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PRESIDENTS ADDRESS—SECTION H. 179 
is the more suitable because the filth-diseases, &ec., are diseases 
of urban life. The Melbourne metropolitan area is marked 
off by a circle of ten miles’ radius described from the centre 
of Melbourne. It includes 256 square miles,* and it carried 
an estimated population of 391,546 persons in 1887. The Sydney 
metropolitan area measures 256 square miles, and is of irregular 
shape. It carried a population estimated at 350,866 in 1887. 
From this statement, and on inspection, the two areas seem fairly 
ona par as regards density, the people on both being chiefly 
centered at one part, and for the rest scattered irregularly over 
rural or quasi-rural districts. As to geological character, I am 
informed by the Government Geologist of New South Wales (Mr. 
W. C. Wilkinson), who has surveyed both areas, that as regards 
permeability of soil and retentiveness it may be taken that there 
is not much difference between the two ; but although Melbourne 
stands on seven hills, these are but low, and of a conformation which 
distinguishes them from that of a part of the Sydney area where 
abrupt ridges abound. As to climate, in Melbourne the hot 
season is shorter than in Sydney, and the cold season when it 
comes is much colder. The yearly mean temperature (22 years) 
is 57°:2 F. in the former, and 63° F. (29 years) in the latter ; the 
-mean yearly rainfalls, 25-53 inches and 48:96; the mean yearly 
number of days on which rain fell, 130 and 154. Melbourne is 
near the sea on the south coast, Sydney near the sea on the fertile 
east or Pacific coast ; the latitudes, 57° 49’ and 33° 5’ S. lat. All 
the difference as regards influence of climate on the diarrheal 
diseases is in Melbourne’s favour, and there is also an artificial 
difference between the two which is of especial importance as 
regards prevalence of fever. Melbourne has been supplied with 
excellent water from a very early date, and its distribution by 
pipes has more or less kept pace with the growth of population 
and the extension of suburbs. Sydney, on the other hand, until 
the third month of 1886, had but a scanty supply, drawn from a 
source which was (during the years presently dealt with) befouled. 
This imperfectly served the city (122,000 in 1885) and some 
districts adjacent to it. As far as enteric fever goes there was, 
therefore, during the period dealt with a very great advantage on 
the side of Melbourne. Next as to sewerage. It may at first 
sight be supposed that the city of Sydney (population 87,000 to 
122,000, 1876-85) has in this respect an important advantage 
over Melbourne, since it has for many years been sewered. But 
these conduits are “imperfect sewers, constructed at different 
times, in various fashions, running in many instances on 
unrecorded and now forgotten lines, without ventilation, and 
discharging into the tidal waters of the harbour.” Many 
* The circle encloses a part of the bay. 
7 See “A Record of the Sanitary State of New South Wales, on December 31st, 1887.” 
Sydney, Charles Potter, Government Printer, by the present writer. 
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