TROPICAL AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14345, 25 October 1910, Page 8

TROPICAL AUSTRALIA.

Dr. Danes, Lecturer in Geography at the ' University of Prague, believes lirmly that tropical Australia is suitable for white settlement. He visited Australia some time ago, and travelled in Northern Queensland, and he has now embodied his impressions in a letter to Professor David, Drr Danes remarks that the mortality of the white races in the tropics has been reduced by the introduction of modern sanitation and the adaptation of private life to tho exigencies of the climate. Over-in-dulgence in liquor is one of the most important causes of ill-health among white people in hot countries, and tbo doctor remarks on the prevalence of this evil in tropica) Australia. Ho quotes tho Director of the Tropical Diseases Institute at Townsville as saying that this and other bad habits do more harm to the sugar-cane workers in that State than the hard work they have to do. Dr. Danes urges Australians in tbo north to pay more attention to their houses and their diet. “Tho houses and the hotels aro generally badly fitted for the climatic conditions, especially the corrugated iron 'humpies,' which are the most inappropriate and tho most numerous of all kinds of architecture.. Tho general diet can hardly' be called good for the exigencies of the climate.' Moat of one and tho same kind is tho chief nourishment, but is consumed in a state which bafflesdescription. Vegetables and fruit are scarce on the table, especially outside the larger towns. This kind of diet is certainly very unhealthy, especially for women and children.” Tho water used for drinking is often very bad, being sometimes muddy stuff from a hole round which dead animals lie scattered. Tropical Australia, in the doctor’s opinion, is ranch healthier than any Other tropical country, but if the dreaded diseases of the tropics should spread through the North, tho ravages among people living under the conditions described would bo “simply stupendous.” Ho remarks that the Australian patriotic associations have in tho spreading of a knowledge of better conditions a vast field of activity.