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XXVI.—On the Epidemics of 1852-8. By B.S. P. 
Beprorp, Lsq., F.R.C.S. London. [Read 4th Decem- 
ber, 1858.] 
THE poison of Scarlet Fever was brought to this colony 
from Sydney in 1842, and since that period this disease has 
more or less prevailed. ‘The two epidemics which caused 
so many deaths took place in 1852-8. It should be borne 
in mind, that scarlet fever does not arise from poverty of 
living, like typhus fever ; nor from ill-drained dwellings and 
filth, as common fever does—it requires its peculiar germ, or 
poison, whatever that may be: but while this is the case 
— it must not be forgotten that the disease is made to spread, 
and its severity influenced by all those circumstances which 
impair general health, and that no causes operate more 
strongly upon it than the epidemic character of the season 
and the condition of the individual in relation to the poison. 
The present epidemic followed a period of unusual sick- 
ness; many had been suffering from influenza, and the epi- 
demic condition of the atmosphere not only affected men, 
but the lower animals also. At the time that many aged 
and sickly persons died from influenza, and the dogs were 
dying by dozens in the streets of distemper, the epidemic 
influence thus affecting both man and animals was not con- 
fined to this island, but New South Wales and Victoria also 
felt its effects. 
We this year experienced the severest visitation of scarlet 
feyer before the other colonies. On Jooking at the Return, 
it will be seen how much greater the number of deaths from 
epidemic causes was in 1852 and 8 than in 1842 and 3. 
