408 



VITAL STATISTICS. 



IV. — Deaths. — The following table presents an abstract of all the 

 deaths registered in South Carolina during six years, viz : 



Deaths of Whites. 



Deaths of Negroes. 



The annual average of registered deaths to the pojDulation was 11.7 per 

 1,000. Among the whites it was 7 deaths to the 1,000, and among the 

 negroes 15.3, a disproportion not due altogether to the greater mortality 

 of negroes, but owing to the fact that the return of deaths among this class 

 of the population was more accurate, inasmuch as every case was reported 

 by a master, who had sustained thereby a severe pecuniary loss, and 

 was on this account less likely to overlook or forget the event. 



As regards the sexes, the proportion of deaths in both races together 

 was 100.8 males to 100 females. Among the whites it was 104.03 males 

 to 100 females ; among the negroes it was 99.76 males, a difference due in 

 part to the preponderance of males among the whites and females 

 among the negroes. 



Deducting the deaths from the births, we have an average annual rate 

 of increase for both races of 11.3 per 1,000. For the whites it is 6.6 per 

 1,000. For the negroes it is 14.6 per 1,000. 



