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THE CLIMATE OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND AS A RESORT FOR INVALIDS FROM INDIA.
309
well, a solution of tinc- prove the condition of his frame. But this in the proportion of two boon can} be enjoyed but by few. Debts, drachms to six of water, of the ordinary and deprivation of allowances on going beyond the. Cape, too frequently obstruct his temperature, I have never nor need there, perhaps, be any change, way, and he must, therefore, look to some even when Europeans are the subjects of spot by which he may escape sacrifices of operation. In the case of a few robust Maho- such magnitude." This subject has, accordingly, been taken medans, who use animal food, but one common urethra-syringe full was injected, and up by Mr. Dempster, in a paper published that quantity may be found sufficient in the in the seventh volume of the " Transactions cases of most Europeans. of the Medical Society of Calcutta," in " The effects of the iodine solution seem he which professes to give an account of the to be immediate, the inflammation arriving climate of Van Diemen’s Land as a resort at its height in about twenty-four hours, for invalids from India, and to indicate the and after that subsiding rapidly. In only class of individuals who may expect to betwo instances has bleeding by leeches been nefit by a temporary residence in that colony. found necessary. Poultices, cold lotions, He introduces the subject by a short account and purgatives, have generally constituted of the country in the vicinity of Hobart the treatment ; and even these have not Town, of which alone he can speak. It is been had recourse to in a large proportion one vast forest. Steep hills, covered to the of cases. summit with trees, rise in succession as far 11 Twelve cases of double hydrocele, the eye can reach, leaving little level treated oit both sides at once, recovered with ground between. A stranger, who has heard of the rapid quite as much ease and expedition, as the single cases. In one of these cases a much progress of the colony, may expect to see larger quantity than had before been tried extensive tracts of cultivated ground. Nowas injected with safety; but if there be thing can be more opposite to the actual any superiority iu the iodine injection, as scene he views on sailing up the Derwent. used by me, it consists in the srnullness of quantity of land that has already been tlte quantity used, certd its being retained ;for subjected to the plough, appears utterly inin the hands of the best surgeons, infiltrawhen contrasted with the vast tion may and does very frequently happen forest, which will probably with the port wine solution, owing, as I never be entirely subject to the dominion of conceive, to the cremaster muscle, excited man. Perhaps in no country of equal exby pain, drawing the cavity of the sac off tent, within the temperate zone, does the the end of the canula. culturable land bear so small a proportion ’’The only caution that appears to me to to that which is barren and uufit for the necessary in the performance of the injec- plough, and the new colonist finds the greattion with iodine, is to see that the est di1Iiculty in selecting an eligible spot to is in good order, that the piston fits well ; settle on. otherwise air will be injected, and the opeIn the autumn the mean temperature is rator deceiBed as to the quantity of fluid i about 65 degrees, and the air is, in general, usecl." i clear and bracing, and the whole season I would be esteemed temperate and agreeable in any part of the world. The winter months are our June, July, and August ; this is the rainy season, but there are conTHE CLIMATE OF siderable intervals of dry weather. The VAN DIEMEN’S LAND average temperature is about 44 degrees. During the winter months a dense fog often AS A RESORT FOR collects towards evening, over the course of INVALIDS FROM INDIA. rivers, and the narrow valleys between the hills. They continue until in the early part " To what vicissitudes is a British onicer of the morning they are dispersed by a in India exposed ! Suddenly subjected to breeze. " This formed," says Mr. Dempexcessive heat, undergoing often extraordi- ster, " my only objection to the beautiful nary fatigue and privation, the whole frame village of New Norfolk,t where I resided, becomes the victim of disease. Liable to its situation rendering it peculiarly liable to be called in a moment from a healthy can- those fogs in winter." Hobart Town does tonment in Bengal to the foot of the Himal- not sufl’erfroii this annoyance. The .winter ayah, or the swamps of Arracan, many are is generally considered the most pleasant obliged to quit the lield of professional doty season of the year; and, indeed, nothing and seek relief in a more congenial climate, can be conceived more than a. - naturally that in which they were born. fine winter’s day in Van Diemen’s Land. The length of the sea voyage, and the prost Twenty-two miles from Hobart Town, on the pect of returning to relations, would cheer Derwent, at the extremity of its navigable par. the spirits of the valetudinarian, and im. tion.
