THE INFLUENCE OF URBAN .\ND RURAL ENVIRONMENT 357 



to live in the country will, on the average, Hve nearly 

 eight years longer than a male child similarly born and 

 Hving in the city. The difference for a female child is about 

 six years. These advantages of the country decrease numeri- 

 cally with advancing years, until at the age of fifty they 

 are about one-half the initial value. 



The Hfe tables deal with death rates at each specific 

 year of hfe and hence the results are automatically cor- 

 rected for any disparity in age grouping as between city 

 and country. It cannot be assumed, however, that the 

 generally greater expectation of hfe enjoyed by the country 

 dweller is due wholly to his physical environment. 



Table iv 



life expectancy in the original u. s. registration states 



(Bureau of the Census, U. S. Life Tables, 19 10) 



White Males 



* Difference in favor of rural is decreasing. 

 X Rural expectancy decreased. 



