lowest mortality among boys is at the rate of 7.084, and the highest at the rate of 13.741 per cent. annually. The mean mortality of the districts was for boys 8.593, for girls 7-432, for both sexes 8.013. These mean rates are obtained by adding up the district rates, and dividing by the number of districts. The population of children in the 151 districts was 1,391,420 in 1861; and the annual deaths at the rate (3.348) of 28 healthy districts would be 46,585; while at the mean rate (8.013) it would be 111,494. Thus there is an annual sacrifice of about 64,909 children's lives by various causes in 151 districts of the kingdom. The mean annual mortality of children under five years of age was 10.022 per cent. in Sheffield, 10.149 in East London (City), 10-203 in Coventry, 10.219 in Nottingham, 10-246 in Whitechapel, 10-277 in Leeds, 10-480 in Wolverhampton, 10.852 in St. Giles (London), 11.725 in Manchester district, and 13-198 in Liverpool district.

"There is no doubt great negligence on the part of the parents, great ignorance of the conditions on which health depends, and great privation among the masses of the poor, but there is no reason to suspect that any great number of the infants in these districts fall victims to deliberate crime; yet the children of the idolatrous tribe who passed them through the fire to Moloch scarcely incurred more danger than is incurred by the children born in several districts of our large cities.

"A strict investigation of all the circumstances of these children's lives might lead to important discoveries, and may suggest remedies for evils of which it is difficult to exaggerate the magnitude.

"The weaklier lives, it is said, are, under this state of things, cut off; but it must also be borne in mind that many of the strongest children are wounded and are left weakly for life.

"Childhood: Age 5 and under 10 years: 5-10.

"The child is at this age able to walk and to talk; his forces are greater, and his hold on life is firmer than it was. The rate of mortality declines with every year of age; and during the period of the ten years, 1851-60, it was at the rate per cent. of 851 for males,

⚫842 for females. The mean rate of mortality for the 25 years, 1838-1862, was 883 and 876; so that in the years 1851-60 there is a reduction in the rate of mortality per cent. of boys 032, and of girls 034.

"Zymotic diseases cause more than half (451 boys and 478 girls per cent.) of the mortality at this stage of childhood; and of the zymotic diseases, scarlatina and fever (typhus, typhia and typhinia, including typhoid and infantile intermittent fever,) were much the most fatal. The mortality from scarlatina is less by half than it was in the previous age, but it remains much more fatal than smallpox, measles, whooping-cough, diarrhoea, and other maladies of this class. Diphtheria, which has now taken its place among the fatal diseases of England, in this respect resembles scarlatina. Scrofula, tabes, phthisis, hydrocephalus, and diseases of the brain, contribute largely to the mortality of this age; so do diseases of the lungs. In 163 districts the rate of mortality in both males and females was less than 700; among boys it was 388 in the district of Shipston-on-Stour, and 898 in Bedale, 435 in Cranbrook, 492 in Sevenoaks; 414 in Petworth, 489 in South Stoneham, 441 in Andover, 411 in Ware, 498 in Royston, 470 in Henley, 474 in Brixworth, 499 in Shaftesbury, 458 in the Scilly Islands, 495 in Ludlow, 483 in Martley, 474 in Pershore, 414 in Billesdon, 476 in Leyburn, 453 in Askrigg, 446 in Reeth, 469 in Bellingham, 434 in Presteigne. Among girls the lowest rates of mortality were recorded in the Scilly Islands, 299, Billesdon 396, and Reeth ⚫348. Very different rates of mortality prevailed in thirty-one districts, where the mortality of males and females exceeded 1.000 per cent. the mortality of boys was 1.256 in Bristol, 1.277 in Manchester, 1.811 in Merthyr Tydfil, 1867 in St. James's, Westminster, 1.391 in St. Giles, London, and 1.457. in Liverpool. The mortality of females in the same districts was 1.014, 1.220, 1.314, 1.065, 1.083, and 1.433. To boys and girls of this age the Liverpool district was the most fatal.

boys the mortality in the ten years was at the rate of 488, among girls at the rate of 506 per cent. Among 1,000 boys, less than five die every year. As boys actually ill are not sent to public schools, an average of one death in 200 boys there would imply an exceptionally high rate of mortality. The deaths of boys arise chiefly from injuries under the class of violence 077, from consumption 076, from fever 069, and from scarlatina ·046. Girls die much less frequently of violence, including burns, than boys; their mortality from this class of causes is only 016. Upon the other hand they suffer much more than boys from consumption; which at this early age shows its predilection for their sex. How much organization, in-door life, and compression of the chest, interfering with the free action of the breathing organs, have to do with the excess of consumption in girls, it is difficult to say.

"Of the salutary effects of free breathing in the open air there can be no doubt, and if they are studied it is probable that among them will be found the reduction of the mortality by consumption from 129 to a figure nearer that of boys, 076, which is still much higher than it ought to be.

"Fever, scarlatina, and diphtheria are more fatal to girls than boys.

"The mortality of boys of the age 10-15 in all England is 488; but there are ninety-five districts in which the mortality is below 350; in the Stockbridge district their mortality was at the rate of 198; in Catherington 144; in Penrith 220; in Easingwold and in Bedale .215.

