664 



ANNUAL EEPOKT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1910. 



this epidemic in itself, like other epidemics, such as the plague and 

 cholera, must decrease after a certain lapse of time. 



If this were its natural course then the decrease would proceed 

 everywhere in a uniform manner. But this is by no means the case. 



Table 3. — Mortality from consumption in Massachusetts, Japan, Gnat Britain, 



and Norway. 



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In most countries, it is true, the curve descends, but there are others 

 in which it rises. It will be seen by consulting Table 3 that England, 

 Scotland, and the American State of Massachusetts (chosen because 

 its statistics reach far enough back) have a decreasing death rate 

 from consumption, while in Ireland, Norway, and Japan it is increas- 



