TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 191 
4th. For districts in which the density varies from *84—"99. 
5th. For Lancashire (‘28 or jth acres); and 
6th. For the residue of the population of England and Wales. 
If it be true that increasing density of population, particularly in the sense in 
which it is understood in regard to barracks’ sleeping accommodation, has a tendency 
to augment diseases of the lungs more than all other diseases, then it is evident that 
districts in which the sleeping accommodation differs so widely must show a marked 
difference in the ratio of deaths taking place from phthisical causes. No doubt the 
results of the influence of a uniformly and generally increased density of population 
in a district which is not, in any considerable portion of it, highly intensified in its 
overcrowding, would be unfairly compared with the results of a district or section of 
population which is throughout overcrowded; but in London or Lancashire, and in 
the third district of England now under consideration, we have been long accustomed 
to hear reports through the “ Health of Towns Commission,” of great, and, in many 
instanees, of major portions of them being overcrowded to a degree which shocks 
morality and the ordinary notions of common decency. 
Into these details it is now unnecessary to enter; they are patent to all giving 
attention to questions affecting the public health. Although, therefore, there is no 
one district of the kingdom in which there is a uniform system of overcrowding, 
still there are many—and among them those now under review—in which the over- 
crowding of the large portions of them is such, that if the hypothesis be of any value, 
there must be at the least a slightly augmented ratio of death from consumption 
compared with the general ratio of increase from all causes. Let us see how far this 
is in agreement with recorded facts. 
It must be clearly understood that the hypothesis on which the Commissioners 
rest their conclusions is not simply that overcrowding may induce phthisis in an in- 
creased ratio—that would probably be denied by no one. 
In the army, the deaths from diseases of the lungs are absolutely, as well as rela- 
tively, to the deaths from all other causes, in a ratio so high, beyond all precedent 
and example, as to form a new and important problem for solution in vital statistics. 
The hypothesis, therefore, of the Commissioners resolves itself into the following :—- 
“That ‘overcrowding,’ although it increases the general mortality, has the peculiar 
characteristic of intensifying the deaths from diseases of the lungs greatly beyond 
those from all other causes.” 
It will be found that the total excess of deaths above the average for England and 
Wales is 1981°57, while at the same ages, in diseases of the ‘‘ respiratory organs” 
only, it will be seen, on referring to Abstract B. preceding, that there is an excess of 
no less than 1397°45 deaths, or at about 70 per cent. of the whole increase. 
This result deserves the most careful and patient consideration. According to the 
mortality of England and Wales, the normal ratio of deaths from diseases of the 
“respiratory organs” is 44°48 per cent.; and yet of the whole excess of deaths 
from all causes, no less than 70 per cent., as appears by Abstract B., is due to the 
organs of respiration. © 
The full importance of this result will be perhaps better appreciated by the fol- 
lowing illustration :— 
Actual number of deaths from diseases of the re- 
BIMBO Y, ULPUNS casdsidsccdccocceccccsccevancers Acti Air dibds, 
Normal number of deaths .......csecceeenee bake cake tes =1277°6 
Difference of eXcesS...ssssscseseesecescesseseeeees == 1397°4==109 per cent. 
If the residue of the deaths from all other causes whatever be viewed in this man- 
ner, the results are— 
Actual number of deaths from all other causes....=1807‘0 
Normal number of deaths...,......s.ssecccscsesseveees = 12118 
Difference or excess.......s..s00e+ sesgeseveccceese = 595°2= 49 per cent. 
These results conclusively show that the condition of the army is such as to in- 
duce an excess of diseases of the organs of respiration, with a much higher intensity 
