220 



Original Articles. 



[April, 



The same evidence adds that deaths by explosions are only 145, 

 and yet they horrify us the most. We forget the 236 who are being 

 crushed by falls of stone, caused mostly by ignorance or care- 

 lessness. 



We see that the greatest loss of life begins at the age called by 

 Dr. Farr the " intellectual." There we find that something like a 

 fourth of the time when the intellect is most powerful, is cut off from 

 those men, and two-thirds of the maturer age. 



There is not found in the habits of the people, at least in Corn- 

 wall, anything to account for these unhappy conditions. Their food 

 may not be the most wholesome that can be obtained, but it is better 

 than the food of some who do not so suffer. This we believe, but 

 cannot enter upon the subject. It is, however, enough to say that the 

 great health of the women and children shows that the evil is not to 

 be found in the food being imperfect. 



We must leave others to find out the unhappy and unwholesome 

 dwellings if these exist in greater numbers than elsewhere. 



With the behaviour and character of the people we were much 

 pleased, not having ever met a population in apparently better con- 

 dition. 



The great distance of the dwelling-house from the mine is a point 

 of very great importance to the workmen, and yet this inconvenience 

 is almost unavoidable when new mines open. The proprietors may 

 find that they would gain by conveying the men by railway or 

 omnibus. We now know better than formerly that nothing is to be 

 gained by overdriving or overworking ; although this is not com- 

 plained of at the mines. Overwork is done to a great extent will- 

 ingly, and it will always be done where there is a high-spirited 

 people. The long walks are a species of overwork, which, however, 

 we can scarcely lay to the charge of the employer. 



Out of 10,000 who attain the age of fifteen, there were registered 

 as dying : — 



Diarrhoea and Cholera 



Fever 



Diseased Heart and Dropsy 

 Consumption .... 

 Other Lung Disease . . 

 Accident or Violence . 

 All Lung Disease . . . 

 Lung Disease and Accident 



England 

 generally. 



547 



426 



928 



1,523 



1,343 



532 



2,866 



3,498 



Cornwall, 



230 

 324 



484 

 4,439 

 1,157 



782 

 5,596 

 6,378 



1,052 



385 



612 



680 



1,975 



2,782 



2,655 



5,437 



Durham. 



1,255 



307 



928 



948 



1,010 



1,312 



1,958 



3,270 



S. Wales. 



1,915 

 782 

 333 

 1,604 

 1,433 

 2,158 

 3,037 

 5,195 



It is to be observed that Dr. Barham and Mr. Hunt consider that 

 the effect of the mines is seen at an earlier age than shown by Dr. 

 Farr's statistics. The health seems to suffer some time before the 

 death-rate takes notice. Dr. Peacock also considers that the mines 



