A COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK, DURING THE YEARS 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808 and 1809. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL. NEW-YORK: Printed by Southwick & Pelsue, No. 3, New-street 1810. IN COMMON COUNCIL, JANUARY 15, 1810. The City Inspector has the honour to lay before the Board, a table, exhibiting at one view, an accurate return of interments in the different cemeteries of this city, and of Potter's field, in the year 1809, as also of the ages, diseases, &c. of those who were interred during that period. He has also the honour of reporting a comparative statement of the deaths in this city, with their ages, diseases, &c. during each of the different months in the years 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1809. Extract from the minutes. J. MORTON, Clerk. GENERAL Return of ©eatljs IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK, FOR THE Years 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1809. 1 Men. |Women. | Boys. Girls. 'Total / 1805 57 55 37 29 178 1 1806 63 23 34 26 146 JANUARY ..< 1807 44 43 34 158 | 1808 51 36 39 36 162 1809 45 33 52 33 163 / 1805 47 41 36 22 146 * 1806 41 43 27 23 134 FEBRUARY ..< 1807 70 27 41 28 166 f 1808 58 41 40 33 172 1809 56 37 32 38 163 r 1805 46 30 26 27 129 \ 1806 47 40 37 44 168 MARCH ..< 1807 59 37 40 44 180 1 1808 74 49 63 38 224 ' 1809 48 48 43 25 164 < 1805 71 44 38 26 179 \ 1806 70 48 29 40 187 APRIL .. < 1807 75 64 36 40 215 1 1808 66 38 34 39 177 v 1809 42 49 28 27 146 / 1805 37 33 31 22 123 1806 61 40 44 30 175 MAY.... 1807 53 41 26 25 145 1 1808 43 23 34 37 137 72 35 42 34 183 / 1805 33 29 32 33 127 t 1806 47 34 41 26 » 148 JUNE 1807 50 35 20 22 127 S 1808 42 43 26 20 131 M809 57 30 27 27 141 z 1805 49 44 63 46 202 V 1806 53 45 55 40 212 JULY.... . 1807 56 40 59 40 195 ) 1808 52 30 49 48 179 11809 48 36 43 43 170 4 - _. _ - .- - - ■ -. - ■■ r - - | Men. Women. ! Boys. Girls. ITotal / 1805 52 54 115 98 319 1 1806 50 38 92 75 255 AUGUST < 1807 86 71 81 90 328 | 1808 43 29 53 59 184 ' 1809 53 38 97 89 | 277 r 1805 116 82 51 47 296 1 1806 73 47 59 63 242 SEPTEMBER / 1807 81 51 79 75 286 I 1808 51 29 57 43 180 M809 57 33 36 37 163 f 1805 128 104 56 61 349 I 1806 56 52 39 30 177 OCTOBER J 1807 50 43 40 39 172 ) 1808 46 32 30 25 133 ' 1809 54 33 4 1 38 166 . 1805 51 42 28 19 140 ] 1806 58 50 42 31 181 NOVEMBER \ 1807 54 40 25 39 158 / 1808 40 39 34 38 151 '1809 78 50 46 31 205 z 1805 61 50 3 22 164 I 1806 63 47 56 34 200 DECEMBER < 1807 63 43 30 46 182 i 1808 52 48 4' 7 37 184 V1809 63 42 34 28 167 .AGES. 11805; 1806,1807{1808-lb09 Of the age of 1 year and under 503 522 537 435 465 Between the age of 1 and 2 years 210 242 208 224 207 2 5 do 157 190 176 161 165 5 10 do 74 75 78 93 88 10 20 do 130 111 111 119 120 20 30 do 351 250 295 244 254 30 40 do 336 284 319 271 279 40 50 do 239 223 218 187 192 50 60 do 155 122 165 114 128 60 70 do 102 102 97 75 103 70 80 do 61 62 68 64 66 80 90 do 28 34 34 24 36 90 100 do 5 8 5 3 4 100 and upwards do 1 0 1 0 1 Total 2352 2225,2312 2014 2108 5 DISEASES.* 1804} 1805 1806 1807,180811809 Abscess 7 5 3 7 6 8 Aneurism - - - - - - 1 1 Apoplexy ... 22 31 20 38 23 20 Asthma ... 6 3 11 3 5 4 Burned or Scalded 11 14 18 6 12 13 Cancer - 7 6 10 5 4 6 Carbuncle ... -- - - - 1 - Caries - - - - 1 1 Casualties ... 24 21 24 27 24 34 Childbed - - - - 16 12 14 11 20 17 Chlorosis 1 - - - - - Cholera Morbus - - - 9 19 9 8 7 5 Cholic --- - 5 - 4 9 - 7 Chorea .... ■ ■ - ■ 1 ■ 1 - Cold ... . 18 15 25 10 14 22 Consumption ... 499 462 354 464 429 413 Convulsions ... 169 192 195 219 159 163 Cramp in the Stomach 3 1 1 4 5 4 Debility ... 37 49 62 59 43 35 Decay .... 43 62 140 112 89 64 Diabetes ... ■ ■■- 1 ■ ■ 1 - -- Diarrhoea - - - - 13 16 1 7 3 26 Drinking cold wat r - 11 - 1 1 - Dropsy ... 68 83 89 98 91 79 * During the year 1804 the bills of mortality were not kept with the same accuracy as at present. Hence, for that year, we are not able to discriminate the sexes, nor to ascertain the ages of the deceased. The total number of deaths, and the diseases of which they died, are the only particulars for which there are any authentic documents. And even this last will be found great- ly defective, in comparison of the last five years; as, during the year 1804, there will be found at the end of the list of diseases the following words, " diseases not mentioned, 86," whereas, since that period, care has been taken to ascertain, with as much accuracy as possible, the real disease of which each individual died. 6 DISEASES. 