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Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Bess. 
only from period 35-45 years. In 1871-80. indeed, there was an increase in 
the female mortality from 15-25 years in Scotland as compared with 1861- 
70.* The curves themselves bring out these points more clearly. 
Table II. shows that while in 1861-70 the mortality at all ages 
was higher among females than among males in both countries, and 
the difference between the two sexes was practically the same in each, in 
1906-7 the female mortality in England and Wales was nearly 4 per 
10,000, and in Scotland only *53 per 10,000 lower than the male mortality. 
This is due to the greater reduction in the female mortality. If the rate of 
the reduction of this mortality had been the same in Scotland as in England 
during the entire period under review, there would have been a greater 
saving of life among females at their most productive and reproductive 
period. During 1906-7 there would have been an annual saving of 660 
lives, and the death-rate per 10,000 living, which was 13*58 in both 
sexes and 13*30 in females, would have been 12*2 and 10*2 respectively, 
rates not very different from those of England and Wales. 
Discussing the experience of England and Wales, Dr Tatham states : f 
“ The age of maximum phthisis mortality has been postponed in both sexes. 
In other words, either the saving of life has been greater at the ages which 
were formerly most liable to phthisis than at the ages immediately 
following, or persons specially liable to phthisis have lived longer than 
they would have done under the earlier conditions.” Had the latter con- 
dition obtained to any great extent the curves would have shown a greater 
diminution of the rate of reduction at more advanced age periods, which 
is not the case. 
Mortality from Tuberculosis of the Lungs in the different groups of 
Registration Districts in Scotland.— In 1871 Scotland was divided for 
statistical purposes into five groups of registration districts constituted as 
follows : — (1) Principal towns with population above 25,000 ; (2) large 
towns between 10,000 and 25,000 ; (3) small towns between 2000 and 
10,000 ; (4) mainland rural ; and (5) insular rural districts. The principal 
towns were Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Paisley, Greenock, 
Leith, and Perth. Owing to increase of population Kilmarnock was 
added to the principal towns, and in 1892 Coatbridge was also added, and 
* There is now a tendency to a relatively greater increase in the reduction of female 
mortality at earlier ages in Scotland, shown by the percentage reductions at age 25-35 
years being the same in both sexes during period 1901-7. From 55 years onwards the 
reduction among females in Scotland has been always greater than in England and Wales. 
t “Memorandum on Mortality from Tubercular Phthisis in England and Wales during 
the last Forty Years,” by John Tatham, M.D., F.R.C.P., Transactions of British Congress on 
Tuberculosis , vol. ii., 1902, p. 497. 
