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Book Reviews
March 1940

Medical Climatology: Climatic and Weather Influences in Health and Disease.

Am J Dis Child. 1940;59(3):681. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1940.01990140224018

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Abstract

The author presents the results of an extensive analysis of the effects of climate on mankind in relation to growth, fertility, disturbances of metabolism, infectious diseases, degenerative diseases, dental caries and mental function. His observations reveal that residents of storm areas, in which sudden changes of temperature and barometric pressure are frequent, are most susceptible to infections of the respiratory tract, appendicitis and diseases of metabolism. A mass of statistical data with reference to death rates is presented to support his observations. The book is also well illustrated with charts of storm areas throughout the world.

The reviewer received the impression that too much weight is given to the effect of climate in the incidence of certain types of illness and that factors such as race and occupation are not adequately considered. In the case of tuberculosis, evidence is presented that persons who become infected during the winter months have

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