Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/358

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I am indebted to the Rev. J. B. Wittenoom, the Colonial Chaplain, for the foregoing tables of deaths, marriages and births, which were copied from his Register. They will give some idea of the prevailing diseases and mortality for each Year, with the gradual decrease of sickness as the colony advanced. These tables however can only be looked upon as an approximation to the truth, as in the early state of a new colony, it was difficult to obtain correct information in all cases. They include settlers, soldiers, women and children.

The Colonial hospital being at Perth, all the worst cases of disease amongst the poor were sent into it from all parts of the colony: consequently the deaths were more numerous there than at Freemantle.