A diagram is here shown of the deaths for the year ending July 1st, 1899, divided according to causes of death. If the column marked "unknown" is disregarded, the diagram shows that the causes of death in this State stand in about the same relation to each other as in the States operating more perfect plans of registration.

The "unknown" column consists almost entirely of deaths for which we have been unable to obtain authenticated certificates. This column represents the deaths of citizens who were of sufficient importance to secure their notice in the newspapers, but whose means of taking off were not harrowing enough to be of news interest. The newspapers have enabled us to confer unmerited distinction upon violent death. The accident, suicide and homicide columns occupy higher rank than they should.

The diagram showing deaths by ages shows marked deviations from the ordinarily observed mortality at different periods of life. This diagram is not, however, to be interpreted at all. We have no means of ascertaining the number of persons living at the various ages, and without this factor no safe reasoning can be based upon the deaths charged to each period.

One preventable disease (or class of diseases) is strong enough to thrust itself into prominence in this diagram. Infantile diarrhoea creates the havoc which gives the column of deaths under the age of 2 its gloomy eminence, and perhaps will indicate to thinking men that measures designed to cut down this item of avoidable loss would yield some profit to the State. This diagram is, however, of little interest just now.

No. III.

Showing the proportion of deaths reported in each County on an assumed death rate of 17 per thousand of population living. Black columns show the death rate as derived from the actual returns of death. The Counties of Maryland arranged in order of population are: Baltimore, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, Dorchester, Carroll, Anne Arundel, Harford, Cecil, Montgomery, Prince George, Kent, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico, Queen Anne, Somerset, Worcester, Howard, Charles, Caroline, Garrett, Calvert.

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.

The next diagram shows the relation between the death rate of each county calculated upon a basis of seventeen per thousand of the estimated living population and the reported death rate. A death rate of seventeen per thousand as the older registration States show outside of large cities, and is probably higher than the actual death rate in Maryland. A glance along the row of columns will show how far short each county has fallen of correct returns.

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