reservoir in a region largely devoted to camps and sanitariums for the treatment of tubercular patients. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the prompt and effective service rendered in complying with this request by Dr. Charles F. Brooks, Secretary of the American Meteorological Society, in relation to the meteorological problems, and by Dr. Carroll B. Edson, Chairman, Committee on Medical Climatology, in relation to the problem of the effect on tubercular patients of changes in meteorological conditions around the reservoir margin. This also affords an excellent instance of co-operation between two of the committees of the American Meteorological Society in connection with the same problem. Respectfully submitted, ROBERT E. HORTON, Chairman, Engineering Meteorology and Hydrology. Report of the Committee on Aeronautical Meteorology It may seem somewhat paradoxical that there is a place in the Society for a Committee which, during the year, has had no meeting and which has engaged in concerted action only to a limited extent. Yet this is true with respect to the Committee on Aeronautical Meteorology; for, while its definite accomplishments during the year that has passed have been of minor importance, it is believed that it is a Committee with so useful a purpose that the Society cannot afford to dispense with it. It is not strange that this situation exists, for the activities of this Committee can be only proportional to the current state of aeronautical activity in our country. Meteorology can, and must, keep pace with aeronautics; but the science of weather cannot be applied to an industry that does not exist. In the United States, this failure of aeronautics to achieve its place in commercial transportation is generally attributed chiefly to inadequate laws. When the legislative situation is adjusted, there is little doubt that public confidence will rally. It can be readily seen, therefore, that the function of this Committee must, at present, be that of waiting and watching for opportunities, of keeping in active personal touch with those interests that are working for the best in aeronautics, and of being always on the alert to lend a hand. An example of the useful functioning of this Committee is illustrated by the letter addressed to the Chairman of the Contest Committee of the National Aeronautic Association relative to the best date for holding the National Elimination Balloon Race. The Race of July 4 from Indianapolis was unsatisfactory in several respects, and it appears that in the selection of the date little heed had been paid meteorological conditions usually existing at that time of year. The desirability of the spring months was pointed out to the Chairman, and his reply indicates not only an appreciative attitude toward the Committee, but a complete willingness to translate its suggestion into action in forthcoming races. The membership of the Committee consists of those members of the Society who represent various branches of aeronautic activity. There is thus at all times within the Committee the power to secure dynamic personal contact with these several agencies. Members of the Committee have contributed articles on the subject of Aeronautical Meteorology to the "Monthly Weather Review," the "Bul equ B.E epr ical Ame letin," and various aeronautical magazines. The aeronautical publications have shown, and are showing, an increased degree of interest in this type of article, and it is believed that this is one of the most powerful fields of activity for the Committee. Respectfully submitted, C. LEROY MEISINGER, Chairman. At the close of the business session Mr. M. W. HAYES and Mr. W. R. GREGG were appointed a Committee on Resolutions to report at the end of the meeting. The tellers not being ready to report, the afternoon program was rok taken up with Vice-President Humphreys in the chair, and about 40 present. The presidential address was first called for: History of Meteorology in North America Since 1848 By SIR FREDERIC STUPART (This address is published in January BULLETIN, pages 1 to 6) At the close of his address Sir Frederic Stupart expressed very great pleasure at having had the honor of being president. During the morning there was an unfortunate conflict of hours in that while the American Meteorological Society was in session the History of Science Section of the A. A. A. S. was listening to an address by Dr. W. J. Humphreys on "The Origin and Growth of the Weather Service of the United States and Cincinnati's Part Therein." 1. 2. 3. SEASONAL CURVES IN MENTAL DISORDERS (To be published in full elsewhere.) Climate is a seasonal factor in the etiology of mental disorders. Mental disorders are affections of the brain with predominating but not exclusive psychic symptoms. Exhaustion of human energy is a formidable factor in all forms of mental disorders. 4. Exhaustion involves more than innate brain instability. 5. Climate as an environmental factor has potentials which affect the standards of sanity. 6. Standards of sanity depend on environment, which varies not only with the standards of civilization but with the climatic factors upon which such civilization depends. 