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ON THE
CLIMATIC   CONDITIONS
OF THE
SUMMER  OF  1853,
est Mnrtlj affertutj its Sanatarg Character,
(A Beport to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington.)
    BY LORIN BLODGET, Esq.
IN CHARGE OF THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT.
[FROM THE KEW-YORK JODKKAL OF MEDICINB.]
             N t m - U o r k:
HOLMAN, GRAY <fc CO., PRINTERS, CORNER CENTRE AND WHITE STREETS.
                1853. 
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 *  1853 
THE   CLIMATIC   CONDITIONS
OF THE
SUMMER   OF  1853.
The  most  important  condition  of our summer  climate
affecting its sanatary character is the most difficult to meas-
ure.   Humidity, or the proportion of the amount of moist-
ure  required to fully saturate the  air, which it  is found  to
contain at  any  time, is, probably, the  controlling sanatary
condition at all high temperatures.   This  is of course exclu-
sive of local or miasmatic causes, which are  climatic only in
the  more limited sense, and secondary to temperature and
humidity under all circumstances.
   The determination of  humidity in such  a manner  as  to
make the results  comparable at different places, and available
for general grouping, is the most recent point gained in me-
teorological  observation.   Without  concert  of  action, and
uniformity in the manner  of observation,  and in the  instru-
ments used, the earlier observations served only for compari-
  Note.—The unusual conditions of temperature and humidity of the present summer have
attracted much attention, and a brief reference to them and comparison of extremes was
thought to be due to the interest felt in general  meteorological research. In attempting this
comparison the amount of  matter somewhat outgrew the compass of a mere article, ard it has
been extended, with a more general purpose and  character, as a report upon those conditions.
The informality or incompleteness of some of its parts renders this  designation too  compre-
hensive, but, as prepared with the promptness necessary to connect  the whole with the fresh
interest of the public in the subject, it could hardly be otherwise. It  s given, therefore, not as
a complete report, but only as the best exhibit of the subject that may be made while its full
interest remains.                                                L- B- 
4
sons
   .. at the same .station, and even that imperfectly.  The
virions forms of hygrometer and dew-point instruments have
been  generally superseded by  the wet-bulb thermometer.
The observation of the temperature of evaporation, as given by
this instrument, under circumstances which  truly represent
the mass of surface atmosphere at the  time, or what may be
termed normal conditions in respect to the evaporating ejject,
has entire  uniformity of character, and such observations
may be relied upon for the fullest comparison and illustra-
tion.
  The summer of 18-53 has been extraordinary in its clima-
tic conditions, and the extremes of temperature and humidity
were  much more striking  and clearly  defined  than  usual.
The relation which these conditions may have to  the general
sanatary character of a month or season, may therefore be
analyzed under unusually  favorable circumstances,  if  our
observations are  sufficient to define  them  with precision.
The purpose of this paper is to present them in  the  proper
grouping and contrasts, and this process will serve as a gen-
eral test of their accuracy, and  apply them to their most
important purpose at the same time.
  Some of the more disastrous periods of mortality of the
summer have  been  attributed directly to extreme tempera-
ture, while the attendant condition of  humidity has scarcely
been recognized as  influencing  results.  Violent  epidemics,
and even contagious  diseases, may have been  initiated by
some  maximum of these conditions, and the subsequent  pro-
pagation and continuation may be due to other causes more
difficult to decide upon.  Without assuming  entire depend-
ence  upon the conditions  of climate we now measure for
epidemics  of the more violent  character, it  is still a point
gained of  unusual  importance when  numerical values  may
be given to humidity as well as  temperature.   With these
the  statistics  of disease  and mortality  may  ultimately un-
dergo thorough comparison and  examination,  and to  that
research the greatest and final results will belong.
   The climatic research conducted by the Smithsonian Insti-
tution now embraces every climatic district  of the country. 
5
The full registers, including with the more common observa-
tions  the  difficult  one of the temperature of evaporation,
from which is deduced the relative humidity, number about
thirty, which are  immediately returned at the close of an
observed month.   There are others in  the New-York and
Military Systems, accessible at a  later period; but the first
suffice to determine every important district in this respect.
Correct temperature observations for the open air are reported
in the same prompt manner from about two hundred stations,
of which about eighty measure carefully the amount of pre-
cipitation.
   From these data the present exhibit is prepared.  It will
present, first, the several periods of  excessive heat in the
three summer months of the present year, and the compari-
son of various districts during those periods.
   Second, the periods of excessive humidity, and of unusual
amount of precipitation; and the relation of these in time
and place to the division of excessive variations of tempera-
ture.
   It also marks extremes of absence of humidity, and of cold,
which are less important as sanatary  conditions standing
alone, though the low humidity apparently occurs generally
as a very important modification of the  injurious character
of a period of excessive heat.
   The first general high temperature of the season occurred
on the 3d to the 5th of June, extending from Montreal  to
Florida, but this did not occur at the West generally.  At the
South it was a day later than in New-York, and its maximum
at  the North, from  Montreal to New-York,  83°, and from
Chapel Hill, N. C, to Savannah, Ga., 92°.  The period was so
short that no general consequence would probably attach  to
it, however,  and the amount of humidity was not unusual.
   From the 14th to the 18th, the heat was excessive and
general.  At the extreme West, in Minnesota, Iowa and Wiscon-
sin, it occurred on the 12th and 13th; the atmosphere affected
passing eastward across the continent as a well-defined body,
according to  what seems a law of all dynamic or inconstant
climatic phenomena.  It did not extend beyond Camden, S. C, 
G
southward, and attained a higher point  at  the West than
elsewhere, of !HP to 94° in Ohio, Kentucky, and westward
in the same latitudes.   Succeeding this, a general excess o
temperature occurred from the 20th to the 23d,  h'ss than the
preceding in the extreme North, and with a considerable fall
there on the 22d, but  quite unusual and long-continued at
almost every other part of the country.  The maxima varied
from the 20th to 23d, and ranged from 9<P to 97".  With the
slight allowance for excess, which usually should be made in
the readings at these extreme points, the maximum of 95° was
probably general, from New-York to  Savannah, on the 23d,
and the same degree the day previous in Ohio and Michigan.
In Tennessee and southwest ward, the same point was reached
on the 20th ; in Mississippi and Texas still one day earlier.
  Lastly, a most extraordinary extreme of heat occurred on the
29th and 30th  ; in this  case, as before, beginning earliest at
the West by a day and a half for the distance from St. Louis
to Washington.  This extreme was central in the latitude of
Washington, and was limited at  Savannah on the South, and
Burlington, Yt., on  the  North.    It attained 9G° to  9S° in
Tennessee, Kentucky, and Southern Ohio, and 99.5° to 102° at
Washington and in Eastern Virginia and N. Carolina.   This
is without any known parallel in the records  of temperature
here, and is several degrees above any recorded temperatures
at New-Orleans, Mobile, or Savannah.
  The general  temperature of July was also high, and slight-
ly above the normal mean in most parts of the United States.
The mean of June was much above the normal one, attaining
a maximum of excess in Wisconsin and Illinois  of nine degrees.
It was there 4.5° above the mean for July,—this excess being
less at the East, where the two months were nearly equal, and
June 5° above the normal mean.
  The excessive heat of the last days of June was prolonged
through the 1st and 2d of July at 9 P in Virginia and at the
South, and the range was generally high at Philadelphia and
South until the 10th, when it was again at 92 to S4^.   North
of latitude 40° there were no great heats  in this month and
the temperature was quite uniform throughout.   The temne- 
7
rature was at or above 90°, after the middle of the month, only
in Central Georgia and Alabama, and westward in this lati-
tude to Texas, for two or three days about the 20th, and again
at the close of the month.
   In August, a period of general excessive heat occurred, be-
ginning,  as usual, earlier at the West, and reaching 90° at
Lac-qui-parle, on the St. Peter's River, Minnesota, (lat. 45°,
long.  96°,) on the 7th and 8th.  The maximum in Illinois and
the adjacent States was 90° to 94° from the 8th to the 13th,
in Ohio  and Kentucky nearly the same; and, passing east-
ward a little later through Pennsylvania, the district of greatest
excess was central at New-York from the 12th to the  14th.
   The temperature was below 80° at Cedar Keys, Talahassee,
and Pensacola, Fla., through these  days,  and at no place
South reached 90°.   Later in the month, from the 25th to the
31st,  the heat was unusually great in the Southwest,—Texas,
the Cherokee Territory, and Mississippi,—with an extraordina-
ry reverse in Iowa and the adjoining States.  Frosts occurred
in all the States West and  North of Ohio at some day from
the 2-5th to 2Sth inclusive ; and in some parts of Iowa, Wiscon-
sin, and Michigan, there were two or three in succession, and
great injury was done to vegetation.   At Lac-qui-parle, Min-
nesota, 3°  farther north, and nearly a thousand feet  higher,
there was one very slight frost on the 27th.
   These extraordinary conditions of temperature become more
important when connected with the accompanying conditions
of humidity.   As general comparisons of this last condition
have hardly been possible  heretofore, the present  summer
cannot be compared with previous years, except in one or two
extremes of its sanatary effect.
   The observations of humidity are,  however, believed to be
of the very best character.   The temperature of  the natural
evaporation has been taken under uniform directions, and with
uniform instruments.  The  actual evaporating effect of the air
at the time, as the measure of its true evaporating power in a
climatic sense, and such as could affect animal life  and the
growth of vegetation, has been sought in the directions given,
and in the practice of the observers. 
   From such observations the fraction of saturation, or the
 percentage of humidity existing in the air at the time, lias been
 deduced by Regnault's formulas, first determined theoretically
 from the latent and specific heat of air and aqueous vapor,
 and subsequently modified in the numerical elements to con-
 form to the results derived from actual experiment.
   These results are arranged in a tabular form for  greater
 convenience of comparison.  The "relative humidity" is the
 percentage of moisture which the  air at the time contains.
 100 being full saturation.  The absorbent power of the air in
 highly  heated periods is  directly as this  decrease of the
 degree of saturation, and is the most precise measure possible
 of the sanatary condition which is  peculiarly climatic, and
 not dependent on miasmatic or other secondary causes.
   A brief reference to the prominent points in this compari-
 son may assist the examination.   It may be  stated that the
 fractions of saturation are much more variable  in cold than
 in warm climates at all temperatures.  The  mean summer
 saturation  at New-Orleans, by the  valuable  observations of
 Dr.  Barton,* is .8-37, and  the  mean saturation for the  year
 .811.  The degree there is quite constant through successive
 years for the different seasons, and has its maximum in sum-
 mer.   The maximum  in the northern portion of the United
 States is also in summer, but the mean is something more
 than one-tenth of saturation less than that at New-Orleans.
   The fractions given  in  the tabular statements used for
the present general comparisons are from  one observation
only for the day, that at 2 P. M.; which is very near the hour
for maximum temperature also.   It would be equally import-
ant to give the mean of the day, but as the labor would be
very much increased, the single hour of extreme range of the
several conditions, giving the most striking  contrasts,  has
been thought sufficient for the present purpose.
   The heats of June are seen at once to have; been remarka

