PROCEEDINGS, MAY. xix 



impressed on the public mind, that even though diseases were exag- 

 gerated by causes such as he had indicated, that was no reason for 

 relaxing one's efforts to stamp out disease. Indeed, it was rather an 

 increased reason for bringing to bear everything that sanitary science 

 could suggest to preserve the public health, for the better the sanitary 

 state the less harmful would be any baneful condition of the atmosphere. 

 He was glad to see the chairman of the Board of Health present, and he 

 would suggest to him that the attention of the board should not be 

 exclusively given to towns, but also to the country and especially to 

 some of the country inns. In conclusion, he said that those who read 

 Mr. Johnston's paper carefully must feel that there was no sufficient 

 ground for the impression that it discouraged sanitary work, 

 (Applause.) 



Captain Shoett contributed the following on the relation of the 

 weather and typhoid during the last six months :— 1st, Temperature. 

 — Sudden changes frequently occurred during the summer. In January 

 the mean temperature 66deg. was 2'5deg. above the average of previoiis 

 43 years' record. The 9th was an exceptionally hot day, registering 

 103'5deg. in the shade. The two previous days were also warm, 

 92deg. and 92'5deg. In February highest temperature 95; lowest 

 39deg. 2nd. Rainfall. — The precipitation of moisture was abnormal, 

 as only fin. of rain fell in the months of December, February and 

 April, though in November it was 2"88in.; January, 3'43in.; and March, 

 2'57in. Total amount about equal to former averages. 3rd. Wind. — 

 There was an absence, excepting in January, of southerly winds and 

 cooling rains ; northerly winds predominating. To assist the epidemic, 

 when the rainfall was slight the winds were light ; generally strong 

 winds act greatly in purifying cities, scattering the dust, whicli has 

 already absorbed foul matter in drains, etc. The direction and velocity 

 of the wind, rainfall, and temperature during the epidemic will, I think, 

 justify the probability of an insufficiency of ozone. Ozone is a good 

 disinfectant of the atmosphere, inasmuch as it hastens the oxidation 

 of decomposing animal and vegetable matter, hence it is important to life 

 and health, and it improves the health in respect to diseases of a 

 zymotic character, such as typhoid. In Melbourne, Sydney, and Hobart 

 the mortality from typhoid fever has been unusually large. These cities 

 in the summer season generally experience S. and S,E. winds, which 

 bring considerable quantities of ozone from the sea, and these winds 

 having been much less frequent this season than usual, I think the 

 virulence of the disease may be in some degree owing to the lack of 

 the purifying ozone. (Applause.) 



Dr. Perkins President of the Health Board said he would not rely 

 upon the general death-rate of the community as a guide to its sanitary 

 condition. He was rather inclined to take up the position of those 

 who say the general average death-rate is no test of the health of a 

 community, but rather the amount of sickness among the population. 

 (Applause. ) The qualifying conditions of old age had been familiar 

 to medical officers of health for many years. Speaking of qualifying 

 influences, Mr. Johnston might very fairly have introduced that of the 

 occupations of the people. The occupations of many persons were 

 unfavourable to length of life, Mr, J ohnston had mentioned only one 

 qualifying influence, and that was one most favourable to Tasmania. 

 Density of population was a very important qualifying influence, Mr. 

 Johnston himself pointed out that there was a difference of 70 per 

 cent, in the death-rate between town and country districts, and that 

 was a proof of the importance of density of population. If they were 

 to take in qualifying influences at all they must include them all. 

 There was another test also they might apply ; that was, the qualifying 

 test of the birth-rate. Mr. Johnston told them that the birth-rate 



