cannot but anticipate a continuation of permanent changeableness, to which the circumstances of locality must lead, unless we can overturn mountains, exhaust our lakes, turn our rivers from their courses, and stop the flood of increase of human beings. Evaporation is the source of clouds, rain, and moisture generally, proceeding either from the surface of the earth itself, in the immediate or the neighboring latitudes, or of the sea; in either case, this moisture always pressing northward in our hemisphere, from what has been said, must be greatest near the surface, as in that region of eternal congelation above us, the atmosphere must necessarily be dry; and if the deductions of Mons. Bouguer be correct, clouds form within 15,577 feet of the level of the sea, although probably never rising so high as that in our climate, but the height must vary from varying circumstances of situation of land, strata of air, &c. From our observations the past year, it appears there have been 73 days of rain and snow, during which there fell 40.538 inches of water, of which 21.926 inches were from 1st April, 1829, to 1st Oct. 1829, and 18.612 fell from 1st Oct. 1829, to 1st April, 1830. The quantity estimated by Mr. Dalton for England, was 31 inches annually. The quantity fallen this last quarter in this city, that is from 1st of April to 1st of July, was 10.9 inches, which at the same rate the whole year, would give 43.9; but although it has been a very wet season in June, there being eleven rains besides several showers, the previous years 1828-29, compared with the past, was productive of more rain and moisture. In that year there fell upwards of 46.58 inches of rain, whereas the last year has given but 40.538 inches. This does not of course include the past quarter, April, May and June, but the precipitations even of the past three months was not so great as that of the same quarter in 1828, which stood thus: 1830. 1828, April, 4.42 4 May, 5.97 8 and in 1829, April, 4.82 7 May, 2.06 7 June, 5.08 8 June, 4.20 9 Inches, 15.47 20 Rains. 11.08 23 10.90 24 Thus the last quarter since April 1st, has not been so abundant in rain as the same quarter in two previous years. The mean heat by the thermometer was in April, 60°. The maximum being 84, the minimum 36. That for May was mean 64, max. 80, min. 48. For June, mean 71.5, max. 89, min. 54. The variation of the barometer has not been to great extent although frequent and sudden, the max. was 30.44, the min. 29.4, diff. 1.04, mean, 29.92. Last year, 1829, vegetation was backward and slow, the season not opening so early with the warmth of spring. This year it was reversed, and the commencement of the spring was so warm as to render a change afterwards of a cooler nature somewhat unpleasant and unhealthy. During the summer, the average barometrical pressure was but a trifle from 30 inches. The greatest heat was 90°; the least, from 1st of July to 1st of Oct. 38; the mean was 64. August was not so warm as July and Sept.: but none of the summer months were as warm as those of the previous year. In the fall the barometer was quite low, 29.17, and as high as 30.75; while the mercury stood so low, a violent storm occurred. The average heat until the 1st of January, was about 45°, although the thermometer was down to 25 in Nov. and 22 in December. But in January and February the cold was much more intense than in the previous year, but was not so continued; it was 3o above in the former, and 5 in the latter month. In March it was as low as 180, but rose to 68. The quantity of rain which fell in the spring quarter, has been stated at a little over 11 inches, with 23 rains. The next quarter there was 11.846 inches, viz. in July, August and Sept. The next quarter there was 10.22-what fell in the following quarter amounted to 8.392 inches. The greatest quantity that fell in any month, was in August, when there was 5.036 inches.* *Much misapprehension seems to exist with respect to locating the thermometer, in order to obtain the best observations, by which the accounts we receive of the state of the temperature differ very much; some place it in soda, subject to the influence of melting ice; others place it in a close room, the air of which may not be changed for several days; by others it is subjected to strong reflected heat, and others exclude radiant caloric altogether. Thus the grand object is lost sight of, which would appear to be to ascertain the temperature the body is exposed to in our usual occupations and intercourse. For this purpose, we do not wish to surround it with ice, or subject the air to be cooled, previous to its coming to the thermometer, by cold marble, and passing through cold passages: in a close room we are