88 



BIOLOGY OF DEATH 



construct the diagram which, is shown in Figure 21. 

 Each circle marks a point where it was possible definitely 

 to calculate an expectation of Kfe. The curve running 

 through the circles is a rough graphic smoothing of the 

 scattered observed data. Unfortunately, there were no 

 records of deaths in early infancy. Either there were 

 no baby mummies, or if there were they have disappeared. 



ZS X 35 5o "^ 50 £5 OO 65 TO 75 80 35 90 ^~ 



YiARS or AGH 



Fig. 21. — Comparing the expectation of life of Ancient Egyptians with that of present 

 ' day Americans. Plotted from Pearson's and Glover's data. 



For comparison, the expectation of life from Glover's 

 1910 United States life table is inserted. 



It will be seen at once that the general sweep of the 

 line is of the same sort that we have already observed 

 in the case of the seventeenth century table. In the 

 early years of life the expectation was far below that of 

 the present time, but somewhere between ages 65 and 70 

 the Egyptian line crosses the modem American line, and 

 from that period on the individuals living in Egypt at 

 about the time of the birth of Christ could apparently look 

 forward to a longer remainingduration of life, on the aver- 



