136 J. H. CARDEW. 
in the birth rate which during the last twenty-five years 
has been observed over the whole civilized world, and 
which in Australia has been of such a-startling character, 
as to attract universal attention. Diagram 6 illustrates 
by coloured curves the decrease of the birth rate in various 
countries during the last twenty-five years, and the com- 
pensation due to lives saved by sanitary services in the 
case of Sydney Metropolitan District is set off by a vertical 
line at the right hand side of the diagram which fixes the 
compensation gradient for reduced births by the balancing 
of the two forces. During the period of 15 years under 
review in Appendix ‘“‘A’’ for Sydney, the birth rate has 
fallen 18°08 per 1,000 of the population, whilst the death 
rate has been reduced by 5°64, and during the period of 25. 
years under review in Appendix ‘‘A’’ for Melbourne, the 
birth rate has fallen 8°22, whilst the death rate has been 
reduced by 5°42 per 1,000 of the population, so that although 
the decreasing birth rate isa question of very grave im- 
portance for a young State with enormous tracts of land 
awaiting development, we can derive some comfort from 
the set off of a decreased death rate and increased longevity 
due to sanitary services. Although much has been accom- 
plished during the past fifty years in the saving of human 
life by sanitary works, there still remains great scope for 
further effort, and if the next fifty years cannot show such 
rapid progress as the last half century has produced, yet 
we cannot doubt but that there will be some progress to 
record, and if the age of human life is extended by only a 
year, or a fraction of a year, or if the present death rate 
can be reduced by only the tenth part of a life, still it will 
be an achievement worthy of our best endeavours and an 
appreciable economic effect of sanitary works. 
