1,000, and no mortality resulted from them. In 1861 the ratio of cases on that station was 20.1.

66

Yellow fever was, fortunately not so prevalent as in 1861. Of 151 cases that occurred on the North American and West Indian station and eleven on the West Coast of Africa, fifty-seven terminated fatally. That there was not a greater prevalence of the disease in the vessels in which it appeared on the North American and West Indian station is, doubtless, attributable to the sound discretion displayed by the commanding officers in at once proceeding to a colder latitude on the cases becoming suspicious.

"The expeditions up the Zambesi river, and the operations in the Woosung and Wongpoo rivers at Shanghai, and the Ptsikei river at Ningpo, caused an enormous increase in the ratio of intermittent fevers on the Cape of Good Hope, and East Indies and China stations, as compared with the previous year, while on the West Coast of Africa the comparatively small extent to which river operations were conducted reduced the ratio of these fevers by nearly one-third. As compared with 1861, there is an increase in the ratio of these fevers on the home, Mediterranean, North American and West Indian, Brazils, Cape of Good Hope, and East India and China stations, and a decrease in the Pacific station, the West Coast of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope station, and in the irregular force.

"Eruptive Fevers.-Although there was a great reduction in the ratio of cases of smallpox, the ratio of mortality was precisely the same as obtained in the preceding year, viz., 3 per 1,000 of mean force. Upwards of onehalf of all the cases of this disease, and fourteen of the eighteen cases which terminated fatally, occurred in China, where small-pox would appear to prevail epidemically in the first quarter of the year, and to be occasioned by the natives being in the habit of innoculating their children at that time. There seems to be some reason to hope that in those localities where Europeans have introduced the practice, vaccination is beginning to be appreciated by the more enlightened Chinese, and that in time it will supplant the pernicious system of innoculation.

"The ratio of cases of measles was pre

cisely the same as in the preceding year; but there was a considerable reduction in the ratio of cases of scarlatina. As in 1861, however, one death resulted from that formidable dis

ease.

"Diseases of the Brain and Nervous System. -There were nine deaths from disease of the brain, fourteen from apoplexy, two from epilepsy, six from paralysis, and ten from delirium tremens. The ratio of cases of these diseases and the death-rate were higher on the West Coast of Africa than on any other station. Insolation and intemperance were their most common exciting causes.

"Diseases of the Organs of Respiration.There is a reduction in the ratio of cases of invaliding and of deaths from diseases coming. under this head. The reduction in the deathrate is chiefly under the head of inflammatory diseases of the lungs, the ratio of mortality from phthisis being almost exactly the same as in the preceding year. The largest death-rate was on the Pacific station, where the mortality was almost altogether attributable to phthisis. As compared with the preceding year there is an increase in the ratio of cases of these diseases on the North American and West Indian, the Brazils, Cape of Good Hope stations, and the irregular force; and a decrease on the home, Mediterranean, Pacific, West Coast of Africa, East Indies and China, and Australian stations. The difference in the total ratio of cases in the two years is as 214.8 to 220.5; the difference in the rate of invaliding, as 6.5 to 8.4; and the difference in the death-rate, as 2.5 to 3.

"Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels.— Under this head 797 cases were returned throughout the year, of which 212 were invalided, and forty-one had a fatal termination. There is only a fractional difference in the ratios of cases, and invaliding, as compared with 1861, and the death-rate is precisely the same as in that year.

"Diseases of the Stomach and Bowels.—The ratio of deaths from all diseases coming under this head is nearly three times as large as it was in the preceding year; this arises entirely from the great increase in the mortality from dysentery and diarrhoea when compared with 1861, and the introduction of cholera into the squadron serving in China, from which disease

alone nearly one-half of the death-rate is derived. The ratio of cases of these diseases on that station in 1861, was 324 per 1,000, and of deaths 8.3; in the present year the ratio of cases is 567.2, and of mortality 44.9. The stations on which there is an increase in the ratio of mortality as compared with the preceding year, are North America and the West Indies, attributable chiefly to the operations in Mexico, the Brazils, West Coast of Africa, and the East Indies and China, while there is a fractional decrease on the home, Mediterranean, and Pacific stations, and in the irregular force, and a very considerable decrease on the Cape of Good Hope and the Australian stations. On the Cape station it may be remembered dysentery was epidemic in one or two vessels in 1861.

