248 PROBLEMS OF HUMAN EVOLUTION 



large and important reductions. There are far fewer cases of 

 convulsions than formerly ; the victims are nearly all children, 

 and the diminution, amounting to no less than 256, 1 may be put 

 down to better feeding and better treatment generally. 



We have now, therefore, found another set of reductions. 

 Not only are the diseases due to microbes less prevalent or less 

 deadly, but better feeding and better life conditions generally 

 are diminishing the death-rate very largely among children. 



Where, then, has there been an increase ? But we must not 

 expect to find the two tendencies increase under some heads, 

 decrease under others balancing exactly, for there has been a 

 great diminution in the total death-rate during the period we are 

 considering, a diminution amounting to no less than 1786 for 

 each million persons. And this might suggest that there are 

 only insignificant increases, if we except those already men- 

 tioned nothing, in fact, to balance the very notable decreases. 

 Consti- However comforting this fancy may be, it is not borne out by 

 tutional t ^ e f acts . jf we re move tuberculosis in all its forms from the 



diseases 



constitutional diseases in the Registrar-General's report, we find 

 an increase of 223 in the death-rate attributed to those that 

 remain. Bright's disease also has raised its annual rate, and 

 by no less than 64 ; diseases of the circulatory system are be- 

 coming more deadly, showing an increase of 193. It may be 

 objected that this tendency shown by the non-microbic diseases 

 to raise the toll they demand, is due to the greater average 

 length of life : it may be that longevity gives congenital defects 

 time to tell. But this cannot be accepted as more than a very 

 partial explanation of the facts. 



It is evident that science is bringing about a great change. 

 It is relieving men of the necessity of fighting against murderous 

 microbes allied with any constitutional defects they may discover. 

 The microbes are being banished : therefore whatever a man may 

 have of inherited disease often attacks him unassisted. I assume 

 that disease germs are more fatal in the case of those who have 

 constitutional weaknesses. If we take a broad view, I think 

 this is beyond dispute. It will hardly be denied that defective 



1 In this and other cases per 1,000,000 persons living. 



