Address of S.P. Hildreth, M.D., president of the third Medical Convention of Ohio : delivered at Cleveland, May 14th, 1839.

  • Hildreth, Samuel P. (Samuel Prescott), 1783-1863.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Address of S.P. Hildreth, M.D., president of the third Medical Convention of Ohio : delivered at Cleveland, May 14th, 1839. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    During periods of drouth, it has been observed, that when a cloud is formed and charged with rain, it proceeds in the direc- tion of the larger streams of water, pouring out its humid con- tents on the bottoms and lands adjacent, but withholding them from the arid and more needy uplands. During the months of February, April, June and July, there usually falls the greatest amount of rain, and in January, Au- gust, September, and October, the least; although there are ex- ceptions to this rule in some years. The prevailing winds are from the south, south-west and west, but also blowing for many days in the winter from the north, north-west, and east. The course of the winds regulates the temperature of the year, and the amount of rain—westerly and northerly winds bring cold and drouth; while southerly and south-easterly winds bring warmth and rain. By noticing the course of the winds in different years we arrive at the genuine cause of the variations in temperature. This is more especially true of the winter and spring months. Westerly and north- erly winds being invariably attended with cold, backward and dry springs; while early ones are ever accompanied by souther- ly breezes and plenteous showers of rain. Our westerly and northerly winds traverse elevated and*dry regions of country, deficient both in caloric and moisture, the two main principles in the support of vegetable life ; while southerly breezes come changed with humidity and warmth from the Gulf of Mexico and the valley of the lower Mississippi, bringing in their train the charms of Flora, and the rich bounties of Ceres. With the early vernal zephyrs of the south, the annual northerly migra- tions of the feathered race commences, along the westerly base of the Appalachian and Cumberland ranges of mountains, and up the valleys of the easterly tributaries of the Mississippi. Sometimes their journeys are begun too early, as in the years 1816 and in 1834; when thousands of the scarlet Taniger, Bal- timore Oriole, Humming birds, (fee. perished by a sudden transi- tion of temperature, from the warmth of summer to the frosts of winter. After rain in summer, the wind often blows from the north, producing a refreshing coolness and imparting vigor to the en- feebled frame. I have noticed that our more healthy seasons are attended with northly winds after showers ; and that in the more sickly they blow from the south. This was especially the fact in the great epidemics of 1822 and 1823. Should the summer months prove to be very wet and hot, fevers are more common ; if very dry and warm, dysentery and diarrheas pre- dominate. Sudden changes from heat to cold, in August and September, often produce disease, when earlier in the season, before the body is debilitated by the heat of summer, the change is borne without any apparent harm. December, May, and