SUPERIOR SALUBRITY OF THE WEST.
All large cities and towns have their best districts in the West;[38] which choice the French savans, Pelouze, Pouillet, Boussingault, and Elie de Beaumont, attribute to the law of atmospheric pressure. “When,” say they, “the barometric column rises, smoke and pernicious emanations rapidly evaporate in space.” On the contrary, smoke and noxious vapours remain in apartments, and on the surface of the soil. Now, of all winds, that which causes the greatest ascension of the barometric column is the east; and that which lowers it most is the west. When the latter blows, it carries with it to the eastern parts of the town all the deleterious gases from the west; and thus the inhabitants of the east have to support their own smoke and miasma, and those brought by western winds. When, on the contrary, the east wind blows, it purifies the air by causing to ascend the pernicious emanations which it cannot drive to the west. Consequently, the inhabitants of the west receive pure air, from whatever part of the horizon it may arrive; and as the west winds are most prevalent, they are the first to receive the air pure, and as it arrives from the country.