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Title
The Health of Ballarat
Description

On 24 August 1858, the Ballarat Star reported on the health of Ballarat during the month of July.

Date
24 August 1858
Published Source
Ballarat Star, 24 August 1858. Details

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THE HEALTH OF BALLARAT. The month of July was comparatively a healthy one throughout the district, and although the low range of temperature and excessive moisture of the atmosphere were unfavourable to certain classes of disease and delicate constitutions, there were but faint traces observable of the causes of very serious mortality in its predecessors. During the last six days of the month not a single death was recorded. The steady increase in the number of births registered, indicate the growth of our settled population, and may be regarded as a favourable sign of the improved social conditions of the community. From a digest of returns of the Deputy Registrar, we find that during the month of July the births were males 90, females 65, total 155, against a total of 125 only, consisting of 65 males, and 60 females in the corresponding month of 1857. The births in July 1858, therefore, show an increase of 30 over the same month in 1857. There are, however, 25 less than in June, 1858, but an equal number to the month of May. In the proportion of the sexes, there is a most singular difference between the months of June and July. Generally the proportion of the sexes is nearly equal, if anything the females are found slightly preponderating. In the month of June the female births exceeded the males by about 28 per cent. In the month of July the male births exceeded the females about 38 per cent; the largest variation noted for a considerable period. The following is the mortality of the month, classified in the usual form: -
1. Zymotic Diseases.- Diarrhoea, 1; dysentery, 4; fever, 4; measles, 1; scarlatina, 1. Under 1 year, 4; 1 and under – 3; 3 and under – 5; 15 and under 20 - 1; 20 and under 25 - 2; 25 and under 30 - 1; 45 and under 50 - 1. Males, 3; females, 8; - total 11. 2. Sporadic Diseases – Of Uncertain Seat. – Debility, 3. Under 1 year - 2; 1 and under 3 - 1. Males, 1; females, 2; - total, 3. 3. Diseases of the Nervous System. – Hydrocephalus, 1; disease of the brain, 1. Under 1 year - 1; 10 and under 15 - 1. Males, 1; females, 1; - total, 2. 4. Diseases of the Respiratory Organs. – Laryngitis, 2; disease of lung, 2; catarrhs, 1; asthma, 2; phthisis, 2; pneumonia, 1. Under 1 year - 4; 1 and under 3 - 1; 15 and under 20 - 2; 25 and under 30 - 1; 35 and under 40 - 1; 55 and under 60 - 1. Males, 6; females, 4; - total, 10. 5. Diseases of the Circulatory System. – Disease of heart, 1 – a male, 43 years of age. 6. Diseases of the Digestive Organs. – Disease of Liver, 1; gastritis, 1. 25 and under 30 - 1; 40 and under 45 - 1. Females, 2. Total from all causes: - Under 1 year: males, 5; females, 6; total, 11. 1 year and under 3: females, 3. 3 and under 5: females, 1. 10 and under 15: males, 1. 15 and under 20: males, 3. 20 and under 25: females, 2. 25 and under 30: males, 1; females, 2; total, 3. 35 and under 40: females, 1. 40 and under 45: males, 1; females, 1; total, 2. 45 and under 50: females, 1. 55 and under 60: males, 1. Males, 12, females, 17; total, 29.
The number of deaths in July, 1858, exclusive of inquests, exceed only by 1 the deaths registered in the corresponding month of 1857, and is one less than during the month of June. The district may therefore be considered as at present equally healthy with the previous period. The most noticeable feature is the large excess of female deaths over males, equal to about 58 per cent., a variation that has not been equalled in any previous period. To show the difference:- The male deaths exceeded the female in July, 1857, by more than 200 per cent; and the average of the June quarter of 1858 showed the male deaths to have exceeded the female over 150 per cent. We can only account for this excess of female mortality from their greater delicacy of constitution, and the excessive dampness and chilliness of the atmosphere. We also record this month fatal cases of scarlatina and measles, the first that have been noted during the year. Sporadic diseases of uncertain seat, and diseases of the nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems, seem to have reached their lowest point. This may perhaps be due in some measure to the greater purity of the atmosphere; for not withstanding the excess of moisture, the amount of ozone registered at the Survey Office has been very large, and the presence or absence of this is looked upon to a great extent as a test of purity.