show a more frequent and stronger electrical condition of the air, than haa 

 ever before been registered in Hobarton. 



Twenty-four deaths only have occurred in this, the first month of 18C4. 

 The seven preceding Jariuaries had respectively, in retrogressive order, 45, 

 55, 45, 72, 5G, 74, 60, The average of the seven years, therefore, is 58 l-7th, 

 or considerably moie than double that of the present January, while that of the 

 maximum year, 1858, is more than three times as much, and that of the 

 mininmm years, 1861 1803, not far short of twice as numerous. Further- 

 more it must be considered, that the mortality of the preceding two months 

 of December and November was considerably less than the average. The 

 smallest number of deaths recorded for any month of the twelve, in the seven 

 previous years, was 29, and that never occurred in a summer month. January 

 stands second of the months of the year for its high rate of mortality, yet 

 the present month is about 17 per cent more favorable to life than has ever 

 yet been recorded, even for the months of the healthiest character. Mora- 

 over, the diminution of deaths is principally at those tender ages, which 

 afford the sui^est test of the salubrity of any season, climate, or locality, as will 

 be evident by the following contrast : — 



Four deaths only of children under five years of age is without parallel in the 

 mortuary records of Hobarton, for the last fourteen years at least. The same 

 may be said also of the six under 20 ; yet the proportion ot the pooulatioa 

 living at the present time, in this registration district under 20 year.s of age, is 

 much greater, to the total poi)ulation at all ages, than ever before ivas known. 

 In the 25,000 persons, constituting the population of the Hobarton Registration 

 District,the annual death-rate — were all the months of 1864 to be as auspicious 

 to life as the first has been— would be only \\h per 1,000; that being also 

 about the annual death-rate of the rural districts of Tasmania. The annual 

 death-rate of the healthiest rural district in England and Wales is 15 per 

 1,000. 



There were only thi'ee deaths tabled in the zymotic class, and two of these 

 are scarcsl}' entitled to be so classed, one being an invalid at the Brickfields 

 Asylum, aged 55, registered "old age ? (senilis) and diarrhoea," and the other 

 a babe only seven weeks old registered "dysentery." The undoubted 

 zymotic case was a child two years old, registered "epidemic scarlatina " This 

 fever has not been epidemic in Hobarton for many years previously, though 

 mild isolated cases have frequently occurred. During the present mouth 

 it put on the epidemic form, iDut the type was very simple, no doubt mainly 

 influenced by the remarkably cool, salubrious weather that has prevailed for 

 many months past. The last death from scarlet fever registered in Hobarton, 

 was in October 1863, the previous one being in August 1862, in the January 

 of which year there was also another. 1861 had one in July. In 186') there 

 was not a single death from this disease. 1859 had 2, in the month of February. 

 1858 had 13 altogether : i.e., February 1, May 1, June 2, August 1, October 4, 

 and December 4. 1857 had one in June. In the teri-ible epidemic of this 

 fever in 1852-53, upwards of 260 deaths were registered from it. In the epi- 

 demic of 1842-43, only Qt(S were recorded. That some part of the amended 

 hygienic condition of Hobarton, is owing to sanitary improvements — incom- 

 plete though they be— I do not think admits of doubt. 



The remarkable exemption from bowel complaints this month is un- 

 paralleled. In December these diseases caused 10 deaths ; in JanuMi-v 1863, 14 ; 

 January 1858, 17; January 1860, 23. Of the 3 deaths from consumption this 

 month, none were born in Tasmania. Every year's records affords additional 

 proof, for the fact I stated many years ago, of the exemption of the Tas- 

 manian youths, from this terrible scourge of our fatherland. It is worthy of 

 note — as the only instance on record — that not a death from any disease of the 

 organs of respiration (with the exception of the cases of consumption included 

 under another class and order) took place. The small daily -range and uarrovr 



