Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1893 — Cholera and the Weather. [ARTICLE]

Cholera and the Weather.

Dr. Dignat, in a valuable series ol observations, seeks to establish under what meteorological conditions cholera and influenza are most favorably developed. He inclines to think that no one condition can be found to exercise by itself a preponderating influence in epidemics of this nature, but * certain phenomenal combinations he finds present in all outbreaks which he has had the opportunity of studying from bis point of view. His researches cannot, of course, extend back many years, since systematic meteorological observations have not till recently been obtainable. He gives the following resume of his conclusions: “(1.) The development of epidemics of influenza and of epidemics of cholera seems to be favored by certain meteorological circumstances, invariably to be found at the moment of their appearance. (2.) rr hese circumstances are almost exactly the same whether it is a question of cholera or simply of influenza. (3.) They are determined: (a) By the dominant direction of the east, southeast, or north winds during the days preceding the epidemic; (b) by the lowering towards the same period and during the whole duration of the epidemic of the electric influence below the normal; (c) by marked variations, sometimes more, sometimes less, of the temperature above the normal average temperature of the corresponding period; (d) by similar variations of barometric pressure, these variations consisting always rather in an augmentation of pressure; (e) finally, and above all. by the coincidence of an elevation of this pressure with the lowering of the electric influence." M. Dignat considers it the greatest error to attribute to variations in the rainfall any influence whatever on outbreaks of influenza or cholera, —The Hospital.