Ages. | Persons | Decr.
| living. | of life.
-------+-----------+----------
0 | 1518 | 486
1 | 1032 | 200
2 | 832 | 85
3 | 747 | 59
4 | 688 | 42
-------+-----------+----------
5 | 646 | 23
6 | 623 | 20
7 | 603 | 14
8 | 589 | 12
9 | 577 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
10 | 567 | 9
11 | 558 | 9
12 | 549 | 8
13 | 541 | 7
14 | 534 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
15 | 528 | 6
16 | 522 | 7
17 | 515 | 7
18 | 508 | 7
19 | 501 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
20 | 494 | 7
21 | 487 | 8
22 | 479 | 8
23 | 471 | 8
24 | 463 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
25 | 455 | 8
26 | 447 | 8
27 | 439 | 8
28 | 431 | 9
29 | 422 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
30 | 413 | 9
31 | 404 | 9
32 | 395 | 9
33 | 386 | 9
34 | 377 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
35 | 368 | 9
36 | 359 | 9
37 | 350 | 9
38 | 341 | 9
39 | 332 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
40 | 322 | 10
41 | 312 | 10
42 | 302 | 10
43 | 292 | 10
44 | 282 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
45 | 272 | 10
46 | 262 | 10
47 | 252 | 10
48 | 242 | 9
49 | 233 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
50 | 224 | 9
51 | 215 | 9
52 | 206 | 8
53 | 198 | 8
54 | 190 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
55 | 183 | 7
56 | 176 | 7
57 | 169 | 7
58 | 162 | 7
59 | 155 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
60 | 147 | 8
61 | 139 | 7
62 | 132 | 7
63 | 125 | 7
64 | 118 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
65 | 111 | 7
66 | 104 | 7
67 | 97 | 7
68 | 90 | 7
69 | 83 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
70 | 76 | 6
71 | 70 | 6
72 | 64 | 6
73 | 58 | 5
74 | 53 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
75 | 48 | 5
76 | 43 | 5
77 | 38 | 5
78 | 33 | 4
79 | 29 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
80 | 25 | 3
81 | 22 | 3
82 | 19 | 3
83 | 16 | 3
84 | 13 | 2
-------+-----------+----------
85 | 11 | 2
86 | 9 | 2
87 | 7 | 2
88 | 5 | 1
89 | 4 | 1
90 | 3 | 1
Shewing the Probabilities of Life at VIENNA. Formed from the Bills for
Eight Years, as given by Mr. Susmilch, in his _Gottliche Ordnung_.
Contains upwards of 200,000 Inhabitants. One Half born died under
Three Years of Age.
-------+-----------+----------
Ages. | Persons | Decr.
| living. | of life.
-------+-----------+----------
0 | 1495 | 682
1 | 813 | 107
2 | 706 | 61
3 | 645 | 46
4 | 599 | 33
-------+-----------+----------
5 | 566 | 30
6 | 536 | 20
7 | 516 | 11
8 | 505 | 9
9 | 496 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
10 | 489 | 6
11 | 483 | 5
12 | 478 | 5
13 | 473 | 6
14 | 467 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
15 | 461 | 6
16 | 455 | 7
17 | 448 | 6
18 | 442 | 6
19 | 436 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
20 | 430 | 5
21 | 425 | 5
22 | 420 | 5
23 | 415 | 6
24 | 409 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
25 | 403 | 6
26 | 397 | 6
27 | 391 | 7
28 | 384 | 7
29 | 377 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
30 | 370 | 6
31 | 364 | 6
32 | 358 | 5
33 | 353 | 6
34 | 347 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
35 | 340 | 8
36 | 332 | 8
37 | 324 | 8
38 | 316 | 9
39 | 307 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
40 | 298 | 8
41 | 290 | 7
42 | 283 | 6
43 | 277 | 6
44 | 271 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
45 | 264 | 8
46 | 256 | 9
47 | 247 | 9
48 | 238 | 9
49 | 229 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
50 | 220 | 8
51 | 212 | 7
52 | 205 | 7
53 | 198 | 7
54 | 191 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
55 | 184 | 8
56 | 176 | 8
57 | 168 | 9
58 | 159 | 8
59 | 151 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
60 | 143 | 7
61 | 136 | 7
62 | 129 | 6
63 | 123 | 7
64 | 116 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
65 | 109 | 8
66 | 101 | 8
67 | 93 | 8
68 | 85 | 7
69 | 78 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
70 | 71 | 6
71 | 65 | 5
72 | 60 | 5
73 | 55 | 4
74 | 51 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
75 | 47 | 5
76 | 42 | 5
77 | 37 | 5
78 | 32 | 5
79 | 27 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
80 | 23 | 3
81 | 20 | 2
82 | 18 | 2
83 | 16 | 2
84 | 14 | 2
-------+-----------+----------
85 | 12 | 2
86 | 10 | 2
87 | 8 | 2
88 | 6 | 2
89 | 4 | 1
-------+-----------+----------
90 | 3 | 1
91 | 2 | 1
92 | 1 | 1
Shewing the Probabilities of Life at BERLIN. Formed from the Bills
from Four Years, from 1752 to 1755. Given by Mr. Susmilch, in his
_Gottliche Ordnung_. Contains 134,000 Inhabitants. Half die under
Three Years of Age.
