VOL. LXV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 679 



Towns and in Country Parishes and Villages. By the Rev. Rich. Price, D. D., 

 F. R. S. p. 424. 



This society has lately been much obliged to Dr. Perceval, for the accounts 

 he has communicated of the state of population at Manchester and its adjacent 

 places. These accounts contain some facts which appear curious and important. 

 From the last in particular, there appears to be reason for concluding, that 

 whereas a 28th part of the inhabitants die annually in the town of Manchester, 

 not more than a 56th part die annually in the adjacent country. This implies a 

 difference so great between the rates of human mortality in these different situa- 

 tions, that some persons have thought it incredible. Dr. P. therefore offers the 

 following observations on this subject. 



In the first place, the evidence in this instance is such as seems to leave little 

 room for doubt. From an accurate survey it appears, that the number of in- 

 habitants in the town was 27246, in the year 1773. The number of deaths the 

 same year (and also the average for 1772, 1773, and 1774,) was 973 ; that is, 

 a 28th part of the number of inhabitants. From an equally careful survey it 

 appears, that the number of inhabitants in that part of the parish of Manchester 

 which lies in the country, was 13786. The number of deaths in 1772 was 

 246 ; that is, a 56th part of the number of inhabitants. The chief objection 

 to this evidence is, that the number of deaths in that part of the parish which 

 lies in the country is given only for one year ; whereas the average of several 

 years ought to be given. But first, the number of deaths in 1772, in the town 

 was nearly the same with the medium for 7 years ; and hence there arises a pro- 

 bability, that in the adjacent country, the rmmber of deaths, in the same year, 

 could not have been much lower than the medium. Secondly, supposing it 

 lower, there is the highest probability, that it was not more than a 4th or 5th 

 lower. Suppose then the true annual medium to be 300, instead of 246, and 

 it will follow, that whereas a 28th part of the inhabitants die in the town 

 annually, a 46th part die in the country ; and this is a difference very consider- 

 able. But the difference which this survey gives between the rate of mor- 

 tality in the town of Manchester and the adjacent country, is confirmed by 

 a variety of other accounts. It may be stated in general, that whereas in great 

 towns, the proportion of inhabitants dying annually is from 1 in 1 9 to 1 in 22 

 or 23, and in moderate towns from 1 in 24 to 1 in 28 ; in country parishes and 

 villages, on the contrary, this proportion seldom exceeds 1 in 40 or 50. The 

 proofs of this are numerous and unexceptionable. Thus, the number of inha- 

 bitants at Stockholm in 1/63 was 72979. The average of deaths for the 6 pre- 

 ceding years had been 3802. Therefore 1 in 19 died there annually. At 

 Rome, an account is taken every year of the number of inhabitants; and in the 

 year 1771 it was 159675. The average of deaths for 10 years had been 7367 : 



