The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-13 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

The following is the weekly return by the
Registrar-General of births and deaths in London
and in 19 other large towns of the United
Kingdom :

General Register-office, Somerset-house,
January 10.

From the commencement of the present year the
registered births and deaths in London and in 19
other large cities and towns in the United King-
dom, having an estimated aggregate population of
nearly seven and a quarter millions, or one-fourth
of the whole population of the kingdom, will be
given in the weekly return. Several additions
have been made to the information hitherto pub-

lisped ; the towns of Portsmouth, Norwich, Wol-
verhampton, Leicester, Nottingham, and Sunder-
land, all important centres of population, are now
included for the first time. The Registrar-General
has thus endeavoured to render the weekly return
more useful to the authorities, to men of science,
and to the public.
During the week ending on Saturday, the Bth
inst., 5,123 births aad 4,162 deaths were registered
in London and 19 other large cities and towns ; the
aggregate mortality was in the ratio of 30 deaths
annually to every 1,000 of the present estimated
population.
A comparison of the deaths registered last week
in the English cities and towns shows that the
annual rate of mortality was 38 per 1,000 in Sal-
ford, 37 in Manchester, 37 in Bristol, 35 in Not-
tingham, 33 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 31 in Leices-
ter, 30 in Leeds, 30 in Birmingham, 28 in London,
28 in Liverpool, 28 in Sheffield, 27 in Norwich, 26
in Portsmouth, 24 in Wolverhampton, 23 in Sun-
derland, 22 in Bradford, 21 in Hull. Half the
deaths in Sunderland were of infants in their first
year, the proportion of these premature deaths
in London and the other towns being on an average
about one-fourth of the total mortality. Measles
and scarlet fever caused one-fourth of the deaths in
Portsmouth, and one-seventh of the deaths in
Bristol; scarlet fever caused 18 out of 150 deaths
in Leeds, and 25 out of 131 deaths in Sheffield ;
whooping-cough caused 16 out of 215 deaths in
Birmingham, and 29 out of 351 deaths in Man-
chester and Salford.

The Registrars-General of Scotland and Ireland
supply the facts which show that deaths occurred
last week at the annual rate of 37 per 1,000 in
Edinburgh, 47 in Glasgow, and 28 in Dublin.
By the courtesy of the Prefect of the Seine, of
Dr. Zuelzar, and of Dr. Glatter, the Registrar-
General i 3 enabled to state that in Paris the deaths
recorded during the week ending the Bth of
January were at the rate of 31 ; in Berlin, during
the seven days ending the 6th of January, 29 ;
and in Vienna, during the week ending the Ist of
January, 24 per 1,000 annually. Out of 1,106
deaths recorded in Paris last week, 40 were caused
by smallpox.
In London the births of 1,247 boys and 1,184
girls, in all 2,431 children, were registered last
week. The deaths registered in the same time
were 1,697. During the corresponding week of
ten previous years the registered births averaged
2,118, atd the deaths 1,545 per week; after
making due allowance for increase of population,
the average for the past week is estimated at 2,330
births and 1,699 deaths. The registered births
were, therefore, 101 above, and the deaths 2 below
the estimated average.

The total population of London estimated to the
middle of the present year is 3,214,707 ; and the
registration districts constituting the metropolitan
area, when arranged according to their topographi-
cal position, are thrown into five groups for pur-
poses of general comparison. Of these the Western
group has a population of 540,647, the Northern
group of 733,250, the Central group of 356,385,
the Eastern group of 627,620, and the large South-
ern group (comprising all the districts south of the
Thames) of 956,805. The annual death-rate in
the several groups was last, week 26 per 1,000
in the Southern, 26 in the Northern, 28 in the
Western, 28 in the Central, and 31 in the Eastern
group.

The deaths registered last week include 8 from
smallpox, 30 from measles, 134 from scarlet fever,
5 from diphtheria, 67 from whooping-cough, 4 from
typhus, 13 from enteric (or typhoid) fever, 18 from
simple continued fever, 19 from diarrhoea, 138 from
phthisis, 295 from bronchitis, 102 from pneumonia,
and 82 from heart disease.

Five out of the eight fatal cases of smallpox oc-
curred in the east districts.

