4O Literary and Philosophical Society. 



the burials, exclusive of those amongst Dissenters, were 

 778. But since that time the populousness of Manchester 

 has considerably increased. Half of all that are born in 

 this town die under five years old. The island of Madeira 

 is so remarkably healthy, that two-thirds of all who are 

 born in it live to be married. Autumn is the most healthy, 

 and summer the most sickly season there. The mortality 

 of spring and summer is to that of autumn and winter as 

 115 to 1 00. In Manchester diseases are most frequent 

 and fatal in the months of January, February, and March ; 

 and least so in July, August, and September. The mor- 

 tality of these two seasons is as 1 1 to 8 ; and of the first six 

 months of the year compared with the last six months as 

 7 to 6, M. Muret, Secretary to the Economical Society 

 at Bern, informs us that he had the curiosity to examine 

 the register of mortality in one town, and to mark those 

 whose deaths might be imputed to intemperance. And 

 he found the number so great, as to incline him to believe 

 that drunkenness is more destructive to mankind than 

 pleurisies, fevers, or the most malignant distempers. 1 Such 

 are the important uses to which Tables of Human Mor- 

 tality have been applied. 



' The following plan of a more exact and comprehen- 

 sive register than has hitherto been kept, is submitted to 

 the consideration and correction of those who undertake 

 the charge of the Bills of Mortality in Manchester. 



' I. Let a table of christenings, marriages, and burials 

 be kept in every church, chapel, and place of religious wor- 

 ship in the town, and delivered at certain stated times to 

 the clerk of the parish church, to be formed into one 



1 See a very valuable treatise on Reversionary Payments, by the Rev. Dr. 

 Price ; fa& Bern Observations for the year 1766; Philosophical Transactions, 

 vol. Ivii. and lix. j and Dr. Short's New Observations. 