-------+-----------+----------
Ages. | Persons | Decr.
| living. | of life.
-------+-----------+----------
0 | 1427 | 524
1 | 903 | 151
2 | 752 | 61
3 | 691 | 73
4 | 618 | 45
-------+-----------+----------
5 | 573 | 21
6 | 552 | 16
7 | 536 | 13
8 | 523 | 9
9 | 514 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
10 | 507 | 5
11 | 502 | 4
12 | 498 | 4
13 | 494 | 4
14 | 490 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
15 | 486 | 4
16 | 482 | 5
17 | 477 | 5
18 | 472 | 5
19 | 467 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
20 | 461 | 6
21 | 455 | 6
22 | 449 | 6
23 | 443 | 7
24 | 436 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
25 | 428 | 7
26 | 421 | 9
27 | 412 | 9
28 | 403 | 9
29 | 394 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
30 | 385 | 9
31 | 376 | 8
32 | 368 | 7
33 | 361 | 7
34 | 354 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
35 | 347 | 8
36 | 339 | 9
37 | 330 | 10
33 | 320 | 10
39 | 310 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
40 | 300 | 10
41 | 290 | 9
42 | 281 | 8
43 | 273 | 7
44 | 266 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
45 | 259 | 7
46 | 252 | 7
47 | 245 | 7
48 | 238 | 7
49 | 231 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
50 | 224 | 7
51 | 217 | 7
52 | 210 | 7
53 | 203 | 8
54 | 195 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
55 | 187 | 8
56 | 179 | 8
57 | 171 | 8
58 | 163 | 9
59 | 154 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
60 | 145 | 8
61 | 137 | 7
62 | 130 | 6
63 | 124 | 6
64 | 118 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
65 | 112 | 6
66 | 106 | 7
67 | 99 | 7
68 | 92 | 6
69 | 86 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
70 | 80 | 6
71 | 74 | 6
72 | 68 | 6
73 | 62 | 5
74 | 57 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
75 | 52 | 5
76 | 47 | 5
77 | 42 | 5
78 | 37 | 5
79 | 32 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
80 | 28 | 4
81 | 24 | 3
82 | 21 | 2
83 | 19 | 2
84 | 17 | 2
-------+-----------+----------
85 | 15 | 2
86 | 13 | 2
87 | 11 | 2
88 | 9 | 2
89 | 7 | 1
-------+-----------+----------
90 | 6 | 1
91 | 5 | 1
92 | 4 | 1
Dr. SHORT’S Table, from January 1st, 1728, to 1743; a Period of Fifteen
Years. Died by the London Bills, at all Ages, taken at an Annual
Medium, in the following Proportions.
---------------+-------
Years of Age. | Died.
