On the rate of mortality at early periods of life, the age at marriage, the number of children to a marriage, the length of a generation and other statistics of families in the upper and professional classes / by Charles Ansell, Jun.

  • Ansell, Charles, 1794-1881.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the rate of mortality at early periods of life, the age at marriage, the number of children to a marriage, the length of a generation and other statistics of families in the upper and professional classes / by Charles Ansell, Jun. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    National Life Asstcrance Society, 2, King William Street, London, 'July, In the early part of the year 1871, the Directors of this Society were contemplating the formation of a more ex- tended plan of Lducational and other Endowments than had previousl)’ been attempted ; but they were met by the difficulty that there were no available data as to the rate of mortality prevailing among children in the Upper and Professional Classes, sufficiently extensive and reliable to render it prudent to use them as the basis on which to found the necessary tables of premiums. What information there did exist upon the subject tended, however, to the conclusion that the rate of mortality in the classes in question was very different from that prevailing among the popula- tion at large, as indicated by the returns of the Registrar General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Upon careful consideration, therefore, it was decided, as being the safest course, to endeavour to collect, by direct communication with a sufficient number of parents in the. station of life alluded to, accurate particulars as to the dates of birth and death of their own children, and of their brothers and sisters, and from the information so obtained to con- struct a table of mortality; and I was accordingly instructed to take the necessary steps for carrying that decision into effect. • ■