Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/111

Rh of others, every animal body is by Nature destined to live eight times the length of its growth.

From the most accurate political accounts, made by comparing the published in different countries and climates, we shall insert the following result:—Of one thousand persons living in large cities, no less than thirty-five or thirty-six die annually; while, in country places, or small towns, only from twenty-eight to thirty deaths happen in a similar period. Among 1000 children, five die during parturition; and scarcely half that number in child-bed; but about 300 are computed to fall victims to a perverse mode of education, though suckled by their mothers; and not less than 500, or one half of all that are born, if reared by wet-nurses. The mortality of infants, indeed, has increased to a most alarming degree in this luxurious age; as the plurality of them is carried off by convulsions, and difficult teething. Among 115 dead persons, there is only one woman deceased in child-bed; and, of 400 mothers, one only by previous pains.—A greater proportion of boys than of girls die of the natural small-pox.—There are always to be found more aged persons in hilly or mountainous countries, than in low situations; and it is proved by the most authentic computation, that, of 3,125, only one individual survives the hundredth year. From the same source, the following is the most probable change which persons may have for the duration of their lives, after a certain fixed period, namely:

The proportion of the female sex to that of males, with respect to the number of deceased, is as 100 to 108.—Pieviously to the 60th year, the chance of survivorship is in favour of women; but, after that age, men generally survive them.—Married women, on the whole,