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108
namely, in 1815, when the mean temperature
for the month was 620.3, and in 1865, when it was
63°.9.
The sunshine recorded during the year amounted
to 1,225 hours out of 4,447 hours during which the
sun was above the horizon, or 27.5 per cent. of the
amount which could be recorded. In 1894 there
was a record of 23.6 per cent. of the "possible."
Last year's total of bright sunshine was 12.4 hours
below the average for the past ten years.
The mean humidity of the atmosphere was 4
degrees below the average (54 years). A reduction
in the amount of moisture in the air enables the
sun to have more effect in warming the superficial
layers of the earth, which is of importance in
connection with the prevalence of "summer
diarrhoea."
The rainfall for the year was 5.33 inches below
the average (80 years), the deficiency for the
second quarter of the year amounting to no less
than 3.79 inches. This implies a great loss of
cleansing of the air from pollutions of all kinds,
and would favour the spread of certain of the
infectious diseases.
Fog of varying amount was recorded on 52
occasions during the year, as compared with 55
during 1894, No record has been made of the
frequency of smoke fog as distinguished from white
or sea fog.