918 Transactions.—Miscellaneous. 
Art. XVII.—The Comparative Atmospheric Pressure of New Zealand and 
Great Britain (considered in reference to Dr. Newman’s theory of : 
Physical Deterioration).* By Cuartes Rous Marten, F.R.G.S., F.M.8., 
M.Sc.M.8. 
[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 26th November, 1876.) 
1. In a paper entitled “Speculations on the Physiological Changes 
which obtain in the English Race when transplanted to New Zealand,” 
read before this Society on the 80th September last, the author, Dr. New- 
man, in a very ingenious argument, endeavored to show that in consequence 
of certain deficiences in the soil and climate of New Zealand, the English race 
may be expected to deteriorate, both physically and mentally, in future 
generations. Thus, if Dr. Newman’s theory be correct, children born in 
New Zealand of parents who have migrated hither from Great Britain 
should be inferior both physically and mentally—taken on an average—to 
their progenitors, while their descendants in like manner, should deteriorate 
still further. Dr. Newman goes on to state that indications of this degen- 
eration are even already visible. 
2. The alleged deficiencies in the New Zealand soil and climate, to which 
this supposed deterioration is attributed by Dr. Newman, consist mainly 
in an insufficient proportion of phosphates as regards the soil and a diminu- 
tion of atmospheric pressure in respect to the climate. The former of these 
two points it is not intended to discuss in this paper, the question being 
one rather for a geological or chemical treatise. Moreover, as Dr. Newman 
gives us reason to hope that the threatened degeneration from this cause 
may be averted by so simple and pleasant a prescription as an occasional 
whitebait dinner or an oyster supper, this aspect of the case may be dis- 
missed. 
8. The other hypothetical cause of this hypothetical deterioration must 
be dealt with more seriously, inasmuch as no course of diet or medical 
prescriptions would supply greater atmospheric pressure, did any deficiency 
exist, as it could additional phosphorus, if the soil lacked the needful 
proportion of that element. It becomes therefore a matter of some moment 
as affecting the future of this colony, to ascertain whether the atmospheric 
pressure of New Zealand be really inferior to that of Great Britain as 
alleged. : 
|. * Bee Newman, Art. V., p. 37. 