"Diseases of the Liver and Spleen.-Eleven deaths occurred from inflammation of the liver or its consequences. Four of these occurred on the home station, two in the Mediterranean, two on the North American and West Indian station, one in the Pacific, one on the West Coast of Africa, and one in China.

"Diseases of the Genito-Urinary Organs.The following table of comparison shows the ratio of cases of syphilis and gonorrhoea on the respective stations during the years 1861 and 1862:

from vessels on foreign stations owe their origin to infection at the home ports. The ratio of these diseases in the Mediterranean will fluctuate according as the vessels of the squadron spend more or less time in localities where surveillance of prostitution is properly conducted. At Malta, for example, and Corfu, as it was in this year, but little risk was to be apprehended in allowing the ship's companies free communication with the shore, while at Naples, on the other hand, even a very short stay was almost certain to be followed by an increase to the sick list of cases of venereal disease. The great decrease in the ratio of syphilitic disease on the East Indian and China station as compared with the preceding year, is attributable to the smaller amount of communication that was had with Hong Kong and Japan. The squadron was principally engaged in localities where little or no leave could be given.

"Rheumatism.—There is a very considerable difference in the ratios of this affection on the different stations as compared with the preceding year; considering, however, how various are the conditions of the system which may induce the train of symptoms to which the term rheumatism may be applied, any variety in the ratios in different years need not be a matter of much surprise.

"The Cape of Good Hope Station shows by much the highest ratio of rheumatic disease, and the Pacific and West Coast of Africa, which have long been pre-eminent for this complaint, take a much lower position on the scale. Much of the rheumatism, however, that appeared in the returns from the Cape Station may be considered to be due to the exceptional nature of the duties on which some of the vessels were employed in the Mozambique Channel, and particularly in the Zambesi river. It occurred either as a sequela of remittent fever or as a consequence of exposure to malarial influences, and was probably of precisely the same character as is so commonly met with in the Mediterranean. That this is quite an abnormal ratio for the Cape station, will be observed by the following table, which gives the mean ratio of rheumatism on the different stations for the six years preceding 1862-Home (per 1,000 of mean force) 64-7, Mediterranean 79-2, North America and West

Indies 67.7, Brazils 80-6, Pacific 109.1, West Coast of Africa 109-2, Cape of Good Hope 74-8, East Indies and China 99.6, Australia 99-3, Irregular Force 90.3.

"It is thus seen that next to the Home and North American and West Indian stations, the smallest ratio of cases of rheumatism during a period of six years is on the Cape of Good Hope command. The services of the squadron on that station, however, both in 1861 and 1862, were of such a nature as to assimilate it closely to the West Coast of Africa. The constant blockade maintained in the Mozambique Channel for the purpose of checking the slave trade which was being carried on amongst the Arabs, and the exposure to which the men were consequently subjected, no doubt induced a condition of the system similar to that which is found to obtain amongst the crews of the squadron on the West Coast; and it is a significant fact that during these two years the ratio of rheumatic disease should have risen from 60 and 70⚫ per 1,000, between which it had ranged during the five previous years to 115.4 in 1861, and 121-1 in 1862. It is further to be remarked, as bearing upon the probable connection between the increase of rheumatism in these two years, and the exposure of the men to malarial influences, that while during the five years preceding 1861 the ratio of cases of ague on the Cape station ranged from 9 to 17.2 per 1,000, it was as much as 37.8 per 1,000 in 1861, and 154-2 per 1,000 in 1862; the ratio of continued and remittent fever during the same years being respectively 122.3 and 2101, while during the five preceding years the range was from 15.7 to 86.9.

"If it were necessary, however, to adduce evidence that other influences than those of a malarial character excite rheumatism, it would be found in the foregoing table, where it may be seen that the stations on which this affection most abounds are the West Coast of Africa and the Pacific, stations, as previously remarked, dissimilar to each other, not only in their physical characters, but in the duties which devolve on their respective squadrons; and it is curious at least to observe that the next most important stations as respects this disease, and between which also the difference of ratio of cases is merely fractional, and the

East Indies and China, and Australia, than which no two stations can be more dissimilar in every respect. Some solution of the difficulties surrounding any attempt to explain this apparent enigma may be found in the fact that while on some stations malarial influences beget a cachectic state of the system, which is liable to be accompanied with rheumatic and pseudo-rheumatic symptoms of various severity, on other stations on which no such influences exist, rheumatism may be engendered by peculiarities of climate, impairing the harmony which ought to subsist between. the skin and the other emunctories of the body.

