Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-09-12
MISCELLANEOUS READING.

LIFE AND DEATH The registrar-genersps
annual report for 1858, referring first, not 10
England alone, but to Great Britain, states
that its estimated population in the middle OF
1898 was p G25, 1884 and the excess Of births
over deaths In the year, GAG, ,488 159,6Io
children were born alive, 35l ,34G persons
were married, and 5l3, 1873 died 50 that, on
an average, upon every day in the year, g.
$50 children we're born, 962 persons married,
and ,405 died, leaving gain Of 675 as the
result of the day. The birth rate for Great
Britain was 1887 to 1000 living, the death
rate 226S the marriage rate (pers"ns mar
red) 1852. For easy recollection it may be
noted that rather more than twice as many
are born in year Us are married, and the
deaths should not be SO high as midway be-
tween those two numbers. To 1000 people
living in the two countries the births in the
year were thrty-four in Great Britain, twen-
ty-seven in France-a very striking differ
ence; the deaths twenty three in Great
Britain, twenty-four in France; the persons
married 1876 in Great Britain, 1863 in France.
In Scotland the marriages. if all registered.
were not so numerous as in England; the
births were almost exactly at the same rate
but the percentage of deaths in Scotland was
only 2047, in England 1903. Turning
now to England and Wales only, we learn,
that to every 1000 girls, l,045 boys were
born. and l02 males died TO every loo se-
males, the average of twenty-on years being
lO3 but there are more females living in
England than males, and out of equal num-
bers living l05 males died TO every 100 te-
males, the average being l07. The births
are always most numerous in the first bali
of the year: in 1858 they were as 1901 to
1909 in the TWO half years. The mortality
of the year was high. The deaths in the
chief towns were at the rate of 2.655 in the
country districts. 2O09 The deaths regis
tered in the three months that ended the
3lst June, were ll0,57S,-a larger number
than was returned in any previous juno
quarter (lS4S-59). The annual rate of NOR.
talty last quarter was 222S per cent, of the
population. while the average of ten preyl-
Gus springs was 2:l95. 1t is a remarkable
and interesting fact that, if 2,OOO.0O OF acres
on which the chief towns of England are sit.
uatcd, be distinguished from the remaining
25, 600, 900 which hold small towns and coun-
ty parishes, it is found that the rate OF NOR
tality on the former )23O5 per cent. per an
num) was below the average of last quarter,
whereas on the late 2.l55 was d6ore the ay-
erage. The average rates were respectively
BAG and 2.S2S. 1t cannot be questioned
that large populations have even now some
advantages of a nature favorable to health
which villages do not possess. The highest
attainable health is probably to be sought
in happy combination of both states-ras
IN u'bc In London 1884 persons died in
quarter. The Metropolis lost about 1000
more lives than in the healthier spring of
1859 Pulmonary complaints were very fa'
tai. The mortality from zymotic diseases
generally was comparatively low; in this
class measles chiefly prevails. -Londo" Bail