The epidemic of scarlet fever is still maintaining
its hold upon the metropolis, and especially in the
poorest and most densely-populated districts. The
134 deaths registered from that cause last week
were, however, the fewest in number which have
been recorded in any week (excepting the Christ-
mas week) since the middle of August last. During
the 52 weeks ended on the Ist of January then
were altogether 5,03 deaths registered in London
from scarlet fever, a mortality equivalent to 183
deaths to every 100,000 of the population. The
disease was therefore more fatal in London last year
than in any previous year since registration com-
menced, the nearest approach to so high a death-
rate having been in 1863, when scarlet fever killed
171 persons to every 100,000 of the then popula-
tion.
The following three deaths from relapsing fever
were registered:—
City of London (Broad-street.)—At 2, Pitcher's-
court, on the 6th of January, the widow of a tailor,
aged 52 years; " bronchitis (30 days), relapsing
fever (12 days)."

Poplar (Poplar.)—At 7, Upper North-street, on
the sth of January, the daughter of a greengrocer,
aged 4 years, " relapsing fever.",
St. Saviour, Southwark (Christchurch).—At 48,
Gravel-lane, on the 7th of January, a tailor, aged
36 years, " relapsing fever ; paralysis."
A labourer, aged 78 years, died in the workhouse
of St. Saviour, Southwark, on the 30th of Dec., of
" congestion of brain, caused by exposure to cold ;"
and a boot and shoe-finisher, aged 48 years, died in
the sub-district of St. Mary, Newington, on the
28th of December, of " congestive apoplexy, from
excessive drinking and exposure."
Eighty-three persons died aged 80 years and
upwards.
The deaths of six persons who were killed by
horses or vehicles in the streets were registered last
week :—A goldsmith, aged 37 years, " run over by
a cab." Died on the Ist of January at 35, Flask-
walk, Hampstead. (Inquest.) A pork butcher,
aged 33 years, " fractured skull; fell from a cart"
on the 29th of December. Brought dead to St.
Bartholomew's Hospital. (Inquest.) A drayman,
aged 35 years, "fractured skull ; fell from a
waggon" on the 27th of December. Brought dead
to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Post Mortem.
Inquest. A carman, aged 35 years, " fell from a
van." Died on the sth of January in the Lon-
donliospital. (Inquest.) A messenger, aged 56
years, " run over by a van." Died on the 23J of
December at Newington-butts. (Inquest.) A
lighterman, aged 28 years, "fractured skull; run
over by a van" on the 30th of December. Brought
dead to Guy's Hospital. (Inquest.)
According to returns furnished by the engineer
of the Metropolitan Board of Works the daily ave-
rage quantity of sewage pumped into the River
Thames at Crossness was 269,168 cubic metres, and
at Barking 155,897 cubic metres, equivalent to
about as many tons by weight. (A cubic metre is
equal in volume to about 35 cubic feet, or to 22,0
Imperial gallons, and weighs 2,200j3.).. •

The Prisoner—Because as bow I've been in
Bartbmy's (Bartholomew's) Hospital, and the doc-
tor told me to take care of myself or I should not
live any how.
Mr. Davis—Our medical officer examined him,
and said there was nothing the matter with him.
The Prisoner—Well, I can't vork.
Mr. Lushington—You are sentenced to 14 days'
imprisonment and hard labour. You will be com-
pelled to work in the House of Correction.
A BRUTAL RUFFIAN. Nicholas Buckley, a
ruffian, was charged with violently assaulting Joseph
Soper, a police-constable, No. 46 K R, in the pro-
per discharge of his duties.
Portrait C iilt ISaTl•NbitAimS 3 Pd.litE sEN T S AT PARKINS AND GoTTOOI%-:
The prisoner was given into the custody of Soper
bags, envelsoppaetec
dressing
for assaulting a man named Stockley. ale acted hasboxebsl,
blotting
caksesi,ndkr,etassuidnsg,
telesk-s,
very violently, swore be would murder the con- stationery cabinets, boolKsleidses, oworkingbores,s'tea caddies, hand
stable, and threw him. He then fell upon him and bags and reticules, card cases, purses, scent bottles, cigar cases,
bit his hand. Soper soon recovered his feet again, card tradys, pocket books, ornamental articlesd in
ichin,ma,ablirbornazre
and the prisoner was preparing for another bite gilt, and
bea]:agteanlltel yb'
oards mounted
indoor for m
carnotqeul
esthaenlfcl indoor drawing
of ally
when he was knocked down and secured. kinds; Bibles, Prayer-books, and Church Services in every type.
Mr. Lushington sentenced the prisoner to one Thousands of the above articles, all perfectly new and fresh.
nionth's huprizonwent and hard labour. i Small articles carefully selected and scut rost raid upon pre-
t Faxtent. Catalogues free. .