uded,to
answer so
ture of
iodine,
altered them ;
as
The
significant
surrounding
be
syriuge ;
i
.
delightful
310
September, October, and November, form i fatigue. Such a person may suddenly the spring. The mean temperature of this ! plunge into cold water, not only with safety, season is from 50 to 60 denrees. Much of but with advantage :—he will rise from his the weather is delightful, but there are freinvigorated and refreshed. But should quent vicissitudes; not so frequent as in the Be continue his exercise so long as to induce and profuse perspiration, and spring of England, but their range is greater. The summer months are Decem- then use the cold bath, he will expose himber, January, and February. It is difficult self to imminent danger. In Van Diemen’s the healthy inhabitant is occasionally to give a correct idea of the summer of Van Dicmen’s Land, the mean temperature ofsubjected to a high temperature for a few which is below 70 degrees, and yet the ther-i hours ; true, he is incommoded, but neither mometer occasionally ranges as high as 100 exhausted nor debilitated. He is then sudto 110 degrees. denly plunged into cold air; the effect is tonic and invigorating." In the forenoon the sun is generally erful, but every shade forms a cool retreat. The conclusions to which Mr. Dempster Before noon the sea breeze sets in, and with arrives are,-" That the climate of Van it comes an extensive fall of temperature. Diemen’s Land is, on the whole, agreeable All may now go abroad without inconveni- to the feelings, and conducive to the health, of Europeans. Their appearance is emience, for the remainder of the day. evening is generally so cool as to make a nently liale and robust, and th,e beauty of fire pleasant, and blankets at night can sel- the children, and rosy complexions of the dom be dispensed with ; such is the ordi- women, are most striking to the eye of the nary summer weather. The change which Indian visitor."
bath
exhaustion Land
pow-
The
‘
J
Mr. Dempster coincides with others in succeeds the heats is often most remarkable. All are oppressed with the sultry atmo-. believing that the climate of Australia has the effect of "Distinctly modifying the sphere; suddenly the wind shifts, a shower falls, and the inhabitants are in- human race, even in the first generation. without exception, the children of stantly transported, as it were, to another climate. Fires are lit, great coats huddled visitors have fair hair and blue eyes; they un, and all are moving about to keep themup tall, and thin, and soon arrive at selves warm. " I used," says Mr. Der- puberty; in character they are energetic, went, " to be much puzzled how to clotheintelligent, and courageous, and believe myself at this season : warm clothing wasthemselves to be a great improvement on the oppressiveduring the forenoon ; but if I ! parent stock." ventured any distance from home thinly During Mr. Dempster’s residence at New clad, I was sure to return pinched and be- Norfolk he had an opportunity of seeing all numbed with cold. Some of the oldest the interesting cases of disease which ocresidents never put off their warm clothing, curred in that district; he visited daily the at any period of the year." Colonial Invalid Hospital, containing oil an Mr. Dempster then notices the question, average one hundred and twenty patients. other statements is the following Whether vicissitudes which are sudden and great in these latitudes are deleterious or curious one:—" Acute inflammation of the not ?-" Small and frequent diurnal lungs is of frequent occurrence, and if not as take place in England," he treated in the most active manner, proceeds tudes, such a fatal termination. I witnessed observes, " seem to produce little injurious rapidly tocases of consumption. I believe effect; but a sudden accession of cold, occurring after a long period of hot weather, I that the climate is extremely injurious to is universally admitted to be highly danger-! persons predisposed to hagmoptysis; and In Van Diemen’s Land the alterna- that it excites to fatal activity incipient ous. tions of temperature correspond with neither ! tubercles in the lungs. I was informed by of the above cases. In summer there is a medical gentleman long resident in the generally a single diurnal change. Some- island, that no person born and brought up in the colony had died of consumption ; but times the heat is excessive, but it continues above a .few hours, and is inva- that a few children, who were sent to Engriably followed by a great and sudden fall land for education, had been carried oft’ by of temperature. It is a common opinion in this disease on their return." During the Van Diemen’s Land, that these vicissitudes winter of 1833, Mr. Dempster saw a private are positively salutary. That a sudden fall of the 63rd regiment, who was labouring of the thermometer must be injurious to under a severe attack of scarlatina, the first many morbid conditions of body, cannot be instance of the disease ever known in the doubted ; but universal experience seems to island. Syphilis in all its forms is now prove, that to the great mass of the inhabi- common enough. Intermittents and remittants these changes are at least iunoxious. tents are almost unknown. The cause of this may be thus illustrated :In conclusion, he gives the opinion which Suppose a healthy individual to have the he formed on the change- that the Indian temperature of his body raised to its highest may anticipate on going to Van Diemen’s Our experience of the effects of standard, but without having
smart
Almost
grow I
Among
"
vicissi-
several
seldom
producedLand:--«
MARKING INK.—PREPARATIONS.—MEDICAL REFORM.
