colored black, comprises eighteen counties, embracing all those in which the mortality exceeded 2 per cent. They contain a population of about 55 persons to the square mile-average mortality, one in 41.90 persons, or 2.38 per cent. The highest mortality in any single county was one in 25.72 persons, or 3.88 per cent.

On inspecting the map the mass of these counties will be found lying in a connected chain from Mercer to Jefferson-six others border on the Ohio river-one on the Mississippi—and two lie isolated amid the more healthy counties. In at least sixteen of these counties a portion of the excessive mortality was probably owing to the prevalence of that fatal scouge of our race—Cholera ; this may also have been true of the remaining two, but we have no means of ascertaining the fact. It is probable, however, that in ordinary seasons this class comprise the most insalubrious portions of the State, and demand, as we hope they may receive without delay, the severest scrutiny into the causes, with a view to their removal. We are sure that the mortality is far greater than it ought to be, and that judicious sanitary regulations will very materially reduce it.

The second class, lead color, comprise twenty counties, in which the mortality ranged from 1 to 2 per cent. With a population of about 30 persons to the square mile, the average mortality was one in 58.92 persons, or 1.69 per cent. Referring to the map, it will appear that all the counties embraced in this class border on the unhealthy counties, or on the Ohio river. A careful consideration of the position of these members of the second class, would seem to sustain the opinion, that the pestilential causes, that produced such excessive mortality in the first class of counties, had a local origin, and that the noxious particles lost their virulence, becoming less concentrated, as they rolled far away from the foyer where they emanated.

The third class, colored blue, comprise thirty counties, embracing all in which the mortality ranged from 1 to 14 per cent. The population numbers about 29 persons to the square mile; average mortality, one in 79.16 persons, or 1.23 per cent. Five of this class border on the Ohio river; the remainder, it will be perceived, run in more or less connected chains through different portions of the State. A single county of this class lies complete

ly surrounded by those composing the fourth or most highly favored class. This is the only county in the State where the people are wholly thrown upon their own resources in the management of disease—no member of our enterprising profession having yet had the courage to penetrate within its borders. May not the want of medical skill solve the problem, why the mortality here exceeds that of every other county by which it is bounded?

comprise the remaining The mortality ranges

The fourth and last class, colored red, counties of the State, and number 32. below 1 per cent. They embrace a population of about 21 persons to the square mile; average mortality, one in 122.35 persons, or 81 per cent. The least mortality was one in 376 persons, or 26 per cent. A few of the counties composing this class are fertile and productive, but the major portion of them are mountainous and sterile-supporting a sturdy but sparse population, living, generally, in the utmost simplicity, being neither enervated by idleness and luxury, or enfeebled by fashionable habits and dissipation.

We doubt if an equal number of counties, embracing a like extent and variety of country, with as numerous a population, can be found in any other State, enjoying a greater exemption from disease, or giving a per centage of mortality as low as that which distinguishes those comprised in this fourth class. Indeed, we may aggregate the third and fourth classes, and the sanitary condition of the whole will compare favorably with any similar extent of territory with which we are acquainted. This would bring together 62 of the 100 counties, into which Kentucky is divided, containing a population of over half a million, or about 25 persons to the square mile, among whom there occurred but one death in 93.21 persons, or 1.07 per cent.

We may go still one step farther, and aggregate the second, third and fourth classes, thus bringing together eighty-two counties, and excluding but eighteen of the whole State, and the exhibit will show a high degree of health and an average mortality by no means excessive. With a population of 700,000, or about 30 persons to the square mile, the mortality was one in 80.09 persons, or 1.24 per cent.

If the data upon which these calculations are based are relia

ble, we may justly congratulate ourselves that we not only pos sess a goodly heritage-beautiful and productive-but that the major portion of the Commonwealth is as favorable to health and longevity as any desirable country of which we have any knowledge. But amid these congratulations, deep gloom settles upon the mind as we painfully contemplate the dark column that marks the very garden spot of Kentucky. Wealth and the elegant leisure that attends on it-intelligence of the highest order and the refinements that accompany and adorn it, are embittered by the reflection that, to enjoy the superior advantages of these fertile and beautiful counties, we are forced to live \ amid unseen and intangible evils, and we cannot but feel sensibly that "in the midst of life we are in death."

It would be unwise to close our eyes on the evil influences by which we are encompassed; they are numerous and truly fright-ful; but we are consoled by the reflection that they are not irremediable. The very first step to security is a conviction that we are beset by danger-the next, no intelligent people will long: hesitate to take; an investigation of its nature-the practicability of its removal-and the surest means of effecting that desirable object. There can be no doubt that a sanitary survey of our State, by persons competent to execute a work requiring so much patient industry, talents of the highest order and varied learning, would result in the discovery and removal of many fruitful causes of disease, and, by consequence, greatly lessen onr annual mortality. With the facts before us, it would seem to be our duty, and we do not perceive that we can accomplish more at present, to direct the attention of the physicians who reside, in what may be termed, the unhealthy counties, to the unusual mortality that surrounds them, and solicit their opinions of the causes, whether avoidable or unavoidable. In this way much valuable information may be elicited and, doubtless, inportant sanitary reforms may be effected.

We have no means of arriving at satisfactory conclusions in regard to many very interesting questions, the determination of which depends on observations running through a long series of years, and requiring for their solution a multitude of details, of which no record has heretofore been preserved in Kentucky.. The facts before us are almost exclusively the developments of a