Weather, health, and forests : a report on the inequalities of the mortality from malarial fever and other diseases, in Mauritius, considered in relation to the inequalities of temperature, humidity, and rainfall ; on a possible periodicity of mortality related to the eleven-year periodicity of solar activity ; and on the climatic and other effects of forests / Prepared for the Sanitary Commission of Mauritius appointed by Proclamation No. 50 of 1879. By Charles Meldrum, L.L.D., F.R.S.

Charles Meldrum

Date:: 1881

Credit: Weather, health, and forests : a report on the inequalities of the mortality from malarial fever and other diseases, in Mauritius, considered in relation to the inequalities of temperature, humidity, and rainfall ; on a possible periodicity of mortality related to the eleven-year periodicity of solar activity ; and on the climatic and other effects of forests / Prepared for the Sanitary Commission of Mauritius appointed by Proclamation No. 50 of 1879. By Charles Meldrum, L.L.D., F.R.S. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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The abnormal weather which prevailed in Mauritius in 1865-G7 was found to have prevailed in many other places, in which it was also attended or immediately followed by excessive death-rates. Extending the inquiry as far back as possible, it was further ascertained that, since 1831, eertain periods and years, namely, the periods 1832-35, 1841-45, 1854-56, 1866-69, and in a less degree 1877-79, and the years 1834, 1844, 1854, 1862, and 1867, which had been the most remarkable for high death-rates in Mauritius, had very nearly been the periods and years of highest death-rates in many other places, and that during those periods the weather had been more or less abnormal over a great part of the earth’s surface. With the view of forming an idea of how far the cutting down of the primeval forests had conduced to the outbreak and continuance of malarial fever, it was next deemed expedient to consider the climatic effects of forests generally, and to give an outline of the history of the forests of Mauritius, showing their nature, their original extent, their gradual destruction, their present condition, and the probable consequences of the extensive clearings that had been made. The inquiry thus assumed proportions far beyond those which at the outset were contemplated, and, the original design having once been exceeded, it was thought best to submit, as far as possible, and unreservedly, all the facts, statistics, observations, views, and opinions, that might perchance be of use in discuss¬ ing, now or hereafter, questions which are admitted to be of great importance to the Colony. The main object, throughout, has been to give the greatest amount of reliable information that could be obtained, and I trust that the results will be found to be tolerably correct. Summaries of the principal results and conclusions will be found towards the end of the Report. My best thanks are due to those who have favored me with statistics. In this respect, I am especially indebted to Mr. J. B. Kyshe, the Registrar General, and to Mr. D. P. Garrioch, of the Colonial Secretary’s Office. I am also much indebted to Mr. Garrioch for having assisted in correcting the proof sheets. Mauritius, October 19, 1881. C. M.

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