THE SCOTTISH REGISTER-GENERAL'S RETURNS.

Southland Times, Issue 897, 10 February 1868, Page 3

THE SCOTTISH REGISTER- GENERAL'S RETURNS.

The return recently issued records 15,106 deaths registered in Scotland in the third quarter of the last year, being in the annual proportion of 19 deaths per 1,000 of population, which is about the average rate of the season. The annual mortality of the quarter in the town population was 22 - 2 per 1000 in the rural population it was 145 per I,ooo' No particular epidemic prevailed ; fever was reported as everywhere dying out, and cholera nowhere assumed the epidemic type. The usual epidemic diseases of children, too, were generally of a mild form. The efficiency of the Vaccination Act in Sotland appeared to be indicated by the fact that very few cases of smallpox were reported from any part of the country. 27,888 births were registered in Scotland in the third quarter of 1867, being in the annual proportion of 35*1 per 1000 of population, or one birth to every 28 persons, which is considerably above the average. In the town district the birth-rate of the season was 383 per 1000, but in the rural districts the proportional number was only 31-4. Of the 27,888 births, 25,093 were legitimate, 2,795 were, illegitimate, indicating that 10 per cent, of the births were illegitimate. The average daily number of children born was 320 in July, 300 in august, and 290 in September. The natural increase of population during the quarter by excess of births over deaths was 12,782, but if from this number 4,511 Scottish emigrants be deducted, the increase of the population would be 8,271, without making any allowance for the considerable emigration going on from the ports of Scotland where there were no emigration offices. The number of marriages registered in Scotland in the quarter ending the 30fch of of September of the present year was 5,057, or the annual marriage rate of the quarter was 63 marriages to every 1,000 persons living. The average rate for the corresponding quarter of the 10 previous years was 61 per 1,000 so that the marriage rate of the past quarter has been above the average. At Eyemouth, in Berwick, the marriages were below the average, attributed by the local registrar to the unsuccessful herring fishery. In 126 town districts, 3,567 marriages were registered, but only 1480 marriages in the 890 rural districts, indicating a^proportion of B*3 marriages per 1,000 population in the town, but only 4 marriages per 1,000 population in. the rural districts. The meteorological returns for the quarter show that July was warm, genial, and dry until the 13th, when a rainy period set in. In many places on the 21st from l^in. to 2in. of rain fell in 24 hours.. This rainy period \ was followed by cold weather, which continued till the end of the month. August was the warmest month of the year, although there was a great deficiency of sunshine. It is worthy of remark that unless the temperature rise very high in July or August and induces bowel complaints, the mortality in Scotland generally decreases month by month from February to September, and the present year proved no exception to this rule, for June, with a mean temperature of 54-3deg., caused 174 deaths daily ; July, with a mean temperature of 548

deg., caused 175 deaths daily ; August, with a mean temperature of 574 deg., caused 160 deaths daily ; and September, ■with its mean temperature of 53 "4 deg., caused 157 deaths daily. The mean temperature of the quarter was 55*2 deg., The mean depth of rain which fell was 4'3Bin. in July, 2.83 in. in August, and 3'l7in. in September.