BY E, M. JOHNSTON, F.I.S. 19 



and is convenient for effecting comparisons with, 

 countries where the rates yielded for the particular 

 groups are already computed. 



h. " The Actual Health Staiidard" for ages under 60, giving 

 the true yield of deaths per 1,000 persons actually 

 living under the same age limit in each, country, and 

 thus effecting the best form of index as regards the 

 comparative health and sanitary condition of different 

 countries, by the elimination of the healthy old age 

 element. 



Of course these and other standards are supplementary to 

 the more minute analysis, showing the actual death-rate at 

 each specific age group. 



That there is a great disx)arity in the proportion of living 

 persons at each age group in the Australasian Colonies has 

 already been shown, but it is nowhere so strikingly apparent 

 as in the Colonies of Tasmania, Queensland, andlSTew Zealand, 



This is at once apparent by observing the proportions in 

 each Colony of persons living, and of deaths occurring in the 

 old age group. . 



Percentages op Deaths 60 Yeaes and Ovee. 



Persons living 60 years and over. Deaths, 60 yrs. & over. 



1. Tasmania .. S-Qi percent. (1881 census.) 36"74 percent. (1885) 



2. Victoria ... 4-65 „ „ 20.75 „ „ 



3. South Australia ... 413 „ „ .17-48 „ „ 



4. N. S. Wales ... 4-31 „ „ 16.34 „ „ 



5. New Zealand ... 272 „ „ 14-67 „ „ 



6. Queensland ... 1-87 „ „ 6-38 „ „ 



Here we are at once struck with the fact that, included 

 within the total death-rate in Tasraania (15-40 per 1,000 

 persons), there is 36-14 per cent, of the total deaths for ages 

 60 years and over. While in the total death-rate of Queens- 

 land (18'47per 1,000 persons) there is only included 6-38 per 

 cent, of the total deaths for ages 60 years and over. That 

 this is solely due to the greater number of persons in 

 Tasmania living at this age group (8-04 per cent), and not 

 because of lack of health, is made unmistakably evident by 

 computing the mean of all ages at death in the 60 years and 

 over age group. This would show : — 



Percentage of death Mean age at 

 60 and over. death. 



(Tasmania 36-74 



( Queensland ... ... 6-38 



Victoria 20-75 



South Australia ... 17-48 



New South Wales ... 16-34 



New Zealand 14-67 



77-71 years. 



70-31 



71-54 



72-69 



72-63 



71-36 



