In the 16 largest Scotch towns with an aggregate population estimated at 2,372,000 persons at the middle of this year 942 births and 657 deaths were registered during the week ended Saturday, Nov. llth. The annual rate of mortality in these towns, which had been 13'0, 12-9, and 13-9 per 1000 in the three preceding weeks, rose to 14-5 per 1000 in the week under notice. During the first six weeks of the current quarter the mean annual death-rate in these towns I averaged 13-8, against a

more »

... ing rate of 12-6 per 1000 in the large English towns. Among the several towns the death-rate during the week ranged from 6-9 in Clydebank, 9-3 in Ayr, and 10-0 in Perth, to 20-0 in Hamilton, 20-1 in I Greenock, and 21-0 in Kilmarnock. The 657 deaths from all causes were 24 above the number in the previous week, and included 38 which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases, against 53 and 51 in the two preceding weeks. Of these 38 deaths, 13 resulted from infantile diarrhoea! diseases, 8 from measles, 6 from scarlet fever, 5 each from diphtheria and whooping-cough, and 1 from enteric fever, but not one from small-pox. The annual death-rate from these diseases was equal to 0-8 per 1000, and coincided with that recorded in the large English towns. The deaths of infants (under 2 years), which had declined from 66 to 18 in the five preceding weeks, further fell to 13, of which 8 occurred in Glasgow and 3 in Aberdeen. The deaths referred to measles, which had been 2, 18, and 11 in the three preceding weeks, fell to 8, and included 6 in Dundee. The 6 fatal cases of scarlet fever were slightly in excess of the average in the earlier weeks of the quarter, and included 4 in Glasgow. The deaths attributed to diphtheria, which had been 12, 4, and 10 in the three preceding weeks, fell to 5, of which 2 were registered in Edinburgh. The 5 deaths referred to whooping-cough were 2 in excess of the average in the earlier weeks of the quarter, and included 2 in Glasgow. The fatal case of enteric fever occurred in Glasgow. I The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory system, ' , which had been 74, 87, and 95 in the three preceding weeks, further rose to 107 in the week under notice, but were 59 below the number registered in the corresponding week of last year. The deaths from violence numbered 37, against 30 and 25 in the two preceding weeks. In the 16 largest Scotch towns 948 births and 634 deaths were registered during the week ended Saturday, Nov. 18th. The annual rate of mortality, which had been 12-9, 13-9, and 14-5 per 1000 in the three preceding weeks, fell to 13-9 per 1000 in the week under notice. During the first seven weeks of the current quarter the mean annual death-rate in these towns averaged 13-8, against a corresponding rate of 12-6 per 1000 in the large English towns. Among the several towns the death-rate last week ranged from 9-2 in Falkirk, 10-9 in Ayr, and 11'5 in Paisley, to 18-8 in Greenock, 19-4 in Dundee, and 19-5 in Coatbridge. The 634 deaths from all causes were 23 below the number in the previous week, and included 47 which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases, against numbers declining from 92 to 38 in the six preceding weeks. Of these 47 deaths, 18 resulted from infantile diarrhoeal diseases, 9 from measles, 8 from diphtheria, 5 each from enteric fever and whoopingcough, and 2 from scarlet fever, but not one from small-pox. The annual death-rate from these diseases was equal to 1-0, against 0-7 per 1000 in the large English towns. The deaths of infants (under 2 years) from diarrhoea and enteritis, which had declined from 66 to 13 in the six preceding weeks, rose to 18, and included 8 in Glasgow and 3 in Clydebank. The deaths referred to measles, which had been 18, 11, and 8 in the three preceding weeks, were 9 last week, of which 5 were registered in Dundee and 2 in Glasgow. The fatal cases of diphtheria, which had been 4, 10, and 5 in the three preceding weeks, rose to 8, and included 2 each in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The 5 deaths from enteric fever were 2 in excess of the average in the earlier weeks of the quarter, but showed no excess in any town. The deaths attributed to whooping-cough, which had been 3, 4, and 5 in the three preceding weeks, were again 5 last week, and included 2 in Glasgow. The fatal cases of scarlet fever were recorded in Edinburgh and Greenock. The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory system, which had increased from 74 to 107 in the four preceding weeks, further rose to 118 in the week under notice, but were 59 below the number registered in the corresponding week of last year. The deaths from violence numbered 38, against 25 and 37 in the two preceding weeks. HEALTH OF IRISH TOWNS. In the registration area of Dublin 173 births and 135 deaths were registered during the week ended Saturday, Nov. 18th. The annual rate of mortality, which had been 18-7, 15-9, and 21'3 per 1000 in the three preceding weeks, fell to 17'7 in the week under notice, against corresponding rates of 14-0 and 13-6 per 1000 in London and Glasgow respectively. The 135 deaths at all ages included 23 of infants under 1 year and 33 of persons aged 65 years and upwards. Three deaths (of infants under 2 years) were referred to diarrhoea and enteritis, and 1 each to enteric fever 'and diphtheria. The causes of 7 deaths were uncertified, and those of 6 others were the subject of coroners' inquests, while 55, or 41 per cent., of the total deaths occurred in public institutions. During the same period 144 births and 105 deaths were registered in the city of Belfast. The deaths were equal to an annual rate of 14-0, or 0-6 per 1000 less than that in the previous week, and included 14 of infants under 1 year and 24 of persons aged 65 years and upwards. Four deaths (of infants under 2 years) were referred to diarrhoea and enteritis, and 1 each to scarlet fever and whooping-cough.