i 349 ] 
XVII. Obfervatlons on fame Caufes of the Excefs of the Mortality 
of Males above that of Females . By Jofeph Clarke, M. 2). 
Phyfcian to the Lying-in Hofpital at Dublin, Communicated 
by the Rev . Richard Price, D.D, F. R . S . m ^ Letter to 
Charles Blagden, M. D . aSVc. i?. 6", 
Read March 30, 1786, 
SIR, Newington- Green, February 6, 1786, 
T RECEIVED fome time ago the inclofed letters and 
A regiftry from Dr. Clarke, Phyfician to the Lying-in Hof- 
pital at Dublin. They contain fome accounts that feem to 
me not improper to be communicated to the Royal Society. 
The obfervations which have been made on the laws that 
govern human mortality prove, that the mortality of males 
exceeds that of females in almoft all the ftages of life, and 
particularly in the earlieft ftages ; and that this excefs prevails 
moft in great towns, and all the lefs natural fituations of hu- 
man life. The fadts in thefe papers throw fome light on this 
fubject. Male foetus's requiring more nutrition than female 
foetus's , becaufe larger, and being alfo for this reafon more 
liable to injury in delivery, are brought into the world lefs 
perfeft : and this happening more or lefs in proportion to the 
vigour and juft formation of the mother, it muft happen 
moft in thofe fituations where the greateft tendernefs of 
frame and deviations from nature take place. The truth, in 
4 fhort, 
