190 REPORT — 1842. 



of deaths, in all the years antecedent to 1841, would appear under the truth. 

 As we may assume that the increase of population from 1831 to 184-1 has been 

 progressively uniform during the intervening years, the amount of population 

 for the several towns of Scotland, as exhibited in the tables, has been calcu- 

 lated accordingly ; and on the amount of population thus obtained, the pro- 

 portions of the relative mortality of the different towns have been calculated. 



As it is an object of great interest and importance to observe the effect of 

 the seasons on the amount of mortality in different localities, tables are 

 added, showing the amount of deaths monthly for these towns, and also ex- 

 hibiting the proportions which the average of deaths in each month bear to 

 the annual average of deaths. 



Tables are also added, showing the amount of burials in each burying 

 place within the boundaries of the different towns ; but, as it does not always 

 follow that the inhabitants of the different localities make use of the burying- 

 ground in their immediate neighbourhood, no great reliance can be placed on 

 any information of this nature. These tables, however, assist to test the 

 accuracy of the other tables. 



Tables are also given, showing the amount of deaths by fever and eruptive 

 diseases under five, under twenty, and above twenty years of age, and the 

 proportion the deaths by these diseases bear to the whole deaths. The 

 results exhibited in these tables are well worthy of consideration. In the 

 present limited state of our knowledge of the vital statistics of the country, 

 it is obviously desirable that a minute analysis should be made of the fatal 

 effects produced by the various diseases on the population at different ages, 

 and under every variety of circumstances. By such analysis we may be en- 

 abled to trace those general laws by which nature appears to govern the di- 

 stribution of disease and mortality. Should this object be attained, a most 

 important step would be gained in the progress of our knowledge of vital 

 statistics, and the science itself be enhanced in utility. 



For several years past much labour has been bestowed on the Mortality 

 Bills of Glasgow, in order to exhibit the amount of mortality arising from the 

 various diseases at different ages ; considerable uniformity was noted in the 

 results of the fever and eruptive fever tables of Glasgow and other towns ; 

 and the confirmation this uniformity has received from the more extended 

 results now before us, leads to the belief that it cannot be looked upon as a 

 matter of chance, but that it indicates the possibility of our arriving, by a 

 still more extended sphere of observation, and by a more correct system in 

 the registration of the fatal diseases, at a knowledge of precise laws which 

 seem to regulate the amount of deaths at different ages by fever and eruptive 

 diseases. It may be too much to speak confidently of arriving at this very 

 desirable result, yet the evidence is sufficiently strong to justify the bringing 

 these circumstances under particular notice, which will be done in the re- 

 marks we have to make on the leading results brought out in these tables. 



With regard to the hospitals and dispensaries for the poor inhabitants of 

 these townsj they are placed on a very equal footing. To visit the Royal 

 Infirmary or the Dispensary of any one of these towns will lead to a correct 

 judgment of all the others. Differences may be observed as to the newness 

 of the building, or in some of the minor arrangements, but superintended as 

 they all are by suitable officers, the same high character of efficiency is com- 

 mon to all of them, and renders the benefit they confer on the poor and 

 destitute in time of sickness and bodily distress one of the greatest blessings 

 they enjoy. The differences, therefore, that are to be observed in the 

 amount of mortality in the towns, are not traceable to differences in the 

 means of affording medical relief! 



The first difference to be observed in the amount of the annual mortality 



