THE VITAL STATISTICS OF BOSTON; CONTAINING AN ABSTRACT OF THE BILLS OF MORTALITY FOR THE LAST TWENTY-NINE YEARS, A GENERAL VIEW OF THE POPULATION AND HEALTH OF THE CITY AT OTHER PERIODS OF ITS HISTORY. LEMUEL SHATTUCK Extracted from the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, April, 1841. PHILADELPHIA: LEA & BLANCHARD. 1841. ON THE VITAL STATISTICS OF BOSTON The oldest book of records of births in Boston was commenced in 1639, and contains some of the marriages, births, and deaths of the previous years, as early as 1630, and of the subsequent years, as late as 1663. This book also contains the births in several towns in Middlesex county, previous to its or- ganization in 1 647, and of Suffolk county, then including the present county of Norfolk, until 1663. Another volume embracing the period from 1663 to 1689, appears to have been lost; but a volume containing the records of births only from the earliest entries until 1689, copied from the oldest book, and the one supposed to have been lost, is still preserved. The next volume of records of births extends from 1689 to 1744, the next from 1744 to 1819. The last comprises but few pages. The records appear to have been very irregularly and imperfectly kept after about 1750, and some whole years have recently occurred in which very few records of this kind were made. During the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1838, one birth only was recorded. In some instances the births of one year are placed together in alphabetical order, in others those of several years are placed together in the same manner. The marriages prior to 1663, were recorded in the oldest book with the births and deaths. From that time to 1689, the records of marriages are lost. Since then they are contained in five volumes. The 1st extends from 1689 to 1720; the 2d from 1720 to 1751; the 3d from 1761 to 1807; the 4th from 1807 to 1828; and the 5th from 1828 to the present time, though not in consecutive, annual order. No records are preserved of the marriages from 1663 to 1689, or from 1751 to 1761, and it is believed that very many 1 4 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. occurred in nearly all the years which have not been recorded. Great care- lessness and negligence prevails with some clergymen and magistrates in keeping the records, and in making the returns. The " intentions of mar- riage" are preserved in twelve volumes, extending from 1707 to the present time. Those from 1818 to 1823, are lost. The records of deaths are made with the births and marriages prior to 1663. From that time until 1689 they are lost. From 1689 to 1719 they are pre- served in a separate volume; and from that time till 1810 very few deaths are recorded, and such as are, appear in the volume with the births. None of these volumes of records, either of births, marriages, or deaths, are provided with indexes; and a search for a fact concerning the personal history of an individual — the only object for which they are valuable — is attended with great labor, and is often fruitless even when the desired fact is recorded. The records are so imperfect, that no general results of any value in statistics, to determine the law of population, or of mortality, could be drawn from any abstract which we could make. It is much to be regretted that our system of registration is such, that we cannot present, in any period of our history, an accurate account of the number of births and marriages. We hope to see a system of registration soon adopted, which will supply all existing deficiencies.* From 1701 to 1774, the keepers of the several burying-grounds made returns once a week of the number of deaths in Boston, specifying the whites and blacks separately, but not their ages. The number of baptisms was also returned by the several clergymen. Both were published in the newspapers from 1731 to 1774. From these returns an annual statement was compiled and published. We have collected these annual statements, and arranged them with that of the population, in a table, [see Table I,) which exhibits some important information in regard to the health and con- dition of the town during that period. These returns may be relied on with considerable confidence, as being very nearly correct. The population of Boston was estimated at the beginning of the last century to have been about 6,750, and the annual deaths to be 230 — one in 29.3, or 3.4 per cent. The deaths from 1705 to 1714, inclusive, were 3,341, and from 1715 to 1724, 4,350, giving an annual average of about 1 in 24, or 4.09 per cent. I have estimated the population in the period from 1725 to 1734, according to two enumerations, one taken in 1722, the other in 1735. The census was taken in 1742, in 1752, and in 1765, which forms the basis of the estimation in the other periods mentioned. It will be perceived that * The author of this article has obtained a knowledge of the different systems of regis- tration of births, deaths, and marriages in use in Europe, and he has prepared one which seemed to him best adapted to the institutions of our own country. He has been solicited to bring it before the state legislatures for adoption. Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. Boston contained more population from 1740 to 1745, than at any other period before the revolution. Table I, showing the progress of the population in Boston, for the fifty years from 1724 to 1774 divided into periods of 10 years each. In regard to 1725-1734 1735-1744 1745-1754 1755-1764 1765-1774 Population. — White 11900 14750 14190 14390 14672 Black 1100 1250 1541 1241 848 Total 13000 16000 15731 15631 15520 Average annual Baptisms 528 578 474 413 443 Population to 1 baptism . 24 28 33 38 35 Deaths to 100 baptisms . 77 82 123 107 104 Average annual Deaths. — Whites . 407 479 585 444 462 Blacks 95 91 86 70 59 Both 502 570 671 514 521 White population to 1 death 29 30 24 36 31 Deaths in 100 white popula- tion 3.42 2.99 4.12 3.08 3.16 Black population to 1 death 12 14 18 18 14 Deaths in 100 black popula- tion 8.63 7.28 5.58 5.64 6.95 Whole population to 1 death 26 28 23 34 30 Deaths to 100 whole popula- tion 3.86 3.56 4.26 3.28 3-35 Baptisms to 100 deaths . 129 120 81 93 95 It was customary, at that early period, to baptize nearly all the infants, but toward the last part of the time, embraced in the table, the practice began to be neglected. The returns of baptisms should not, therefore, be taken as a complete return of the births. We made an attempt to obtain the number of marriages, but the records are so imperfect it was abandoned. It will be perceived, by comparing this table with others directly to be presented, that the mortality in Boston was much higher then than at the present time. The lowest mortality was in 1755 to 1764, being 514 — one in 34, or 3.24 per cent, of the population, annually; the highest was in 1745 to 1754, being 671 — one in 23, or 4.26 per cent. This is just double the mortality, which prevailed in 1826 to 1835, being then only 2.13 per cent. The lowest mortality in any single year was 407, or 1 in 38, in 1763; the highest 909, or 1 in 14, in 1730, and 1009, or 1 in 15, in 1752. The mortality of the black, was much greater than that of the white population. In the first period mentioned in the table, it was as low as at any time. One in 18, or 5.64 per cent, of the black population, died, show- ing a difference of 2.56 per cent., as compared with the mortality of the whites. The highest mortality among the blacks was in 1725 to 1734, beino- 1 in 12, or 8.64 per cent. These are very striking facts, but are accounted for, in some measure, by the prevalence of the small-pox and other epidemics, which often visited the town at that time, and which seem to have been peculiarly fatal to the black population. 6 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. The Small-Pox prevailed in Boston as an epidemic in 1649, 1666, 1678, 1690, and 1702. It is said to have been very fatal in 1678, but we have no particular account of the number of its victims. In 1702, 302 died of this dis- ease, being about 44 per 1000 of the inhabitants. In 1721, the disease broke out with great violence; and 5759 persons (more than half the inhabitants,) had it the natural way, of whom 844, or 1 in 7 died. Inoculation was then, for the first time, introduced, but not without great opposition. Two hundred and forty-seven were inoculated, of whom 6, or 1 in 42 died. Mather, who wrote an account of the epidemic at that time, says that " Cats had a regu- lar small-pox, and died of it;" and that " pigeons and dunghill fowls did not lay nor hatch" during the prevalence of the disorder! In 1730, it has been estimated that 4,000 cases occurred, of which about one-tenth were by inoc- ulation. Of these about 500 died. In 1752, the disease again appeared in Boston, and became very fatal. The town then contained 15,684 inhabitants; of these 5,998 were supposed to have had the disease. One thousand eight hundred and forty-three re- moved out of town. All the remainder, except 174, had the disease by inoculation, or the natural way. We have compiled the following statement, to illustrate the prevalence of the disease at this period: — Persons. Whites . Black . Both Natural. I noculated. Cases. 