Facts and figures

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841 Excerpt: ...was an increase of 37 per cent. And in the two equally agricultural counties of Bucks and Bedford, the increase was respectively 2 and 23 per cent.J As, however, we know that the increase of mortality has been attributed by many to manufactures, and especially to what is commonly termed the manufacturing system, a few additional remarks, to show how little this idea is warranted by facts, may not be considered out of place. The increase in the rate of mortality from 1839 to 1840 was, for England and Wales, from one in 46"5 to one in 44'5, or 4'3 per cent. The counties in which this increase was greatest, were--While in the three peculiarly manufacturing counties of Warwick, Stafford, and the West Riding of York, the increase only averaged 4'1 per cent. Moreover, in the three counties where the manufactures are chiefly carried on in the houses of the labourers them In Belgium, for example, the proportional mortality in town and country districts was as 47 to 36.--(Quetelet, I. 139.) In England it is as 25 to 16.--(Registrar-s Report, I. p. 111.) t In Manchester and Salford the rate of mortality was--In Glasgow--In 1821, one in 44 In 1822, one in 44-4 1840,one in 29 1840,one in 30 4 Increase. 34 per cent. Increase. 31-0 per cent. Official Tables, II. p. 100. See Dr. Cowan. That the high rate of mortality observable in manufacturing districts depends, not on the manufactures, but on the congregation of the population into great towns; and that, if anything, manufactures have a tendency to counteract the unwholesome influences of these towns, is, we think, fairly presumable from the following table of the annual mortality of females, given in the first Report of the Registrar General, p. 81. Mortality of Females annually. f Leeds 1-8 per cent." Manufa...