90 Meteorological Observations at Bendigo. 



14. The beautiful constellation represented in the accom- 

 panying diagram I was fortmiate enough to witness. It took 

 place on the 4th November^ 1853. 



During the summer season the mining population suffers 

 from inflammation of the eyes; the cause of this evil 

 may be attributed to a small kind of fly, which, having gone 

 into the eye, sucks the moisture of that delicate organ, and 

 causes a peculiar itching sensation ; to relieve this, the sufferer 

 has recourse to rubbing the eye, which cannot fail to injure 

 it, I believe that the great heat of the solar rays, 

 reflected from the gold-fields and the numerous white tents, 

 may be considered an additional source of injury to the eye. 

 One of the chief causes of inflammation of the eyes may be 

 the caterpillars. These creatures web themselves on trees 

 in the months of January and February, the time when 

 the blight is most frequent, leaving behind them a great 

 number of small hairs, covering the web as well as 

 the wood. If this is used for domestic purposes, the 

 hairs, coming in contact with the eye, either by rubbing 

 it with the hand that handled the wood, or by other 

 means, produces inflammation, exactly similar to what is 

 produced in Europe by the migrating caterpillars. I never 

 suffered in the eyes, as I was careful to take the precaution 

 of smearing oil over my face, this being the best remedy to 

 keep off" insects. The aborigines of different countries are 

 well aware of the useful application of oil ; they smear and 

 grease the whole of their bodies, to provide against being 

 bitten by musquitoes and other insects. It is desirable 

 to avoid touching the eyes with the bare dry finger ; and 

 veils and coloured eye preservers are therefore used at the 

 Diggings as a means of protection. 



In the month of April, 1853, nearly all the dogs at Ben- 

 digo were afflicted with the distemper, and I was informed 

 that a great number of native dogs perished by the same 

 cause. At the same time, the Bendigo population suffered 

 much from influenza and rheumatic pains. It is questionable 

 whether man and beast did not suffer from the same cause. 



One great principle should be ob3erved by every one resident 

 in this colony, viz., to dress warm at night. To this effect an 

 example is furnished to man by various animals indigenous 

 to Australia ; amongst others the opossum, which feeds dur- 

 ing the cool nights on lofty trees. The effects of the sudden 

 change of temperature is mostly felt by new arrivals, and by 

 the less cautious of the mining population. During the heat 



