of large bodies of people, than a disease which involves the whole fluids of the body, and is the precursor of the most fatal epidemics. Twenty-six deaths from poison, 26 from burns and scalds, 53 from hanging and suffocation, 94 from drowning, 137 from fractures and contusions, 19 from wounds, and 19 from other violence, were regis tered. The increase in the deaths from hanging, strangling, and suffo cation, is considerable. The increase in the deaths by poison also deserve attention. Some alteration of the law to regulate the sale of poisons seems to be required. Arsenic is tasteless in food; it is inev itably fatal; it can be detected in the body after death; and it can be procured by any person in shops almost as readily as sugar. The placing of the sale of a commodity under restrictions, is attended with difficulties; but to nip in its bud the practice of domestic murder by the administration of a tasteless poison is worth the effort, and will count against much inconvenience. The deaths in the workhouses, hospitals, and other public institu tions, were 2,407, 1,953, and 1,719, in the three quarters of the year 1850; and of the 6,079, 3,498 were males, and 2,581 females. One in six of the deaths of the inhabitants of London, took place in public institutions, during the three quarters. The mortality was generally low in the Southeastern and Midland counties. Southampton suffered severely from scarlatina. Essex was visited by diarrhea, and a few cases of cholera. Norwich suffered from a severe epidemic of scarlatina. The poor, whose dwellings were in unhealthy places, suffered most. Scarlatina prevailed in other parts of Norfolk, and raised the mortality. In Wilts, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset, where cholera was very fatal in 1849, the mor tality returned to its normal state. The Registrar of Yeovi! remarks that No less than 26 of the 55 deaths have occurred from fever or other affections directly induced by it. Nearly all the cases of fever hap pened in Vicarage, Silver, and Middle streets, all of which lie directly under an extremely over-crowded churchyard, over which the wind had been blowing in a south and southwesterly direction for some time; this, with the imperfect drainage of the above streets, fully ac counts for the origin of the disease. Small-pox and scarlatina are noticed in the West Midland counties. In Hereford the Registrar observes :— Small-pox prevails to a considerable extent in this district, having been introduced by a child sickening in a canal-boat, which came lately from Gloucester; the child died in Gaol-lane, from which place the disease spread itself over the city. In nearly 60 cases 7 proved fatal. Scarlatina has also prevailed slightly. The Registrar of Burslem, in the Potteries, ascribes "the increase of births and decrease of mortality to improved sanitary arrangements, abundance of employment, and cheap food." Bilston, which suffered last year so much by cholera, from the neg lect of sanitary measures, is now losing lives from the neglect of vac cination. The Registrar says:— The deaths are above the average, owing to the prevalence of smallpox. I have never known this disease so general among the working classes of Bilston. Many adults have taken it and died. "It carried off In several houses 48 persons, 40 of whom had not been vaccinated. the whole of the children have been infected, and two or three have died. I find a growing aversion to vaccination among the poor, to the neglect of which I attribute so great a number of fatal cases. Diarrhoea prevailed in Birmingham; cholera was fatal in a few towns in different parts of the country, but was nowhere epidemic. The mortality of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Hull, was below the average. Several of the Registrars refer to the prosperous state of their dis tricts, in connection with the increase of births and the diminished mortality : 383; 2. STOURBRIDGE; Stourbridge.-Deaths 79. The deaths are 43 below those of the corresponding quarter of 1849, which is attributable to the salubrity of the weather, regular employment, abundance of good provisions, and the improved sanitary condition of the district. Diarrhoea has been less prevalent than usual at this season of the year. 386; 1. MARTLEY; Martley.-Only one illegitimate birth. The blessing of cheap food appears to have a good effect on public morals as well as public health. There is not such dread of the expensiveness of housekeeping among the poor as formerly, when provisions were dear. 395; 1. ASTON; Deritend.