IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
«L 
BIRTHS. 
The number of births registered in Massachusetts in the 
year 1902 was 72;219. The rate was less than in any year 
since 1882. Fifty years ago the rate was 29 births to 1,000 
of population, now it is 27. Doubtless economic condi- 
tions of the population has an influential effect on the 
number of births by increasing or decreasing the number 
of marriages, but to what extent it is difficult to deter- 
mine. The birth rates for Massachusetts are compared 
with several foreign countries. Russia has the highest 
birth rate, and France has the lowest. The rate per 1,000 
inhabitants is as follows: Russia 49, Hungary 29, Austria 
87, Germany 85, Great Britain 29, Massachusetts 26, 
France 22. The percentage of native born children has 
decreased with considerable uniformity during the last 20 
years, and it is also true if a longer period of years is taken 
into account. It is observable that the male births always 
predominate. This is a general rule and obtains in Euro- 
pean countries as iri the United States. The greater 
mortality among males more than offsets the numerical 
preponderance of births of the males and results in a tend- 
ency to an increase in number of females. 
DEATHS. 
The report contains a statement of the mortality of 
Massachusetts compared with that of the countries of 
Europe. It is to be noted that the death rate in Massachu- 
setts is less than in any of the countries except Norway. 
The rate per 1,000 inhabitants was, Russia 82, Spain 29,. 
Germany 22, France 20, Great Britain 18, Switzerland 17, 
Norway 16, Massachusetts 16. It is observable that while 
the 'death rates have decreased largely in cities they have 
not decreased in the same ratio in the rural districts of Mass- 
achussets. The effect of the advances made in medical 
science and in sanitation, and in the preventive and re- 
strictive measures enforced by the health authorities is 
much better illustrated by examining the comparative 
rate for registration cities in this country than by com par- 