liable to take the temperature of the morning at noon, or that of yesterday to-day. Our bodies are subjected to reflected heat every step that we move out of our houses, and it is reflected heat that makes the difference between town and country, in doors and out, and of the upper and lower strata of the atmosphere. In walking our streets we are exposed to the radiant caloric from houses and pavements, by which the thermometer is raised, unless a breeze of cool air keep it down; while at other times a southerly wind prevailing, will raise the thermometer higher than the usual concentrated heat. To preserve, therefore, the main object of meteorological observations, a situation has been chosen for our thermometers out of doors, but in the The past year has been noted for the epidemic prevalence of scarlatina, which has been very rife and fatal; except this, the summer months were not more than usually productive of their peculiar diseases; nor did the winter give rise to more than the usual number of those diseases consequent upon diminished temperature; but the past quarter may be said to have originated a more than ordinary quantity of the diseases arising from moisture. But this is invading the province of another committee, upon whose rights we would not infringe. Monthly Meteorological Summary, from April 1st, 1829, to July 1st, 1830-for New-York. 1829. April June BAROMETER. .78 THERMOMETER. RAIN. 48 67. 2.06 7 32 68. 4.20 30.12 90 34 73. 2.64 29.98 71. 30.08 90 38 52 64. 5.036 8 3.17 51. 3 67 29.715 61 25 36 43. 4.42 66 22 44 44. 2.13 9685485 Max. Min. Diff. Mean. Max. Min. Diff. Mean. Depth. No. shade, with a northern aspect, and subjected to but little reflected or radiant caloric, being opposite to vines and other vegetables. The barometer is of course within doors. Accompanying this report, we present a table of the particulars of the different observations for the past year, and also for the past three months. We have also in preparation an annual tabular view of the maximum and minimum degrees of the thermometer for the past ten, and, if possible, for the past twenty years. It is not yet complete, but we hope to have the means of completing it, although we have not as yet the materials. ART. VI.-Observations on Hydrophobia. By JOHN S. BOWRON, M. D., of New-York. THE rapid improvement of the science of Medicine, within the last fifty years, is to be attributed, in a great measure, to the cultivation of the study of pathological anatomy. In no country has morbid anatomy been prosecuted with such indefatigable zeal, and untiring industry, as in France. To its schools we are indebted for many of the greatest improvements in the healing art. Ancient and fallacious doctrines have been exploded, and in their stead, a beautiful system has been introduced, which will be as stable and as lasting as time; for it is founded on the immutable principles of truth. The physiological doctrines of Broussais have had their origin in pathological anatomy; and although they may inculcate many errors, yet, being founded on facts, and legitimate deduction, they cannot fail of an ultimate triumph. Notwithstanding, however, the acknowledged importance of pathological anatomy, it is very evident that symptomatology is at least of equal importance to the physician. There are many diseases, particularly of the nervous system, which can only be understood by a thorough knowledge of symptomatology. And then again, the symptoms can only be understood by those who are intimately acquainted with the science of life. We must first know the nature of the healthy functions, before we can tell when they are deranged. I am well satisfied, that many of the most formidable of human maladies destroy life, without leaving any appreciable alteration of structure in the part primarily affected. Owing to the minute and delicate structure of the nervous system, pathological inquiries frequently fail to discover any material alteration in it, even when it has, most unquestionably, been the primary seat of the disease. A great difficulty in the investigation of many diseases originates from a combination of consecutive, with primary affections. If we could see our patients early in the complaint, this difficulty would generally be avoided. When circumstances will not admit of this, then we must be governed by the present condition of the complaint. By a careful examination of all the symptoms, and peculiar features of the disease, and with the aid of analogy, we shall generally be able to ascertain with accuracy, the first link in the catenation of morbid functional derangement. For, notwithstanding in all diseases affecting the whole system, and consequently attended with febrile dis |