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females than males, and so the deathrate would rule higher 

 among them. Hence we find that there are 45,733 boys with 

 45 deaths, and 47,780 girls with 52 deaths ; so that the 

 mortality is greater among the girls. And if we limit the 

 examination to the sexes under 10 we have to deal with such 

 an insignificant number of cases and so large a number of 

 children comparatively that any result would decide nothing 

 at all. 



In this influence of the reproductive function we find, I 

 believe, an answer to the question, Why is it that males are 

 more liable to the affection than females ? "Why do 16 men 

 die to every 15 women? Because phthisis is ruled by repro- 

 ductivity, and this is more persistent among men than among 

 women, and so acts upon them for a much longer period. 



If this theory be correct it opens up a very wide field for 

 speculation as to whether it may not be through this channel 

 that many supposed causes act. Is it true, as is popularly 

 supposed, that phthisical females are more prolific than others ? 

 If it be, may we not read the fact reversely, that prolific 

 women — women in whom the reproductive power is very strong 

 — are more liable to phthisis? The influence of city life, 

 sedentary employments, indolence, on the one hand ; a country 

 life, open air exercise, and muscular pursuits, &c, on the 

 other, may exert their predisposing or antagonising influences 

 through this medium. But we will cease even to suggest, lest 

 we should appear to be riding the theory too far. 



Such, then, seems to be some of the information to be 

 derived from our colonial statistics respecting this generally 

 interesting disease ; of so general interest because there are 

 few if any families that have not been invaded by it. None 

 the less interesting, both to the faculty and the laity, in that 

 the information derived is not altogether in accord with 

 popular notions upon the subject. There' are some points for 

 congratulation. Our deathrate is not one half of that in the 

 old country, and probably the disease does not attack us so 

 early, nor run so rapid a course. We may remember, too, 

 while we " groan and sweat under our weary life" in summer, 

 that there is at least one class of patients to whom this season 

 comes with comfort and prolongation of days. But we ought 

 to remember especially — and this is cause for solicitude rather 

 than congratulation — r that the mortality is increasing, and it 

 behoves us in the interests of medical science — and none the 

 less in the interest of our fellows — to find out the reason why : 

 whether because the beneficial influences of our climate are 

 becoming more widely known, and attracting more sufferers, 

 who, as a forlorn hope, come to our colony to die, or whether 

 because of deleterious circumstances, which we are creating 



