585 
“ This abnormal state of society has arisen chiefly from two 
causes : — 
The greater mortality of male life as compared with female 
life, more particularly in early years, and 
The emigration of a larger number of males than females/' 
“ I shall now endeavour to prove that these causes of disorganisa- 
tion exist.” 
The greater Mortality of Male Life. 
[Mr Thomson here exhibited a table showing the population, 
deaths, and mortality generally in England and Wales from 1838 
to 1844, a period during which the mortality was not disturbed by 
epidemics.] 
“ It will be perceived,” he proceeded, “ that from birth to five 
years of age, male children died during the seven years at the rate 
of 7'072 per cent., and female children at the rate of 6*037 per 
cent., the actual numbers dying having been 517,897 males and 
446,910 females. From five to ten years the difference was not so 
great between the sexes, 61,659 males to 59,903 females. From 
ten to thirty-five (the principal period of child-bearing) the female 
mortality was somewhat greater. The male mortality then in- 
creased, and continued greater till the close of life.” 
u The feature which first attracts attention in considering these 
results is the great mortality in the early years of male life. 70,000 
male children were lost during the first five years of life, that being 
the excess of male deaths as compared with the deaths among females. 
Similar results will be found to obtain year by year in other years, 
according to the reports of the registrar, and such a loss cannot fail 
to have a most prejudicial effect on the condition of society ; it not 
only drains away the natural excess of males provided by God’s 
providence, but, by the greater mortality of males, an excess of 
female life is left prejudicial to the wellbeing of females themselves, 
and of males also. It is impossible that this infringement of the 
laws of nature can lead to any but one result — it has led to im- 
morality and suffering, and will continue to do so ; for it is not for 
one moment to be supposed that it was the intention of the Deity to 
create male children in excess to be swept away within a few years 
after entering life. But, indeed, the excess of male deaths is not 
the sole measure of evil, for no doubt female mortality is also greater 
than it should be ; and, in like manner, the male deaths, were they 
