~jg^*y.»*-y"'r?**iy£-VJi vy-'w^.Tr. -W^-^-v-'lJ^ ^gs 3225? *tjt ?,%.*{■* »t?I*:Cti»!Sp!J5!KS^'SJbS5! g^^ S^^Sv [Tffi?T~^. ri" ICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY * ' 0I1VN 3NI3I03W JO AIVIHII IVNOIIVN 3NI3I03W JO AlViail IVNOIIVN 3NI3I03W JO A « V I a I S A/!¥S ! A/P p V IT OF MEDICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL ARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL 9 ^^§T I ^3![s/p tail IVNOIIVN 3N I1VN 3NI3IQ3W J DUE Tty&$ti aa II IVNOIIVN 3N 1 OF MEDICINE NA = 7 11811 IVNOIIVN 3N Y OF MEDICINE N M LAST DATE ^ ;- ^f^ CINE NATIONAL I X l»N 3 N I 3 I 0 3W d ^ i '■ I NE NATIONAL! ! ./^ 1VN 3NI3I03WJ * ! INE NATIONAL I i /% a Jay Hail IVNOIIVN 3NI3I03W JO ASVaail IVNOIIVN 3NI3I03W JO ADVaall IVNOIIVN 3NI3IQ3W J f >K/ i Y OF MEDICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL I 5 V ......v ne "-DICINE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NATIONAL I LETTER SECRETARY OF STATE, ON THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS, IN MASSACHUSETTS. Of BY LEMUEL. SHATTUCK. 6^- lv' V S533^ LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. Boston, December 12,1845. Hon. John G. Palfrey, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Sir:—Agreeably to your request, and as far as other special engagements would permit, I have examined the returns made under the Registry Law of this State, and the tables abstracted from them, and proceed to give you the results of this examination. I had the honor, on the 13th December, 1843, to address a letter to John A. Bolles, Esq., your predecessor in office, in which I alluded to the defects of the then existing laws on the subject, and the almost entire neglect of registration by all classes of people. I pointed out some of the objects to be gained by a new and more efficient system; and at the close of the letter submitted a plan, accompanied by forms and instructions, for carrying such a system into successful operation. This communication was published in the Second Annual Registration Report. Since that time, a new act on the subject has been passed, and my plan, in relation to the Registry Books for the towns, has been generally carried into operation. With a slight modification of the entries in the Register for marriages, which the Registrar may easily make, these books are all that may be desired for the most efficient system. Without a proper and uniform plan for making the original records, no general results can be deduced from the facts they contain, which would be of much value. Here then one of the first and most important objects in this matter has been attained. In the notes accompanying the returns this year, some town clerks allude to the additional labor which these forms require, but generally the plan is regarded with increasing favor, and a firmer conviction of its importance; and should proper blanks be used, and a suitable compensation be allowed, the labor would be comparatively trifling, and the system would soon become very popular. The law is, however, very imperfect in the means it proposes for obtaining the facts to be recorded; and for this reason it has failed to be useful in many towns. 4 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. This is an important part of its operations. I stated, in my letter of 1843, above alluded to, that " the experience of every government, where systems of regis- tration have been adopted, shows that it must be made the special duty of some individuals to collect the facts, and furnish them to the proper officer. To leave this to the voluntary action of any one in the community, fails of producing those full and accurate returns, which are essential to render the record valuable. It is also bad policy to exact a fee of the connexions or friends of those whose births or deaths are recorded, as was once the provision of our statutes. So far as they are concerned the record should be free. But to the proper officers and persons concerned, rewards should be offered for the performance of duty, and penalties imposed for the neglect of it. In this way it will be made their inter- est, as well as their duty, to perform what the latv may require." The justice of these views is confirmed by experience, and the uniform testi- mony of the town clerks in the notes accompanying their returns. Should at- tempts be made to amend the provisions of the present law, it is important that proper ones should be passed to supply their place. It i3 believed that such a bill might be drawn, as would entirely remove any objections which may exist in the minds of clergymen and others, against any part of the present act; and, while it would be simple in its operations, would accomplish all the objects to be desired, especially if carried into effect with competent attention and ability. Without further remark, I proceed to notice some results, obtained from the returns under our Registry System. Before doing so, however, I wish to notice a few facts relating to the condition of the population. In 1844, Edwin Chadwick, Esq., author of the able Report on the Sanatory Condition of England, published a work on the " Pressure and Progress of the Causes of Mortality among different Classes of the Community," in which he alludes to America as follows :— " In America, little attention and labor appear to have been bestowed in any of the rural districts on general land drainage. < Yet nature inflicts terrible punish- ment for the neglect of the appointed and* visible warnings. The cleansing and the general sanatory condition of the American towns appear to be lower than in England or Scotland, whilst the heat there at times is greater and decomposition more active; pestilence, in the shape of yellow fever, ague, and influenza, is there more