The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-08 00:00:00

STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

107,861 deaths were registered in the three months of
April, May, and June. This number is the highest
that has ever been registered before in the correspond-
ing season, and exceeds by 7,048 the deaths in the
spring quarter of 1852. The rate of mortality in
England is the highest in the winter (2.467 per cent.),
lowest in the summer quarter (2.129 per cent.), while the
mortality of the spring quarter (2.223) holds an inter-
mediate rank, near the average of the year. This
average is exceeded by the present return, which shows
a morality at the rate of 2.383 per cent. per annum,
higher than the rate in the corresponding quarter of
every year, 1843-52, except the spring quarter of 1847,
when the population was infested by scurvy and its at-
tendant diseases after the great failure of the potato
crop in 1846. The rate of mortality was then 2.506 ;
in the autumn influenza broke out, and cholera followed
on its footsteps in 1848 and 1840.
The mortality of the quarter was above the average
both in the town and in the country districts ; the
annual rate of mortality was 2.606 in 117 districts,
comprising the chief towns, and 2.196 per cent in 508
districts, extending over the rest of the kingdom.
The population of England is, there is reason to be-
lieve, collectively healthier than any equal amount of
population in any other kingdom ; but the rapid increase
in the proportion of the town population—in which the
mortality is 27 per cent. higher than it is in the country,
and the sickness, the suffering, the debility, the physical
degeneracy of race are in equal excess—makes this ques-
tion of the health of towns and the fertilisation of the
surrounding fields one of the great questions of the day
demanding immediate solution. It is difficult for the
imagination to conceive all the beneficent effects that
would flow from the possible diminution of the mortality
which the subjoined figures express in town and in
country throughout the changing seasons of the year :

Average annual number of

In the Months of
January, February, March ..
April, May, June • • • • .. • • • • ..
July, August, September .. • •
October, November, December

The Year • • • • • • ••.. • • .

Lives de-
stroyed by
the matters
which are
poisons in
houses,
streets, and
streams, but
are fertilising
manures
in fields.

In London the mortality has considerably exceeded
the average, and it is chiefly due to diseases of the re-
spiratory organs, typhus, hooping-cough, diarrhoea, and
violence of various kinds. Twelve deaths were referred
to privation, 26 to poison, 88 to burns and scalds, 86 to
hanging and suffocation, 81 to drowning, 171 to me-
chanical injuries of various kinds, 33 to wounds ; and in
nearly all these cases, the numbers exceed those re-
turned in previous years. The violent deaths, including
a few from intemperance, want of breast-milk, and pri-
vation, in London, increased from 1,296 in 1840 to
2,140 in 1852 ; and in the last quarter the excess in
deaths from violence alone over the deaths of 1852 was
131. The increase of steam-vessels, railways, omni-
buses, and new mechanical forces of every kind, as well
as the obstructions of the streets, may partly account
for this loss of life, as well as for the numerous injuries
and mutilations not fatal, in the battle of every day.
The mortality in the South-Eastern Counties has been
above the average, and the greatest excess has occurred
in Godstone, Croydon, Bromley, Dover, Eastbourne,
Lewes, the Isle of Wight, Alverstoke. Woking has
been unusually healthy. Scarlatina has been rife in
Sevenoaks, Maidstone, and other districts.

In the South Midland Counties Wisbeach continues
to experience a high rate of mortality • the deaths in
three months, out of a population of 36,215, were 274.
In Cambridge, on the other hand, the deaths out of a
population of 27,815 were only 110. Hooping-cough
and bronchitis prevailed at Wisbeach ; while in Cam-
bridge the Registrar reports, that "great improvements
have been made by the local authorities in the sanitary
arrangements ; they have been assisted very materially
by the reports and suggestions of the medical pro-
fession."
Romford, Tendring, Colchester, Witham, and Saffron
Walden in Essex ; Sudbury, Thingoe, and Stow in
Suffolk, experienced a high rate of mortality. Typhus
has been fatal to many persons in High Easter, Dun-
mow ; in Downham, Norfolk, ague and fever have pre-
vailed ; in Norwich the mortality has not exceeded, and
in the whole county has been below the average.
In the south-western counties the general mortality
has slightly exceeded the average. The typhus in Long-
bridge Deverill broke out a second time, and the deaths
in the sub-district equal the births. In one house the
man, wife, and six children were all attacked, and one
child, nine years of age, died. At Exmouth fever has
prevailed. In Whipton, Heavitree, small-pox is raging;
several children are suffering, and two have died ;
" still the people refuse cow-pox." In Barnstaple
typhus and small-pox have prevailed ; the deaths have
exceeded the births. The emigration from Redruth has
been extensive, and the births consequentlyhtsaahivtlereeodmudionrhtaalvietyn neglected
sg lseocmtdeeed--
creased ; in another district of Cornwall, Lerrin, the
t registrarh e d decrease."
c r sayse;a sße The births and deaths are much below
the average. Numbers are yearly leaving this district
for other parts of this country, or for America and
Australia, which is the only explanation I can give of
deaths M ,;a stflhrenesrah samea spnb beennnn avreyr
diseasesyd
have
fatalsevaes e
psin
areTruro.
much
above
Bath.
In o
theme theave-
rage
In the West Midland Countiesre
r.'i's:-ol‘‘ averagelouc e; s et
me
r a,
what above thesmall-npox prevails in Glouces-
tershire
vaccination ; earl)
have been very uneles'
boils,
and purulent eruptions
as in London. This prevalent
in Stow-on-the-Wold as well
extensive epidemic has not yet
obtained all the attention
bawdhich it deserves from the
railed io Staffordshire, ie
thefornm
us of scarlatina
which,"ltina has pre-
vailed
of Bileton conceives, ~ cause onsuffic. the Re-
gistrar drainage,