LONDON FOG.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 25 February 1881, Page 2

LONDON FOG.

+ . A lecture on this vsubjecfc was giren by. Captain Douglas Galton at the meeting of tbo Balloon Society at "Westminster Aquarium recently. From the surrounding of the sea the climate of England was more moist than many other climates, and bnd. therefore, a greater tendency to fogginpss In London fog resulted not alone from this cause and from the Thames; but from the exhalations of open spaces, where the rain had sunk into the soil. The canopy of com* pacted smoke from Ihe 4,003,000 tons prevented the evaporation of water, and caused the irritating rffects of London fog. There were also the emnnation? from street sweepings, manure heaps and the breath of millions of inhabitants resulting, it wascomputed, in 29 grains of sulphuric acid in every cubic yard of London air. Balloon experiments by Mr G'aisber and others had proved that the fogs were not usually of high altitude, and the sun was sometimes shining on high towers when all below was tnveloped in mist, 75 pre cent of light was thus intercepted to the great detriment of animal atd vegetable life, and, accounting to some extent for the comparative feebleness of London children. By way of reducing the deleterious influence, open spaces should be well under drained, and if practicable, more spaces or boulevards laid out to admit freer circulation of air. "While smoke from factories could be checked every private house was in winter a manufactory of smoke and soot. The use of smokeless coal, and of smoke consuming applinaces would mitigate the evil but it seemed to him that private houses might eventually be supplied with heat from some central source by means of electricity. On the motion of Mr Le Eyre a cordial vote of thanks was given to the lecturer, and after some discussion the meeting terminated.