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Abstract

The poison of Scarlet Fever was brought to this colony
from Sydney in 1842, and since that period this disease has
more or less prevailed. The two epidemics which caused
so many deaths took place in 1852-3. It should be borne
in mind, that scarlet fever does not arise from poverty of
living, like typhus fever; nor from ill-drained dwellings and
filth, as common fever does-it requires its peculiar germ, or
poison, whatever that may be: but while this is the case
it must not be forgotten that the disease is made to spread,
and its severity influenced by all those circumstances which
impair general health, and that no causes operate more
strongly upon it than the epidemic character of the season
and the condition of the individual in relation to the poison.
The present epidemic followed a period of unusual sickness; many had been suffering from influenza, and the epidemic condition of the atmosphere not only affected men,
but the lower animals also. At the time that many aged
and sickly persons died from influenza, and the dogs were
dying by dozens in the streets of distemper, the epidemic
influence thus affecting both man and animals was not con·
fined to this island, but New South Wales and Victoria also
felt its effects.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Bedford, Edward Samuel Pickard
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, Van Diemens Land, VDL, Hobart Town, natural sciences, proceedings, records
Journal or Publication Title:	Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
ISSN:	0080-4703
Collections:	Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:	In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to the Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to The Royal Society of Tasmania.
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