rife; the deaths in proportion to the population more numerous, and the average age of death (so far as there is information) amongst the resident population much lower. Years. Months. The average age of the whole of the living population in America, so far as can be deduced from the returns at the periods given in the census, is only.........22 2 " Notwithstanding the earlier marriages, and the extent of emigration, and the general increase of the population, the whole circumstances appear to me to prove this to be the case of a population depressed to this low age, chiefly by the greater proportionate pressure of the causes of disease and premature mortality. The proportionate numbers at each interval of age, in every 10,000 of th«. two populations, are as follows :— LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 5 United States of America. England and Wales. Under 5 years 1744 1324 5 and under 10 1417 1197 10 15 1210 1089 15 " 20 1091 997 20 30 1816 1780 30 40 1160 1239 40 " 50 732 959 50 " 60 436 645 60 " 70 245 440 70 " 80 113 216 80 " 90 32 59 90 and upwards 4 5 10,000 10,000 Average age of all the living 22 years 2 months 26 years 7 months. "Here it may be observed, that whilst in England there are 5025 persons be tween 15 and 50, who have 3610 children or persons under 15; in America there are 4789 persons living between 15 and 50 years of age, who have 4371 children dependent upon them. In England there are in every ten thousand persons 1365 who have obtained above 50 years' experience; in America there are only 830. " The moral consequences of the predominance of the young and passionate in the American community, are attested by observers to be such as have already been described in the General Sanatory Report as characteristic of those crowded, filthy, and badly administered districts in England, where the average duration of life is short, the proportion of the very young great, and the adult generation transient. " The difference does not arise solely from the greater proportion of children arising from a greater increase of population, though that is to some extent con- sistent with what has been proved to be the effect of a severe general mortality ; the effects of the common cause of depression is observable at each interval of age; the adult population in America is younger than in England, and if the causes of early death were to remain the same, it may be confidently predicted that the American population would remain young for centuries. The average age of all alive above 15 in America is The average age of all alive above 15 years in England and Wales is........... The average age of all above 20 years in America is In the whole of England the average of all above 20 years is These are important statements ; and, coming from a man so eminent for the ability and knowledge he has displayed on this subject, deserve serious considera- tion. The prevailing opinion among us is, that " no people in the world are more healthy than Americans." But if the above statements are true, this prevail- ing opinion is incorrect. Let us examine the subject by such aids as we have at command, to ascertain how far they are applicable, especially to the people of Massachusetts. We will first take a view of the facts obtained by the National Census of 1830 and 1840; and afterwards of those obtained under the Registry Years. Months. 33 6 37 5 37 7 41 1 " 6 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. Law, concerning births, marriages, and deaths. The census of 1840 contained many errors, but when compared with that of 1830, the results correspond so well that it may be taken as a near approximation to the truth. It is much to be desired, that measures should be devised, when the next State census shall be taken, to have it more full and accurate than any hitherto taken; and to obtain other particulars concerning our population, which are important to be known. In presenting facts of this kind, to give the mere numbers without the propor- tions, affords but an imperfect view of the subject. Such a collection of facts may be likened to the bones of our bodily system without the accompaniments which give them vitality. I have, therefore, in most of the tables in this commu- nication, calculated these proportions,—a work which has been attended with considerable labor. This is a mode by which even statistics can be made both interesting and useful. The following is a statement of the ages of the white population of Massa- chusetts, according to the National Censuses of 1830 and 1840, and the propor- tion in every 10,000, living at each specified age. (a) Age. Number of Persons. In every 10,000, there were in 1830. 1840. 1830. 1840. Under 5 5 to 10 10 to 15 15 to 20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40 to 50 50 to 60 60 to 70 70 to 80 80 to 90 90 to 100 Over 100 Total, 80,131 70,558 67,971 67,331 118,908 73,601 50,342 33,482 23,203 12,693 4,276 507 3 92,626 80,411 74,803 77,429 150,535 101,607 63,270 41,954 26,077 14,860 4,869 570 19 1,329 1,170 1,127 1,117 1,972 1,221 835 555 385 210 71 8 1,270 1,103 1,026 1,063 2,065 1,394 868 575 358 203 G7 8 603,006 729,030 10,000 10,000 This table is read thus. There were in Massachusetts, under 5 years of age, 80,131 persons, in 1830; and 92,620 persons in 1840;—and to every 10,000, of all ages, there were 1329 under 5, in 1830 ; and 1270 under 5, in 1840. The other ages are read in the same way. The proportion may be read as so much per cent, in this and many other tables in this communication, by separating the two right hand figures by a decimal point, when they will be read 13.29 and 12.70. From this statement, it appears that the proportion under 15 years of age was 2.27 per cent, more in 1830 than in 1840; from 15 to 