for the year 1879. xxiii 



supports the " contagion" theory of typhoid, in favour of 

 which he adduces powerful evidence, and contends that this 

 fever can never arise de novo without the initial germ or 

 specific poison. The undeniable increase of this fatal 

 disease amongst us every autumn should make us gratefully 

 hail every honest attempt at the elucidation of the mystery 

 which surrounds its true cause and the manner in which it 

 is conveyed from place to place, and whether or not Mr. 

 Thomson's views are ultimately found to be the true ones, the 

 public are at least indebted to him for his evidence and 

 opinion, which, at all events, awaken us to a better know- 

 ledge of this autumnal scourge. 



A very decided difference of opinion exists among medical 

 men concerning the fitness of our climate for consumptive 

 people, and the prevalence of that disease amongst us, 

 especially among the native-born. Statistics have neces- 

 sarily afforded the grounds upon which both opinions have 

 been based, and as it has been well said, " Statistics will 

 prove anything," both parties have established their cases 

 satisfactorily to themselves, though perhaps not to those 

 most concerned. Mr. Thomson here again takes one side, 

 and Dr. Singleton, Dr. Bird, and, I believe, Dr. Williams, the 

 other — all authorities whose opinions are of weight. Mr. 

 Thomson contends that phthisis is as prevalent in Melbourne 

 and the suburban districts as in England, while the others 

 take the reverse side. If it is so common among us as to 

 be a question of opinion, or of the method of treating 

 statistics, whether it is worse here or in the mother-country, 

 the commonly received opinion that our climate offers com- 

 parative immunity from such disease is no longer tenable. 

 It is somewhat remarkable that an alarming fatality among 

 the young aboriginals at the various protection stations has 

 occurred of late, and from what is stated I think there can 

 be little doubt that the cause is phthisis. If this be so, and 

 the aboriginals were formerly free from it, it will be evi- 

 dence in favour of its being in a sense " contagious," a view 

 that is now rapidly gaining ground among leading medical 