5060 485 5545 Deaths. 470 69 539 Ratio per 1000. 92 142 97 Cases. Deaths. Ratio per 1000. 1985 139 2124 24 6 30 12 43 14 It appears from this statement, that the liability to death by this disease among the blacks, was about 50 per cent, greater than among the whites, when taken in the natural way; and more than three times as great, when taken by inoculation. The deaths took place in the different months of the year, as follows: — Natu ral. Inoculated. Month. Total. Whites. 1 Blacks. Whites. Blacks. January — — — 1 February 2 — — — 2 March 2 — — — 2 April 20 1 20 6 47 May 205 39 4 — 248 June 203 20 — — 223 July 31 8 — — 39 August 5 1 — — 6 September Total 1 — — — 1 470 G9 24 6 569 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 7 In the twenty days, beginning May 19, there were 220 deaths, averaging 10 per day. On the 1st June, 25 took place. This disease occurred again in 1764, in 1776, in 1778, and in 1792. The following statement exhibits its ravages in the last named period. The town then contained about 18,000 inhabitants, of whom 10,655 were supposed to have had the disease, 262 removed out of town, and 221 only remained unaffected, liable to the disease. The rest had it. The cases by the natural way, and by inoculation, were as follow: — Persons. White Black Both Natural. Inoculated. Cases. Deaths Ratio per 1000. Cases. Deaths Ratio per 1000. 214 18 232 27 6 33 125 333 141 8804 348 9152 157 7 165 17 20 18 The following table exhibits a view of the disease at every period of its appearance in Boston, after 1720:— Year. Cases. Deaths Ratio per 1000 ot the population. Natural. Inoculated. Sick. Died. Cises Deaths Ratio per 1000. Cases. Deaths Rntio per 1000. 172i 1 730 1752 1764 1776 1778 17:2 6006 41100 7 69 5646 5-92 2 43 8 46 S50 500 569 170 57 61 198 546 266 489 364 441 166 460 77 33 36 11 10 4 10 5759 3600 5545 669 304 122 232 844 488 539 124 29 42 33 148 135 97 185 95 344 142 247 400 2124 4977 4988 2121 8114 6 12 30 46 18 29 165 24 30 17 9 5 9 18 Measles prevailed in 1713, 1729, 1759, and 1772, and was the cause of many deaths. In 1745, an epidemic fever occurred of a very fatal character. The Scarlet fever was first introduced into Boston in 1735, and during that and the next year was very prevalent. About 4000 persons were sick with it, of whom 1 in 35 died. At this time it spread generally through the New England towns, carrying off in some instances whole families. In Kingston, where the usual annual mortality was not above 9 or 10, it rose in 1735 to 102, and this great increase of mortality was not unusual in other places. It is somewhat singular, that after the lapse of just about a cen- tury, it should have prevailed again as one of the most fatal diseases of New England. A new system of registration for the deaths only went into operation in Oct. 1810, and has since been continued with some slight modifications. These records are all preserved. At first the town was divided into three districts, the north, middle, and south, and a separate register kept for each, 2 8 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. under the direction of the Board of Health. The particulars recorded were, 1st, The date of death and burial; 2d, The age and sex; 3d, To what family belonging; 4th, The disease, or cause of death; 5th, The number or name of the tomb where interred, designating the burial ground, and whether a citizen or stranger; and, 6th, Remarks. The district system was given up in 1822, at the incorporation of the city, and the office of superintendent of burial grounds was created. This office has since been filled by Mr. Samuel H. Hewes, and he has kept the records of the deaths of the whole city. A " General Abstract of the Bill of Mortality" has been printed an- nually since 1811, specifying the number of deaths each month in the year, distinguishing the males from the females, and the ages under 1; 1 to 2; 2 to 5; 5 to 10; 10 to 20, and each decennial period afterwards to 100. These abstracts specify also the number of deaths by each disease, but not the age, sex, season, and other particulars, which ought to have been noticed. Heavy penalties were imposed for burying without permission; and it is presumed that all, or very nearly all, the deaths that have taken place in the city are recorded. And the " bills," as far as they go, contain a faithful abstract of the records, and may be generally relied on as correct. Table II, showing the distribution of the population of Boston according to age, sex, and colour, at seven different enumerations. Ages. 1765. 1790. Males. Females. Differ'e. Total. Males. 3376 4325 7701 7701 Females. Difference. —1875 —1875 Total. 17277 761 18038 Under 16 . . . 16 and upwards Whites . . . Coloured . . . Total . . . Under 10 . . 10 to 16 . . .. 16 to 26 . . . 26 to 45 . . . 45 and upwards Whites . . . Coloured . . . Total . . . Under 10 . . 10 to 16 . . . 16 to 26 . . . 26 to 45 . . . 45 and upwards Whites . - . Coloured . . . Total . . . 4109 2941 4010 3612 +99 —671 8119 6553 7050 531 7581 7622 317 —572 + 14 14672 848' 9576 9576 7939 —558 15520 1800. 1810. 3057 1406 2478 2999 1334 11274 11274 3083 1499 2998 3110 1799 12489 12489 —26 —93 —520 —111 —465 —1215 61401 2905 5476 6109 3133 23763 1174 24937 4391 1860 3578 4165 1346 4349 2081 3989 4140 1887 +42 —221 —411 +25 —541 874(1 3941 7567 8305 3233 15340 15340 16446 16446 —1106 —1106 31786 1464 33250 —1215 1820. 1825. 5283 2416 3564 7345 1500 5399 2965 4544 5973 2569 — 116 —549 —980 + 1372 —1069 10682 5381 8108 13318 4069 6206 3061 7622 8458 2560 6309 3616 7589 7739 3204 —103 —555 +33 +719 —644 12515 66771 15211 16197 5764 20108 809 21450 931 —1342 —122 41558 1740 43298 27907 974 28453 943 —550 +31 56364] 1917 20917 22381 1464 28881 29396 —515 5828! Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 1830. Ages. Hales. Females. Diff'nce. Total. Proportion of females to 100 males. Pl-opor. tion each age. j Suryiv'g. Propor- tion sur- viving. surviving each age that are in Under 5 next age. 3818 4001 —186 7822 104.87 13.14 59517 100. — 13.14 5 to 10 2941 2978 —37 5919 101.25 9.95, 51695 86.86 11.44 10 to 20 5631 6391 —757 12025 113.43 20.20 ! 45776 ,a 76.91 26.26 20 to 30 7729 7958 —229 15687 102.96 26.36 33751 56.71 46.47 30 to 40 4132 4661 —529 8793 112.80 14.78 18064 30.35 48.67 40 to 50 2168 2698 —530 4866 124.44 8.18 9271 15.57 52.48 50 to 60 1077 1413 —336 2490 131.19 4.18 4405 7.39 56.52 60 to 70 475 801 —326 1276 168.63 2.14 1915 3.21 66.63 70 to 80 164 325 —161 489 198.17 .82 639 1.07 76.52 80 to 90 31 105 —74 136 338.70 23 150 .25 90.66 90 tolOO Whites 2 12 — 10 14 600.00 3 14 .02 100.— 28171 31316 —3175 59517 111.26 100.00 Colored 865 29036 1.010 —145 1875 116.76 ~~ Total 32.356 —3320 61392 111.43 1 Tables of an improved form might have been prepared from the exist- ing records, but to render them as perfect as they ought to be, some modi- fication in the system of keeping the records is necessary. We have compiled from the series of printed abstracts, now before us, several tables, containing important facts and deductions in relation to the vital statistics of Boston. Some others might have been presented had we gone back to the original records, but they would hardly have paid the great labour required for compilation. To render these tables more clearly understood, the condition of the population should be known. We have, therefore, com- piled several tables from the different censuses, to illustrate this point. We have already given an account of the population of Boston previous to 1775. Table II presents the particulars of the population according to the several different enumerations from 1765 to 1830. From this table we have compiled the following abstract, to exhibit the increase of the popula- tion: — Table III, showing the increase of the population at eight enumerations, from 1790 to 1837. Actual ncrease. Increase per cent. Square Years. Population. One in y'rds to Total. Annual. Total. Annual. each. 1790 18.038 201 1800 24.937 6899 689.9 38.24 3.82 26 145 1810 33.250 8313 831.3 33.33 3.33 30 109 1820 43.298 10048 1004.8 30 22 3.02 33 83 1825 58.281 14983 2996.6 34.60 6.92 14 64 1830 61.392 3111 6222 5.33 1.06 94 62 1835 78.603 17211 3442.2 28.03 5.60 17 49 1837 80.325 1722 861.0 2.19 1.09 91 49 From this statement it appears that the greatest increase of the population was from 1820 to 1825, being 14,983, equal to an annual increase of 6.92 10 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. per cent., or 1 in 14. The least increase was in 1825 to 1830, being only 1.06 per cent, annually. The whole increase from 1790 to 1837, was 445.3 per cent., or doubling the first mentioned number about 4£ times. In 1796, Boston, exclusive of South Boston, was estimated to contain 750 acres, or 3,630,000 square yards, including the streets. This may not have been strictly correct, but was an approximation to the truth; and proba- bly the inhabited parts do not now contain more than that quantity of terri- tory. This would give 201 square yards to each inhabitant in 1790, and 49 in 1837, being an increased density of 5 to 1. Table IV, showing the population living at each age of the different sexes. Age. Proportion of Females to 100 Males Proportion of population living at each age. 1800 1810 1820 1825 1800 1810 1S20 1825 Under 10 10 to 16 16 to 26 26 to 45 45 and upwards 100,85 106.61 120.98 103.70 134.81 99.04 111.88 111.48 99.39 140.19 102.19 122.72 127.49 81.32 17133 101.65 111.59 99.56 91.49 125.11 25. «4 12.23 23.04 25.71 13.18 27.50 12.40 23.80 26.13 10.17 25.74 12.97 19.51 31.99 9.79 22.20 11.84 26 99 28.74 10.23 Total. 