126 DR. ARTHUR RANSOME ON THE 



have not yielded to any other explanation^ and that a change 

 of the position must take place, but that the amount re- 

 quired is greater than the changes since the Miocene would 

 lead us to anticipate as caused in a direct manner ; but if 

 there is a cumulative effect, then it may be explained. 



The idea thrown out for examination is, whether the 

 frequent changes in direction, which are caused by a force 

 working in various parts of the world, would not thus give 

 a sufficient increase to the amount calculated. 



XVIII. — Losses and Gains in the Death-toll of England 

 and Wales during the last Thirty years. By Arthur 

 Ransome, M.A., M.D. 



Read March 20th, 1877. 



In a paper recently read before this Society^ Mr. Baxendell 

 endeavours, with much research and ability, to reckon up 

 the gains and losses in the mortality of England and Wales 

 from different diseases. If the records upon which he 

 bases his conclusions had been entirely trustworthy, the 

 results which he has obtained would, doubtless, have been 

 valuable, and might, perhaps, have indicated the presence 

 of certain influences bearing upon the public health ; but 

 even so, I venture to think that the figures he adduces 

 would not bear out the inferences which he attempts to 



* " On Changes in the Rates of Mortality from different Diseases during 

 the Twenty years 1854-73," sitpra, pp. 61-73. 



