What was health like on the goldfields?

Answer 1

There was little medical help on thegoldfields Diggers needed to care for their own health and well being. Health problems were related to the environment. Damp, cold conditions in the Victorian and New South Wales' goldfields created constant medical problems, as did the hot, dry conditions of the Western Australia Goldfields Diggers also contributed to their own poor health. They did not shower or bathe very often. Fresh vegetables and fruit were rare. Diseases spread quickly due to these mixed conditions and attitudes. These diseases included whooping cough, scarlet fever and the measles. These diseases resulted in a large number of deaths.