110.77 107.30 102.10 101.96 100.00 100.00 1 100.00 100.00 The proportion of living males to living females deserves consideration. There have been in Boston more females than males. The proportion of the aggregate number of each sex of all ages was in 1790, as 100 males to 104.72 females, and in 1800, as 100 to 110.77. The proportion, however, became more equal in 1825, when it was reduced, and was as 100 to 101.96. In 1830, it was as 100 to 11 1.43. These facts will appear from Table IV, which also shows the census of 1830, and the proportion of each sex living at the different ages. In 18 1C there were less females than males living under 10 years. At all other periods under 26 years, excepting 1825, there were more females than males. In the ages 26 to 45, there were more males than females at each enumeration excepting 1800. Above 45 there were from 25 to 70 per cent, more females than males. The most striking difference was in 1820. The proportion of the sexes then changes in the ages 26 to 45; to the ages 45 and upwards, from 81.52 to 171.33 percent., a difference of 90 per cent. This shows the changeable nature of our popu- lation. The ages of 24 to 45 embrace the transient inhabitants — persons in single life, who come here to reside a kw years, and afterwards remove. The proportion of population living at all ages will also appear from this table. In the census for 1830, we have exhibited the proportion of males to females, and the proportion of both, living at each age; the number sur- viving, and the proportion per cent, of the surviving at each age; and the proportion of the number surviving each age, that do not attain the next higher age. These deductions are important, as showing the laws of lon- gevity. Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 11 The proportion of white to coloured population has been about the same at each of the enumerations, excepting the last two, when the whites had increased, as will appear from the following statement: Proportion. In 1790. In 1800. In 1310. In 1820. Of whites, 95.78 95.30 95.60 95.98 Of coloured, 4.22 4.70 4.40 4.02 In 1825. In 1830. 96.71 96.95 3.29 3.05 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 This shows that in 1790, of the whole population, 95.78 per cent, were white, and the remainder, 4.22, were coloured. In 1830, the proportion of whites had increased, and the coloured decreased, 1.17 per cent. Table V, showing the influences of the different years on the number of the deaths, dis- tinguishing the males from the females, and the stillborn, and the proportion to the popu- lation. Years. Population. Deaths. Propo popu rtion to ation. Males. Females Uiffnce. Total. Stil bon Total. One in Percent 1811 34.255 373 375 —2 748 46 794 45 2.18 1812 35.260 286 347 —61 633 48 681 55 1.85 1813 36.264 416 334 +82 750 36 786 48 2.06 1814 37.269 367 328 +39 695 32 727 53 1.86 1815 38.274 407 433 — 16 830 21 851 46 2.16 '1816 39.279 440 433 +7 873 31 904 45 2.22 1817 40.284 453 422 +31 875 33 908 46 2.17 1818 41.288 486 439 +47 927 46 971 44 2.23 1819 42.293 423 366 +57 789 89 878 53 1.86 1820 43.298 505 509 —4 1014 89 1103 42 2.31 Mean. 415.6 397.6 +180 813.2 47.1 860.3 47 2.09 1821 46.295 678 643 +35 1321 99 1420 35 2.85 1822 49.291 570 518 +52 1088 115 1203 45 2.20 1823 52.288 531 514 + 17 1045 109 1154 50 1.99 1824 55.284 623 585 +38 1208 89 1297 4.5 2.18 1825 58.281 692 670 +22 1362 88 1450 42 2.33 1826 58.903 623 544 +79 1167 87 1254 50 1.98 1827 59.525 495 444 +51 939 83 1022 63 1.57 1828 60.147 603 556 +47 1159 74 1233 51 1.92 1829 60.769 600 556 +44 1156 65 1221 52 1.90 1830 61.392 532 493 +39 1025 100 1125 59 1.66 Mean. 594.7 552 3 +424 1147.0 90.9 1237.9 49 2.05 1831 64.834 676 677 —1 1353 71 1424 47 2.08 1832 68.276 840 835 +5 1675 86 1761 40 245 1833 71.780 679 695 —16 1374 102 1476 52 1.91 1834 75.160 765 675 —10 1440 114 1554 52 1.91 1835 78.603 991 828 +163 1819 95 1914 43 2.31 1836 79.464 831 817 +14 1648 122 1770 48 2.07 1837 80.325 875 868 +7 1743 100 1843 46 2.16 j 1838 81.186 937 862 +75 1799 121 1920 45 2.21 1839 82215 863 859 +241 1722 141 1863 44 2.23 Mean. 745.7 711.6 +241 1457.3 95.2 1552.5 45 2.14 2* 12 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. The preceding table, (Table V,) being the first compiled from the printed bills of mortality, presents a general view of the number of deaths each year, from 1811 to 1839, distinguishing the males from the females. The still-born, having never lived, are excluded from the number of deatbs in all correct bills of mortality, and are here placed in a separate column. The population at the different enumerations, and the estimated population for the intervening years, and the ratio which the deaths bear to the popula- tion, are given. The least mortality in one year was in 1827, being 939, one in 63, or 1.57 per cent., and the greatest in 1821, being 1,321, one in 35, or 2.85 per cent. The average annual deaths were 813, from 1811 to 1830— one in 47, or 2.09 per cent., 1147 from 1821 to 1830 — one in 49, or 2.05 per cent., and 1,552 from 1831 to 1839 — one in 46, or 2.14 per cent., showing a small increase in the force of mortality. Mortality of different Ages. — The number of deaths varies very much in the different ages, being in some much greater than in others. We have presented in table VI the number who have died under 1, between 1 and 2, 2 and 5, 5 and 10, and at each subsequent decennial period of life. This has been done for the different sexes, and in the different periods of time — the 10 years, 1811 to 1820, and 1821 to 1830, and the 9 years, 1831 to 1839, that we might institute a comparison between the different periods, to ascertain whether the proportion of deaths was the same in each, and also for the whole 29 years. The greatest number of deaths in any one period mentioned, is under one year, in the period 1831 to 1839, being 2861. The next greatest is between 20 and 30 of the same period, being 1843. The least number is between 90 and 100. Table VI, showing the influences on the number of deaths in different ages, distinguishing the males from the females, in three different periods of time. Age. 1811—1820. 18-21— 1830. 1*31-1839. 1811— ltf39. Males Females Total. ales Females Total Males Fem'ls Total. Males Fem'ls Total. Under 1 705 610 1375 1129 833 1962 1596 1205 2861 3490 2708 6198 1 to 2 435 397 832 580 640 1220 848 933 1781 1803 1970 3833 2 to 5 267 224 491 428 305 793 849 749 1598 1544 1338 2882 5 to 10 151 133 284 233 173 406 344 275 619 728 581 1309 10 to 20 194 236 430 234 299 533 272 463 735 700 998 1698 20 to 30 548 585 1133 671 733 1404 871 972 1843 2090 22!I0 4380 30 to 40 509 471 980 750 642 1392 913 738 1651 2172 1851 40-23 40 to 50 497 374 871 623 466 1089 651 505 1156 1771 1345 3116 50 to 00 300 260 560 389 331 720 456 365 821 1145 956 2101 60 to 70 201 255 456 233 287 520 303 343 646 737 885 1622 70 to 80 160 226 386 181 248 429 198 298 496 539 772 1311 80 to 90 74 119 1H3 89 137 226 85 140 225 248 396 644 90 to 100 5 24 29 11 26 37 15 36 51 31 86 117 Sum 4106 3914 8020 5551 5180 10731 7401 7082 14483 17058 16176 33234 Unknown 50 62 112 396 343 737 56 34 90 502 439 941 Total 4156 3976 8132 5947 5523 11470 7457 7116 14573 17560 16615 34175 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 13 R S3 3 e v. s-> © *» is ^ ft,"* s a t,. r* -S .1 J, 03 Eh 00 'So C fc. e a R 2 I* a K | B ~ |J 2 R •3 &, i| '" is "a S © R> T s § 9 o CO 00 1— 1 1 CO GO 83b jxau aqi aiojaq arp oq*v aSB Dauoijuaui isjij aqi baiajiis uqA\ 3soi|j jo -juaa jad uoiuodojj OO^lflMlOOUJ^ClS ocn^or-t--c5cx3ioc td = o £ S a a a . c — *£ = o u a-i. O a &: - O-'tWCOCOiOGOCTO'C oocoiooqTf-^r^coOTCO d to ci t-^ ■* ri if) a w; h owoifnoiH coM^tstfl'flcnooCTtOH oo-^i , (NQCTiO(>{-^ , O^(>Jir5 c'«3t^oocc^- 1 Gota-^ , (rj •■O F1HH CO 00 o CO 00 J 00 aSs ixau aqi ajojaq aip oqA\ a§B iiauoijuam jsju aqi baiajiis oi|a\ asoq; jo -juaa jad uoiuodojj •qioainio^HOoinS oqn-((Bqno)ciro . t^ «j o6 -^ co" eo t-^ ci <-* ic 2 co cjcococoTrcnao^ Surviving the first mentioned age. 3 O J IP £ 33 ft. OfflOOWlOOffllOUJ^ o o; h om i- ■c5}CO-HC75tr)CO t~t~-COGO'*OCTlOJtriO} OtOtOO^Wi-iH -.3 Hi 01 O BJ <_ CD 3 o'S ,g 60 In •* 3 (D ■- "U >> 3 D 3 a . o « •s c 1. cu o u Piv, O eg ■- a. ft. ^f O MB Mfl H ■* O t"* Of;nqm«h;Qqqi-.n J^CO-^COOJOtD- 1 *'*^! CO — - i-l i-l r-l o o o o > 3 ^" 3 iitsnTtMUioomot^ t-onociXMWoi(Mn ci^n.'5-*noi"io'*c» CO -^ i-l 1-" CO o © 00 J 00 sSb ixoti aqjaiojaq aip oua\ a»B pauoijuaui Isju aqi aAiAins oi|a\ asoqi jo -jikio aad uoiijodojj o ■^COCOCOCOOOlOQOOOo coioo6-^iod-^"*c-JcotiDo CO t?l(MCOCO^ l O a0l _ | '3 > 3 3 S 31 .2 *■ c u C (U OtOMtOMiHioOQOI^tO onoo-^ni-iwoiioc^co 6toKt-co-dmVoi owtco^nwr-i O J3 S 3 •* a OCT0000lfl>i0-*'^ti00(MO5 oi Of n c t^ a; « to o Ol C) OCOOtO-*"*OOtDS) OOiOiO^COOJi— ih Dying of the first and under the second men- tioned age. 3 1 0.5 -^frtiiXicOCJCOOTOO-Hi— ltd S = coioco—iCTOOajCDoq^co OO COCOlO-*C>io'iiDlO'*G x i c_ CO i-i i-i i-i ft. 1 o o o o 1— 1 — S XTfOMOHOWtOSffl c -2 Icnoccocrooor^^DiiooocrsC'l aa itci?