In Belgium there were 29,574 illegitimate births from 1841 to 1843, and of these, 1766 were born still;[32] 1 in 16.8.
In New York, from 1854 to 1857, there were 48,323 births, and 5931 still-births, at the full time and prematurely; or in other words, 1 to every 8.1 was born dead.
The ratio of still-births in New York, including, as we have seen, abortions, is steadily increasing, as seen by the following table,[33] in which we have compared the still-births, supposable perhaps of accidental value, with the general mortality, whose value is at least as accidental, if not more so. The evidence, like that already furnished, is astounding.
| Total mortality. | Still-births. | Ratio. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1804 to 1809 | 13,128 | 349 | 1 to 37.6 |
| 1809 to 1815 | 14,011 | 533 | 1 to 26.3 |
| 1815 to 1825 | 34,798 | 1,818 | 1 to 19.1 |
| 1825 to 1835 | 59,347 | 3,744 | 1 to 15.8 |
| 1835 to 1855 | 289,786 | 21,702 | 1 to 13.3 |
| 1856[34] | 21,658 | 1,943 | 1 to 11.1 |
The frequency of abortions and premature births reported from the practice of physicians, and thus to a certain extent, but not entirely, likely to be of natural or accidental origin, is as follows:—
In 41,699 cases registered by Collins, Beatty, La Chapelle, Churchill, and others,[35] there were 530 abortions and miscarriages. Here all the abortions were known; their proportion was 1 in 78.5.
In New York, from 1854 to 1857, there were 48,323 births at the full time reported, and 1196 premature. Here all the abortions were not known, probably but a very small fraction of them; the proportion was 1 in 40.4.
Finally, we compare the recorded premature still-births of New York, with those still at the full time.
In the seventeen years from 1838 to 1855,[36] there were reported 17,237 still-births at the full time, and 2710 still prematurely; the last bearing the proportion of 1 to 6.3.