150 H. R. Storer on the decreasing increase 
increasing with the increase of the latter and with the progress 
of medical science, it has been rapidly and steadily diminishing. 
In the discord of existing facts with the remaining propositions 
also, I have detected and shall make evident the disturbing cause. 
Since 1805, when returns were first made to the Registry of 
New York, the number, proportionate as well as actual, of foetal 
deaths in that city has steadily and rapidly increased. Witha 
population at that time of 76,770, the number of still and pre- 
mature births was 47; in 1849, with a population estimated at 
0,000 the number had swelled to 1320.* Thus while the pop- 
ulation had increased only siz times since 1805, the annual num- 
ber of still and premature births had multiplied over twenty-seven 
times! The following table shows the rapidity of this increase. 
Taste VIII.—Ratio of Fetal: Deaths to the population in New York. 
BOUU peeve a veuees 1 to 1633-40 LOGO Fras hes 1 to 597°60 
BOO Sees ees 1 “ 1025-24 1835 1“ 56988 
1815. 1“ 988:46 1840 1“ 51602 
1820 1“ 654°52 1845 1“ 38468 
RUUD) Sop o ous cbse ba 0°68 hc el iis Seg Bae 1 * 34090 
deaths in New York, already enormous, had very nearly doubled! 
_ IT now present a table showing the ratio of still births to the 
living births in various countries of Europe. 
Taste IX.—Ratio of Still to Living Births in Europe. 
Geneva 1824-88, ........... 1 to 17 (Prissia 1890-84, i. ..00050656 1 to 29 
Berlin (hospitals) 1758-74, .. 1018 Iceland 1817-28, ..........-- 1 to 30 
Paris (Maternité) 1816-35, .. 1 to 20 |Prague 1820, . 1to 30 
Sweden 1821-25, .......... 1 to 23°5/London (hospitals) 1749-81,... 1 to 31 
Denmark 1825-34,.......... 1 to 24 |Vienna 1823, rei ree 
fit 1OKTABE HS Sanh 60: 1 to 24-2| Austria 1828, .. oe 
In France at large in 1853 the ratio was 1 to 24. Department 
of Seine 1 to 15. In the city of Paris 1836-44, 1 to 143; 2 
1845-53, 1 to 138. The proportion of still births in the ru 
districts of France is governed by the same laws as in the me 
tropolis. In 363 provincial towns the ratio was, in 1836-45, 1 
to 19°5; in 1846-50, 1 to 18:8. 
* Report of the City Inspector for 1849. 