  * Report to the La. State Med. Soc, on the Meteorology, Vital Stat' f
and Hygiene of Louisiana.  By Dr. E. II. Barton, 1S",1.   The amount  j,  '
given are a summary from observations at sunrise, midday and 9pm for  •
years.                                                  k 
9
bly dry.   The fraction of saturation was at a mean of about
50 in the Northeast, and but  40 to 45 in the interior and in
Texas, during the hot days from the 14th to the 17th, though
much higher at Pensacola and the extreme South, where the
heat was not so great.  At the 20th to the 23d, the rate was
about  the  same in the districts of excessive heat.  On the
29th and 30th, the percentage was but 35 to 40 in  the nar-
row district through  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and Virginia,
which marked 100° as the maximum temperature. The coin-
cidence of unusual absence of humidity with this unequaled
temperature was fortunate.   The usual saturation with this
degree of heat would have  been extremely destructive to
health and life.
   The first two days  of July were a continuation of the con-
ditions of  the last of June.   The remainder  of the month
was not  unusual   in its hygrometric character generally,
though at New-Orleans, where,  unfortunately,  we have no
observations after May, the evidences of high saturation are
given in the profuse and constant rains of the middle of the
day, preceded by a hot and oppressive morning.  This weather
was reported  as  quite uniform for  the first and most fear-
fully fatal  month  of  the yellow  fever.   The  approach  to a
tropical  character in the midsummer saturation and  daily
rains, at New-Orleans, is more or less distinctly marked in dif-
ferent years at  all times, but the present summer seems to
have attained a maximum in this respect, and to have given
in this way terrible effect to the epidemic, when once induced,
in whatever manner  that may have been.   It is hoped  that
careful observations  of  the humidity of the  yellow-fever
period of  the present summer there, have been  made.   The
 Gulf Coast in Texas and Florida  does not properly represent
 the humidity or other climatic peculiarities- of New-Orleans,
 nor does any place in the interior from which we  have observ-
 ations.
   The great heat of August was most remarkable in its hy-
 grometric condition  also, and universally attended with a
 high fraction of saturation.   At Washington it was 55 to 60,
 and at New-York near 70 per cent at 2 P. M., and almost at 
10
 saturation morning and  evening.  Though  the  temperature
 of the air was but 90° to 94°, or 0°  less  than that of the
 last  of  June in Washington and  Bichmond, where no fatal
 effects were  felt, the mortality from the effect of great heat
 with great saturation was frightful.   By  reference! to the
 tabular statements it may be seen that the absolute degree
 of heat could not have caused the fatality alone, or without
 the attendant humidity.   Some term more specific or more
 comprehensive than sunstroke seems therefore required to des-
 ignate the fatal congestion, or  whatever may be the imme-
 diate cause of death, in these cases.
  Another and perhaps clearer point  for comparison is the
 temperature of evaporation, or that of the wet-bulb thermom-
 eter  alone.   The  dew-point has  usually been  obtained for
 such comparisons,  but it is far less  easy to obtain without
 error; and, as it is itself no absolute determination, but an
 intermediate point only, it is quite generally discontinued.
  The temperature of evaporation at New-York, at the time
 of greatest mortality in August, was from 80° to 84°, being
 higher than  the maximum temperature of evaporation at
 New-Orleans at any time in 1852 by two degrees.  At the
latter place it reached S2° but once in that year.  At Austin,
 Texas, for the last  August,  the same maximum was 7s° ; at
 Savannah, Ga.,  79° ;  at  Camden,  S. C, Culloden,  Ga., and
 Washington,  77°.  Jacksonville, Fla., and Eutaw, in Central
 Alabama, were the only places  at the South  giving a temper-
 ature of evaporation  of 84°, or as high as that at New-York
 on the 13th and 14th of August.
  With such conditions  of  temperature and saturation, in a
 normally elastic and  cool climate, it is not wonderful that
the mortality from its immediate effect should have been very
 great.  It is more remarkable that some incipient  epidemic
 was not started in full vigor to  rage after the principal induc-
ing cause had passed away.  With  the exceptions of New-
 Orleans, and  New-York  at  this limited period,  the  heats of
 the summer, though extreme, have been attended with a low
 humidity, and have been unusually favorable in this respect
 The  maximum heat of June, which was from 40 to 9° above 
11
the mean, could scarcely have passed without most injurious
enects at the ordinary percentage of humidity.   The excess-
ive heats  of lower Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, and  other
districts, where the thermometer rises to 112 and 115°, have
a temperature of evaporation not above that at New-Orleans,
with the air at 87o.   At Austin, Texas, with the air at 98°
several  times in June, the temperature of evaporation  never
rose above  78°, and at the highest  air temperatures was at
74° and 76°,—or nearly 10° below the temperature of evap-
oration  at New-York, when the air thermometer  did  not
exceed  95°.
   The  heats  of those districts are therefore endurable  and
even pleasant, at a degree which would seem fatal to life, from
the great evaporating power and elasticity of the atmosphere
which uniformly prevails.
   As an  attendant condition  resulting from humidity, the
amount of rain for the three summer months should be given
in this  connection.
   The  normal distribution of  rain among all the months is
very  nearly equal in the  northeastern parts of the United
 States.   The amount varies through a wide range, however,
 in different years.   Each of the summer months may change
from an entire absence of rain to an ordinary maximum of
twelve  inches; and, in one or  two instances, an extreme of
 twenty to twenty-two inches.  It is difficult, therefore, to
 say as definitely what the relation of either month has been
 to the normal condition from this observation, as from either
temperature or the hygrometric observation.
   In June, the amount of rain was much less than usual,
 generally.  In Maine and most of New-England, the amount
 was least, varying from half an inch to an inch and a half in
 depth.    The  amount  for  all  central parts of the United
 States  was within these limits, except the eastern portion of
 Virginia.   In Florida, there   was about  the  usual  amount
 ( {' 3 to  3£ inches).   In a small district  central in Iowa it
 reached H inches.                           +T)..U1,.
    In July.tne amount was particularly large at Philadelphia
    d  southward to Florida, where it was 11.5 inches.   In 
12
 Alabama  and at New-Orleans,  the  amount was nearly as
 great, and in Iowa and Wisconsin it was again large, — from
 6 to 8 inches.  In other parts of the  United States and Can-
 ada, the usual amount of from 2.5 to 4 inches fell.   There
 were, however,  large districts in  which the least of these
 amounts, in  conjunction with the very little rain in June,
 caused very severe droughts.   The principal of these was in
 Eastern Ohio, and  Western  Pennsylvania, and  New-York.
 In  Central  New-York the  amount  was variable and the
 drought in some places severe.
  In August, the rains were excessive in a district extending
from the lower part of New-Hampshire  to  Northern New-
Jersey ; at  Bloomfield, N.  J., and New-York,  the amount
falling was near  12  inches.  From Baltimore to  Savannah,
also, the amount was large, being from 5 to 6.5 inches, and
about 1£ inches more than usual.   The last days of July and
