3 
Whether the introduction of ice and the I 
formation of public baths would tend to 
diminish the sickness during the hot season is 
worthy of consideration. 
I will now proceed to read the monthly state 
ments after which I propose to make some 
general remarks. 
January. — The weather during January was 
hot and oppressive, and for the first ten days 
there was frequent thunder and lightning with 
rain squalls. The 18th was the hottest day of 
the summer in the sun, when the maximum 
shade registered 99‘5, and the maximum sun 
125*8. During the latter part of the month it 
was hazy ; wind at S.W. The electrical state 
of the atmosphere as indicated by the gold leaf 
electrometer was very much disturbed, with 
the barometer low throughout. At sea, easterly 
winds prevailed with heavy weather. Mean 
temperature of month 77 T ; mean temperature 
of month in Melbourne, 68*7 ; greatest diurnal 
range, 31 '9 ; 2 ’54 inches of rain fell in nine 
days. The health was not good. The diseases 
most common were febrile debility, subacute 
bronchitis, bilious diarrheea, and neuralgic pains 
of the face. 13 deaths were registered, 6 males 
7 females ; 1 death was from suicide, 1 from 
sunstroke ; 2 were under one year, 6 under two, 
and 1 between two and three ; 28 births were 
registered, viz., 16 males, 12 females. 
February. — Easterly winds prevailed this 
month, and cloudy oppressive weather. The 
19th was the hottest day of the summer, in the 
shade the thermometer marking 100'5. A 
negative state of electricity was noticed almost 
throughout the month, forming a strong contrast 
to the usual state of the atmosphere, and hav- 
ing a very depressing effect upon the health and 
spirits. During the month there was frequent 
distant thunder, with rain and lightning, nearly 
every evening. Mean temperature of month, 
76 - 6 ; mean temperature of month in Mel- 
bourne, 65*4. Greatest diurnal range, 30 8 ; 
highest sun, 122T. More rain fell than in any 
month since October, 1858, in which 12T0 
inches were registered at the Cape Moreton 
station ; the rainfall of the evening and night 
of the 21st was very great, viz., 2 \ inches. 
The total rainfall of the month was 9.64 inches in 
18 days. There was much sickness, and deaths 
were numerous. Bilious diarrhsea and colic 
seemed almost epidemic. External inflamma- 
tion about the joints (in some cases connected 
with rheumatism, and affections of the 
tonsils and throat) was noticed in several in- 
stances. 19 deaths were registered, 11 males 
8 females ; under one year, 9 ; under five years 
12 ; one 5 years and two months ; 1 sunstroke ; 
1 accidentally drowned ; 1 accidentally burned. 
Births 30 ; 15 males 15 females. 
March. — As was the case last month, easterly 
winds prevailed nearly throughout, with heavy 
clouds, frequent showers and negative electricity. 
Mean temperature of month, 75*7 ; mean tem- 
perature of month in Melbourne, 66*6. Greatest 
diurnal range, 27*6 ; highest shade, 92*3 ; highest 
I sun, 120*7 ; rain, 6*58 inches fell in 18 days. 
Health — Though fewer deaths were registered 
than in February there was above the average 
of sickness this month, arising probably from 
vegetable miasma, the result of great moisture 
with heat. Several cases of fever occurred, 
which, as the stomach or liver was chiefly affected, 
might be called gastric or bilious. In children 
catarrh and catarrhal ophthalmia were common ; 
there were also several cases of scarlet fever. 
7 deaths were registered, 2 males 5 females ; 
under one year, 2 ; under five years, 5 ; two 
females died, one from amonorrhoea, one from 
fever produced by unhealthy condition of womb 
and intestines. Births 37 ; 21 males 16 females. 
April. — Up to the 23rd cloudy weather with 
frequent showers, and wind chiefly from N.N.E. 
to E ., and negative electricity. The last week 
fine cool weather, wind W.S.W. to S.S.W. ; 
fine starry, moonlight nights, very heavy dew 
and positive electricity ; pleasant seasonable 
weather. Mean temperature of month, 7l‘4 ; 
mean temperature of month at Melbourne, 
5S*8 ; greatest diurnal range, 33*0 ; highest 
shade, 91*4; highest sun, 118*0. Rain — 7*55 
inches fell in 18 days. Health — much sickness 
at the commencement of month ; several cases 
of fever were again noticed, ending fatally in 
two instances. Colds and cases of chest affec- 
tion were also common, the latter principally 
seen in persons arriving here to escape the 
winter of colder colonies. Deaths — 13 -were 
registered, viz., 11 males 2 females ; under one 
year, 3 ; under eight years, 4 ; 4 consumption ; 
3 convulsions; 2 fever; 1 drowned. Births 
34 ; 21 males 13 female^. 
May. — This month was fine : and seasonable. 
Wind chiefly in the morning from W.S.W. to 
S.S.W. getting round in the afternoon to E.N.E., 
and calm at night. Beautiful cold starlight 
nights ; heavy dew throughout, and strong 
positive electricity. Numerous shooting stars 
were noticed on the evening of tlie 16th. The 
S.W. winds having been light, the cold was less 
than in May of the previous year. The 22nd 
of May, 1859, was the coldest day of the winter, 
and was thus noted— “ The night of the 22nd 
was very cold, 5 degrees below freezing. Grow- 
ing plants were blackened and destroyed at 
Brisbane, Cooper’s Plains, and Ipswich, tlie 
thermometers on the ground were coated with 
thick ice; the minimum shade thermometer, 
placed four and a half feet from the ground 
was only two and a half degrees above freez iug 
point.” Tlie coldest night hitherto of this sea- 
son was the 30th, when the grass thermometer 
registered 38 degrees, or 6 degrees above freez- 
ing. Mean temperature of month, .62*8 ; mean 
temperature of month at Melbourne, 54*7 ; 
greatest diurnal range, 34*9 ; highest shade, 81*6 ; 
highest sun, 106*8. Rain — Only twelve hun- 
dreths of an inch fell. Health — Yery little 
sickness except some cases of colds and in- 
fluenza ; as usual also, some cases of chest 
affection were seen in persons from the south 
allured here by the mildness of our wiuter. 
