7 
winds prevailed from S.W. to S.E. and a dis- 
turbed electrical state of the atmosphere ; there 
was a severe hailstorm on the afternoon of the 
3rd ; the pieces of ice, though not quite so large 
as that of the storm already alluded to, were 
projected with great violence from N.W. and 
did much damage. Mean temperature of month, 
74’5 ; at Melbourne 66 3 ; greatest diurnal range 
33'2; highest shade, 97; highest sun, 118'7: rain, 
3' 14 inches fell in 15 days. Health : Measles 
and hooping cough were still prevalent amongst 
children ; several cases also of colic and diarrhoea 
occurred. Deaths : 12 ; 5 males, 7 females ; 
under one year, 4 ; under five years, 7 ; 1 exe- 
cuted ; 3 adults, consumption. Births : 23 ; 
13 males, 10 females. 
The mean temperature of 1860 was 67*7 
which is exactly one degree below the average. 
This can be accounted for by the coolness of the 
summer up to the end of December. The rain- 
fall was above the average ; more than 544- 
inches having fallen in 144 days. The mean 
temperature in Melbourne during 1860 was 
58T. * 
One thing seems quite evident from the above 
monthly statements, viz., that there is a great 
connection between the electrical state of the 
atmosphere and health. Whether science will 
enable men to overcome the want of electricity 
in the atmosphere remains to be proved. In- 
asmuch as the earth is the great attractor and 
reservoir of electricity, it seems as if it would be 
impossible, by any human contrivance, to charge 
the atmosphere with it, and perhaps it may be 
the will of the Diety to shew men that, although 
they can do much to prevent disease and sickness, 
there are some elements which they cannot con- 
trol, there are some difficulties which they can- 
not overcome. Nevertheless, religion does not 
forbid investigation into the laws of nature, and 
as steam, the winds, fire and water, have all 
been made in a greater or less degree subservient 
to man, and contribute to his comfort, so the 
time may not be far distant when more shall be 
known about electricity, and our knowledge of 
its properties and laws may enable us, in some 
measure at least, to make it subject to our will. 
Twenty two persons were registered during 
the year as dying from Consumption, of these 
twelve or more than 50 per cent, came from 
other colonies, chiefly from Victoria. Two ob- 
servations Dr. Barton has stated may be use- 
fully offered from the above. The first is, 
that experience has shewn that those persons 
who derive most permanent benefit from this 
climate in the relief of pulminary disease are 
those who have suffered from inflammatory at- 
tacks of the chest rather than from disease the 
result of tuberculous deposition ; the former 
being much benefited by the warm steady 
climate, whilst excessive debility and derange- 
ment of the digestive organs are apt to prostrate 
those in whom the organic leision exists. The 
second observation is that persons labouring 
under advanced phthisis should carefully con- 
sider before leaving the comforts of a home, | 
whether any reasonable hope can be held out to 
them of much benefit by any change of climate ; 
and whether the change is not, in fact, the going 
away from friends to die, perhaps in a crowded 
noisy inn, amongst strangers. This is so well 
stated by Dr. Thomas Wilson, Professor of the 
Practice of Physic in King’s College, that his 
words are here quoted : — 
“ Where tubercles actually exist and are ascer- 
tained to exist in the lungs, may the progress of 
the disease be ever suspended by a change of 
climate ? Indeed I believe it may ; but only in 
certain cases, and in certain stages of the disease. 
When phthisis occurs in either of its slow and 
unmixed forms, the question of a change of sky 
will be worth entertaining. In that form in 
which tubercles remain long in the crude state, 
I believe life may be preserved or lengthened by 
leaving this country (England) and residing 
under a higher and more equable temperature, 
provided that no softening of the tubercular 
matter has taken place ; and in the other form 
when a vomica or vomicce have occurred and 
the strength is apparently restored, and the re- 
mainder of the lungs 'give out the sounds of 
health. In that case also I would recommend 
a voyage to a milder climate to those persons 
who could afford to migrate, and to whom it 
was a matter of importance . that they should 
prolong their earthly existence. I believe there 
is no place to which such persons could go with 
more hope of benefit than to Madeira. If 
however the lungs are already in a state of 
rapid disorganization, no benefit, but on 
the contrary much inconvenience and useless 
expense will result from change of place unless 
that place in which the patient is residing be 
notoriously unhealthy. When I am asked 
about removal either to another country or to 
some distant part of our own, and the state of 
the patient is such as I have just alluded to, I 
always advise that he should not forego the 
comforts of his home, and leave his family and 
friends, and seek advantage which he will not 
find amongst strangers, and amidst the discom- 
forts of a lodging perhaps, or an incommodious 
dwelling. I think it cruel and wrong to send 
people away merely to die ; and that many are 
so sent, to this place and that, in the almost 
certain prospect of their never returning, no one 
I think can doubt.” 
Since in a lecture given at the School of Arts 
Dr. Barton shewed that the climate of Brisbane 
corresponded in a great degree with that of 
Furi'chal the capital of Madeira, we might with 
propriety substitute the word Brisbane for 
Madeira in the above remarks ; and doubtless 
when our climate becomes more generally known, 
and when more accommodation has been pro- 
vided for invalids, many will crowd here from 
the neighbouring colonies, and be greatly bene- 
fited by the change, as they are by a visit to 
Maderia from England. But I feel confident 
that as yet many have been deterred from 
taking such a step, from a knowledge that 
there are very few comfortable lodgings to be 
