Western Australia . . . . . . . . . .1 death in 94 21/41
Van Dieman's Land . . . . . . . . . .1 " 65 161/220
Cape of Good Hope . . . . . . . . . .1 " 60 1/3
England . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 " 46 3/5
Mauritius . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 " 44 2/5
The opinions of medical men, published in different reports, a few of which happen now to lie before me, may prove interesting to some readers, and I therefore extract them briefly:—
J. M. Johnson, Esq. M.D. Surgeon of H.M.S. Sulphur:— "During the three years that H.M.S. Sulphur was employed on that station (Western Australia) not a single death, and very few important cases of disease occurred, notwithstanding the very great exposure of her men. When exploring the country for several days, and sometimes weeks, they have been exposed to the sun; fatigued in the evening after a day's excursion, slept in the open air, (and that repeatedly in wet weather,) and suffered no inconvenience. I have no hesitation in stating that such a life in any other climate would have been productive of the most serious sickness."
William Milligen, Esq. M.D. Surgeon 6th Dragoons:— "I have met with several individuals here, who, on leaving England, were great sufferers from dyspepsia, and diseases of the digestive organs, who have recovered their health in a wonderful degree since their arrival. Children thrive remarkably well; and I may add that every description of live stock, although collected from different countries—England, India, America, Africa, etc.—find here a congenial temperature."
Joseph Harris, Esq. Acting Government Surgeon:— "Nothing can be more delightful than the climate generally; and its invigorating influences on the human constitution, especially those of Europeans, render it more fit for invalids than any other in the world. Several persons arrived in the colony suffering from pulmonary and bronchial affections, asthma, phthisis, haemoptysis, or spitting of blood, hopeless of recovery in England, are now perfectly restored, or living in comparative health—measles and small-pox are unknown."
W. H. Sholl, Esq. Government Surgeon, pro tempore:— "From pulmonary complaints we are happily free; and even when these have gone to some length in other countries, removal to this climate has been of the highest possible benefit. Children are exempt from the diseases common to them in England;—small-pox, measles, scarlet-fever, and hooping-cough, are unknown here."
W. P. Dineley, Esq. Surgeon of Fremantle Gaol:— "We have almost a cloudless sky, a clear dry atmosphere, and a climate unsurpassed by any in the world."
Dr. Ferguson, of Australind:— "We have no fevers or epidemics here."
By the Registrar-General's Report for 1843, it appears that the births in Western Australia are about 1 to 24 83/158, which is a very high rate. Those readers who are fond of statistics will be pleased to learn the following rather curious fact:—In the year 1836, males were in respect to females, as about five to three, but during the following seven years, females increased 21 per cent. more than males; and the continued preponderance of female births promises speedily to adjust the balance of the sexes.
The Registrar-General in his Report for 1844, makes the following interesting observations:— "Supposing the whole population of the colony were now grown up and unmarried, out of every 100 males, as many as 67 could find wives.