"In Merthyr Tydvil the mortality of the boys was 1.089; at this age it is the highest rate in England. Sedbergh 936, Abergavenny ·877, and Leek 861, stand next on the list. The mortality exceeds 700 in Macclesfield, Congleton, Wigan, Auckland, Easington, Houghton-le-Spring, Chester-le-Street, Neath, Llanelly, Aberayron, and Festiniog.

"Occupation at this age plays a part in the mortality; and in the mining districts many of the boys are killed underground.

"Youth: Age 15-20 and 20-25. "Growth continues through the whole of these ages; and the body attains its full strength at 25, which is near the average age

Sear

of first marriage in England. Men are now exposed to the full influence of their occupations; but the effect is sometimes only developed later in life, as is the case in respect to Cornish miners. The mortality after the age of 15 increases, thus proving that the vital tenacity of men is not proportional to their growth, size, vigour, or intelligence. The mortality at the age 15-20 in all England is at the rate of 669 per cent. for men, and 738 for women; at the age of 20-25 the mortality is 883 for men, and 853 for women. The zymotic diseases, which are exceedingly infec tious, and occur only once in life, such as measles and whooping-cough, have generally been undergone before the age of 20. latina and diphtheria also subside as the persons remaining unaffected diminish. Smallpox is, however, more fatal at the age 20-25 than it was at 10-15, implying, perhaps, that vaccination was not so common twenty years as it was fifteen years ago, rather than any diminution in the efficacy of vaccination as age advances. Fever is the most fatal zymotic disease at these ages; that it is more fatal than it is at the age 25-35 is due probably to the exposure of immigrants in the towns to the various forms of typhine, and to their subsequent comparative immunity from its effects. The mortality from fever of men of the two ages was 086 and 085; of women 103 and 078. Young girls are more exposed than young men to the sources of typhoid fever, which Dr. Murchison has aptly designated pythogenic fever. The mortality by violent deaths was 086 and 095 among men of these two ages; and only 016 and 013 among women. But one cause of death at these ages is peculiar to women; the mortality from childbirth, including metria or the fever of that name, is 014 and 061. These deaths thrown in do not compensate for the excess of deaths by violence among men; but phthisis is so much more prevalent among young women than it is among young men, that it more than compensates at 15-20 for the excessive deaths by violence among young men. The mortality by phthisis at the two ages was 240 and 406 for men, 352 and 429 for women. Half the deaths of young women at these ages are by consumption.

"The mortality of males at the age 15-20

in women is nearly over. The mortality of men was at the rate of 1.796 per cent.; to which zymotic diseases, chiefly fever and cholera, contributed 207; phthisis, 383; the chief increase arising under the heads of monorganic diseases of brain, heart, lungs, stomach, and kidneys, covering 912 of the mortality. By violent deaths 137 died. Women, except a few, have passed the child-bearing age, and the mortality from this cause is inconsiderable. From all causes it is 1.520 per cent.; comprising from consumption 312, that of males being 383; of brain and nerve diseases 199 men and 168 women die; of heart diseases and dropsy 190 men and 206 women; of diseases of lungs 309 men and 206 women. It is probable that the excessive mortality of men at this age-such as miners-is from the bad air and dust which they breathe at work. The diseases of the urinary organs are more fatal to men; those of the generative organs, including ovarian dropsy, to women. Of cancer, the mortality is 042 for men and 128 for women. A considerable portion of the higher mortality of men is due to the excess in their deaths by violence; by which the mortality is 137 for men, and 027 for women. While the mortality of men in England is 1.796, there are twenty-three of its districts in which the rate of mortality is below 1.000; in Ringwood it is 791, Holsworthy, ·783; Caxton, 894; St. Faiths (Norwich), ·821; Malmesbury, 889; Winchcomb, 890; Billesdon, 828; Leyburn, 886; and Rhayader, .890. Upon the other hand, in twenty-six districts the annual mortality of men exceeded 2.600 per cent.

Fifteen of the districts are in London, and the following five contain neither hospital nor lunatic asylum: St. James, Westminster, 2-631; St. Giles, 3.031; London City, 2.908; Whitechapel, 3.082; and St. George-in-theEast, 2-829. The lunatic asylums at this age disturb the rate of mortality; thus the Colney Hatch County Asylum raises the mortality of men in Barnet, one of the healthiest districts of Middlesex, to 3.846 per cent. The mortality of men in all London is at the rate of 2.468 per cent.; of which about 365 is in the hospitals.

"Maturity: Age 55-65.

