ON THE VITAL STATISTICS OF LARGE TOWNS IN SCOTLAND. 193 



been quite so favourable for that city during the winter months as is made to 

 appear by these tables. The amount of deaths from fever and influenza, 

 which was excessive in the beginning of 1837, is included in the results 

 brought forward for the other towns, but it has not been obtained for Edin- 

 burgh. The relative proportions of the deaths during the different months, 

 as exhibited in these tables, are therefore more correct for the other towns 

 than they are for that city. 



Whatever influence the vicissitudes of the atmosphere may have, there are 

 obviously other causes greatly affecting mortality, such as a free circulation 

 of air, drainage, cleanliness, temperance, the abundance of wholesome food, 

 clothing, fuel, and the occupations of the people. 



One of the objects of research in vital statistics is to make comparisons of 

 the effects produced on different communities similarly situated with regard 

 to these various circumstances, and to observe how far the same causes pro- 

 duce the same results on the human frame. 



But it must be of rare occurrence to find two towns similarly situated 

 in all these respects. In the towns for which these tables are constructed, it 

 will be observed, that while some approach near to each other in some 

 points, both in regard to their sanitary condition and the circumstances of 

 the people, yet they differ in others, and the difference is accompanied with 

 a greater or less amount of mortality. 



From the tables in which the deaths are brought forward for a series of years, 

 it will be seen (Tables XXXII. to XLIX.) that the greatest number of deaths 

 at the very early ages takes place in Glasgow and Dundee, towns possessing 

 many features common to both ; their manufactures, commerce and public 

 works resemble each other, the wages of the working classes, the appearance 

 of their houses, and the rents paid for them, are much the same, and the price 

 of food is nearly equal in both places. The deficiency of proper drainage, the 

 accumulation of impurities, and the want of a free circulation of air, are very 

 observable in both cases. In both towns there is a large proportion of the 

 wretchedly poor, though the largest proportion is decidedly in Glasgow. 



It appears (Tables LI. and LIV.) that the average annual amount of mor- 

 tality in Glasgow for the last five years is as 1 to 31*10, or 3*21 per cent.; 

 and in Dundee, for the same years, as 1 to 38*37, or 2*60 per cent. We have 

 already stated that the accuracy of these results depends on whether or not 

 the number of deaths which take place in these towns, with burial in the 

 country, or the deaths that take place in the country, with burial in the 

 towns, balance each other. A more -correct judgment may therefore be 

 formed of the relative mortality of these towns by a comparison of the ages 

 at which death takes place than by these general results. 



By referring to Tables LI. and LIV., it will be found that the proportion of 

 deaths at Glasgow under one year of age, to the population on an average 

 of years, exceeds that of Edinburgh by 0*178 per cent. In Dundee the pro- 

 portion is greater than in Edinburgh by 0*086 per cent. The excess of deaths 

 at one and under two years of age in Glasgow over those in Edinburgh, is 

 0*21 per cent.; in Dundee, 0*07 per cent. At two and under five years of 

 age the excess of deaths in Glasgow is greater than in Edinburgh by 0*18 

 per cent. ; and in Dundee by 0*11 per cent. Again (Table LXXIV.), it ap- 

 pears that in Glasgow the average annual proportion of deaths under five 

 years of age, to the mean population, is 1*43 per cent., and to the whole 

 average annual deaths is 44*58 per cent.; while in Dundee the proportion of 

 deaths under these years, to the population, is 1*13 per cent., and to the 

 whole average deaths is 46*82 per cent. Table LXXVI. shows that in Glas- 

 gow 1*79 per cent, per annum of the population die under twenty years of 

 age, and in Dundee 1*38 per cent. It will be observed, however, that the pro- 



1842. o 



