The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-01
VITAL STATISTICS OF THE METROPOLIS.
Deaths, Marriages and Births daring tia
Year 1SJ4.

Deaths, Marriages and Births during the
Year 1854.
We publish to day, according to our usual custom,
the statistics Of mortality for the year Just closed
and the number Of births and marriages for the
same period, with the exception of the months Of
November and December, the returns for which
have not yet been made in full to the City Inspsc-
tor. Although we are aware that an array Of
figures like thoss we present are not very inviting
to the majority Of readers We still think the subject
Is Of sufficient interest to claim their particular con.
sideration. Embracing as II does the great ques
ton Of the increase and decrease of population and
affecting the individual as well az the mass, 1t pos
sesses in our estimation importance inferior to
none other. The various diseases by which human
life is destroyed set forth In the subioined tables
but in their peculiar nature is not stated
with tina. disnctness which is so necessary to the
understanding Of the medical practitioner. The gen.
eral titles Of diseases OF the brain, stomach liver
&c, are given in place Of the particular names by
which the different forms are distinguished This de.
feet Is attributable to the ignorance or care essness OF
tie physicians Themselves, in making olt the burial
certificates which, in at least one case out of every
ten, do not specify the disease Of which Their pa
tients died.
Aswill be seen by reference to the table of NOR.
tally for the last six months the number OF deaths
during the whole year amounted to 2s,i22, or
about 5000 more than the whole mortality for the
year previous. 1t must be observed, however, that
2249 persons died Of cholera while the deaths from
the same epidemic for the preceding twslve
months did not exceed 25. The excessive morality
among children, instead Of being diminished, has
increased to an alarming extent, at least three
fourths Of the whole number Of saths being among
children under ten years Of age. From q com.
paiison Of the number who leave the world with
those who come into IL, II would appear that
the population OF our city Is rapidly de.
creasing; the number Of deaths 10 tho M nber OF
births being In tho proportion OF about fourteen
to nine. This appears so utterly at variance with
the fact as presented In tho rapid growth Of our
city, that can only account for It two grounds:
First, that the requirements Of the Law In regard to
the registry Of births at the oflse OF the City Ia
fpcctor are not complied With, or that the dimnu.
ton Ia made up by emigration. We are Of the OPT
MON, however TINT the seeming disproportiou Is
caused by neglect in registering
A comparison OF the births and deaths Is pecu-
liarly Interesting, sho wing the difference In the
punber OF males and females. or the fo' mer 1869
were boys and 1855 girls, while OF the latter s,l2s
we're girls ard 1879 were boys. The increase in the
mortality OF the males serves 10 counterbalance the
apparent increase Ia the births, and preserves q
mere perfect equality in the number Of both sexes.
The table exhibiting the number OF marriages
during the year Is exceedingly suggestive. and we
have no doubt win meet with fair share OF consid
Grafton. From the last column OF figures It appears
that there were 20 males and l02 females who we're
either ignorant Of their own age or Who we're 80 ex
ccedingy sentative on she point that they refused
10 give any Information about II. II Is generally
Supposed tdat this u peculiar weakness Of the fair