the climate," he says, "its effects on in- I valids from this country, is yet limited. That experience, however, so far as it goes, is eminently favourable ; and I think we may safely conclude that, with a very few exceptions, all invalids for whom a change
I
311
THE LANCET.
of climate is deemed necessary, may hope to derive the fullest benefit of such change London, Saturday, May 20th, 1837. by a temporary residence in Van Diemen’s’ Land. Every one of whose case I could obtain an account, had experienced great WITHIN the last few months rumours benefit, with the exception of a few persons, who arrived in the colony, either labouring have been extensively and industriously under, or having a strong predisposition to, thoracic disease. But several, who in the circulated, to the effect that no legislative end afforded the most triumphant proofs of enactment was to arise out of the evidence the unaided effects of the climate, did not which had’been elicited before the Parliaimprove until tiey had resided many months i The corrupon the island.. mentary Medical Committee. " Van Diemen’s Land has also this advan- tionists have so often this staterepeated tage over all the- other places in the Indian to believe that their that they appear seas, usually resorted to by invalids. The ment, and customsmanners own falsehoods them the with towns, inhabitants! carry weight all are English : everything tropical is for- and substance of truth. In self-cajolement gotten ; old recollections are renewed ; and morbid habits are broken. The advantage these unfortunate and exposed personages of such moral remedies every physician have laboured with singular assiduity and will appreciate. I cannot doubt, that if all but we question if they have dethe sick of the European regiments were success; sent to one sanatarium at Hobart Town, a ceived any persons but themselves. Anxivast number of men would be yearly saved, ous to avert the fatal calamities which who are now lost either by death, or b being sent home as unfit for longer service threaten the whole system of medical monoin India. poly and misrule, the corruptionists natu11 I am unable to add any satisfactory directed their hopes to events, the posaccount of the climate of New South Wales." rally sible occurrence of which afforded them OBLITERATION OF MARKING-INK.—To the some chance of escaping from the punishEditor of THE LANCET.—SIR :—It having ment which their mal-practices had so long been suggested to me, by Mr. Francis, of rendered due. On observing the voluminBrighton, that marking-ink may be removed from linen by a preparation of ammonia, I ous reports of evidence which had been have made some experiments on the subject, and the result warrants my asserting that it printed, and knowing that others were to may be entirely obliterated by means of the issue from the same press,—guessing, withliq. ammonia,fortissime. Should you think out any remarkable degree of shrewdness, that this fact is worthy of publication, you are perfectly at liberty to insert it in your that the labours of the chairman of that valuable Journal. I am, Sir, your obedient committee were of no ordinary difficulty, servant, EDWARD BENTLEY, Cross-street, and that his position had become somewhat Islington, May 9. embarrassed by the destruction of mapy of PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.- the papers when the Houses of Parliament M. Gannal, of Paris, has discovered that were consumed by fire, the corruptionists, the substance most efficacious for preserving dead bodies is the acetate of alumina, with in their stupidly misplaced confidence, were which a dead body may be preserved for a led to believe that the work of medical relong time as effectually as if embalmed, and form would only proceed bit by bit, in slips at a very trifling expense. The aluminous fluid may be introduced by the carotid of unseemly patch-work, and that all the artery, and any dessication produced may and medical corporations would be counteracted by a layer ofivariiisli. The colleges from that general crash which the preservation of specimens of natural history escape for museums may be henceforth effected establishment of a sound and enlightened with a great saving of labour and cost, and the study of anatomy may be pursued with system of policy would inevitably producecomfort at all seasons of the year. The long intervals which had elapsed be.