7. The standard of sanity depends also on the standard of the individual. The standard of the individual involves heredity, circumstance and environment. 8. 10. Human energy is not dependent on climate alone but climate is a potential factor in the standard of the individual. 9. Mental disorders in their mental mechanisms showing exhaustion parallel the seasonal curves of efficiency as delineated by Huntington. These seasonal variations in mental disorders show a gradual increase in incipient or recurrent cases from January (the low of the curve) to June (the high of the curve) with a second curve, showing low in August and September, with the high in October, November and possibly December. 11. The data, thus far studied, warrants the deduction that climate and seasonal diseases contribute to the etiology of exhaustion, which is the primary factor in producing mental instability-the borderland of mental disorder. One patient may be inherently in the borderland all of his life. Another may only be so when physical or mental stress precipitates him into this zone. Another may, by more violent mental cataclysms or more stressful bodily exhaustion as from disease or accident, be impelled into the borderland and beyond to the realms of defined mental disorder, known as insanity, there to remain in the acute stage while it runs its course. And whether recovery takes place, or death, or chronicity follows, depends upon factors essentially clinical and belong to the field of neuropsychiatry. (Author's abstract.) Discussion: Dr. W. J. Humphreys raised the question, at present unanswerable, as to how much the direct effects of climate were involved in the seasonal instances of mental disorders. The tellers being ready their report was read by the Secretary, the following being elected: President, Professor W. I. Milham, Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.; Vice-President, Dr. A. E. Douglass, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona; Treasurer, W. R. Gregg, U. S. Weather Bureau, Washington, D. C.; Secretary, Dr. Charles F. Brooks, Clark University, Worcester, Mass.; Councilors, (1924-1926) E. H. Bowie, U. S. Weather Bureau; Robert E. Horton, Hydraulic Engineer, Voorheesville, N. Y.; Dr. H. H. Kimball, U. S. Weather Bureau, and John Patterson, Meteorological Service of Canada. There being a tie for fifth place in the Council, a vote taken among those present resulted in the election of Capt. B. J. Sherry, Met❜l. Control Officer, Model Airway, U. S. Army. Sir Frederic Stupart invited President Milham to the chair, and President Milham at once tendered to Sir Frederic the hearty thanks of the Society for his interest in the Society, for his traveling far to attend meetings, and for giving two presidential addresses. After some brief remarks on the desirability of those presenting papers keeping under their respective time limits if possible, the remainder of the program was called for: The Value of Meteorology in Science Teaching in Secondary Education DR. HENRY E. Kock, Cincinnati, Ohio. Science in Secondary Education is considered primarily for its preparatory value. It broadens the horizon and enables the student to meet and understand problems of a scientific nature in the battle of life. Evidently meteorology is valuable in many ways to accomplish the above purpose. Meteorology found in its broad expression, in the work of the United States Weather Bureau gives us practical application of many of the principles of pure science. At Woodward High School, the birthplace of the Cincinnati Weather Observatory, the student is made conversant with the important work done by Mr. W. C. Devereaux, Meteorologist. A study of the weather map is made the background of observed phenomena and their meaning. By visiting the Weather Bureau they then get a better idea of its importance, through lectures from Meteorologist Devereaux. They then make their own observations and record them in graphical form. The instruction is based on the problem-project method. A few of these may illustrate its value. "Why do some people suffer from nasal hemorrhage on ascending Pike's Peak?" This is made a project of several problems for laboratory. 1. What is the effect on the pulse rate and its tonicity on running up a flight of stairs?" 2. What is the difference in barometric readings on top floor of school as compared with the reading in the schoolyard? 3. Why does air pressure vary with altitude? 4. Has air weight? 