The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-07 00:00:00

STATE OF TUE PUBLIC HEALTH.

The spring of 1854, was a season of more health to the
people of England than the spring of 1853. In the
quarter to which the present returus.refer 102,666 deaths
were registered ; fewer by 5,195 than in the same period
of the previous year. In large town populations, how-
ever, the public health was by no means good during
last quarter ; the ra'e of mortality was higher than the
average, for 25 died out of every thousand persons,
whilst 24 represents the average annual proportion.
In the freer country regions and small towns the spring
months were propitious, the average annual rate of mor-
tality for the same season being 22 out of a thousand,
and the actual mortality last quarter having been only
20 out of a thousand.
In the London division (I.) the deaths rose to 15,114,
a number which is in excess even of those in the un-
unhealthy spring of 1853. The epidemic class of diseases
was very fatal, having destroyed 3,686 lives, the numbers
in the four corresponding quarters of 1850-3 hav-
ing been 2,032, 2,662, 2,828, and 2,979. Hooping-
cough and scarlatina were the principal agents in pro-
ducing this result ; they number respectively 779 and
747. Croup rose from its usual proportion of about 80
to 114. Typhus also exhibits an increase throughout
the five spring quarters, in which the deaths run thus-
-426, 428, 483, 678, and (last quarter) 697. Small-pox,
after subsiding in 1853, has become more fatal within
the last six months, but without accelerating its progress
during this period ; in the March quarter it was fatal to
123 persons, in the next to 129. Measles carried off 476
children, an increase on previous quarters. Diarrhoea
has also been more fatal than usual, 315 deaths being
referred to it ; in the spring quarters of 1850-3, the fol-
lowing were its numbers-200, 191, 163, 292. Cholera,
including the " cholera infantum," &c., is returned in
only 11 cases, purpura in 20, rheumatic fever in 23 ;
erysipelas in 115; a considerable increase. Tinder
syphilis, 58 deaths are enumerated, also a great increase ;
and 2 persons (lied in the quarter from hydrophobia, 102
women died after childbirth, 262 persons died from
cancer, 25 from carbuncle. Six quarters have intervened
between 1852 and the present time, and in these the
deaths from carbuncle have been as follows-20, 15, 17,
18, 25, and 25. Twenty-four persons died last quarter
from disease created by indulgence in intoxicating liquors.
In the South-Eastern Division (II.) the health of the
people was various. Amongst its five counties Hamp-
shire was rather unfortunate, its deaths rising to 2,190,
which, though not remarkably in excess, is more than
in any of the four corresponding quarters. South-
ampton, which had been fatally visited by small-pox
in the early part of the year, continued to suffer
from this distemper, which recently, however, has
abated. At Kingston, in the same county, and Landport
the disease showed no abatement in the last quarter;
while scarlatina and typhus prevailed in the former
place, and low fever was common at Newport in the
Isle of Wight. Kent and Berkshire enjoyed more than
usual exemption from fatal disease. The number of
deaths in the second division was 7,934, a great reduc-
tion on the unhealthy spring of 1853, but the return is
not very satisfactory as compared with those of ordi-
nary years.
The South Midland Division (III.) lost 6,236 lives,
the number of deaths in the same quarter of the previous
year having been 6,795. The mortality was low in the
county of Hertford and parts of Catnbridge ; rather
high in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. Typhus
had broken out in the parish of Westbury and Fininere
in Northampton, and had drawn attention to the neces-
sity of cleansing operations. At CroVviand, in the same
county, small-pox was prevalent, " owing to the neglect
of vaccination." The disease attacked also Luton and
various other points in Bedford, and not without much
severity. Intermittent fever was very general in the
Sutton sub-district of Ely, in Cambridgeshire. Speaking
of Whittlesey, the registrar says :—" For a fen district
this may be considered healthy. Some years ago the
parishioners filled up all the muddy ditches in the town,
repaved all the streets, gravelled all the roads, and made
brick drains and cesspools where most required."
The Eastern Division (IV.) exhibits a satisfactory re-
sult, the deaths having declined from about 6,000 to 5,364.
Suffolk and Norfolk experienced a reduced rate of mor-
tality, though small-pox was present at Norwich and
other parts of the latter county. Orsett, in Essex, was
decidedly unhealty, for there scarlatina, billious fever,
ague, and dysentery, were all prevalent. Malaria, which
infests the district from the undrained Thames Marshes,
was unusually virulent. •
The spring quarter was favourable to health in divi-
sion (V.), the South Western ; and the deaths fell
from between nine and ten thousand to 8,616. The
mortality was low in ad the five counties which
constitute this division, viz. —Wilts, Dorset, Devon,
Cornwall, and SoMerset. But some exceptional locali-
ties are mentioned, such as St. Ives and Marazion, where
measles and scarlatina were fatal to children, and at
Stogumber small-pox was very prevalent, though not
fatal. The registrar of Ilchester (Yeovil) presents an
unfavourable account of the condition of labourers in his
district ; wages low, in some instances only Os. per
week, the average for able-bodied men being Bs. or 9s. ;
provisions dear, and house accommodation bad, while
many of the poor live on horse-beans and barley-meal of
inferior kind. Much discontent had arisen in conse-
quence.
In the West Midland Division (VI.) a bad state of
health continued to prevail, not universally, but in three
of its counties. It was remarked in the report for the
winter quarter that the first division (London) and the
sixth furnished the only two instances in which the
deaths in that quarter outnumbered those of the same
quarter in 1853 ; and it is worthy of notice, that the
same observation is strictly applicable to the present re-
turns. -Staffordshire Warwickshire are the two counties
which produce this unfortunate distinction. Stafford-
shire, in which the deaths rose from 4,115 in the spring
quarter of 1853 to 4,728 in last quarter, still suffered.trar
much from scarlatina and measles. One of the registrar
of the Wolverhampton district reports 61
number
f
measles, or nearly a fifth part of the totaln la third of
regis-
tered ; whilst another reports 56, o
Sedgley in the same county ; d
an a egiwas
much
in-
creasedßromwich mentions that the mortality
malignant kind of measles." Many
by " a very
children in Birraingham were carried off by the same dis-
ease, whole number. It was fatal also ae.tasrtrl3,7Varalisnal\lvaensdt
re veryprevalent and
(Nuneaton). The re-
gistrarpl3n: Uoerlakessilnetit:wnceondition of the parish
last-mentioned, which he says is almost constantly un-
healthy. He believes that so much sickness arises from
fa t fatal in anodtf iNe typhusupnae raits
Nuneaton
on
deplores