the first days of August gave  an excessive precipitation in
Eastern Pennsylvania and New-York, New-Jersey, &c.  These
flooding rains, which gave  in some instances 4 to 8* inches
in depth of water in a single storm of a few hours, attended
very warm weather, and immediately preceded the fatal heats
of 12th to 14th August.
  They were also followed by profuse rains, and the  whole
 period from  25th July to 15th of August seemed a substitu-
tion of a tropical climate for the usually elastic one, in the
 district referred to.
  The tabular statistics given with this paper are intended
 to embrace the more marked extremes at the best observed
 stations of temperature of the air and of evaporation, with the
 humidity as determined from these.  For June, thirty-two sta-
 tions are given with these observations.  For July, the gene-
 ral reference to extremes, and the table of mean temperatures
 and  amount of rain, appear sufficient.  The conditions were
 general, and the extremes  not signally marked in most parts
 of the United States.  At New-Orleans there were evidently
 unusual features, but the districts adjacent  to it do not suf-
 ficiently represent them to warrant any tabular arrangement
  • Register of It. L. Cooke, Principal of Bloomfield Academy, New-Jersey 
13
of extracts.  It is to be regretted that we have not observa-
tions there, though they may have been made for part of the
month, and may ultimately be compared with other districts.
  For August, extracts are given from the registers at twenty-
four stations, sufficient to represent every important district.
  Mean temperatures and amount of rain  are given in a tab-
ular form from over ninety stations.
  The temperatures were observed at 7 A. M., 2 P. M., and 9
P. M., in nearly every case;  the exceptions are two or three
instances, in which the hours were 6 A. M., 2P.M.,and 10 P.
M., and as many at sunrise, 9, 3, 9; but in these instances the
mean does not differ essentially from  the  first.  Some slight
discrepancies  appear in  this statement, though the  general
correspondence of stations which should  agree is  quite ap-
parent.   In reference to these means the comparison of June
and July with each other and with the normal mean has already
been made.   The mutual comparison of the three  months
shows  an extraordinary uniformity in  absolute position.
This seems, at first, to give July a considerable fall below the
normal mean, but the truth is rather that it  is itself slightly
above,  and June and August very  much above the mean of
other years.   The normal curve at New-York and northward
 is a rise of 4° to 4.5° from the mean for June to that for July,
 and a fall of 3° to that of August.  At Philadelphia and south-
 ward it is somewhat less, decreasing to the Gulf Coast, where
 the curvature nearly disappears.  Fifty-seven  consecutive
 years  of observation near Philadelphia give 4.3° as  the first
 value, or the change from June to July, and 2.9° as the sec-
 ond, or  fall to the mean  of August.  With this general guide
 the'comparison  of the various stations in this respect  may
 readily  be made by the reader.
    The amount of rain may be compared with normal amounts
 .  thig general way also, in  addition to the references already
 made to the extremes.  In the New-England States the ob-
 "erved mean precipitation for the last twenty years is greatest
  •^August, and least in July, of the three summer months.—
  Three and one-fourth, two and one-fourth, and three and three-
  f urths inches, consecutively represent the summer fall of rain
  there for the three months. 
14
  In New-York this difference disappears.  There and south-
ward to Baltimore the mean of long series of observations gives
about 3.5 inches as the mean for each summer month.
  At  the  South the amount is greater, with a tendency to
excess in August in the Atlantic  States,  but elsewhere the
summer months are nearly uniform in quantity, and the amount
greater than in other parts of the year.   Six to seven inches of
rain in the interior at the South, or away from the mountains
or the immediate coast, is nearly the general mean for each
summer month.
  At  Cincinnati the months  again become nearly equal in
amount of rain, through the year, and the summer quantity,
monthly, 4.4 inches.   In Iowa it is more, though very irregu-
lar ; and elsewhere at the Northwest falls off rapidly, preserv-
ing a relation for each month of about one-tenth to the annual
amount.   This hasty reference to mean quantities cannot be
made very clear here, with the space assigned and the present
purpose, but the  few points  given may assist in judging  of
profusion or failure of rain for the summer in the general way
required for sanitary comparison.
  In conclusion, it may be said that a more precise definition
of periods of time, and a closer limitation of districts, in respect
to each branch of the subject, is very desirable, and is possible,
also, from the data already at hand, with greater space, and
time for a  more full  elaboration  and comparison.  Limited
districts, of extreme drought in these  months,  and others of
the spring, have occurred.  Some of these, in time and place,
would be quite important to define in the special purpose we
now have,  and still more in their connection with the agricul-
tural  prosperity of the country for the year.
  That our climate has general characteristics, in  both the
conditions  treated here, which permit a clear  grouping and
statement almost at the time  the  events are  passing, is con-
sidered fully sustained by these references and statistics.  This
is itself of great interest, as showing that we have the means
at hand to  make the research almost coincident in time with
the phenomena,  The great advantage of this in all that per-
tains to the sanitary condition will be recognized at once. 
15
JUNE,  1853.
BURLINGTON, VT'.—Prof. Z. Thompson.
14th
15th
16th
17th
20th
21st
22.1
2: id
30th
 Air.
- 91.
. 92.
. 82.
. 8*.
. 91.
. 82.
. 79.
. 92.
 Evap'n.
...  76.  .
...  75.  .
...  74.  -
...  74.  .
65.
67.
76.
75.
Humidity.
......  .47
......  .39
.......67
......  58
.......53
.......35
.......50
.......46
......  .50
PITTSFIELD, MASS.—Theo. H. Benjamin.
Ut h
15th
16th
17 th
29th
30th
83.3 ...
85.   —
85.   ...
75   —
743 ...
69.8
716
75.
70.
68.9
73.
WORCESTER, MASS.—Dr. E. A. Smith.
14th
15th
16t i
17th
20th
21st
29. h
30th
S2.4 —.
86.....
87.....
80 6 ....
86.9 ....
90.  ....
73.4 ....
84.5 ....
....  66.2 .......
....  66 2.......
___69 8 .......
___6f"........
....  71.6 ______
....  71.6 .......
71.6
St. MARTIN'S, MONT'L.—Dr. C. Smallwood
14th
15th
16th
17th
20th
21st
224
23d
30th
91.3
943
97.
83.
86.7
72
61.
90 6
82.
79.6
79 9
72.8
77.
61.
54.8
80.
70.
AMHERST, MASS.—Prof.  E. S. Snell.
14th ......
15th ......
16th......
17th......
20th......
21st ......
22d  ......
23d  ......
29th ......
30th......
89 5
79.
89.
91.3
85
815
73 6
86.5
.... 70 7
.... 77.
.... 77.7
.... 74.
.... 763
.... 76 8
.... 79.
.... 75 9
.... 70 7
.... 78.4
NEWBURYPORT, MASS.—Dr. H. C Perkins
14th
15th
16th
17th
20th
21st
29 th
30th
13th
14th
15th
72 5
83 3
95
85.
87.6
80.7
69.6
78.8
68 7
63.5
68 9
68 9
76.1
69 4
83 5
63.5
POMFRET, CT.—Daniel Hunt.
..  70.
..  82.
16th ...
17th ...
20th ...
21st ...
22d  ...
29th........ 72.
POMFRET, CT.  (Continued.
Air.
 82.
 77.
 86.
 89.
 86.
 Evap'n.
-.- 76.  .
--- 73.  .
 Humidity.
■...... .75
30th
84.
8=1.
81.
78.
MADRID, N. Y.—E. A. Dayton.
13th.....
14th .....
15th.....
16th .....
17th ____
20th .....
21st ____
22d  .....
29th.....
30th .....
87.4  ...
91.4  ...
91.2  ...
795  ...
84.3  ...
72 3  ...
748  ...
79.7  ...
83.1  ...
73.4
73.
76.6
59.
65.1
73.4
65.5
BLOOMFIELD, N. J.—R. L. Cooke.
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
2«Uh
21st
22d
29th
30th
82 5
86 5
84.
84.
57.5
96
99 5
95.
76.
..  71.
..  74.
..  72.
-  75.
-  77.
..  82.
..  83.
..  81.
..  71.5
..  84.
.55
.47
.55
.58

