the middle parts of Europe. not correct at present, when in most of the states of Europe both the number and the size of towns have increased.' He seems to be of opinion indeed that this mortality was rather below the truth in Sussmilch's time, and that now 1 in 30 would be found to be nearer the average measure. It is not improbable that Sussmilch's proportion is too small, as he had a little tendency, with many other statistical writers, to throw out of his calculations epidemic years; but Crome has not advanced proofs sufficient to establish a general measure of mortality in opposition to that proposed by Suss milch. He quotes Busching, who states the mortality of the whole Prussian monarchy to be 1 in 30.* But it appears that this inference was drawn from lists for only three years, a period much too short to determine any general average. This proportion for the Prussian monarchy is indeed completely contradicted by subsequent observations mentioned by Crome. According to lists for five years, ending in 1784, the mortality was only 1 in 37.3 1 Crome, uber die Grosse und Bevolkerung der Europaischen Staaten, p. 116. 2 Crome, uber die Bevolkerung der Europaisch. Staat p. 118. Id. p. 120. Of the checks to population in During the same period the births were to the deaths as 131 to 100. In Silesia the mortality from 1781 to 1784 was 1 in 30; and the births to deaths as 128 to 100. In Gelderland the mortality from 1776 to 1781 was 1 in 27, and the births 1 in 26. These are the two provinces of the monarchy in which the mortality is the greatest. In some others it is very small. From 1781 to 1784 the average mortality in Neufchatel and Ballengin was only 1 in 44, and the births 1 in 31. In the principality of Halberstadtz from 1778 to 1784 the mortality was still less, being only 1 in 45 or 46, and the proportion of births to deaths 137 to 100. The general conclusion that Crome draws is, that the states of Europe may be divided into three classes, to which a different measure of mortality ought to be applied. In the richest and most populous states, where the inhabitants of the towns are the inhabitants of the country in so high a proportion as 1 to 3, the mortality may be taken as 1 in 30. In those countries which are in a middle state with regard to population and cultivation, the mortality may be considered as 1 in 32. And in 'Crome, uber die Bevolkerung der Europaisch. Staat. p. 122. the middle parts of Europe. the thinly-peopled northern states, Sussmilch's proportion of 1 in 36 may be applied.1 These proportions seem to make the general mortality too great even after allowing epidemic years to have their full effect in the calculations. The improved habits of cleanliness which appear to have prevailed of late years in most of the towns of Europe have probably, in point of salubrity, more than counterbalanced their increased size. 'Crome's Europaischen Staaten, p. 127. CHAPTER V. Of the Checks to Population in Switzerland. THE situation of Switzerland is in many respects so different from the other states of Europe; and some of the facts that have been collected respecting it are so curious, and tend so strongly to illustrate the general principles of this work, that it seems to merit a separate consideration. About 35 or 40 years ago, a great and sudden alarm appears to have prevailed in Switzerland, respecting the depopulation of the country; and the transactions of the Economical Society of Berne, which had been established some years before, were crowded with papers deploring the decay of industry, arts, agriculture, and manufactures, and the imminent danger of a total want of people. The greater part of these writers considered the depopulation of the country as a fact so obvious as not to require proof. They employed themselves therefore chiefly in proposing remedies, and among others, the importation of midwives, Of the checks to population, &c. the establishment of foundling hospitals, the portioning of young virgins, the prevention of emigration, and the encouragement of foreign settlers.' A paper containing very valuable materials was, however, about this time published by a Mons. Muret, minister of Vevey, who, before he proceeded to point out remedies, thought it necessary to substantiate the existence of the evil. He made a very laborious and careful research into the registers of different parishes up to the time of their first establishment, and compared the number of births which had taken place during three different periods of 70 years each, the first ending in 1620, the second in 1690, and the third in 1760. Finding, upon this comparison, that the number of births was rather less in the second than in the first period, (and by the help of supposing some omissions in the second period, and some redundances in the third,) that the number of births in the third was also less than in the se. cond, he considered the evidence for a continued 1 See the different Memoirs for the year 1766. * Memoires, &c. par la Societe Economique de Berne. Annee 1766, premiere partie, p. 15. et seq. octavo. Berne. |