}Ti<— i oi omo •<* co ih o o oo 1 inoooooooooo i— iC~JCO"*»OtOt^00050 o3 1 i- T ~* hO !,£.cotOH- 2! o g O 3 2 CD P o p 5 3 o 3 | P"i » cr c- "-> a- ,-2 *< re re q « 00 CO to +++++I 1 1 1 1 1 1 oocoao^icncnooooiai OO-JCOfOOOOOCOtOtO-JQCtO ~irf*.o->o>totoooootoaicoto H o p) to o o o ►— p J-> ►-' — 0000000 oocoto — bo-jcococoooco — coco — cncncctoi— 'Cocn — rfi.*.^lCO^.COifi^JCC^lCO00 -0 3 •a o 3" pt^OP— 'tOCO — tO^JCOCnOOD Order. to CJT Ol CO -J 1 i ++++ 1 1 1 1 i 4- l&.*.CriC3CllCnitirf^ l C>.iti.CO(b. ~JCnaicr>~iotOcoao~JCO>£. co^ioii— ■ cs — co >- • i— • aotoco 5 00 to X 00 CO p O <0l en JO CO +++++I 1 1 1 1 1+ ».„ ii ii vi ^ i: -»--- i. -O^l>t».O0Cnit-i*^i— ' w «- a -J 1— Opf^-CnOlO — i— ' O CO O ~1 "a CD 3 CO m On If- -J o 1 1 tit 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 COCOi— 'tOi— iCO^ICOCOCO-ICO l|i.t004^COit.CT500CO Oi c to o o o Oph-H-J-ippOpppp bJoMU — b. Cn 00 CO CO GO ^-1 to copt^oo^itoai to ~jp— ooco p to o o o I i— 'i— • — to — 00 ^ 00 CB CO 00 CO a w-ioooiiuaji-oo^iai COP— i(i M -J -4 Ol O in -J O) p- ■■o ■a 3" I iMnKJl- 'MOW- ' 00 ~J CO Oi Order. CO 1 to CO CO to tO — tOtOtOi-''-''-' — to — •-- OCOOO — COOOOOOOO-JCO (kp-aiM-JiootflO^mH as c 3 cr 00 Li SoS C03 p ' o o '1 popopopoppo^i^i^jp^ipo -JC0CfJ--J*k»— '0-J*»00*>- toi— ooa>cn.j-jaoooowo 3 13 O B ^ 1» ^ "S^ ».? ^ > cd Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 21 In table IX, we have endeavoured to arrange the facts for one period, 1821-1830, to ascertain what influence the seasons have upon the mortality of different ages. We have given the whole deaths during the time, the mean or average of each month at each age, and the difference from this mean, placing the sign minus, when the mortality of the month at any age was less, and plus when it was greater, than this mean. Table IX, showing the influence of the different months of the year on the number of deaths, in the different ages, for the years 1821—1830, inclusive. January. February. March. April. May. Average or Age. Whole monthly ■s DifT'ce J= DifTce a DifTce 5 DifTce f! DifTce deaths. mean. 5 from i g from rt from a from n) from Q mean. > q mean. Q mean. O mean. Q m ean. Under 1 1962 163.50 151 —12.60 121 —42.501 140 —23.50 140 —23.50 123 —40.50 1 to 2 1220 101.67 68 -33.67 46 — 55.67 65 —36.67 80 —21.67 73 —28.67 2 to 5 793 66 08 64 —2.08 47 —19.08 65 —1.08 62 —4.08 69 +2.92 5 to 10 406 33 83 33 —.83 21 —1283! 23 —10.83 41 —7.17 29 —4.83 10 to 20 533 44.42 46 +1.58 40 —4.42 40 —4.42 31 —13.42 52 +7.58 20 to 30 1404 117.— 114 — 3.— 106 —11 — 114 — 3— 123 +6— 122 4-5. 30 to 40 1392 116. — 112 — 4— 98 —18.— 126 +10- 123 +7- 123 +7- 40 to 50 1089 90.75 88 —2.75 88 —2.75 93 +2 25 89 — 1.75 105 —14.25 50 to 60 720 60— 76 +16— 51 —9— 58 —2— 54 — 6— 65 +5— 60 to 70 520 43.34 42 —1.34 49 +5.66 51 +7.66 53 +9.66 35 —8.34 70 to 80 429 35 75 36 +.25 50 +14.25 38 —2.25 33 —2.75 35 —.75 80 to 90 22G 18.83 31 +10.17 23 ^+4.17 18 -.83 22 +3.17 13 —5.83 90 tolOO Total 37 3.08 8 +4.92 3 -.08 3 —.08 1 —2.08 3 847 —.08 10731 894.25 869 —25.25 743 —151.25 834 —60.25 852 —42.25 —47.25 June. July. August. September. October. No 145 /ember. —18.50 December. Under 1 115 —48.5 158 —5 50 241 +77.50 +68.33 293 +130.50 +122.33 192 ■38.50 144 —19.50 1 to 2 64 —37.65 102 +.33 170 224 157 - -55.33 101 —.67 70 —31.67 2 to 5 71 +4.92 +8.17 47 —19 08 72 +5.92 78 +11.92 77 -10 92 70 +3.92 72 +5 92 +3.17 5 to 10 42 25 —8.83 46 +12.17 39 +5.17 36 +2.17 +2.58 34 +.17 37 10 to 20 40 —4.42 49 +1f 42 o 40 55 +10.58 47 46 +158 15 + 58 20 to 30 75 —42— 122 129 +12— 125 -8— 149 +32— 100 —17— 125 +8. 30 to 40 11)1 —15— 139 +23— +10.25 100 —16— 125 ~9— 124 +8. 124 +8- +3.25 97 —19— 40 to 50 60 —30.75 llll 89 —1.75 95 -4.25 103 +12.25 94 83 —7.75 50 to 60 (ill — — .)- o 55 —5. 53 —7. 54 — 6 — 56 —4— 80 +20. 60 to 70 32 — 11.34 38 —5.34 48 +4.66 41 —2.34 51 +7.66 38 —5.34 42 -1.34 70 to 80 29 —6 75 29 —6.75 33 —2.75 26 —9.75 28 —7.75 50 +14.2.5 42 +6.25 80 to SO 13 —5 83 in —8 83 23 +4,17 13 —5.83 18 —.83 20 +1.17 22 +3.17 90 tolOO —3.08 5 +1.92 1048 —3.08 +153.75 1167 —3.08 4 +.92 3 — 03 7 4-3.92 Total 702 —192.08 883 — 11.25 +272.75 1040 i +145.75 881 —13.25 866 —28.25 From this table the following abstract in relation to the seasons has been compiled. Under 20 years. 20 to 60. GO and upwards. Spring, — 205.50 + 43.75 + 3. Summer, +- 56.50 — 62.75 — 49 Autumn, + 366.50 -f 70.75 + 10 Winter, — 222.50 — 35.75 + 52 From this statement it appears that the seasons have the greatest influence on the mortality of persons under the age of 20 and over that of 60 — the summer and autumn being most fatal with the former, and winter with the latter. This is the only general law we can deduce from the tables. If we examine and compare particular months and ages a striking difference will appear in the mortality, but not enough to deduce any general law from it. The Stillborn. — The number and proportion of the stillborn burials will appear from the following statement : 22 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 1811-1820 1821-1830 1831-1839 Number. Proportion. Number. Proportion. Number. Proportion. Deaths, 8,132 = 95.52 11,470 = 92.66 14,573 = 93.87 Stillborn, 471= 5.48 909= 7.34 952= 6.13 Total burials, 8,603 100.00 12,379 100.00 15,525 100.00 The proportion of the stillborn to the whole burials was 1.82 percent, in the second, and .65 per cent, in the third period, more than in the first. By- table VIII it appears that the month producing the highest proportion was August, and that March was the next highest. There appears, however, to be less variation, in regard to the seasons, in these than in the other deaths. Diseases. — In compiling an abstract of the diseases, or causes of death, we have confined ourselves to the printed lulls of mortality, as we have done in preparing the other tables, and have not gone back to the original records. If this had been done, nothing of great importance, in addition, would have been obtained, unless an entire new set of tables had been formed, which should distinguish each case with respect to age and sex. The records in this respect are not full, and probably they are not always correct in regard to the cause of death inserted. The bills, however, contain the amount of all the deaths in the city, and it is presumed that they also contain a faithful abstract of the records concerning the diseases. There has been considerable difficulty, and great care and labour has been expended, in arranging the diseases from the different annual bills themselves. The nomenclature has been several times altered, and a disease is often returned one year under a name differing from that of the same disease contained in the return of another year, and even in the same year, one and the same disease often ap- pears under two synonymous names, sometimes under the popular, and sometimes under the scientific name, or under both popular names. Another feature of the bills is the indefinite idea conveyed by the names often given to the diseases. It appears from table XI, that of the whole deaths 111.6, 167.1, and 85.8 per 1000, in the respective period, were re- turned as occurring from unknown causes, and that 267.6, 160.5, and 158.4, per 1000, from diseases whose seat or character was undetermined. These two classes amount on the average to about one-third of the whole deaths. There are also many cases returned under the name of "Rupture," "De- bility," " Tumour," " Infantile Diseases," " Complication of Disorders," &c; and another class under the general name of " Complaint," " Disease of the Heart," or "Disease of the Lungs," &c, without specifying the par- ticular kind or type of the disease. This is a great defect in our records and tables; and it should arrest the attention of the medical profession, whose reputation with that of the city, is in some respects involved in it. These imperfections in bills of mortality, however, are not peculiar to Boston. The same defect, to a greater or less extent, has existed in those published in other places in this country, and until recently in