Mortality

Mortality subjection to death, is a term not only thus used, but signifies also a contagious disease which destroys great numbers of either men or beasts. Bills of mortality are accounts or registers specifying the numbers born, married, and buried in any parish, town, or district; and these are kept in Great Britain generally, and its colonial possessions. In general, they contain only these numbers; and even when thus limited are of great use, by showing the degrees of healthiness and prolificness and the progress of population in the place where they are kept. They should become common also in this country, the clergy keeping really the only trustworthy account of a town's people.