1804 1805|1806|1807 180811809 Dropsy in the Head 19 16 22 30 28 28 Drowned - 24 32 35 31 42 45 Dysentery - - - 46 60 52 30 24 17 Dyspepsia, or Indigestion - - - 1 - 3 Epilepsy - 5 7 16 8 3 Fever, Bilious - - - 8 22 11 9 3 9 Hectic - 2 3 5 3 3 Inflammatory 1 9 6 3 1 6 Intermittent 5 4 7 3 5 12 Malignant - - 270 - - -' 10 Puerperal - 5 1 1 3 7 Putrid 6 3 3 2 3 3 Remittent 9 - 9 3 10 7 Scarlet 14 - 4 2 4 9 Typhus - - - 47 75 93 106 62 73 Flux, Infantile 27 195 166 162 120 138 Fracture - - - - 4 2 7 Frost Bitten - 4 2 2 - 2 Gout . . - - - 2 3 1 - - Gravel ... ■■ - - - 4 Haemoptysis, or spitting blood ] 4 3 4 - 1 Haemorrhage 4 - 3 1 3 Hanged . - - - - -- 2 - Hernia, or Rupture - - - - 3 I Hives - - • - 75 70 106 101 94 102 Jaundice ... 3 4 4 9 13 5 Iliac Passion - ■ - - - 1 Infanticide - - - 1 4 2 1 5 4 Inflammation of the Bladder 1 * - 1 - 1 Bowels 27 17 34 29 18 32 Brain 8 17 16 10 17 18 Lungs 36 53 58 58 40 44 Stomach 12 6 14 14 11 12 Influenza 3 2 - 16 2 - Insanity - - - - 3 5 / 8 7 7 Intemperance, or Intoxication 12 17 11 14 18 28 Killed or Murdered 2 3 4 1 1 1 Leprosy ... "- - - 1 -R Leucorrhoea . - - - - - - 1 Liver Disease - 5 7 11 18 3 7 Locked Jaw 7 6 7 2 4 4 Manslaughter - - 1 -- 7 DISEASED 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808'1809 Measles - 2 ■ ■ 1 64 2 Menorrhagia - - • - -■ - 3 - - Nervous Head-Ache - - - - 2 - MM Old Age - 30 46 57 51 49 62 Palsey - 14 15 20 23 16 22 Pleurisy - " 36 32 41 46 41 40 Quinsy - 9 6 4 5 4 2 Rheumatism - - 3 3 3 4 5 4 Rickets * • - -- - 1 - Rupture of a Blood Vessel 4 6 7 4 6 4 St. Anthony's Fire - ■ ■ 5 7 4 MM 2 Scrofula, or King's Evil - 6 4 4 4 4 7 Scurvy - 1 1 - 6 1 2 Small Pox - 169 62 48 29 62 66 Sore Throat - 10 8 17 17 13 11 Spasms - - - - - 2 2 1 Spina Bifida - -- - - - - 1 Sprue - * 23 23 36 32 16 21 Still born - • 22 47 51 76 64 70 Stone - ■MM - - 2 -- 2 Stranguary • • - - - ■ ■ ■ - 2 Sudden death - - 37 18 27 34 21 16 Suicide - 10 26 15 16 8 16 Syphilis - - 9 14 12 15 10 13 Teething - - 33 30 44 35 37 48 Thrush - - - - 2 - 1 Vomica • 3 - - 3 - MM Vomiting blood • - 1 1 - ■ - Ulcer - - 4 5 6 4 1 3 White swelling - - 1 - - - - 3 Whooping cough - 19 19 72 35 35 50 Worms • • 27 34 45 60 43 43 Diseases not mentioned 86 - - - Total 212512352,2225 231212014 2108 8 Number of deaths during the last six years. In 1804 2125 1805 2352! 1806 | 2225 1807 2312 1808 | 2014 1809 2108 Total | 13,136 REMARKS. FROM the preceding statements, it appears, that the total number of deaths in this city, for the last six years, amounted to 13,136, making an average for each of the said six years of 2189 persons. If the increase of our city has been in the same pro- portion, since the last census, which was taken in Janu- ary, 1806, as during the five years immediately preced- ing that date, our population must, at present, consist of about 93,000. It is to be observed, however, that the number was not so great, at the beginning of the year 1804, at which time the present calculations commence. Hence there is a necessity of fixing upon some average for the said six years; and if we should say 85,000, it is highly probable, that we shall come very near to the truth. Proceeding, therefore, upon this hypothesis, the me- dium of deaths during the period aforesaid, calculating upon the average 2189, will be as one to 38 4-5, an- nually. If again, we take the year 1808, the most healthy of the six, and in which there were 2014 deaths, the proportion of those who died, was, to the survivors, as one to 42 1-5. On the other hand, in the year 1805, which was the most fatal of the whole, a malignant fever 9 having prevailed, during the autumn, to a considerable the number of the interments was 2352. The ratio of the dead to the living was, therefore, as one to 36 1-7. If, then, instead of calculating our annual mortality from the returns of the year 1808, which was the most healthy, or even from the average of the last six years, we should fix upon 1805, which was the most fatal, it can still be proved, that the city of New-York is not only more healthy than any of the great or even mode- rately sized cities of Europe, but that it may also vie in this respect with several of the states and kingdoms of that continent, taking