VIII. DEATHS. BIRTHPLACES OF FOREIGNERS DYING OVER TWENTY By reference to the table on p. 43, it will be seen that the whole number of deaths of persons above 20 years of age was 2,247, or nearly 48 per cent of the entire number. Of these, the above table shows that 59.41 per cent were foreign-born. Of these last, those born in Ireland make no less than 79.10 per cent. The above table professes to give the ages of the decedents. It should be stated, however, that the ages of those born in Ireland are wholly conjectural. It would be safe to say, that of the whole number thus classed, not one in twenty could at any time have given his or her age. The City Registrar's Report formerly specified the aggregate and average ages of those dying in Boston; but these statements were of such a character, as to render them valueless for exact statistical purposes. As illustrative of this, gray-headed men have applied for certificates of marriage, stating their age to be under 30 years; and when their attention has been directed to their venerable appearance, they have stated hard work to be the cause of that. A very marked peculiarity of the class referred to is, that, when they are requested to solve all doubts, by specifying the year and month when they were. the stated age, in a majority of instances the answer is, "Last Christmas." The following table gives the number of deaths in each month, and the sex of the decedents, and their ages at the time of death. The recorded ages of those dying under 20 years of age may be regarded as very nearly correct, the remarks before made in reference to the uncertainty of the recorded ages were intended to apply to those only above that age. Of the 994 who died under one year of age, no less than 698, or 70.22 per cent, were of foreign parentage. No less than 73, or 7.34 per cent of the whole number, died on the day of their birth. Of these last, 51 were children of foreign parentage. Of the 1,030 who died between 5 and 10, 780, or 75.75 per cent, were of foreign parentage. And of the 207 who died between 5 and 10, 58.93 per cent were of similar origin. There was one death of a centenarian, that of a woman in April, who was reported to be 104. |