well, a solution of tinc- prove the condition of his frame. But this in the proportion of two boon can} be enjoyed but by few. Debts, drachms to six of water, of the ordinary and deprivation of allowances on going beyond the. Cape, too frequently obstruct his temperature, I have never nor need there, perhaps, be any change, way, and he must, therefore, look to some even when Europeans are the subjects of spot by which he may escape sacrifices of operation. In the case of a few robust Maho- such magnitude." This subject has, accordingly, been taken medans, who use animal food, but one common urethra-syringe full was injected, and up by Mr. Dempster, in a paper published that quantity may be found sufficient in the in the seventh volume of the " Transactions cases of most Europeans. of the Medical Society of Calcutta," in " The effects of the iodine solution seem he which professes to give an account of the to be immediate, the inflammation arriving climate of Van Diemen’s Land as a resort at its height in about twenty-four hours, for invalids from India, and to indicate the and after that subsiding rapidly. In only class of individuals who may expect to betwo instances has bleeding by leeches been nefit by a temporary residence in that colony. found necessary. Poultices, cold lotions, He introduces the subject by a short account and purgatives, have generally constituted of the country in the vicinity of Hobart the treatment ; and even these have not Town, of which alone he can speak. It is been had recourse to in a large proportion one vast forest. Steep hills, covered to the of cases. summit with trees, rise in succession as far 11 Twelve cases of double hydrocele, the eye can reach, leaving little level treated oit both sides at once, recovered with ground between. A stranger, who has heard of the rapid quite as much ease and expedition, as the single cases. In one of these cases a much progress of the colony, may expect to see larger quantity than had before been tried extensive tracts of cultivated ground. Nowas injected with safety; but if there be thing can be more opposite to the actual any superiority iu the iodine injection, as scene he views on sailing up the Derwent. used by me, it consists in the srnullness of quantity of land that has already been tlte quantity used, certd its being retained ;for subjected to the plough, appears utterly inin the hands of the best surgeons, infiltrawhen contrasted with the vast tion may and does very frequently happen forest, which will probably with the port wine solution, owing, as I never be entirely subject to the dominion of conceive, to the cremaster muscle, excited man. Perhaps in no country of equal exby pain, drawing the cavity of the sac off tent, within the temperate zone, does the the end of the canula. culturable land bear so small a proportion ’’The only caution that appears to me to to that which is barren and uufit for the necessary in the performance of the injec- plough, and the new colonist finds the greattion with iodine, is to see that the est di1Iiculty in selecting an eligible spot to is in good order, that the piston fits well ; settle on. otherwise air will be injected, and the opeIn the autumn the mean temperature is rator deceiBed as to the quantity of fluid i about 65 degrees, and the air is, in general, usecl." i clear and bracing, and the whole season I would be esteemed temperate and agreeable in any part of the world. The winter months are our June, July, and August ; this is the rainy season, but there are conTHE CLIMATE OF siderable intervals of dry weather. The VAN DIEMEN’S LAND average temperature is about 44 degrees. During the winter months a dense fog often AS A RESORT FOR collects towards evening, over the course of INVALIDS FROM INDIA. rivers, and the narrow valleys between the hills. They continue until in the early part " To what vicissitudes is a British onicer of the morning they are dispersed by a in India exposed ! Suddenly subjected to breeze. " This formed," says Mr. Dempexcessive heat, undergoing often extraordi- ster, " my only objection to the beautiful nary fatigue and privation, the whole frame village of New Norfolk,t where I resided, becomes the victim of disease. Liable to its situation rendering it peculiarly liable to be called in a moment from a healthy can- those fogs in winter." Hobart Town does tonment in Bengal to the foot of the Himal- not sufl’erfroii this annoyance. The .winter ayah, or the swamps of Arracan, many are is generally considered the most pleasant obliged to quit the lield of professional doty season of the year; and, indeed, nothing and seek relief in a more congenial climate, can be conceived more than a. - naturally that in which they were born. fine winter’s day in Van Diemen’s Land. The length of the sea voyage, and the prost Twenty-two miles from Hobart Town, on the pect of returning to relations, would cheer Derwent, at the extremity of its navigable par. the spirits of the valetudinarian, and im. tion.