Great Britain. It is to be attributed to the imperfections of our system of registration, to the Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 23 ignorance, carelessness, or entire neglect, of those whose duty it is to make the returns, and to the want of proper foims and classification of our printed tables. In 1836 a nomenclature, revised and considerably improved, was printed by the city; but it is believed that some further modification is necessary to make it as perfect as it should be. Some names might be omitted, and others substituted, and the whole arranged in two forms, one in alphabetical and numerical order, the other classed in groups according to the seat of, or parts affected by, the disease. In this way the nomenclature might be ren- dered more simple and exact; and when made, a form of a return should be prepared and every person concerned should not be requested merely, but required to conform to it in all respects to the extent of bis power; and no burial should be permitted until the return is first obtained. In 1836 a cir- cular was addressed by the city authorities to the members of the medical profession, and to the funeral undertakers, requesting them to conform to the new nomenclature, but from the fault of one party or the other, the returns relative to the cause of death are still defective. From these remarks some of the difficulties, which have presented them- selves in preparing the following tables, wdl be perceived. The tables will, however, imperfect as they are, convey much important information, and suggest how much more valuable tables of this kind would have been, if the original returns, from which they were compiled, had been made full and uniformly correct; and the annual printed abstracts themselves prepared in a different form, and on the principles of accurate classification. It has been considered sufficient by many writers on this subject to pre- pare the tables, so as to exhibit the number of the deaths by each disease for certain definite periods of time given. But this information appears to fall short of the result which ought to be presented in such tables. To render them useful, a comparison should be made between the number of deaths by each disease, and the whole number of deaths in a certain given period, and this result should be again compared with a similar result concerning other pe- riods. In this way the prevalence of any particular disease compared with that of other diseases at the same period, and with same diseases at different periods, may be at once seen, and a judgment formed from the per centage what proportion of deaths that particular disease occasions, and whether it be on the increase or decrease. The sex, age, and place of nativity of the diseased, and the season of the year in which the deaths occurred, are not stated in connection with the diseases in our printed tables, but they should be. The fatality of disease depends much on the age of the patients, and it is not the same in childhood, manhood, and old age, nor with the different sexes, and in the different months of the year. It is very important to know all such facts in relation to each disease, and the danger that man has to encounter in all ages, and under all circumstances. It would also be im- portant, if practicable, to know the number of deaths by each disease in 3* 24 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. proportion to the population, distinguishing them according to their ages. When facts like these are known they will lead to inquiries into the causes, which have produced an increase or diminution of disease, under different circumstances, and lead to the adoption of the proper remedies. The following tables have been arranged on the basis of the nomenclature contained in the valuable Report of the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England, with such alterations as seemed necessary to render them more simple, and better adapted to our circumstances. Causes of death of a similar character, though entered under different names in dif- ferent years, have been classed together, so as to show, as far as practicable, the prevalence of the same disease during the whole period. Table X con- tains the number of deaths by each disease in every year from 1811 to 1839 inclusive. They are divided into three periods, the first from 1811 to 1820, the second from 1820 to 1830, and the third from 1830 to 1839 inclusive, and the amount of each given in a separate column. By comparing these numbers together the relative mortality produced by each different disease, and whether it increases or diminishes, may be seen. It is necessary, how- ever, to bear in mind that a greater number does not always indicate an in- crease of mortality. The increase of the population, and consequent relative increased number of deaths, must always be taken into view. The deaths, exclusive of the stillborn, from October 1810 to 1820, were 8,469, and from 1821 to 1830 they were 11,470, being an increase of 3001, or nearly 3.54 per cent, annually. During the nine last years, from 1831 to 1839, the deaths were 14,573, being an increase of 3,103, or 3. per cent, annually. This shows a little increase in the force of mortality as compared with the increase of population, as has already been shown. Table XI shows the comparison in regard to the several classes of diseases. First Division. — Endemic, Epidemic, and Contagious Diseases. — This class of diseases is the great index to the state of health of a people, and determines more than any other its character in different locations, and in different periods. We have subdivided this class into fevers, eruptive fevers, and others not classified. (See table X.) Fevers.— A variety of opinions prevails in regard to the nomenclature and arrangement of the different kinds of fevers. We have adopted, as far as circumstances will permit, the division contained in the American edition of Marshall Hall's Practical Medicine, though it does not agree with the Reports of the Registrar-General of Births and Deaths in England, nor with the Sup- plement to the Encyclopedia of Practical Medicine. There are many cases, found in the Boston tables, returned as " fever" only, without any specification of kind or type. A great variety of names is also given, some of which have been regarded as synonymous. Under Synochus are included all of a mixed character, or not clearly defined, which appear in the printed tables, such as "fever," "anomalous fever," "bilious," "catarrhal," "country," "iso- lated," "miliary," "acute synochus," &c. The term "typhoid" does not Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 25 appear in the bills until 1837, and is therefore omitted. Under Typhus are included such as "brain," "congestive," "continued," "inflammatory," "jail," "malignant," "nervous," "putrid," "typhoid," &c. We have arranged cases, which appeared in the printed tables as "lung fever," and "pleurisy fever," under Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs; " worm fever," under Worms; " rheumatic fever," under Rheumatism; " scarlet fever," under Scarlatina; "puerperal" and "child-bed fever," under Dis- eases of Child-bed. The deaths by fevers of all kinds were 749, 604, and 721, or 88.4, 52.7, and 49.5 per 1000 of the whole deaths in the respective periods, showing a decrease of 35.7 in the second, and 3.2 in the third. By looking at the different fevers in the tables it will be perceived, that typhus has produced the greatest number of deaths, but still it has very much de- creased; being 623, 458, and 611, or 73.5, 39.9 and 41.9 per 1000, showing the last eight years a small increase on the previous 10, but not more than half the proportion of the period 1811 to 1820. The greatest number in one year was 119, in 1818. Ten cases of yellow fever occurred in 1816. 2. Eruptive Fevers.— -The diseases of this class occur very irregularly. They have, however, increased. There occurred 64, 402, and 1402, or 7.5, 35.1, and 96.2 per 1000 in the respective periods, the last period showing more than 13 times the mortality of the first. Each of the diseases except- ing thrush, shows an increased mortality. Erysipelas has increased from 1, in the first, to 65 in the last period. Measles was very fatal in 1821, 1825, 1829, 1832, and particularly in 1835, when 188 died of this disease: 28, 332, and 340, or 3.3, 28.9, and 23.1 per 1000 of the whole deaths oc- curred from this disease in the respective periods. Under Scarlatina are included the cases in the bills entered as " scarlet fever," " putrid sore throat," " cynanche maligna," " ulcerated sore throat," " throat distemper," " canker rash," &c, being considered nearly synonymous. Cases of this kind have increased since 1821 to 1830, from 13 to 489! It has become one of the most fatal of the eruptive fevers. The suddenness of its attack, the irregular mode of its operation, and its generally fatal termination, has ren- dered it one of the diseases most to be dreaded. The greatest number in one year was in 1839, when 222 died. The next greatest was 200 in 1832. To the prevalence of this disease may be attributed, in some measure, the increased mortality of children under five years of age. The recorded cases of Smallpox have been principally at the quarantine establishment at Rains- ford Island. It never prevailed in the city, as an epidemic, during the period under review, until the autumn of 1839. It then spread generally through the city, and produced 60 deaths before the close of the year. 3. Not classified. We have adopted this term to designate such endemic, epidemic, or contagious diseases as are not included in either of the forego- ing classes. Under Cholera are included cholera morbus, and also 78, 89, and 251 cases in the respective periods which are entered as " cholera infantum," and also 78 cases of Asiatic or spasmodic cholera, which occur- red in 1832. Croup includes the cases of " hives," and " cynanche tra- 14.4 149 12.9 407 27.9 5. 