average, and the public health has never been so good since 1845, as in the present quarter. The rate of mortality is 1.901 per cent. per annum. At this rate 1 in 211 persons living died in three months. The chances of living through this quarter were 210 to 1; the average chances of living through three summer months (1839-50) for persons of all ages, being 192 to 1.

The rate of mortality in 506 districts, comprising chiefly small towns and country parishes, was 1.693 per cent. per annum in the quarter; the average summer rate (1840-50) being 1.832 per cent.

The rate of mortality in 117 districts, comprising the large towns, was 2.206 per cent. per annum; the average rate (1840-50) being 2.517 per cent.

The juxtaposition of the figures in the table suggests the melancholy reflection that more than seven millions of people, inhabiting the metropolis and all the cities and great centres of industry, are still exposed to a mortality which is not inherent in their nature, but is due to the artificial circumstances in which they are placed. The waters, the sewers, the soils, the churchyards, the houses emit poisons. To every 10 natural deaths, 4 violent deaths-deaths from these poisonous exhalations—are superadded.

Still, after the scarcity-after the great epidemics of influenza-and after the catastrophe of last year, the return even to the wonted degree of health is a relief to the nation; and health above the average, not only in places scourged by cholera, but in nearly all the towns of the country, is cheering, as it seems to show at once that the imperfect sanitary measures in progress are already beneficial, that the country is recovering from its loss, and that the wants of the people are now more abundantly supplied than they have been of late years.

The deaths in London during the 13 weeks ending September, 1846-7-8-9-50, were 12,409, 13,187, 13,503, 27,109, and 11,578. The zymotic diseases were fatal to 3,011 persons in the last quarter, and it is chiefly, if not exclusively, to the diminished intensity of these maladies that the improvement in the health of the inhabitants of London is ascribable. Small-pox destroyed 109 lives, measles 178, scarlatina 316, hooping-cough 300, croup 57, thrush 59, diarrhoea 1,161, dysentery, 73, and cholera 87. The deaths from diarrhoea in the same time, last year, were 2,457; the deaths from cholera in the five summer quarters of 1846-50, were 197, 98, 153, 12,847, and 87; so that fewer persons died of the disease in summer, 1850, than in the summer quarters of 1846-7-8. Nine deaths from purpura and scurvy were returned; or less than half the number returned in the summer quarter of 1847. The decrease of scurvy is a favorable symptom; it always demands attention, as nothing is more threatening to the health

of large bodies of people, than a disease which involves the whole fluids of the body, and is the precursor of the most fatal epidemics.

Twenty-six deaths from poison, 26 from burns and scalds, 53 from hanging and suffocation, 94 from drowning, 137 from fractures and contusions, 19 from wounds, and 19 from other violence, were registered. The increase in the deaths from hanging, strangling, and suffocation, is considerable. The increase in the deaths by poison also deserve attention. Some alteration of the law to regulate the sale of poisons seems to be required. Arsenic is tasteless in food; it is inev itably fatal; it can be detected in the body after death; and it can be procured by any person in shops almost as readily as sugar. The placing of the sale of a commodity under restrictions, is attended with difficulties; but to nip in its bud the practice of domestic murder by the administration of a tasteless poison is worth the effort, and will count against much inconvenience.

The deaths in the workhouses, hospitals, and other public institutions, were 2,407, 1,953, and 1,719, in the three quarters of the year 1850; and of the 6,079, 3,498 were males, and 2,581 females. One in six of the deaths of the inhabitants of London, took place in public institutions, during the three quarters.

The mortality was generally low in the Southeastern and Midland counties. Southampton suffered severely from scarlatina. Essex was visited by diarrhoea, and a few cases of cholera. Norwich suffered from a severe epidemic of scarlatina. The poor, whose dwellings were in unhealthy places, suffered most. Scarlatina prevailed in other parts of Norfolk, and raised the mortality. In Wilts, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset, where cholera was very fatal in 1849, the mortality returned to its normal state. The Registrar of Yeovil remarks that

No less than 26 of the 55 deaths have occurred from fever or other affections directly induced by it. Nearly all the cases of fever happened in Vicarage, Silver, and Middle streets, all of which lie directly under an extremely over-crowded churchyard, over which the wind had been blowing in a south and southwesterly direction for some time; this, with the imperfect drainage of the above streets, fully accounts for the origin of the disease.