uded,to
answer so
ture of
iodine,
altered them ;
as
The
significant
surrounding
be
syriuge ;
i
.
delightful
310
September, October, and November, form i fatigue. Such a person may suddenly the spring. The mean temperature of this ! plunge into cold water, not only with safety, season is from 50 to 60 denrees. Much of but with advantage :—he will rise from his the weather is delightful, but there are freinvigorated and refreshed. But should quent vicissitudes; not so frequent as in the Be continue his exercise so long as to induce and profuse perspiration, and spring of England, but their range is greater. The summer months are Decem- then use the cold bath, he will expose himber, January, and February. It is difficult self to imminent danger. In Van Diemen’s the healthy inhabitant is occasionally to give a correct idea of the summer of Van Dicmen’s Land, the mean temperature ofsubjected to a high temperature for a few which is below 70 degrees, and yet the ther-i hours ; true, he is incommoded, but neither mometer occasionally ranges as high as 100 exhausted nor debilitated. He is then sudto 110 degrees. denly plunged into cold air; the effect is tonic and invigorating." In the forenoon the sun is generally erful, but every shade forms a cool retreat. The conclusions to which Mr. Dempster Before noon the sea breeze sets in, and with arrives are,-" That the climate of Van it comes an extensive fall of temperature. Diemen’s Land is, on the whole, agreeable All may now go abroad without inconveni- to the feelings, and conducive to the health, of Europeans. Their appearance is emience, for the remainder of the day. evening is generally so cool as to make a nently liale and robust, and th,e beauty of fire pleasant, and blankets at night can sel- the children, and rosy complexions of the dom be dispensed with ; such is the ordi- women, are most striking to the eye of the nary summer weather. The change which Indian visitor."
bath
exhaustion Land
pow-
The
‘
J
Mr. Dempster coincides with others in succeeds the heats is often most remarkable. All are oppressed with the sultry atmo-. believing that the climate of Australia has the effect of "Distinctly modifying the sphere; suddenly the wind shifts, a shower falls, and the inhabitants are in- human race, even in the first generation. without exception, the children of stantly transported, as it were, to another climate. Fires are lit, great coats huddled visitors have fair hair and blue eyes; they un, and all are moving about to keep themup tall, and thin, and soon arrive at selves warm. " I used," says Mr. Der- puberty; in character they are energetic, went, " to be much puzzled how to clotheintelligent, and courageous, and believe myself at this season : warm clothing wasthemselves to be a great improvement on the oppressiveduring the forenoon ; but if I ! parent stock." ventured any distance from home thinly During Mr. Dempster’s residence at New clad, I was sure to return pinched and be- Norfolk he had an opportunity of seeing all numbed with cold. Some of the oldest the interesting cases of disease which ocresidents never put off their warm clothing, curred in that district; he visited daily the at any period of the year." Colonial Invalid Hospital, containing oil an Mr. Dempster then notices the question, average one hundred and twenty patients. other statements is the following Whether vicissitudes which are sudden and great in these latitudes are deleterious or curious one:—" Acute inflammation of the not ?-" Small and frequent diurnal lungs is of frequent occurrence, and if not as take place in England," he treated in the most active manner, proceeds tudes, such a fatal termination. I witnessed observes, " seem to produce little injurious rapidly tocases of consumption. I believe effect; but a sudden accession of cold, occurring after a long period of hot weather, I that the climate is extremely injurious to is universally admitted to be highly danger-! persons predisposed to hagmoptysis; and In Van Diemen’s Land the alterna- that it excites to fatal activity incipient ous. tions of temperature correspond with neither ! tubercles in the lungs. I was informed by of the above cases. In summer there is a medical gentleman long resident in the generally a single diurnal change. Some- island, that no person born and brought up in the colony had died of consumption ; but times the heat is excessive, but it continues above a .few hours, and is inva- that a few children, who were sent to Engriably followed by a great and sudden fall land for education, had been carried oft’ by of temperature. It is a common opinion in this disease on their return." During the Van Diemen’s Land, that these vicissitudes winter of 1833, Mr. Dempster saw a private are positively salutary. That a sudden fall of the 63rd regiment, who was labouring of the thermometer must be injurious to under a severe attack of scarlatina, the first many morbid conditions of body, cannot be instance of the disease ever known in the doubted ; but universal experience seems to island. Syphilis in all its forms is now prove, that to the great mass of the inhabi- common enough. Intermittents and remittants these changes are at least iunoxious. tents are almost unknown. The cause of this may be thus illustrated :In conclusion, he gives the opinion which Suppose a healthy individual to have the he formed on the change- that the Indian temperature of his body raised to its highest may anticipate on going to Van Diemen’s Our experience of the effects of standard, but without having
smart
Almost
grow I
Among
"
vicissi-
several
seldom
producedLand:--«
MARKING INK.—PREPARATIONS.—MEDICAL REFORM.
