12 
Introductory Paper . 
not serve, in a great degree, to correct this tendency to 
precocious development, and diminish at least that early 
waste of the constitutional stamina which must always, 
more or less, result from it, and which is calculated to 
have such injurious effects upon the subsequent periods 
of life. 
Climate, in like manner, has an important influence on 
disease. And one of the most interesting and useful 
subjects of inquiry is, the character and amount of change 
which the same disease undergoes iu different countries. 
It seems to be a common opinion among medical men 
in this Colony, that diseases in general arrive sooner at 
their crisis, and run their course more rapidly here, than 
in Europe ; a fact which may in part depend on the same 
causes which account for the rapid growth of the consti¬ 
tution in a state of health. 
But whatever may be thought of the kind or degree 
of modification which the European constitution, either 
in its healthy or diseased state, has already undergone 
in these regions, it cannot be doubted that it is destined 
to assume an ultimate and specific character of its own. 
It may be considered as now in transition from its 
European to its Australasian condition. The final and 
permanent result—which will probably not be realized till 
many generations have passed away—will be determined 
by the joint operation of the qualities of the original 
stock, and the peculiar influences of its new situation. 
Few things seem more desirable, both in a scientific and 
economical point of view, than a faithful record—the 
result of close and accurate observation—of the charac¬ 
teristic facts of this interesting process, as successively 
evolved in the subsequent progress of the Australian 
communities. It might serve at once to illustrate 
important points in the natural history of man, ancl 
furnish useful hints for the practical conduct of life. 
