70 'Bates of Mortality 



climate, independently of other conditions affecting health and 

 life, may be more favourable at an early age than the climate of 

 England, but not so well calculated for the development of a 

 strength of constitution likely to endure to old age. 



In all countries, so far as I am aware, for which exact mortality 

 tables have been formed for the sexes separately, it has been found 

 that on the Avhole females live longer than males, the expectation 

 of life of a female being always greater than that of a male of 

 the same age. It has been supposed that this arises partly, if not 

 entirely, from the greater dangers into which the tastes and 

 habits of men are likely to lead them, and their greater liability 

 to death or deterioration of health from dangerous or unhealthy 

 occupations. The English tables, however, prove most conclu- 

 sively that this is not the true explanation, and seem if anything 

 to shew that the habits and occupations of men, during the period 

 when they are most likely to be actively employed, are more 

 favourable to the duration of life than those of women. Of 

 males born in England about 16 per cent, die in the first year, 

 and of females about 13 per cent, in the same period. The rates 

 of mortality of female children continue lower than those of 

 males, but in a diminishing ratio, up to the age of about seven years 

 when they become equalized. A similar difference between the 

 rates of mortality of males and females at these early ages exists 

 here, and was pointed out more than once by the late Eegistrar- 

 G-eneral. It may, indeed, be considered as an established fact, 

 depending in some way upon constitution, and not at all upon 

 external circumstances, that boys are more difficult to rear than 

 girls. 



Above the age of seven years the rates of mortality of females 

 in England become slightly greater than those of males, and con- 

 tinue so up to the age of about 40, when they again become 

 equalized. At ages above 40, the rates of mortality become 

 greatly in favour of females. As the period from the age of 7 to 

 that of 40 includes that during which men are the most likely 

 t i be exposed to any dangers and unhealthy influences to which 

 they may be considered more particularly liable, it is evident that 

 their smaller average duration of life cannot be attributed to any 

 such causes. The general conclusion to which these facts seem 

 to lead, is that the constitution of women is naturally better able 

 to resist disease and death than that of men, but that the habits 

 and condition of women are less favourable to the duration of life 

 than those of men. 



In New South Wales, for the earlier ages, we obtain similar 

 results. Of males born, 11 3-10 per cent, die during the first 

 year, of females 9 S-10. The rates of mortality continue some- 

 what lower for females up to the age of 7 years, when they become 

 equalized as in England. But from this point the New South 