the climate," he says, "its effects on in- I valids from this country, is yet limited. That experience, however, so far as it goes, is eminently favourable ; and I think we may safely conclude that, with a very few exceptions, all invalids for whom a change
I
311
THE LANCET.
of climate is deemed necessary, may hope to derive the fullest benefit of such change London, Saturday, May 20th, 1837. by a temporary residence in Van Diemen’s’ Land. Every one of whose case I could obtain an account, had experienced great WITHIN the last few months rumours benefit, with the exception of a few persons, who arrived in the colony, either labouring have been extensively and industriously under, or having a strong predisposition to, thoracic disease. But several, who in the circulated, to the effect that no legislative end afforded the most triumphant proofs of enactment was to arise out of the evidence the unaided effects of the climate, did not which had’been elicited before the Parliaimprove until tiey had resided many months i The corrupon the island.. mentary Medical Committee. " Van Diemen’s Land has also this advan- tionists have so often this staterepeated tage over all the- other places in the Indian to believe that their that they appear seas, usually resorted to by invalids. The ment, and customsmanners own falsehoods them the with towns, inhabitants! carry weight all are English : everything tropical is for- and substance of truth. In self-cajolement gotten ; old recollections are renewed ; and morbid habits are broken. The advantage these unfortunate and exposed personages of such moral remedies every physician have laboured with singular assiduity and will appreciate. I cannot doubt, that if all but we question if they have dethe sick of the European regiments were success; sent to one sanatarium at Hobart Town, a ceived any persons but themselves. Anxivast number of men would be yearly saved, ous to avert the fatal calamities which who are now lost either by death, or b being sent home as unfit for longer service threaten the whole system of medical monoin India. poly and misrule, the corruptionists natu11 I am unable to add any satisfactory directed their hopes to events, the posaccount of the climate of New South Wales." rally sible occurrence of which afforded them OBLITERATION OF MARKING-INK.—To the some chance of escaping from the punishEditor of THE LANCET.—SIR :—It having ment which their mal-practices had so long been suggested to me, by Mr. Francis, of rendered due. On observing the voluminBrighton, that marking-ink may be removed from linen by a preparation of ammonia, I ous reports of evidence which had been have made some experiments on the subject, and the result warrants my asserting that it printed, and knowing that others were to may be entirely obliterated by means of the issue from the same press,—guessing, withliq. ammonia,fortissime. Should you think out any remarkable degree of shrewdness, that this fact is worthy of publication, you are perfectly at liberty to insert it in your that the labours of the chairman of that valuable Journal. I am, Sir, your obedient committee were of no ordinary difficulty, servant, EDWARD BENTLEY, Cross-street, and that his position had become somewhat Islington, May 9. embarrassed by the destruction of mapy of PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.- the papers when the Houses of Parliament M. Gannal, of Paris, has discovered that were consumed by fire, the corruptionists, the substance most efficacious for preserving dead bodies is the acetate of alumina, with in their stupidly misplaced confidence, were which a dead body may be preserved for a led to believe that the work of medical relong time as effectually as if embalmed, and form would only proceed bit by bit, in slips at a very trifling expense. The aluminous fluid may be introduced by the carotid of unseemly patch-work, and that all the artery, and any dessication produced may and medical corporations would be counteracted by a layer ofivariiisli. The colleges from that general crash which the preservation of specimens of natural history escape for museums may be henceforth effected establishment of a sound and enlightened with a great saving of labour and cost, and the study of anatomy may be pursued with system of policy would inevitably producecomfort at all seasons of the year. The long intervals which had elapsed be.