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12,949

All ages,
Av'age age, 25.71 22.61 28.27 24.50 27.30 25.35 29.47 27.47

12,916 16,060 15,969 20,437 20,437 24,297 24,297

From this statement, it appears that the average age at which men marry, for the first time, in Massachusetts, is 25.71 years; and women, 22.61 years. In England, the first marriage of men is at 25.45 years, and of women at 24.30; and in Belgium, of men at 29.47, and of women at 27.43. This shows that there is a difference in the ages at which females marry, between Massachusetts and England, of nearly two years; and between Massachusetts and Belgium, of five years. The average age of all marrying in Massachusetts, (either first or subsequent marriages,) is, of men, 28.27 years, and of women, 24.50; and in England, of men, 27.30, and of women, 25.35.

The last four Registration Reports give the number, aggre gate ages, and average age, of all persons over 20 years, who, according to the returns, died unmarried, married, and widowed; and separately of males and females. Combining these facts, we obtain the following results :

Number that died unmarried, .

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By comparing this remarkable statement with the average age at first marriage, (see page 88,) and deducting that age from the age at which persons die in the married condition, we obtain the average length of the married life; and find it to be,-of men, 28.90 years, and of women, 22.16! And by deducting the average age of those who died in marriage from the average age of those who died in widowhood, we obtain the average length of the period of widowhood; and find it to be,—of men, 19.33 years, and of women, 28.90 years!!

The influence of disease is the most important test of the sanitary condition of the State. We have accordingly prepared the accompanying table, (pp. 90, 91, 92,) to illustrate this part of our subject. It contains the number of deaths in Boston, by each known cause, for the 39 years,-1811–1849, inclusive,2 divided into four periods; and those in the remainder of the State, for the seven years,-1842-1848, covered by the Registration Reports; and the proportion per cent. that the number by each known cause bears to all the causes, in the respective periods. There may be, and undoubtedly are, some errors in the returns from which this table is compiled, and allowances should therefore be made; but admitting our data to be generally correct, it will afford the means of judging, approximately, if not with entire accuracy, of the comparative prevalence of different diseases. The diseases are classified according to the plan recommended by the Registrar General of England. The table relates to 57,948 specified causes of death in Boston, and 57,484 out of Boston; and they are divided into twelve groups of causes, to each of which we propose to allude.

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1 Some interesting information concerning the domestic condition of the population of Boston, may be found in the Census Report for 1845, pp. 57-63. The length of married life in the living individuals is there stated at 12.50 years.

2 Errors are sometimes made by beginners in statistical inquiries, in dividing ages and periods of time; and it may be well to state what we understand to be the correct method. When we say from "20 to 30," we mean, from the end of the 20th year, or from the beginning of the 21st, to the end of the 30th, not the 29th. It is not 30 until that year is completed. "21-30" has the same meaning; the dash indicating that the years, at each end of it,-21 and 30,-are included; not from 21 to 30, or 21 to 30, which would exclude 21. When "to" is used between the numbers, it is understood to mean from one to the other; and hence it has a different meaning from the dash. So the period 1811-1820 means, from the beginning of the year 1811 to the end of 1820, and has the same meaning as from 1810 to 1820. From 20 to 30, and other divisions, are sometimes written in the form of a fraction,-thus, 38; or thus, -25-, giving the number intermediate between the two periods. The middle of the century is the end of the moment when the 50th year ends, and before the 51st begins.

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Though this method of comparing diseases with diseases is interesting, yet it has its imperfections. It is more correct. when means exist to compare the number of deaths by each disease with the number of the living inhabitants. We are able at present, however, to make such a comparison in few places in Massachusetts, beside Boston.

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1. The Zymotic,' or epidemic, endemic, and contagious diseases, or causes of death. The extent to which these diseases prevail is the great index of public health. When the proportion is comparatively small, the condition of public health is favorable; when large, it is unfavorable. If, as a class, these diseases are found to decrease, it must be inferred that the general health of the people is improving; if otherwise, that it is growing worse. Let us look at the table, and see how stand

the facts.

It appears, by an inspection of the right-hand columns, that in Boston, in the first period, 15.85 per cent. of the causes of death were in this class; in the second period, 21.32 per cent.; in the third period, 27.56 per cent.; and in the fourth period, 31.59 per cent.; showing the remarkable fact, that these causes of death have doubled in the city within the last thirty years, and that the public health has been constantly growing worse. In the country, the proportion is 27.55 per cent. ;-nearly the same as it was in Boston in the period, 1830 to 1840,-a more unfavorable condition than has been generally supposed to exist. By an inspection of the facts concerning the different diseases of this class, it will appear that nearly all of them have somewhat increased; but

This and several other medical terms will be explained in the appendix.

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