194 Dr. Watt on the Laws of Mm-tality at Different Ages. 



ensure to the inhabitants of our cities one of the most important of 

 social blessings — a healthy population. Through the kindness of 

 William Mills, Esq., formerly Lord Provost of Glasgow, I have been 

 enabled to compare my former tables with data which I have calcu- 

 lated from the mortality bills of New York and Philadelphia. From 

 such comparative results we are enabled to distinguish at a glance the 

 modifications which diseases undergo in different climates. One of 

 the most interesting diseases is fever, on account of its frequent 

 occurrence in this country, and more especially in Glasgow, where it 

 seems to serve as a test of destitution. 



FEVER. 



In the bills of mortality for New York and Philadelphia, the mor- 

 tality by the different species of fever being judiciously given 

 separately, we are enabled to select the species corresponding with 

 those registered under the head of fever in the Scottish towns. The 

 following table exhibits the comparative mortality from fever in 

 Edinburgh and Glasgow, and from fevers, exclusive of puerperal 

 and scarlet fevers in New York and Philadelphia. For typhus fever, 

 see Glasgow Mortality Bill, 1842. — 



Do. 20 and upwards, 7025 70 94 69-77 66-96 61-51 



In the above table the per centage for New York was deduced from 

 1416 cases, and that of Philadelphia from 663 cases. The greatest 

 difference appears to be at the lowest ages, where the mortality in 

 America is higher. Similar results frequently occur in this country, 

 where the disease is less prevalent, as in 1842 in Glasgow, when the 

 mortality under five years was 18-58. During that year it is well- 

 kuown that there was a smaller proportion of deaths by typhus than 

 usual. 



IfEASLES. 



The following table affords an extended illustration of the same 

 law which was pointed out in the last paper published in the " Pro- 

 ceedings," and shows that the number who die of measles is nearly the 

 same at the same ages in different towns : — 



Glas. EdIn. N. York. Philad. 



Under two years, . . 52-76 60-25 47-48 4576 



Do. five years, . . 88-08 92-30 90-09 89-83 



Do. twenty years, . 99-35 99-67 98-27 99'43 



Above twenty years, . 064 0-32 1-72 0-56 



