20 Mr. T. 11. Edmonds on Vital Force according 



time. In these observations the ages and numbers of the con- 

 temporary living and dying are given for quinquennial intervals 

 at all ages above five years of age, and for biennial and annual 

 intervals below that age. Next in time and very high in rank 

 conies the observation of the living and dying, according to age, 

 of the population of Carlisle, made for the nine years ending with 

 the year 1787. This observation was made spontaneously by a 

 private individual, Dr. Heysham, without aid in money or labour 

 from the public. This observation, on the vital force, according 

 to age, of the population of a town of no great magnitude, is 

 in accuracy and form of so high a character, that it is equal in 

 value to any ordinary observation of the same kind made on a 

 population a hundred times as great in extent. Last in time 

 comes the observation on the living and dying, according to age, 

 of the population of England for the seventeen years 1838-1854. 

 This observation was published in the year 1864, by authority 

 of the Registrar- General for England, and was accompanied by 

 the "English Life Table" deduced therefrom by Dr. William 

 Earr. 



In the earlier part of the English observation, made for the 

 seven years ending with 1844, and published in 1849, the num- 

 bers of the living and dying, according to age, were given for 

 quinquennial intervals at all ages above 15 years. But in the 

 observation for the total period of seventeen years ending with 

 1854 the numbers living and dying, according to age, are given 

 for decennial intervals only at ages above 15 years. No reason 

 has been assigned for thus withholding information which is very 

 valuable as an index of the truth, or want of truth, in the re- 

 ported ages and numbers of the living and dying on which the 

 "English Life Table" is founded. On the present occasion, 

 however, this defect in the English observation for the entire pe- 

 riod of seventeen years has been remedied, as may be seen on 

 reference to Tables IV. and V. hereunto annexed. The rates 

 of mortality for decennial intervals of age have been given for 

 the period of seven years and for the period of seventeen years, 

 whilst the rates for quinquennial intervals of age have been given 

 also for the seven years ending with 1844. From these data 

 the quinquennial rates for the seventeen years ending with 1854 

 have been determined as nearly as can be desired for any useful 

 purpose. 



All Tables of mortality,. especially those founded on good ob- 

 servations, agree with one another in exhibiting one uniform 

 progressive rate of increase of vital force according to age during 

 childhood ,and another uniform progressive rate of decrease accord- 

 ing to age daring manhood, reckoning from puberty to the latest 

 age of lite. The true law according to which the vital force uni- 



