120 Me. Watt on the Vital Statistics of five large Towns of Scotland. 



and they are still further confirmed bj the results exhibited in the 

 Mortality Bill of this city for 1842. 



The most striking uniformity in the amount of deaths, caused by 

 any of the diseases at certain ages, is in the cases of fever in Edin- 

 burgh and Glasgow. It will be found that in Edinburgh the average 

 annual amoimt of fatal cases of fever, for the three years ending with 

 1841, is 325, or 0*235 per cent of the mean population these years ; 

 and, in Glasgow, the average annual amount of fatal cases of fever, 

 for the five years ending with 1841, is 1156 J, or 0*445 per cent, of 

 the mean population of these years. Notwithstanding the difference 

 in the amount of deaths by fever, in these two cities, it is found that 

 the amount of deaths which occur by that disease, under five, under 

 twenty, and at twenty years of age, and upwards, bear an uniform pro- 

 portion to the whole fatal cases of fever in these two towns respectively. 

 The following figures show that the difference is very small indeed : — 



In Edinburgh. In Glasgow. 

 Per cent. Per cent. 



Proportion of deaths, under 5 years, 'J 



caused by fever, to the whole > 12*41 12*07 



deaths by that disease, j 



Do. do.— under 20 years, . . 29*74 29*05 



Do. do.— 20 years and upwards, . 7025 70*94 



I have deduced similar results for eruptive and other diseases, 

 for these towns, although some of them are not so very close to each 

 other as the foregoing, arising from causes yet to be ascertained, 

 yet it will be found that they are very nearly the same. Nor are these 

 results confined to the operation of these diseases in the Scotch towns, 

 as is obvious from the following abstract : — 



In Manchesteb. In Liverpool. 

 Per cent. Per cent. 



Proportion of deaths, under 5 years, ^ 



caused by measles, to the whole > 92*49 91*27 



deaths by that disease,* J 



Do. do.— under 20 years, . . 99*35 99*75 



Do. do. — 20 years and upwards, . 0*64 024 



While there is such a great similarity in the proportions in the 

 amount of deaths by measles, at the several ages, in these towns, it 

 will be observed that the proportion of the whole of these cases to the 

 population in Manchester is 0*275 per cent, and only 0*146 per cent 

 in Liverpool, for the year for which the example is given. 



That there are specific laws which govern the amount of deaths, by 

 the various diseases, is very strongly confirmed by the proportions 

 exhibited in the Glasgow Mortality Bill for 1842, (not yet published,) 



• For the year 1839. 



