( n ) 



in the summer quarter. The mean daily number of births was 1974. 

 The birth-rate in the quarter was 3'429 per annum, against an 

 average of 3-325. 



In the foui'th quarter (October, November, December) the number 

 of births was 179,020. The birth-rate was 3"370, against an average 

 rate of 3-297. 



In the third quarter 113,404 deaths were registered, and the mor- 

 tality was at the annual rate of 2-141 per cent. ; that is -169 above 

 the average, but diflfering little from the mortality of the two pre- 

 ceding summer quarters. 



This is the result of a balance of high and low rates in the eleven 

 divisions of the kingdom. The rate for all England was 21 per 1000 

 living in the two summer quarters of 1864 and 1865. Yorkshire 

 here proclaims aloud in tlie increasing death-rate her sanitary 

 failings ; the summer mortality rose from 24 to 25. In Lancashire 

 and Cheshire the mortality was 23 and 26. The Eastern Counties 

 also experienced an increase ; so did the Northern Counties. There 

 was a decisive fall in the mortality of Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, 

 Worcestershire, and Warwickshire, reducing the mortality of the 

 West Midland Counties from 22 to 19. Various sanitary improve- 

 ments have been carried out with good effect. This is also the case 

 with London, where the works of the Metropolitan Board are appa- 

 rently beginning to display their effects. The mortality of London 

 in the summer quarter of 1864 was at the rate of 24 ; in the summer 

 of 1865 it was 22. 



In the fourth quarter 121 ,304 deaths were registered ; and the mor- 

 tality was at the rate of 2-284 per cent, annually. It was lower than 

 it had been in the same quarter of 1864, but slightly higher than 

 the autumnal average (2-180). 



The rate of mortality in the country districts was about 19 in 

 1000 living; in the town districts nearly 26, and in the kingdom 

 generally nearly 23 per 1000 living. 



The mortality was lowest in the South- Western Counties (19), 

 highest in the North- \\'estern Counties (29) ; thus the annual rate 

 was 10 per thousand higher in Lancashire and Cheshire round the 

 Mersey than it was in the counties between the Bristol Channel and 

 the British channel. 



The following Table shows how great is the waste of human life 

 in many large towns where the productive industry of the nation 

 is most active, and where science is applied to almost every purpose 

 except the preservation of health : — 



