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The annual average of deaths from all causes in the Hob arton
registration district in the five years ending 1857-1861 was
602 3 / 5 , Nhich gives a death rate of about 24 per 1000 per annum
- the population in 1861 \'las 24,773. Contrasted with the rural
death rate of 12 per 1000 , there is an enormous disparity, which
cannot be attributed to any other causes than those· whi ch
produce similar results in the cities of the Old World, viz., the
neglect of sanitary measures . No city could have a more healthy
and more advantageous site than Hobarton , but defective water
supply, inefficient sewerage, cesspools, internment of the dead
in the midst of the living, great disregard of ventilation, etc. ,
existed during the period under review , and still exist, although
I trust it will be but for a short time longer. In a few weeks ,
a \'later supply of incomparab le purity wi 11 be in full operation.
Measures have been also initiated for a thorough system of
sewerage. Other sanitar y defects , it is to be hoped, will be
reformed sooner or later. 2 2
In its review on July 25, 1863, the British Medical Journal
considered that the paper reflected the highest credit on Hal l's
professional zeal and intelligence.
However, The British and Foreign
Medico-Chirurgical Review , whi lst it agreed the article was well written,
\>las not altogether satisfied that the high incidence of diseases of the
nervous and circulating systems , higher than in Britain , was due to the
sudden and great changes of temperature to which the climate was subject,
as he suggested. 23
Hall described the Society's reaction to his paper
in a letter to the Colonial Secretary, J. Whyte, on July 9, 1863 .
I had a special note of thanks from the Epidemiological Society
of London , which has elected me an Honorary Corresponding Member.
In the discussion that ensued when Dr Milroy read my communication,
my sanitary labours \ere highly eulogized by the most eminent men
of the day in this department of medical science . Especially may
I refer to that of Dr Farr, the head of the Vital Department of
the Registry of Eng land and Wales , being the first authority in
the world on everything that related to Pub lic Health. 24
By early 1863 Hall's credibility was assured , yet success had
not been won without personal suffering ;
certainly he would have been
less than human if the long struggle and bitter opposition had not
distressed him.
Especially, he found it difficult to forgive the
Indian Sanitarium Commissioners whose unworthy report had thrown such a
poor light on Tasmania overseas.
Therefore, when he received a copy of
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E. S. Hal l, "On the Epidemic Diseases of Tasmania'1, Trans . Epi d. Soc .
London, 1867, Vol . 2, pp. 69-87.
The British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review , Jan-April 1866 ,
Vol . 37, p. 246 .
CSD 4/44/B602 .
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