Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 2.djvu/99

 came on a strong S. W. gale, which lasted six days, during which the average height of the mercury was54°; the gale still continuing, but the wind changingto the N. W. for two days, and then to the N. E. the mercury fell on the first day to 44°, on the second to 39°, and on the third to 37°.

During the prevalence of the south or south-west gales, there is very little difference of temperature between the day and night, as proved by the register thermometer. Sometimes there is no difference whatever; and very commonly the minimum of the night is not more than 3° or 4° below the maximum of the day. This shews how very completely the influence of the sun is excluded by the dense vapour with which the air is loaded; and during these moist siroccos, as they may be termed, the inhabitants may be said, without any metaphor, to be breathing the breezes of a climate milder than their own. When these south and south-west winds, so prevalent in winter, are very gentle, the sky is sometimes clear for many days together. On these occasions, the warmth and softness of the air are truly delightful; and when, taken in conjunction with the beautiful scenery around Penzance, the calm, blue sea, the gay, green meadows, the myrtles and other exotic plants common in the shrubberies, one is almost tempted to forget that it is a British, and a winter landscape that he is contemplating.

As confirming and illustrating some of the peculiarities of climate above detailed, I shall now briefly notice a few particulars respecting the vegetable products of the country; as, after all, there can be