-Births 212; deaths 105. There appears a small increase in the births, which may be caused by the increase of population. Additional dwellings of small size, have lately been erected in the district. The deaths are a little below the average, which I am at a loss to account for, unless it arises from the bettered condition of the working classes, owing to the improved state of trade and reduced price of food. 468; 4. BOLTON; Halliwell.-Births 56; deaths 13. The deaths are greatly below the average, which I attribute to the working people being better fed, trade being good, and all in full employment. 468; 10. BOLTON; Little Bolton.-Births 220; deaths 124. The number of births is considerably more than the average of the corresponding quarters of the last 13 years. The increase seems to be consequent on the steadiness of trade and influx of persons resident in the township, together with a large number of new cottages, which are all occupied, chiefly by the working classes. The deaths are about the average of corresponding quarters. Measles has been rather prevalent, and 17 deaths have occurred. The inhabitants have been free from any other epidemic, and are at present in a generally healthy. state. 477; 2. HASLINGDEN; Rossendale.-Births 107; deaths 44. Births, corresponding quarter last year, 66; deaths, corresponding quarter last year, 34. 8 deaths from measles, 2 without medical attendant. I cannot say to what the increase of births is to be attributed, except it be the improved condition of the laboring population, from plenty of employment and cheapness of food. 479; 1. CLITHEROE; Gisburn.-Births 27; deaths 6. The deaths are below the average, which may be accounted for, perhaps, by the very fine weather, while provisions have been low in price, and work plentiful. 487; 1. SedberGH; Sedbergh.-Births 17; deaths 4. The mortal ity has been far below the average for upwards of 18 months. I should be at a loss to account for it, otherwise than that the necessaries of life have been plentiful and cheap, and the laboring classes have had suffi cient food. 498; 5. HALIFAX; Elland.-Births 116; deaths 37. The propor tion of births to deaths is nearly 3 to 1. The number of the latter is less during the present quarter than in any previous one under the Registration Act. The district is remarkably healthy, and the whole of the population well employed, which gives them command of the necessaries of life and improves their physical condition. The present contrasts favorably with the period of limited employment and scarcity of provisions, when the number of deaths in this district was nearly equal to the births. The next extract presents an exception to the generally prosperous state of the country :— 601; 4. CRICKHOWELL; Llanelly.-Births 86; deaths 44. This subdistrict has been unusually healthy. The iron trade is still without animation. The following note refers to a subject of great public importance:553; 2. TYNEMOUTH; North Shields.-Births 135; deaths 72. The police arrangements to prevent the influx of vagrants, have tended to promote the health of the population, as most of the infectious diseases have been traced to this source. In fact, in one locality, Pumpwelllane, in the township of North Shields, which is the resort of these persons, it is said that the Poor-law Union had better pay rent for the whole property and shut it up, than incur the great expense which it entails on the union. XXIX. FORMS OF CERTIFICATES RECOMMENDED TO BE USED IN THE SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION PROPOSED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO SCOTLAND. [From the Journal of the Statistical Society of London, Vol. XI, p. 286.] 1. CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE. DISTRICT, Marylebone. No. in Register, 11. On March 3d, 1847. At Marylebone Parish Church. MARRIAGE, after Bans, was solemnized between us, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church. SIGNATURE, William Hastings. DESCRIPTION present, 3, South street, Marylebone. rank or profession, carpenter. condition, widower. former first deceased in children by, if widower wives, 1840, 4th Nov. liv'g 2, dead 1. birth-place, Bristol. parents' names & SIGNATURE, Sophia Ann Mitchell. residence {present, 17, High street, age, 20. usual, Ditto. rank or profession, dressmaker. DESCRIPTION former first deceased in children by if widow husband liv'g-dead birth-place, Longbridge, Deverell, Wilts. parents' names & Geoffrey Mitchell, butcher, & Sarah rank or profession, ( Mitchell, M. N. Evans, dec. WITNESSES, John Hastings-Jane Mitchell. OFFICIATING MINISTER, James Hollingshead, Vicar. 2. CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH. DISTRICT, St. Pancras. SUB-DISTRICT, Tottenham Court. No. in Register, 98. CHILD, Name, and Sex, William Aste, (present,) born 5h. 30m., February 11th, 1847, at 169, Tottenham Court Road. PARENTS-Father Mother name, Henry Aste. rank or profession, corn dealer. age, 40. born at Tingewick, Bucks. married first in 1830, at St. Pancras. issue, 4 boys, 4 girls living; 1 girl dec. name, Harriet Aste, M. N. Hills, (her 9th child.) rank or profession, age, 37. born at St. Pancras. married first in (see Father.) issue, ditto. INFORMANTS AND THEIR SIGNATURES, Henry Aste, father; Harriet Aste, mother. WITNESSES, Euphemia Curry, nurse; certified by M. Clayton, accoucheur. REGISTERED, on March 10th, 1847, at 169, Tottenham Court Road, by John Wells, Registrar. 3. CERTIFICATE OF DEATH. DISTRICT, Poplar. SUB-DISTRICT, Poplar. No. in Register, 1476. NAME rank or profession, dock laborer. age, 62. died on the 28th of Feb., 1847, 6 A.M., at 16 Cottage Row. CAUSE OF DEATH, Pneumonia, two months, as certified by H. Bloomfield, who last saw deceased February 27, 1847. BURIAL-PLACE, Catholic burial-ground, Wade street, as certified by M. Rutley, undertaker. BORN AT county of Cork, Ireland; lived in this dis trict, 36 years in Poplar. Parents' names & Father-Timothy Canty, shoemaker, dec. rank or profession, ( Mother-Mary Canty, M. N. Nicholas, dec. MARRIED in the parish of Scrill, Ireland, at the age of 22, to Honors ISSUE, (1) Timothy, 31, (2) William, 30, (3) Mary, 29, (4) John, dec. WITNESS, Mary Canty, daughter. REGISTERED on March 3d, 1847, by T. W. Gagen, Registrar. XXX. LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS IN RELATION TO THE REGISTRA SECT. 46. The town clerk shall keep a record of the births and deaths of all persons within his town, and coming to his knowledge; and he shall specify in such record the day of each birth and death, and the names of the parents of such persons, if known. SECT. 47. Parents shall give notice to the clerk of their town of all the births and deaths of their children; and every householder shall give the like notice of every birth and death happening in his house; and the eldest person next of kin shall give such notice of the death of his kindred; and the keeper of any almshouse, workhouse, house of correction, prison or hospital, and the master or other commanding of ficer of any ship, shall give the like notice of every birth and death, happening among the persons under his charge; and every person neglecting to give such notice for the space of six months after the birth or death shall have happened, shall forfeit to the use of the town a sum not exceeding five dollars.-[Revised Statutes, page 182.] SECT. 17. Every justice and minister shall keep a record of all marriages solemnized before him, and in the month of April, annually, shall make a return, to the clerk of the town in which he resides, of a certificate, containing the Christian and surnames, and places of resi dence, of all the persons who have been by him joined in marriage within the year then last past, and also the time when, and the name of the town in which, such marriages were respectively solemnized; and when neither of the married persons belongs to, or is resident in, the town in which the justice or minister resides, then such justice or minister shall, within thirty days after such marriage, also return a like certificate of the town in which one or both of the married per sons may reside; and all marriages, so certified to the clerk, shall be forthwith recorded by him in a book to be kept for that purpose. SECT. 18. Every justice of the peace and minister, who shall neg lect to make such returns, shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit for each neglect a sum not less than twenty nor more than one hundred dollars; one moiety thereof to the use of the county in which he resides, and the other moiety to the use of the person who shall prosecute therefor.-[Ibid, page 477.] An Act relating to the Registry and Returns of Births, Marriages, and Deaths. Passed March 16, 1844. SECT. 1. The clerks of the several cities and towns in this Commonwealth shall, annually, in the month of June, transmit to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, a certified copy of their records of births, mar |