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30
the hospital, we have certainly derived a benefit from the short
distance for which it was necessary to remove the patients. As
regards the Priory Estate it will be seen by referring to the
supplemental list how severely the disease raged in Clifden
Road, and how many of the streets on this estate were infected
to a greater or less extent.
The meteorology for the year 1877 was somewhat unusual,
as in the months of January and February the temperature was
respectively 4.1 and 4.3 degrees above the average of the
preceding 36 years, whilst in March it was 1.0 degree below the
mean. The rainfall in January was large amounting to nearly
4½ inches, which is 2½ inches above the average. The rainfall
in February and March was also in excess; the total for these
months being 3.3 inches above the mean. The cold of March was
continued into April and May when the mean temperature was
below the average by 1.8 degrees and 3.9 respectively, and the
excessive rainfall was also continued in April when 3.2 inches fell,
or 1½ inches more than usual. The coldest days in these months
occurred between May 1st and the 6th, when the deficiency averaged
11½ degrees. On May 4 the thermometer recorded 4 degrees
below freezing point, and frosts occurred also on the 3rd, 6th and
7th. In July and September the mean temperature was again in
defect to the extent 1.4 degrees in the former, and as much as 4.4
degrees in the latter, being however in excess in August to a
small amount, viz. 0.2 degrees. The cold in September was so
unusual that there is no record of so low a mean temperature for
that month, viz. 52.9, since the year 1803. October was also a
cold month, but November was almost as unusually warm as
September was cold, the mean temperature being 45°5 or 1.9
degrees above the average of 36 years, which included a large
number of warm Novembers. December was also warm, viz.
40°8 for the mean. The rainfall in October and December was
in defect, but in November it amounted to 3.4 inches or 1.1
inches above the average. In nearly all the months of this year