Referee's report by Thomas Clifford Allbutt, on a paper 'Influence of rainy winds on Phthisim' by W Gordon

Description

Sectional Committee: Physiology

Not recommended for publication in Philosophical Transactions, but at the same time does not feel strongly opposed to such publication. Allbutt is aware that the association of a high death rate from phthisis with a prevalence of wet winds is no new suggestion but on the other hand Gordon has carried the research very much further and has taken a great deal of trouble in obtaining information from foreign countries. Wonders if perhaps one of the journals specially devoted to tuberculosis would be a better medium for the publication. Gordon will be the first to admit that after all he has done, the conclusions are approximate and may be vitiated by closer investigation. The statistics of many remoter regions are untrustworthy or even no more than individual experiences or impressions. In respect of climatic conditions there are so many local modifying conditions which interfere with broad inferences that in many cases the broad conclusions are scarcely valid, if valid at all. There are many other factors to be considered besides the rain and wind and Gordon's remarks on these are interesting and as trustworthy as the rest of his paper. His explanation for the disadvantages of most of the high stations in India for cases of phthisis are much to the point.

[Not published]

Endorsed on recto as received 9 June 1904.

Reference number

RR/16/186

Earliest possible date

07 June 1904

Physical description

Letter on paper

Page extent

3 pages

Format

Typescript