1871.] 



Change of Climate on the Human Economy. 



805 



Table VI. — To show the influence of Temperate Climates &c. on the 



weight. 



1st weighing, September 14, 1864, near Sydney, 

 2nd „ November 25, 1864, after leaving Sydney, 



] 72 days, all spent in the 



temp. zone. 



Average temperature at Sydney 65° F. 



Salt meat issued on 35 days 



(with 20 lime-juice days) 

 Fresh meat issued on 37 ,, 



Food consumed per man daily. 



lb. oz. drs. 



Average of first week ... 2 8 34 

 last „ ... 1 10 1 



Age. 



Total 

 number 

 weighed. 



Number 

 and 

 percentage 

 unchanged. 



Number 

 and 

 percentage 

 who gained. 



Range 



of 

 gain. 



Ave- 

 rage 

 gain. 



Number 

 and 

 percentage 

 who lost. 



Range 



of 

 loss. 



Ave- 

 rage 

 loss. 



15 to 25 



25 „ 35 

 35 „ 45 

 45 „ 55 



43 

 32 



8 



per cent. 

 3= 6-98 

 4=12-5 



per cent. 

 35=81-39 

 26=81-25 

 7=87-5 



lb. 

 2-11 

 2-14 

 1-15 



lb. 



5- 91 



6- 5 



7- 14 



per cent. 

 5=11-63 

 2= 6-25 

 1 = 12-5 



lb. 



1- 6 



2- 3 

 1 



lb. 



3 



2-5 

 1 









1-15 











Totals' 

 and per- 

 centages. 



83 



7= 8-43 



68=81-93 



6-3 



8= 9-64 



1-6 



2-62 



75=90 - 36 per cent. 



Table VI., in strong contrast to the above, shows how much and rapidly 

 the system rebounds under an opposite change of climate, and when re- 

 moved from excessive warmth into a healthy temperate climate, with a 

 fresh meat and vegetable diet, light work, frequent leave, &c. Thus after 

 a 54 days' stay at Sydney in spring, notwithstanding the debilitating effect 

 of 35 salt meat days before and after the experiment, no fewer than 90 per 

 cent, had either gained flesh or lost nothing, the average gain being large 

 (6 lbs.). In the 9| per cent, who lost, this was probably due, as it occurred 

 among the juniors, to those excesses so common after long confinement on 

 board. 



Thus, during the three years over which these triannual trips from Syd- 

 ney to Cape York extended, the weight of the crew was continually oscil- 

 lating, increasing at the former, and again decreasing on returning to the 

 tropics. Frequent, sudden, and great changes of temperature and climate 

 like this, are doubtless fertile causes in undermining the constitution and 

 inducing premature old age. But for the re-invigorating influence of the 

 periodic return to cool weather, many more would have succumbed to 

 broken health. As it is, Table VII. shows that after 1 \ years 44 per cent, 

 of those who originally went out in the ship had lost flesh, while other evi- 

 dence showed that the health and strength of all had declined, there being 

 moreover no proof of the occurrence in any of that doubtful event, accli- 

 matization. The appetite and consumption of food had also diminished 

 from the same cause. 



