The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-18 00:00:00

:GN.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.

(From the Registrar-General's Return.)
The mortality of London last week was considerably
higher than is usual in the middle of May, but it exhi-
bits a reduction as compared with that of the preceding
week. The number of deaths registered in the last three
weeks were 1,089, 1,159, and 1,099. The mean tem-
peratures in the same times were 42'5°, 47'9°, and 45'3°.
The depression of temperature at the end of April was
followed by an increase of mortality at the beginning of

May.
in h
ended
Saturday,
rep
y,s,
ocfotrhes3o,eandring t051843.5t2he week
,the ht
average
ta
number of deaths was 934, which, with a correction for
increase of population, becomes 1,027. Hence the
1,099 deaths of last week exceed the estimated amount
by 72.
On reference to the Table of Fatal Diseases a diminu-
tion of greater or less amount will be seen under most
of those heads that contribute the largest proportions to
the weekly sum. Typhus forms an exception, for the
deaths from this disease have risen from i4l in each of
the two former weeks to 71 in the last. From hooping-
cough also the mortality is high, and does not show
much disposition to subside ; it was fatal to 59 children.
In the sub-district, Waterloo, 2d part, at 8, Charlotte-
place, on 9th May, the son of a musician, aged 1 year,
died of "scarlatina (3 weeks), cedama (one week)." Mr.
Daws, the registrar, adds : " The father of the child
stated, that at the back of his house a neighbour kept
pigs, the smell from which was most offensive ; that his
family were constantly ill, and that a medical attendant
had told him this was to be attributed to the nuisance
at the back."

On 6th May, at 7, Croply-terrace East, in Hoxton
New Town, the son of an engraver, aged 2 years, died
of " scarletina maligns. (7 weeks), hydrothorax, ascites."
Mr. Ansell, the registrar, observes :—" I am informed
by the mother that the family are subject to dreadful
smells in the morning when the water comes on, that she
had herself been ill for some time, and her husband had
given notice to leave the house." The medical certifi-
cate states :—" This is a remarkable case, and shows the
uncertainty of recovery from scarlatina, even after
lengthened periods from the commencement of the pri-
mary attack, and when all cause of alarm appears to be
removed ; it also shows the fhtal effect of sudden change
of temperature in such cases."
In the sub-district of St. James, Clerkenwell, at 4,
Sandyard, on 6th May, the son of a labourer aged 11
months, died of "fever typhoid (7 days)." Mr. God-
dard, the medical attendant, writes on his certificate :
" This is the third ease of fever that has occurred in a
few days in this room, in which are two families consist-
ing of 12 persons, all living, sleeping, cooking, and doing
their other domestic business." _ _

In the sub-district of St. John, Marylebone, at 9,
North-street, on Bth May, the daughter of a coachman,
aged 4 years, died of malignant scarlatina (13 days), in-
flammation of tonsils and maxillary glands." Mr. Allen,
the medical attendant, adds, that "this is the second
death occuring in the same family within two days. The
type of disease must be attributed mainly to the poison-
ous exhalation arising- from defective drains."
At 4, Devonshire-terrace, Balham, on 9th May, the
daughter of a gardener, aged 4 years, died of " typhus
(10 days)." Mr. Withall, the registrar, makes the fol-
lowing statement :—" The offensive odour which per-
vades the whole of the house, arising from the decayed
state of the wall between the washhoure and the privy,
_ _

is at times unbearable. Complaint has been made to
the landlord, but nothing has been done to remedy the
evil. Four other children have been attacked with
scarlatina, but they are all recovering. The medical
attendant stated that the smell was enough to create a
fever."

On sth May, at 8, York-road, King's-cross, a farmer
at Leak, Boston, Lincolnshire, aged 43 years, died of
gastro-enteritis (12 days), febris typhoides (4 days)."
Mr. Watts, the registrar, mentions that "the deceased
was travelling by rail from Boston to Brighton for his
health, but on arriving at King's-cross was found in the
train bent double, and in that state conveyed to a coffee-
house close by, where he was known, and there re-
mained till he died."

The following additional cases are selected from the
returns :—" A labourer, aged 49 years, died in Batter-
sea of " mercurial paralysis (7 years)." At 23, Ash-
burnham-road, Greenwich, a painter, aged 15 years,
died from "effects of lead (14 days)." In New Bond-
street, a warehouseman, aged 53 years, died of " ma-
lignant disease of upper lip, gums, and alveolar process,
inducing diarrhoea and exhaustion, from inability to
take food." In University College Hospital a spinster,
aged 57 years, " erysipelas, laryngitis ; tracheotomy (30
hours)." Post-mortenb. At 63, Lower Fore-street,
. .

Lambeth, the son of a painter, aged 7 mouths, " porrigc;
larvalis marasmus (6 months).' In the workhouse,
Borough-road, a man, aged 61 years, who had come
from 60, Surrey-street, died on the 7th of May of " self-
destitution." A master mariner, aged 38 years, died of
" orchitis (14 days), gangrene (3 days)." A woman,
aged 35 years, died of " soft cancer of kidney (2/ years),
and both lungs (5 months)." Post mortem. The de-
ceased was confined on Ist May ; the child lived only
one day ; the cancer weighed 14 lbs. In the City of
London Workhouse, a boy, aged one year, died of pneu-
monia. Mr. Castleden says that this child was found
by a policeman in St. Swithin's-lane when about a
month old, and no information could afterwards be ob-
tained concerning it. A carpenter, aged 28 years, died
from "injury by a nail passing through his foot (3
weeks), tetanus three days."
A boy, aged 5 weeks, died of "convulsions arising
from venereal disease." No medical attendant. The
Registrar says :—" From the unasked statement of the
mother it appears that she has had six children who
have all died in the same way. She had no medical at-
tendant at the birth, a neighbour having been called in
to perform the necessary offices. She stated she could
not afford medical advice, although, from what I learn,
the husband is earning 28s. or 295. per week."
Last week the birth of 870 boys and 806 girls, in all
1,676 children, were registered in London. The aver-
age number in the eight corresponding weeks of the
years 1845.52 was 1,383.
At the Royal Observatory, Greens ich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29160 in. The
mean temperature of the week was 45.3 deg., which is
G. 6 deg. below the average of the same week in 33 years.
The mean daily temperature was below the average on
every day of the week, and this depression amounted to
12 deg., 10 deg., and 9 deg. on the first three days.
The air became gradually warmer, and on Saturday the
mean was 51 deg. The mean difference between the
dew point temperature and air temperature was 7.9 deg. ;
the greatest difference was 17.4 deg, on Thursday ; the
least was 2.1 deg. on the same day.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.
NUMEER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED
IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MAY 14.
Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses..
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration 199
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digeston
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations
Premature Birth and Debility 32
Atrophy 43
Old Age
Sudden 0
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 23
Causes not specified

235
45
212
115
49

70
1G
7
10

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES 1,099
Population Deaths in corre- Deaths
Enumerated. eponding week in the
__. .

1551. - _
of 1852. Week.
West Districts
North Districts 490,396
Central Districts 393,256
East Districts 485,522
South Districts

Totals
Males
Females

1,070

1,099
594
505