BY HON. W. F. TAYLOR, M.D. XXIX 



of Brisbane, as we all know, is a very agreeable one, and if we 

 could get rid of the westerly winds in winter I should regard 

 that time of the year as simply perfection. In addition to the 

 rainfall and temperature, the direction of the wind has a marked 

 effect on the climate, and we find in the case of the westerly 

 winds in winter on the southern coast a cold piercing result is 

 produced, and in summer they cause a dryness of the air and a 

 parched disagreeable feeling. During the prevalence of north- 

 easterly winds in summer a moist, warm, enervating condition 

 of the atmosphere pertains, which changes to a cooler and more 

 bracing state with a south-easterly wind, although the latter is 

 usually accompanied by rain. The more northern parts of the 

 coast, being within the influence of the trade winds, are subject 

 for the greater part of the year to a sea breeze laden with 

 moisture. These winds are, however, very grateful so long as 

 one can remain exposed to them, but when they fall away toward 

 evening, as they usually do, the still close nights become very 

 trying. We have, then, the tropical climate of the northern, 

 and the semi-tropical climate of the southern coast-line, and 

 the temperate and semi-temperate climate of the interior. 



CONSUMPTION AND CONSUMPTIVES. 



Under such varying conditions of climate it is only right to 

 suppose, that the diseases which are endemic in tropical, semi- 

 tropical, and temperate countries, would also be found here. To 

 a limited extent this is true, for while we have tubercular 

 diseases, diphtheria, dysentery, typhoid fever, and malarial fevers 

 of different type, we are free from cholera, yellow fever, and 

 man} diseases of parasitic origin. 



Tubercular consumption is, I regret to say, becoming rather 

 prevalent among our native-born people. Until comparatively 

 recent years it was confined nearly altogether to the inhabitants 

 of European birth, and visitors attracted here from the southern 

 colonies during the winter months, by the reputed salubrity of 

 the climate ; now, however, the children of our colonists are 

 developing a tendency to the disease, and there is no doubt but 

 that it is on the increase. With the climate such as we have 

 in the Roma district, and further north, inland, such as at 

 Barcaldine and Hughenden, we are in a position to deal 



