The above facts speak for themselves, and fully disprove the commonly received opinion of the sickness of Philadelphia. It cannot be said that the years 1807-8-9 or 10 were unusually healthy, because it appears from the following table, that for a period of twelve years, the number of deaths in the city, except during the visitation of the fever was even smaller. The high numbers indicate the years of pestilence. The above table also proves fully, that the number of deaths in proportion to the population of the city is less than in other cities of countries that boast of their healthiness, and that the climate, contrary to the opinion of European travellers is highly conducive to longevity. Had there been any regular account taken of the ages of those who died before 1806, the list of old persons might have been greatly swelled; and the want of such a regulation, will pre *The preceding statement was extracted from the table published in "Poulson's Almanac ;" the information for which was annually collected by the editor of that publication. E 50 COMPARATIVE HEALTH OF PHILADELPHIA. vent our city from appearing in as favourable a light as it deserves: but enough has been said to shew the incorrectness of the assertion so often made, with respect to its general unhealthiness.* A few remarks may be offered upon the foregoing statement. The population of Philadelphia, including the built parts of the Northern Liberties, Southwark, Passyunk and Moyamensing, amount to 100,764 souls, but to avoid fractions, say 100,000. The number of deaths in 1810, was 2036, giving the proportion of one to fifty, while from the tables of Dr. Halley, formed upon facts derived from various cities in Europe which were least liable to fluctuations, as to sudden increase or decrease, it appears that the proportion of deaths in them is as 1 to 33. The Liverpool bill of mortality for 1806, states the number of deaths at 2395, and computing a population of 80,000, the above proportions are preserved, and are said to be less than obtains in any other town of equal size in the kingdom.† Now if Liverpool, being the most healthy town in a country which boasts of its healthiness, is exceeded by Philadelphia in that point, in the proportion of more than 50 to 33, the fact certainly ought to satisfy us with our own climate, and to silence the aspersions of Europeans with regard to it. Compared with other cities in the United States, the healthiness of Philadelphia will be found flattering. *The just claim to healthiness by Philadelphia, will more fully appear from a paper preparing by the author on the subject of American longevity. Monthly Magazine, London, July, 1807. COMPARATIVE HEALTH OF PHILADELPHIA. 51 The number of deaths from 688 1550 December, 1806, to August, Adults Children Total. 1807, in New-York amounted to 862 In Philadelphia, in same time 796 Greater number of deaths} New Deaths in New York by consumption, during the above time, 591 1387 66 97 163 304 207 Deaths in Philadelphia by the same disease, and in the same time, More deaths in New York, by consumption, 1550 deaths in New York, in 35 weeks average per day, 1387 deaths in Philadelphia, in the same time, average per day, 97 6号 5 If the population of Philadelphia, as being greater than that of New York, be taken into consideration, the difference in favour of Philadelphia will be considerably increased. No document having come to hand of the deaths in Boston or Baltimore, a comparison could not be made with respect to those cities. The cause of the greater number of deaths by consumption in New York, and in the New England States generally, admits of an easy explanation upon the following principles. 1. Hereditary confirmation. 2d, Greater keenness in the air from the vicinity to the sea; hence weak lungs are irritated in such air, while a dry air, free from saline impregnation, will have no effect. Some persons have spit blood in New York, who were entirely free from any pulmonic affection in Philadelphia. 3d, Prejudices against bleeding, by which the inflammation almost so universally attendant upon the disease in the beginning, is permitted to go on, until it becomes general, and tubercles are formed in the lungs. This cause prevails chiefly in New York. 4th, Inattention to accommodating the dress to the change of the weather, prevails equally in New York and Philadelphia, but the remote causes not existing to such a degree in the latter as in the former place, this cause does not operate so powerfully in Philadelphia. Commerce. ARRIVALS-The number of square rigged vessels that entered the port in 1771, was Sloops and Schooners, In 1786, the total number was 361 391 752 910 |