"The mortality of men of this age was at the rate of 3.086 per cent.; to which zymotic

diseases, including fever and cholera, contributed 313; consumption, 333; diseases of the brain, 410; heart, 413; lungs, 662; stomach, 303; kidneys, 094. The mortality of women was at the rate of 2-701 per cent. The zymotic diseases, consumption, brain affections, lung affections, stomach and kidney affections, were less fatal than in males. The rate of deaths by violence was 038 in women, .161 in men. Upon the other hand the rate by cancer was 093 for men, 185 for women; by diseases of the generative organs, 001 for men, and 031 for women, including ovarian diseases. In forty-nine districts the mortality of men was below 2.000, or less by 1·086 than the average; in Westhampnett, 1-702; Kingsclere, 1.757; Thingoe, 1·460; Loddon, 1.752; Depwade, 1.653; Scilly Islands, 1-505; Wheatenhurst, 1.778; Longtown, 1.741; Bootle, 1·606. To men of this Alston was the most fatal district in England; their mortality there was at the rate of 6.800 per cent.; then follow Reeth, 5.060; the City of London, 5·014; St. Giles, London, 5-243; Whitechapel, containing a hospital, 5-483; Manchester, 5.266; and Liverpool, 5.350.

"Maturity: Age 65-75.

age,

"The mortality of men at this period of life is more than double their mortality in the previous decenniad. In the ten years it was 6.533 per cent.; of which 579 was by zymotic diseases; 150 by cancer; 239 by phthisis; 983 by diseases of the brain; ·871 by diseases of the heart; 1.342 by lung diseases; ·484 by diseases of the digestive organs; 245 by diseases of the urinary organs; making the aggregate mortality by local or monorganic diseases, 3.964. The mortality by violence of various kinds was at the rate of 181 per cent. The mortality of women at this age was 5-866, or less by 667 than that of men. Fever was somewhat less fatal to them than to men; so also were phthisis, and all the pulmonary diseases. The mortality of women by kidney, &c., diseases was 049, of men 245; by violence, of women '072, of men 181. Upon the other hand, cancer killed women at the rate of 235. Uterine and ovarian diseases at the rate of

·032.

"In thirteen districts of England the mor

tality of men of the age 65-75 was below

Islands; Flegg, 3.667; Rothbury, 3-831; Easthampstead, 4.427; Henstead, 4.258; Thetford, 4.444; Cricklade, 4.467; Tetbury, 4-369; Sedbergh, 4.479; Easingwold, 4.253; Brampton, 4.142; Bridgend, 4-487; Knighton, 4.455. In Alston the mortality at this age was 11.731 per cent. ; in Reeth, 9.524; and it exceeded 9.000 in twenty-one districts, including Alston and Reeth; namely, in thirteen London districts, in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastleupon-Tyne.

"The mortality of men at this advanced age is at the rate of 14.667 per cent., of which nearly the half is by causes undistinguished; for the functional symptoms become obscure as age advances. Only 1.004 of the deaths were by recognized zymotic diseases, 173 by cancer; 098 by consumption. The chief mortality was by diseases of the brain, 1.709; heart, 1.241; lungs, 2,109; stomach, 525; kidneys, 427. By violence, 225 died.

"The mortality of women was at the rate of 13-434 per cent.; cancer being more, phthisis less, fatal to women than it was in men; of the total mortality 5.031 was by monorganic diseases; while in men the mortality by these diseases was 6.067 per cent. In descending to other districts the mortality was below 12.000 per cent. from all causes in fifty districts, and above 17.000 per cent. in seventy districts, including twenty-four London districts, and the districts of the chief large towns.

"Old Age: Age 85 and upwards.

"I have called this the monumental age; the cup of life is full of years; and the mortality of men is at the rate of 81.008, of women at the rate of 28.956 per cent. The forms of disease are imperfectly developed; the symptoms are obscure; and in three-fourths of the cases the deaths are simply referred to age, and natural decay, or some of the maladies which have not been inserted in the synoptic tables. Cholera did not disdain to destroy a certain number of these lingering lives; some of the men were killed by violence;

organic diseases of the brain and chest.

"III. MORTALITY OF WOMEN OF THE CHILDBEARING AGE.

"The age of 25 to 35 represents the period. of life in which English women bear the greatest number of children, and it will be observed that the mortality of women at that age, from all causes, is nearly one per cent. (992).

"The women of London stand lowest on the scale of mortality; those of Lancashire division highest. In general the mortality is lowest in the Southern and highest in the Northern and Welsh divisions. For the sake of comparison the mortality of children under five years of age is added, as mothers and children are exposed in common to many causes of mortality. There is a frequent but not a constant relation between their rates of mortality. In the five divisions where the mean mortality of women was 931, the mortality of children was 6.184; in the five divisions where the mortality of mothers was 1-068, the mortality of children was 6.969. Absolutely the rate of mortality by childbirth is slightly higher (090) among women of 35 to 45, than it is (089) among women of 25 to 35, although at the younger age the greater proportional number of women bear children. Exclusive of certain districts in which large lunatic asylums and hospitals disturb the results, there are fifty-eight districts in which the mortality of women of 25 to 35 from all causes exceeds 1.200 per cent.

"The mortality among women of the age 25 to 35 was 1.500 in Crickhowell; and this was due to a considerable extent to an excessive number of deaths in childbirth. These most painful deaths of mothers are sometimes due to mismanagement, the result of ignorance in the women in attendance, or to contagious communication from one woman to another, through nurses or other channels. In Crickhowell fiftysix women died of childbirth in ten years; when the number of births was 8,808. Our tables do not show the total number of pregnant women who die; for a certain number of them are consumptive, or succumb under other fatal diseases.