The rates for each of the districts compared may be thrown 

 into a table thus — 



Percentage of deaths Percentage of deaths 

 from Typhoid. from Diarrhoeal Diseases. 

 1882-84 1885-86 1882-84 1885-86 



Adelaide District ... 4-18 3-17 10-44 7-37 



RestofS. Australia ... 2-37 2-52 10-19 8-38 



I am not inclined to lay stress on the reduction in the relative 

 death rate from the diarrhoeal diseases, since there was a reduc- 

 tion in both districts, and to an extent somewhat proportional to 

 the lessened number of births. But the figures referring to 

 typhoid cannot admit of any explanation applying to both. 

 Though the mortality from typhoid is, on the average, greater in 

 Adelaide than in other parts of the colony, there has been in the 

 former a reduction of about one-fourth, while in the latter there 

 has been a slight increase in the second period, 1885-86. If 

 climatic, or any other general conditions, had been the cause of 

 the lowered rate of mortality from typhoid in Adelaide, it is 

 difficult to see why they should not have shown their effect, at 

 least to some extent in a similar way, in other parts of the 

 colony. The presumption rather is that the true cause of the 

 lessened death rate in Adelaide has been the improvement in the 

 drainage system. 



If, therefore, there has been a distinct, if not very great reduc- 

 tion in the general rate of mortality, and a marked reduction in 

 that resulting from typhoid — the disease above all others amen- 

 able to the influence of sanitary improvements — it is a fair infer- 

 ence that these improvements have had the effect which might 

 reasonably have been anticipated. Further experience may be 

 needed to make this conclusion incontrovertible, but the proof is 

 sufficiently strong to encourage the authorities in other cities and 

 towns to follow the example of Adelaide. My hope is that it 

 may strengthen the hands of those who are endeavouring to 

 obtain for Melbourne a similar boon, since I have long been per- 

 suaded, and often declared, that it is chiefly from the adoption of 

 a proper system of drainage that we can expect to have a decided 

 check given to the prevalence of typhoid, which has for many 

 years been a constant scourge. 



In conclusion, may I venture to suggest that it is the duty of 

 the Government of South Australia to have such a census taken 

 of the population of Adelaide as will allow of an accurate calcu- 

 lation of the death-rate, so that we may not be in uncertainty 

 whether or not the system of drainage recently adopted has 

 actually lowered the death-rate of the city to an extent at all ap- 

 proaching that brought out in the official reports. The expense 

 need not be great, and the matter is one of no small importance, 

 and should not be waited for till 1891, the regular census year. 



