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54
infantile and adult, would be nearer 40 than 14. In investigating
the death of an infant attributed to ' debility,' I
obtained distinct information that the child had suffered from
hereditary Syphilis, and this was no doubt only an instance of
many.
Meteorology.
108. The weather of 1903 was generally favourable to
health. In the first or winter quarter 12 weeks had a temperature
above the average of the previous fifty years, and one only
had a temperature below the average. In the second quarter,
5 weeks had a temperature above the average, and 8 below.
In the third or summer quarter, the temperature was below the
average in 9 weeks, and in the fourth quarter, it was above in 10.
The temperature three feet below the ground varied between
40°90 in the third week of January, and 61°64 in the third
week of July.
The lowest temperature of the air was 23°6 in the second
week of January and the highest 87°5 in the second week in
July.
The year was characterised by an abnormally high rainfall,
which reached to 35.33 inches, compared with 20.16 and 20.13
in the two preceding years. The third quarter had the highest
rainfall, viz : 12.32 inches. The heavy rainfall and low temperature
of the summer both contributed to the low mortality
of the year, reducing especially the number of deaths from
diarrhoea.