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77
the previous year, we observe some remarkable differences.
We always find that the heaviest mortality
prevails among children under 5 years of age, and
that as we approach the other end of the scale the
mortality again rises, so that not only is the mortality
above 60 years of age increasingly heavy in proportion
to persons living at that age, but it is actually
heavy. In the year 1879, 928 children were cut off
in their first year, and 658 between 1 and 5, altogether
1586 under 5 years of age. Again, 331 deaths
occurred between 60 and 70; 324 between 70 and
80 ; 162 between 80 and 90; and 18 over 90; in all
835 above 60. Now in the year 1878, notwithstanding
that a smaller total number of deaths was recorded,
the mortality under 5 was 81 in excess of that during
1879; on the other hand, the mortality above 60 for
the last year exceeded by 145 that registered in the
previous year. An advance in the number of deaths
at all ages was, of course, to be expected with an
increasing population. But the advance here above 60
is larger than might naturally have been expected,
while the diminution in the mortality of young
children is even more observable. The explanation,
however, is not far to seek. The excessive mortality
among the aged occurred during the first and last
quarters of the year, and was due to the prevalence of