16 



GENEKAL DEATH-EATB FOR ALL AGES, ETC. 



deaths for one year, it follows, if there be any material 

 difference in the respective living groups of different coun- 

 tries, that the total death-rate would show a corresponding 

 difference, even though the proportion of deaths yielded at 

 each age group were identical in the several countries com- 

 pared. Thus, though the death-rate of each specific age 

 group were identical in two countries, still the country 

 having the smaller percentage of old age and children living 

 would show a lower death-rate. ISay, more. If the variation 

 "be considerable, the country with the smaller percentage of 

 extremes of youth and old age living would show a lower- 

 total death-rate, even where the ratio of deaths at specific ages 

 was much higher. Take, for example, two towns of 100,000 

 inhabitants, as in the following illustration : — 



niustration of two towns, each with 100,000 inhabitants, but 

 differently proportioned as regards age groups living, 

 although the proportion of deaths yielded by both are 

 the same in relation to each age group. 





Pop. 



Percentage living 

 at 



No, Deaths per Year 



Deaths per 1,000 



Persons at each Age 



given. 













60 







60 



,_; 







60 



„• 







No. 



0-5 



5-60 



and 



0-5 



5-60 



and 



o 

 H 



1179 



0-5 



5-60 



and 















over. 

 1-87 



613 





over. 

 92 



88-00 



5-60 



over 

 49-18 



H 

 11-79 





Town A 



100,000 



13-50 



84-63 



474 



Dif.of 





























2-82 



Town B 



100,000 



17-01 



74-95 



8-04 



646 



420 



395 



1461 



38-00 



5-60 



49-18 



14-61 



per 

 1,000 



This is a good illustration of cases where the total death- 

 rate is a faulty comparative Index to the state of health or 

 sanitary condition, for the difference 2"82 per 1,000 is due 

 entirely to the varying proportion of persons living at each 

 age group, and not to any difference in the proportion of 

 deaths yielded by them. 



Illustration of two towns each with 100,000 inhabitants, 

 but differing in proportion as regards age grou.ps living, and 

 also differing in the proportions of deaths yielded by each 

 group. 





Pop. 



Pop, Percent, 



Living at each 



Age Group. 



No. of Deaths per 

 Year, 



Deaths perl.OOO 



Lives at each Age 



Group. 





No. 



0-5 



5-60 



60 

 and 



0-5 



5-60 



60 

 and 



3 



0-5 



5-60 



60 

 and 



"cS 









84-63 



over. 



1-87 



569 



654 



over. 

 115 



H 

 1338 



42-15 



7-73 



over, 

 61-53 



H 



Town C . . 



100,000 



13 -50 



13-38 



Town D . . 



100,000 



17-01 



74-95 



8-04 



646 



420 



395 



146138-00 



5 60 



49-18 



14-61 



Town E . . 



100,000 



17-01 



74-95 



8-04 



717 



579 



494 



1790,42 -15 



7-73 



61-53 



17-90 