from the extreme destitution of its poor; populationin
consequence of the depression of the ribbon manufac-
ture, low wages, and dear provisions. Taking the two
corresponding quarters, the deaths in the west midland
division rose from 12,681 in 1853 to 12,994 in the cur-
rent year.
_

The deaths enumerated in the North Midland Divi-
sion (VII.) are 6,899. Lincolnshire suffered:an increase
of mortality, which was caused by scarlatina prevailing
over the country. The Lincoln, Horncastle, Spalding,
and Grantham districts were ravaged by the epidemic,
which is described as of a very malignant character at
Denton. It is reported in various parts of the three
counties of Leicester, Nottingham, and Derby.
The North-Western Division (VIII.), which compre-
hends Cheshire and Lincolnshire, appears to have en.
joyed an average condition of health. Here 16,273
deaths were registered, a number less by upwards of a
thousand than were returned in the same quarter of last
year. In Liverpool the mortality was high, owing to
the extensive prevalence of measles. Cholera was pre-
sent, but chiefly amongst Irish or other visitors. There
was much typhus and diarrhoea at Wigan. Out of the
236 deaths in the Regent-road sub-district of Salford,
42 were caused by measles. Scarlatina and diarrhoea
visited Ashton-under-Lyne, and were fatal principally
in streets without pavement or sewers. There were 2
cases of cholera at Dukinfield, but without fatal conse•
quences. The mortality was low in Bolton, Bury, and
great part of the Manchester district. The registrar of
Market-street, Manchester, observes, that the inmates
of the workhouse had much increased, because neces-
saries had become dearer, while there was less activity
in various branches of trade. Great improvement in
health was manifested both at Bolton and Bury, a result
which in both places is confidently attributed to the
progress of sanitary measures. More children than
usual were born at Chorley, partly on account of a tem-
porary accession to the population made by Irish la-
bourers,
who were already on the spot waiting for har-
vest.

The deaths i❑ the York Division (IX.) were 10,905.
Leeds suffered severely front measles, and the total
deaths in that district were 935, which is about 250
more than usual. The registrar of the south east sub-
district recorded 16 cases of cholera. Scarlatina pre-
vailed much at Kimberworth (Rotherham), Thorne,
Selby, and East Stamford Budge, and swelled their re-
spective returns. This disease was also rife in the North
liiding, and generally throughout this division the mor-
tality appears. to have been considerable, and chiefly
'

amonght young persons.
Northern Division (X.)—The deaths were 5 316, a
mortality differing not much from . the average rate.
There was abundance of employment at the collieries of
Easington in the ccunty of Durham, and population
and births had consequently increased. The town of
Kendall suffered from smallpox.
The Welsh population (Division (XL) lost 6,965
lives, rather more than the usual number. Scarlatina
prevailed at Illaenavon (Abergavenny). The iron
works in this place were prosperous, and these having
attracted population, the births had increased. The
same circumstance is. observed at Llanelly (Crickhowell).
Out of 262 deaths at Cardiff, 68 were from measles.