MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
87 
tion, arises not wholly from a moral perversion over 
which we have control, but in great part, either 
directly or indirectly from physiological changes, | 
induced, through the influence of an Australian 
climate, in the constitution of tho Western Euro¬ 
pean. 
From various physiological as well as pathological 
considerations that will bo given.it would appear that, 
through the influence of this climate, the tone of 
the system is lowered; and consequently tho 
“viability" ofhoth soldier and civilian is sensibly 
below par; and it would further appear that this 
circumstance alone, in conjunction with the fitful 
nature of the climate will account for many of the 
apparent anomalies, in connection with vital statis¬ 
tics, especially tho alarmiDg mortality among in¬ 
fants. 
In giving the reasons that have led me to these 
conclusions, I begin with physiology, by tracing 
the more apparent changes that tho system un¬ 
dergoes, when subjected for any length of time, 
to the influence of this climate. 
From the nature of the Regulations of the Ser¬ 
vice, it is known, that in every caso the 
soldier leaves tho United Kingdom in perfect health; 
and ho generally disembarks iiere with buoyancy of 
spirit, and a full share of health and strength. When 
he appears on parade side by side with men who 
have served some years in the place, his fresli com¬ 
plexion, rosy cheek, (arising from the blood being 
well supplied with corpuscles, as seen in tho meshes 
of capillaries that come to the surface), and his 
general plump and elastic appearance, (arisingfrom 
a moderate deposition of adipose tissue), in many 
cases contrast strongly with the altered appearance 
of his comrade; whoro the harsh complexiou (arising 
from the structural changes in the skin, tho ndepose 
tissue underneath being at a discount, especially 
about the buccinator muscle), tho greyish colour of 
the face, and in summer the shrivelled and unctu¬ 
ous appearance of the skin, are all more or less 
remarkable. The dawn of change in tho new arrival 
is indicated at first by an almost inappreciable 
languor and depression of spirits, whan he feels 
little inclined for any exertion. This is followed by 
physiological changes which canDot fail to striko 
the observer, there is a gradual waning of the face, 
in many cases a slow but steady absorption of the 
adepose tissue, especially' in summer, when thirst, 
a feeling of weakness, and a tendency to partake 
more freely of alcoholic stimulants, insidiously over¬ 
take him, this goes on for twelve or eighteen 
months, or more, when the late arrival cannot be 
recognised in the ranks. "What has been said of 
the soldier holds good with regard to the 
civilian, as seen in the different drafts of immi¬ 
grants that from time to time arrive in the country. 
Some interesting physiological changes manifest 
themselves among the men undergoing punishment 
in the military prison. This being under the 
surveillianco of an officer in charge, under whose 
able superintendence, with the bygemio measures 
adopted in the prison itself, the inmates have 
suffered exceedingly little from actual disease, as 
will be soen on reference to tables in the statistical 
report, but the remarkably few instances of men 
gaining weight, and the high average of weight lost 
during the term of imprisonment is very singular. 
This is tho more remarkablo as the men are 
similarly circumstanced in every way to prisoners 
undergoing punishment in England. The circum¬ 
stance may depend for its existence more or less 
upon a combination of causes, but the most essential, 
no doubt, is the depressing effect of the climate. 
We have already said that adipose tissue is at a 
discount among tho soldiers in this country; but 
there arc cases where from the habit of indulging 
freely in the use of alcoholic stimulant, men on ad¬ 
mission into the prison, present a somewhat inflated 
and corpulent appearance, and the entire with¬ 
drawal of their accustomed stimulant may be suffi¬ 
cient to cause a great diminution of weight, but 
such cases are extremely rare. The extraordinary 
diminution of weight in tho other eases that rarely 
present a moderate deposit of fatty tissue, must 
be accounted for, not from any defect" in prison diet 
or diselipiric. as they are strictly in accordance with 
the best regulations for military prisons in England, 
hut from tho absence of any excitant or stimulant 
cither mental or physical that would raise the vital 
powers to something like their original tone ; a 
question here arises whether it might not bo advisa¬ 
ble to increase their rations, as the daily quantity 
of food consumed in this country appears" in many 
I cases to be greater than that consumed in England, 
| but this can only bo determined by experiment, as 
in many of those oases where the consumption of 
food is remarkable, there is no increase of tissue, 
hut the surplus quantity is carried off by excre- 
mentition. 
It might be argued that the mode of life of the 
soldier has more to do with inducing the changes 
we have spoken of, than any peculiarity of the cli¬ 
mate ; but by going beyond the confines of tho 
garrison, examples are found corroborative of what 
has been stated. 
The well marked though slight nncemic appearance 
of the female is never to he mistaken ; in most cases, 
the pule face of various shades of colour ; the 
harshness of the complexion, especially after the ex¬ 
piration of youth ; tho relaxed fibre, and in the white 
native born, the decadence of the teeth, and the 
frequent absenoe of any development in the mam¬ 
mary gland, until the period of impregnation of the 
ovum, when other parts of the system suffer, are all 
features characteristic of the "Australian female ; 
affording incontestibie evidence that in this country 
the various functions are performed with less vigour 
than in the olimatc of Western Eorope. 
Another remarkable feature, in a physiological 
point of view, is premature age : tho soldier of 28 
who has served any length of time in the colony, 
might readily be mistaken for the English soldier 
of 35; the soldier of 34, in this country, for the 
soldier in England of 40 ; this is also seen in the 
caso of tlie civilians, who at the age of 40, in this 
country, might, in many cases, be mistaken for the 
English civilian of 48 or 49, and in more oases than 
one, the civilian ofoO appears more like tho English 
civilian of 00. This is equally remarkable in the 
female, especially the white native born, who arrives 
at puberty somewhat earlier here than in England, 
from 16 to 18 she appears tolerably full of health 
and vigour, with a fair complexion ; but she rarely 
passes the age of 20 before there is a rapid falling 
off; she qnickly looses flesh, tho complexion, becomes 
harsh, the arms flaccid, and she soon presents the 
anmmio appearance we have described. 
There are at present no means of arriving at a 
very correct conclusion as to longevity, although 
there are occasionally seen a few isolated cases of 
old age, yet it would appear from a statistical table 
kindly furnished to me by the Registrar General, 
that at about the age of 60 the flame of life in this 
country is all but extinguished. Other circum¬ 
stances connected with the subject might be men¬ 
tioned, but I shall conclude the physiological 
considerations, by remarking, that a phenomena 
connected with sleep, would appear to strengthen 
the opinion as to the diminished energy of the vital 
powers. The various functions of the body may be 
looked upon as the result of three kinds of action- 
physical, phvsico-vitai, and purely vital,—digestion 
partakes of the three—the mere act of deglutition is 
physical, secretion and absorption, are pbysieo-vitai; 
and nutrition is purely vital. Tho first two we have 
more or less diiect control over, as we can modify 
their action by the various forms of stimulants 
