CLASSES OF DISEASES. | Specific Diseases. | Deaths.

|-----------------------------|--------------------------|------------|
| | | From each 1000 deaths at all ages. | Average Age of Death. |
| Fevers . . . . . . . Common continued . . . . . | 1 | 0.5 | 48 years |
| Diseases of Lungs . . Bronchitis . . . . . . . . . . | 6 | 4.1 | 44 " |
| " " " Consumption . . . . . | 3 | | |
| Diseases of the Liver Complaint . . . . . . | 3 | 1.4 | 47 " |
| Disease of the Bladder . . . . . . . . . . . | 3 | | |
| Stomach and Cancer of Stomach and Bowels . . . . . . | 4 | 1.8 | 47 " |
| Apoplexy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 8 | 4.8 | 48 " |
| Disease of the Brain . . Paralysis . . . . . | 4 | 1.9 | 49 " |
| " " " Delirium Tremens . . . . | 1 | | |
| " " " Mania . . . . . . . | 1 | | |
| Dropsies . . . . . . General Dropsy . . . . . | 1 | 0.5 | 47 " |
| Heart affection . . . . . . . . . . | 1 | | |
| All other Diseases . . Stricture . . . . . . . . | 1 | | |
| " " " Secondary Syphilis and Phlegmon . . . . | 1 | | |

| Total . . . . . . . . . . . | 37 | 38 | 46.5 years |

It will be seen from the above table, that there were fewer deaths from fever, and diseases of the lungs among the Pensioners in New Zealand, than among the Army stationed in Great Britain, but the mortality produced by affections of the brain cannot be passed over without notice. The exact bearing of this will be seen in the following compilation.

TABLE NUMBER 4 shows out of a thousand deaths among different classes of Men between the ages of 40 and 50 the proportion which occurred from different classes of diseases.

| Total . . . . . . . | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |

This Table is thus read: out of a 1000 deaths among the Pensioner Force in New Zealand 27 occurred from fevers, among the same number of deaths in Carlisle 243 were caused by fevers, and among persons assured at the Equitable Society 366 were produced by fevers.

It will be observed, that diseases of the Brain caused a very large proportion of the mortality among the Pensioners, and according to table Number 3, Apoplexy was the most common malady. A disease which is comparatively speaking seldom met with among the civil population in Carlisle between 40 and 50, is more common among people sufficiently wealthy to assure their lives, but out of all proportion most frequent among the Pensioners.

Apoplexy, I may observe, is not a very common disease before men reach 50. It may therefore be asked, what is the cause of its frequency of apoplexy among the Pensioners at such an early age? I wish I could avoid this question...

but the two deaths from Delirium tremens indicate the abuse of intoxicating liquors, and from enquiry, I have no hesitation in stating, that most of the deaths amongst the Pensioners from Apoplexy were directly and indirectly caused by intemperance, a vile habit contracted by these old Soldiers in early life while serving in the Army, and a habit which has been continued by some, although given up by many of them since their arrival in New Zealand.

Many interesting deductions may be drawn from table number 4, indicative of the laws which regulate our existence. The Pensioners still appear to suffer from those maladies, the seeds of which were laid in their bodies while serving in tropical climates, but I cannot imagine any country more suited for men enervated by long residences in the tropics than the climate of New Zealand, and the Pensioners I have spoken to on this subject think so themselves.

6.—PROBABLE REASON OF THE SALUBRITY OF THE CLIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND.

I have been often surprised that the wet and boisterous weather in New Zealand, to which I have seen men exposed night and day did not produce more severe and more numerous attacks of disease. The great secret of the salubrity of the climate of the North Island of New Zealand rests on this very point, it admits the most constant, and continued exposure in the open air without injury.

In all tropical countries men are obliged to shelter themselves from the burning rays of the sun, and the heavy dews of the night. In the fine southern climates of Europe, the cold of winter is often intense, and the heat of summer during several hours of the day oppressive, exposure to either produces disease.

In New Zealand there are no great extremes, and although the climate is a wet one, yet the Anglo-Saxon race can bear exposure to its vicissitudes without injury; on this account men live much in the open air, or in houses which admit the free entrance of air, the consequence is, that severe sickness is comparatively speaking not frequent. But it may be asked, how does this produce a small mortality from diseases of the lungs? Consumption is now generally admitted to be a constitutional, not a local disease, whatever depresses the constitution or impairs the powers of life produces a tendency to consumption. Men living in an impure atmosphere are liable to the disease because that is a depressing agent of life, men breathing a pure air ward off the disease, because that is an invigorating agent. This is the cause why diseases of the lungs are comparatively rare in New Zealand; it is also the reason why fevers and other diseases are not frequent, maladies which directly and indirectly lay the foundation of others.

7.—EXAMPLE OF THE INJURIOUS EFFECT OF THE CLIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND ON THE CHILDREN OF THE TROPICS.

Bishop Selwyn, has on two occasions, brought to New Zealand from the tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean, a number of lads for the purpose of educating them at St. John’s College, Auckland, as Christian teachers. Their ages might be from fourteen to twenty-four. The first detachment the Lord Bishop brought to New Zealand, after remaining in the country for several months, left in June, 1852, and it was full time; it is stated in a paper issued from St. John’s College Press, "that they should leave New Zealand, for the damp winds had severely affected their health, and two were sent on board dangerously ill. A favourable wind speed carried them into a warmer climate where...

• Carlisle Tables for 1779 to 1796.
  † Calcutta from 4095 deaths.