Small-pox and scarlatina are noticed in the West Midland counties. In Hereford the Registrar observes :—

Small-pox prevails to a considerable extent in this district, having been introduced by a child sickening in a canal-boat, which came lately from Gloucester; the child died in Gaol-lanc, from which place the disease spread itself over the city. In nearly 60 cases 7 proved fatal. Scarlatina has also prevailed slightly.

The Registrar of Burslem, in the Potteries, ascribes "the increase of births and decrease of mortality to improved sanitary arrangements, abundance of employment, and cheap food."

Bilston, which suffered last year so much by cholera, from the neglect of sanitary measures, is now losing lives from the neglect of vaccination. The Registrar says:—

The deaths are above the average, owing to the prevalence of smallpox. I have never known this disease so general among the working classes of Bilston. Many adults have taken it and died. It carried off

48 persons, 40 of whom had not been vaccinated. In several houses the whole of the children have been infected, and two or three have died. I find a growing aversion to vaccination among the poor, to the neglect of which I attribute so great a number of fatal cases.

. Diarrhoea prevailed in Birmingham; cholera was fatal in a few towns in different parts of the country, but was nowhere epidemic. The mortality of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Hull, was below the average.

Several of the Registrars refer to the prosperous state of their dis tricts, in connection with the increase of births and the diminished mortality :

383; 2. STOURBRIDGE; Stourbridge.-Deaths 79. The deaths are 43 below those of the corresponding quarter of 1849, which is attributable to the salubrity of the weather, regular employment, abundance of good provisions, and the improved sanitary condition of the district. Diarrhoea has been less prevalent than usual at this season of the year.

386; 1. MARTLEY; Martley.-Only one illegitimate birth. The blessing of cheap food appears to have a good effect on public morals as well as public health. There is not such dread of the expensiveness of housekeeping among the poor as formerly, when provisions were dear.

395; 1. ASTON; Deritend.-Births 212; deaths 105. There appears a small increase in the births, which may be caused by the increase of population. Additional dwellings of small size, have lately been erected in the district. The deaths are a little below the average, which I am at a loss to account for, unless it arises from the bettered condition of the working classes, owing to the improved state of trade and reduced price of food.

468; 4. BOLTON; Halliwell.-Births 56; deaths 13. The deaths are greatly below the average, which I attribute to the working people being better fed, trade being good, and all in full employment.

468; 10. BOLTON; Little Bolton.-Births 220; deaths 124. The number of births is considerably more than the average of the corresponding quarters of the last 13 years. The increase seems to be consequent on the steadiness of trade and influx of persons resident in the township, together with a large number of new cottages, which are all occupied, chiefly by the working classes. The deaths are about the average of corresponding quarters. Measles has been rather preva lent, and 17 deaths have occurred. The inhabitants have been free from any other epidemic, and are at present in a generally healthy

state.

477; 2. HASLINGDEN; Rossendale.-Births 107; deaths 44. Births, corresponding quarter last year, 66; deaths, corresponding quarter last year, 34. 8 deaths from measles, 2 without medical attendant. I can. not say to what the increase of births is to be attributed, except it be the improved condition of the laboring population, from plenty of employment and cheapness of food.

479; 1. CLITHEROE; Gisburn.-Births 27; deaths 6. The deaths are below the average, which may be accounted for, perhaps, by the very fine weather, while provisions have been low in price, and work plentiful.

487; 1. SEDBERGH; Sedbergh.-Births 17; deaths 4. The mortal

ity has been far below the average for upwards of 18 months. I should be at a loss to account for it, otherwise than that the necessaries of life have been plentiful and cheap, and the laboring classes have had sufficient food.

498; 5. HALIFAX; Elland.-Births 116; deaths 37.

