THE MALTHUSIAN THEORY 135 



to-day. Sweden has emerged from miserable conditions 

 of human life, which, if they could be realised by the 

 present inhabitants, would fill them with shuddering 

 amazement, into a brightness, comfort, and ease of life, 

 which its people would appreciate more highly if they 

 could look into the pit from which they have been 

 digged. And the same remark may be applied to 

 all civilised countries, including our own. 



The nineteenth century witnessed a marvellous 

 advance in the forces of civilisation, the effect of 

 which has been almost to transform the conditions of 

 human life. In the general improvement thus 

 brought about, nothing is more significant than the 

 lengthening in every country of the average span of 

 life. It tells not merely of the progress of sanita- 

 tion, but, in as great a degree, of more comfortable 

 homes, better food and clothing. 



It is a prevailing idea that the increase in the 

 length of the average life is due to the decline that 

 has taken place in the mortality of infants and young 

 children. But this is by no means the case. A 

 study of vital statistics such as are now available in 

 regard to all civilised countries for the last half- 

 century, makes evident the fact that, while infant 

 mortality fell greatly during that period, the mortality 

 at all ages of life fell in almost as great a proportion. 



The extirpation from Europe of pestilential visita- 

 tions, one of the most active of Malthus' positive 

 checks, has done much to reduce the mortality and 

 lengthen the average life. Since the beginning of 



