The " Vital Statistics" of all Tasmania, for 18G4, were of a more hopeful 

 chaiuctor than those of the preceding year. 



The rcjpstered hirths were 3,031, being 33 more than 1863 had. 



While 1SG3 had a balance against the colony, in " departures," of males, 

 337 females, 146 children, above " anivpls" ; 1861- had OOU tnore " arrivals" 

 than "departures" of adult males ; though 189 less ailult females, and 287 less 

 children ; the actual total numerical surplus of " arrivals" over " departures" 

 l)oing IIK) Since the census of 1861 until the year under review, though the 

 actual number of the total population has annually increased, it has been by 

 the births so greatly exceeding the deaths, the proportion of the former being 

 nearly 2^ to one of the latter 



The total deaths in all Tasmania for 1864 was 1,435 ; which, on a computed 

 estimate of the population at 95,000 persons (including a calculated number of 

 unregistered births) gives a death rate but slightly exceeding 15 in the 1,000; 

 being nearly one-quarter per thousand less than 1863 had, and less than that 

 of any previous year. The rate of 15 per 1.000, is the minimum rate of the 

 healthiest districts in England and Wales, The whole rural death rate of Tas- 

 mania, after excluding Hobart city and Launceston, is very much lower than 

 the minimum rate of Enghmd and Wales. In 1863, it was only 10| per 1,000, 

 and for 1864, though the population has increased, the actual number of rural 

 deaths only exceeded the former year by 2 ; Holiart city exceeded it by 29, 

 while Launceston had absolutely 16 less. IS' o data exist by which the 1,883 

 increase in the population of 1864 over 1863, can be duly apportioned to the 

 towns and country respectively, but I conclude that Hobarton has had, if any, 

 smaller share of it than Launceston and the country districts. When 

 Hobarton and Launceston shall hove done all that modern sanitary science 

 dictates to be requisite for the reduction of unnecessary deaths in town popula- 

 tions, the Tasmauian rate will become marvellously small. Every advancing 

 year, since transportation ceased, and immigration became reduced, tends to 

 prove that, as the island-born population increases its numerical proportion to 

 that of the imported inhabitants, so does the death-rate diminish. By the 

 ordinary laws of mortality it ought to be otherwise, for wherever the infantile 

 element of the population is above the normal state it is usual to have a higher 

 death rate. The interesting fact alluded to shows that the real salubrity of the 

 Tasmanian climate— much as it has been lauded — has hitherto been understated 

 by most writers on the subject. 



It is greatly to be regretted, that in the admirable and instructive ^^ Statistical^ 

 Sanitary, and Medical Reports," now annually emanating from the Army 

 Medical Department, Tasmania should be grouped with continental Australia. 

 In the last "report" published, 1862, it is said (page 108,) by Dr. Graham 

 Balfour, (and his name gives a weight to the statement which those only well 

 versed in Med cal statistics can appreciate,) that " cases and deaths among the 

 military from tubercular diseases is verj^ high, and would seem to indicate, that 

 the climate of the Australian colonies is not well suited to persons having a 

 tendency to these diseases," For a long series of years I have been storing and 

 publishing facts to show that in the civil population of Tasmania the data proves 

 the climate of Tasmania to be supereminently " well suited" to avert the 

 tubercular diathesis. Only one person belonging to the military, a sergeant of 

 the 12th Regiment, aged 28, died from consumption in Tasmania in 1862. He 

 had been left behind, as unfit for service, when the greater part of the troops 

 left this island for New Zealand. 



