Medical statistics : consisting of estimates relating to the population of Philadelphia, with its changes as influenced by the deaths and births, during ten years, viz. from 1821 to 1830, inclusive / by Gouverneur Emerson.

  • Gouverneur Emerson
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical statistics : consisting of estimates relating to the population of Philadelphia, with its changes as influenced by the deaths and births, during ten years, viz. from 1821 to 1830, inclusive / by Gouverneur Emerson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Now in the first of these months we know that the epidemic forms of disease seemed to revive for the season with great force, and con- tinue until October. We therefore think it a demonstrable fact, that in addition to the principal influence which lessens fecundity in this locality, namely, that of high temperature, there has existed during the period embraced by our calculation, another retarding force con- nected with the late epidemic. As the results of our observations are in accordance with those ob- tained by M. Villerme from extensive data procured in those parts of France subject to endemic influences, we do not think it necessary to pursue these calculations further. We terminate this portion of our investigations with the following general conclusions:— 1. That the chief cause which operates in our locality in retarding the natural increase of the population, appears to be the extreme heat of summer and the insalubrity of the first months of autumn. 2. That another cause which has tended to check fecundity dur- ing the last ten years, may be traced to the epidemic influences to which the population of the environs of the town were subjected. This of course is not a regular, but merely an occasional cause. 3. That the prevalence of epidemics or extensive sickness among adults, tends not only to diminish population directly, by increasing mortality, but indirectly, by diminishing fecundity. 4. That upon examination of the births and deaths of particular years, the maximum of conceptions will almost invariably be found corresponding to the minimum of adult mortality, and vice versa, the maximum of deaths agreeing with the minimum of conceptions. According to M. Villerme's investigations, the disparity existing between the births and conceptions of the different seasons is much more strongly marked in the country and small towns than in the large cities. We possess no data by which we can ascertain whether this observation is equally applicable to this country. Deaths. The proportion of deaths to the population for the last ten years is exhibited in table D. and proves greater than it has been at any pe- riod since regular records of mortality have been kept. The lowest rate was in the last year, (1830,) when it was one death in 42.94 in- habitants, or 2.32 per cent, of the population. The highest degree of mortality occurred in 1823, and was at the rate of one death in 30.5 inhabitants, or 3.26 per cent, of the population. The average of the whole period is one death in 38.85 inhabitants. These estimates are
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