VITAL STATISTICS. 413 



from Colic, Dyspepsia, Enteritis, Gastritis, Hepatitis, Jaundice, Diseases of the 

 Liver, Peritoneum, Spleen and Stomach, d'c. There were two deaths among 

 negroes from Dirt Eating, both females, one of whom was between ten and 

 fifteen years, and the other of unknown age. 



Diseases of the Nervous System, comprising Class III., are the next in 

 order, giving a mortality of 10.03 per cent., which is considerabh^ higher 

 in 1859 than in any one of the five preceding j^ears. This class has been 

 found more fatal to whites in each one of the past years, although more 

 deaths of negroes are ascribed always to the indefinite " Convulsions,' 

 the most fatal of all causes under this head, as well as to I'rismus 

 Nascentium. Apoplexy, Delirium Tremens, Hydrocephalus, Neuralgia, Paralysis 

 and Disease of the Spine, were all more severe with whites. 



The l'2th Class, external causes or violence, produced, in 1859, 7.54 per 

 cent, of all the deaths, which is a little more than the average for six years. 

 As might be expected, it is more than doubly fatal to slaves than to whites, 

 the principal figures being from Barns, Accidents and Sujfoccdion, (infants 

 smothered, choked or overlaid.) Very few slaves died of Homicide, Intem- 

 perance, Neglect, Poison and Suicide. 



Old Age, which forms the 11th Class, furnished 4.41 per cent., which 

 is a little below the average for six years. In slaves, the mortality in 

 1859 was 4.97, and in whites only 2.75 per cent. A very similar dif- 

 ference in the two races is observed every year. As to sex, the femaks 

 were in the majority in both races. 



