1866.] CARPENTER — ON VITAL STATISTICS. 145 



was probably greatest during the American war, and least in 1866, 

 when the nominally high wages in the United States tempted 

 many to emigrate. Due allowance is made for the excess of deaths 

 over births in 1854 and 1864. 



The following table presents the total population; the total 

 deaths ; the deaths of all above 12 years of age, called adults ; and 

 of those under 12, classed as children. Corresponding columns 

 exhibit the proportion of each entry of death to 1000 living per- 

 sons of all ages. A separate column exhibits the proportion be- 

 tween every 100 deaths of persons of all ages above 12, and the 

 corresponding deaths in the same year below 12. /// every year 

 except 1866, the latter are more than double. — In order to render 

 more conspicuous the high death-rate of the city, a tenth column 

 shews the average group of individuals among whom a single death 

 occurs, viz. : among every 30 in the healthier years, every 28 in 

 the balance of years, every 22 in 1864, and every 17 in the cholera 

 year. The eleventh column shews the actual number of deaths 

 which occurred in the city above the rural average ; that is, of 

 lives which might have been saved, had the people been scattered 

 over the neighbouring counties. The last column presents the 

 same excess of city death, as compared with each 1000 living. 



It will be observed that although so large a proportion of the 

 moribund population were killed off in the. cholera year, the 

 succeeding year, 1855, was still unhealthy. From 1856-1859, 

 the mortality, though frightfully great, was below the average. 

 The six years from 1860-1865 march on with steady course, 

 presenting a death-rate only equalled, in the worst English cities, 

 during periods of special pestilence. In 1866, there is a 

 marvellous and sudden rebound to the death-rate of the least 

 unhealthy year, 1858. During 1864, there was a terribly fatal 

 epidemic of scarlatina, its virulence being no doubt caused by the 

 accumulations of xymotic poison, which then attained their 

 . maximum. These fluctuations are brought out most strongly in 

 the column for children's deaths : they are much slower in 

 affecting adults. With them the rise does not begin till 1863 ; 

 it is even somewhat lower in 1864 ; and there is no change for 

 the better in 1866. ' 



Vol. ILL K No. 2. 



