The Portland daily press., 1865-01-11
Wednesday Morning, Jan. II, 1866.
Rate of Mortality in War.

At recent meeting of the British Associa-
ton for the Promotion of Science, in the sec
ton of Economic Science and Statistics, there
was read an interesting and important paper
by Mr.. K. B. Elliot, of Washington, "On Mill
tary Statistics of Certain Armies" especially
those OF the United States. The Philadelphia
Press gives an abstract OF this paper from the
Reader, of the 5th ult., an able literary journal
published in London, and not so well known
nor properly appreciated here as its competi-
tor, the anti-Ameriean Athenouns, Mr.. Elliott
called attention to the rates of sickness expe-
rienced by the Danish forces during the late
conflict in Schleswig- Holstein; the rates OF
sickness, mortality and other casualties expe-
rlenced by the United States volunteers du-
ring the first fifteen months of the existing
civil war; and to certain physiological char
aeteristics of the United States volunteers,
and the laws which govern the distribution of
certain measurements. 1t has been said, over
and over again, here and in foreign countries,
that the civil war In the United States has
been more destructive than the world ever
saw before. The statistics carefully collected
by Mr.. Elliot, enable US to show, by the con-
trast OF comparison, how far this is correct.
He shows that the mortality of the United
States volunteers during the fourteen months,
July, 1861, to Aug, 1862, inclusive, was at the
annual rate OF somewhat over seven (7.2) in
every 100 men, of which two u o. were from.
killed in action, and five Is q from diseases
and accidents The rate of mortality of otfi-
GERS from disease, as ia other wars, has been
less than that of the men, but from wounds
received in action much greater. The NOR
tality from wounds, both of officers aud men,
has in general been considerably less than
that from disease, although with regard to
officers IN the latter part of the period, the re-
verse has been the case, their mortality from
wounds having somewhat exceeded that from
disease.
The rate of morality in the existing war l7.2
per cent. per annum), for the period under
consideration, although much greater than
that of civilians of the military age, both in
Europe and America, and greater than that of
the army of the United States in time OF
peace, has been less than that of the United
States forces during the war against Mexico,
and very considerably less than that of the
British forces on the Spanish peninsula(in
1Sl1-14) and the Crimea (1654-56) the av-
erage annual rate in the Spanish peninsula
having been 10 III per cent, and in the Crimea
about % per cent, the last mentioned rate on
ly embracing those dying in hospitals, and not
including on the field of battle.
Here, then, we have it that the rate Of NOR
tality in the present war is only I 1-2 per cent.
per annum, whilesthe rate of mortality in Well
lingtOn'S Spanish campaigns (lS1ll4l was
16 l-2 per cent; and that in the CriInea, in
1854 55, even not counting those who died ON
the battle field, averaged % per cent. How is
this rate of Immortality to be accounted for? 1t
arises, no doubt, from the organization, so
wisely made and so literally maintained,
which has raised the Sanitary Commission and
the Christian Commission to inquire into the
best and most systematic means OF ascertain
ing the condition of our soldiers, to supply lib
eral relief to the suffering, and sustain their
dropping spirits by kindness and sympathy.
Florence Nightingale-ma her name be eter-
nally honored for what her true heart impelled
her to do-initiated measures, however, made
quate, for helping the sick, wounded and suf.
tering soldiers of England during the war of
the Crimea, but a brigade OF self denying
women, the veritable angels of life, arose in
this country, when war once commenced its
raVages, and their numbers have not decreas-
ed nor their labors OF humanity diminished.
Mr. Elliott has done well in placing before the
world, through such medium of publicity as
the meeting and publication of the British As
sociation, the vital statistics which prove the
superiority of our system to that Of England.