00 it was 2.65 per cent. less; and over 60, it was .11 more. In the census of 1840 there was an error of about 8000 in Boston, as I shall show in the report of the census of thst city this year. This error was made in regard to the class from 15 to 00; and, taken in connection with the increased immigration to our cities, of the same class, during this period, will account for the difference in the proportions. LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 7 There are various modes suggested of comparing the energies and prosperity of one people with another. It has been said, with much truth, that " a country is placed in the most favorable circumstances for advancement, when it has the largest proportionate numbers of its inhabitants of an age suited to active em- ployments." That age, according to the above extract from Mr. Chadwick's work, is between 15 and 50. It appears to me, however, that, in New England at least, 15 to 60 would be abetter division; for most persons here between 15 and 60 are able to labor. I propose, therefore, to adopt the following standard of comparison. Those under 15 years of age to be called the Dependent Class, because they are dependent on those older for support; those from 15 to 60 to be called the Productive Class, because they are the only class who enjoy the full vigor of life, and are capable of discharging all its manifold duties; and those over 60, the Jlged Class. The first and third classes combined may be called the Burdensome Class, and the other the Productive Class. The word productive is used here as applied to labor, in contradistinction from idleness or inability. One class are producers and the other consumers. The educational age, as fixed by the laws of Massachusetts, is 4 to 16. It seems to me, however, that this specific classification is injudicious, and that 5 to 15 would be a better division. One object in specifying any age, is to have a basis by which to proportion the public school money to the several towns. It is probable, however, that it would make little or no difference in the result, whether this sum were proportioned to the children between 4 and 16, or between 5 and 15. The latter are universally adopted by nations as important points in the divisions of the population, and in the statistics of the dead; and there are many reasons why the educational age should be within these points. It would be less labor to make the enumeration; and, from examinations which have been made, it appears that the ages of children attending school, more nearly cor- respond to them. Comparisons could be more readily made with the ordinary divisions of the population. I agree in opinion with a recent eminent writer in thinking, in its application to schools, that "hereafter 15 will be the age at which, in any census, it will be considered that, in the mass of the community, occupa- tion begins and education ends." I will now apply the above test to the population of each county, the whole State, and some other places ; and calculate the proportions of the whole popula- tion living in each class. (Table b, next page.) From this statement it appears that, while the whole United States had 52.35 per cent, of the population of the productive class, between 15 and 60, Massachu- setts had 59.65 per cent, and England 56.70; showing this State to be better situated, in this respect, than either. In the aged class it appears, however, that England had 7.20 per cent, while this State had but 6.74—a result in favor of the longevity of that country. Some counties compare better than others or the whole State. Boston has G4.65 per cent.—the greatest proportion of the productive class ; and only 2.93 per cent—the least of the aged. The condition of a population is very much affected by emigration and immi- gration. The character of the emigrants varies, however, very much in different places. To illustrate thi3 point we will take the city of Lowell and the State of Illinois. In one the productive class, and in the other the dependent class, pre- S BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. dominates. Few of the productive class in either case were natives. By the census of 1840, it appears that to every 10,000 persons there were , Under 15 15 to 60 Over 60. In Lowell.......2500 7368 132 In Illinois,......4762 5045 193 That is, while Lowell had 2500 persons dependent upon every 7365 for support, Illinois had 4762 persons dependent on 5045 for support; showing, from the ages alone, that the productive energies of the one are more than double those of the other. If the other circumstances of the population were taken into considera- tion, such as the greater amount of sickness and mortality, necessarily suffered in one more than in the other, the difference would appear still more striking. Lowell is a remarkable instance; and perhaps there cannot be found, anywhere, 25,000 persons in one place, in which the productive class comprises 73.68 per cent, and the burdensome class only 26.32 per cent.,—a little more than one quar- ter. In neither place are to be found many of the aged class, most of the immi- grants being of the other classes, and who had not lived long enough there to pass out of them. Combining the dependent and the aged classes, as proposed, the following proportions are obtained. (Table c, next page.) There is another question: What proportion of our people survive different ages, as compared with others in other places ? This is a subject of interest, though when taken alone it should not be considered as a sure basis of a com- parison of longevity. From the facts already given, table d is compiled. It appears from this table, that in Massachusetts 63.74 per cent, of the popula- tion in 1830 had survived the age of 15, and 66.01 in 1840. In the United States 55.01 in 1830, and 56.29 in 1840, and in England 63.90, had survived the (b) Number of Persons. To every 100 per- A In Whole Population, sons, there were i Under 15. 