19G Dr. Watt on the Laws of Mortality at Different Ages. 



affording another strong proof that there are physical laws which 

 regulate the amount of deaths at different ages by the various 

 diseases, when unimpeded by local causes. It is highly probable that 

 inattention to early vaccination may be the immediate cause of a 

 greater mortality at the higher ages in America than in this country. 

 A difference in this respect exists also between the towns of England 

 and Scotland. The proportion of deaths above twenty years of ago 

 by small-pox in Manchester amounts to 1-687 per cent, of the whole 

 deaths by that disease, and to 2-316 per cent, in Liverpool, whereas 

 the proportion above that age cut off by small-pox amounts to 4-479 

 per cent of the whole deaths by that disease in Glasgow, and to 4*761 

 per cent, in Edinburgh. However much this effect in Glasgow and 

 Edinburgh is produced by inattention to vaccination, the evil is very 

 much the same in both cities, so far as the proportion at the higher 

 ages is taken into account. It appears also from the returns that the 

 proportion of deaths by small-pox to the population in Edinburgh is 

 not half so great as that in Glasgow ; and as small-pox is much more 

 destructive in some years than in others, and as the comparison only 

 extends over three years for Edinburgh, and over five years for Glas- 

 gow, this comparison of the total amount of deaths by small-pox may 

 be more favourable to Edinburgh than it ought to be. 



HOOPING-COUGH. 



This table shows the amount of deaths from hooping-cough under 

 and above certain ages in different towns, and the proportions which 

 the amount of deaths at these ages bear to the whole amount of deaths 

 by that disease in each town respectively : — 



Some of the cases above twenty years should possibly not be classed 

 with hooping-cough. One case in Glasgow is stated as being between 

 forty and fifty, and another between fifty and sixty. A case above 

 twenty years, given in the New York tables, occurred in 1840, and is 

 recorded as being between thirty and forty years of age. 



(7b he Continued.) 



BRI.L AND BAIN, PRINTERS, GLASGOW. 



