of Edinburgh, Session 1869-70. 
Monday, 1th March 1870. 
WILLIAM FORBES SKENE, Esq., Vice-President, in 
the Chair. 
The following Communications were read:—- 
1. On the Rate of Mortality of Assured Lives as experienced 
by Ten Assurance Companies in Scotland from 1815 to 
1863. By James Meikle, Esq. Communicated by 
Professor Tait. 
The mortality of assured lives is introduced by a short statement 
of the process followed in the obtainment of the rate of mortality 
among the male population of England and Wales during seven 
teen years, and in which the results are compared with the rate 
obtained by following the same process with the male population of 
Scotland during ten years. A statement is given of the method 
employed for collecting the facts referring to assured lives, and of 
tabulating the results with the view of extracting, not onty the 
total numbers entering upon and dying in each year of life, but of 
exhibiting the experience of several highly interesting and impor¬ 
tant sections of risks, and more especially with the view of show¬ 
ing the nature and benefits accruing from the assurance of selected 
healthy lives. 
The subject generally is divided into the consideration of the 
mortality on healthy lives—males—females—-and diseased lives. 
Assured Male Lives. 
In treating of healthy lives—males—a comparison is made of the 
actual number of deaths during each quinquennial period of life, with 
the number which might have died according to the Carlisle table 
and the Actuaries’ table of 1837. The rates of mortality at each 
age, summed in periods of five years, are also compared. These 
comparisons point out that the Carlisle table exhibits a greater rate 
of mortality up to age fifty, and a lesser rate at higher ages than the 
experience of the offices; and that the Actuaries’ table, at nearly 
all ages, is slightly greater than that of the Offices. A short com* 
