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constant excess of births over deaths, which keeps up a
constant excess of young and middle-aged lives.
7. A Life Table constructed in the usual way shows the true
average rate of mortality, and the mean duration of life;
the two facts being indissolubly connected. The correct
mortality of our worst cities was 1 in 25, in our healthiest
districts it was 1 in 50 ; the duration of life was 25 and
50 years under the same circumstances.
8. A comparison of the true rates with the rates calculated
in the usual way will show that the latter rates exhibit the
relative fatality of different cities with sufficient accuracy
for all ordinary purposes. They have no fallacious
meaning.
9. Instead of reducing the death-rate of towns, on the
ground that their birth-rate is high, the reverse should be
done to get the corrected death-rate.
10. The true death-rate in all England lies between the
death-rate and the birth-rate calculated in the usual way;
a sixth of the difference added to the death rate is nearly
its proper correction.
11. The causes of the differences of the rates of mortality are
various, and in every case demand careful investigation on
the spot by the town authorities.
Mortality of different Districts of the Parish.
I have often pointed out the great dillerence in
the mortality of the different districts in the parish,
and perhaps they have never been more decided
than during the present year, as will be seen by the
following table :—