49 



infants to be baptised during the first two or three days 

 after birth — adds, that the proportion of deaths are /ess in 

 the city of Padua than in the country, because they are 

 much better clothed and protected from the cold in the 

 former than in the latter, — a statement confirmed by our 

 own bills of mortality, — the mean number of deaths, under 

 three years, being less in the metropolis than for the whole 

 of England and Wales, the ratio being : — 



England and Wales 343 in a 1000 



London alone 338 in a 1000 



The following table, compiled from the Registrar of 

 deaths for IX-L2, for the whole of England, and likewise 

 separate districts, not only confirmed the views stated, but 

 also indicated another feature in the inquiry, viz., the 

 excess of deaths during the first month, being on an average 

 four times greater than during either of the two successive 

 months : — 



Deaths under 3 Months. 

 1 



England : 



North Western Counties : \ 

 Cheshire and Lancashire J 



South Western Counties: \ 

 Wiltshire. Dorset, Devon, &c J 



Devonshire : \ 



So. Molton, Torrington, Sic... / 



Somersetshire : \ 



Taunton, Bridgwater, &c / 



Liverpool 



Manchester 



13987 5172 



2352 ' 928 



1027 359 



49 15 



24G 65 



298 111 



197 llu 



3653 I 1 to 2 as 14 to 5 — 1 to 3 as 4 to 1 



683 1 to 2 as 23 to 9 — 1 to 3 as 23 to 6 



£72 1 to 2 as 3 to 1 — 1 to 3 as 4tol 



5 1 to 2 as 49 to 15 — 1 to 3 as 9 to 1 



49 1 to 2 as 4 to 1 — 1 to 3 as 5 to 1 

 82 ! 1 to 2 as 3 to 1 — 1 to 3 as 30 to 8 

 82 1 to 2 as 19 toll - 1 to 3 as 19 to 8 



What was this element of destruction so prevalent at 

 the very dawn of existence. It could not be the universally- 

 admitted scourges, such as small pox, and other eruptive 

 diseases so fatal to childhood, for they did not occur until 

 from about the 6th or 8th month, and the number of 

 deaths were then twice as many in the first month as they 

 were during any three months in which these diseases 

 usually appeared. Many causes, no doubt, existed ; but 

 the marked difference observable between the number of 

 deaths at the 1st and 3rd months in town and country 

 districts, tended to strengthen this conviction in his mind, 

 viz. — That vicissitudes of climate, and cold in particular, 

 was one of the most potent causes ; for whatever might be 

 the wretchedness and misery of the poor in large towns, 

 they were generally better clothed and protected from 

 external atmospheric changes than those resident in country 

 districts. The explanation was this — that the power of 

 generating heat was less in the infant at birth, and for 

 some time after, than in the adult; therefore it was less 

 capable of resisting the action of cold and vicissitudes of 

 climate. This was clearly proved by the beautiful experi- 



