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persons above five, indeed it constitutes from one-third to
one-half of the total mortality. Again, persons in the
prime of life die in far less proportion, not only than young
children but also than persons advancing in years. And
consequently the presence or absence of a disproportionate
number of young and middle-aged adults must largely affect
the death rate. Again, it has been proved over and over
again that different trades and businesses exert a marked
influence over those who are engaged in them, and that the
disproportionate presence or absence of certain employments
has no inconsiderable influence over the mortality of places
in which such disproportion exists. I have not at hand
at the present time any authoritative evidence on this
matter. But putting aside, as having no special influence
in Camberwell, workers in lead and cotton and various
other manufactures, I may mention that publicans and
butchers are both as a rule relatively short lived. So
important is the influence on mortality of age and trade,
that (in order to arrive at approximate truth as regards
the death-rate) it has even been suggested, that the numbers
of persons of different ages, and of persons engaged in
different businesses should be accurately ascertained and
(in calculating the death-rates) due allowance should be
made. Another very important point is the mutual
relation of the birth-rate and death-rate. Thus (quite
apart from the fact that the mortality among young
children is very heavy), it appears that, if in any locality
the annual number of the population is wholly independent
of emigration and immigration, and depends only on the
actual relation between the annual births and deaths, the
birth-rate would largely modify the meaning of the death-