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198
unobtrusively, he investigated the diet scales of children in orphanages
in Britain and Europe. 2
On March 26 , 1858, the Daily News pub lished "Some Statistical
Facts of 1857" which Hall had extracted from an article he had prepared
for pub lication in one of the European scientific journals (probably the
Journal of the Statistical Society of London) .
For anyone interested in
the statistics of Tasmania in 185 7, there were many fascinating "facts11 ,
unfortunately far too umerous to elaborate here .
As Hall was chiefly
concerned with the death rate in Hobarton, his comment on that subject
was significant.
The deaths of 1857 amounted to 1,432 in the whole population
(of Tasmania) , or one death to 56.90 individuals, or only a
trifle more than 17 1 / 2 per thousand, which is more than
five per thousand less than that for all England. Further,
the deaths for all the rural portions of the island,
exclusive of the city of Hobart Town and the town of
Launceston was only one in 78.47 inhabitants , o 13 per
thousand. The rate for the rural population of England
and Wales is 17 per thousand. On the other hand, the
Hobart City deaths were 29 1 / 2 per thousand, or, one death
to 33 .96 inhabitants , which is 7 1 / 2 per thousand more
than Dr Letheby, the Health Officer of London, gives for
the last year 's city mortality, and 4 1 ; 2 per thousand more
than the average mortality of the whole Metropolis of
England for 15 years, according to the calculation of
Professor Guy of King 's College. Hobart City mortality
is also 4 1 /2 per thousand higher than that of Sydney was
for the year ending 1st March 1857, as it is given by the
Registrar-General of New South Wales . Of the 1,432 total
deaths of 1857
343 were under 1 year old.
78 were between 1 and 2.
42 were between 2 and 3.
20 were between 3 and 4.
9 were between 4 and 5.
37 were between 5 and 10.
18 were between 10 and 15 .
24 were between 15 and 20 .
making a total number, under 20 years of age , of 571, a
sadly disproportionate number .
The rate of mortality amongst convicts , Hal l found , had not materially
differed for many years and was much less - about 11 per thous and - than
ruled amongst the free population of the same ages -
a convincing proof of the efficacy of sanitary care, in
promoting health and longevity.
(_
2
Daily News , February 9, 1858 .
.',... .