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Table, showing the number of deaths annually, (as far back as returns can be obtained,) and the ratio.

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1809 2,038

1810

2,073 96,373 1 to 46, 49 Lowest ratio.

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The last ratio in the preceding table seems to show a greater mortality than any since 1805; but we must take into consideration that within the last five years nearly 100,000 of our most healthy citizens, (viz of that class who live neatly and comfortably,) since the ferries and avenues of access to our city have become so numerous and easy, have removed to Brooklyn, Williamsburgh, and other places adjacent, the heads of the families still doing business during the day in this city; whilst those least protected from disease always remain in our midst. Besides, having the foreign alms-houses emptied into our city-besides, having the thousands of emigrants who seek the west, leaving their sick from shipboard to die in our midst, and infect our own population, we have those who become diseased within the first three years after their arrival, (during which time the city is chargeable with their support,) sent back, daily, to die in our institutions, from all parts of the country, to which we may add, that the convenience of our hospitals, and the fame of our physicians and surgeons attract hundreds, in addition to those injured on our road and

water routes, whose names swell our list of mortality, instead of that where they have resided.

To resume our review of the tables. The mortality of . males in 1850, was greater by 1,338 than that of females. This excess continues as in previous years to consist in the ⚫ greater mortality of male children, it being 1,021, whilst the excess of male adult mortality over female is but 317.

The higher rate of mortality in male adults can be readily accounted for from the fact of their being more exposed to the causes of disease and accident, as proved by the preceding tables thus the deaths resulting from casualties amount to 218, only, 26 of which were females; and the same of drowning, 173, only 16 of which were females. But I know of no way of accounting fully for the higher rate of mortality among male than female children, which commences even before birth. The subject still remains open for those interested in tracing results to causes.

The great mortality of children compared with that of adults seems so disproportionate as to be truly alarming. According to table 1, we find the whole number of deaths of children to be 10,567, and that of adults 6,411, or nearly two-thirds of the whole. The following table exhibits the number of children and adults deceased within the last four years, and further shows that the disproportion here spoken of is constantly increasing :

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By far the greater number of deaths occurred during the first year of existence. Deducting the still-born and premature, we have 2,944.

Number of deaths under one year of age, deducting the still-born and premature:

1847.

1848.

1849.

1850.

3,058......3,413......3,132......2,944

The next highest period of mortality is between the ages of twenty and thirty :

1847.

1848.

1849.

1850.

1,947......1,795......2,910......1,771

The period of life during which the mortality was lowest,

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The next lowest rate for any period under sixty, occurred between the ages of five and ten, being only 700 for the past year.

A great fatality seems to exist between the age of twenty and thirty, and a large number continues to be carried off until the age of sixty is reached, after which, of course, the ratio must decrease.

One hundred and seventy are reported as dying of old age, the correctness of which may be judged of from the fact, that 207 died aged upwards of eighty years, and 510 aged upwards of seventy.

Number of deaths between the age of ninety and one hundred years, in

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Number of deaths over one hundred years of age,

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RATIO OF DEATHS AT EACH PERIOD OF LIFE TO THE TOTAL

MORTALITY.

The ratio of deaths under one year was, in

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Under 1 year,...1 to 3.83, 1 to 4.10, 1 to 5.33, 1 to 4.00

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26.72,"28.20, " 25.89 31.41

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66 74.65, 105.19 94.30

"90" 100 "451.00, 469.60, "552.86 "943.00

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