The influence of barometric changes upon the body in health and disease / by Andrew H. Smith.

  • Smith, Andrew H. (Andrew Heermance), 1837-1910
Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The influence of barometric changes upon the body in health and disease / by Andrew H. Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    How much these changes have to do with initiating dis- ease, is a question which opens a wide field for conjecture. That increased pressure on the surface might be sufficient to determine the rupture of a miliary aneurism in the brain, is easily conceivable. That diminished pressure might con- cur with other causes in bringing about internal congestions and inflammations, is at least probable ; and that the low- ered vital tone from a sudden fall of the barometer may render the system an easier prey to other causes of disease, is a justifiable inference. There are many forms of disease that recur at irregular periods in persons susceptible to them, the subject being, in the intervals, apparently in perfect health. There are, evi- dently, in these cases a predisposing cause, which is per- manent, and an exciting cause, which is transient. The former is inherent in the individual; the latter is some influence operating from without. Neither is capable alone of producing an attack, their joint action being required. The predisposing cause, for the most part, eludes our observation. The exciting cause is often sufficiently apparent and may be error in diet, exposure to cold, over-fatigue, mental excitement, etc. But sometimes the strictest inquiry fails to elicit the cause, although some must have existed. That some, at least, of these cases are attributable to such disturbances of the circulation as have been mentioned as depending upon change of atmospheric pressure, appears to me to be more than likely. At this time, when the state of the barometer at any given hour is a matter of permanent record, accessible to all, it would not be difficult, especially in hospitals, to compare notes of cases with barometric tables, and re- sults of great scientific value might be obtained.
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