.49
.62
.45
.45
PHILADELPHIA.—Prof. J. A. Kirkpatrick.
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
20th
21st
22d
29th
30th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17 th
20th
21st
J2d
29th
30th
79.
87.
87.
87.
85.
96.
95.
95.
76.
74.
73.
75.
79.
80.
79.
76.
LIMA, PA.—Joseph Edwards.
75.7
84 5
84.7
81.8
712
87.8
90 8
90.3
82 4
67.4
75.2
71.8
70.8
69
73.7
77.9
78.
77.
77 9
.55
.59
.52
.49

.45
.50
 46
 64
.50
.63
.63
 51
•56
 89
.49
.53
.56
.77
.54
NORRISTOWN, PA.—Rev. J. G. Ralston.
13th
Uth
15th
16th
17th
20th
21st
22d
29th
30th
81.
89.
87.
87.
72.
90.
93.
93.
87.
90.
_____70.
_____ 78.
.....72.
..... 72.
.....72.
..... 76.
.....81.
____ 77.
.  .56
.  .59
.  .45
.  .45
.1 00
.  .50
.  .58
.  .46
.  -65
.  -56 
16
IIOLLIDAYSBURG, PA -J. R. Lownig.
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
20th
21st
22d
29th
30th
 Air.
, 85.8
 89.9
 86.3
 >>s 7
 79.-1
 924
 86.3
 86.7
 347
 34.6
 Evap'n.
...  66 9
...  71 2 ......
...  72 7 ......
...  71 2......
6S.   ...
72 3 ...
76.1 ...
7ft 9 ...
75.7 ...
74.8 ...
Humidity
.......32
       .36
       .50
       .39
       .53
       .34
       .61
       .59
       .39
CULLODEN, GA.— Prof. John Darby.
BALTIMORE, MD —Dr. L. H. Stkineb.
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
20th
21st
22d
29th
30th
82.
87.4
86.9
87.
775
95 5
95.7
96.2
88.1
62 3
70.1
75 2
73.
70.1
70.1
75.3
75 5
78 8
78.9
73.5
ALEXANDRIA, VA.—Benj. Hallowell.
13th  ....
14th  ....
15th  ___
16th  ....
17th  ....
20th  ....
21st ....
22d  ....
29th ....
30th ....
78 8
90.6
86.
86.9
71.6
90.5
90.fi
89.6
91.4
95.
69.8......
76.1.....,
75.2......
734......
69.8......
77.......
77.......
78.8......
74.3......
75.2......
SAVANNAH, GA—Dr. John F. Posey.
I3th......
14th......
16th......
16th ......
17th......
20th......
21st ......
22d  ......
29th ......
30th......
84.   ..
86.   ..
85 8 ..
83.8 ..
84.   ..
81.3 ..
87.8........ 78.1
923........ 77 9
90.8 ........75.2
91.2 ........78.4
73 9
68.7
72.6
74.1
73.5
76.1
CAMDEN, S. C—Dr. Thornton Carpenter.
13th ..
14th ..
15th ..
16th ..
17th ..
20th ..
21st ..
22d  ..
29th ..
30th ..
85.9
92.
93.
91.
89.
78.5
89.5
93.
97.5
97.6
.... 70.....
.... 72.2 ....
.... 73.7 ....
.... 73.....
.... 75.  ....
.... 73.8 ....
75.
73.6
74.
SPARTA, GA.—Dr. E. M. Pendleton.
I3th ...
14th ...
15th ...
16th ...
17th ...
20th ...
21st ...
22d  ...
29th ...
30th ...
----93.
 .... 94.
-  95.
..  95.
..  90.
..  92.
73.
70.
70.
71.
73.
........70.
......,. 72.
.35
.26