245 21.3 378 25.9 13.5 429 37.4 372 25.5 9.2 184 1(5.0 256 17.5 26 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. chealis." This disease resembles quinsy, subsequently classified under the diseases of the organs of respiration; and the cases may not all be correctly entered in their respective subdivisions. It was thought best, however, to preserve a separate classification. Under Dysentery are included the cases of " diarrhoea," having so closea resemblance as to be here classed toge- ther. The number of deaths by each disease of this class, excepting Hydro- phobia and Syphilis, have increased, though dysentery has not produced so great a proportion in the nine last years, as it did in the previous ten. The following statement will show the compartive prevalence of each of the principal diseases: 1811—1820. 1821—1830. 1831—1839. Diseases. Number. Eatio per 1000. Number. Ratio per 1000. Number. Ratio per 1000. Cholera, 122 Croup, 43 Dysentery, 115 Hooping Cough, 78 The total of this class of diseases was 380, 1031, and 1499, or 44.9, 89.9, and 102.9 per 1000 in the respective periods. Second Division. — Sporadic Diseases. 1. Of the Nervous System and Senses. — Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, Byes, Bars. — Under Convulsions we include cases entered as " fits," " spasms," &c, which are no doubt sometimes erroneously considered as synonymous terms; under Hydrocephalus cases of " dropsy in the head," " effusion of the brain," " hydrocephalus internus," &c; under Phrenitis cases of" brain fever," " inflammation of the brain," &c. It appears from the tables that the whole of the diseases of this class have been 562, 980, and 1515, or 66.4, 85.4, and 104. per 1000 in the different periods, showing a slight increase. The entries under each class, excepting epilepsy, insanity, and tetanus, also show an increase. Insanity has not appeared to increase, though some allowance should be made for the patients afflicted with this disease, who go to the Lunatic Asylums at Worcester and Charlestown, and sometimes die there. If these were considered in our reports they would probably show a different result, and a slight increase of the disease. The following statement shows the proportional prevalence of the three principal diseases of this class. 1811—1820. Diseases. Number. Ratio per 1000. Apoplexy, 109 12.8 Convulsions, 229 27. Hydrocephalus, 86 10.1 2. Of the Organs of Respiration — Larynx, Windpipe, Air-tubes, Langs, and Pleura. We have included under Pleurisy " pleurisy fever," " pleu- ritis," and "inflammation of the pleura;" under Phthisis, " phthisis pulmo- nalis," and " consumption," also 29 cases in 1820 to 1830, and 18 in 1830 1821—1830. 1831—1839. Number. Ratio per 1000. Number. Ratio per 1000. 107 9.3 162 11.1 309 26.9 419 28.7 270 23.6 498 34.1 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 27 to 1839, returned as "decline;" under Pneumonia, "lung fever," "pulmo- nic fever," and " inflammation of the lungs;" under Quinsy " cynanche." In the different periods under consideration, 2460, 2802, and 3214 deaths, or 290.5, 244.8, and 220.5 per 1000, were caused hy this class of diseases. This indicates a decrease of 70 per 1000 from the first to the last period. The following table will show the comparative prevalence of the principal diseases: 1811- -1820. 1821- -1830. 1831- -1839. Number Ratio per Number Ratio per Number Ratio per cases. 1000. cases. 1000. cases. 1000. 35 4.1 40 3.4 83 5.7 1891 223.3 2054 179. 2066 141.7 436 51.4 580 50.5 937 64.2 Pleurisy, Phthisis, Pneumonia, The leading disease of this class, and indeed of all classes, is phthisis, or consumption. From these tables it appears to have decreased over one- third from the first to the last period. Entire reliance, however, should not be placed on this statement. There is so much indefiniteness in the applica- tion of the term, consumption, as well as many other terms in our bills, that it should be regarded only as an approximation to the truth. The more accurate diagnosis recently observed has probably given a different classifi- cation to many cases, from that assigned to them in the first period. Con- sumption is, however, a most formidable disease, not in Boston peculiarly, but in all cities and country towns. Sufficient facts are known to show, that from one-fourth to one-seventh of all the deaths in the Northern and Middle states, and perhaps throughout the whole Union, and the civilized world, are caused by consumption. This frightful mortality is to be arrested, if at all, by means of prevention, rather than the cure of the disease after it has once become seated. Were a competent individual to write a popular treatise explaining the various causes of the disease, and the proper precautionary measures to be taken to prevent its attacks, to be read and observed by the people, its mortality might be greatly reduced. 3. Of the Organs of Circulation — Heart, Arteries, Veins, Lymphatics.— Under Disease are embraced 9 cases of " dropsy of the heart," in 1836, and several cases of " angina pectoris" in different years. These diseases have increased, being 22, 81, and 191, or 2.5, 7. and 13.1 per 1000. Of the whole of this class 24, 90, and 200, or 2.9, 7.9, and 13.7 per 1000 occurred in the different periods. It is supposed as the science of medicine progresses, and the diagnosis of disease becomes more perfect, that diseases of the heart will be found to be the cause of more deaths than at present supposed. 4. Of the Digestive Organs. — Mouth, Oesophagus, Stomach, 8fC. — Dys- pepsia, as a cause of death, appears less frequently in the two last periods than the first. Under Gastritis are included 3 cases of " gastric fever" in 1837; under Disease the cases of " aphthse," " canker," " bowel complaints," and "piles." Canker has sometimes been considered synonymous with scarlatina or quinsy, and some cases should probably have been classed 28 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. among those diseases. The following statement will show the comparative prevalence of some of the principal diseases of this class: 1811- -1820. 1821—1830. 1831- -1839. Number Ratio per Number Ratio per Number Ratio per cases. 1000. cases. 1000. cases. 1000. Enteritis, 6 .7 162 14.1 320 21.9 Teething, 39 4.6 83 7.2 247 16.9 Worms, 21 2.5 26 2.2 51 3.5 Most of the other diseases specified have decreased, excepting those of the liver, and the other organs mentioned under the general head, and included under Disease. These have greatly increased. The whole number of cases were 231, 644, and 1107, or 27.3, 56.1, and 76, in the different periods. 5. Of the Urinary Organs. — Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder, Urethra. — Under Stone are included all who died of stone or gravel. In the first period there died of this disease 1 in 1411 of all diseases, in the second 1 in 546, and in the third 1 in 2082. Of all the diseases of this class 9, 30, and 22, or 1.1, 2.6, and 1.5 per 1000 occurred in the respective periods. 6. Of the Organs of Generation. — 'Under Childbed are included cases of "puerperal fever," 63, 121, and 175, or 7.4, 10.5, and 12. per 1000, in the respective periods, occurred by this disease; and 64, 132, and 192, or 7.6, 11.5, and 13.2 per 1000 of the whole deaths of this class. 7. Of the Organs of Locomotion. — Under Rheumatism cases of " rheu- matic fever" 20, 40, and 40, have been caused by this disease; and by the whole class 26, 61, and 68, or 3.1, 5.3, and 4.7 per 1000 of the whole deaths. 8. Of the Integumentary System. — Skin, Cellular Tissue. — The deaths by this class were 3, 17, and 26, or .3, 1.5, and 1.8 per 1000 in the respective periods; Ulcers produced the most deaths of this class. "Scurvy" was the cause of 1 death in 1833, and 1 in 1835. 