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6
In previous annual reports it has been shown that a more accurate estimate of the effect on
the community of fluctuations of mortality could be obtained by the use of a " life table," the method
used being similar to that employed by Dr. Tatham in a report on the health of greater Manchester
for the period 1891-3. I now propose to compare on these lines the London mortality in the
period 1891-9 with that obtaining in the period 1881-90, and for this purpose shall make use of
the following table,* showing the mean future lifetime of males and females in certain agegroups,
which has been calculated from Ex and Qx columns of the life table for London 1881-90,
published in my annual report for the year 1893.

In the following table the mean annual number of deaths occurring in the nine years
1891-99 is compared with the annual number of deaths which would have occurred had the death
rates of the period 1881-90 been maintained in the period 1891-99, and the annual number of
lives gained or lost in the latter period at each age-group is shown. The figures in the last column
of the table express this gain or loss in terms of "life capital," these figures being obtained by
applying the mean future lifetime figures given in Table I. to the number of lives gained or lost
at each age-group.

* The method employed in the calculation of this table is shown in more detail in my annual report for the year 1894, page 10.