28 41 28.71 40.26 48 50 41.73 43.47 8 64.0 79.0 62 0 68 33 10 29 77.0 85.0 77.0 79.66 5 July, 13 71.0 85.0 74.5 78.33 4 August, 14 65.0 83.0 71.0 73 00 30 September, 20 59.0 75.0 61.0 65.00 15 October, 4 52.0 76.0 60.0 62.66 26 November, 9 40.0 58 0 49.0 49 00 25 December, 2 47.0 46.5 38.5 44-00 29 Range, 1859, 108°:1 858, 93°. Highest temperature by Self-Registering Thermometer in 1859, June 29th, 87°.5; 1858, Sept. 9th, 89°. Lowest in 1859, Jan. 11th, 23°; 1858, Feb. 12th, 7o. * Seven days omitted. 73 121 Total, 17 65 5.46 138 48.551 76.5 168 158 70 192 114 177 REMARKS. Jan. 10th, 11th, and 12th were severely cold days; the mean temperature of the three days being 9°.44 below zero, the mercury standing at least 5° below zero for 63 consecutive hours. Jan. 11th, 1859. The harbor was frozen from Fish Point to the breakwater this morning; free the next day. Feb. 22d and 23d. - Auroral light each evening. March 4th. Wild geese seen passing north. 13th. First appearance of robins. 19th.- Sleighing ended, there having been sleighing from Dec. 5, 1858, 104 days. April 2d. Parhelia or sun-dogs observed from 44 P. M. till sunset. 21st, 28th, and 29th. Auroral light each evening. 29th.- Last ice made in the spring. May 30th. - Frost in the neighboring country, A. M. June 3d. Sky illuminated with lightning in the evening. 6th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. Frost in the neighboring country, A. M. 15th. Tornado at Embden, Me. July 6th. Three meteors observed this evening. 2d, 25th, and 26th. Thunder and lightning. Aug. 7th, 27th, and 31st. Thunder and lightning. 28th. - Brilliant aurora. Sept. 1st to 9th, inclusive, and 27th and 28th. Aurora each evening. Oct. 2d, 7th, and 20th.- Aurora observed each evening. Several meteors observed during the month. 10th and 11th. White frost in the morning. 21st.- First ice; first snow, 10.45 A. M. Nov. 8th. Brilliant meteor in the southeast. 13th.-Wild geese passing south. 19th. Lightning in south, at 5 P. M. March 30th.- Penobscot River freed from ice at Bangor; Dec. 10th, closed with ice at Bangor. Mean annual temperature at Portland for 37 years, 43°.14. Highest temperature recorded in that time, 100°.5; the lowest, Jan. 24th, 1857, 25°. The mean temperatures of the different seasons for 37 years are as follows: — Spring, 40°.21; Summer, 63°.22; Autumn, 46°.51; Winter, 21°.77. The force of vapor" is the inches of a column of mercury in the Barometer that would be supported by the pressure of the vapor in the atmosphere, alone. The mean relative moisture" indicates, in hundredths, the fraction of saturation of the air with water; one hundred being taken to represent full saturation. The "temperature of evaporation" is the dew point, and shows at what temperature the air would be saturated with the moisture present in the air at the time of observation. * Entirely clear, no clouds to be seen at three daily observations. + Entirely cloudy, no clear sky to be seen at three daily observations. Melted snow included. Three daily observations, 7 A. M., 2 P. M., and 9 P. M. Months. II. METEOROLOGICAL TABLES FOR CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Summary of the Meteorological Tables made at the Observatory of Harvard College during the Year commencing January 1st, 1859, and ending December 31st, 1859. By G. P. BOND, Director. Lat. 42° 22′ 48" N., Long. 71° 7′ 40" W. 1. MEAN BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AND EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE. Mean Height of the Barometer. External Thermometer. The indications of the Barometer are given corrected for capillary action, and reduced to the temperature of 320 Fahrenheit, but are not corrected for its height above the sea-level, which is 71 feet. 2. RAIN, WINDS, AND CLOUDS, Monthly Means of Observations. III. METEOROLOGICAL TABLE FOR PROVIDENCE, R. I. Summary of Meteorological Observations made at Brown University. Lat. 41° 50′ 17′′ N., Long. 71° 23' 40" W. from Greenwich. Barometer reduced to the Sea-level, and to 32° Fahr., and corrected for Capillarity. By Prof. A. CASWELL. 1. MEAN BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AND EXTERNAL THERMOMETER. November, 30.13 29.993 66.1 77.0 64.5 69.2 85 48 56.9 59.6 78 39 45.8 48.0 78 40.7 43.3 70 29 29 December, 61 Ann. Mean, 30.007 29.970 Months. 1859. January, March, September, October, November, December, 30.13 30.08 2. WINDS, CLOUDS, AND RAIN. Total for the Year, REMARKS.-The greatest height of the barometer (reduced as above) was 30.650 inches on the 24th of January: the least was 29.167 inches on the 23d of April, showing the extreme range for the year to be 1.483 inches. The maximum temperature was 90° on the 12th of July; the warmest day was the 29th of June, the mean of three observations being 79°.3. The minimum temperature was -11° on the 11th of January, which was the coldest morning since the 23d of January, 1857, when a standard thermometer in the same place stood at the same point, viz. 14° below zero. The observation recorded is from a Smithsonian thermometer. We have no record in this place of a greater degree of cold than this. The coldest day, however, was the 10th of January, the mean of three observations being -4°.0. The amount of rain for the year was 4.62 inches above the average for 28 years. * Observations are made at 6 A. M. from April 1st to October 1st, and at sunrise from October to April. |