---------------+-------
Under ------ 2 | 9910
{ 2 to 5 | 2411
{ 5 10 | 980
{10 20 | 851
{20 30 | 2060
{30 40 | 2471
From {40 50 | 2510
{50 60 | 2231
{60 70 | 1675
{70 80 | 1200
{80 90 | 634
{90 100 | 117
------
Total Annual Medium of }
Deaths in this Period }--27,058
A Table of Thirty Years, taken from the London Bills, beginning with
1728, and ending with 1757; shewing the Total Number of Deaths and
Decrease in this Period, at every Age.
---------------+-------
Years of Age. | Died.
---------------+-------
Under ------ 2 | 272903
{ 2 to 5 | 64745
{ 5 10 | 25912
{ 10 20 | 22891
{ 20 30 | 58474
{ 30 40 | 71502
From { 40 50 | 73258
{ 50 60 | 59872
{ 60 70 | 47269
{ 70 80 | 33679
{ 80 90 | 16948
{ 90 100 | 2496
{100 138 | 242
-------
Total Deaths in this Period, }
at all Ages } 750,191
Shewing the Probabilities of Life in a COUNTRY PARISH IN BRANDENBURG.
Formed from the Bills for Fifty Years, from 1710 to 1759, as given
by Mr. Susmilch, in his _Gottliche Ordnung_. One Half born lived to
25 Years of Age.
-------+-----------+----------
Ages. | Persons | Decr.
| living. | of life.
-------+-----------+----------
0 | 1000 | 225
1 | 775 | 57
2 | 718 | 31
3 | 687 | 23
4 | 664 | 22
-------+-----------+----------
5 | 642 | 20
6 | 622 | 15
7 | 607 | 12
8 | 595 | 10
9 | 585 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
10 | 577 | 7
11 | 570 | 6
12 | 564 | 5
13 | 559 | 5
14 | 554 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
15 | 549 | 5
16 | 544 | 5
17 | 539 | 4
18 | 535 | 4
19 | 531 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
20 | 527 | 5
21 | 522 | 5
22 | 517 | 5
23 | 512 | 5
24 | 507 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
25 | 502 | 4
26 | 498 | 3
27 | 495 | 3
28 | 492 | 3
29 | 489 | 3
-------+-----------+----------
30 | 486 | 4
31 | 482 | 5
32 | 477 | 5
33 | 472 | 5
34 | 467 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
35 | 462 | 6
36 | 456 | 6
37 | 450 | 6
38 | 444 | 6
39 | 438 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
40 | 432 | 5
41 | 427 | 5
42 | 422 | 5
43 | 417 | 5
44 | 412 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
45 | 406 | 6
46 | 400 | 6
47 | 394 | 6
48 | 388 | 7
49 | 381 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
50 | 374 | 7
51 | 367 | 8
52 | 359 | 8
53 | 351 | 8
54 | 343 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
55 | 334 | 10
56 | 324 | 10
57 | 314 | 10
58 | 304 | 11
59 | 293 | 11
-------+-----------+----------
60 | 282 | 11
61 | 271 | 11
62 | 260 | 12
63 | 248 | 12
64 | 236 | 12
-------+-----------+----------
65 | 224 | 11
66 | 213 | 11
67 | 202 | 12
68 | 190 | 12
69 | 178 | 12
-------+-----------+----------
70 | 166 | 13
71 | 153 | 15
72 | 138 | 16
73 | 122 | 15
74 | 107 | 14
-------+-----------+----------
75 | 93 | 13
76 | 80 | 12
77 | 68 | 9
78 | 59 | 8
79 | 51 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
80 | 44 | 6
81 | 38 | 6
82 | 32 | 6
83 | 26 | 6
84 | 20 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
85 | 15 | 4
86 | 11 | 3
87 | 8 | 2
88 | 6 | 2
89 | 4 | 1
-------+-----------+----------
90 | 3 | 1
91 | 2 | 1
92 | 1 | 1
Shewing the Probabilities of Life in the Parish of HOLY CROSS,
near Shrewsbury, in England. Formed from a Register kept by the
Rev. Mr. Gorsuch for Twenty Years, from 1750 to 1770. One Half born
lived to 27 Years of Age.
-------+-----------+----------
Ages. | Persons | Decr.
| living. | of life.
