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196
The records of the 26th (January) give valuable
information of the Tasmanian climate. With a moderate
north wind at 7 a.m. the barometer was 29 .963, the
thermometer 63. At 1 p.m. the wind still north but
very gentle, the barometer had fallen to 29 .812, the
thermometer risen to 94. At 4 p.m. the thermometer
had attained the maximum of 97, when a light south-east
or sea breeze set in, and at sunset the barometer was
29 . 781 and the thermometer 74. Thus in nine hours the
thermometer rose 34 degrees and then fell 23 degrees in
from two to three hours . The barometer fell .151 in the
nine hours and then .059 in the latter period.
Hall considered that these remarkable variations in pressure and
temperature called for special measures , particularly with children.
showed:
The rate of infant mortality was appalling, as Hall's analysis
Of 26 deaths in December , 1857
11 were under 12 months old
7 were from 1 year old to 20.
Of 57 deaths in January , 1858
29 were under 12 months old
10 were from 1 year old to 15.
Of 62 deaths in February, 1858
32 were under 12 months old
14 were between 1 and 2 years old
2 were between 2 years old and 20 .
Of 47 deaths in March , 1858
21 were under 12 months old
12 were between 1 and 2 years of age
,3 were between 2 and 5 years of age
1 was between 5 and 15 years
1 was between 15 and 20 years .
Croup, convulsions , diarrhoea and dysentery were the main causes of death .
In his 11Health Report11 for February, 1858, Hall attempted to explain the
high incidence of death from convulsions .
Seventeen deaths from 'Convulsions' is greater than has
been recorded for any month of the year during the last
seven years . The nearest approach to it was in
January 1857, when there were fourteen . In the 11Report"
read to the Royal Society for that month , I endeavoured
to connect the great fatality from this cause at that
time, with the frequent and wide fluctuations of
atmospheric pressure as indicated by the barometer,
combined with the daily changing state of temperature.
I contended that these united influences were quite
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