354 Proceedings of the British Association for 1850. 



to periodicity and extent, and with reference to moral as well 

 as physical causes. 



The charts exhibited showed that endemic fever, including 

 remittent and intermittent fever, prevails in North America, 

 the West India Islands, the west coast of Africa, Syria, South 

 Italy, the Ionian Islands, and in general in the low marshy 

 districts of warm countries. Yellow fever is endemic in 

 North America and the West India Islands, between latitude 

 5° and 40° N., its northern limit in Europe being the lati- 

 tude of Gibraltar. Diseases of the digestive organs are 

 most prevalent in India, West and East Africa, the Cape of 

 Good Hope, England, Guiana, &c. Disease of the liver 

 greatly predominates in the East Indies ; while consumption 

 is most conspicuous in Great Britain, Newfoundland, Canada, 

 and Jamaica. Dropsy is most prevalent in West Africa, 

 Great Britain, and Guiana. Among the different countries 

 the most striking contrasts are sometimes exhibited ; thus 

 the west of Africa is to Europeans the most fatal ; while the 

 south-east is the most healthy country in the globe. 



Although many causes besides that of climate contribute 

 to produce tliese results, yet generally, both in countries and 

 in cities, the chances of longevity are greatly in favour of 

 northern latitudes. Of the former we find near the bottom 

 of the scale, Java, as indicated by Batavia ; some of the West 

 India Islands, Sicily, Naples, &c. ; and near the top, Norway 

 and Sweden, and portions of England. In all cases cities 

 are less healthy than rural districts. Of these the lowest is 

 Vienna and the highest London. From these results it ap- 

 pears that a cool or cold climate near the sea is the most 

 favourable situation for health and longevity. Among the 

 causes of mortality not dependent on climate may be noted : 



1. Poverty and want among the lower classes of a community ; 



2. Close and ill-ventilated lodgings, whether in hospitals, 

 prisons, or private dwellings ; 3. Unhealthy or excessive 

 labour, especially in youth ; 4. Intemperance and dissolute 

 habits ; and, 5. War. 



The proportion of deaths from consumption in different 

 countries indicates how little mere climate has to do with 

 the extent of this disease ; since, while it is almost unknown 