"Diseases of the Special Senses.-There is a very great decrease in the ratio of these diseases as compared with the year 1861, when however the ratio was very large, owing to an epidemic of ophthalmia in several of the vessels on the China station.

"Diseases of the Skin and Cellular Tissue.— There were four deaths from erysipelas during the year; one from scrofulous disease, eight from abscesses, two from ulcers, and one from pyæmia. The ratio of mortality is the same as in the previous year.

"There were five deaths under the head of dyspepsia and debility, nine from dropsy, four from cancer, and one from purpura.

"Average Number of Sick Daily.—The total number of men daily sick of continued and remittent fevers was about 178; of yellow fever, four or five; ague about thirty-one; of the various forms of eruptive fever, ten, six of whom were labouring under small-pox. The daily loss of service from diseases of the brain and nervous system was about forty-four, which in point of ratio is precisely the same as in the preceding year. From diseases of the respiratory organs the daily loss of service was considerably less than in 1861, a circumstance mainly attributable to the improved condition of the Mediterranean squadron as respects these affections. In that year the daily loss of service from diseases of these organs was in the ratio of 7.3 per 1,000 of mean force, whereas in the present year it is only 5.8. There was a daily loss from diseases of the organs of circulation equal to about fifty men; from affections of the alimentary canal, chiefly dysentery and diarrhoea, the loss was equal to

198 men; and from diseases of the liver and spleen about twenty-one men. The daily loss of service from diseases of the genite-urinary organs was equal to about 597 men, or in the ratio of 9.9 per 1,000 of mean force, which is a decrease of 1.2 per 1,000 as compared with the preceding year. The daily loss of service from rheumatism, gout, and diseases of the bones and joints was equal to 260 men ; from diseases of the special senses about forty-four; from diseases of the skin and cellular tissue 951, the prevailing affections being boils and abscesses, or ulcers. From wounds and injuries of various kinds the daily loss of service was equal to about 530 men.

"The ratio per 1,000 of mean force of men daily sick from all diseases and injuries of invaliding and of deaths, on the different stations in 1862, is shown in the following Table:

-

66

9.5 9.5

Summary. The total force in 1862 was 58,870, and the total number daily sick was 3,370, which is in the ratio of 57 per 1,000 of mean force.

"There were 88,661 cases of disease and injury under treatment throughout the year, being in the ratio of 1506 per 1,000, or almost exactly three entries on the sick list to every two men in the force. Each of these cases was on an average nearly fourteen days under treatment, and the total number of days' sickness being 1,230,120, gave a mean of about eighteen days' sickness to each man of the force.

"The total number invalided was 1,944, or 33 per 1,000, and the total number of deaths was 902, which is in the ratio of 15.3 per 1,000, a fractional increase under both heads as compared with the preceding year. If the ratios of deaths from what may be termed casualties, including under this head

yellow fever, cholera, and wounds and injuries, is deduced from this total, the result would be a death rate in the naval service from all other affections of only 9.6 per 1,000 of mean force."

SHIPPING.

Returns of the Number and Tonnage of Sailing and Steam Vessels registered at each Port of the United Kingdom on the 31st December, 1864. (Mr. Ingham.) 1st June, 1865. (331.)

THE number and tonnage of vessels registered at each port in Great Britain and Ireland was as follows:

