Thus, according to the Swedish tables, the deaths among children from the moment of birth up to 10 years of age are 1 in 22 per annum; from 10 to 20, the deaths are only 1 in 185. Among the old, again, mortality is of course great: From 70 to 80, the deaths are 1 in 9; from 80 to 90 they are 1 in 4. Now, a community like that of New York or Ohio, where marriages are made early and the births are numerous, necessarily contains a large proportion of young persons, among whom the proportional mortality is low, and a small proportion of the old, who die off rapidly. A community in which the births are numerous is like a regiment receiving a vast number of young and healthy recruits, and in which, of course, as a whole, the annual deaths will be few compared with those in another regiment chiefly filled with veterans, though among the persons at any particular age, such as 20, 40, or 50, the mortality will be as great in the one regiment as in the other. It may thus happen that the annual mortality among 1,000 persons in Ohio may be considerably less than in France, while the Expectation of Life, or the chance which an individual has to reach to a certain age, may be no greater in the former country than in the latter; and hence we see that a diminution in the rate of mortality is not a certain proof of an increase in the value of life, or an improvement in the condition of the people. "But the effect produced by an increased number of births is less than might be imagined, owing to the very great mortality among infants in the first year of their age. Not having time for the calculations necessary to get at the precise result, which are pretty complex, we avail ourselves of some statements given by Mr. Milne in his Work on Annuities. Taking the Swedish tables as a basis, and supposing the law of mortality to remain the same for each period of life, he has compared the proportional number of deaths in a population which is stationary and in one which increases 15 per cent. in 20 years. The result is that when the mortality in the stationary society is 1 in 36-13, that in the progressive society is one in 37:33, a difference equal to 3 per cent. Now, the population of England and Wales increased 34.3 per cent. in the 20 years ending in 1821, but in the interval from 1811 to 1821 the rate was equivalent to 394 per cent. upon 20 years; and the apparent diminution of mortality arising from this circumstance must, of course, have been about 8 per cent. We are assuming, however, that the population was absolutely stationary at 1780, which was not the case, De According to Mr. Milne (p. 437), the average annual increase in the five years ending 1784 was 1 in 55; in the ten years ending 1821, according to the census, it was 1 in 60. ducting, then, the proportional part corresponding to the former, which is 34, there remains 54. If Mr. Milne's tables, therefore, are correct, we may infer that the progressive state of the population causes a diminution of 5 per cent. in the annual mortality-a diminution which is only apparent, because it arises entirely from the great proportion of births, and is not accompanied with any real increase in the value of human life. "A much greater change-not apparent, but real-was produced by the introduction of vaccination in 1798. It was computed that in 1795, when the population of the British Isles was 15,000,000, the deaths produced by the smallpox amounted to 36,000, or nearly 11 per cent. of the whole annual mortality. (See article Vaccination in the Supplement to "Encyclopædia Britannica," p. 713.) Now, since not more than one case in 330 terminates fatally under the cowpox system, either directly by the primary infection or from the other diseases supervening, the whole of the young persons destroyed by the smallpox might be considered as saved were vaccination universal and always 'properly performed. This is not precisely the case, but one or one and a half per cent. will cover the deficiencies; and we therefore conclude that vaccination has diminished the annual mortality fully nine per cent. After we had arrived at this conclusion by the process described, we found it confirmed by the authority of Mr. Milne, who estimates, in a note to one of his tables, that the mortality of 1 in 40 would be diminished to 1 in 43-45 by exterminating the smallpox. Now, this is almost precisely 9 per cent. 66 We stated that the diminution of the annual mortality between 1790 and 1821 was 45 per cent., according to Mr. Rickman. If we deduct from this 9 per cent. for the effect of vaccination, and 5 per cent. as only apparent, resulting from the increasing proportion of births-31 per cent. remains, which, we apprehend, can only be accounted for by an improvement in the habits, morals, and physical condition of the people. Independently, then, of the two causes alluded to, the value of human life since 1780 has increased in a ratio which would diminish the annual mortality from 1 in 40 to 1 in 52—a fact which is indisputably of great importance, and worth volumes of declamation in illustrating the true situation of the labouring classes. We have founded our conclusion on data derived entirely from English returns, but there is no doubt that it applies equally to Scotland. It is consoling to find, from this very unexceptionable species of evidence, that though there is much privation and suffering in the country, the situation of the people has been, on the whole, progressively improving during the last forty years.