161 
Taking the means for the eight years 1855-62, and the 
live years 1863-67, we have 
Average Annual Rate of Mortality per cent, in 
Lancashire. Cheshire. West Riding. 
1855-62 2-558 2-191 2*342 
1863-67 2-775 2-363 2-605 
Differences... 0'2l7 0-172 0’263 
These numbers show that the average rate of mortality 
in Lancashire, Cheshire, and the West Riding was decidedly 
greater during the live years of dry springs and summers 
with wet autumns and winters, than during the eight years 
when the seasons were of an opposite character. The differ- 
ences are equivalent to an increase of 8 '4 per cent in the 
number of deaths in Lancashire, 7*8 per cent in Cheshire, 
and 11*2 in the West Riding; the mean amount of increase 
being 9T per cent, which, in Lancashire alone, represents an 
increase of more than seven thousand in the total number 
of deaths in one year. 
Observations of rainfall were commenced at the Gorton 
station of the Manchester Water Works in 1847, and Mr. 
Wilson having kindly furnished me with copies of the 
monthly amounts for the eight years 1847-54, I have 
grouped them in six-monthly periods as I had done the 
returns for 1855-68, and have obtained the following 
results : — 
Total Fall of 
Total Fall of 
Rain during 
Rain during 
the Spring 
the Autumn 
Difference. 
and Summer 
and Winter 
Months. 
Months. 
INS. 
INS. 
1847...... 
...... 17-22 .... 
24-72 
.... — 7-50 
1848...... 
19-25 .... 
21-71 
.... — 2-46 
1849 
...... 13-59 .... 
..... 19-82 
— 6‘23 
1850 
14-59 .... 
..... 15-18 ... 
— 0-59 
1851...... 
17-14 .... 
13-20 ..... 
.... -f 3-94 
1852 
13-38 .... 
23-96 . . 
— 10-58 
1853 
15-72 .... 
14-10 ..... 
.... -f 1-62 
1854 
13-94 .... 
20-03 
.... — 6-09 
In six years out of the eight the fall of rain during spring 
and summer was less than during autumn and winter, 
while in two only was it in excess. The mean difference 
