8 
procured, and those who may have derived good 
from their residence here, have nevertheless dis- 
suaded their friends from taking so long a voy- 
age, there being so little certainty of comfort at 
the end of it. 
Of the 478 deaths which occurred in the 
colony during 1860, 85 are specified as result- 
ing from external causes, i.e. more than 17 per 
cent. 22 out of the 85 were drowned i.e. up- 
wards of 4 per cent, of those who died. In a 
new country more lives are sure to be sacrificed 
to floods than in a settled district, but the per 
centage is great. When bridges are built, and 
the means of communication between places are 
improved, we may hope to have to record fewer 
deaths from that cause. 
Although few are actually registered as having 
died from intemperance, nevertheless it is much 
to be feared that indirectly many have fallen a 
sacrifice to the abuse of alcohol. The abuse 
of what may be lawful in itself, will always 
prove a fruitful source of disease. Although 
climate may have much influence over the 
human frame, and although the want of electri- 
city or too much moisture, or various other 
causes, may induce a predisposition to disease, 
nay may perhaps in some cases cause it, yet 
there is little doubt but that man, through want 
of temperance, and, through want of proper con- 
trol of his passions, is a greater enemy to himself 
than the worst of seasons. If men had greater 
regard for the moral law of the Diety, there 
would be less necessity for them to trouble 
themselves about the natural laws of the Diety. 
Still since men will act foolishly and sinfully, 
and since climate does affect the constitution of 
man, if any means can be discovered for neutral- 
izing its effects, all honor be to him who may be 
the discoverer. 
28 per cent, of the deaths which were 
registered at .Brisbane during 1860 were 
caused by Zymotic diseases* 18 per cent, 
died from this same class at Ipswich ; 12 per 
cent in the other parts of the colony. In 
Sydney the average during three y ears was 
17.84 ; in Brisbane during the same period it 
was 15.34. There is only one death entered 
at Brisbane during 1860 as unspecified, 
not one at Ipswich, whereas there are 33 un- 
specified in the other parts. Of those 33 most 
probably some were caused by Zymotic diseases, 
still in the country fewer deaths are likely to 
occur from that class of diseases than in towns. 
In Sydney the average per centage of deaths 
from that class is greater than here during the 
years 1857, ’58, and ’59. The mortality in 
Sydney may I believe be in a great measure at- 
tributed to a want of proper drainage, and it is 
sincerely to be desired that great attention may 
* The term Zymotic is given to those diseases which 
are caused apparently by tire reception into the system 
of a virus or poison, which is difhused through the 
frame and operates upon it like leaven. Measles, Small- 
pox, Scarletina, Hooping Cough, Diarrhoea, Remittent 
and Infantine Fevers are amongst this class. 
be paid in this city to that most important mat- 
ter. It is, I believe, admitted by all writers on 
sanatory measures, that the best safeguards 
against all febrile diseases are, 1st. A copious 
supply of pure water. Secondly, good drain- 
age, and thirdly, well ventilated dwellings. 
Happily for us it is in our power to possess all 
these three requisites, and I hope before long 
they will be possessed. Electricity may baffle 
us, but the procuring an abundant supply of 
■water, the construction of good drains, and the 
proper ventilation of buildings are easily to be 
obtained. It i3 satisfactory to know that a 
paper is about to be read on this subject at the 
next monthly meeting. 
Before closing this, some notice ought per- 
haps to be taken of the infantile mortality which 
is very great. The average per centage of 
deaths registered at Brisbane during the years 
’56, ’57, ’58, and ’59, was of children under 2 
years, 35 - 33, and under 5 years, 43 ‘28. More 
than two-fifths of those born have died before they 
were 5 years old. During 1860, upwards of 50 per 
cent., or more than half of thosekwho died had 
not lived 5 years. Can nothing be done to save 
so much life ? In England alas, where there is 
so much poverty, and where it is so difficult to 
find employment for all, children are by some 
parents looked upon as an evil, and their death 
is too often welcome, but in this country, where 
population is really required for the develop- 
ment of its resources, every child is of value 
merely in a political point of view. To dimi- 
nish the deaths amongst children is of as much 
importance as the bringing out of immigrants, 
and we are nationally interested in the health 
and prosperity of the young. 
Diarrhoea and convulsions are the principal 
causes of death amongst children, and I cannot 
but think that many parents are culpable in al- 
lowing their children to, eat all sorts of trash, 
which must have a tendency to derange the di- 
gestive organs. Sufficient care also is not taken 
by many to protect them from the rays of the 
sun. When we consider that exposure to heat 
is trying to adults, how much more so must it 
be to infants P Attention to diet and protection 
from the heat of the sun would doubtless spare 
the lives of many ; and parents, who in their old 
age have no child to care for them, would, with 
proper attention and management, be blessed 
with healthy sons, who might be a comfort and 
a support to them. Not but that, in a hot 
climate like this, infants have much to contend 
against. During the summer months the heat 
must tend to weaken the mother, and the nurs- 
ing child will sympathize ; hence if hooping 
cough, measles, or diarrhoea are prevalent, many, 
from want of powers of resistance, fall a sacri- 
fice. Eew parents would be so unnatural as to 
be indifferent to the life of their offspring, and in 
a country where there is no pinching poverty to 
dry up all their finest and best feelings, and 
where, instead of looking forward to a life of 
wretchedness and misery for their offspring, they 
may reasonably hope that they will do well and 