15 to 60. Over 60. Un. 15. 15to60 Ov'r60 Massachus. 1830, 603,006 218,660 343,664 40,682 36.26 57.00 6.74 1840, 729,030 247,840 434,795 46,395 33.911 59.05 6.36 Boston, - - - 83,012 26,904 53,674 2,434 32.42 64.65 2.93 Essex Co. - - 94,482 33,039 54,494 6,949 34.97 57.68 7.35 Middlesex, - - 106,118 34,383 65,982 5,753 32.40 62.18 5.42 Worcester, - - 94,740 32,906 54,892 6,942 34.73 57.94 7.33 Hampden, - - 37,034 12,303 22,427 2,244 33.38 60.56 6.06 Hampshire, - - 30,696 10,763 17,672 2,261 35.06 57.58 7.36 Franklin, - - - 28,724 10,460 15,972 2,286 36.44 55.60 7.96 Berkshire, - - 40,467 14,411 23,376 2,680 35.61 57.77 6.62 Norfolk, - - - 52,980 18,162 31,327 3,491 34.28 59.13 6.59 Plymouth, - - 47,020 16,574 26,482 3,904 35.25 56.32 8.43 Barnstable, - - 32,111 12,378 17,472 2,261 38.55 54.41 7.04 Bristol, - - - 58,934 20,712 34,202 4,020 35.14 58.04 6.82 Dukes, - - - 3,938 1,335 2,244 359 33.90 56.98 9.12 Nantucket, - - 8,433 2,572 5,210 651 30.50 61.78 7.72 U. States, 1830, 10,526,058 4,737,335 5,368,275 420,448 44.99 51.01 4.00 " 1840, 14,189,108 6,201,219 7,427,579 560,310 43.7] 52.35 3.94 England, 1841, - 15,858,075 5,723,782 8,991,903 1,142,390 36.10 56.70 7.20 Sweden, 1835, - 3,025,439 1,065,444 1,722,332 237,603135.22 56.93 7.85 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 9 same age. In Massachusetts, 6.74 in 1830, and 6.36 in 1840; in the United States, 4.00 in 1830, and 3.94 in 1840; and in England, 7.20 had survived the age of 60. These deductions show that a less proportion of the population live through the productive age to be classed with the aged, and less experience and maturity of mind is preserved, in the United States, and even in Massachusetts, than in England or Sweden. Though this State compares better with England than the whole Union, yet even here is found some confirmation of Mr. Chad- wick's statements, so far as they apply to the existing population. The following statement will illustrate the average age of the population. In the United States it applies only to the whites. Years. Persons. Average age. In the United States,.....1840 14,189,108 22,71 Massachusetts,......1830 603,006 25.34 " ......1840 729,030 25. S9 England,.......1S41 15,858,075 26.59 N Proportion, per cent., of the In Year. Productive Class. Burdensome Class. Massachusetts,- - 1830 57.00 43.00 " _ 1840 59.65 40.35 Lowell, - - - - 1840 73.68 26.32 Illinois, - - - - 1840 50.45 49.55 United States, - - 1830 51.01 48.99 " . 1840 52.35 47.65 England, - - - 1841 56.70 43.30 Sweden, - - - - 1835 56.93 43.07 (d) Age surviving. Number persons per cent., surviving, were in Massachusetts. United States. England. 1830. 1840. 1830. 1840. 1841. 100. 86.76 74.79 63.90 53.93 36.13 23.24 13.65 ' 7.20 2.80 .64 .05 At Birth, 5 years, 10 " 15 " 20 " 30 " 40 " 50 " 60 " 70 " 80 " 90 " 100. 86.71 75.01 63.74 54.57 32.85 20.64 12.29 6.74 2.89 .79 .08 100. 87.30 76.27 66.01 55.38 34.73 20.79 12.11 6.36 2.78 .75 .08 100. 82.00 67.44 55.01 43.90 26.09 15.18 8.30 4.00 1.47 .37 .06 100. 82.56 68.39 50.29 45.38 27.22 15.62 8.30 3.94 1.49 .38 .04 10 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. This subject is an important one, and might be profitably examined more in detail; but I leave it for the present to advert to the facts obtained under the Registry Law of this State. The number of births, marriages and deaths, returned under the Registry Law of Massachusetts, in all the counties but Suffolk, in 1845, and the three preceding years, not including the still born, were— 1842. 1S43. 1844. I845- Births,......8,470 8,650 14,646 15,564 Marriages,.....4,974 5,023 4,275 4,841 Deaths,......7,491 8,305 3,250 8,642 An examination of the Abstract of each town, on pages 3 to 11 inclusive, and the notes appended to that abstract, shows that these returns do not include all that have occurred. Some towns have omitted to make any returns, and others are so imperfect, that a comparison between these numbers and the population would present a fallacious result. I stated, in my communication to Mr. Bolles, already referred to, that the population then was " about 750,000, and in this number it may be estimated that 1 in 30, or about 25,000 births; 1 in 125, or 6,000 marriages; and 1 in 60, or 12,500 deaths, take place in the whole State every year. This is a mere estimate, and may be erroneous, though it is supposed to be not far from the truth." From a comparison of some of the returns since that time, I am inclined to think the proportional number of births and marriages too small; and the deaths also, unless Boston be excluded. Taking the rural districts alone, it would be a fair estimate, but including the cities, it would perhaps be too low an estimate of the number of deaths. The number of births returned has in- creased each year, and in 1845 amounted to nearly double those of 1842. This is an encouraging fact, and shows the increasing attention of the people to Reg- istration. The number of marriages and deaths returned has not varied mate- rially in the four years. The following table (e) is compiled from the latest information in my posses- sion, showing the proportions which the births, marriages and deaths, bear to the population in various European states. (') Annual number of Marriages. Number of persons living Births, and Deaths, to 100 per- 1 to one annual Marriage, sons living, or per cent. Birth, and Death. States. Period of Observation. 