Professor Marcet upon the Variations of the Atmosphere. 35S 



1. The proportion of births to the actual stationary popula- 

 tion of any place expresses, or is relative to, the medium dura- 

 tion of life in that population. ' ^^ymur fir 



2. The female sex enjoys, at every period of life, except at 

 puberty, at which epoch the mortality is rather greater among 

 young females, a greater longevity than the male sex. 



3. Pregnancy and labour occasion, indeed, a considerable loss 

 of life ; but this loss disappears, or is lost, in the general mass. 



4. The so-called climacteric periods of life do not seem to 

 have any influence on the longevity of either sex. * 



5 The medium duration of life, at the present time, is in 

 Russia about 21 years, in Prussia 29, in Switzerland 34, in 

 France 36, in Belgium 36, and in England 38 years. 



6. The medium duration of life has, in recent times, increased 

 very greatly in most cities in Europe. 



7. In reference to the influence of professions or occupations 

 on life, it seems that ecclesiastics are, on the whole, the longest, 

 and medical men are the shortest livers ; military men are 

 nearly between the two extremes, but yet, proportionally, they, 

 more frequently than others, reach very advanced years. 



8. The mortality is very generally greater in manufacturing 

 than in agricultural districts. 



9. Marriage is decidedly favourable to longevity. 



10. The mortality among the poor is always greater than 

 among the wealthier classes. 



11. The mortality in a population appears to be always pro- 

 portionate to its fecundity, — as the number of births increases 

 so does the number of deaths at the same time. 



Short Account of some Researches upon the Variations which take 

 place at certaiii times of the day in the Temperature of the 

 Lower Strata of the Atmosphere. By Professor Marcet.* 



The author first examines the observations which had previ- 

 ously been made upon this subject, and more particularly tjiose 



• Lq Soc. de Phy. et d'Hist. Nat. de Genvte. March lasa 



