130 



British Association, the views I have so often enforced on the sanitary influ- 

 ence of this peculiar condition of oxygen in Tasmania, were confirn.ed by 

 Enc^lish records. Dr. Moffat alludes to its efficacy in choleraic periods, and 

 proposes to generate and use it artificially as the most potent disiufectant. 

 The slow combustion of phosphorus, as I exhibited it in my lecture on the sub- 

 ject in 1857, is the plan he adopts. 



Electricity was much more active this month than in December 1861'. The 

 positive indications were 20, with a maximum-tension of 8, tlie negative 38 

 with maxi'Dum tension of 7. " Nil" was only registered at 4 observations, 

 while 18G4 had 13. 



Thirty deaths for December is the smallest number ever recorded, being 

 one-sixth less than 1864 had, and oue-third below the eight years' average, as 

 exhibited in the following table : — 



In every group of ages but one, the deaths were less than the eight years* 

 average. At "under 1 year of age," the mortality was above 2u per cent, less 

 than last year, but two other years of the eight had a still smaller number. 

 At " 1 to 5 " this year and last were alike, only one. At "5 to 20," this 

 year's deaths were above the eight years' average, and more numerous than 

 any one of the series. At " 20 to 45," the deaths were considerably less than 

 the average, though two of the eight years had each the same number, and 

 two others each one less. At " 45 to 60," the mortality was less than one- 

 fourth of the average, and the least of th3 eight years ; 1858 had twice as 

 many as the pre ent month. At "all ages above 60," the deaths were 

 below the average, though considerably mo e than last year had, and one 

 more than two other years of the series recorded. Foux out of the seven 

 were octogenarians, aged respectively, S3, 84, 85, 85. 



Zymotic diseases only caused 7 deaths, being considerably below the eight 

 years' average. One other year, however, 1861, had precisely the same number, 

 but all the other seven more. Five deaths were caused by bowel-complaints^ 

 all at ages below seven months. A girl, nine years old, died from what is re- 

 gistered " Lov:- fever.''' Another girl, of two years old, died from Diphtheria, 



