VOL. LXIV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 505 



IX. Further Proofs of the Insalubrity of Marshy Sitiuxtions. In a Letter from 



the Rev. Dr. Price, p. 96. 



" Dr. Priestley's paper, on the noxious effects of stagnant waters, read to the 

 B. s., brought to my remembrance, (says Dr. Price), a table, exhibitilrg the 

 rate of mortality in a parish situated among marshes, which I have aeen in 

 Mr. Muret's Observations, published in the Memoirs of the Economical Society 

 at Bern, for 1766. I have since reviewed this table, and found that it affords a 

 full confirmation of Dr. Priestley's assertions. This parish is a part of the 

 district' of Vaud, belonging to the canton of Bern, in Switzerland; and con- 

 tains 169 families, and 696 inhabitants. Mr. Muret's table, of the rate of mor- 

 tality in it, is formed from a register of the ages at which all died in it for 15 

 years. With this table he has also given tables, from like registers, of the rates 

 of mortality in 7 small towns; in 36 country parishes and villages; in 16 

 parishes situated in the Alps ; in 1 2 corn parishes, and in 1 8 vintage parishes. — 

 From comparing these tables, it appears, that the probabilities of life are highest 

 in the most hilly parts of the province, and lowest in the marshy parish just 

 mentioned. The difference is indeed remarkable, as will appear from the follow- 

 ing particulars. One half, of all bom in the mountains, live to the age of 47. 

 In the marshy parish, one half live only to the age of 25. In the hills, 1 in 

 20, of all that are born, live to 80. In the marshy parish, only I in 52 

 reaches this age. In the hills, a person aged 40 has a chance, of 80 to 1, for 

 living a year. In the marshy parish, his chance for living a year is not 30 to 1. 

 In the hills, persons aged 20, 30, and 40, have an even chance for living 4], 

 33, and 25 years respectively. In the fenny parish, persons, at these ages, have 

 an even chance of living only 30, 23, and 15 years. — In short, it appears, that, 

 though the probabilities of life, in all this country except this one parish, are 

 much higher than in London ; yet here, after 30, they are much lower. Before 

 the age of 30, they are indeed higher in this parish; the reason of which must 

 be, that the London air and customs are particularly noxious to children.* 



I am sensible, that observations for only 1 5 years, in one small parish, do not 

 afford so decisive and ample an authority, in the present case, as there is reason to 

 wish for; and that therefore the perfect exactness, of the particulars I have 

 recited, cannot be depended on. — ^They are, however, sufficiently near the truth 

 to demonstrate, in general, the unhealthfulness of a marshy situation." 



X. Of the Culture and Uses of the Son or Sun plant of Hindostan,^ with an 



* In London, one half of all that are bom, die under 3 years of age. But this is not peculiar to 

 London. In Berlin the same proportion dies under 3 ; and at Vienna under 2. — Orig. 



f This plant is described by Linn«us, under the name of Crolalaria juncea, vid. Spec. Plant. 



VOL. XIII. 3 T 