9. Of Uncertain seat. — The registered deaths by " Infantile Diseases'' , have been 1587, 883, and 867, or 187.4, 77.9, and 59.4 per 1000 in the re- spective periods. The " Sudden" Deaths have been 153, 83, and 70, or 18.0, 7.2, and 4.6 per 1000, showing apparently a large decrease in both of these causes of death. A better acquaintance with morbid anatomy, more accurate medical observation, and greater care in making the returns and re- cords, have given more definite character to the causes of death, and assigned more of them to their proper place. Many cases, which would have been entered in the first period under these names, have in the last been entered under the other and more specific diseases of infancy, or under apoplexy, dis- eases of the heart, and other causes of " sudden" death. This has appa- rently decreased the number of cases of infantile diseases and sudden deaths, and increased the number of cases of other diseases in the tables. These facts are to be considered in estimating the comparative mortality of the dif- ferent diseases. The registered deaths by Intemperance have increased, being 65 f 257, and 310, or 7, 22.4 and 21.2 per 1000 in the respective periods. Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. 29 We are inclined to think, however, that the number of deaths by intemper- ance has not increased so much as the above statement might indicate, but that a different name may have been sometimes given to this cause of death. The cause of the disease, and not the disease itself, may have been entered. An inspection of the table will show great inequalities in the number of entries under different years from other causes. This is especially the case with Atrophy, under which are included the entries by " debility," " decline," " cachexia," " emaciation," " marasmus," &c. Since the laws of sporadic diseases are such, as to produce about the same proportion of deaths in the same population, in specific periods of time, it is certain that these entries cannot be relied on as being accurate causes of death. The whole number by all this class of diseases was 2266, 1841, and 2163, or 267.6, 160.5, and 148.4 per 1000 of the whole deaths, showing considerable improvement in diagnosis, but showing also that much is yet to be done before the tables can be made as accurate as they should be. 10. Old Age.. — The entries under the very indefinite term " Old age" were 379, 420, and 581, or 44.8, 36.6, and 39.9 per 1000 in the respective periods. It is worthy of consideration whether many of these cases might not have been entered under some specific disease. 11. Deaths by Violence. — The greatest number from any single cause of death under this class is by Droivning, the proportion of which has varied, but not increased. The next greatest is inserted under the very inde- finite name of Casualties, including all who die from accidental causes. The next are by Burns and Scalds. The deaths by Suicide have stood 29, 50, and 95, or 3.4, 4.3, and 6.5 per 1000 in the respective periods, showing a small increase. Murders have decreased. The whole number by this class are 305, 499, and 611, or 36.0, 43.5, 41.9 per 1000 in the different periods, showing but little variation. 12. Unknoivn Causes. — The tables state the number of deaths, of which the causes are unknown, to have been 945, 1917, and 1251, or 111.6, 167.1, and 85.8 per 1000 in the different periods. This number has varied, and is now considerably decreased in proportion to the whole deaths, but it is still very much greater -than it should be. Greater care on the part of the medi- cal profession, and in making the records would reduce it. From this view of the causes of death in Boston it appears that 1193, 2037, and 3622 cases, or 140.8, 177.7, and 248.6 per 1000 of all the deaths were from epidemic, endemic, and contagious diseases; and that 7275, 9433, and 10951 cases or 859.2, 822.3, and 751.4 per 1000 of all the deaths were from sporadic diseases. This shows an increase of the first, and a decrease of the second division of diseases, in the respective periods. If, as has been stated, the great criterion of health is the comparative prevalence of one or the other of these two great divisions of diseases, it follows that Boston is not now quite as healthy as it was twenty or thirty years ago. This fact, I think, may be inferred also from other investigations given in this article. 30 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. Table X, showing the number of deaths in Boston --■ a s 5 - o ~l Ed s 'J 1« cd '_' i — W 1 ■a e B td u 1" -5 r3 A 1. F«»ers. • 2. Eruptive Fe- < tiers. 3. JVbt Classi- , fied. ' < 1. Of the Ner- vous System and Senses. Brain, Spinal ' Marrow, Nerves, Eyes, Ears. 2. Of the Or- gans of Res- piration. Larynx, Windpipe, Air tubes, Lungs, Pleura. 3. Of the Or- gans of Cir- culation. Heart, Arte- ries, Veins, Lymphatics. 1 4. Of the Di- gestive Or- gans. Mouth, CEso- phagus, Sto- mach, Small Intestines, Colon, Rectum, Pancreas, Liv- er, Gall-Blad- der, Spleen. 'Intermittent Synochua Spotted Typhus Yellow Total 'Erysipelas Measles Scarlatina Small-Pox Thrush Total r Cholera Croup Dysentery Hydrophobia Hooping-cough Influenza Syphilis Total 'Apoplexy Convulsions Delirium Tremens Epilepsy Hydrocephalus Insanity Paralysis Phrenitis Tetanus Disease Total ' Asthma Bronchitis Hydrothorax Pleurisy Phthisis Pneumonia Quinsy Disease Total Aneurism Pericarditis Disease Total L Ascites Colic Constipation Dyspepsia Enteritis Gastritis Hernia Peritonitis Tabes Mesenterica Teething Worms Disease Disease of the Pancreas Hepatitis Jaundice Disease of the Liver Disease of the Spleen Total 1811 12 63 75 1 o 3 63 1 29 14 12 119 13 40 33 1 12 2 101 8 221 46 15 290 1 1 2 2 15 1 1 3 15 11 10 58 1812 4 23 27 2 1 2 " 5 15 12 6 2 6 1 1 43 2 2 190 40 17 251 1 1 2 2 1 10 1 - 20 1813 6 42 48 1 1 5 1 5 1 12 15 21 2 6 I 45 I 2 7 193 41 8 252 1 1 2 18 2 5 25 1814 C 80 86 1 I 3 2 4 1 5 15 3 15 3 2 9 1 2 1 36 3 153 26 10 192 1 3 2 6 1815 2 51 53 21 4 25 1 6 12 2 1 22 3 23 3 2 11 3 2 47 2 190 67 7 266 1 2 3 1 7 1816 10 23 10 43 6 3 9 5 4 6 9 24 18 18 12 2 8 1 1 1 61 1 180 61 16 258 1 1 18 1 2 3 1 25 1817 12 59 71 1 1 8 11 23 19 61 17 42 6 6 1 72 4 231 47 6 288 2 2 12 2 3 15 1818 1 7 119 1 128 I 1 2 3 5 4 1 13 9 29 4 6 2 50 3 13,1 36 4 181 1 5 6 12 1 5 1819 42 112 1 155 12 12 18 9 13 3 2 45 6 20 23 3 1 53 3 175 46 4 228 3 3 2 7 7 6 1 24 1820 1 9 1 51 1 63 10 10 14 3 17 24 4 64 10 19 2 16 7 54 o 220 26 6 254 8 ~7 1 11 5 3 3 3 6 1 33 Tota: 2 110 1 623 13 749 1 28 29 6 64 122 43 115 1 78 5 16 380 109 229 86 14 80 22 7 5 502 3 2 35 1891 436 93 2400 2 22 24 2 5 89 6 1 8 3 39 21 1 25 30 1 231 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston, by disease in each year, from 1S11 to 1839. 31 1821 1822 1.-23 1821 1.-25 1 1826 IS-J7 1828 2 1 1830 1 Total 1831 1832 1 1833 1834 1835 4 1836 2 1837 3 1838 1839 1 Total 13 5 2 lb 10 - 19 12 22 9 21 8 14 133 15 5 20 8 23 13 - 3 9 96 - - - 1 1 2 1 1 45 34 43 62 54 50 46 46 45 33 458 43 60 73 70 101 68 93 43 60 611 63 2 46 1 44 1 83 68 1 73 55 69 I 55 48 6 61 66 93 78 128 83 96 46 70 721 C04 _ _ _ _ 1 _ 8 3 _ _ 12 2 4 4 12 9 3 6 17 8 65 140 3 - 2 77 10 - - 78 13 332 2 70 o 1 188 31 23 20 3 340 4 1 1 - 4 16 8 3 4 5 46 84 200 90 39 73 31 50 106 •K)0 895 - - - 1 1 - 3 2 - 1 8 4 2 - 4 7 6 13 3 60 99 153 4 1 1 4 83 26 19 1 9 1 83 1 20 4 92 276 96 56 3 280 71 92 140 293 3 1402 402 15 5 15 18 24 17 8 26 1 20 149 21 93 20 30 30 30 80 61 42 407 11 10 13 30 30 24 25 25 35 42 245 53 40 43 43 32 31 44 44 46 376 73 40 37 69 60 48 27 31 21 23 429 29 24 41 48 45 38 45 65 37 372 26 5 17 13 27 23 6 40 11 16 184 26 22 28 38 44 17 19 28 34 256 - - - - 7 - - - - - 7 22 24 1 4 2 2 15 2 _ 72 1 2 1 3 3 1 1 3 1 1 17 - 4 - 3 2 - 4 2 1 16 126 62 83 133 151 113 67 125 69 102 1031 151 207 133 166 155 118 207 202 162 1499 7 6 11 9 12 10 10 18 12 12 107 11 15 19 9 19 19 31 19 20 162 22 11 22 36 48 53 29 32 28 28 309 34 41 39 50 51 50 52 60 42 419 5 7 4 7 5 1 7 2 38 6 10 3 1 4 5 11 10 8 58 1 2 1 2 1 3 2 12 . 1 1 1 2 o 2 9 6 1 11 33 38 29 24 38 42 48 270 51 44 52 53 48 68 59 67 56 498 4 o 2 . 1 5 1 3 4 22 1 . 1 10 4 3 19 22 10 5 12 14 9 6 10 11 14 113 11 19 12 13 19 11 13 7 14 119 15 17 16 3 3 7 5 7 - 73 11 10 5 23 25 11 85 . 1 . o 1 - 1 1 6 1 . 1 1 2 . 1 6 - 1 1 - 1 6 6 7 8 30 15 19 7 10 8 15 31 23 12 140 82 51 74 100 123 118 91 112 113 116 980 129 180 144 149 102 179 220 213 160 1515 1 2 1 o 2 1 2 1 1 13 1 1 3 4 1 4 2 1 2 1 8 1 25 6 2 . 5 14 3 9 6 1 4 3 47 4 6 7 1 6 9 5 3 41 . 5 4 7 6 7 3 2 4 2 40 4 3 8 11 13 14 18 10 2 83 216 166 184 246 220 231 178 217 203 193 2054 203 246 240 246 208 233 212 256 222 2066 31 4! 38 77 67 41 36 89 90 68 5r0 97 106 77 90 141 99 114 113 100 937 fl 7 5 11 5 2 1 3 4 43 5 1 6 2 3 6 5 3 30 - - - 15 • 2 2 6 ■ 25 3 5 1 3 8 2 4 26 255 221 237 1 372 7 298 296 229 1 313 310 271 2802 1 8 316 368 340 361 369 364 1 364 3 389 3 343 3214 4 5 5 5 3 3 8 9 4 11 10 10 14 14 7 8 7 7 10 10 13 13 81 90 15 15 13 13 16 16 25 25 14 14 23 24 27 32 28 31 30 30 191 200 . 3 1 2 4 3 4 2 3 3 2 24 3 15 4 4 4 1 - . 10 2 5 30 3 3 1 1 . 1 . 2 3 3 1 . 