.26
.31
.56
.54
 13th
 14th
 15th
 16th
 17th
20th
21st
22d
29th
30th
13th
14th
15th
I6th
17th
20th
21st
22d
29th
30th
Air.
R5 1 ....
S5.6 ___
KK.7 ....
867 ....
SN.5 ....
79 5 ....
88.5 ....
87.8 ....
93.2 ____
925---
  Ern/i'n.
.... tits.7  ........
.... 67.1  ........
.... 69.8........
.... 67.1  ........
 ... 708........
.... 72.3  ........
.... 75.2  ........
.... 759........
.... 73.   ........
.... 72 3........
Humidity.
    .. .40
""  .. .33
.35
30
.38
69
.50
.55
.34
.34
ECTAW, ALA.—A. Winchell.
. 95.........78.
. 92.   ........ 75.
. 96.........78.
. 96.........79.
. 98.   ........ 79.
. 99.........82.
. 93.........82.
. 98.........83.
.104.........82.
.101.   ........86.
.44
.42
.42
.45
.40
.47
.61
.51
.36
.52
JACKSONVILLE, FLA—Dr. A. S. Baldwin.
13th......	.. 82.
14th......	.. 81.
15th ......	.. 81.
16th......	.. 80.
17th......	.. 83.
20th......	.. 85.
21st ......	.. 88.
22d ......	.. 84.
29th......	.. 87.
30th......	.. 84.
........76.
........  74.
........  75.
........75.
........77.
........  80.
........  83.

"".'.".'.  79.
........79.
.....  .74
......71
......74
......78
......75
......82
......80

.....  .69
......79
PENSACOLA, FLA.—Com. Tatnall.
13th -
14th ..
15th ..
16th ..
17th -
20th ..
21st -
22d  ..
29th ..
30th ..
81.
81.
82.
82.
82.
83.
77.
84.
... 78.
.. 77.
... 76.
.. 79.
... 78.
... 78.
... 76.
... 78.
... 83.
.. 79.
.74
.87
.83
.79
.95
.75
.88
.76
AUSTIN, TEXAS.—Dr. Sam'l K. Jennings.
10th
llth
12th
13th
14th
loth
16th
17th
18th
83.
84.
90.
86
70.
90.
94.
19th ........ 97.
20th........92.
21st  ........ 89.
22d
26th
27th
28th
29th
30th
.......  93.
.......93.
.......90.
.......  92.
.......96.
.......96.
—  72.
...  74.
—  73.
...  72.
...  76.
...  68.
...  66.
...  76.
...  74.
...  74.
...  74.
...  78.
—  78.
...  76.
...  76.
...  76.
—  76.
...  77.
....... .27
.......28
........60
.......54
------ .50
....... .36
........80
........50
■.......36
........30
.......39
........59
........49
■.......43
........50
....... .45
■.......37
.......39 
17
KNOXVILLE ttmn   t.____
             ' liNN—Prop. 0. W.  Morris.
 5th ...
 6th ...
12th ...
13th ...
14th ...
15th ...
16th ...
28th ...
29th ...
30th
Air.
89.9
88.1
90.1
87.
91.
93.
Evap'n.  Humidity
......  94.4 ....
73.2
71.2
70.5
70.1
72.3
71.9
74.3
.......30
.......32
.......34
.......40
.......37
.......26
-----  .35
LEBANON, TENN.-Prof. A. P. Stewart.
5th ....	— - 87.8 ....	---70.5
6th___	.... 86.9 ....	___70.7
12th ....	.... 89.7 ....	
13th ....	.... 89.9 ....	
14th ....	—. 91.....	
15th ....	.... 91.4 ....	
16th ....	.... 89.9 ....	
28th ....	— - 92.6 ....	
29th___	.... 93.2 ....	---75.2
30th___	.... 95.9 ....	.... 73.6
CLARKSVILLE, TENN.—W. M. Stewart.
 4th
 5th
 6th
11th
12th
13th
14th
19th
20th
27th
28th
29th
30th
86.7
881
88.7
84.9
87.4
87.4
87.4
.... 90.1
.... 90.1
.... 91.
___92.5
—. 92.8
-----76.4.........59
......  71.2.........41
......  72.5 .........42
-----73.4........  .56
......68.  .........33
                 ..  .38
                 ..  .39
                 ..  .33
                 -  .44
                 ..  .39
                 ..  .32
                 ..  .41
                 -  .40
69.8
70.1
..... 74.1
----72 5
..... 70.5
.....74.8
--- 74.5
OBERLIN, O.—Prof. J. H. Fairchild.
13th ....	.... 90. ...	..... 77. ...	......53
14th ....	.... 89. ...	.....78. ...	......59
15th ....	.... 93. ...	.....83. ...	.... .64
16th ....	.... 91. ...	.....8<r. ...	.... .60
17th ....	.... 97. ...	..... 68. ...	—. .61
18th ....	— - 82. ...	..... 72. ...	.....59
19th ....	.... 90. ...	.....82.....	.... .70
20th	.... 92. ...	.....81.....	.... .61
21st ....	.... 95. ...	.....82.....	.....55
BROOKLYN, MICH.  (Continued.)

