Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Climate

CLIMATE, is a term usually given to any country or region, that differs from another, as well with respect to the seasons and quality of the soil, as to the manners of its inhabitants.

The climate or this country, though in general temperate, is extremely variable. The transitions from heat to cold, however sudden in Britain, are less severely felt than upon the Continent. Yet these frequent changes are productive of many diseases, which, according to Dr. C. Bisset, are generated chiefly by the following causes: 1. From the cold and moist temperature of the air, consequent on a long course of weather, that was either dry and sultry, or warm, close, and moist; or intensely cold and dry, together with keen frost; and from the effects produced by the contrary temperature. 2. From cold and frosty weather, with piercing north, or east winds, after a long course of mild weather, with south winds, which again prevail after the opposite extremes, and produce a moist and temperate, or warm air: and 3. From cold weather during summer, and unseasonably warm or mild weather, together with south winds, in winter, and again attended with the contrary changes.

This island is peculiarly subject to showers, and to close, cloudy, foggy weather; which must be ascribed to its insular situation. Clouds are continually wafted over from the sea, by every wind, and condensed by the cold land-air, as also by the humid vapours arising from plants, and thus precipitated in rain. From this circumstance, an uninterrupted continuance of dry weather is seldom experienced in Great Britain. But, though such frequent changes, together with the moist and cold air so generally prevalent, render the inhabitants of this country liable to many disorders, yet the more malignant epidemics are less fatal, and occur less frequently, than in most continental regions; because we enjoy the benefit of pure and temperate sea-winds, and are exempt from the two extremes of heat and cold. The moisture of the British air, indeed, tends to relax the fibres; but it also promotes accretion, while its cool temperature condenses the solids, and invigorates the whole body. Hence it happens, that the natives of Great Britain are, in general, stouter, and more robust than those of other countries; and, though many persons here are subject to scorbutic and rheumatic complaints, arising from these various causes, to which must be added their gross and solid, or luxurious food, yet a far greater proportion of the inhabitants of this island lives to an advanced age, than of those of any continental country. This assertion, however, chiefly relates to salubrious farms and villages, where the people are more temperate, and less debauched by spirituous liquors, than in towns. We may farther remark, that the prevailing custom of wearing light and thin dresses, especially among females, is by no means conducive to longevity; for, as those votaries of fashion and caprice are, in all seasons, exposed to colds and rheumatic complaints, many of them at length contract pulmonary, or consumptive diseases, and fall victims of folly, at a period of life when they ought to be most useful to society.

The solid, nutritive food of the inhabitants, in general, is likewise a principal cause of many diseases originating from repletion, yet it must at the same time be admitted, that such substantial nutriment greatly contributes to their strength, their full, athletic size, and florid complexion.—Those of our readers, who wish to acquire additional information on this subject, we refer to Dr. W. Falconer's elaborate "Remarks on the Influence of Climate, Situation, Nature of Country, Population, Nature of Food, Way of Life: on the Dispositions and Temper, Manners and Behaviour, Intellects, Laws and Customs, Forms of Government, and Religion of Mankind" (4to. 18s. Dilly—Mawman, 1781), in which this interesting topic is minutely and ingeniously discussed.