1839.] Note by Dr. Kean on Qr. Stewart's Table of Mortality. 705 



registers kept, of such casualties as occur within the limits. A general 

 census, though desirable, is not absolutely necessary on the subject. 



In replying to the inquiries of the Secretary to the Prison 

 Discipline Committee, the writer of this took the opportunity of 

 suggesting the advantages that might be obtained from taking the 

 census and keeping registers in particular Zillahs, or in limited 

 districts around every Jail. It is obvious that such registers would 

 have been available for many purposes, but the advantage then mainly 

 insisted upon, was the facility that would have been afforded for 

 comparing the mortality in the Jails, with that in the surrounding 

 districts. It is understood that the suggestion was referred by the 

 authorities to the Sudder Dewanny, who discouraged it, on the ground 

 that it would lead to vexatious domestic intrusions. Convinced that the 

 plan might be carried into execution without causing either vexation 

 or annoyance, he selected a village containing 762 inhabitants, in the 

 neighbourhood of the Moorshedabad Jail, and kept a register of the 

 births and deaths for one year. During this period no death 

 occurred from childbirth. Next year the register was made to include 

 another village, embracing altogether a population of 2,778 persons, 

 and during this period there was entered only one death in childbed. 

 The registers for the first year were placed in the hands of your late 

 Secretary by Mr. Adam, and are doubtless to be found among the 

 papers of the Society. 



These registers are not alluded to here as any authority on this 

 subject, but merely as a practical evidence that they can be kept 

 without causing trouble or inconvenience to any one. It is to be 

 hoped, therefore, that Government will speedily institute measures for 

 ascertaining the truth on this important question. 



The above observations are by no means intended to convey the 

 idea, that the mortality among native females from the cause assigned 

 is not very great, on the contrary, it is believed to be excessive ; nor 

 is it likely to be otherwise till means are taken to disseminate among 

 them something like information, and to introduce something like 

 rational practice in reference to obstetric medicine. Yours truly, 



Moorshedabad, A. KEAN. 



11th October, 1839. 



Explanatory Note by Dr. Duncan Stewart, Superintendent General 



of Vaccination. 

 Mr. Kean has very justly pointed out a blunder in the note which 

 accompanied my Table, published in the April number of the Journal, 