1 Marriages. Births. Deaths. Marriages. Births. Deaths. per cent. per cent. per cent. One in One in One in 45 England, - 1839-1842 .770 3.200 2.209 130 31 France, - Id40-1842 .825 2.837 2.31)7 121 | 35 42 Austria, - 1839-1841 .807 3.874 2.995 124 26 33 Prussia, - 1839-1841 .887 3.767 2.658 113 27 38 Russia, - 1842 1.013 4.284 3.590 99 23 28 This interesting statement shows that in England, a less proportion of mar- riages and deaths takes place than in either of the states mentioned. France exceeds her in births. In Russia, the proportion of each is very large, exceeding LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 11 by nearly 25 per cent, those of England. It has been said, that in warm countries marriages take place earlier, and births and deaths are more numerous; but the Russian returns do not seem to confirm its truth. It would be interesting, if we had the means of making a similar statement respecting each State in our confederacy. Marriages.—The age of the parties at marriage is an important element to be recorded. Some have objected to give it from a desire for " fictitious youth," from false ideas of delicacy, or a misapprehension of its importance ; and in other cases it has been omitted through the carelessness of those whose duty it was to make the records. The consequence has been, that in a portion only of the returns has the age been stated. Better results, it is hoped, will be produced in future. Abstracts of these returns are presented in five tables, pages 38 to 40, constructed in such a manner as to present the ages of the parties in a very inter- esting view. It appears that 9,682 persons were married and returned the last year, of whom the ages of 6,852 are stated—3,422 males and 3,430 females; and 2,830 are not stated—1,419 males and 1,411 females. The condition of the par- ties was as follows :— Marriages in which both parties were married for the first time, . . 3,490 the man was married for the first time and the woman not, 113 the woman was married for the first time and the man not, 490 both parties had been married before, .... 194 the condition of the parties was not stated, . . . 554 Total,.......• . . . . 4,841 G. R. Porter, Esq., an eminent English statistician, in a recent work quoted in the American Almanac for 1846, says "the rapid growth of the population of the United States is not attributable to the great duration of life, but arises from the number and fruitfulness of marriages, aided in a considerable degree by emigra- tion." It is important to know whether this be true or false. Knowing the age at marriage, and instituting a comparison with other countries, are the means of arriving at the truth. The Belgian returns, and the report of the last census of Ireland, afford the means of doing it in relation to those countries. Those of England do not. It is, however, proposed to alter the Registration law there, so as to require it. The last report of the Registrar General has the following sen- sible remarks on this subject: "It is not a little remarkable, that although the increase of population and the influence of early and late marriages on the wel- fare of nations, have for the whole of the present century occupied public atten- tion, and been made the basis of theories which have guided or biased legisla- tion, no provision has yet been made for determining the simplest fundamental facts—the foundation of all reasoning on the subject—such as the ages at mar- riage, the ages of mothers, of children, the numbers of married and single per- sons at the several periods of life. Upon many of these points the greatest ignorance prevails, writers on population depending on rough approximations, derived from scanty, imperfect, and often erroneous data, because the censuses and registers have not yet been taken and abstracted upon a comprehensive and well-considered plan." These are the views of those who proposed to have inserted in the Massachu- setts Register the age of the parties at marriage; and if further reasons were 12 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. necessary to show its importance, they will appear from the facts already ob- tained, some of which are presented in this report. The following table, (/) containing those marriages only, where both parties were married for the first time, and whose ages are stated, is compiled from the Massachusetts returns of 1845, and the Belgian returns of 1841. if) Age. Number of persons married in To 10,( Massac )00 married, there were in Massachusetts. Belgium. husetts. Belgium. Males. Females Males. Females Males. Females Males. Females Under 20, 53 690 757 2685 198 2563 312 1105 20 to 25, 1308 1422 4530 6966 4897 5324 1864 2807 25 to 30, 952 446 9420 8067 3564 1670 3877 3320 30 to 35, 247 79 5497 3841 925 296 2262 .1581 35 to 40, 81 17 2488 1719 303 64 1024 707 40 to 45, 17 14 1000 653 04 52 412 209 45 to 50, 8 2 340 225 30 7 140 93 50 to 55, 5 1 137 76 19 4 56 31 55 to 60, 56 27 . 23 11 Over 60, • 72 3d ' 30 16 2671 2671 24,297 24,297 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 Average age, 25.84 22.69 29.47 27.43 The Belgian tables give the marriages " under 21." Our tables give them " under 20," which will make a slight difference in the proportion at that and the subsequent age, but in no other. It appears from thi3 table, that while in Massa- chusetts, to every 10,000 of all ages, 4,897 males and 5,324 females are married between the ages of 20 and 25; in Belgium only 1,804 males and 2,867 females out of the same number, are married at those ages. The average age in Massa- chusetts of the males was 25.84 and the females, 22.69, while in Belo-ium the males averaged 29.47 and the females 27.43. This average age shows a difference of 3.63 years in the males, and 4.74 in the females. This is the result of the marriages in which both parties were married for the first time. I will next present a view of all the marriages, whatever the