the towns and country together. The above assertion is founded upon no less authori- ty than that of the Reverend Dr. Price and Mr. Mal- thus, from whose writings the following quotations are extracted : " It may be stated, in general," says the Doctor, in his work on annuities, " that whereas, in great towns, the proportion of inhabitants dying annually, is from 1 in 19 to 1 in 22 or 23, and in moderate towns from 1 in 24 to 1 in 28; in country parishes or villages, on the contrary, this proportion seldom exceeds 1 in 40 or 50. The proofs of this are numerous and incontestible." See 5th London edition, vol. II, page 354. " The number of inhabitants at Stockolm in 1763 was 72,927. The average of deaths, for the six pre- ceding years, had been 3082. One, therefore, in nine- teen, died there annually." Vol. II, page 355. And in a note to the same page it is added, " that, though a nineteenth part of the inhabitants of Stockholm die every year, yet, in the whole kingdom, taking all the towns and country together, not more than a 35th part die every year." " At Rome an account is taken every year of the number of inhabitants, and in the year 1771 it was 159,625. The average of deaths for ten years had been 7637. One, therefore, in 21 1-2 died annually." Vol. II, page 355. 2 10 According to the same author, at least 1 in 20 3-4 die annually in London. See note, Vol. I, page 266, and Vol. II, page 356. The same is the supposed proportion at Edinburgh. Vo'. I, page 283. One out of 20 is supposed to die annually at Paris. Vol. I, page 294. The deaths in Amsterdam are computed to be as 1 to 21 or 22. Vol. I, page 249. Note. In Dublin, as 1 to 22. Ibid. In Berlin, as 1 to 26 1-2. Vol. I, page 295. In Manchester, as 1 to 28. Vol. II, page 353. In Birmingham, as 1 to 28. Vol. II, p. 311. Note. Malthus, in his work on Population, Dublin edition, page 307, states, that the deaths throughout the whole of England may be calculated as 1 to 40. According to the calculation of Mr. Susmilch, an emi- nent and ingenious German writer, it appears, that in the Dukedom of Wurtemb».rg, taking the t wns and coun- try together, on an average for five j ears, 1 in 32 died annually. In the kingdom of Naples, the medium of deaths, for the five years preceding 1777, was 115,412, and therefore 1 in 37 1-3 died annually, 'i he same au- thor concludes, that " taking a whole country in gross, including all cities and villages, mankind enjoy amongst them about 32 or 33 years tach of existence." bee Vol. I, page 268. Note. It has been already observed, that in the year 1784, the bills of mortality were not kept with the same accu- racy as they have been since that period. For this reason, in the formation of the following tables, a refer- ence is onlv had io the last five years, during which time the total number of deaths amounted to 11,011. 11 A TABLE, Shewing the number of persons who died in this city, at various ages, from their birth to one hundred years and upwards, formed from the bills for the last five years. The number of persons out of Deaths. 11.011 Living. Of the age of 1 year and under, were 24621eavii ig8549 Between 1 a nd 2 years, 1091 7453 2 5 849 6609 5 10 408 6201 10 20 . 591 5610 20 30 1394 4216 30 40 . . 1489 2727 40 50 1059 1668 50 60 . 684 984 60 70 479 505 70 80 . 321 184 80 90 156 28 90 100 25 3 100 102 . 3 0 11,011 A TABLE, Shelving the number of persons who may be expected to die in a year, out of 1000, at various ages, Jrom their birth to one hundred years, calculated according to the proportion of the preceding table. The number of persons out of Deaths, I 1000 jiving. Of the age of 1 year and under, 224 leaving 776 Between 1 and 2 years, 99 677 2 5 77 600 5 10 . 37 563 10 20 . . 54 509 20 30 . . 127 382 12 Deaths. Living. Between SO and 40 years 135 leaving 247 40 50 . 96 151 •50 60 62 89 60 70 . . 44 45 70 80 29 16 80 90 . 