Cass County, Missouri - Chapter 13: Climate and Health, 1917

TEMPERATURE- PRECIPITATION - SHORT WINTERS - SUMMERS - FROSTS - WEATH¬ ER TABLE - HEARTH CONDITIONS - AGUE OF BYGONE DAYS - MALIGNANT DISEASES NOT COMMON - CLIMATE ANTAGONISTIC TO CONSUMPTION - BET¬ TER MODES OF LIVING.

The climate of Cass County is essentially the same as that of all western Missouri. The mean annual temperature as given by reports of the general government is 53.1 F., and the mean precipitation is 37.88. The fall of the year is characterized by long periods of mild, pleasant weather, extending often to Christmas. The winters are short and mild. Zero weather is rare before the first of the year. During the winter the extreme cold seldom continues more than three or four days at a time. The annual snowfall seems of late years not to be as great as of former years. The general government reports give the average snow¬ fall for ten years prior to 1914, at 20.6 inches. It is seldom a snowfall is more than six inches at a time. Warm spells of winter sometimes start the buds and the later freezes and occasional frosts as late as May damage the fruit. The heat of summer is tempered by breezes.

The government reports made in 1914 say the average date of kill¬ ing frost in the spring made on a period of nineteen years prior to 1914, is April 19, and the early killing frost in the same period is October 26. The latest given in this report is May 28 and the earliest in fall is Sep¬ tember 28. The growing season is about 190 days. This is sufficient for maturing crops grown in the county. Precipitation is greatest during the summer months. August and September are the months when our usual droughts occur. These, however, are withstood by the soils when proper cultural methods are used.

How is Cass County for health? There are no epidemics peculiar to this section, and are no more frequent and no more severe than else¬ where; really such diseases are less frequent and much less severe, the state health department report healthier than most any other locality. The land, except along the streams, is rolling or hilly, rendering drain¬ age almost perfect, and with little effort is made quite healthy. There are no extensive bogs or marshes, and those of limited extent are being rapidly drained. The streams, names of which are given elsewhere, serve to drain as well as water the county. Good healthy water for house purposes is easily obtained from natural springs and wells at from twenty to thirty feet in depth. Such water is for the most part of ex¬ cellent quality. The soil of that dark sandy loam serves as excellent filter to any unhealthy increments which might run upon the surface of the ground. The climate is alike conducive to health, by purifying the atmosphere of any impurities adrift therein.

In early days we had malaria along the river bottoms. This gave us our "old-fashioned ague" shakes. The medical profession, with the general improvement of the physical conditions of the county, have about eradicated this disagreeable disease. We seldom now see a person cling¬ ing to the stove or warmth of the window, enjoying this old-time luxury.

crowded cities or illy ventilated places; these are, however, traceable to neglect of the individual in not attending to proper ventilation. Remit¬ tent and intermittent fevers prevail to some extent, but they cannot be said to be more prevalent than in other localities. Malaria, so called, is quite often associated with other diseases not generally regarded as of a malarial nature. This, however, is not at all a peculiar circumstance, for this condition is found in most any locality.

Malignant diseases are not common, though occasionally cases of malignant diphtheria appear. Old-fashioned consumption is hardly known, except in cases established prior to locating in the county, and it is creditably asserted the climate is antagonistic to this much-feared disease. There is some trouble from catarrh and its classmate, hay fever. It is believed, however, this is due not so much from climatic is taken in ventilation and habits of living. Too often too little attention is paid to proper health preservatives in the erection of our dwellings. Low stuffy rooms, whether upper or lower story, are not conducive to health, nay, it is inviting disease. It is a harboring place for microbes. It is quite encouraging, however, that the state of affairs is rapidly changing for the better. Good houses are taking the place of bad ones. Thrift is taking the place of slothfulness. People are reading and con¬ sider the suggestions of doctors and health officers generally.

The county, from the standpoint of health, is a desirable place to live. With more of God's pure air in our living places and the removal of barns and offensive odors further therefrom is being seen every day. The physical features, the soil, the health, the climate of Cass County are scarcely equaled and are not excelled anywhere. All classes of our people are intelligent, industrious, happy and prosperous. To be happy you must first be healthy.