condition of the parties. And in the table (g) is given the ages of 506,652 males, 522,205 females, when married, taken from the last census of Ireland. This table shows that in Massachusetts 40.59 per cent, of the males were be- tween the ages of 20 and 25 at marriage, while in Belgium the proportion was only 15.65 per cent. The proportions at the other ages differ very materially Those married under and over 25 will appear by the comparison exhibited in table {h,) next page. These remarkable results show that the proportion of males married under 25 was even greater in Massachusetts than in Ireland, and the proportion of females was nearly as large; and both were more than double those of Belgium. The number of marriages in 1842 and 1843, is given in the reports, without LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 13 specifying the month in which they took place. In 1844 and 1845, they occurred in the different months as represented in table (i,) next page. This statement shows that the seasons have considerable influence on the number of marriages, varying from 461 to 1,379 in 1844, and from 544 to 1,305 in 1845. The average number each month was 347 in 1844, and 401 in 1845. The month in which the smallest number occurred was July, and that in which (g) Age. Number of persons married, of all conditions, in Massachusetts. Belgium. Ireland, 1830—1840. Males. Females Males. Females Males. Females. Under 20, 56 738 774 2831 44,267 153,312 20 to 25, 1389 1587 46771 7421 165.664 209,758 25 to 30, 1093 002 10,067! 9082 145,531 98,405 30 to 35, 371 201 (5527. 4928 76,349 34.812 35 to 40, 175 117 3036 2791' 36,415 14,752 40 to 45, 115 92 2037 1477 17,525 6,122 45 to 50, 85 43 934 753j 10,074 2,942 50 to 55, 48 23 512 357 5,396 1,183 55 to 60, 31 18 310 126! 5,431 859 Over 60, 59 9 402 110 • 3422 3430 29,876' 29,876 1 500,052 522,205 Age. To 10,000 married, of all con ditions, ther e were Under 20, 164 2152 259l 948 873 2936 20 to 25, 4059 4027: 1565 2484 3270 4017 25 to 30, 3194 1755. 3370; 3040! 2872 1880 30 to 35, 1084 586 21851 1(!50! 1507 667 35 to 40, 511 341 1217 934 719 282 40 to 45, | 336 208, 08-2 4<)4 346 117 45 to 50, 248 125' 313 252 199 56 50 to 55, ! 140 07j 171 lilt 107 23 55 to 60, 91 53! K»4 421 107 16 Over 60, 173 20i 134 37: 1 10,000 10;000; 10,00 10,000 j 10.000 10,000 Males. Under 25 ! Over 25. Females. Is Under 25. Over 25. Massachusetts, -Ireland, - - -Belgium, - - - 42.23 - , 41.43 - , 18.24 57.77 58.57 81.76 67.79 i 32.21 69.53 30.47 34.32 65.68 i 14 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. the largest number occurred, November,—the month of the annual return of t e New England festival, Thanksgiving. Many families meet together on that day to congratulate the newly formed marriage connexions. Births.—The number only of the births is given in the Reports of 1842 and 1843, without distinction of sex, or the months in which they took place. In 1844 and 1845, the sex and time of birth are specified. It appears that In 1844. The whole number of births returned, were .... 14,646 Of which the male births were......7,344 " the female births were......6,991 311 In 1845. 15,564 7,793 7,594 177 " the births in which the sex is not stated, were Of those in which the sex was known, the females were to 100 males, . . . 95.08 97.44 " » " the males to 100 females, .105.04 102.62 " " " the males to 100 both sexes, 51.23 50,65 " « « the females to 100 both sexes, 48.77 49.35 This shows that there are more males than females born; and the proportions are nearly the same as occur in other parts of the world. The months of the year in which they took place, appear in table (j,) next page. These observations are not sufficiently extensive to form any very correct opin- ion on the subject; but, so far as they go, they do not show that the seasons have any perceptible influence on the number of births, as is stated to be the fact in some parts of the world. The average number each month was 1,209 in 1844, and 1,280 in 1845. In 1844 there was 1 case of twin births to 123 cases of birth. " 1845 " 1 " " to 129 " " 1844 " 1 " triplets to 7261 " " 1845 " 1 " " to 15,444 __ " " 1844 " 1 " quadruplets to 15,523 " " 1845 " no case of " (i) Number of Mar- To 10,000 Marriages, riages in there were in Month. 1844. 1845. 1844. 1845. January, - - 337 414 809 859 February, - - 264 270 633 560 March, - - - 264 262 633 544 April, - - - 429 474 1029 983 May, - - - 429 465 1029 965 June, - - - 325 336 780 697 July, - - - 192 263 461 546 August, - - 229 286 549 593 September, 284 419 681 869 October, - - 442 538 1060 1116 November, 575 629 1379 1305 December, Specified, - - 399 464 957 963 4169 4820 10,000 10,000 Not specified, - 106 21 Total, - - 4275 4841 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 15 It would be interesting and important to know the average number of chil- dren born to each marriage in Massachusetts. Our returns are, however, not sufficiently full to allow us to make even a safe comparison as to the proportion the births bear to the marriages, deaths or population. I venture the opinion that the number of births to a marriage here, is greater than in England; but that the number here is not as great now as it was 30 or 40 years ago. "The births registered in England are in proportion to the population one seventh part more numerous than in France, and one seventh part less than in Prussia. To 3,525 inhabitants 100 births are annually registered in France, 113 in England, 133 in Prussia, 136 in Austria, 151 in Russia. The small number of births in France is not accounted for by any difference in the proportion of the persons married, who are, in fact, more numerous in France than in any other country from which I have been able to procure returns. It appears