5. Does the heart lose its tonicity on ascending heights? These are solved by the students using the proper apparatus. Other problems closely related: How does the aviator know how high he is flying? Why can we not boil potatoes on very high mountains? Why does warm water boil under an exhaust pump? At what temperature? What is the effect of heat on air? Operation of hot air furnace, one cause of wind. What is the effect of heat on water? How are clouds formed? What is humidity? Dew point? Precipitation? (Excerpt from author's abstract.) Discussion: Professor W. I. Milham remarked on the interest of this paper, which combined direct observation and experiment with other types of instruction. Dr. W. J. Humphreys said that a thing to be guarded against in the experimental type of meteorological instruction is the students' gaining an idea that weather processes are simple. These experiments, readily performed, while excellent demonstrations of certain phenomena should not be allowed to give the student the impression that processes of nature are as simple as these elementary laboratory experiments. The Influence of Climate on Wheat Production in Nebraska During the early days of wheat growing in Nebraska, it was not an important or profitable crop; but it was made so, by considering climatic conditions, which resulted in the adoption of a new variety of wheat, the Turkey Red; new cultural methods, including the use of the press drill in seeding, and more effective insect enemy control, like the establishing of a "fly-control date" for seeding. A somewhat complete study of the weather during the critical periods in the growth of wheat which has occurred in the past twenty-five years, shows the close relation between weather and wheat production. A complete correlation of the growth of wheat during the season of 1921 and 1922 was made, with temperature and rainfall conditions. (Author's abstract.) Discussion: Professor W. I. Milham called attention to the fact that between the two years of maximum destruction by the Hessian fly, 1904 and 1915, there were just eleven years, corresponding to the sun-spot cycle. Mr. G. A. Loveland, in answer to a question by Prof. Marvin as to the correct use of the words weather and climate in discussing influence on crops, said that during the early period of years climate was emphasized most with respect to the possibilities of wheat production, but more recently it is the weather from year to year which has been uppermost in the thoughts of those interested in Nebraska wheat. Professor H. J. Cox asked if there was trouble from winter freezing and thawing such as was usually experienced farther east. Mr. Loveland said there was not. Dr. W. J. Humphreys remarked that in West Virginia loss of wheat by freezing and thawing was frequently considerable. Sir Frederic Stupart said that wheat losses in Ontario were sometimes considerable from this cause. Mr. J. L. Kendall said the same was true in Kentucky. Dr. C. F. Brooks remarked that the difference between Nebraska and stations farther east must be one of soil moisture, for when wet ground freezes the expansion as the water becomes ice takes place only in an upward direction, and when there is much water in the soil this upward expansion results in considerable heaving. Dr. W. J. Humphreys in closing the discussion said that the losses were of two sorts, from heaving and from smothering (by ice.) Thunderstorms in Ohio, 1917 By W. H. ALEXANDER, G. H. BURNHAM, C. F. BROOKS. This campaign was conducted with the idea of determining as far as possible the origin, distribution, frequency, extent of territory covered, the attending phenomena, etc., of each thunderstorm that entered or originated in Ohio in 1917. To do this work thoroughly voluntary observers from all parts of the state were secured, report cards prepared and instructions issued. In mapping, the report cards were carefully studied for the purpose of seeing how well instructions were observed and successes and failures were noted for guidance in conducting any future campaigns. A study of the data, after they had been mapped, revealed that there were in 1917 at least 165 days on which thunderstorms occurred in some part of the state, two-thirds of these being in the four months from May to August. Six types of thunderstorms, heat, cyclonic, tornadic, trough, border, and steering line,—were differentiated and their characteristics studied, movements being especially emphasized. Most of the thunderstorms attending well-developed moving lows occurred in belts crossing the state with the speed and direction of the low. The individual thunderstorms, however, in many instances moved differently from the general movement of the belts in which they occurred. Of the six types of storms the heat thunderstorms, naturally, came in the warmer months, while the others, due largely to the contrasts in winds, show a relatively fair proportion in the colder months. As to the geographic distribution, it was noted that the southern and western portions of the state had more thunderstorms than the eastern and northern ones, while the relatively cool Lake shore had the fewest of any of the regions. A further study of the maps prepared from the large amount of data collected in this campaign is being made.-G. H. B. Discussion: Prof. R. DeC. Ward remarked that in his experience in mapping thunderstorm data for New England for four years he had found that the beginning of rain was the best item to show the advance of thunderstorm fronts. The time of loudest thunder is highly variable and very unreliable. He had found during his investigations that it was perfectly easy to forecast the arrival of thunderstorm rains an hour or two ahead. All that is required is a communication from western stations |