In England, there were registered of sailing vessels, 7,290 vessels, 229,577 tons, of vessels under 50 tons; and 12,916 vessels, 3,815,426 tons, of vessels above 50 tons. Of steam vessels, 772 vessels, 17,972 tons, under 50 tons; and 1,135 vessels, 510,476 tons, above 50 tons. In Scotland, of sailing vessels 1,073 vessels, 32,771 tons, under 50 tons; 1,953 vessels, 575,778 tons, above 50 tons. Of steam vessels, 106 vessels, 2,799 tons, under 50 tons; 295 vessels, 112,559 tons, above 50 tons. In Ireland of sailing vessels, 969 vessels, 28,434 tons, under 50 tons, and 1,054 vessels, 165,317 tons, above 50 tons: of steam vessels, 47 vessels, 1,263 tons, under 30 tons, and 127 vessels, 50,595 tons, above 50 tons. In the Isle of Man and Channel Islands there were registered of sailing vessels 485 vessels, 12,574 tons, under 50 tons, and 402 vessels, 70,342 tons, above 50 tons, and of steam ships 1 vessel, 16 tons, under 50 tons, and 7 vessels, 1,690 tons, above 50 tons. In the colonies of the United Kingdom there were registered of sailing vessels 5,727 vessels, 156,625 tons, under 50 tons, and 5,992 vessels, 1,241,015 tons, above 50 tons. Of steam vessels 112 vessels, 3,224 tons, under 50 tons, and 315 vessels, 66,633 tons, above 50 tons. In 1864 there were entered from foreign ports inwards of sailing vessels in England, British 14,582 vessels, 2,841,733 tons; Foreign 17,488 vessels, 3,123,156 tons. In Scotland, British 1,695 vessels, 320,875 tons; Foreign 3,094 vessels, 390,879 tons. In Ireland, British 583 vessels, 127,850 tons; Foreign 716 vessels, 174,700 tons. Isle of Man and Channel Islands,

BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES
(IRELAND).

Tables of the number of Marriages, Births and Deaths registered in Ireland in the year 1864. IN a population in 1861 of 5,798,967 there were in 1864 27,373 marriages, 136,643 births, and 94,075 deaths.'

"The total number of births given in the following tables represents a ratio, for the year 1864, of 1 in every 42-44, or 2.36 per cent. of the population by the census in 1861; and the deaths afford a ratio of 1 in every 61.64, or 1.62 per cent. The entire number of marriages registered gives a ratio of 1 in every 212, or 47 per cent. of the population in 1861,the number of Roman Catholic marriages (26 and 27 Vic., cap. 90) affording a ratio of only one marriage to every 238 of Roman Catholics in 1861;-and the number of Protestant marriages (7 and 8 Vic., cap. 81), a ratio of 1 in every 152 of the Protestants in 1861. The final revision of the numbers for the year 1864 had not yet been completed; they would, therefore, probably be found to differ, in some instances, from the revised numbers in the detailed abstracts to be hereafter presented to Parliament with the first annual report."

tion of the Concordatum Fund. On the occasion of those inspections we made inquiry respecting the state and condition of each hospital, to ascertain if the comforts of the patients were duly provided for, the buildings kept in sufficient repair, and the general management of each satisfactory.

"The Westmoreland Lock Hospital. - 90 patients remained in this hospital on the 31st March, 1863; 898 were admitted, 899 were discharged, and 12 died, in the year ending 31st March, 1864, and 77 remained at that period. The average daily number of beds occupied throughout the year was 941. The time spent by each patient in hospital averaged 34 days. The mortality, as usual in such hospitals, was small, only 1-30 per cent. The hospital was clean, well ventilated, and in a satisfactory state on inspection, at which time it contained 105 patients.

"The House of Industry Hospitals. -87 patients remained in the Hardwicke Fever Hospital on the 31st March, 1863; during the succeeding year 1,405 were admitted, 1,308 were discharged, 127 died, and 57 remained at the end of the year. There were 77 patients in the Whitworth Hospital when the year commenced; 1,056 were admitted, 997 were discharged, 71 died, and 65 remained at the end of the year. 100 patients were in the Richmond at the beginning; 1,151 were admitted, 1,116 were discharged, 32 died, and 103 remained at the end of the year. The average daily number of beds occupied throughout the year was-76 in the Hardwicke, 66} in the Whitworth, and 99 in the Richmond. The time spent by each patient in hospital averaged 18 days in the Hardwicke, 211 in the Whitworth, and 29 in the Richmond. The mortality on the numbers treated to a termination was 8.85 per cent. in the Hardwicke, 6.64 in the Whitworth, and 2-78 in the Richmond. The total mortality in three hospitals was 6.30 per cent.

"Steevens's Hospital.-186 patients remained in this hospital on the 31st March, 1863; 2,226 were admitted during the year ended 31st of March, 1864, 2,185 were discharged, 60 died, and 167 remained at the end of the year. The average daily number of beds occupied throughout the year was 1641. The time spent in hos