14 2 90 100 2 0 1000 J\'ote. In order to avoid confusion, the fractional parts are thrown aside in the above table. This omission, however, by no means materially affects the accuracy of the calculation. According to the preceding tables, it may, therefore, appear, by calculation, for the last five years, that the number of the dead has, at the several ages herein men- tioned, been to the whole number of those who were interred, during that period, in the following propor- tion, viz. Of those who died of one year and under, as 11 to 50 of 2 years and under, nearly 1-3 of 5 years and under, precisely 2-5 of 10 years and under, as 11 to 25 of 20 years and under, as 49 to 50 of 30 years and under, as 5 to 8 of 40 years and under, nearly 3-4 of 50 years and under, about 4 5 of 60 years and under, about 9 10 of 70 years and under, as 19 to 20 of 80 years and under, as 24 to 25 The probability of living to the age of 90 years is nearly as 1 to 500; and by the first table it ap- pears, that out of 11,011, not more than 3 reached the age of 100, and these, previous to their obtaining the age of 102, were likewise consigned to the silent tomb. From what has been observed, it appears, that one half of those who are born in this city may be expected to arrive at the age of 20 years; and this is a propor- tion more favorable to human life, particularly in the 13 early part of it, than is observed in any of those great towns of Europe, with which we are best acquainted. In proof of this remark, the following quotation is adduced from Malthus, on Population, page 307.- " In London," says he, " according to former calcula- tions, one half of the born died under three years of age; in Vienna and Stockholm, under two; in Nor- wich, under five, and in Northampton, under ten." It may be further observed upon the whole, not only as it respects the mortality of this city ; but likewise of most, if not all other places, that there are no years of life in which so many die as during the first four or five. After this life becomes less and less precarious, till about fifteen, from which time it begins to decline, and continues to do so, till it becomes quite extinct in old age. To this article the following remark may likew ise be added, viz. that, according to our bills, if the first five years of childhood be excepted, the greatest mor- tality takes place between the years of 20 and 40. These remarks shall be concluded with a few observ- ations on those casualties and diseases which are most prevalent and fatal. Burned or Scalded. These are principally children, whose deaths are occasioned by their clothes accidcndy catching fire. Were their clothing made of woolen instead of muslin, accidents of this kind would not so frequently occur. Consumption. This, according to the bills, is by far the most fatal disease with which our city is affect- ed, no less than 2621 having died of it, during the last five years, making nearly one fourth part of the whole. This disease is in some degree incidental to our latitude ; but, no doubt, greatly aggravated by the adoption of fashions in dress adapted to more genial climes, and a want of attention to our clothing according to the varia- tions of the weather. Convulsions. This is, likewise, a very mortal disease, and together with infantile flux, hives, teething, worms, and whooping cough, constitute by far the greater part of the maladies by which children and young per- 14 sons are cut off. The amount of these, during the last five years, was no less than 3156, making about one third of our whole mortality. Smallpox The number of those who fell vic- tims to this disease in the year 1804, amounted to 169. Since that time, owing to the progress of vac- it has been greatly diminished, not more than 29 having died in the year 1807 ; although, in the two last years, it has again increased to 62 and 66. Several weeks have now elapsed since a single death has occurred of this disease ; and if parents and guardians were duly impressed with the facts, that the Cowpock is an easy and infallible preventive against it; that this may be communicated to the youngest child, at any season of the year, with the most perfect safety, and that to those who are in indigent circumstances the means of getting their children inoculated is provided gratis, there is the strongest reason to believe that this formerly so afflicting scourge might be speedily eradicated. Bills of mortality, in this city, are as yet only in their infancy. Some important deductions may, however, be drawn from them even in their present state : and if the Common Council should continue to enforce accu- rate returns of deaths, they will, no doubt, in the course of some years, acquire a much greater degree of perfection, and may become incalculably useful, not only to medical practitioners, but also for various other valuable purposes.