                   Evap'n.  Humidity.
81.
             Air
17th ..
18th ..
19th........ 88.
20th ........90.
21st ........ 97.
22d  ........92.
28th........90.
29th ........ 79.
30th........81.
.......71.
.......80.
.......81.
.......83.
.......82.
.......82.
....... 73.
.......72.
 .49
 .69
 .66
 .53
. 70
 .70
 .74
 .63
N. HARMONY, IND.-^-John Chappbllsmith.
10th .......
11th.......
12th.......
13th .......
14th.......
15th.......
16th .......
17th.......
18th.......
19th.......
20th .......
21st .......
22d  .......
23d  .......
24th.......
25th .......
26th.......
27th .____
28th.......
29th .......
30th .......
91.
9P.
92.
93.
92.5
92.
95.
76.
78.
81.
89.5
93.
97.5
95.
.37
.37
.41
.39
.37
.44
.54
.34
.52
.39
.60
.60
.52
.56
.44
.38
.34
.48
.3S
.50
.46
ALTON,  ILL.—Dr. John Jambs.
HILLSBOROUGH,  O—J. Mc. D. Matthews.
13th ....	.... 85.5 ....	.... 73. ...	..... .53
14th ....	.... 88.5 ....	.... 70. ...	......36
15th ....	___80.5 ....	.... 78. ...	......89
16th ....	.... 87.5 ....		......47
17th ....	.... 79.5 ....	___ 67. ...	..... .49
18th ....	.... 81. ....	.... 64. ...	.....35
19th ....	.... 87.....	.... 71. ...	......43
20th ....	.... 89.5 ....	.... 72. ...	___.39
21st ....	.... 90. ....	.... 74. —	___.44
28th___	.__87.5 ....	. 72. ___	___.44
29th___		___76. ...	.....46
30th___	.... 93.....	.... 74. —	.....37
10th ...
11th ...
12th ...
13th ...
14th ...
15th ...
16th ...
17th ...
18th ...
19th ...
20th ...
21st ...
28th ...
29th ...
30th ...
76
80
76.
77
78
74,
73.
75
84.
80
80,
82
76
78,
.  .92
.  .71
.  .79
.  .71
.  .68
.1.00
.  .73
.  .74
.  .75
.  .92
.  .77
.  .77
.  .64
.  .74
.  .72
POULTNEY, IOWA—Dr. Ben.t. F. Odbll.
10th ........ 92.
11th.......-. 87.
BROOKLYN, MICH.—Dn. M. K  Taylor.
13th ........88-
14th ........ »?.
15th ........%.
16th........72-
...  73.
...  74.
...  82.
...  70.
  O
.46
.44
.53
.90
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
29th
30th
78.
75.
77.
81.
........74.
80.
79.
90.
94.
97.
96.
81.
84.
...  70.
...  78.
...  81.
...  81.
...  80.
...  72.
...  71.
 .51
. .55
 .48
 .50
 .44
 .49
 .55
 .61
 .56
 .65
 .48
 .47
 .63
 .50
BELLE FONTAINE, WIS—Thomas Gay.
12th ........91.........76.
13th........90.   .„.....77.
14th........91.........82.
-  .48
..  .63
..  .er 
IS
BELLE FONTAINE, WIS.  (Continued.)

           Air.       Evap'n.
(Continued
15th ...
16th ...
17th ...
18th ...
19th ...
74.
79.
89.
85.
79.
76.
Humiditi/.
.......55
.......81
.......68
  BELLE FONTAINE,  WIS.

             Air.       Evap'n.  m^dUy.

20th ........ 87.........H........ .61
21st  ........92.........H......... .58
•29th ........79.........»»........ .52
30th ........80.........bB.......
St. MARTINS, MONT'L.—Dr. C. Smallwood.
10th ........92.4
11th ........95.4
12th ........ 80.1
13th........86 3
14th........81.
15th........88.6
16th ........89.
AUGUST,  1853.

              BLOOMFIELD, N. J.
........ 74.4
........ 77.1
........76.5
........763
........72.1
........ 74.
........76.
9th  .......
10th .......
Uth .......
12th .......
13th .......
14th .......
BURLINGTON, VT.—Prof.. Z. Thompson.
10th.....	... 86.
11th.....	... 92.
12th.....	... 91.
13th .....	... 91.
Uth.....	... 74.
15th.....	... 85.
74.
77.
79.
80.
69.
72.
AMHERST, MASS.—Prof. E. S. Snell.
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
85.2........74.1
88.7 ........80.6
91.9______75.9
91.5
76.6
82.
69. i
-R. L. Cooke.
..  78.
..  72.6
..  81.
..  81.
..  83.
..  82.5
.79
.52
.51
.69
NORRISTOWN, PA.—Rev. J. Grier Ralston.
10th ........
11th ........
12th........
13th ........
Uth ........
16th ........
90.5
89.
76.
77.
77.
81.
.68
.56
.52
.70

.73
PHILADELPHIA,PA—PR. J. A. Kirkpatrick
10th........91.
llth......- 93.
12th ........ 93.5
13th ........92.
Uth ........92.5
15th ........ 86.
.... 77
.... 80.
.... 81.
.... 81.
.... 81.
.... 78.
PITTSFIELD. MASS.—T. H. Benjamin.
10th ....
llth ....
12th ....
13th ....
14th ....
15th ....
82.4
84.2
86.9
86.
87.
79.
73.4
71.6
79.5
75.5
84.2
68.7
WORCESTER, MASS.—Dr. E. A. Smith.
10th
llth
12th
13th
14th
15th
84.5
88.5
90.6
91.4
89.6
71.6
73.4
73.7
75.2
76.2
75.2
63.1
LIMA, PA.—Joseph Edwards.
10th ....
llth ....
12th ....
13th ....
Uth ....
15th ....
86.3
88.1
88.7
87.
87.2
82.4
77.
77.9
80.9
80.6
80.6
77.
.51
.55
.58
.61
.61
.61
.60
.67
.74
.73
HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA.—J. R. Lowrie.
10th
llth
12th
13th
14th
15th
86.1
87.2
89.6
90 3
88.7
87.8
72.6
72.8
73.9
75.3
77.1
75.3
.50
.48
.45
.47
NEWBURYPORT, MASS.—Dr. H. C. Perkins.
Uth
llth
12th
13th
14th
15th
75.2
90.3
92.8
70.6
90.8
70.3
75.2
77.7
67.4
79.7
62.4
POMFRET, CT—Daniel Hont.
10th ..
llth ..
12th ..
13th ..
14th ..
15th ..
81	........ 75.
85	
88	........77.
89	........82.
84	........80.
71	........67.
BALTIMORE, MD.—Dr. L. H. Steinbr.
10th
llth
12th
13th
Uth
15th
92 6
92.6
93.9
94.1
94.1
72.5
79.7
7Y.
78.8
79.7
77.9
.34
.54
.44
.49
.51
.57
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
 9th ........ 88.5
10th ........90.5
llth ........91.5
t2th ........92.
13th ........92.
Uth ........94.
15th ........91. 
19
ALEXANDRIA, VA.-Benj. Hallowell.
,„.,          Air-
 ° £ ........85.1
?"£ ........87.8
12th ........87.8
13th ........ 88.7
14th ........ 89.6
15th ........92.3
Evap'n.
— 75.2
— 75.2
... 77.
— 77.9
— 77.9
— 77.9
Humidity.
........62
........53
........59
.......59
.......57
.......60
CAMDEN, S. C.-Thornton Carp
 9th ........  89.6
10th ........90.6
llth ........  87.5
12th ........  89.3
13th........  90.2
Uth ........  —
15th ........  93.2
75.9
73.
71.
72.8
72.