-------+-----------+----------
0 | 1000 | 189
1 | 811 | 49
2 | 762 | 45
3 | 717 | 35
4 | 682 | 23
-------+-----------+----------
5 | 659 | 23
6 | 636 | 18
7 | 618 | 14
8 | 604 | 9
9 | 595 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
10 | 589 | 4
11 | 585 | 4
12 | 581 | 4
13 | 577 | 4
14 | 573 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
15 | 569 | 4
16 | 565 | 5
17 | 560 | 5
18 | 555 | 5
19 | 550 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
20 | 545 | 6
21 | 539 | 7
22 | 532 | 7
23 | 525 | 7
24 | 518 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
25 | 512 | 6
26 | 506 | 5
27 | 501 | 5
28 | 496 | 5
29 | 491 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
30 | 486 | 5
31 | 481 | 5
32 | 476 | 5
33 | 471 | 5
34 | 466 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
35 | 460 | 6
36 | 454 | 7
37 | 447 | 7
38 | 440 | 7
39 | 433 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
40 | 426 | 8
41 | 418 | 8
42 | 410 | 9
43 | 401 | 8
44 | 393 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
45 | 386 | 7
46 | 379 | 7
47 | 372 | 7
48 | 365 | 6
49 | 359 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
50 | 353 | 6
51 | 347 | 7
52 | 340 | 7
53 | 333 | 7
54 | 326 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
55 | 318 | 8
56 | 310 | 9
57 | 301 | 9
58 | 292 | 9
59 | 283 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
60 | 273 | 10
61 | 263 | 10
62 | 253 | 10
63 | 243 | 10
64 | 233 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
65 | 223 | 10
66 | 213 | 10
67 | 203 | 10
68 | 193 | 11
69 | 182 | 11
-------+-----------+----------
70 | 171 | 10
71 | 161 | 10
72 | 151 | 9
73 | 142 | 8
74 | 134 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
75 | 126 | 7
76 | 119 | 7
77 | 112 | 7
78 | 105 | 7
79 | 98 | 8
-------+-----------+----------
80 | 90 | 9
81 | 81 | 10
82 | 71 | 10
83 | 61 | 10
84 | 51 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
85 | 41 | 9
86 | 32 | 8
87 | 24 | 7
88 | 17 | 6
89 | 11 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
90 | 7 | 2
91 | 5 | 1
92 | 4 | 1
Shewing the Probabilities of Life in the Country District of VAUD, in
SWITZERLAND, from the Registers of Forty-three Parishes. Given by
Mr. Muret, in the First Part of the _Bern Memoirs_ for the Year
1766. In this Country Province were 112,951 Inhabitants; and one
Half born lived to the Age of 41.
-------+-----------+----------
Ages. | Persons | Decr.
| living. | of life.
-------+-----------+----------
0 | 1000 | 189
1 | 811 | 46
2 | 765 | 30
3 | 735 | 20
4 | 715 | 14
-------+-----------+----------
5 | 701 | 13
6 | 688 | 11
7 | 677 | 10
8 | 667 | 8
9 | 659 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
10 | 653 | 5
11 | 648 | 5
12 | 643 | 4
13 | 639 | 4
14 | 635 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
15 | 631 | 5
16 | 626 | 4
17 | 622 | 4
18 | 618 | 4
19 | 614 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
20 | 610 | 4
21 | 606 | 4
22 | 602 | 5
23 | 597 | 5
24 | 592 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
25 | 587 | 5
26 | 582 | 5
27 | 577 | 5
28 | 572 | 5
29 | 567 | 4
-------+-----------+----------
30 | 563 | 5
31 | 558 | 5
32 | 553 | 5
33 | 548 | 4
34 | 544 | 5
-------+-----------+----------
35 | 539 | 6
36 | 533 | 6
37 | 527 | 7
38 | 520 | 7
39 | 513 | 7
-------+-----------+----------
40 | 506 | 6
41 | 500 | 6
42 | 494 | 6
43 | 488 | 6
44 | 482 | 6
-------+-----------+----------
45 | 476 | 7
46 | 469 | 8
47 | 461 | 10
48 | 451 | 10
49 | 441 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
50 | 431 | 9
51 | 422 | 8
52 | 414 | 8
53 | 406 | 9
54 | 397 | 9
-------+-----------+----------
55 | 388 | 11
56 | 377 | 13
