86 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
I have many facts to lay hold of. but the great problem 
3 s, to form the most useful combination; for Isolated, they 
are of little value in establishing great truths or general 
laws, as appears from the almost entire failure of the 
ancients in their endeavour to build up a physical science. 
Many have attributed this failure to the want of facts, but 
it has been clearly shown that Aristotle and others had 
such at their disposal, but knew not how to use them. 
That is well illustrated In the case of Archimedes, who, 
until he caught the appropriate idea” of a fluid, failed 
to solve almost any problem in Hydrostatics worthy of 
being recorded. In giving a digest or synopsis, then, of 
the pathological facts already alluded to, I have thought 
it most advisable to put them forth in the shape of statis¬ 
tical reports, and compare these with the various sum¬ 
maries of the vital statistics of troops serving in the United 
Kingdom. Before giving an actual derail of the different 
diseases that manifest themselves, especially among the 
troops, in New South Wales, l shall advert briefly to some 
of the more important physiological phenomena that de- 
Berve consideration. 
I do not know, for certain, what ideas are generally en¬ 
tertained as to the salubrity of this climate. I believe, 
however, that most men in England, as elsewhere, incline 
to the belief that tills is the “finest climate in the 
world." This definition being somewhat vague and ill- 
defined, l scarcely know how much it is meant to c-nvey; 
nor do I know from what source of information this con¬ 
clusion is drawn, seeing that till the past year there never 
has been even the nucleus of a registration. 
No doubt in other parts of the country the climate par¬ 
takes of different characters; hut it has appeared to me 
that it might be important, as well as interesting, to find 
out something of the real truth regarding the salubrity of 
Sydney and the vicinity ; as there is little doubt that, in 
its influence, this might in many cases be looked upon as 
the type of an Australian c'imatc. 
That the mostconflicting opinions regarding the salubrity 
of this climate, are daily given by men, who have had 
ample opportunity of judging on the subject, cannot for 
a moment ,he denied; but surely this ought not to be, 
when it is considered that it would he as wrong to set 
their intelligence lightly aside, as it would be ungenerous 
to question the concientious avowal of their belief. I 
shall endeavour then ,by the aid of vital statistics, to throw 
some light upon the subject, and to reconcile in some 
measure, such glaring discrepancies; for, there can be 
little doubt, that they are the result either of partial obser¬ 
vation and rash generalisation or both. 
Were l to confine myself to the examination of military 
statistics alone (which for reasons stated would appear to bo 
the best test), I could, in a measure, Teadily reconcile the 
paradoxical opinions apparently entertained, for by taking 
the mortality among the troops, as the basis of my reason¬ 
ing, l should arrive at the conclusion, that the salubrity of 
this climate is “ unequalled but by taking the sickness 
instead of the mortality into account, in forming the pre¬ 
mises of the syllogism, I should arrive at a conclusion 
very different. Unfortunately for those who entertain a 
very favourable idea of the salubrity of this country, 
civil statistics will not bear them out in their opinion ; 
and these are necessarily defective in anything corrobora¬ 
tive, or otherwise, of an opposite view of the subject. 
From what has been said of the nature 
of the soil, and the meterological phenomena 
characteristic of tho region, it might occur to many 
that the Omnipotent has placed man in a ruthless 
clime ; but, although in winter there are many days 
pleasant enough, I have positively drawn no exag¬ 
erated picture, in alluding to its rapid and incessant 
changes; and, therefore, as I can ill call this a 
genial climate, my description must remain as it is. 
From tho deration of tho land, the soil being more 
or less destitude of vegetation, in many cases—the 
sky oloudless, and scarcely a trace of moisture 
in the atmosphere, the rays of light and heat being 
unimpeded in their course,—fall with great intensity 
on the earth ; the more apparent results of these 
would appear to be, that the insensible perspiration 
becomes insufficient to keep the skin moist,and by its 
evaporation to keep the surf ice of the body suffici¬ 
ent 1 y cool; for these among other reasons, the 
culaneous glands, as well as other sebaceous follicles, 
are calledinto more active operation, as is frequently 
evinced by the unctuous feel of the skin. No doubt 
this determination to the surface, assists materially 
in respiration, as well as in the elimination of 
excrementitious suhstances from the blood; these 
offices, being in other cases, in a greater degree, 
consigned to some one or other of the internal 
gland*. Were this state of things to continue, 
Ft might naturally be expected, that the constitution 
of the European would speedily adapt itself to the 
climate; but as has been seen, New South Wales is 
subject to rapid climatic changes, so that instead of 
the intense heat and dryness of the atmosphere 
which generally continues during the day, especially 
in summer, there sets in after sunset a breeze from 
the south, often saturated with moisture, and loit¬ 
ering tho temperature of tho air several degrees. 
Here then tho skin, in a great measure, ceases to 
act; the atmosphere being devoid of “thirstiness,’’ 
and the oleaginous substances secreted by the 
follicles becoming congealed, the surface of the 
body, especially tho parts exposed, becomes, as it 
were hermetically sealed. Under these circum¬ 
stances a tendency to congestion and even iuflima- 
tion of the internal organs might reasonably be 
looked for; but it is found in almost all cases, that 
different degrees of mucous intumescences appears 
to bo the only result, this determination to the 
mucous surface takes place generally, no matter 
what the difference of structure may be, and con¬ 
sequently the internal vital organs arc naturally left 
little if at all affected: this will become more ap¬ 
parent as I proceed. 
That some of the most important parts played by 
this climate, properly so called, in relation both to 
health and disease, have hitherto been overlooked, 
there cannot bo a doubt; for to such as hold the ideas 
generally entertained regarding its salubrity, the 
vital statistics of the country, military sswellas 
civil, must be litle less than an enigma. With facts 
staring them in tho face, such as revealed by the 
statistical summaries of the Registrar ' oncral of 
New South Wales, I can scarcely conceive how men 
hold fast the opinion entertained as to its great 
salubrity; while the samo facts ought toconiince 
others, that Now Sonth Wales is by no means to be 
included in the category of pestil ntial climates. 
From tho able report of the Registrar General, 
on tho “ Sanitary condition of Sydney,” read before 
tho Philosophical Society of Now South Wales, ia 
June last, I take the following extract, which may 
be looked upon as the nearest approximation to the 
truth, 
“ 1 fear,” ho says. “ it is impossible to escape the 
conclusion that the great sacrifice of life, whether 
infantine or adult, which is exhibited in the tables 
placed before you, is the result of a sinful degree 
of neglect and recklessness, which calls for the most 
earnest consideration on the part of those to whose 
hands are entrusted the education, the moral train¬ 
ing, and the government of the people." 
“ I commenced this paper by deprecating the de¬ 
duction of hasty influences, from the facts recorded 
in the course of a single year’s registration; thecon- 
olusion they forco upon us, is not favourable either 
in a social "or sanitary point of view, and it will be 
well to wait tho result of further investigation, before 
we attribute arbitrarily to any one cause, an evil 
which may have its origin in many, and may be 
found evanescent." 
Now no ono can be blind to the fact, that intem¬ 
perance docs prevail to an alarming extent among 
the civil population of Sydney, and of Australia 
generally, and that it materially assists directly or 
indirectly in producing the great sacrifice of life 
complained of; but the truth would appear to be 
that the surplus mortality among the civil popula 