1 11 10 15 13 4 15 24 1 12 33 2 21 14 2 162 9 18 31 23 1 38 30 35 41 3 54 6 50 320 10 - 2 2 1 2 3 2 - 1 1 1 12 4 1 - ■ • " " 1 1 3 * 5 1 o 10 15 8 23 13 12 83 10 21 30 36 24 5 22 30 29 247 3 3 3 4 4 1 3 1 26 3 7 7 5 6 7 4 3 9 51 1 22 41 16 25 1 39 20 18 1 16 182 18 28 38 31 29 44 7 10 33 310 3 3 . 10 5 3 2 1 34 1 3 5 2 1 1 1 4 3 21 5 6 . . II 7 10 14 17 70 11 9 12 8 25 14 8 5 9 101 1 23 20 35 57 119 86 91 72 1 76 65 1 2 1 114 113 121 133 195 99 117 139 644 1 77 1107 32 Shattnck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. Table X, showing the number of deaths in Boston 1811 14 14 1 2 3 2 20 5 28 21 3 4 2 11 25 121 26 6 10 2 13 1 38 43 1812 1 1 5 5 16 1 133 12 4 24 190 35 2 6 10 1 3 22 32 1813 1 1 5 5 1 1 17 I 1 206 7 11 245 48 2 9 15 1 1 28 39 1814 6 6 1 1 1 17 2 208 8 1 14 251 39 5 3 10 1 19 43 1815 4 4 1 1 1 6 14 1 222 6 1 11 262 44 5 4 12 1 1 6 29 71 1816 12 12 3 1 4 1 1 1 37 2 12 1 195 3 13 21 286 37 5 5 12 2 4 28 84 1817 3 3 3 3 7 7 3 11 36 3 157 3 9 1 13 236 50 9 7 13 1 3 33 32 1818 1819 2 2 6 6 1 1 3 9 23 5 147 11 1 13 212 29 3 8 2 13 1 1 1 4 33 178 1820 2 2 8 1 9 3 1 4 1 1 4 14 4 4 163 31 7 8 9 246 39 3 12 1 9 1 4 2 3 6 41 187 Total Ed 5. O 1 a a a. M '. „,,, , T . f Diabetes 5. Of the Urin- c jsig ary Organs. | j/ ephriti8 xr-j tt •> Stone ^"T'hhTI Disease ters, Bladder, Urethra. [ Tota , <• r.* ..!. y-> fChildbed 6. 0/ the O r . \ gans of Gen- < 1 1 2 4 4 1 2 6 1 9 63 1 eration. 7. Of the Or-] gans of Lo- comotion. Joints, Bones, Ligaments, Tendons, Mus- cles. 8. Of the In- tegumentary System. Skin, Cellular Tissue. 9. Of uncertain seat. ■> k 10 OfOldJlge.- 11. Deaths by < Violence. Total Rheumatism < Disease Total 'Carbuncle Fistula Ulcer Disease I Total r Abscess Atrophy Cancer Debility Dropsy Gout Hemorrhage Infantile Diseases Inflammation Intemperance Malformation Mortification Scrofula Sudden Deaths Tumor Total -Old Age 'Burns and Scalds Casualties Drinking Cold Water Drowned Fracture Frozen Hanged Murdered Poisoned Suffocation Suicide Total Unknown Causes 64 20 6 26 1 2 2 15 1 21 3 1 1 3 23 1 } I i 1 i 3 i I _> 2 7 I i 1 "i 1 1 7 3 13 58 32 44 193 12 23 1587 65 69 14 153 3 2266 379 42 84 7 119 2 5 6 6 5 29 305 945 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston, by disease in each year, from 1811 to 1839.. — continued. 33 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1820 1827 1828 1829 1831) rotal 1831 1832 1833 1834 1 1835 1836 1837 838 1839 Total i 1 1 1 3 1 1 < 1 2 1 5 1 3 2 2 2 4 2 1 2 2 21 1 1 1 3 1 7 1 3 3 5 1 3 3 4 3 2 2 1 4 5 2 3 1 1 3 5 1 1 5 2 4 i 2 1 10 22 30 7 9 5 13 17 12 11 14 17 16 121 14 14 17 14 29 23 19 27 18 175 2 4 1 2 2 11 1 1 2 5 7 1 17 9 9 5 17 17 12 12 16 19 16 132 14 15 17 14 30 25 24 34 19 192 6 2 2 9 6 4 4 2 3 2 40 4 3 4 5 4 7 3 6 4 40 2 8 1 3 2 4 3 12 2 8 2 6 1 5 1 3 3 6 4 6 21 61 2 6 3 6 5 9 2 7 3 7 4 11 3 5 11 4 8 28 68 1 1 2 1 3 1 'l 3 7 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 9 1 3 20 1 1 3 5 1 1 1 2 5 1 1 1 1 5 2 3 2 1 17 5 3 1 2 11 1 3 26 3 5 4 9 2 6 2 2 1 3 37 4 8 4 4 3 5 5 5 38 1 1 9 13 12 36 2 10 31 23 32 54 34 186 3 12 3 9 7 6 4 5 3 6 58 5 5 12 15 9 6 14 12 8 86 8 4 6 16 18 6 6 10 8 82 20 15 12 13 29 11 1 5 11 117 32 43 18 12 28 32 25 20 12 15 237 28 38 24 27 38 35 42 23 28 283 1 2 2 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 3 1 2 7 10 3 4 5 12 153 244 184 32 44 40 35 55 55 41 883 56 70 100 95 111 176 59 112 88 867 3 3 4 4 11 1 26 3 3 1 2 1 4 20 1 35 31 25 10 22 23 38 25 34 30 19 257 38 44 40 39 37 41 17 24 1 30 1 310 2 8 8 4 12 8 9 9 7 8 4 77 9 9 4 9 10 6 11 3 61 5 2 4 3 4 1 2 5 4 5 35 2 3 5 8 13 9 13 5 7 65 6 9 5 7 35 3 2 7 9 83 5 9 5 4 12 12 13 10 70 1 2 1 2 3 • 3 12 5 2 2 2 7 1 i 3 5 28 252 356 249 142 165 156 118 140 142 121 1841 175 206 211 228 299 325 202 284 233 2163 31 36 39 33 38 40 37 54 65 47 420 67 62 57 54 72 82 69 65 53 581 14 4 3 15 5 13 8 5 10 86 16 10 11 5 11 10 12 20 15 110 18 17 24 2 2 11 6 14 14 14 12 8 134 10 14 1 18 19 22 ~1 25 1 32 14 22 3 16 182 6 19 21 16 2 18 21 i 22 1 1 21 16 2 19 1 15 2 188 5 4 1 15 1 1 22 10 2 25 i 16 7 17 1 2 23 19 1 30 2 177 7 2 9 1 fi l 8 1 3 i 5 i 1 1 2 1 6 i 3 1 4 i 10 1 2 1 i 1 1 7 2 2 2 2 8 2 55 5 55 3 48 5 43 4 51 5 57 4 49 9 54 5 44 8 43 50 12 63 8 60 14 68 ii 69 9 70 13 80 lb 59 8 77 i 75 95 611 499 241 218 211 197 227 161 153 180 160 152 1917 182 126 85 105 88 85 269 182 129 1251 34 Shattuck on the Vital Statistics of Boston. Table XI, showing the number of deaths, and the ratio per 1000 by each class of diseases, in the three periods, 1811-1820, 1821-1830, and 1831-1839. Diseases. 1811- • 1820. 1821- •1830. 1831-1S39. i\ umber Ratio Mi in her Ratio Number Ratio ofd'ths, per 1000. ofd'ths. per 1000 ofd'ths. per 1000. Fevers, - 749 88.4 604 52.7 721 49.5 Eruptive Fevers, - - - - 64 7.5 402 35.1 1402 96.2 Not classified, .... Total Epidemic, Endemic, &c. diseases, Nervous system, - - - - 380 44.9 1031 89.9 1499 102.9 1193 140.8 2037 177.7 3622 248.6 562 66.4 980 85.4 1515 104.0 Organs of Respiration, - - - 2460 290.5 2802 244.3 3214 220.5 Organs of Circulation, ... 25 2.9 90 7.9 200 13.7 Digestive Organs, - - - - 231 27.3 644 56.1 1107 76.0 Urinary Organs, - 9 1.1 30 2.6 22 1.5 Organs of Generation, - 64 7.6 132 11.5 192 13.2 Organs of Locomotion, - 26 3.1 61 5.3 68 4.7 Integumentary System, 3 .3 17 1.5 26 1.8 Uncertain seat, - - - - - 2266 267.6 1841 160.5 2163 14S.4 Old Age, 379 44.8 420 36.6 581 39.9 Deaths by violence, - - - - 305 36.0 499 43.5 611 41.9 Unknown causes, - Total Sporadic diseases, ... General Total, - - - - 945 111.6 1917 167.1 1251 85.8 7275 859.2 9433 822.3 10951 751.4 8468 1000.0 11470 1000.0 14573 1000.0 This article has already extended so far that the author is induced to omit all comparisons between Boston and other places, in regard to the pre- valence of particular diseases, or the general mortality. He has a series of the bills of mortality of the principal cities in the United States, and a great mass of similar facts from Europe, which he reserves for a future con- sideration. Since the foregoing article was in the hands of the printer the population of Boston, and the bill of mortality for 1840 have been obtained; and it is deemed expedient to annex the following abstract of these documents. A census was taken by authority of the state, on the first day of May, for the purpose of an apportionment of the representatives in the legislature, which excluded some classes of the inhabitants. According to the census of the United States the whole population was 93,470, whites 91,188, or 97.55 per cent., and coloured 2321, or 2.55 per cent. Of these 10,805 were returned as engaged in navigation, a large portion of whom, being constantly absent, should not be embraced in the comparative estimates of the deaths to the living. The white population, among whom the recorded deaths occur, may be estimated at 84,311, and the coloured at 2321. The deaths in 1840, exclusive of the still born, were 1841 whites, or 1 in 47, or 2.10 per cent, and 64 coloured, or 1 in 36, or 2.75 per cent, being about the average for the Mitchener's Case of Malformation. 35 previous years. The whites were distributed according to ages, as in the following table. The male deaths were 951, and the female 890. There were 45 more males than females died under five years of age. Age. Population in 1840. | Deaths in 1840. Number Number Proport'n Proport'n Number Number Proport'n Proport'n Proport'n in each surviving in each surviving in each surviving in each survivingl to living age. each age. age. each age. age. each age. age. each age each age. Under 5 11393 84.311 13.51 100. 784 1777 44.12 100.00 6.88 5 to 10 8725 79.918 10.35 86.49 70 993 3.94 55.88 .80 10 to 20 15809 64.193 18.75 76.14 100 923 5.63 51.94 .63 20 to 30 22337 48.384 26.49 57.39 200 823 11.26 46.31 .99 30 to 40 13666 26.047 16.21 30.90 226 623 12.72 35.05 1.65 40 to 50 6546 12.381 7.77 14.69 133 597 7.48 22.33 2.03 50 to 60 3404 5.835 4.04 6 92 110 464 6.19 14.85 3.23 60 to 70 1561 2.431 1.85 2.88 69 154 3.S8 8.66 4.42 70 to 80 641 .870 .76 1.03 47 85 2 64 4.78 7.33 80 to 90 202 .229 .24 .27 33 38 1.86 2.14 15.95 Over 90 27 .027 .03 .03 5 5 .28 .28 18.55 84311 100.00 1777 100.00 2.10 Diseases. — Of 533 deaths caused by endemic, epidemic, and contagious diseases, 97 were from fevers, 202 from eruptive fevers, and 234 from others not classified. Of these 89 were by typhus fever, 76 by scarlatina, 116 by small pox, 55 by cholera, 58 by dysentery, and 70 by whooping cough, showing, by comparing it with Table X, an increased prevalence of some diseases, and a decrease of others. Of the 1308 deaths caused by sporadic diseases, 200 were by diseases of the nervous system, 402 of the organs of respiration, 18 of the organs of cir- culation, 126 of the organs of digestion, 1 of the urinary organs, 24 of the organs of generation, 8 of the organs of locomotion, 5 of the integumentary system, 295 of uncertain seat, 64 of old age, 79 by violence, and 86 by unknown causes. The stillborn were 131. This shows no peculiar feature in the prevalence of these diseases, when compared with the prevalence of the same diseases for the previous nine years.