57 | 364 | 16
58 | 348 | 17
59 | 331 | 17
-------+-----------+----------
60 | 314 | 15
61 | 299 | 13
62 | 286 | 12
63 | 274 | 12
64 | 262 | 12
-------+-----------+----------
65 | 250 | 14
66 | 236 | 16
67 | 220 | 18
68 | 202 | 18
69 | 184 | 16
-------+-----------+----------
70 | 168 | 15
71 | 153 | 13
72 | 140 | 11
73 | 129 | 10
74 | 119 | 10
-------+-----------+----------
75 | 109 | 11
76 | 98 | 13
77 | 85 | 14
78 | 71 | 13
79 | 58 | 12
-------+-----------+----------
80 | 46 | 10
81 | 36 | 7
82 | 29 | 5
83 | 24 | 4
84 | 20 | 3
-------+-----------+----------
85 | 17 | 3
86 | 14 | 3
87 | 11 | 2
88 | 9 | 2
89 | 7 | 2
90 | 5 | 1
The two following TABLES are taken from Dr. Price. I have however
omitted the fractions, for reasons which shall be explained when
treating of the inaccuracy of the public registers. The expectations of
life are here rated a few years inferior to the standard of most other
authors.
_The probable Expectations or Prospects of Life in_
| | | | | Holy |
| | | | Country | Cross, | Pais de
Ages. |London.|Vienna.|Berlin.| parish of | near | Vaud, in
| | | |Brandenburg.|Shrewsbury.|Switzerland.
--------+-------+-------+-------+------------+-----------+------------
At birth|18 yrs.|17 yrs.|18 yrs.| 33 yrs. | 33 yrs. | 37 yrs.
Age 12|34 |36 |36 | 44 | 44 | 44
25|26 |28 |27 | 36 | 35 | 35
30|24 |26 |25 | 32 | 32 | 31
35|22 |23 |24 | 26 | 28 | 28
40|20 |21 |21 | 25 | 26 | 24
45|18 |18 |19 | 22 | 23 | 21
50|16 |16 |16 | 18 | 20 | 18
55|14 |14 |14 | 15 | 17 | 15
60|13 |12 |13 | 12 | 15 | 12
65|11 |10 |11 | 10 | 12 | 10
70| 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8
75| 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6
80| 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5
_The Odds or Probability of living ONE Year in_
| | | | | Holy |
| | | | Country | Cross, | Pais de
Ages. |London.|Vienna.| Berlin.| parish of | near | Vaud, in
| | | |Brandenburg.|Shrewsbury.|Switzerland.
--------+-------+-------+--------+------------+-----------+------------
At birth| 2 to 1| 2 to 1| 2 to 1| 4 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1
Age 12|75 to 1|84 to 1|123 to 1| 112 to 1 | 144 to 1 | 160 to 1
25|56 to 1|66 to 1| 50 to 1| 110 to 1 | 100 to 1 | 117 to 1
30|45 to 1|56 to 1| 44 to 1| 107 to 1 | 96 to 1 | 111 to 1
40|31 to 1|36 to 1| 32 to 1| 78 to 1 | 55 to 1 | 83 to 1
50|24 to 1|27 to 1| 30 to 1| 50 to 1 | 50 to 1 | 49 to 1
60|18 to 1|19 to 1| 18 to 1| 25 to 1 | 26 to 1 | 23 to 1
70|12 to 1|11 to 1| 12 to 1| 11 to 1 | 16 to 1 | 10 to 1
80| 7 to 1| 7 to 1| 7 to 1| 6 to 1 | 8 to 1 | 4 to 1
Having in the preceding part endeavoured to establish the mortality
of the human species at different ages, I am now to attempt a more
arduous task; to ascertain the mortality by different diseases. I
propose therefore, in imitation of the geographers, to spread out and
to review, in one general Chart, the enormous host of diseases which
disgorge their virulence over the earth, and, with frightful rapacity,
wage incessant hostilities with mankind. By this means, we shall,
to use a military phrase, reconnoitre more distinctly our enemies
arranged in hostile front; and be warned to make the best disposition
and preparation for defence where the greatest danger is apprehended,
and the most formidable assaults to be sustained. Armed with diseases,
the grim King of Terrors appears in the most hideous aspect. Under
all these predatory disguises and morbifick forms, I shall track him
grappling with mankind, and with his tremendous scythe mowing down
generations. The learned Sauvages thus expresses himself: “Utinam
numerus respectivus diversorum morborum a nostratibus inquirarentur.”