77.1
 ENTER.

.......51
......  .40
.......40
.......41
.......37

.......45
SAVANNAH, GA.—Dr. John F.  Posey.
 9th
10th
llth
12th
13th
Uth
15th
16th
84.7  ..
89.6  ..
82.7  ..
85 2  ..
82.4  -
78.9  ..
77.   ..
83.1  ..
79.3  ..
79.7  ..
77.   ..
76.8  ..
77.9  ..
76.8  ..
74.8  ..
78.8  ..
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.-Dr. A. S. Baldwin.
10th .....
llth .....
12th .....
13th.....
Uth ____
15th .....
87.
87.5
.72
.72
.72
.705
CULLODEN, GA.—Prof.  John  Darby.
10th ..
llth ..
12th -
13th ..
Uth ..
15th ..
85.1
85.2
84.2
85.2
82.4
........ 752
........72.5
........ 76.1
______71.6
........ 73 7
........ 77.
EUTAW, ALA.—A. Winchell.
10th ........91.........82.
llth ........  93.........84.
12th -........91.........80.
.69
.52
.63
.52
.56
.77
EUTAW, ALA. (Continued.)
             Air.
13th ........88.
Uth ........ 89.
15th ........91.
     Evap'n.  Humidity.
........79..........65
........ 78..........59
•.......83.  .........70
AUSTIN, TEXAS.—Dr. Sam'l K. Jennings.
 6th.....
 7th.....
 8th .....
 9th.....
10th.....
llth .....
12th .....
13th.....
Uth.....
15th.....
16th.....
17th .....
18th.....
25th .....
26th.....
27th.....
28th.....
29th.....
96
78.
77.
75.
76.
76.
76.
76.
76.
74.
76.
76.
76.
78.
76.
78.
78.
76.
74.
- .42
.- .40
- .38
.. .55
.. .61
.. .64
..1.
.. .55
.. .49
- .74
.. .38
.. .31
.. .38
- .50
- .51
-- .51
- .50
- .49
HILLSBOROUGH, O.—J. McD. Matthews.
10th ........88.
llth ........90.
12th ........89.5
13th ........85.
Uth ........ 78.
15th ........ 81.
16th ........ 86.
71.
71.
77.
77.
74.
74.
74.
.40
.35
.54
.68
.82
.70
.55
OBERLIN, O.—Prof. J.  H. Fairchild,
10th ....
llth ....
12th ....
13th ....
Uth ....
15th ....
... 74.
— 76.
... 70.
— 77.
... 81.
70.
65.
60.
64.
.81
.52
.52
.46
.48
.65
POULTNEY, IOWA.—Dr. Benj. T. Odell.
 9th ........ 95.
10th ........97.
llth ........94.
12th ........ 92.
13th ........83
Uth ........86.
15th ........84.
76.
.55
.56
.52
.58
.68
JUNE, 1853.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
20th ______  92-5 ........80.5
21st ........  92.........81.5
22nd ......-  92.5........79.
23rd ........  »2.........81.
24th ........  77.........64.5
25th ........75.5........67..........62
27th---.... 88.5  ........  79..........64
28th........92.5........  77..........47
29th........94.........79.5.........51
30th........98.5........825 ........ .49
  The observations  of  the Wet-bulb at the Smithsonian  Institution, in  the early part of
August, were unfortunately defective from the absence of the regular observer.

  At New-Harmony, Indiana, the reductions were made without transmitting the observations
of the temperature of evaporation. 
20
MEAN TEMPERATURE  AND  PRECIPITATION  MONTHLY  FOR
  THE  SUMMER  OF  1853.  AT  VARIOUS  STATIONS  IN  THE
  UNITED  STATES  AND CANADA.
N. S.
Me.
N.H.
Vt.

C. E.
Mass.
Con.


N.Y.
N.J.
N.Y.
Pa.
Md.
Va.
S.C.
Ga,
STATIONS.
Albion Mines....
Bucksport.......
Biddeford......
Fryeburg.......
Londonderry ...
Manchester.....
Concord........
St. Johnsbury...
Burlington.....
Montreal........
Amherst........
Worcester.......
Richmond.......
Newburyport
N. Attleboro___
Barnstable......
Pomfret........
Salisbury.......
New London___
Fort Hamilton..
Fort Columbus..
West Point.....
Bloomfield.....
Madrid.........
Houseville......
Constableville..
Gouverneur ___
Lodi...........
Buffalo.........
Moss Grove.....
Pittsburg.......
Bedford........
Hollidaysburg..
Gettysburg.....
Norristown.....
Harrisburg.....
Morrisville.....
Philadelphia___
Lima...........
Baltimore......
Frederick......
Schellman Hall.
Washington___
Alexandria___
Buffalo.........
Lewisburg......
Bruns. Co.......
Portsmouth.....
Camden.......
Savannah.......
Whitemarsh, Id..
Sparta..........
Culloden.......
    MEAN
TEMPERATURE.
June. July. Aug
61.6
66.0
69.4
67.0
69.5
69.3
65.0
69.2
68.7
67.0
68.6
67.0
67.4
66.7
66.1
66.7
69.0
71.2
69.1
69.9
69.8
69.5
68.2
71.5
74.0
72.5
72.5
74.9
73.2
70.3
75.3
71.5
77.7
77.2
74.0
75.0
76.0
77.0
74.0
69.1
72.0
73.6
G5.0
70.2
70.0
72.5
71.5
65.9
70.5
68.0
68.4
71.7
71.5
71.0
68.6
70.4
73.5
72.7
70.8
71.3
68.5
69.2
70.7
69.5

68.8
72.0
73.3
73.4
74.7
73.2
79.6
71.9
76.6
72.9
78.5
77.2
74.2

76*4
75.1
75.0
79.6
79.31
79.0)
81.61
81.71
80.3
81.5
80.9
82.8
81.6
68.4
69.2
68.6

'6*9
69.1
69.3
68.7
67.2
71.0
68.7
65.1
72.1
74.2
73.5
71.4
71.8

70.4
70.0
70.1
68.5
71.0
72.6
69.7
73.0
73.1
78.1
71.6
75.7
71.2
77.9
75.3
77.2
77.5
76.0
75.7
75.5
78.6
79.4
78.6

80*4
AMOUNT OF KAIN.
June.   July-   Aug
3.105
0.050
0.648
0.830
1.250
1.061
1.375
1.810
1.740
3.131
2.636
1.010
2.375
0.656
1.840
2.075
1.440
4.420
4.800
3.770
2.750
0.990
2.875
1.650
2.250
1,000
2.500
1.853
0.328
1.043
0.266
1.500
0.592
3.200
1.050
1.065
0.150
0.389
2.353
2.872
0.638
2.300
2.600
0.390
3.312
0.787
1.280
0.710
0.370 
21
Mean Temperature and Precipitation Monthly.  (Continued.)
Ga.
Fla.
Ala.
Tex.
Tenn.
Ky.
 ii

