The paper, which was written at the invitation of the Council of the Faculty for submission on the occasion of the Centenary celebrations, deals with the broad trend of mortality rates in the hundred years 1850-1950.

The paper is in five main parts :—

• 1. The political and social background of the period, in so far as it might affect mortality rates, is briefly discussed.

• 2. The trend of mortality rates during the hundred years is discussed principally with reference to the following six countries which, besides being relatively stable politically during the period, have recorded mortality rates throughout—

  • England & Wales

  • Denmark

  • France

  • Netherlands

  • Norway

  • Sweden.

• The experience in more recent years of a number of other countries is also discussed.

• 3. The relationship between the mortality rates of males and females is examined at various ages for the six countries above mentioned.

• 4. The more recent mortality statistics are analysed according to cause of death in broad groups.

• 5. The paper concludes with a statement on the points which seem to be of special interest, setting out in the form of questions some of the thoughts which spring from them.

In the pages which follow (Appendices 1-18) the statistics referred to in Parts 2 and 3 are illustrated by a series of graphs.