721 



The new Life-Tables consist of three sections, the first represent- 

 ing persons, the second males, and the third females, each section 

 consisting of six columns. On the opposite page is an extract from 

 the first of the sectional Tables. 



The properties of these columns are described, and a collection of 

 useful formulas is added. The curious and useful properties of the 

 new column y are illustrated. 



The mean annual mortality in England was at the rate of 22 in 

 1000; but in eighteen districts the mortality ranged from 28 to 36 

 in 1000, and in sixty-four districts the mortality ranged from 15 

 to 16 and 17 in 1000 ; in the other districts it was at intermediate 

 rates. The Table has been constructed from sixty-three of the 

 districts in which the mortality did not exceed 17 in 1000. 



Halley first pointed out some of the financial applications of the 

 Life-Table, and the new Table shows that the mean duration of life 

 among large classes of the population exceeds considerably the ex- 

 pectations of life deduced from the ordinary Tables. The science of 

 public health has been developed since Halley' s day ; and here a 

 new application of the Life-Table is found. If we ascertain at what 

 rate a generation of men die away under the least unfavourable 

 existing circumstances, we obtain a standard by which the loss of 

 life under other circumstances is measured ; and this I have endea- 

 voured to accomplish in the New Life-Table. And recollecting that 

 the science of public health was almost inaugurated in England by a 

 former President of this Society, who crowned the sanitary dis- 

 coveries of Captain Cook, I feel assured that the Society will receive 

 with favour this imperfect attempt to supply sanitary inquirers with 

 a scientific instrument. 