that 100 French wives had 14 children, 100 Prussian wives 21 children yearly ; or, in other terms, 717 wives bore annually 100 children in France, 152 children in Prussia. If the births are divided by the annual marriages that took place seven years be- fore, there were 3.33 births (in wedlock) to a marriage in France—4.05 to a mar- riage in Prussia, and 4.34 to a marriage in Austria; 4.26 to a marriage in Eng- land, and if a correction be made for first marriages, 4.79 to every two persons married. The total annual births in England, divided by the persons married seven years before, give on an average 5.12 children to every two persons mar- ried ; and as many illegitimate children are the offspring of married persons be- fore, during or after marriage, the number of children to every two persons mar- ried in England must be between 4.79 and 5.12, or little short of five, about three of which attain the age of marriage to replace the two parents and those who have no offspring; the surplus swelling the number of the existing inhabitants of the island, or flowing in of emigration." (J) Month. Number of Births in In 10,000 Births, there were in 1844. 1845. 1844. 1845. January, - -February, - -March, - - -April, - - -May, - - -June, - - -July, - - -August, - -September, -October, - -November, December, Specified, - -Not Specified, Total, - - 1170 1210 1239 1230 1144 1134 1164 1350 1282 1206 1195 1192 1335 1295 1512 1452 1013 1063 1235 1350 1314 1324 1235 1238 806 834 854 847 788 781 802 930 883 831 823 821 869 843 984 945 659 692 804 878 855 661 804 806 14,516 130 14,646 15,366 10,000 198 ! 15,564 10,000 16 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. DEATHS.-It has been stated that the number of deaths returnedI wasj7,642, not including the still born, and 8,715 including them. They occurred i eral counties as stated in the subjoined table, (ft) We have arrang ^ counties so as to admit of being easily grouped together ; the 4 west division, the 4 middle in another, and the 5 southern in another, if desir . Counties. Population, 1840. Deaths. Male. Female. Not Specified. Total. Berkshire, - -Franklin, - - -Hampshire, - -Hampden, - -Worcester, - -Middlesex, - -Essex, - - -Norfolk, - - -Plymouth, - -Bristol, - - -Barnstable, - -Dukes, - - -Nantucket, - - 41,745 28,812 30,897 37,306 95,313 106,011 94,987 53,140 47,373 60,165 32,548 3,958 9,012 641,927 218 143 168 239 696 734 705 298 228 336 211 28 64 252 182 210 254 824 750 772 333 243 309 184 23 70 18 6 17 16 7 22 27 26 13 14 13 2 488 331 395 509 1527 1506 1504 657 484 719 408 53 134 4008 4466 181 8715 The returns fall so far short of the actual number, that a comparison of the proportion they bear to the population would be fallacious. Accuracy in this re- spect can be attained only after the Registry Law shall have been amended and the records and returns perfected. I am inclined to the opinion, from an exami- nation of several of the returns last year, which appear most correct, that if the whole number of deaths in the State had been stated, it would not have amounted to more than 1 in 57 of the living. This proportion may, however, be found to be incorrect by full and authentic data. An interesting view of the proportion of deaths in the two sexes may be given, embracing the abstracts for the four years. (I) (I) Deaths. Year. 1842 1843 1844 1845 Whole Number. Male. Female. Not stated. 7496 3329 3693 474 8305 i 3084 4261 ! 350 8338 3712 4173 ', 453 8715 | 4068 i 4466 181 Of those whose sex was known, there were To 100 Deaths of both Males. 47.41 46.37 47.08 47.67 Females to 100 Males. Females. 52.59 53.65 52.92 52.33 110.93 115.66 112.41 109.78 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 17 It has already been shown that more males than females are born. From the above statement it appears that fewer males than females die. A comparison can be instituted between them only in the last two years, since in the first two Reports they are not both specified. (m) In To every 10,000 males there were females Showing a difference of Born. Died. 1844 1845 9508 9744 11,241 10,978 1733 1234 It may be asked, what becomes of this difference ? The answer is principally found in the greater number of males than females, which the State furnishes to people other parts of the Union, and to traverse the world. From the census of New York city, just published, it appears that 16,086 of its inhabitants were born in New England ; and throughout all the Western States, New England men are found. It would be an exceedingly interesting inquiry, how many emigrants have been furnished each year by Massachusetts. And if a good system of Registration had been in operation, we should have been able to show it. We should have been able to show how many have gone hence to spread the whole- some influence of the land of their birth in other States and other regions. If every 10,000 births furnish 1,250 emigrants, the 25,000 births which have been estimated to take place in the State annually, would furnish over 3,000 to spend the remainder of their lives in other lands than that of their nativity. The influence of the seasons over the number of deaths is universally acknowl- edged to be great; but it varies according to place, age, disease, and other cir- cumstances. It is highly important to know how far all these influences effect the health of the people. The following facts (table (n,) next page) compiled from the returns afford a general illustration of the matter.' This table shows a great difference in the mortality of the different months of the year. It will be perceived that the smallest number of deaths generally occurs in May and June, and the greatest number in August and September, varying this year, in those months, from 582 in every 10,000 to 1092. A particular examination of the other months will be of interest. By dividing the year into quarters, the following proportion per cent, will appear. 