The mortality in the army and navy during peace and war shows many interesting points. Statistics tell us that soldiers, though picked men, living in costly barracks in Britain during peace, are nearly as unhealthy as the people of our unhealthiest cities, and sometimes almost twice as unhealthy. The mortality at all ages in the army at home is almost double that of civilians, ages being alike. Lung diseases and cholera are twice as fatal to soldiers as to civilians. This excessive mortality in the army seems owing to overcrowded and ill-ventilated barracks and military hospitals, sameness of diet, and want of healthy exercise. In 1871, the strength of the entire British array abroad as well as at home was 192,665, of whom 105,757 were serving in the United Kingdom, and the remaining 86,908 were distributed in different parts of the world. The deaths occurring in the year out of the above numbers were 1005 at home, and 1322 abroad, making altogether 2,327. Proportionately to each 1000, there were at home 11.9 deaths of officers, and 9.4 of non-commissioned officers and men; abroad 11.4 deaths of officers, and 15.4 of non-commissioned officers and men. The mean annual mortality of officers in the six years 1806-71, was at the rate of 10.5 deaths per 1000 at home, and 12.6 abroad; among non-commissioned officers and men, the corresponding rates were 11.2 at home and 18.3 abroad. Of the army at home, the mortality rate was considerably less among the 1216 officers stationed in Ireland than it was among the 3,664 officers stationed in Great Britain. Of non-commissioned officers and men, 26,437 were stationed in Ireland, and their mortality rate was 8.5 per 1000, while it was 9.7 among the 74,440 stationed in Great Britain. " As the condition of the mercantile marine," says the regis trar-general, "is just now engaging a good deal of public attention, it may be worth while to see how that service compares in point of mortality with the naval service, and the general home population of corresponding age." The mean age, it appears, of the
Men afloat in the merchant service is about 28 years, while that of the men in her majesty's navy is about 26, so that there is really little difference in age between the two. Now the mortality among. the English male population at age 28 is by the "Eng lish Life Table" 9.7 per 1000; in the navy, the average annual rate of mortality in the period 1856-72, was 14 per 1000; in the merchant service, from 1852-.71, it was 21 per 1000. The following table gives a comparison of the death.rate in the royal navy, and in the merchant service from disease and from accident: Thus it appears that in the navy about two-thirds of the deaths are the result of disease, while in the merchant service two-thirds of the deaths are the results of causes other than disease. Among the home population, at the sailors' age& the mortality from all kinds of violence does not exceed 1 per 1000. The dangers of the sea afe now in the navy 4 times, and in the merchant service 15 times as great as the dangers on land.
Mortality varies with density of population, place, and climate. It is a popular notion that a mild winter is most fatal to life, but the truth is the reverse. Either extreme cold or extreme heat immediately raises the mortality rate of Great Britain; the injurious effect of cold is in a great measure, however, confined to those whose circum stances do not enable them to protect themselves against it.
Some years ago, ten of the principal life-insurance offices of Scotland, with several of the leading English offices, contributed their experience down to Dec. 31, 1863, as a basis of investigation into the mortality of assured lives. In England, the scheme was under a committee of the institute of actuaries; in Scotland, it was in charge of Mr. James ideikle, actuary of the Scottish provident life assurance society. It was com pleted with much care, and a valuable and elaborate work illustrative of its scope was published by Mr. Meikle in 1872.