VITAL STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1879 
BY R. M. WYCKOFF, M I). 
The actual mortality in Brooklyn during the year 1879 was II 
The total number of births reported was 10,169; of still-births, 889; off 
marriages, 3,222. Of these three classes the returns are incomplete, 
whereas the deaths are fully reported. Estimating the population at 
564,448, the annual death-rate was 20.49 Per 1,000 persons living; 
while in 1878 the rate was 20.40 per 1,000. This latter may be 
signalized as the lowest death-rate this city has experienced since our 
mortality statistics began to be fully registered. Next to that, however, 
stands the low death-rate of 1879; so that the health of the city, as meas- 
ured by its roll of deaths, was considerably above the average of recent 
years. A comparison of the total mortality during certain years, and of 
the rates proportional to population, may be instituted by means of the 
following exhibit: 
Years. 
Deaths by 
All Causes. 
Differences. 
Population, 
(Census or Est.) 
Death Rate 
per 1000. 
1879 
11,569 
494 + 
564,448 E. 
20.49 
1878 
11,075 
287- 
542,739 E. 
20.40 
1877 
11,362 
972 — 
521,864E. 
21 77 
1876 
12 334 
136 — 
501,792 E. 
24.58 
1875 
12,470 
482,493 C. 
25.84 
Average 10 years 
11,320 
455,000 E. 
23-78 
There were no deaths by small-pox, and no serious epidemic pre- 
vailed. Yellow fever occasioned two deaths (both imported cases), but 
it secured no foothold. Diphtheria caused 689 deaths, an increase as 
compared with the previous year. Scarlet fever, 344, a falling off as 
compared with 1878. The number of deaths by certain other of the prin- 
cipal causes was: by whooping-cough, 204; measles, 40; croup, 250; 
typhoid fever, 59; cholera infantum, 680; all diarrhoeal diseases, 1,258; 
all diarrhoeal diseases under five years of age, 1,076; malarial fevers, 150; 
erysipelas, 64; intemperance, 67; rheumatism, 67; cancer, 231; maras- 
mus, 3531 consumption, 1,665; hydrocephalus and tubercular menin- 
gitis, 189; meningitis and acute diseases of brain, 372; apoplexy, 229; 
convulsions, 241; all diseases of the nervous system, 1,238; diseases 
affecting the heart, 505; bronchitis, 479; pneumonia, 975; all diseases 
of the respiratory system, 1,632; Bright’s disease, 256; puerperal diseases, 
182; old age, 239; infantile asthenia and premature birth, 257; suicide, 
37; in public institutions, 637. 
By the five principal classes of causes of death, the number of decedents 
was: I. Zymotic diseases, 3,283; II. Constitutional, 2,574; III. Local, 
4,379; IV. Developmental, 1,017; an(I V. Violence, 316. By seasons, 
the record was: For the first quarter, 2,832; second, 2,478; third, 
3,398; and fourth, 2,861. By sexes: Males, 5,823;. females, 5,746. By 
nativity: born in the United States, 8,341; foreign born, 3,228. Under 
1 year of age there were 2,881 deaths; under 5 years of age, 5,201; and 
at 60 years of age, and upwards, 1,684. s