1842. Winter—Jan. Feb. March, . . . 26.63 .Spring—April, May, June, . . 22.81 Summer—July, Aug. Sept. . . 25.14 Autumn—Oct. Nov. Dec. . . . 25 42 The ages at death make one of the most important elements in vital statistics. Combined with the ages of the living, they give us the means of measuring the value of life, and estimating the comparative health enjoyed by persons in differ- ent places and under different circumstances. In proportion as the average shall be high or low, will a people of similar ages of the living be healthy or un- 3 1843. 1S44. 1845. 22.16 23.82 24.70 2503 21.21 20.41 C3.28 28.80 29.86 23.S3 26.17 25.03 IS BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. healthy. In the first place, I will present for each county the number returne each age specified for the year 184.". (o) The counties are so arranged that t ose who choose may make the divisions of the State, as before suggested. Whether any such divisions may hereafter be adopted, will depend on the facts elicited by future investigation. (n In everv 10,000 Deaths, there Number ( >f Death were in 184-2. 1843. 1844. 1845. 1842. 1813. 1844. 1845. January, 608 563 641 682 820 687 795 789 February, 627 608 635 690 845 742 787 798 March, 740 645 645 763 998 787 800 883 April, . 711 635 577 697 959 775 715 807 May, . 495 753 592 563 667 919 734 651 June, . 486 663 542 504 655 809 672 583 July, . 487 654 584 706 657 798 724 817 August, 620 844 821 928 836 1030 1018 1074 September, . 757 901 918 946 1021 1100 1138 1095 October, 806 726 757 838 1087 886 939 970 November, . 527 627 639 651 711 765 792 753 December, . 552 575 715 674 744 702 886 780 Specified, 7416 8194 8066 8642 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 Not specified, 132 147 184 • ' • 1 • Total, . 7548 8341 8250 8042 . . Average, 618 682 672 720 833 833 833 833 (°) Agk. 6 o pa 6 £ a 3 c E a X a o o ) K 1 o 3 1 1 3 6 W o D O £ >> o c a cq -3 — si J* c 3 nj QZ ^ 1 2 1 H | Under 1, 68, 33 59 78 275 308 237 105 62 141 06 40 1478 1 to 2, 34 11 22 48; 119 138 132 53 38 58 31 13 697 2 to 5, 47 25 32 39| 142 135 139 43 48 50 30 9 739 5 to 10, id <) 10 20, 55 01 70 23 25 37 19 7 354 10 to 20, 36 23 20 48| 109 84 112 49 35 40 °5 11 592 20 to 30, 70 51 08 oi; 108 175 143 71 42 64 07 10 995 30 to 40, 41 31 33 38 134 142 110 53 31 51 OS lo 704 40 to 50, 26 25 27 39, 80 91 95 29 20 38 OS 10 508 50 to 60, 2a 27 29 20 104 74' 79 37 95 41 03 11 Knn 60 to 70, 30 20 21 29; 92 84' 88 47 44 42 18 90; 541 70 to 80, 4o 34 36 35 114 80! 142 56 55 50 4° 10 705 7 462 2, 107 0 80 to 90, 90 to 100, Over 100, 25 5 468 20 4 318 21 8 2 388 31 j 67 C. 25 50l|l484 62l 87 15 18 14511452 45 6 1 618 30 0 467 41 5 1 059 20 7 Specified, 404 177 8388 5 254 Not spec'd 13 481 328 395 6 38 5071522 411 37 1492 1489 t 22 640 10 483 50 1 715 4 Total, j 408 172 8012' Aver, age, 30.89 37.5 33.5! 29.8! 29.42 2G.48 30.6C 32.22 31.21 28.3L 1 31.08 30.23' 30.2G j 1 1 1 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 19 A careful examination and analysis of the ages in each county, will show some difference in the average duration of life, so far as ascertained by the aver- age age at death. I will not, however, attempt this analysis at this time, but present the aggregate returns of deaths for the whole State during the four years, 1842—1845, for each specified age, and the proportion they bear to 10,000 of all ages, (p) (P) Number of Deaths. : To every 10,000 Deaths there were Age. Under 1, - 1 to 2, - 2 to 5, - 5 to 10,- 10 to 20, - 20 to 30,- 30 to 40, - 40 to 50, - 50 to 60, - 60 to 70, - 70 to 80,- 80 to 90,- 90 to 100, Over 100,- Specified, - Not specified, Total, - 1842. 1843. ! 1814. i 1845. I 1842. ! 1813. ! 1814. 1845 808 406 637 351 493 854 555 526 474 540 041) 491 137 5 0986 510 7496 1052 553 679 446 496 882 648 525 488 603 707 531 122 6 1250 1478 542 697 556 739 333 354 532 592 839 995 1 655 704 478 508 434 500 602 541 751 705 576 462 137 107 4 6 1157 667 912 502 706 1222 794 753 079! 773 929 703 190 7798 507 7089 i 8388 10,000 561 254 8305 8250 ! 8642 1349 709 871 57'2 630 1131 831 673 020 773 984 681 150 10,000 1814. 1845. 1020 1762 705 831 723 881 433 422 692 706 1091 1186 852 839 622 606 564 596 783 645 977 840 749 551 178 128 5 7 10,000 10,000 One of the first ideas presented by this table, is the remarkable increase of infantile mortality within the four years, being from 1157 to 1702, or 605; over 6 per cent. And from the table it appears that this increase has been nearly gradual each year. Some variation is presented in other ages, but in none is it so striking as in that under one year. Are we aware that 17.(52 per cent, of all the deaths, are of children under one year old ? In a work on the Vital Statistics of Boston, which I published in 1840, the attention of the public was called to the great proportional increase of deaths among children under five years of age in cities • but I was not aware, until I made the above calculations, that in the more rural districts embraced in this report, the same causes had been in operation, there, though not in an equal degree, to destroy human life at its very begin- nings. Such developments should arrest the serious attention of parents and all concerned, to ascertain and remove, if possible, the destructive agencies at work among us on this class of human beings. These facts will appear in a still more forcible light, by presenting the propor- tionate number of survivors, calculated from the age of the dying, in the same manner as we have presented the number of survivors calculated from the age of the living. 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