PROCEEDINGS 



PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF GLASGOW, 



FORTY-SECOND SESSION, 1843-44. 



Zd January, 1844, — The President in the Chair. 



XLIV. — On the Laws of Mortality at Different Ages. By Alexander 

 Watt, LL.D., City Statist. {Continued.) 



BemarJcs on the Tables. — The data which have been adduced seem 

 to demonstrate that the proportions in the amount of deaths under 

 any given age, by the diseases which have been selected for considera- 

 tion, viz., fevers, measles, scarlet fever, small-pox, and hooping-cough, 

 to the whole amount of deaths by each disease respectively, are almost 

 identical, although the total amount of deaths by the same disease is 

 very different in each city. In some instances where the circum- 

 stances of the people vary much from each other, a corresponding 

 variation takes place in the mortality at the same ages. This is 

 peculiarly exemplified by the deductions, in reference to small-pox, 

 from the New York and Philadelphia mortality bills ; but notwith- 

 standing the great difference between the results in America and iu 

 Scotland in the mortality from this disease, it is important to observe 

 that the proportion of the deaths by this disease in New York exactly 

 corresponds with those for the same age in Philadelphia — the circum- 

 stances of these towns in relation to small-pox being much alike. The 

 variations in the higher ages may probably depend on causes capable 

 of detection on further inquiry ; and such interferences being allowed 

 for, the intimate correspondence of the results pointed out, cannot be 

 looked upon as accidental, but as the result of precise laws which 

 regulate the amount of mortality at every age. 



Two causes must be especijJly considered as having a constant 

 tendency to effect a certain variation in these results, viz., medical 

 treatment, and a proper supply of wholesome and nutritive food 



No. 10. 1 