It is, in some measure, from ignorance in this subject, that the
streams of medical inquiries, of academick rudiments, and of charitable
donations to poverty in disease, have not yet been pointedly directed
to publick utility.
I could easily have exhibited tables of the Diseases and Casualties in
London during the greater part of the last century. But, compared to
its present magnitude, the British metropolis was then insignificant
in size: 23 new parishes have been since gradually added to the London
bills: there is also a chasm of 10 years in which the registers are
lost. Again, until 1665 and 6, London was infested with the plague;
which disease, previous to that date, seems to have been one primary
object of the registers: and to adopt Graunt and Short’s sentiments,
these records, from various political and religious obstacles, were
then very negligently managed. During the early part of this interval,
the kingdom was distracted with civil war; and after the great
pestilence in 1665, London must have required some years to recruit.
Besides, had I attempted to form tables for even the latter part of
the last century, the reader would have been fruitlesly embarrassed;
and such an attempt must ever prove abortive. For example, under
one and the same title, in the annual bills of mortality, are often
confounded flox, small pox, and measles: consumptions and tissick:
cancer, canker, and thrush: wolf, cancer, gangrene, and fistula:
cancer, gangrene, fistula, and mortification: gout and sciatica:
vapours and water in the head: quinsey and thrush: teeth and worms:
sores, ulcers, bruised and broken limbs: cough, cold, and chincough,
&c. These are a few specimens of Nosological absurdity in the
superintendents of the publick registers.
Notwithstanding this rabble of diseases in commenting upon the London
bills and diseases of the present century, I constantly refer back, and
contrast them with the bills of the last thirty years of the preceding
century; so that, as near as the imperfection of the materials will
admit, the mortality and diseases of 105 years in London is presented
at one view; and comprehends the various acute and chronic diseases,
by which about two million and a half of the human species have been
destroyed. The few authors who have written on bills of mortality, have
obscured their works in a cloud of figures and calculation: the reader
must have no small portion of phlegm and resolution to follow them
throughout with attention: they often tax the memory and patience with
a numerical superfluity, even to a nuisance.
For the above, and many other reasons, I have compressed into one
chart, the London Diseases and Casualties of seventy-five years in the
present century: each disease and casualty arranged in a progressive
series of fifteen years mortality; in a fifth column is added together
the mortality of the preceding five divisions. During this period,
London has been more populous and stationary in numbers: and by this
means, the actual and comparative magnitude, rise, and declension
of different diseases, will be more conspicuous in each period or
interval: and by measuring the mortality with the population, we
are enabled, with certain precautions and exceptions, to make the
diseases and casualties of London serve as a morbid barometer to the
whole nation. The important reason which determined me in forming an
arrangement of fifteen years, in preference to any other number or
period, was, that the annual havock by similar diseases and casualties,
throughout this and the neighbouring island, might be computed with
some probability by each fifteen years of the London bills; and thereby
to elicite a new, curious, and comprehensive proportion in medicine.
For instance, if we suppose the standing number, on an average, of the
London inhabitants at six hundred thousand; and the total inhabitants
in Britain and Ireland at nine million; and if the same diseases and
casualties were equally diffused and fatal to this whole community,
then, in such case, the London bills would serve as a scale or index of
mortality to both kingdoms: as many would die annually of every disease
and casualty throughout nine million, as are cut off in fifteen years
in London; for six hundred thousand multiplied by fifteen, amounts to
nine million.
