PHYSICAL EVOLUTION 227 



fairly correct relatively to one another. But probably as we 

 near the present day, they approximate more and more nearly to 

 accuracy. In spite of this nearer approximation, if I am right in 

 assuming it, there is a marked decrease in the death-rate. When, 

 however, we find that, even in 1896, of every hundred persons 

 who died in England no less than 45^ were under twenty years 

 of age, we cannot but suspect that the Bills of Mortality are 

 only roughly correct. 



We are not on thoroughly solid ground till we come to the 

 first of the annual reports issued by the Registrar General in 

 1839. Since then the rate of mortality has declined to a very 

 appreciable extent. It is true that the death-rate among infants 

 under one year of age does not show any marked decline. In- 

 deed, from 1841-50 of every 1000 children born in London 157 

 on the average died in their first year, and from 1891-97 the 

 average has been 157-85. But when we take the annual mor- 

 tality of children in the first five years of life, then the decline 

 is unmistakable, and still more so between the ages of six and 

 ten, and eleven and fifteen. 



Deaths of males to looo living in England. 



YEARS OF AGE. 

 1-5. 5-10. 10-15. 



1841-50 71-2 9-2 5-1 

 1851-60 72-7 8-5 4-9 

 1861-70 73-5 8-2 4-5 



1871-80 68'5 67 37 



1881-90 6 1 -6 5-4 3-0 



1891-95 62-1 4-5 2-5 



It is after 1870 that the decline between the ages of one 

 and five first appears. Among female children the tendency is 

 the same and still more decided. But the tide turns after a 

 a certain age, and earlier among men than among women. 



