ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 17 



•causes forms a pathetic commentary on the absence of sanitary 

 precautions. Or regarded from another point of view : it is 

 estimated that the value of every infant born in the Colony 

 should be at least .£40 ; while the average wealth per head of the 

 community is about £345. What a loss of wealth then to the 

 nation does not the loss of 800 lives each year in the suburbs of 

 Sydney alone represent ! By death and national weakness, this 

 disobedience to the laws of Nature, which are the laws of 

 God, is thus already severely visited upon us ; and to what 

 increasing extent shall we not suffer, if improvements in 

 sanitary conditions do not keep pace with the increasing 

 population ! And further, when we find as English statistics show, 

 that chiefly owing to the large infantile mortality, the average 

 period of life of the wealthier and leisured classes is nearly double 

 that of the artisan classes ; that is, where the average age at 

 death of the former is 44 years, that of the latter is only 24 years, 

 are we not appalled at this state of things, which to some extent 

 must always exist where population is more or less concentrated ? 

 But cannot the wide difference between the condition of these 

 classes be greatly lessened 1 Who is responsible for its present 

 state 1 Doubtless not only the governing authorities, but also many 

 of the people themselves who neglect to avail themselves of the 

 facilities afforded them by Municipal and other authorities for 

 sanitary improvements. This language may appear too reproachful, 

 but when Science demonstrates the cause of, and remedy for the 

 many perishing in our very midst, it would be unworthy of one 

 speaking from the Presidental Chair of this representative Scientific 

 Society, did he not, in referring to this all-important subject, 

 appeal to the sympathy and co-operation of all for immediate 

 sanitary reform — and especially on the present occasion in this 

 Centennial year, when the colony is priding itself upon its 

 marvellous growth, the significant position it has attained, and 

 the prosperous future it anticipates. 



The average death-rate per 1000 of the population of New 

 South Wales is 15-55 which compares very favourably with that 



B-May 2, 1888. 



