BY R. M. JOHNSTON, F.L.S. 3 



Enthusiasts for reform or improvement of our local sanitary 

 system, unfortunately, like all enthusiasts, are over prone to 

 exaggeration, and many of them still continue to speak of the 

 local sanitary condition and health as unexceptionally bad, and 

 in both respects inferior to other Australian cities. These in- 

 correct and unguarded statements have produced much alarm 

 locallv among: the naturallv timid, and have done much harm 

 to the reputation of the city as a health resort by scaring away 

 visitors from other Colonies. 



The protest from our Premier, Sir Edward Braddon, against 

 these inaccurate alarmist statements will, it is hoped, help to 

 repress them, and draw attention to the fact already stated — 

 viz., that during the last three years the city has never been 

 in such a healthy condition, and that it now stands pre- 

 eminently one of the healthiest cities in the world. 



HEALTH STATISTICS. 



Although it is difficult to account for it, it is not the less 

 true, that mistrust of statistics is very general. On all hands 

 one hears the remark " You can prove anything by figures." 

 '' Figures can be made to lie." But a similar retort can more 

 justly be made to apply to all worded statements or arguments. 

 The true an4 sufficient reply to this taunt is, " Without accurate 

 statistics or measures, you can know, compare, or prove 

 nothing." 



* 

 It is true that statistics are likely to be misinterpreted or 

 mishandled by persons who lack the necessary knowledge of 

 the subject to which they relate, or who lack training in 

 statistical science. Almost everyone, however, thinks that he 

 can understand figures, and easily read their true meaning. 

 But the mere mathematical or arithmetical side of statistics, 

 paradoxical as it may appear, plays a minor part in the 

 statistical investigation of any subject. As Longstaff, the 

 eminent statistician, well observes, " The primary requisite is a 

 logical mind and a sound logical training ; the second (and not 

 less important) is a good general knowledge of the subject to 

 which the figures under consideration relate. Only a chemist 

 is likely to derive information from a new chemical experiment ; 

 in like manner the statistician must be now a banker, now a 

 farmer, now a merchant, now a doctor, according as he is 