But to supply the probable deficiency in the annual mortality of London
by different diseases and casualties, we must make an addition to each
of one third or fourth. To the mortality of Small-Pox, in London,
during fifteen years, and rated at thirty thousand, we should add
one third or fourth more to raise it to its just standard; that is,
to about thirty-eight thousand; which would be the annual mortality
amongst nine million in Britain and Ireland, supposing small-pox
equally universal, one time or other, and destructive. By the same
hypothesis, amongst two hundred million in Europe Variolous mortality
annually, would amount to four hundred thousand; and, amongst eight
hundred million; that is, the whole human race would exceed three
million annually. On this simple principle, a gross estimate may be
formed of the annual havock by every other disease and casualty; taking
the precaution, however, to attend to the subsequent criticisms on the
London bills.
Another curious corollary may be grounded on the above hypothesis;
which is, to form a probable conjecture of the numbers who are
annually Sick, or afflicted with different diseases. Example: if one of
every seven die of the Small Pox, and the variolous deaths throughout
Britain and Ireland are rated at thirty-eight thousand annually, this
number, multiplied by seven, amounts to two hundred and sixty-six
thousand annually, infected with variolous contagion. Apply the same
rule to Childbed mortality; rate the annual havock by parturition in
the two islands at four thousand: it will hereafter be shewn, that in
London one of seventy-four women die in childbed: multiply therefore
4,000 by 74, the product is 296,000, which, in reality, cannot be very
distant from the total annual procreation in both islands. And in these
two examples, I have suggested what may be termed an inverse proof of
both propositions. From these tables and commentaries, we are likewise
furnished with a key to the comparative mortality of each disease
amongst a community: whether its devastation is in the proportion
of a fifth, tenth, twentieth, or hundredth. Gentlemen who have not
particularly attended to the subject of morbid calculations (and very
few of the medical profession have) will, on better information, be
astonished at the flagrant errors daily committed by authors when
treating of these topicks. Out of the many examples which might be
enumerated, I shall merely select one in proof. Baron Dimsdale, in a
Treatise on Inoculation, dedicated to the present Empress of Russia,
calculated that, at least, two million were annually destroyed by
Small Pox alone in the Russian empire; and it was not until after the
publication of my Observations on his different Inoculating Essays,
that this error and others were erased.
I would request the reader’s particular attention to another
circumstance: which is, that on comparing the gradations of mortality
in the following chart, we are not to estimate the relative number,
frequency, or proportion of certain diseases, compared to others by
the absolute mortality of each. For instance, Apoplexy kills rather
more annually in London than Measles; but yet the latter disease is
infinitely more universal and diffused amongst the community, and
consequently less dangerous to life: Cancerous and Venereal cases are
widely different in the annual number afflicted with each, although the
deaths are not far distant from an equality. The same observations will
apply to Rheumatism, compared to the Dropsy, and to many other diseases.
There are between eighty and ninety diseases and casualties
enumerated in the London bills, which, in the subsequent comments,
I have disentangled into their separate genera. But, to prevent the
possibility of aberration, after the chart of London diseases, I
have added a correct Medical Chart of all the principal diseases and
casualties with which mankind, in every part of the earth and ocean,
are afflicted or harrassed. This will operate as a check and correction
to the public registers; and by this, the defects and errors in the
London bills will be apparent; and it will serve as an index to our
future commentaries. But objections and difficulties occur in our
researches for collateral information and illustration from hospital
records. The reasons are glaring, why, in the latter, diseases should
be less fatal; and in this respect, cities should have the advantage of
the country. We cannot therefore apply hospital registers as a general
criterion to a nation. Whenever authentic and systematic records of
diseases, recovery, and mortality, are kept in hospitals, domestick
as well as military, and annually published, whatever may be alledged
respecting the importance and demerits of such institutions, the
community, at all events, will derive much useful information.
A CHART of all the Fatal Diseases and Casualties in London, during 75 Years;
Beginning from 1701, and ending with 1776.
Collected from the London Bills of Mortality, and arranged into Five
separate progressive Periods of Fifteen Years each.
The Total Amount of the Five Periods, or Seventy-five Years Mortality,
is added together in the Sixth Column.