RATIO OF REGISTERED DEATHS, 1882-90. 771

II.

Ratio of Registered Deaths during Nine Years in India ,1882-90, per 1000 of the Population , showing the Prin-cipal Diseases.

Years,

Cholera.

Small-pox.

Fevers.

Bowel

Complaints.

Injuries.

All otherCauses.

Total.

1882,

1*76

0*42

i5'74

1-41

o*37

4-21

2 3*93

1883,

1*29

i'i6

?4*5°

1*32

0-38

4*50

23*17

1884,

T *43

1*68

1670

T *34

0-38

4-83

26-44

1885,

1-90

o'4o

17-17

1-44

C42

4'8i

26-12

1886,

1-05

0*25

I 7'54

1‘34

°‘44

4-64

25*34

1887,

2*40

°'33

i 8‘I2

i*47

0*41

5'i4

28 -35

1888,

1'36

°‘47

17-07

1*27

°*43

5' 11

25*74

i88 9 ,

2*11

o'66

17-83

i.*39

0*46

5'5 T

27-98 •

1890,

i ‘47

o'6o

2077

1*10

°*45

S'5 1

29*99

In the previous edition of this work in 1886, after carefullyconsidering both the registration returns for the general popu-lation and the ascertained facts among the classes under specialmedical or statistical observation, I stated that the evidencepointed to a death-rate of 32 '37 per thousand in India . If wedivide the last column of the foregoing table by nine, we getan average annual death-rate of 26'34 per thousand during thenine years from the registered deaths alone. This is a roughmethod of calculation ; but the incomplete data furnished bythe returns do not yet permit of real accuracy. The useof a fixed population for the whole ten years would alonesuffice to vitiate the averages obtained. The actuarial ex-amination of the age-returns based on the Census, indicates adeath-rate of approximately 40 per thousand, with a birth-ratenot far below 47'5. The Indian Census Commissioner informsme that in this respect the corrected figures of the Census for 1881 agree pretty closely with those now under revision byhim for 1891 (January 1893). The death-rate varies greatlyat different ages. The Census officers estimate a loss of 270infants per 1000, or even more, in the first year of life. Theproportion of deaths decreases until a fair rate is reached, atthe age of eleven or twelve, but rises again after young man-hood is reached. Some Provinces show, from actuarial calcu-lations based on the returns of the Census , a death-rate of42 and a birth-rate of nearly 50 per thousand. The presentstate of Indian vital statistics only permits of my placing sideby side the foregoing widely diverse death-rates, arrived at byactuarial calculation and by the imperfect system of actualregistration, without comment.