6 
LECTURE ON CLIMATE. 
lours, and the result registered ; Schonbein’s 
ers being first dipped in water, 
have for some months registered the daily 
amount of ozone in the air here, using Dr. Mof- 
fat's papers and scale of colors ; his papers have 
to be breathed on before being compared with the 
scale. I am not aware of Dr. Moffat’s receipt, 
but the papers and scale can be procured at a 
small cost from Flavelle and Co., Sydney. Simi- 
lar and regular registrations of the amount of 
ozone in the air, are being made in Sydney and 
Melbourne, as well as in towns of England and 
America, and which will, it is hoped, produce 
useful results. 
The effect of the presence of ozone in the air 
on health is variously stated by writers. Mr, 
Scott, the astronomer, Sydney, considers its pre- 
sence as a healthy symptom, as it combines with 
and neutralises injurious gases, and many others 
are of his opinion. On the other hand, Maury 
says, “ Diseases are thought to be more or less 
prevalent, according to the abundance of ozone 
in the air and M. Wolfe, of Berne, “ attributes 
many diseases to the effects of atmospheric 
ozone, * * * a remarkable correspondence 
between the variation in the quantity of ozone 
in the atmosphere and the change in the inten- 
sity of an epidemic dysentery, was noticed.” 
Wifh this uncertainty then of its effects, in- 
creased information and patient registration are 
required, and may produce most important 
results. 
I have now to consider the climate of this 
country, more particularly this colony, and prin- 
cipally this place. 
Humboldt divided the hemispheres each into 
six spaces or belts, from the knowledge that their 
temperature was nearly similar ; the lines in the 
direction of, but not generally parallel to the 
equator, he called isothermal lines, and the 
spaces between them, isothermal belts or zones. 
Thus in the northern hemisphere, London, New 
York, and Pekin are on the same — the fourth — 
Isothermal line, their mean temperature approxi- 
mating, though their climate and vegetable pro- 
ductions are very different. In the southern 
hemisphere, Queensland is in the second isother- 
mal belt, which has a mean temperature of 68 
to 77 deg. The Cape of Good Hope, and Chili 
are in the same space. In the corresponding 
belt in the northern hemisphere are Funchal, in 
the island of Madeira, and Algiers, on the Medi- 
terranean coast of Africa. The following results 
of temperature have been noted at these places. 
Funchal. Algiers. 
Mean temperature of warmest 
month 75*5 82 8 
coldest month 64*0 60 1 
year 68*5 70 0 
winter .. .. 64-4 61 -5 
spring.. .. 65-8 65'7 
summer .. 72’5 80*2 
autumn .. 72‘3 72 5 
The contrast will here be seen, between Al- 
giers, a variable climate, and Funchal, an insular 
or constant one. It is very important to obtain 
the mean temperature, as well as the extreme 
temperature of a place, as by these are climate 
classed as constant, variable, or extreme. Thus 
Funchal is constant, London and Paris variable, 
Pekin extreme ; though the second and last, as I 
have just said, are on the same isothermal line. 
I am uncertain whether the climate of this neigh- 
bourhood should be classed amongst the constant 
or the variable : for although our temperature is 
generally very steady, yet the diurnal range is 
considerable, and at times very great ; but on 
the whole, I consider it entitled to be called a 
constant climate. We are indebted to the sea- 
breeze — tempering the beat of summer — 
for this equalization ; it would not be 
felt further inland, and there greater 
variations of temperature might be ex- 
pected. The climate of this colony, as well 
as of New South Wales, is salubrious, and very 
favorable to the European constitution ; persons 
particularly who have arrived at, or passed, the 
middle age, in the more inhospitable climate of 
Britain, often have their health and vigour sur- 
prisingly renewed in this genial climate. In- 
stances of persons arriving at great age are 
common, — persons nearly or quite one hundred 
years old being not unfrequently met with, and 
these generally retaining an amount of strength 
and activity to the last. From returns extend- 
ing over many years, of the diseases of troops in 
foreign stations, I find that while the rate of 
mortality in the windward and leeward islands 
has been 93£ per 1000 per annum, and in 
Jamaica 143 per 1000 ; in Australia and the 
Cape of Good Hope the mean annual mortality 
has been at the minimum, or only 15 per 1000. 
On this point Sir George Ballingall says of New 
South Wales, “the climate generally is salu- 
brious, although the heats in summer are ex- 
cessive ; the hottest and most unhealthy months 
are, November, December, January, and Feb- 
ruary ; the mean temperature during these 
months is 80 degrees ; March and April may be 
looked upon as the rainy season/’ The diseases 
occurring in Queensland from atmospheric causes, 
and most commonly noticed, are, ague, continued 
fever, chronic rheumatism, and influenza; the 
first two being caused by the exhalation of veget- 
able miasm, the next by undue exposure to wet 
and night air, the last by some unknown state of 
the atmosphere, producing at first ordinary colds 
which soon become infectious and epidemic. I 
will now make a few remarks on the results noted 
at this station (Brisbane), for a complete year, 
noticing each month, and each season, separately: 
premising, however, that as the observations 
have only been taken for two or three years, the 
results may have to be modified somewhat, after 
the observations have extended over a number of 
years. 
Spring. — This season extends from September 
23rd to December 22nd, In the last month of 
September the increased warmth of the weather 
will already be noticed, the mean maximum shade 
