viduals in some families appear, indeed, to grow old, if wè
may use the expression, at an-earlier period of life than in
others. But all these variations- appear within certain limits;
and they are all .proper to individuals, and disappear when
aggregates or large numbers of individuals afe-compared.
I shall hereafter exemplify this-last remark, but I must first
observe, that besides that variety in the duration of life which
belongs t o . individual peculiarity- of constitution, there is
another sort of difference depending upon climate. In tribes
of animals whose local sphere of existence is, by the condi-^
tions of their physical structure, circumscribed within one
region, there exist only individual pèëuliâïiÉeS i but in species
which are spread over vast regions, or inhabit indifferently
the whole world, certain Varieties take place in respect to the
average duration of life, and the progress of physical develope-
ment, which are the obvious results of different external
agencies?
The proportionate duration of human life in different teli-'
mates has lately been an object of statistical inquiries, in
which many distinguished writers have been èngagèd. It
would be superfluous to enter on the present occa&iorinhto
the statements coimected with this subject ; b u t it is ifeeW- •
sary to form some idea of the manner and extent in which the
duration of life is affected by climate, in order to be prepared
for estimating the facts which relate to longevity in particular
races of men.
I t 'i s well known that the proportional number of .individuals
who attain, a given age differs in different climates ;
and that the warmer the climate, other circumstances being
equal, so much the shorter is the average duration of human
life. Even within the limits of Europe, the difference is very
great. In some instances, according -to the calculations of
M. Moreau de Jonnès, the rate of mortality, and inversely
the duration of life, differ by nearly one half from the proportions
discovered in ! other examples. The following is a brief
extract from a table presented by this celebrated calculator
to the Institute. The table comprehends returns belonging to
different periods, illustrative of the effect produced by political
changes and improvements in the state of society on the
duration of human life. I have dmitted' this part, and have
only "abstita^iii that^whifcb«*ill&strates} influence - of
climate.
Table'exhibiting-the annual mortality in different countries
in ’Europe; H
In ' S weden>' from '1821 to 1825 . . . . . sWrSfffi death ini'45
Denmark • • • . . . 1819 H tIw I 45
Germany • . « . . v 1823,. (C 45-,
Prussia ........... 1821 ta .1824 T ? .. J 39
Austrian Empire ;iJ82o ||S$; 1830 . . . . . ’ 43
H o llan d ........... J 824 u
E n g lan d ............ 1821 u « 58«
Great Britain .. 1800 H I 1804 ......... « 47.
France . . . . . . 1825 to,A827 . . . . . 394
Canton de Vaud 1824 ........ «,
Lombardy . . . . 1827 to 1828 ......... 31
Roman States .*. 1829 & 28
Scotland........... 1821 5 0 ?
The difference of twenty-eight and fifty is very considerable;
but even the latter rate of mortality is' considerably greater
than that which the data collected by M. Mor^ap de Jonneis
attribute to Ireland, Norway, and the northern parts of Scotland.
In approaching the equator we find the mortality increase,
and the average duration of,life consequently diminish. The
following calculation obtained by the same writer will sufficiently
illustrate this remark.“f
Latitude. Places» death in
6° 10’ a w ? ? - . . . . . Batavia.................
10° 10' 27 U
13° 54’ ____ _ -.■v.(»v:27? ' ?■ .. ;;
JMP 44' . . . .V.. . . . . . Martinique . . . . . ____ 28
T & £9’ . . . . . . . . . . . . Guadaloupe . . . . . . . . . . ‘27 K U g l
18° 3 6 ' ........... 20
23° i l ' ...........
* There must be a mistake in this nuïnhâv According to Porter and Reikman,
the number of annual deaths in England from 1821 to 1831, is, one in fifty-one.
+ Notice sur la Population des ètâts de l’Europe, par M. Moreau de Jonnès.—
De l’Homme et de ses Facultés, par M. Quetelet.