Glasgow Courier. — 1863-12-17 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MONTHLY REGISTRATION RETURNS. The return of the births, deaths, and marriages registered in the eight principal towns of Scotland for the month of November has just been published. It says —During the month of November, 1863, there were registered in the eight principal towns of Scotland the births of 2784 children, of whom 1446 were males, and 1333 females. Of these 2475 were legitimate, and 309 illegitimate; indicating a proportion of one illegitimate in every 9.0 births, or 110 per cent, of the whole as illegitimate. The proportions of illegitimate births in the several towns (Edinburgh and Leith being considered as one) were as follows :—ln Greenock, 7-6 per cent.; in Paisley, 107; in Dundee, 108; in Glasgow, 109; in Edinburgh and Leith, 119; in Aberdeen, 129; and in Perth, 135 per cent, of the births were illegitimate. 913 marriages were registered in the eight towns during the month. This number is considerably higher than that registered during any month of November in former years. The deaths of 2450 persons were registered in the eight towns during November, of whom 1258 were males, and 1192 females. These numbers show the mortality to have been unprecedentedly high the deaths being more than 400 above the average of the month of November during the last eight years. Of the 2450 deaths recorded during the month, 49 per cent. were of children under five years of age. In Perth, 33 per cent, of the persons who died were under five years of age; in Aberdeen, 34 cent.; in Leith, 3.5 per cent.; in Edinburgh, 37 per cent. ; in Paisley, 33 per cent. ; in Greenock, 50 per cent.; in Glasgow, 54 percent.; and in Dundee, 57 per cent. The zymotic (epidemic and contagious) class of diseases proved fatal to 980 persons in the eight towns, thus constituting the very high proportion of 40 per cent, of the deaths. This rate was exceeded in Glasgow and in Dundee, owing to the prevalence of scarlatina in each of these towns. Scarlatina was the most fatal epidemic, having caused 402 deaths, or 16-4 per cent, of the whole mortality. Small-pox caused 101 deaths in the eight towns, constituting 41 per cent, of the mortality. Measles caused 40 deaths in the eight towns; hooping-cough, 66; diphtheria, 55 ; croup, 59; typhus (including gastric and infantile fevers), 168; diarrhoea, dysentery, and cholera, 38; inetria, 6; and erysipelas, 17. Apoplexy proved fatal in 40 cases, paralysis in 37, and diseases of the heart in 76. The deaths from inflamm: ory affections of the respiratory organs (not including consumption, hooping-cough, or croup) amounted to 356. Those from consumption alone numbered 218 in the eight towns. Three deaths resulted from the abuse of alcoholic liquors. There were 71 deaths from violent causes, of which five were suicides. Three of the persons who died had passed the 90th year of life; the oldest of whom was an unmarried female aged 94 years.  A woman, 93 years of age, was found dead behind a house in High Street, Paisley, on Sunday morning, having duaing the night leapt or fallen from the window of her residence on the first storey. The death is announced of Mr Godfrey, the veteran bandmaster of the Coldstream Guards, which honourable position he bud filled for nearly 40 years. Some of the most popular instrumentalists of the day had been under his tutorage. Mr Godfrey, who was in his 75th year, had the esteem of his officers, and likewise those under his command. He was only ill a few hours.