Estimate of the risk of Life, Sfc. [July, 



In the second five years our proportion is 209 out of 10,000 for 

 each year's deaths, whereas in England it is only 133 ; but this differ- 

 ence is no longer double, it is only a little more than 3 to 2. The 

 Gleanings' table gives 162. 



The third lustrum of residence is the most healthy period, accord- 

 ing to our table, and experience is in favor of the same conclusion. 

 The constitution is now adapted to the climate, and the seeds of pre- 

 mature decay, though they may have been sown, have not had time 

 to produce their effect. For this period of life India is nearly as safe 

 a place of residence as England, and it is the only period during which 

 there is any proximity at all in the ratios. From this time forward the 

 yearly value of life progressively and regularly decreases as age advances, 

 and it will be observed to do so much more rapidly in India than in 

 England. The error of principle in the calculations of the Gleanings 

 begins to be particularly observable in the ratios for the two periods 

 following the fourth. From 205 in 10,000, the rate of the third period, 

 the deaths according to that table advance to 411 for each year, after 

 a residence of 20 years, and to 811 for the years between 25 and 30 

 of residence. Our result, though as compared with the general mean 

 for England, worse for Indian residents of this standing, in the propor- 

 tion of 5 to 3, is nevertheless much less unfavorable than the rate above 

 quoted ; indeed, for the last period our rate is less than half that of the 

 Gleanings. 



The results for the years after the 30th of residence, are founded on 

 too low numbers to be built upon, and yet the average on the totals to 

 the 41st year comes pretty nearly to the rate one might have expected. 

 The further deterioration of value corresponds with that afforded by 

 the mean tables of Dr. Young for the same period of life, and may 

 be noted as a curious result, though the ratio cannot be looked upon 

 as established. 



In Table IV. I have thrown the results of Table III. into a form 

 to shew the decrement of life according to my computation of its value 

 for each separate year. This has heen done merely to satisfy the 

 curiosity Of those who delight in seeing the same results in different 

 shapes ; and because the published tables being ordinarily in this form, 

 it is convenient to present the means of ready comparison by giving 

 one to correspond. For any purposes of calculation, the separate value 

 ascertained for each year of Indian life, from the age of 20 to 50, seems 

 the more useful result to depend upon. 