The propor

tion of births to deaths is nearly 3 to 1. The number of the latter is less during the present quarter than in any previous one under the Registration Act. The district is remarkably healthy, and the whole of the population well employed, which gives them command of the necessaries of life and improves their physical condition. The present contrasts favorably with the period of limited employment and scarcity of provisions, when the number of deaths in this district was nearly equal to the births.

The next extract presents an exception to the generally prosperous state of the country:

601; 4. CRICKHOWELL; Llanelly.-Births 86; deaths 44. This subdistrict has been unusually healthy. The iron trade is still without animation.

The following note refers to a subject of great public importance:553; 2. TYNEMOUTH; North Shields.-Births 135; deaths 72. The police arrangements to prevent the influx of vagrants, have tended to promote the health of the population, as most of the infectious diseases have been traced to this source. In fact, in one locality, Pumpwelllane, in the township of North Shields, which is the resort of these persons, it is said that the Poor-law Union had better pay rent for the whole property and shut it up, than incur the great expense which it entails on the union.

XXIX. FORMS OF CERTIFICATES RECOMMENDED TO BE USED IN THE SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION PROPOSED ΤΟ BE INTRODUCED INTO SCOTLAND.

[From the Journal of the Statistical Society of London, Vol. XI, p. 286.]

1. CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE.

DISTRICT, Marylebone. No. in Register, 11.

On March 3d, 1847.

At Marylebone Parish Church.

MARRIAGE,

after Bans, was solemnized between us, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church. SIGNATURE, William Hastings.

DESCRIPTION

residence {present, 3, South street, Marylebone.

age, 32.

usual, Chelmsford, Essex.

rank or profession, carpenter..
condition, widower.

former
if widower
wives,
birth-place, Bristol.

parents' names &
rank or profession,

children by,

first deceased in
1840, 4th Nov. liv'g 2, dead 1.

Peter Hastings, dec., upholsterer, and Ann Hastings, M. N. Payne, schoolmistress.

SIGNATURE, Sophia Ann Mitchell.

residence present, 17, High street,

parents' names & Geoffrey Mitchell, butcher, & Sarah rank or profession, ( Mitchell, M. N. Evans, dec.

WITNESSES, John Hastings-Jane Mitchell.

OFFICIATING MINISTER, James Hollingshead, Vicar.

2. CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH.

DISTRICT, St. Pancras. SUB-DISTRICT, Tottenham Court. No. in Register, 98.

CHILD, Name, and Sex, William Aste, (present,) born 5h. 30m., February 11th, 1847, at 169, Tottenham Court Road.

name, Henry Aste.

rank or profession, corn dealer.

PARENTS-Father

age, 40.

Mother

born at Tingewick, Bucks.

married first in 1830, at St. Pancras.

issue, 4 boys, 4 girls living; 1 girl dec.

name, Harriet Aste, M. N. Hills, (her 9th child.) rank or profession,

age, 37.

born at St. Pancras.

married first in (see Father.)

INFORMANTS AND THEIR SIGNATURES, Henry Aste, father; Harriet Aste, mother.

WITNESSES, Euphemia Curry, nurse; certified by M. Clayton, accoucheur.

REGISTERED, on March 10th, 1847, at 169, Tottenham Court Road, by John Wells, Registrar.

3. CERTIFICATE OF DEATH.

DISTRICT, Poplar. SUB-DISTRICT, Poplar. No. in Register, 1476. William Canty.

NAME

rank or profession, dock laborer.
sex, male.

age, 62.

died on the 28th of Feb., 1847, 6 A.M., at 16 Cottage Row. CAUSE OF DEATH, Pneumonia, two months, as certified by H. Bloomfield, who last saw deceased February 27, 1847.

BURIAL-PLACE, Catholic burial-ground, Wade street, as certified by M. Rutley, undertaker.

BORN AT

county of Cork, Ireland; lived in this dis

trict, 36 years in Poplar.

Parents' names & Father-Timothy Canty, shoemaker, dec. rank or profession, Mother-Mary Canty, M. N. Nicholas, dec.