292 Mr W. Fraser on the Histori/ and Constitution of' 



" It further appears, that, in the two musters which took place, 



Rank and File. 

 On 25th January 1823 and 1824, there were 24,281 



25th February, 

 25th March, - 

 25th April, 

 25th May, 

 25th June, 

 25th July, 

 25th August, - 

 25th September, 

 25th October, 

 25th November, 

 25th December, 



25,11^ 

 25,183 

 2C,157 

 26,244 

 25,649 

 25,417 

 27,007 

 27,416 

 27,401 

 26,840 

 26,983 



Total, 313,695 14049 being 4.478553 



But, on the whole two years, 

 the rate of sickness is remark- 

 ably constant and uniform, and 

 being equal to 4.478553 ^ cent, 

 this is the same as if 100 soldiers 

 had sustained among them 233 

 - weeks of sickness every year, or 

 as if each had been sick 2.33 

 weeks, which is more than thrice 

 the quantum of sickness prevail- 

 ing among Benefit Societies, ac- 

 cording to the returns of the 

 Highland Society. 



" In this state of uncertainty, and until more extensive information as to the 

 sickness prevailing among the labouring classes can be obtained, we can only 

 adopt the data furnished by the exertions of the Highland Society as the 

 measure of Value for Sick Allowances ;" and, upon that data, Mr Finlaison 

 then gives numerous rules and tables, shewing, at every age, the sums requi- 

 site for defraying any specified allowances, in sickness, old age, and at death. 

 He concludes by remarking, that " If, in our present uncertainty as to the 

 fact of the frequency and duration of sickness among the labouring classes, 

 we were permitted to assume, what may seem a reasonable hypothesis, the 

 following might perhaps be hazarded, merely as speculation : 1st, That every 

 sickness terminating in death is, on a medium, of five weeks' duration ; and, 

 2dly, That the sickness which terminates in death is, on a medium, one- 

 twelfth part only of the sickness to which mankind is subject." — Rep. p. 152. 

 The Committee also applied for information on the subjects of their in- 

 quiry to the Philanthropic Society of Paris, through Baron B. Delessert, a 

 gentleman who, in connection with that institution, had taken a great deal of 

 trouble on behalf of Friendly Societies in France. A number of interesting do- 

 cuments were in consequence received as to the population, births, and mortality 

 of France ; but the Baron remarks, that, " although our researches were re- 

 newed, on the publication of an interesting Report made by Mr Oliphant, in- 

 serted in the Transactions of the Highland Society, we have not as yet been 

 able to procure from the different societies in Paris, a table of diseases and 

 mortality sufficiently accurate and complete to send you. But after an ex- 

 perience of fifteen years, we have satisfactory grounds for believing, that out 

 of 100 operatives, from 20 to 60 years of age, there are constantly on an ave- 

 rage one to two confined to their beds by sickness ; and two to three suffering 

 under lighter illness, or convalescent."— i?^;). p. 162. 