Ohio.
Mich.
Va.
111.
la.
Wis.
Minn.
Ind.
Wis.
STATIONS.
Penfield..-......
Jacksonville___
Knox Hill......
Cedar Keys.....
Talahassee......
Pensacola......
Eutaw..........
Austin.........
Knoxville......
Glenwood......
Lebanon........
Danville.......
Millersburg___.
Cincinnati......
Marietta........
Mount  Vernon..
Granville......,
Zanesville......
Cleveland......
Oberlin........
Detroit........
Ann Arbor.....
Brooklyn.......
Battle Creek___
Richmond......
Athens.........
Alton..........
Fort Madison...
Muscatine......
Poulteney......
Bowen's Prairie.
Platteville.....
Janesville......
Beloit..........
Lac-qui-parle...
New Harmony..
Madison........
Emerald Grove.
Bellefontaine...
   MEAN
TEMPERATURE.
June. July. Aug
78.9
78.7
80.1
80.6
80.0
83.7
80.8
75.3
76.4
79.5
79.3
78.1
75.0
78.9
74.3
76.0
68.5
75.5
76.5
71.4
73.6
74.3
77.8
81.7
79.9
83.2
80.0
82.1
81.4
82.0
75.4
77.7

'75*6
75.6
73.1
76.8
76.7
82.5
79.9
81.9
81.0
82.4
81.2
81.0
74.5
76.5
74.9
72.6
75.7
75.4
75.7
76.7
70.5
72.3
74.4
73.2
73.1
65.8
79.3
70.1
70.7
71.4
70.8
75.0
69.6
71.2
71.5
73.5
73.3
74.3
75.9
68.6
68.8
68.7
72.3
69.1
68.7
68.9
77.7
67.8
69.0
70.0
73.4
72.2
73.5
73.9
74.9
76.0
70.9
68.6
70.5
74.9
71.4
70.6
70.3
71.9
71.3
l AMOUNT.OF RAIN.
Mil 0 14 K IS* i* t.it-
June. I July.
0.228
3.240
3.454
3.262
2.820
1.262
0.780
1.409
0.900
1.052
0.360
0.650
2.350
1.300
 3.720
 7.400
 7.519
11.475
 7.920
 2.512
 8.933
3.671
4.987
4.810
3.706
Aug.
1.900
2.700
3.625
4.670
1.566
5.806
4.525
3.485
3.417
2.110
2.567
0.710
1.500
1.600
1.220
5.520
7.650
6.400
3.304
3.625
2.620
4.950
1.230
2.173
3.790
2.333
1.100
1.710
1.560
3.045
3.870
3.102
3.800
6.600
6.325
6.600
7.750
4.630
8.100
6.750
2.430
1.340

4.660
4.760
3.960
1.000
5.585
3.650
2.304
5.050
1.700
0.520
0.760
1.125
   N0TE.__The following note of observations at the greatest
extreme of heat for the  summer, at  Washington,  made  and
published at  the  time, may be sufficiently interesting to
observers generally, to warrant appending it to this paper:
   It may interest some of the readers of the Intelligencer, to
see the record  of temperatures  observed  on  Thursday and
Friday last, at the  Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory
0f the  Smithsonian  Institution.   It will  be  seen that  the
highest point was  reached  on Thursday—higher  than was 
                          22

before supposed possible in a free current  of air in these
latitudes.
Thursday, June 30.				Friday, July 1.			
	Air.	Evapo-ration.	Humidity.		Air.	Evapo-ration.	Humidity.
9 A. M. 10 " 11 " 12 m. 1 P. M. 2 " 2* " 3 '• 5 "	84° 88° 90° 94° 96° 98°.5 99° 99°.25 98° 86°	79° 80° 80°.5 81° 82°.5 82°.5 81° 81° 79°.5 71°.5	.79 .68 .65 .55 .56 .48 .43 .43 .41 cl'dy .47	9 A. M. 10 " 11 " 12 m. 1 P. M. 2 " 3 "	85° 88° 89°.5 91°.5 94° 95° 93°	79°.5 80° 80°.5 80° 80°.5 79° 78° 1	.78 .70 .66 .59 .54 .47 .48 cl'dy
  In the sun, and over a non-reflecting surface of fresh vege-
tation, the naked bulb thermometer kept pace with that in
the Observatory after 10 o'clock Thursday. Over the ordinary
earth surface it rose to 106°  in the sun.   In the shade of a
tree of moderate size, and open to the general reflection from
the surface, the  mercury rose to 103°.  On a background of
black wool, or enveloped in black wool and full in the sun's
rays, it rose to 107°.
  The whole mass of air at the surface was so intensely heat-
ed that the  temperature of open grounds was much greater
than that of shaded places in the city with less circulation of
air.  Such temperatures are impossible except in a very dry
atmosphere and after long-continued drought.   They  are
unknown on the Gulf coast even, the maximum at Key West
being 90°  and at Mobile 94°, from several years of hourly
observations at  United  States coast survey  stations.  The
interior of  Texas and other arid districts towards the Pacific
<^ive the highest air temperatures, ,often of 110° to 1150 f01.
days together at the mid-day  hours.
   At 3 o'clock of Thursday the thermometer fell more than
two degrees on clasping the bulb with both hands firmly,  and 
23
rose again on removing them.   This was tried with several
thermometers, and though very clear of solution, as the blood
is 98°*, 0r three degrees lower than the  air at that time, it
was a novel and somewhat exciting experiment.  Dr. Frank-
lin was the first, in 1750, to remark an atmospheric  tempera-
ture above that of the blood, and to notice the power of the
human body to  retain its temperature while all inanimate
substances grew steadily warmer.   President  Madisont  of
William  and Mary College, Virginia, in 1779, gives the fol-
lowing curious remark and quotation :
  " I do not recollect ever to have seen the thermometer here
at more than 95, though  Dr. Franklin mentions that in June,
1750, it  stoop at 100 in the shade at Philadelphia,  when,  he
observes—
  " ' I expected that the natural heat of the body (96) added
to the heat of the air (100) should jointly have created or pro-
duced a much greater degree  of heat  in the body; but the
fact was that my body never grew so hot as the air that sur-
rounded it, or the inanimate bodies immersed  in the same ;
for I remember well that the desk, when I laid my arm  on
it, the chair when I sat down in it, all felt exceedingly warm
to me, as if  they had been warmed before the fire.  And I
suppose  a dead body would have acquired the temperature of
the air,  though a living one, by continual sweating, and  by
the evaporation of that sweat,  was kept cold.'
  " I have been more particular in transcribing this passage
from the works of this philosopher, as it certainly shows  to
whom the merit of certain late discoveries, which have made
so much noise in the philosophical world, most justly belongs.
I mean that  power which the human as well as all animate
bodies have  of counteracting  the heat of an atmosphere in
which they  are placed.  For what do all the experiments
upon heated  rooms evince further than had before been pub-
lished by the Doctor ?  It is thus that Franklin, sitting in his
chair, like Newton reasoning on the figure of the earth, could
show'what must cost others infinite labor and fatigue."
   We hope the instances may be rare in which the air and the
earth alike fail us, and our  persons remain the only  refrigera-
ting bodies on which we may rely to keep cool.

  * 98«.  The flesh surface is but 96°.
    In a letter to Dr. Rittenhouse, of Philada., Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, vol.
 II.  1786. 
X
 
 
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
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