TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 117 
. in five or six weeks. The apparent difference of these two reports 
from the same place arises from the one recording the deaths in con- 
sequence of the disease, and the other stating the number of ad- 
missions into the infirmary—thus showing that the date of the greatest 
number of deaths will consequently follow, at a more or less distance 
of time, the date of the highest prevalence of the disease as to general 
seizure. 
In adverting to the more interesting register of the burials during 
the prevalence of the epidemic, it is seen how much the mortality of 
the place was increased, in comparison with the average mortality 
during the same months of the five previous years. ‘The increase on 
the whole three months is equal to 45 per cent.; and for the month of 
February alone it amounted to 160 per cent. Of the 420 deaths, 205 
were males and 215 females, while the sexual proportion of our annual 
deaths is as 109 males to 100 females. Nearly the half, 208, of the 
whole 420 deaths were under twenty years of age, while the half of the 
annual deaths during the five previous years were under three years 
and ten months. The augmentation of this mortality must entirely be 
attributed to the influenza, and I even think a good deal more is owing 
to the epidemic, as very few serious diseases took place and were fatal 
but what the prevailing epidemic was connected with ; and it was often 
the sole destroyer of patients lingering under chronic ailments or diseases, 
necessarily, yet otherwise not so speedily fatal. The mortality during 
this period bore more upon the aged and infirm than upon the young 
and infants, who generally form the great amount of our deaths, and 
decide, according to the rise and fall of their mortality, the annually 
ranging rate of our total deaths to the population. Under one year 
21:9 per cent. of the whole 420 died during the epidemic, while 
the average this age for the same months of the five previous years 
was 26°6 per cent. The same diminished proportion is observed 
during the second year of life. These ratios in favour of early 
life, during the prevalence of the epidemic, continue until we reach 
the thirtieth year, after which, it is seen, that the ratio for adult life 
augments very much, contrary to what is observed in the average 
course of our mortality. For instance, between the years 45-49, the 
ratio of deaths to the whole during the epidemic was 6°2 per cent., 
_ while, at the corresponding ages in the five previous years, it was only 
2:7 per cent. Nearly the same disparity obtains at the quinquennial 
period of sixty-five to sixty-nine ; and through all the advanced years 
of life, mortality is seen to have borne with double and treble force, 
- compared with the ordinary rate at those periods during the former 
years. 
The few reports which I have seen from other parts of the united 
kingdom coincide in this high rate of mortality affecting the advanced 
years of life during the prevalence of the epidemic, and the comparative 
immunity which those of younger years enjoyed, at least, from its fatal 
consequences. From a Report, by Dr. Clendinning, on the admissions 
at the Marylebone Infirmary during the six weeks that the epidemic 
prevailed, it appears, that though the admissions were seventy from 
