Meteorological Observations at Bendigo. 9t 
of the day, the diggers, as well as other working-men, are 
dressed in light apparel; and if they are not cautious to change 
their clothes, for warmer ones, during the night, they will soon 
experience the effect of their neglect. At the end of the day’s 
work the tired man falls into a deep sleep, not awakened even 
by the effects of the cold, which penetrates through the tent, 
and injures his health. The man next day feels feverish, 
diarrhcea precedes the dysentery, and not unfrequently it is 
followed by typhus, which generally ends in the death of the 
suffering man. 
The prevailing diseases are greatly assisted by the popula- 
tion not living according to their adopted climate. Most of 
them transfer to this colony the mode of living which they have 
been accustomed to in a climate lying twenty degrees further 
from the equator than Victoria, without allowing one degree of 
change in their habits. They drink here the same spirituous 
liquors as they did at home; they consume the same great 
quantity of animal food, washed down by a deluge of tea, 
as if the same misty sea air surrounded them here that 
did in England, and which allowed the consumption of 
of a greater quantity of animal food and‘strong drinks. To 
this effect I beg to quote Streletzki’s remarks upon the sub- 
ject, in his work on New South Wales and Tasmania :— 
*“ No endemic disease, and seldom any epidemic of grave 
character, prevails; and if individual indisposition, or even 
partial deterioration of the progeny is sometimes seen, it is 
to be traced to the pertinacity with which the English race 
cling to their original mode of living, wherever they settle, 
and however different their adopted country may be to their 
native climate. It is to the abuse of strong wines, malt 
liquors, and spirits, and particularly to the excessive con- 
sumption of animal food of the richest description, and even 
to the mode of clothing and housing, that individual disease, 
such as dyspepsia, premature decay of teeth, and affection of 
the brain may be attributed.” 
The state of the health would be much improved in this 
country if the inhabitants, instead of the strong beverages 
used at present, would drink pure water, light beer, or native 
wine, which could be produced in this country, and consume 
more vegetable food and fruit. About the mode of living 
in Australia I shall have the opportunity of giving my 
opinion on a future occasion, it being here out of place to 
treat on this subject. I will, however, observe, that the climate 
of this country is healthy, though not so the men. 
