276 



8h. 4' 57" p.m., and Achernar at its eastern elongation at 8h. 49' 40" p.m. 

 and the difference of their readings was 7G^ 10' 34" . To find their 

 azimuths A and B. 



Tan. h (A— B) = Tan. -|- (A + B) Tan. i (D + E) Tan. h (D— E) 

 Log. Tan. ?, (A— B) = Log. Tan. i (A + B) + Log. Tan. i (D + E) + Log. 

 Tan. 1 (D— E) 



= Log. Tan. (38^ 5' 17") + Log. Tan. (63° 19' 10") + Log. Tan. (5^ 29' .3.5") 



= 9-8941851 + 10-2987972 + 8-9830243 



= 9-1760066 

 Tan. 1 (A— B) = 8° 31' 45" 



i (A + B) = 38° 5' 17" as observed 



i (A— B) = 8° 31' 45" as above. 



Ilierefore l)y adding and subtracting these equations we get — 

 A= 46° 37' 2" and B = 29" 33' 32" 



OBSEEVATIONS ON ME. E. M. JOHNSTON'S VITAL 



STATISTICS. 



By a. B. Biggs. 



[Bead November 17, 1884.] 



It would be presumptuous in me to discuss in detail the 

 interesting and ably-compiled Vital Statistics issued by Mr. 

 Johnston for the year 1883. There is one branch of the sub- 

 ject, however, to which my attention was drawn by a sub-leader 

 in the 3Iercury of 10th September, upon which, as it comes 

 somewhat within my own line of study, I think I may, with- 

 out impertinence, make a few observations. I quote from the 

 article referred to : — " The course ofinvestigationhasled to the 

 discovery that there is a coincidence between the minimum and 

 maximum sun-spot periods and the death-rates, and again, with 

 the position of the planet Jupiter in his orbit. The maximum 

 sun-spot period appears to be when Jupiter is between aphelion 

 and perihelion ; and this corresponds with the lowest death-rate, 

 that is, when the depression in the diagram is greatest. On 

 the other hand, the minimum sun-spot period appears to be 

 when Jupiter is at perihelion, and this corresponds with the 

 highest point of the diagram of the death-rate, etc." This 

 appears to me to fairly represent the conclusion at which Mr. 

 Johnston has arrived, and which his diagram, so far as it goes, 

 appears to show. Now, the point that immediately struck me 

 on reading this was, that the fluctuations of the' death-rate 



