PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 165 



Mr. Billings continued bis remarks upon the Methods of the 

 Tenth Census, and described the methods of compiling the mortality- 

 statistics and the forms of tables to be used. The importance of 

 these forms is greater than usual since they will probably serve to a 

 certain extent as models for the State Censuses of 1885. The want 

 of uniformity in tables of mortality was shown by a chart in which 

 the various forms were compared. The various items given in a 

 return of death, viz., sex, age, color, civil condition, nativity, par- 

 entage, occupation, month of death, locality and cause of death, 

 were commented on, and it was shown that to present all these facts 

 in their various relations, would require several hundred quarto 

 volumes. A selection, therefore, becomes necessary. The relative 

 value of giving the causes of death in detail is very much less in 

 tables to be prepared from the enumerator's schedules than in those 

 prepared from the returns of a system of registration where the 

 cause of death in each case has been certified to by a physician. 



The importance of a proper tabulation by locality is very great 

 and a certain amount of data should be given by counties. A form 

 of mortality return by counties was shown and explained. The 

 distinction between nativity and race or parentage was explained, 

 and great importance attached to the giving the parentage as fully 

 as possible in the present census. 



The modes of compiling by schedule sheets, by cards, and by 

 tallying machines were then explained. The subject of life tables 

 for the United States was briefly discussed — the ground being taken 

 that such a table for the whole country would have little or no 

 practical value, and that life tables by States would be much more 

 desirable and important. 



Kemarks were made on this paper by Messrs. Mason, Antisell, 

 Toner, and Harkness. 



The communication was followed by one from Mr. S. C. Busey, 

 on the 



RELATION OF METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS TO THE SUMMER 



DIARRHCEAL DISEASES. 



[Abstract. The paper will be found in Vol. 32, Transactions American Medical 



Association.] 



An analysis of the mortality statistics of these diseases leads to 

 the following conclusions : 