* But how much greater would the advance have been had they been less taxed and better treated! and how much more room is there still for future amelioration by spreading instruction, amending our laws, lessening the temptations to crime, and improving the means of correction and reform ! In the meantime, it ought to be some encouragement to philanthropy to learn that it has not to struggle against invincible obstacles, and that even when the prospect was least cheering to the eye its efforts were silently benefiting society." No. II.-THE TREATMENT OF CRIMINALS. 66 Text, p. 200. The author's Remarks on Criminal Legislation and the Practice of Prison Discipline" being now out of print, the editors may here mention, what was stated in the note prefixed to it, that it is an expanded edition of an article from his pen which appeared in the Westminster Review for April, 1854. Prefixed to the pamphlet is the following statement of opinion as to the principle on which it is based :: 'Having been requested to state our opinion of the annexed pamphlet, we, without being understood to become answerable for the accuracy of all the facts, or the soundness of all the reasonings which it contains, have no hesitation in giving our opinion that the fundamental principle which pervades it-namely, that Criminal Legislation and Prison Discipline will never attain to a scientific, consistent, prac *Before the passing of the Registration Act there were no trustworthy data for determining the rate of mortality in England. The Reports of the Registrar-General show that the actual rate in all England and Wales is now 1 in 45, but that it varies in urban and rural districts from 1 in 30 to nearly 1 in 70. These Reports afford ample evidence that the condition of the people is improving.—ED. tical, and efficient character, until they become based on Physiology, and especially on the Physiology of the Brain and Nervous System-is a sound principle; and, most strongly entertaining this conviction, we recommend Mr. Combe s views to the consideration of all who take an interest in the e momentous subjects. "B. C. BRODIE, Bart., D.C.L., F.R.S., Sergeant-Surgeon to the Queen, Surgeon to H.R.H. Prince Albert, &c., &c. "JAMES CLARK, Bart., M.D., F.R.S., Physician in Ordinary to the Queen and H.R.H. Prince Albert, &c., &c. "HENRY HOLLAND, Bart., M.D., F.R.S., Physician in Ordinary to the Queen and H.R.H. Prince Albert, &c., &c. "RICHARD OWEN, LL.D., F.R.S., Professor of Physiology to the Royal College of Surgeons, London, &c., &c. "JOHN FORBES, Knt., M.D., D.C.L., F.R.S,, Physician to the Queen's Household, and Phys. Ext. to H.R.H. Prince Albert, &c., &c. 66 "JOHN CONOLLY, M.D., D.C.L., Consulting Physician "LONDON, April, 1854.” The editors also think it due to the author to quote the following note, prefixed by the late Mr. Baron Alderson to a part of his Charge to the Grand Jury of Yorkshire at the Winter Assize, 1854, which he published as a pamphlet "On the Reform of Youthful Criminals by means of Reformatory Schools," under 17 and 18 Vict., c. 86; London, 1855 :— "I have been induced to print the following observations, which formed the concluding part of my charge to the Grand Jury of the county of York at the late Winter Assize, in the hope of drawing attention to the very valuable work of Mr. Combe, called 'The Principles of Criminal Legislation,' which I have read with great interest, and, I hope, with some advantage. "Without agreeing entirely with the speculations of that gifted writer, I must candidly say that I think his Work contains most valuable materials for careful thought, and observations which every sincere reformer of our criminal population ought to weigh well and deeply consider." No. III.-SUFFERING UNDER THE NATURAL Laws. Text, p. 200. In 1847, when fever, the consequence of destitution, was raging in Ireland, and was also very prevalent in Liverpool, Glasgow, and other towns exposed to the immigration of the Irish people, the following rules were presented and explained to the lower orders of the inhabitants of Glasgow : "Rules to be very Carefully Observed, and never Relaxed, by all that would Preserve Health, and avoid that Dreadful Scourge, Typhus Fever. "General Rule. TEMPERANCE, CLEANLINESS, and BREATHING PURE AIR are three of the surest means of securing health, and preventing attacks of Typhus Fever or any other disease. "1. Very often open the window of a room, and at the same time the door, and let the air go through. You need not sit in the draught: that is dangerous. The windows of common stairs and passages should always be half open. Is this the case in yours? "2. On getting up in the morning, air the room well in the way just mentioned; let the draught of air pass through the bed or beds for at least half-an-hour before they are made up. Making up a warm or ill-aired bed will itself produce disease. Hang the blankets before the fire every now and then. Keep bed, bedding, and bedstead as clean as possible. "3. If possible, never wear in the day the shirt or shift you sleep in. Air both well, when taken off, in the air draught. Never wear them more than a week. 66 "4. On getting out of bed, dip a sponge or towel in water, and give a rapid wash with it to the whole body, rubbing it dry with a hard rough towel. Cold water is best, but warm water may be used if cold is disliked. Accustom your children not to be afraid of the cold water sponge. They |